The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-27

The officer who came from Washington
WAS lodged in the st. Nicholas hotel, one of
the large establishments that were to be set
on fire, and while he was washing his hands
In the evening, preparatory to going to din
ner, a fire began burning in the room next
to his. 1t was promptly put out and was
found to be caused by a clock-work appara-
tns which had been left i'll that room by a
lodger who had departed some hours before.
In every instance these fires were extin-
crushed without much damage and without
exciting any considerable public attention,
thanks to the precautions that had been
taken in consequence of the warnings de-
rived from Mr.. Clay's dispatch to Mr.. Bon
jamin in Richmond. The plan of setting
fire to Chicago proved even more abortlve;
l do not remember that N report of act
ual burning was received from there.
Later in the fall, after the military oper-
atoms had substantially terminated for the
season, 2 dispatch was brought from Can
ada, signed by Mr.. Clay and addressed TO
Mr.. Benjamin rs secretary of state of the
confederate government, conveying the in
formation that n new and really ormid
BILE military expedition against northern
Vermont, particularly against Burlington,
if | am not mistaken, had been organized
and fitted out in Canada, and would make
its attack as soon as practicable. This was
after the we'll known attempt upon St.
Adams and Lake Champlain, and promised
to be much more injurious. The dispatch
reached Washington one Sunday morn and
was brought to the war department as
usual, but its Importance in the eyes of the
confederate agents had led to its being pre-
pared for transportation with uncommon
care. 1t was placed between two thick
nesses OF the pair of REINFORCED cavalry
trousers which the messenger wore, and
sewed up SO that when he was mounted it
was held between his thigh and the saddle.
Having been carefully ripped out and
opened, it was Immediately carried to Mr..
Stanton, who WAS confined to his home by
Il cold. He read it. This is serious" he
said. "Go over to the White house and
ooln was found dressing to go to church,
and he was soon driven to Mr.. Stanton's
house. After discussing the subject in
every aspect and considerin. thoroughly
the probability that to keep the dispatch
would put an end to communications by
this channel, they determined that it must
be kept. The conclusive reason for this
step was that it established beyond question
the fact that the confederates, while shell
tering themselves behind the British gov
ernment in Canada, had organized and
fitted out n military expedition against the
United States. But while tho dispatch
afforded evidence that could not be Rnin-
said, the mere possession of it WAS not suf-
finient. 1t must be found in the possession
OF the confederate d~ispatch-bearer, and the
circumstances attending it's capture must
be established in such a manner that the
British foreign office would not be able to
dispute the genuineness of the document.
I'VE must have this paper for Seward"
said Mr.. Lincoln. "As for the young man,
get him out OF the sorape, il You can"
Accordingly the paper was taken back to
the war department and seweu up again in
the trousers whence it had been taken three
hours before.
Tn bearer WAS instructed to start ut dusk
on the road which no usually took in pass.
ing through the lines; to be ut n certain
tavern outside of A~lexandris at nine o'clock
in the evening and to stop there to water
his horse. Then information was sent
through Major General Augur. command
ant ut Washington and the surrounding
region, to General Wells, Of Now Hamp-
andria, directing him to bs at this
tavern ut nine o'clock in tho evening,
and to arrest u confederate dispatch bearer