The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-29
RALSTON HISTORY
ENGINEER OF THE MILE SQUARE
ONCE CHARGED WITH TREASON.
Man Whom indianapolis Proposes to
Honor with a I'M Was
with Aaron Burr.

a chapter of interesting history has come
to light in connection with the proposition
to build a memorial fountain TO Alexander
Ralston, the engineer who plated the
original mile square Of this city. William
Wesley Woollen has been much confined to
his room lately and has passed the time in
reading the works of Thomas Jefferson.
Among them he read Jefferson's letters on
Aaron Burr's flibustering expedition into
the Louisiana purchase about 1soo-5. At
that time the Mexicans were preparing TO
go to war with Spain. which ,ney lima
ly did. throwing of the Spanish yoke. Burr
fitted out an expedition, ~ostensibly with the
purpose of settling the new Southwestern
country, but it was always believed tnat
he had a gigantic scheme I'm his mind
which had for its purpose the siezing OF
New Orleans. then a small town settled
mainly by Spanish and French emigrants-
After that ii is believed that he intended
to undertake the conquest of Texas. Mexi-
CO. Florida. Louisiana and Mississippi for
the purpose of establishing an empire over
which he was ambitious to rule. Many
persons were drawn into the scheme,
amongst them the Inflated Hartman Blen-
nerhassett.
Alexander Ralston accompanied the ex-
petition as chief engineer. He was then a
young man of macn ability and was looked
upon as a soldier OF fortune. Burr's plans
were matured on Blennerhassetts island.
located in the Ohio river, near Marietta
Blennerhassett was "A man of wealth and
furnished a large portion of the capital for
buying boats. fitting them up with pro-
visions and arms for the expedition to New
Orleans. After a time the boats started
down the Ohio river and Burr went TO
Tennessee to visit General Jackson for the
purpose of interesting him In the enter
prise. He stopped at the old GeneraIs
home for a week. and the latter manned
a number Of boats and started them down
the Cumberland, with the understanding
that they would meet Blennerhassetts
fleet in the Ohio river. After Jacksons
fleet got under way, he thought the enter
prise savored of treason and sent a mes
senger after it to recall the men and boats.
All this time Burr had represented that
President Jefferson was acquainted with
the plan and had given his approval to IL.
But when ii came to his ears President
Jefferson declared that it was a reasonable
adventure and that Burr's purpose was TO
disrupt the Union and make himself mon
arch of some of the best territory in the
United States. including a portion of the DO
mains purchased from Napoleon and the
Mexican province or texas, ne rs
promoters and warned people. against
joining the expedition to New Or
rest st Of the principais. officers of the
United States army captured Blennerhas-
sett and Ralston with the remnant OF the
~fillibusters who had not deserted after tne
proclamation at a point near Natchez. on
the Mississippi river. Burr was capture
at Lexington. Ky. AS Blennerhassetts ISL
and lay between Virginia and Ohio. the At
torney-general of the United States decided
that the principals in the treasonable ex-
petition were under the jurisdiction OF
line extended to the Ohio side of the river
and took in Blennerhassett's island. where
the treason was hatched. Burr. Blenner-
hassett and Ralston were transported TO
Richmond. Va. with the others who had
started on the campaign against New Or
leans. Burr was defended by Henry Ca
and others of the most amous lawyers or
the United States. He was acquitted, as
was also Blennerhassett. Inasmuch as the
principals were cleared of the charge of
treason. Ralston and the others were never
tried. but were liberated. There. was al
ways some doubt as to the guilt of the
u~nfortunates who embarked with Aaron
Burr in his ambitious efforts to gain an en-
pire. as it is regarded as probable, that
they believed the expedition was simply or
ganized to coloniZe the new country That
was the defense that Burr made. Ralston's
connection with the affair is not very clear
ly defined, and whether or not he was
aware of the ambitious designs of his
leader will probably never be known. Ii
is supposed that he was to act as chief en-
gineer in making camps. setting up boun-
DIARIES. etc. Burr was regarded as a likely
man TO help the Mexicans in their struggle
with Spain. They were unorganiZed and
lacked leaders and he was a man of sufi-
cient daring to undertake the conquest OF
the great territory.
". r. H~olloway's book on indianapolis
refers briefly to the fact that Ralston was
connected with Burr's expedition and states
that he remained in the West after 1t
failed.
There does not seem to nave been any,
thing discreditable to Ralston." said Mr..
Woollen last night. although 1 find but
brief mention of him in Jefferson's letter
ordering the arrest of Blennerhassett. The
story struck me as being of some interest
and / have given it TO you just about as L
remember il from JefferSon's letters. Aaron
Burr always insisted that he had no idea
of wrestling away part of the Union. but
President jefferson was very persistent in
prosecuting the case against him. At any
rate, pubic sentiment was so str n against
Burr that he was practically banished
from the country. and while he lived there
was always a suspicion that he had been
tainted with treason. 1t was a gigantic
i'm their fight with Spain. but Burr was
Just the man for it. He had undoubtedly
one of the most powerful minds OF any man
known in American history. and was un-
scrupulous enough TO have attempted to
found an empire viii New Orleans for its
capital. embracing Mississippi, Texas and
Mexico in its boundaries"