Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-09
NEGRO UPRISING NIPPLD
History of the Proposed Insurrection o
the Blacks During the War.
HOW ARMY COMMANDERS WERE NOTIFIED
Prompt Action Averts a Movement the
Consequences of Which Might Have
Been Disastrous to the Participants
and to the Union Cause.

Copyright. 1895. by s. 8. Mcclure. Limited)
One day In May, 1863, l was seated in the
private Office of General Rosecrans at his
headquarters in Murfreesborough, Tenn, when
Charles II. Thompson, one of his aides, en-
tered the room and handed him a letter, say
ing that the bearer was waiting for an
answer Rosecrans opened the letter and
became at once absorbed in its contents, He
then asked "TOmpy, what sort of a looking
man gave you this?"
"a bright colored mulatto, decently clad,
and, l should Judge. of more than ordinary
intelligence" was the answer.
"Teil him to watt" said the general. He
then reread the letter. and handing II to
me, said. Read that; tell me what you
think o. It,"
The outside OF the letter was worn and
leather stained, indicating that 1t had been
pressed between the outer and inner soles Of
a shoe, but the inside startled me. 1t was
written In round, unpracticed hand, which,
though badly spelled. showed that its autaor
was accustomed to the hearing of good
English. The date was May IS, 1863 and it
began thus:
PLAN FOR A NEGRO INSURRECTTON
General: A plan has been adopted for a
simultaneous movement. or :ising, to sever
the rebel communications throughout the
whole south. which Is now disclosed to some
general in each military department in the
Secesh states, In order that they may act in
concert and thus insure success.
"The plan is for the blacks to make a
concerted and simultaneous rising on the
night of the 1st OF August next over the
whole states in rebellion; TO arm them
selves with any and every kind Of weapon
that may come to hand and commence opera
tons by burning all railway and country
bridges. tearing up all railroad tracks. and
cutting and destroying telegraph wires, and
when this is done take to the woods the
swamps or the mountains, whence they may
emerge, as occasions may offer. for provisions
o. for further depredations. No blood is to
be shed except In self-defense.
THE corn will be In roasting ear about
the 1st of August, and upon this, and by
foraging on the farms at night, We can
subsst Concerted movement at the time
named would be successful and the rebellion
be brought suddenly to an end"
The letter went on with some other de-
tails and ended follows: The plan will
be simultaneous rising over the whole
south, and yet few Of all engaged will know
Of Its full extent. Please write Il and
Approved and send by the bearer, that we
may know you are with US.
BE assured, general, that a copy OF this
letter has been sent to every military de-
partment In the rebel states that the time
of the movement may be general over the
antire south"
RoSECRANS CONSULTS GARFIELD
As / finished the letter tho general asked
''What DO you think OF it?''
j answered: 1T would end the rebellion
Co-operated In by our forces IL would ser
tainly succeed; but-the south would rur
with blood"
Innocent blood! Women and chidrsnr'
"Hes, women and children. II you lei
tho blacks loose they will rush into eaFnsg,
liko horses into a burning barn ST. DomingC
would be multiplied by million"
HE said no hlond is TO be shed except IL
sslt-deiense."
He says so. aud the leaders may msar
50, but they could not restrain the rabbes
Esery slave has some real or fancled wrong
and he would take such a time to scourge Il.