The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-08-02

WS says are unwrit
ton history BE.
fore coming II
Pittsburg, Mr.
oDonnell wns In the Signal Service at KEY
West, Fla, and was also stationed for
time at TT Jefferson, on the Dry Tortugas
which Is the most Isolated fortifction In the
United States, aud which was used after
the war as n place OF confinement for State
prisoners. Among those tept there were
o 0'Laughlin, Mndd. spangler and Arnold,
who were found guilty by military com.
mission Of completely In tho assassination
Of President Lincoln. The kilograms which
Mr.. ODonnel! copied from the records Of
the fort relate TO plot TO rescue these pris-
oners which was formed In New Orleans
In August 1865. The first telegram Is as
follows;
LOUISVILLE, KY, Aug. II, 1865.
Hon. T. r. Eckert, Acting assistant Sccrs.
tdry of War.
Ihsve important papers. I think tho
commanding officer At the Dry Tortugas
should be put on his guard against an at
tempt TO rescue the State prisoners in his
charge. A company is organizing In New
Orleans for that psfpose. | have the facts
from 'slable source.
l.. C. BAKER,
Brig. Gen.
WAsHiSoros August IL, 1865
Col. O. H.Hamiiton 10th " Y. Vol, Com
mdnding Officer, DRY Iortugos, Fla.
inclose herewith copy o ia telegram from
brig. Gen. L. g. Baker. The Secretary Of
War directs that besides taking efiectual
measures against any attempt to rescue
prisoners, you will place the four State
prisoners, Arnold, Mudd Spangler and o..
Laughlin, under such restraint and within
such limits inside Of Fl. Jefferson as shall
make abortivc any attempt at escape or res
Que. You will return by Lieut.. Carpenter. the
bearer OF this, full report Of the measures
you take under these instructions.
L. ID. TowssKSp.
Asst. Adj. Gen,
Edwin NJ. Stanton, the Secre ary OF War,
sent this telegram to NJ al Gen. Il. II. 8. Candy
at New Orleans, as soon as Gen. Bakers tele
gram was received:
This department Is informed that an OPP
the Tortugas and by surprise or stratagem
seize that place and release the prisoners
there. Immediately on receiving this tele-
gram send special messenger to notify
the commanders at Key West and Tortugas
to take strict measures to guard against any
stratagein or surprise and secure the safety
OF their commands. You will also use every
effort to defeat the parties engaged In this
conspiracy and defeat its object You will
also please notify the Division Commander
and request his cooperation.
Gen. p. II. Sheridan was In command Of
the Department of the Gulf in 1865, and he
sent messenger to IT. Jefferson with the
secrstary's telegram aud ordered the com.
manding officer to report to him at once the
strength OF the garrison. Capt. w, X.
Prentice, of the One Hundred and Sixty
first New York Volunteers, who was com
manding the post on August "a, sent a re-
port to Gen. Sheridan telling him the small
ness of the garrison and urging him to
hurry forward 10 companies of tn. One
Hundred and Sixty-first under Lieut., Col.
william u. kinsey' which were at APala'
chicoa awaiting transportation. Capt;
1renllce aiso IepoIteu W Aut. oeheIaI
aIIowaJ r,,,.,d. ~ tSs co., :. t,ar snnso,.,ha,
the ,nt;,e sori vas ns,r,,iIeJ avery ni.bt in
sdd,,ion 20 he reo,,tar sen,jneis and thst an
efi,c,snt fo,cs was Ient in readiness Mt aii
i'm ss 10 man fonr Of The O.inch gnn,
annroach Of ysssels and n detail WAS i'm
readine,s to hoard them 10 examine them
hefoye thev landed a svs,em of signal,
Vas arran9ed be tween the boarding. t,nrty
and the onsyd Everytb hing wa, Kent In
rs.d;ness for .nv ,udden attach The total
.,,sng,h ~ the caryison was All and of
these o7h men conld he turned out ON
moment,s alarm
The s.nectsd attack was not made be.
c.use ,hs co,,.niratnr, Learned that their
nlot vas tnown and an attempt 10 rescue
he nr;.oner. would be fooihsrdlv How.
ave, n was never sptirslv abandoned Tor
th,s. vs.r. istsr there snpesred at IN, LEI.
fsrsor ons M.ionev iawver who announc.
I'd that he ~. thsrs m ses The men in con-
ansmsnt vho had becoms Known a, the
.Mississ,rni nyisonsrs nyensrstorv n
hrn.,r. ~ .c,,on 70 ts., The ieoaIity Of
,hstr H., nr,.nnmant lie .stsd ,o,ns
.nss;., r;vile.a. from Cant n Bainbridye
Pis,h I1n;,.d BATES Artiilsrv tben com,
mand;nn ,bs nos, and This is The order The
ean,ain Issued:
~" 49, iii o, o,.,.
MI. MalOney VIII not cOnmunica'e