The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-10-08
PLOT IN BALTIMORE.
UNION MEN WE'RE PREPARED TIC
BURN THE CITY IN 1861.


During the first year of the war;" a
grizzled colonel remarked, while recall
ing incidents of the great rebellion,
business connected with the recruiting
and equipping of volunteers in Pennsyl-
vania took me frequently to Washing
ton, and, as the hotels i'll that city soGsl
became crowded and uncomfortable, l
made it custom to stop at Barnum' S.
in Baltimore, remain overnight there
and run over to the capital early in the
morning, and thus l passed many
nights during 1861 in the famous old
hotel of the Monumental City. Near it
was a large tobacconist's shop, where !
discovered a superior grade of cigars
was sold, and of this shop l became a
regular customer. Ordinarily l was
served by young salesman, but fire.
quently saw in the shop an old gentle
man who, presumed, was the proprie-
tor. One day was rather surprised by
the old gentleman s stepping forward
to wait on me himself. After | was
served he said
" If you are not in a hurry, sir, l
would be pleased to have you walk into
my private office and have a smoke
81 readily asSented, and he led the
way to a room at the rear Of the store,
separated from it by glass partition,
plainly but comfortably furnished, and
having the appearance Of long and ha-
bitual use. Pushing toward me large
split bottomed rocker, my host remark
ed:
" Here, for many years, l have been
accustomed to receive my friends, of
whom l had many, but am sorry to
say that now the number is sadly di-
unfinished.
Why SOP l asked.
Because of differences in opinion,
he replied. L need not remind you Of
the condition the whole country is in,
or tell you how completely men vary in
their ideas of duty. Nowhere is that va
rance greater than here in Baltimore,
and nowhere is there greater danger of
its leading to d calamity.
You surprise me, l exclaimed. i
knew there was considerable secession
sentiment here, and that months ago it
exhibited itself openly, leading to blood
shed on the streets, but thought all
that had passed away
" BY no means, he replied The
rebel sentiment in Baltimore is as in
tense and bitter today as it ever was.
The apparent quiet is only on the sur
face. You are i'll the service of the
Union, and it may be as we'll for you to
be informed exactly what the situation
here is
" 'Three-fourths Of the people of Bal
timore are intensely southern in their
feelings and prejudices. All the slave
holders are so, and they are the leading
citizens. Following them is the class
which always toadies TO what is consid-
cred the aristOcracy, and after these
comes large disOrderly element known
as the plug uglies who are willing and
ready to do anything that looks like re-
sistance to constituted authority. Now,
l know beyond doubt that the leading
here are thoroughly organ
lied and are determined, the first favor
able opportunity that offers, to declare
openly for the new Confederacy and car
ry Baltimore certainly, and Maryland
if possible, out of the Union.
How is all this to be done?' l in
CURED.
Their plan is this: They know
every man upon whom they can rely,
and their strength is well understood.
They have clubs organized, which meet
The leaders have control of
plenty of money, and supplies of arms
are available. Regular communication
is had with the Confederate leaders in
Virginia, and they are waiting only for
4 definite, tangible opportunity to strike.
Such an opportunity would come if the !
Confederate army made an advance to-
ward WashingtOn-a thing they expect T.!
or should the Union army meet with
mother serious reverse i'll the east If
8eauregard had pursued Mcdowell after ;
he battle Of Bull Run, they would
nave risen then, and many were the
,urses heaped upon him for his failure,
IS they expressed it, to follow up his 5
,ictOry.
What, l asked, do you Union
men propose to do if the movement you
anticipate is made? 5
:" Burn the city, he replied. Just
IS certainly as the Russians burned g
doscow will we burn Baltimore if the
ebels here take it out of the Union
How can you, so few comparative
y in numbers, do this?'
Well, sir, we, too, are organized =
nd for this one purpose. In every part =
the city preparations have been made,
nd when the time comes 100 or more
res will be started at once Do YOU
now what this is?' he asked, taking
rom closet ball of tow, cotton, or
akum about the size of a large Cocoa -
ut. 1t is fire ball, thoroughly satu- a
tied with turpentine. Plenty of these
re ready, and at an understood signal
ley will be lighted and thrown where 7
ley will certainly prove effective Oh
e know well enough that we cannot .,
sist the organized rebels, but you can
ly upon it that only the ruins of Bal
more will ever become a part of the hi
Confederacy' ye
81 never saw my old Union loving
bacconist after that evening, for not
ng afterward l was sent to the army 6r
tho coutbyuact and remained tbpra in