The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
A STORY OF THE WAR.


lin Nashville who have a vivid remem-
|brance of a thrilling incident in the I'M
written history Of the civil war, and 1t
/ still makes their blood run cold when
! they call to mind the narrow escape they
| had in the fall OF 1868, from a trap skill
fully laid by Federal spy. The three men
referred to are all well known in this city.
Their names are Capt. Geo. Leascher,
Capt. Arts Brown and Capt. Fayt Benson,
and the event referred to is the attempted
kidnapping OF Andrew Johnson, then
military Governor Of Tennessee, and his
removal beyond the federal lines which
environed Nashvills.
Capt Arts Brown, who was in command
Of the expedition, having consented to
give an account OF the affair, representa-
! tive OF the Democrat called on him at his
thome and obtained from him, as il fell
from his lips, an account OF an undertaking
which, for daring, Is unequsled in the his
tory OF modern warfare, and which, had IL
succeeded, would have been one Of the
most brilliant achievements OF the war.
The plot was as wild as IL was bold, and,
as Capt. Brown well said, had il been car
ried through to the point where itinvolved
capture, the lives OF the perpetrators would
shave been instantly forfeited.
1.-THE bold originator Of the scheme"
said Mr.. Brown, as he renectively stroked
his chin and lived over again his exploits
OF twenty-five years ago, twas j. II. Dirks,
Federal, as he represented himself, who
was sent out 10 arrest Matt Stratton, who
lived four and half miles from the city
on the Edge6eld side. lie went TO STRAIT
tons house, and, after arresting Stratton,
proposed TO him to desert and 20 south.
and il he (Stratton) would go south with
him he would send him back. OF course,
Stratton accepted that proposition, as he
would rather go south than be taken north
and be thrown in a northern prison.
think Gen. Bragg was then at Tullahoma.
Statton and Dirks went to Gen. Bmgg's
headquarters together Mr.. Stratton be-
lieved that the man Dirks was deserving
from the Federal army in good faith. lie
represented that he was a captain in An
drew Johnson's body guard; that he had
seen Federal soldierspaid of for their serv-
ices and that he knew great many Of
them by name and 10y sight, and II he could
get permission, would go and detect Fed.
eral spies in our lines. lie was given the
rank Of captain OF cavalry. lie told me he
was on Gen. Bragg's staff, and was assigned
10 the duty OF eficcling the arrest Of spies
In our lines. lie did have nine men ar
rested, whom he accused OF being spies,
and some five or six Of them were hung as
spies. lie seemed bold and originative
genius, and conceived no less scheme
than the plan OF capturing Andrew John
son. The plan was TO take a picked squad
OF twenty men, well armed aud mounted,
10 take them across the Cumberland river
at the mouth OF Harpeth river and come
into the city OF Nashville on the north side.
One or two OF the squad were 10 come into
the city, kidnap Andrew johnson, tie and
gag him, put him in a wagon and bring
him 30 the picket lines which completely
encircled the city. The remainder Of the
force was TO makca bold charge ON the pick
ct lines, enabling the wagon with the cap
tured Governor TO pass through. The plan
was approvedby Gems. Bragg and Wheeler.
Dirks came to Columbus for the. purpose
OF selecting the force OF twenty men for the
special detail, who, Of course, In view of
the hazardous nature OF the enterprise,
would have 10 volunteer for the duty.
He came 10 Columbia ON one Sunday
evening. | was sitting In the hotel with
Capt. Leascher when he stepped In. His
costume was 30 marked ~ 10 be worthy OF
description. lie had ON pair Of blue
Federal pants, a Confederate jacket with
three bars on the collar, designating his
rank Of captain, a broad-brim black hat,
with gold band around II which was nj
least an inch and q half wide. When
saw him / remarked 10 Capt. Lcaschcr.
II l.. 81
\ and Confederate that ever saw. After
be had registered Capt. Leascher went up
and talked with Dirks awhile and then in
4 troduced me. Afterawhle Capt. Leaschcr
and myself went 10 Our room, Dirks going
1 Capt. Lcascher remarked that Il was about
time TO 20 TO Harpeth and pick up some
stragglcrs and conscripts.
INSTANTLY Dirks was all attention. DO
You know anything about the country
around Harpeth?' he asked.
al replied that I did.
"'well, he said, after moments hes,
iiation, Il have got the grandcsl
Scheme on earth on foot, and Harpcth Il
the commencement OF u all.
"IIc turned around, aud, looking m,
straight In the eve, asked Capt. Lcaschcr u
nc NOulu hltI Vul VI Ailt iNVhh W. " wv
ment. lie then disclosed the plan Of cap
curing Andrew johnson.
81 replied that Il was q very hazardoul
sschemc, and that ] knew II II was carried
put successfully Il meant honor and rc
nown 10 those engaged In II, and II unsuc
cssful II meant capture and death.
&surcd him that u really thought th,
theme had the Endorsement Of Gen
Bragu and Gen. Wheeler | would 20 ~ ial
= any one 10 assist In capturing Andrew
1chnson. lie had papers indoning thu
nchcmc signed by Gems. Bragg ant
Wheeler, and said that In day or tw,
0sn. Wheeler would be there, and would
IN me whether or not the papers wcr,
mnuinc. told him at the time that
thought Il extremely doubtful II he would
b. able 20 secure the necessary number o
nen 10 engage In the enterprise, but III
b. very confident he would have NJ
eublc on that score.
Tho next morning, before ] was iairl!
I>esed, some one knocked at the door
op>ncd the door and there stood Gen
Whcclcr.
General asked, tell me about thi
m1Iier Of capturing Andrew Johnson
'This,' be replied, pointing 10 his Gig
n1tore " the paper Dirks had shown M
the big before, this n my signature am
that " In. Braeg's. There Is no doub
WHAT about the genuineness Of thcs
pauc II you are successful II will cove
Won BIZ 5ver with glory; II not, there coul
Ia but one thing before you, and that
al dl,cussed The nlan with Gen. vheele