_The Conspirators in Council.--My Operative Joins the Conspiracy._
I had already written to Mr. Norman B. Judd as the party reached
Cincinnati, informing him that I had reason to believe that there was a
plot on foot to murder the President on his passage through Baltimore,
and promising to advise him further as the party progressed eastward.
This information Mr. Judd did not divulge to any one, fearing to
occasion undue anxiety or unnecessary alarm, and knowing that I was upon
the ground and could be depended upon to act at the proper time.
When the party reached Buffalo another note from me awaited Mr. Judd,
informing him of the accumulation of evidence, but conveying no
particulars. The party were now journeying towards New York city, and I
determined to learn all that there was to learn before many hours.
Previous to this, in addition to the men engaged in Baltimore, I had
sent for Mrs. Kate Warne, the lady superintendent of my agency. This
lady had arrived several days before, and had already made remarkable
progress in cultivating the acquaintance of the wives and daughters of
the conspirators.
Mrs. Warne was eminently fitted for this task. Of rather a commanding
person, with clear-cut, expressive features, and with an ease of manner
that was quite captivating at times, she was calculated to make a
favorable impression at once. She was of Northern birth, but in order to
vouch for her Southern opinions, she represented herself as from
Montgomery, Alabama, a locality with which she was perfectly familiar,
from her connection with the detection of the robbery of the Adams
Express Company, at that place. Her experience in that case, which is
fully detailed in "The Expressman and the Detective," fully qualified
her for the task of representing herself as a resident of the South.
She was a brilliant conversationalist when so disposed, and could be
quite vivacious, but she also understood that rarer quality in
womankind, the art of being silent.
The information she received was invaluable, but as yet the meetings of
the chief conspirators had not been entered. Mrs. Warne displayed upon
her breast, as did many of the ladies of Baltimore, the black and white
cockade, which had been temporarily adopted as the emblem of secession,
and many hints were dropped in her presence which found their way to my
ears, and were of great benefit to me.
As I have said, the Presidential party were in Buffalo, and I had
resolved upon prompt and decisive measures to discover the inward
workings of the conspirators. Accordingly I obtained an interview with
Howard, and gave him such instructions as I deemed necessary under the
circumstances. He was to insist upon Hill taking him to the meeting at
which the ballots were to be drawn, and where he, too, would have an
opportunity to immortalize himself, and then, that being accomplished,
the rest would be easy and all further danger would be over.
Accordingly, that day Howard broached the matter to Hill in a manner
which convinced him of his earnestness, and the young Lieutenant
promised his utmost efforts to secure his admission. At five o'clock in
the afternoon they again met, and Hill joyfully informed his companion
that his request had been granted, and that, upon his vouching for the
fidelity of his friend, he had succeeded in obtaining permission for him
to enter their society.
That evening Howard accompanied his friend Hill to the rendezvous of the
league, and as they entered the darkened chamber, they found many of the
conspirators already assembled. The members were strangely silent, and
an ominous awe seemed to pervade the entire assembly. About twenty men
comprised the number, but many entered afterward. After a few
preliminary movements, Howard was conducted to the station of the
President of the assembly and duly sworn, the members gathering around
him in a circle as this was being done.
[Illustration: "_Howard was conducted to the station of the President,
and duly sworn._" P. 76.]
Having passed through the required formula, Howard was warmly taken by
the hand by his associates, many of whom he had met in the polite
circles of society. After quiet had been restored, the President, who
was none other than Captain Fernandina, arose, and in a dramatic manner
detailed the particulars of the plot.
It had been fully determined that the assassination should take place at
the Calvert street depot. A vast crowd of secessionists were to assemble
at that place to await the arrival of the train with Mr. Lincoln. They
would appear early and fill the narrow streets and passages immediately
surrounding it. No attempt at secrecy was made of the fact that the
Marshal of Police was conversant with their plans, and that he would
detail but a small force of policemen to attend the arrival, and
nominally clear and protect a passage for Mr. Lincoln and his suite. Nor
was the fact disguised that these policemen were in active sympathy with
the movement. George P. Kane's animus was fully shown when he was
subsequently arrested by General Banks, and afterwards became an officer
in the rebel army.
When the train entered the depot, and Mr. Lincoln attempted to pass
through the narrow passage leading to the streets, a party already
delegated were to engage in a conflict on the outside, and then the
policemen were to rush away to quell the disturbance. At this
moment--the police being entirely withdrawn--Mr. Lincoln would find
himself surrounded by a dense, excited and hostile crowd, all hustling
and jamming against him, and then the fatal blow was to be struck.
A swift steamer was to be stationed in Chesapeake Bay, with a boat
awaiting upon the shore, ready to take the assassin on board as soon as
the deed was done, and convey him to a Southern port, where he would be
received with acclamations of joy and honored as a hero.
The question to be decided this evening was: "Who should do the deed?"
"Who should assume the task of liberating the nation of the foul
presence of the abolitionist leader?" For this purpose the meeting had
been called to-night, and to-night the important decision was to be
reached.
It was finally determined that ballots should be prepared and placed in
a box arranged for that purpose, and that the person who drew a _red_
ballot should perform the duty of assassination.
In order that none should know who drew the fatal ballot, except he who
did so, the room was rendered still darker, and every one was pledged to
secrecy as to the color of the ballot he drew. The leaders, however, had
determined that their plans should not fail, and doubting the courage of
some of their number, instead of placing but _one red ballot_ in the
box, they placed _eight_ of the designated color, and these eight
ballots were drawn--each man who drew them believing that upon him, his
courage, strength and devotion, depended the cause of the South--each
supposing that he alone was charged with the execution of the deed.
After the ballots had been drawn the President again addressed the
assembly. He violently assailed the enemies of the South, and in glowing
words pointed out the glory that awaited the man who would prove himself
the hero upon this great occasion, and finally, amid much restrained
enthusiasm, the meeting adjourned, and their duties had thus far been
accomplished.
My time for action had now arrived; my plans had been perfected and I
resolved to act at once. Taking Mrs. Warne with me I reached New York
city on the same day that the presidential party arrived there, and
leaving Mrs. Warne to perfect arrangements, I proceeded at once to
Philadelphia. That evening Mrs. Warne repaired to the Astor House and
requested an interview with Mr. Judd. Her request being granted, Mrs.
Warne informed that gentleman, that, fearing to trust the mail in so
important a matter, she had been delegated by me to arrange for a
personal interview, at which all the proofs relating to the conspiracy
could be submitted to him. It was suggested that immediately after the
arrival of the party in Philadelphia, I should inform Mr. Judd of my
plans for an interview, and that he would be governed accordingly.
While they were conversing, Col. E. S. Sandford, President of the
American Telegraph Company, called, and was introduced by Mrs. Warne to
Mr. Judd. This gentleman had been made fully acquainted with what I had
learned, and had promised all the assistance within his power, and he
accordingly tendered to Mr. Judd his own personal service and the
unlimited use of the telegraph lines under his control, for any
communications he might desire to make.
On arriving at Philadelphia, I proceeded directly to the office of Mr.
Felton, and acquainted him with all the information I had received, of
the designs of the conspirators with regard to Mr. Lincoln, and of their
intention to destroy the railroad should their plot be successful. The
situation was truly alarming, and cautious measures were absolutely
necessary. It was therefore resolved to obtain an interview with Mr.
Lincoln, submit the facts to him, and be governed by his suggestions,
whatever they might be.
This interview took place on the 20th day of February, and Mr. Lincoln
was expected to arrive on the following day. Great preparations had been
made for his reception, and the military, of which Philadelphia was
justly proud, were to escort the President-elect from the depot to the
Continental Hotel, where quarters had been engaged for him, and where he
would receive the congratulations of the people.