The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-05
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
An Engagement with MIR. Lincoln that
Might Have Saved His Life.

Long Branch Correspondence Philadel phia Times.
Had President Lincoln keps engagement
he made with me he might. perhaps be living
still said Mr. Randall of New York, formerly
of St. Louis, the other evening Mr. Randall is
the father of Mrs. Garrison, and the conversa-
ton took place on the piazza of her residence
here. When urged to tell the story of how this
could be he mentioned that during the latter
part of the winter Of 1860 ne, knowing the state
of affairs in the part of Missouri within the rebel
| lines and in the adjacent States, where Kirby
Smith, with $4,000 men, was only held IN check
and kept from making raids by 200 men Of
| the Union army, and being aware that Kirby
Smith and his men, having had pay cloth
| ing issued 70 them for six months. were greatly
| dissatisfied with JEFF Davis and the confederate
government, and were maddened by the knowl-
edge of the necessities of their wives children,
mothers and sisters who were actually bare
footed, as we'll otherwise scantily clothed,
thought that he would try by peaceable means,
to rid that part of the country of Smith and his
me H. and prevent their making any more raids.
| This he sought to do by getting permission for
Union men to buy their cotton, which he knew
was packed ready for sale, and permitting the
destitute Southerners to buy the necessities OF
life in return.
He opened negotiations with President Lincoln
at WASHINGTON through Dick Yates who at
one time was Governor of Illinois, and repres-
ented to him the wise policy of adopting the
plan he proposed, for he said there were no other
confederates in arms in that part OF the country
| and he felt convinced the plan he urged would
effectuaily dispose of Smith and his men ana
that money to buy the necessaries of life pro-
cured by the sale of cotton and the opportunity
given TO purchase such supplies would, he
thought, convert some of them into good Union
men, while it would induce all to raiding.
And if you do not buy their cotton" Mr.. Ran
dell pleaded they will burn it as soon they see
federal troops approaching to seize 1t. 1t Is
ready alike for sale or for the torch" lie
went to President Lincoln finally himself
and succeeded in convincing him of the wis
dom of the proposed plan and secured the
necessary permit to stock boat with supp lies,
and to send it and purchasers of cotton to the
proper points on the Mississippi, whence negoti-
ations might be opened for the purchase OF the
cotton so much needed In Northern factories,
and for the safe of food and clothing to the
starving ragged confederates.
| All seemed likely to go well, the boat was duly
! fitted up and stocked at great expense. and
| started on her trip. but. unfortunately, delays
were made by the naval officers commanding our
squadron the Mississippi and by army Off
| GERS guarding posts on land, and the vessel was
| not allowed to proceed Finally. after many
attempts to set matters right. Mr.. Randall deter
mined to 60 to Washington again, see Mr.. LIN
| coin, Stanton and Welles, and send the boat
which had already cost large sum, to its destina
| tion. PresidentLlncoln first made an appointment
| to see Mr.. Randall at the White House on Fri
| day evening, April IA, 1860, and the latter was
| about to take train from New York, whittier
he had gone, to Washington to keep the engage
ment, when he received telegram saying that
the President preferred to postpone The converse,
tion until Saturday evening, because he wished
to have time, when it took place, to talk at
| length with Mr.. Randall, and on Friday he
wished to go see Laura Keene in "Our American
Cousin"
So Mr.. Randall started from New York Fri
day night to keep the engagement for Saturday
evening, and on reaching Baltimore next morn
ing amazed to find his train under arrest.
the order having been issued to allow no trains
to leave that city in any direction. and was
APPALLED, to learn that the cause OF this was the
| assassination of President Lincoln in Washing
ton the previous night.