Blow up the White House?

[SSlater]

Do you believe that there was any intent to blow up the white house?
I do not believe there was ever any intent to do so. First off, no one had any powder strong enough to do it. (Dynamite was not invented until the late 1860's). ("Black Powder" was a slow burning charge.)
Further, Atzerodt was the one who created that phrase. (He was told that there was an intent to "mine the white house".) He added "that the Rebs were going to get up a party and then mingle-in, as they touched off the charges". "MINGLE- IN"? not likely!. Then the Rebs brought in their explosive expert, Thomas Harney, a land mine specialist.
Since the White House lawn was not fenced, it would have been a simple matter to bury all the mines necessary - very easily.
The whole idea of "Blowing up the White House" was created in Atzerodt's simple mind.