The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-06-24
THE PLOT FAILED.
How the Attempt to Seize the steamer Was Frus-
trated.


To THE EDITOR: The retreat of Gen.
Banks's army from the disastrous battlefield ut
Pleasant Hill, La, brought the whole Of his
forces back to Grand EeOre, on Red River,
which place they had left but few DAYS before
At this place was detailed, with 80 men of the
92d U. 5. G.. Il. and one Lieut. Metz to 90 to
Alexandria, La, in charge of boat loaded
with sick aud wounded, to report to the GEN
eral in command at that place, and return to my
regiment in three days. / took my detail and
reported at the boat about April 10 not having
dates, except ia my memory, may be day or
two oil as regards time. We left for Alexan-
dria late In the afternoon, and arrived at our
destination without encounterng any diff
Guilty. About 10 a. N. next day reported to the
General, and found quarters for my men, expect
ing 10 return by the first upward bound steamer
About 3 p. m. the General ordered me 10 get
ready at once to proceed to New Orleans with
the boat that had brought from above, as he
was without troops sufficient to hold the town
and furnish escort to the sick and wounded
found on reporting to him that he had in
the Jail at that place so prisoners that he de-
sired to send with me, to which could make
no objection. Late in the afternoon went to
the Jail 10 receive the prisoners, and marched
them out and on board the boat. I noticed
among them some daring, desperate fellows,
who would make trouble if an opportunity Of
fered, and would hazard almost anything before
they would be carried 10 New Orleans guarded
by eolOred soldiers. We left Alexandria lust
before dark, after taking every preca1tion TO
prevent disturbance, placing guards sufficient
TO secure quiet.
Among the passengers was Captain from
the goth N. L., so he said. had rs prisoner a
Captain Of cavalry, who was raised in New
York, and had been only four years in the
South, but was as rank a Judas as ever went
unhung. These Two men claimed 70 be ac-
quainted, and the Goth ". Y. man took the
rebel under his protection, and as he was a
Union Captain / felt secure to have them to-
gether. But later on in the evening word was
brought me that they were drinking and noisy,
and trouble was anticipated as the rebel had
disclosed plot to capture the boat in his I'M
guarded moments. l was notified of his actions
and intentions by the Captain Of the boat who
was amazed at the plot aud with terror and
alarm in his face wished to know what 1 could
do to prevent its execution. / asked him if he
could point out the leaders to me, and he said
he could. called for light and went in
among the prisoners. arousiug each until three
had been pointed out as ringeaders-a Surgeon,
Quartermaster and an Orderly Sergeant-but
the Captain was not to be found among them
These | marched TO the boiler deck and then
went in search Of the Captain. I found him
after long search hidden away in the water
closet. ! marched him below to keep his three
comrades company; then, surrounding them
with eolored guards, kept them there until we
arrived in New Orleans
He boasted the next day that he. with his
comrades, intended to spring upon the guards
in the middle of the night, get possession of
the arms, murder the officers. scuttle the boat
so that the sick and wounded might drown
and then escape to the swamps. Man proposes
and sometimes carries out his plans but a wiser
than man was guarding the lives and interests
Of his servants in the cause of freedom and
justice on that night, and thus a worse than
massacre was prevented.
The question that should like to have set
tied is, who was this Goth n. Y. Captain? Was
he genuine OF bogus? / have always thought
that he was an adventurer, as / never saw him
afterward. Was there a Goth ". Y. on the
Banks expedition, to which this Captain could
have belonged? Any one being in possession
of facts that would shed light in this ease will
be heard from with pleasure.-H. VI. RIGGS,
Captain, Cpd o. s. G. t.