Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson Part 45

CHAPTER XXI.

SCHEME FOR A NEW REBELLION.--ANDREW JOHNSON AND HIS CO- CONSPIRATORS.--THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY AND SECRETARY OF WAR SAVE THE COUNTRY.--"TOM" ANDERSON'S BRUTAL MURDER.--UNCLE DANIEL DIES.

"Forgiveness to the injured does belong, But they never pardon who have done the wrong."

--Dryden

"Jones surrendered to Sherwood. Mobile had fallen Iand all the minor commands in rebellion were trying to see which could get in first. The President of the Confederacy had been captured by Wellston. Our great armies were mustered out of the service, and peace once more reigned throughout the land. The then President had by his declarations shown such bitter hostility toward the leading rebels that they were greatly alarmed, and many were leaving the country. The General of our armies had established his headquarters at Washington, and all matters pertaining to the future were now in the hands of the civil authorities.

"Gen. Anderson had returned to my house, where he found joy and happiness in our little family at his safety after pa.s.sing through the storm of this great struggle. His wife and little Mary, as well as little Jennie, seemed as though they would never get through kissing him. Henry and his wife (Seraine) were now with-us. Lieut. Whitcomb returned to Detroit to his parents. Gen. Anderson and Henry were all who were left of the eight of my household who had entered the service. You can imagine the sadness this brought back to me. David's wife (Jennie) became melancholy and more depressed than usual. She was stricken with fever and died in about three weeks after the General's return. This left this dear child"--pointing to Jennie Wilson--"alone in the world, without a protector, save her poor old grandfather. Mary Anderson, the General, Henry and Seraine were all kind and willing to do anything for her that they could. She was sole heir to her father's farm, which had been left in my hands, and naturally looked to me, and so we have ever since lived together.

"Henry, Seraine, Gen. Anderson and his family stayed with me until the General could determine whether he would remain North or venture to return to his old home in Mississippi. Old Ham and Aunt Martha, after the murder of Mr. Lincoln, seemed to have lost all energy, and were unusually silent and melancholy, seldom speaking to any one, save in the expression of their great joy at the safe return of their Marsa Gen'l.'

One day, while we were sitting on the porch, the General said to Ham, who had come to the front of the house:

"'Ham, what is the matter with you and Aunt Martha? You seem to be in a serious mood all the time, since my return?'

"'Yes, Marsa Gen'l, we is monstrous serious, sah. We feels bad 'bout Marsa Linc.u.m, what dem 'Sesh kill. He war our bes' frien', He make us free, and we feel dat dar am some wrong somewhar, dat dem 'Sesh starve de Union sogers; dey shoots dem when dey wants to, and dey kills our President, and none of dem get hunged for dis. If dis is de way dat matters is a-gwine, what am goin' to 'come of de darkies? Whar am dey gwine? What am gwine to 'come ob Marfa and Ham? Dat's what am worryin'

us.'

"'Well, Ham, you need not worry about that. You will be taken care of. I will see to that.'

"Just then Aunt Martha came into the house, and hearing the conversation, the good old woman became greatly excited. When she heard what the General said to Ham she caught hold of the former, and in her way gave expression to her feelings. She said:

"'Marsa Gen'l, I's mighty feered somethin' bad gwine to happen to us poor colored folks. Dar frien's seem de only ones what get kill, and when dey do de folks do nuffln wid de 'Sesh. Dey send dem home agin, so dat dey do jes' what dey please. You mind what Aunt Marfa say, dem 'Sesh do wid de darkies what dey wan' to in less den no time. Dey is free; I know dat; but who dey work for? Mus' dey be under de same ones what sell dem before de 'bellion? If dey is, den de 'Sesh make dem young darkies what's comin' on b'lieve anything dey wants to; and afore dey is growd up dey be helpin' de 'Sesh, and den what we do? I tells you dis bin on my min' and in Ham's head, too. We trus' in de good Laud; and you, Marsa Gen'l, you kin fix dis. I's sure you kin. De good Laud spare you for dis; I know he do. I's sure dar was six mans in dis family, all kill, my good old missus die, den my good young missus, she die; dey was all kill and die 'ceptin' you, and I knows dat you are save to take keer of us darkies, or you bin kill long afore dis!'

"'Well, aunty, I will do all I can for everybody. You and Ham shall be cared for; have no fears about that.'

"'Dat be good. I always know you look after us, Marsa Gen'l, case we sabe you life; but, den, my chillens, Laud knows whar dey is. Ham and me bin talkin' 'bout dat. We wants dem to get long, but we not know dem, nor whar dey am. Maybe we see dem some day.'

"'All right, aunty, we will talk about this hereafter.'

"Poor old darkies! They both went back to the kitchen better satisfied and much happier."

Dr. Adams said: "Uncle Daniel, Aunt Martha did not miss it very far, did she?'

"No; the poor old woman had a presentiment that matters would not be as peaceful and well for the colored people as was antic.i.p.ated.

"Just at this time old man Joseph Dent rode up to the gate. He was as glad to see the General as if he had been one of his own family. We talked over the war, and praised the old man for the part he had played in a.s.sisting us in discovering the plots of the conspirators. He returned to the farm greatly delighted that his work was appreciated.

"We all remained at home for some time trying to shake off our many sorrows. Mary Anderson and Seraine tried to make it pleasant for all.

The General interested us in giving his experiences, and Henry in turn his with the conspirators. Time wore on, and finally Gen. Anderson concluded to go to Colorado for the purpose of seeing what he could do in the mines, leaving his wife and daughter still with me. Henry remained with us; he and Seraine visiting occasionally with his friends at Detroit.

"Congress was engaged in trying to agree upon a plan for the reconstruction of the South, as well as to reorganize the army. When the law was pa.s.sed for the latter purpose I was written to by the Secretary of War in order to ascertain Gen. Anderson's whereabouts. I wrote him, giving his address. The General was tendered a position in the army.

He came home and consulted his wife, but finally declined it. He recommended Lieut. James Whitcomb, his Aid-de-Camp, Seraine's brother, for a position, and he was appointed a Lieutenant in the cavalry arm of the service. He is still alive and in the army, but transferred, as I understand, to a different branch of the service.

"The General concluded to go to Washington city, where he remained some weeks. On returning he thought he would settle there in the practice of the law. His wife did not wish to go until he had tried the chances of success. So it was arranged that his family should remain with me, his wife wishing to return to her old home when she felt that it was safe for the General. He returned to Washington, and did very well.

"By this time there seemed to be some friction between the President and Congress. This condition of things continued, with ill-feeling, and the breach still widening. The President differed widely with the Republican majority, as well as the Secretary of War and the General of the Army, as to the reconstruction of the States recently in rebellion. Every measure that Congress would pa.s.s with a view of taking charge of the colored people or aiding them in their perilous condition, was rejected by the President, and had to be pa.s.sed over his veto. It was the same with matters in reference to reconstruction. He began haranguing the populace from the balcony of the Executive Mansion, in order to create an ill-feeling and prejudice in the minds of the people against their representatives.

"He, however, very suddenly changed his views as to the proper treatment for the leaders of the rebellion. Instead of wishing them tried and punished, as formerly, he thought a portion of Congress should be tried and punished. He turned his back on his Union friends and made the leading rebels and their sympathizers of the North his confidants.

Jefferson Davis and all those under arrest for treason were, under his new programme, released. He denounced leading Republicans as conspirators and traitors. He was cajoled by every conspirator of the late rebellion. Finally the visits of certain men from Maryland and Virginia became so frequent that it aroused a suspicion in the minds of the Secretary of War and the Chief of Staff to the General of the Army, and very soon this suspicion extended to the General himself that a new conspiracy was being organized. The General was led to believe this, first, on the ground that the President at one time wanted all the leading men who had been paroled by the General arrested and tried by the U. S. Court in Virginia. This the General of the Army had resisted in such a manner as to cause quite a coolness between the two. The same men that he at one time desired to see hanged had now become his companions, confidential friends and advisers.

"Information was received about this time, through a source that could not be doubted by the Secretary of War nor by the General of the Army, of a programme which had been agreed upon by the President and certain rebels claiming that their States were sovereign, were States now as ever, with all their rights--that of representation included. The President determined to issue his proclamation for an election of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives from all the States lately in rebellion, and if they came to Washington claiming their seats, and should not be admitted by the Republican majority, he would organize a Congress with the Southern members and the Northern Democrats, and as President would recognize them as the Congress of the United States and send his messages and communications accordingly. If the Republicans resisted he would disperse them by force, and thereby make them the rebels against the lawful Government, as he claimed, and in that way turn it over to its enemies and their sympathizers, with himself as their chief instead of Mr. Davis, holding the Capital and all the Government archives. If he could induce the General of the Army to obey his orders he could carry out this scheme; if not, he would get rid of the General and try and find some other officer upon whom he could rely. To be prepared in case he could not use the Commander of the Army, a force was to be organized in Maryland and Virginia, which was to sweep down upon Washington and take possession before outside forces could be organized against the President's authority, using in connection with this force such of the army as would obey him. He tested the General of the Army and found he could not use him to aid in starting a new rebellion. He then concluded that he would send him away to Mexico, and put in some pliant tool as Secretary of War, and then put this scheme in operation.

"Just about this time an application was made to the General of the Army, without coming through the Secretary of War, by the State of Maryland, for its quota of arms. This at once struck the General as strange. He went to the Secretary of War, and upon consultation the application was placed among the relics of the past. In a day or so the President inquired of the General if he had received such an application. The General said he had, and was asked what he was going to do. He answered that it would be looked into. This seemed to the General very unusual, for a President to be looking after such things.

"I had gone to Washington to look after pay that was due three of my sons when killed. While sitting with Gen. Anderson in his room, soon after my arrival, a knock was heard at the door. A boy entered with a note from the Secretary of War, saying he had just heard of my arrival and desired to see me."

"The next morning as soon as I could I went to his office. When I met him he was very cordial with me; conversed about the murder of Mr.

Lincoln and the utter collapse of the rebellion, as well as the great loss in my family. I spoke to him about my business, and he at once directed matters so that it would be attended to without delay. The Secretary then said to me that it was through my direction that Mr.

Lincoln and himself had been able to thwart the late conspirators in many of their diabolical schemes during the war, and that they failed only in one--that of preventing the murder of the President.

"In speaking of this sad calamity the great tears stood in his eyes.

'But,' said he, 'my dear friend Lyon, we are now standing upon the verge of a volcano, and this time, if the schemes of the conspirators can be carried out, we will be in more danger than ever; and we who have just put this great rebellion down will be compelled to play the part of rebels ourselves in the next great drama.'

"I was almost struck dumb by this announcement, and thought the Secretary was perhaps unnecessarily alarmed at some minor matter. He rang his bell for a messenger, and sent him across the street for the General of the Army. He soon came in, and after pleasant greetings we all retired to the Secretary's private room. There he was about to make me acquainted with this whole matter, when the General said to the Secretary that he desired his Chief of Staff to be present. He was sent for, and soon entered. I was put under a pledge of secrecy, and then the whole scheme was revealed to me as I have told it to you, except that it was given to me more in detail. The name of their secret informant was given, and I was then truly surprised and could no longer doubt the facts as to the conspiracy for the second rebellion. The man who had unfolded the scheme to the Secretary of War and to the General of the Army was a man of reputation in a marked degree; had held a high position in the Confederate service, but had seen enough of war, and also respected his parole to the General of our Army.

"The General did not know at what moment he might be relieved from the command of the Army, and was therefore anxious that the Secretary of War might in some way be prepared for the emergency, should it arise; but said that he could not personally be a party to any preparations for such an event while he was subject to the orders of the President. So he said that he would retire, but would leave his Chief of Staff, who, he said, seemed to be belligerent enough for any purpose. When the General withdrew the Secretary said:

"'Now, Mr. Lyon, what can you do to aid us, or what do you suggest?'

"I said: 'Give me until this evening to reflect upon the matter and I will meet you gentlemen here at any hour that may be agreed upon.' So eight o'clock was designated, and we separated.

"During the day I made inquiry of Gen. Anderson about the disbanded soldiers; how they, or some of them, could be organized in an emergency, and supposed the case of the rebels trying their rebellion over again.

He laughed at the idea, but said there was but one condition of things that could possibly bring about such a result, and that was if the President should undertake the restoration of all the rebel States without the action of Congress, as he had heard hinted by some leading rebels who had recently been in Washington.

"I asked him if it would not be well for some men of influence to be on the alert.

"'Yes,' he replied; 'there ought to be a secret force in Washington and elsewhere, until the reconstruction of the rebel States is complete.'

"I said no more to him at this time on the subject. Gen. Anderson said he would call and see the General of the Army in a day or so, as he had only visited him occasionally since in Washington, but that his calls were always made very pleasant.

"At eight o'clock sharp I went to the War Office and found the Secretary and the Chief of Staff to the General waiting for me. We at once entered into conversation on the subject of the conspiracy. I made the same suggestion that Gen. Anderson had intimated to me, which was at once discussed and thought to be a good proposition. But how could it be done without the whole matter being made public in some way? The Secretary thought this was a matter that should be kept within the knowledge of a very few discreet men.

"'True,' said I; 'but you must have a nucleus here in Washington if you can find the man to organize it. I know a man who would be perfectly safe, but I have a suggestion in connection with him that I think better. It is this: My son Henry is very anxious to go to the Black Hills, but that country being unsafe, on account of the Indians, I have been thinking that a large number of discharged soldiers would jump at an enterprise of this kind. They could be organized and have it so arranged that they could be got together quickly for any emergency; and if the emergency should not arise, when the danger should be pa.s.sed the General of the Army could properly issue an order preventing any organization or combination of men from entering the Black Hills country, and instruct the army in that part of the West to carry out the order. This would let the men at the head of the organization out of the sc.r.a.pe, and would afford them an ample excuse for abandoning the enterprise.'

"The Secretary said: 'This seems feasible; who could you trust with this management?'

"I replied: 'Gen. Tom Anderson.'

"'Just the man,' replied both gentlemen.

"'The Secretary said: 'This part is in your hands. We do not wish to see anyone but you on this part of the plan. We will give our confidence to no one else. We hope you will not delay. We will look out for Washington. You need not hesitate; these two men, Gen. Anderson and your son, will be amply compensated.'

"The Chief of Staff to the General then remarked: 'I think I know the man to take hold of matters in Washington.' He then named a man who had been a Union officer, and who was then in the city. He was sent for and had an interview the following afternoon with the two gentlemen mentioned. I immediately returned, met Gen. Anderson, and asked him to go with me to my room. When there I laid the case before him fully, imposing entire secrecy, should the terrible threatened disaster be averted, saying to him that Henry, my son, being young and thoughtless, must not know the inside, but must look upon it merely as a matter of precaution, and with the intention of carrying out the Black Hills scheme in order to get into that rich mineral country.