Jefferson Davis and the Conspiracy

[LincolnToddFan]

[I think Mr. Stanton, for example, was much more comfortable with "hard war" tactics than was the “let’em up easy boys” AL. And though a lawyer himself, I don't think he was as thoughtful as Lincoln nor as concerned about “legal technicalities” in the prosecution of the war. Although it is possible that AL personally authorized such an order, I do not find it probable. I find it more probable that, if an assassination order was issued, it was further down the chain than AL himself]// quote

Scott-

I have similar feelings about the role of Edwin Stanton in any possible assassination plots vs. Jefferson Davis and his Govt, but I don't have any proof other than a gut feeling.

And I have always felt the exact same way about Judah Benjamin. A brilliant, talented guy by every description, but I've always found him vaguely sinister.

[Susan Higginbotham]

(08-01-2014 06:41 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Do you think Van Lew held him in esteem because of who his father was? Or was Crazy Bets in cahoots with the plan to raid Richmond? There's a full story of the guide and his execution that I found online and forgot to make note of. The site concerns historical executions. I found it while trying to find the exact wording of the Dahlgren Papers. The one that I printed out of the Southern Historical Papers does not mention "killing," but a variety of other sources do. I want to see the exact wording of those papers that have been perused, tested, and supposedly declared legitimate. There's a big difference to me between papers reading to burn the city and "kill" the Confederate leaders and burning the city and not allowing them to "escape."

In his biography of Dahlgren (which I highly recommend), Eric Wittenberg quotes the papers at length. The instructions to kill come from orders directed to Captain John F.B. Mitchell: "The bridges once secured, and the prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be burned and the city destroyed. The men must keep together and well in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and Cabinet killed."

Wittenberg believes that the papers are authentic. He thinks it most likely that Lincoln was unaware of the plan to kill, but Stanton knew of it.

[L Verge]

Wittenberg's research was among what I searched also, Susan, when I decided to post the Southern Historical Papers. There is a part of me that wants to suspect Kilpatrick and Dahlgren concocting this on their own, especially when you read the speech that Dahlgren had prepared for his men. That speech smacks of the same kind of heroics as Booth's diary.

Another part of me agrees that Stanton - and even Seward - could have sanctioned it. But, the other part says that they would not have placed Lincoln in such a position to have to explain the assassination of Davis. Did Gideon Welles ever write anything in his diary about it, since he "commanded" Dahlgren's father?

And finally, that was a fantastic post, Scott!

[STS Lincolnite]

(08-03-2014 05:18 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 06:41 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Do you think Van Lew held him in esteem because of who his father was? Or was Crazy Bets in cahoots with the plan to raid Richmond? There's a full story of the guide and his execution that I found online and forgot to make note of. The site concerns historical executions. I found it while trying to find the exact wording of the Dahlgren Papers. The one that I printed out of the Southern Historical Papers does not mention "killing," but a variety of other sources do. I want to see the exact wording of those papers that have been perused, tested, and supposedly declared legitimate. There's a big difference to me between papers reading to burn the city and "kill" the Confederate leaders and burning the city and not allowing them to "escape."

In his biography of Dahlgren (which I highly recommend), Eric Wittenberg quotes the papers at length. The instructions to kill come from orders directed to Captain John F.B. Mitchell: "The bridges once secured, and the prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be burned and the city destroyed. The men must keep together and well in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed and Jeff. Davis and Cabinet killed."

Wittenberg believes that the papers are authentic. He thinks it most likely that Lincoln was unaware of the plan to kill, but Stanton knew of it.

Susan, thanks so much for the tip regarding Wittenberg's book. I will be heading to the library sometime this week to see if they have a copy. I am also interested in reading up on his referenced primary sources. I have had a brief correspondence with him in the past and he was very helpful and friendly. My interest in this topic has been most assuredly piqued by this thread.

As another point of interest, Walter Stahr, author of Seward, Lincoln's Indispensable Man is currently working on a biography of Stanton. He hopes to have it published in time for Christmas 2016. Coincidently, he is currently writing his chapter on early 1864 including the Dahlgren raid. I have met Mr. Stahr and in the past, have very briefly corresponded with him as well. I think I may send him an e-mail and bend his ear a little. Here is a link to his blog where I read about his progress on the Stanton biography (I have been keeping up to see when it might be published).

http://walterstahr.com/2014/07/chapter-x/

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(08-03-2014 05:38 PM)L Verge Wrote:  And finally, that was a fantastic post, Scott!

Laurie, thanks so much for the compliment on my long and windy post! Please know that I hold your opinion in the highest of esteem.