The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-13
Lincoln Conspiracy and
It's COnSpirdtOrS a:a.a.a.
copyrighted. 1902. by The Baltimore Americana

whom received far better treatment. no
change occurring, however, in the nature
and kind of food issued. it still being of the
meanest and coarsest nature. The stay or
this regiment was very short. and they
were relieved by the Eighty-second United
States colored infantry, under whom the
first change occurred, rendering imprison-
ment almost insupportable.
DR.. Samuel Mudd, upon the arrival of the
Eighty-second Regiment. on Sept. Is, 1865.
made an attempt TO escape. because. as he
afterward informed me- he was fearful that
his life would be sacrificed under their rule.
Under the plea of the attempt of Mudd to
escape, each Of US was placed within a
dungeon and shackles were placed around
our ankles. and in this degraded condition
we were compelled to daily perform certain
assigned labor.
COLONEL GREENFIELD ARRIVES.
Col George ST. Leger Grenfell. quite an
aged gentleman, arrived at the fort shortly
after Mudds attempt at escape under the
alleged charge of conspiracy and was
placed in the same dungeon with and
the same shameful indignity and degrade
ton heaped upon him, which leads me TO
suppose that DR.. Mudd's attempt at es-
cape was not the true grounds upon which
this act of barbarity and inhumanity was
based. 1t was hardly known throughout
the country as yet that we had been sent
to Dry Tortugas. The War Department.
under whose sealed orders we were sent TO
Dry Tortugas. knew Of the fact of our arri-
val, and SO did its chief detective, Gen. L.
c. Baker, who must have started on his
tour of the Western part of the country
about the same period as our departure
from Washington, from the fact that less
than a month had passed away before he
had unearthed another conspiracy which
was organizing to rescue our imprisoned
bodies from the authorities at Dry Tortu-
gas.
The country seemed to be infested with
conspiracies, or at least the heads of the
breathed only poisonous vapors of combina-
lions of persons combining together in some
unlawful enterprise. Why was this so? L
will answer ii in a very few words. They
were the conspirators themselves. con-
spring not only against the innocent citi-
zens of the Republic, but against the Re-
public itself, creating a necessity for the
purpose Of carrying out the natural pro-
| pensity of their own hearts. To cover up
their own natures in the transaction they
stopped to deception and caused to be
stated that the reason for placing US in
irons, etc., was Mudds attempt at escape.
ALLEGED RESCUE PLAN.
| That 1t was all false and was so from the
| beginning 1 will endeavor to prove. using
| their own weapons, as will be seen by the
following copy of a telegram which was
| forwarded to the commanding officer of
| Dry Tortugas for his guidance and instruc-
| ton. viz:
Louisville, KY, Aug. IL. 1866, 9 a. m
| Hon. I. T. Echart. Acting Assistant Sec
rotary of War:
| Il have important papers. / think the
| commanding officer of Dry Tortugas should
| be put on guard against an attempt to res
cue the state prisoners In his charge. "A
| company is organizing in New Orleans for
| that purpose. / have all the facts from a
| reliable source.
Brig. Gen. Pro. Mar, war Department.
"A true copy
"a: Generals once, Aug. IT, 1866.
| 'ISignedl E. d. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General"
News Of this conspiracy organizing, not
organized, was communicated to each de-
partment commander. and soon all were in
wild commotion. each endeavoring to out
4 90 the Otner In tnelr attempt TO render
abortive the object of that which had no
existence beyond their own designing minds
| OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS.
| In quick succession communications from
the different headquarters arrived at the
post, copies of which herewith append:
WAR Dept, Adjt. Gems Office,
| Washington Aug. IL, 1865
| Col c. H. Hamilton, One-hundred- and
tenth New York Volunteers. or the Com
handing Offlcer. Dry Tortusas. Fla.
| Sir inclose herewith copy of a tele-
! gram from Brig. Gen. L. c. Baker, provost
marshal Of the War Department The Sec
rotary Of war directs that besides taking
| effectual measures against any attempt to
rescue prisoners you will place the four
| state prisoners-Arnold Mudd Spangler
| and OLaughlin-under such restraint and
! within such limits inside Fort Jefferson as
shall make abortive any attempt at escape
| or rescue. You will return by Lieutenant
Carpenter, the bearer Of this, a full repor,
| OF the measures you take under these in
| structions. Very respectfully,
| Your obedient servant.
| "ISigned1 E. d. TOWNSEND,
| Assistant Adjutant General"