The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-01-02
seem that he was successful only when
In command of infantry.

a PLAN TO CAPTURE LINCOLN
Duling the winter of 1864 Col
bradley L. johnson, in command of the
Maryland line, originated plan that
had for its object the capture of Presl,
dent Lincoln. At first glance the
undertaking seemed a foOlhardy one,
but after all the details were laid before
Gen. Hampton he fully approved of
the undertaking, as did Gen. Lee.
Indeed so enthusiastic did Hampton
become over 1t that he asked to be
allowed to conduct the expedition at
the head of four thousand horse and
might have done so but for SherIdan's
advance.
During that winter the Confederate
authorities were, if possible, more
than usually well supplied with infor-
nation from friends o. the cause in
Washington and they knew perfectly
well where every picket post was
located and the number of men COM
posing each.
10 carry out this apparently lcs-
peratc undertaking Col. johnson was
70 take the 1st Maryland cavalry
many of whose members, coming from
the vicinity of Washington and the
city itself, knew the country we'll
Johnson was to cross the Potomac
above Georgetown, make dash at a
battalion of cavalry known to be
stationed thore and then push OH to
the Soldiers Home where 1t was well
known President Lincoln lived and,
after capturing him, send HIM across
the river in charge of small body of
picked men, while the main body, to
invite pursuit and distract the encmy's
attention from tins small party, was to
cut the wires leading in every directi III
and then move back through Western
! Mary'"nd to the Valley of Virginia.
After the battle of Trcvillan, Gen.
Hampton gave Col. johnson orders to
prepare for the trip. The best horses
IN the whole cavalry command were
carefully selected and The strongest
men III the Maryland cavalry picked
out, but while shOcing the horses and
recruiting his men in Goochland
County he was prevented from carry
ing out his much cherished plan by an
order to join Gen. Early with his bat
TALON, as his services were urgently
needed to cover that generals rear
while he went after Hunter, who had
marched upon l.ynchburg.
Had it not been for this unexpected
interruption what might have grown
| out OF this undertaking, had it been
successful, and what hearing would it
have had on the future conduct of the
war? Gen. Johnson has told me since
that he felt confident of succeeding,
on1 that frn,,, bn ;,c
possession, the undertaking was not
near SO difficult as one would suppose.
During Early's operations against
Hunter Col. Johnson was promoted
to the command of brigade and, at
his earnest request, he was permitted
to attach the lst Maryland battalion
and Gilmore's I'd Maryland to his
brigade. On the 9TH day Of July he
was ordered by Gen. Early TO cross the
Potomac at Sharpsburg and take the
advance in that generals invasion of
Maryland, which had for its man
purpose the investment of the Federal
Capital.
After he had effected a crossing
Johnson shaped his course toward
Frederick, which he was to threaten
uheii iboii uI) Will Ills urea luU
fantry, for these had been marching
without intcrmission for many weeks
and their movements were necessarily
slow.
In connection with this movement
into Maryland scheme Cor the liberia
ton of $4,000 Confederate prisoners
confined ut Point Lookout had been
approved by Gen. Lee and Gen. John
son, with his brigade, had been
selected to carry it out if possible.
This matter was dependent, however,
on Early's being able to MAINTAIN a
position TO which the released prisoners
could be conducted.
sIIELI.ED Ills OWN HOUSE.
Whllc johnson was making a
demonstration in front Of Frederick bv
throwing an occasional shell aimed at
his own house, which had been con-
iiscatcd, Early came up and engaged
| Wallace at the Monocacy and after
that battle, which resulted IN the utter
rout of tho Federal army, the cavalry
| struck of in the direction of West
minister, on their way to the line of
he Northern Central Railroad at
| OoShSO ofhio1 tI WHICH, pOlllI N'lllnOTc,
with his battalion, was detached, with
instructions to destroy the Philadel-
phin, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail-
road at Bush and Gunpowder rivers.
! Gilmore was successful beyond his
expectations, for he not only succeeded
III destroying the road at these points,
but he also captured passenger train
upon which was Gen. w. B. Franklin,
one of the most distinguished generals
in the Federal army. But Franklin
was not destined to be n prisoner long,
as he mysterlously disappeared few
days afterward. 1t was given out that
Gen. Franklinmade his escape owing
to the fact that his guards slumbered
one night, but the story was never
given the slightest credence by the
troopers Of the lst Maryland. Harry
Gilmore was a generous and grate eful
man, and never forgot to return an act
of kindness with interest, and the
most likely reason for Gen. Franklin's
escape is that he had bcfriendcd Harry
when he was himself prisoner al
Fort Warren, and in return proved his
gratitude by setting him free.
BALTIMORE IN A PANIC.
The Maryland boys were now upon
their native heath, and many of them
| for the frat fina oipco fho mo.