Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-23

bales of Confederate scrip were lying about
the floor and many official documents OF
some value were found scattered about. IL
was strange to me that they bad not set fire
to the building ere they departed, to bury 10
oblivion every record that might remain re-
lating to the events of the past four years.
After this inspection, urged the President
to 20 on board the Malvern. began to feel
the responsibility resting upon me through
the care of his person. The evening was ap.
preaching, and we we're in a carriage open all
around. He was glad to go be was tired
out and wanted the quiet of the flagship
We took leave Of our hosts and departed. l
was oppressed with uneasness until we got
on board, and stood on deck with the Pres-
dent safe; then there was not happier man
anywhere than myself
l determined that the President should go
nowhere again, while under my charge, un-
less l was with him and had a guard of ma
rines. l thought of the risks we had run
that day, and was satisfied before night was
over that had got good cause for apprehen-
sion.
We were all sitting on the upper deck
about o'clock in the evening, when man
came down to the landing and hailed the
Malvern (the vessel had come.to of tue city
saying that he had dispatches for the Presi-
dent. told the captain to send the small
boat on shore to bring the dispatches of,
but not to bring the bearer. The boat re-
turned without either the man or the des
patches. The boat officer said the man
would not deliver the dispatches to any one
but the President himself.
Let him come on board" said the Presi-
dent
Don't you think we should be careful
whom we admit after dark, sir z" l said
"Well, yes, " he replied but these des-
patches may be from General Grant, and the
man may be only obeying his orders literal
ly."
ordered the boat to go back aud bring
the man on board, determined to stand near
the President when the dispatches were de-
livered. l knew that General Grant would
send dispatches only by an officer, and the
midshipman in the boat told me this was not
one.
When the boat returned to the shore the
man was gone. As 1 suspected, he was bo.
gus despatch bearer. The circumstance was
very suspicious.
inquired about the appearance of the
man when seen by the officer of the boat.
He was a tall man with black mustache,
wore a slouch hat and long cloak, regular
theatrical villain-one of the sterotyped play
robbers"
That man was without doubt Wilkes
Booth, who sought the Presidents nte. IL
would have suited Booths tragical spirit to
slsy him on such an occasion it would have
added greatly Gn his ideas) to the scenic ef-
feet
In half an hour another hail came I'VE we're
only lying twenty yards off, A person
wanted q boat a sailor from the Saugus
wanted to report himself on board. There
was no such vessel in the feet though there
WAS one in the navy. l sent an officer and
four men in the boat to bring the man
of and not to let him escape, aud, when in
the boat to put hand irons on him. Then
swept the shore with night glass and could
see no one. The boat landed a minute later.
There was.p no man there. The crew ran up
and down the river and looked over the bank,
but no one could be found. These two cir
cumstanoes made me more suspicious, and
every care was taken that no one should get
on board without knowing who he was. The
President himself felt little unpleasant and
nervous, aud that night marine kept guard
at his state room door.