The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-25
COL. WOOD WAS
CIVIL WAR spy
Watched Movements Of the Con-
fsderates for Stanton.
PASSED AWAY AT WASHINGTON
Ne Knew the Inside Plans Of J. Wilkes
Booth and His Fellow Consplrators
Concerning Lincoln.
PASSED AWAY AT WASHINGTON

Wa WaShtngton. March So'-NVh "i"'''
p. Wood. a veteran OF the Mexican ana
Cival wars, one OF the last survivors OF
walkers expedition TO Nicaragua. ana
for nearly half century prominent
figure in Washington, is dead at the age
OF eighty-four years.
Col. Wood, during the Civil war, was
one of the most trusted OF Secretary OF
War stanton's secret agents. He was
superinterdent OF the old Capitol prison.
At the same time he was the head or q
eecret service system. IN close touch with
All parts OF the south through contra
band OF underground mail systems
Mary prospective movements OF the
southern armies first became known In
this manner, as for instance. Lees
movement into the north. which culmi-
mated In the battle OF Gettysburg. Most
OF these underground systems carried
the mail from the Confederate states To
Canada but most OF the important let
terv were transcribed at the old Captoi
prison before they ever reached their
destination n was by this method that
the Vaccinations of the knights OF the
Golden Circle and other secret societies
In the interest OF the confederacy were
watched.
FIRST III INV AliE j'iHiTss
When stanton was made secretary OF
war, Colonel Wood was at once called
20 the war department where n com
prehensive commission was given him
in Stanton's own handwriting. TO have
fun charge Of the prison without inter-
ference from the military authorities,
except In n general way.
Wood organized about forty Of his
friends early In April, 1861. into n com
pany of scouts. He always asserted
that he with ten OF his scouts. was the
first armed party OF Federals that inva-
ded southern territory. He often cross
ed the Potomac at night with ten or
dozen OF these scouts. loaded down with
firearms and ammunition. for the pur-
pose of annoying the confederate pickets
stationed along the Potomac around Ar
lington Heights, by keeping up fusil-
lade sufficient to make them think
whole regiment was coming.
Probably the most notable feat that
Col Wood performed was tho exchange
of civilian prisoners of the Federals and
Confederates at Richmond. Va, and Sal
isbury, n. G.. Many prisoners of south
crn sympathies, natives OF Washington,
Maryland and Virginia had been confined
for long terms in the old Capitol prison
and Carroll place. while the Same was
true OF outspoken Federal sympathizers
I'm Richmond and other cities Of the
south. About 80 Confederate prisoners
were placed aboard the steamer John A.,
Warner under a small guard OF the ia
nous Pennsylvania bucktails with Col
Wood in charge.
Although the John A. Warner was
stopped for "A time by the United States
military authorities on the ground that
Col. Wood had no authority TO proceed
with his prisoners he soon took matters
into his own hands, armed the prisoners.
cowed the guards and getting steam up.
proceeded toward Richmond in spite of
all orders.
When Col. Wood was Mt Salisbury a
general telegraphed TO Stanton COM
planning OF Woods actions and stating
that he would not obey orders Stanton
telegraphed back: ''If he does not obey
orders shoot him on the spot" quot
ing Dix's famous flag order in a sarcas-
tic way.
Wood made several trips to Richmond
during the Civil war either on secret
service or for Lincoln.
KNEW THE AssAssINs PLOT.
He always said he was the only per-
son who knew the whole OF the inside
history of the Booth conspiracy against
Lincoln. At first IL consisted only OF
q crazy plan TO kidnap Lincoln and take
him to Richmond. This plan was con-
cocted at a meeting place In a boarding
house on the corner OF + and Ninth
streets, northwest, here, in which Col.
WUUt rrTTr1u rUOm Tor HUfnbGT OF
months. where he occasionally slept or
employed some one else 10 do so, I'm or
der to keep watch upon the proceedings.
One Of the maddest OF the crowd that
met here was one Payne n Mosby guer-
lila, who had been captured and brought
20 Washington.
Payne took the oath OF allegiance 20
the United States and Quit the guerilla
business. 40 he was discharges from the
old Capitol prison without exchange and
remained In Washington. Their plans
for the capture OF Lincoln were always