The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-31

|
going to dinner, fire began burning
in the room next to his. 1t was prompt
| ly put out, and was found to be caused
by clock-work apparatus which had
been left in that room by lodper who
had departed some hours before. Other
| fires likewise occurred. In every in.
stance these fires were extingushed
without much damage and without ex.
citing any considerable public atten-
ton, thanks to the precautions that had
been taken in consequence of the warn
ing derived from Mr. Clay's despatch
to Mr.. Benjamin in Richmond. The
plan of setting fire TO Chicago proved
even more abortive; do not remem-
Der that any report Of actual burning
was received from there.
Later in the fall, after the military
operations had substantially terminated
for the season, dispatch was brought
from Canada, signed by Mr.. Clay and
addressed to Mr.. Benjamin, as Secre-
tary of State in the Confederate Gov
eminent, conveying the information
that new and really formidable mill
tary expedition against northern Yer
mont, particularly against Burlington,
il L am not mistaken, had been organiz-
ed and fitted out in Canada, and would
make its attack as soon as practicable.
This was after the well known attempt
upon st. Albans and Lake Champlain,
October 10, 1864, and promised to be
much more injurious. The despatch
reached Washington one Sunday morn
ing and was brought to the War De-
partment as usual.
But its importance in the eyes of
the Confederate agents had led to its
being prepared for transportation with
uncommon care. 1t was placed be-
tween two thickDesses of the pair of
reinforced cavalry trousers which the
messenger wore, so that when he
was mounted it was held between his
thigh and saddle.
Having been careful y ripped out and
opened, the despatch was imme diately
carried to Mr.. Stanton, who was con-
fined to his house by cold. He read
it. "This is serious" he said. $50
over to the White House and ask the
President TO come here"
Mr.. Lincoln was found dressing to 90
to church, and he was soon driven to
Mr.. Stanton's house. After discussing
the subject in every aspect, and consid-
ering thoroughly the probability that
to keep the despatch 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 shelf
ering themst Ives behind the British
Government in Canada, had organized
and fitted out military expedition
lo - nh, 10
the despatch afforded evidence that
could not be gainsaid, the mere posses
sion of it was not sufficient. 1t must
be found in the possession of the Cor
federate despatch bearer, and the
circumstances attending its capture
must be established in such manner
that the British Foreign Office would
not be able to dispute the genuineness
of the document. "We must have this
paper for Seward" said Mr.. Lincoln.
GAS for the young man, get him out of
the scrape if you can"
Accordingly the paper was taken
back to the war department and sewed
up again in the trousers whence it had
been taken three hours before. The
bearer was instructed to start at dusk
on the road which he usually took in
passing through the lines; to be at
certain tavern outside of Alexandria at
nine O'Clock in the evening, and stop
there to water his horse. Then infor-
nation was sent through Ma Nor. General
Augur, commandant of Washington
and the surrounding region, to Colonel
Henry H. Wells, then Provost Marshal
General of the defences south of the
Potomac, stationed at Alexandria, di-
recting him to be at this tavern at nine
O'Clock in the evening, and arrest a
Confederate despatch bearer, concern
ing whom authentic information had
been received at the war department,
and whose description was furnished
for his (WelPs) guidance. He was to
do the messenger no injury, but was to
make sure of his person and of sll
papers that he might have upon him,
and to bring him under a sufficient
guard directly to the war department
And General Augur was directed to be
present there in order to assist in the
examination of the prisoner and so be
in position to afterward verify any
dispatches that might be found.
Accordingly, just before midnight a
carriage drove up to the door of the
war department with a soldier on the
box and two soldiers on the front seat
within, while the back seat was occu-
pied by Colonel Wells and the prisoner.
Of course, no one but the two or three
who had been in the secret was aware
that this gentleman had walked quietly
out of the war department only a few
hours previously, and that the paper
which was the cause of the entire cere-
mony had been sewed up in his clothes
just before his departure. Colonel
Wells reported that while the prisoner
had offered no resistance, he was vio-
lent and outrageous in his language
and that he boosted tiercely of his de-
votion to the Confederacy and his de-
testation of the Union. During the
examination which now followed he
said nothing except in answer to few
questions, but his bearing-patient,
scornful and undaunted-wss that of
an incompatible actor. If Mr.. Clay
and Mr.. Benjamin had been present,
they would have been more than ever