Criminal Court- Murder Case- Yesterday, in the case of Daniel Roberts, on trial for the murder of John Wolfe, after the close of Mr. Carrington's opening argument, Mr. Norris, the counsel for the prisoner, addressed the Jury for more then hour, urging the plea of self-defence, after which the District Attorney replied, and the case was given to the jury, who, after a short absence from the court-room, returned a verdict of "Not Guilty."
Unprovoked Assault upon a Juror.- Tuesday night, while the jury empannelled(sic) to try the case of Daniel Roberts, charged with the murder of John Wolfe, were about retiring from the National Hotel, where they had taken their meals, being in charge of bailiffs Simonds and Fayman. One of them, Mr S. Sylvester, was assaulted and beaten by a lieutenant, said to be an officer of Gen. Butler's Staff. Mr. S. was wholly unprepared for any each such attack, and was roughly handled before he could be rescued. The assault was wholly unprovoked, and it was a matter of wonder among the jurors what imaginary offence had caused it. Last night a warrant was issued bv Justice Donn for the arrest of the lieutenant, but the officer failed to find him. The affair will be reported to headquarters.
Criminal Court- Murder Case.-Yesterday, In the case of Daniel Roberts, tried for the murder of John Wolfe, on the 9th day of August last, after District Attorney Carrington had closed his opening argument, Mr. Norris, counsel for the prisoner, briefly replied.
The following witnesses were called, all belonging to the same regiment (26th Pennsylvania, Col Small's.) as the accused:
Hays Williams, private in Co E. sworn.- The shooting occurred between the railroad and tollgate, (road to Bladensburg ) Witness was in the first platoon of the wagon guard in front of the wagons. The prisoner was also on the wagon guard; on the rear (left) side of the third wagon. The teamster (Wolfe) was on the off (right) side. Roberts (the accused) leveled his piece and fired, and the teamster fell, wounded in the right side. The wound was six or seven inches long, and the entrails protruded. The wagons had stopped at the time of the shooting, and the platoons had stacked arms. Witness heard no conversation between the parties previous to the shooting. The corpse when witness approached it had a wagon whip in its hand. Witness saw the flash of the musket, and saw the teamster fall. Witness was some distance ahead of the wagons, far enough to see on both sides of the train. The prisoner and the teamster were about five yards apart. The prisoner was going away from accused about a minute before he was shot. Wolf, when the shot was fired, was about four yards from his team- on the off (right) side. Saw Roberts last on the near (left) side, where he was while the train was moving. Wolf was a little ahead of his team when he was shot Roberts had not "stacked" his musket. The wagon guard had been on guard on Twenty-first street, and was yet relieved. The prisoner was examined as to the position. In which Roberts held the gun, from which it appeared that he held it horizontally about the level of his hip.
Private Hoffman, of company C, sworn- Was guarding the wagon just ahead of that guarded by Roberts. Heard Roberts ask the teamster to let him get in. The teamster answered that he (Roberts) couldn't get in, he (the teamster) had too heavy a load on. They had words together, and the teamster called Roberts a son of a b--h. The teamster got off and came to the head of his horses, and Roberts levelled his gun and fired at him. The teamster was on the right side and Roberts on the left the teamster got down on the opposite aide to Roberts, and walked to the head of his horses. They (accused and deceased) were about five yards apart, and witness was about five yards from Roberts.
Private Norris, of company sworn.- Was guarding the first wagon. Roberts and the teamster were both on the right side of the wagon. Roberts told the driver to stand back-if he didn't stand back, he (R.) would shoot him. Roberts, as he said so, cocked his gun. He then raised his gun and shot the driver. The teamster was four or five yards off from Roberts, going towards him.
Private Wm. C Geiger, sworn.- Saw Roberts fire, and the teamster drop. Both were on the right aide, and Roberts was near the horses' heads. Witness was guarding tbe first wagon behind that guarded by Roberts, and was standing on the sidewalk at the time of the shooting.
Lieut Hadley, sworn.- Did not see the homicide. Roberts was stationed to guard the third wagon, on the right side. Witness was standing about forty yards off when he heard the report of the musket, and hastened to the spot, and found the teamster lying on his face, and Roberts standing by his side at an "order arms." Witness asked who shot this man. Roberts answered, "I done it, sir, because the teamster attacked me with his whip, and I shot him in order to save my life." The teamster had a whip in his hand, an ordinary wagon whip.
The four witnesses first sworn were then recalled by the District Attorney, and testified that they saw no violence on the part of deceased towards Roberts. This closed the evidence for the prosecution.
For the defence, Mr. Norris called the witnesses already sworn to testify to the quiet and orderly character of Roberts previous to this affair, and Mr Middleton (Clerk of the Court) and Patrick Crowley (one of the jurors in the case) to testify as to the dangerous character of the ordinary wagon whip as a weapon using the butt to strike with.
This closed the evidence is the case, and the Court adjourned, the Jury going in charge of sworn bailiffs to their usual quarters in such cases the National Hotel.
Washington matters,
The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun has the following items in relation to affairs transpiring in that city:
Private Daniel Roberts, of company F. 26th regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, now confined in this city by the civil authorities under a charge of murder, has been dishonorably discharged the service of the United States by order of Gen. Mansfield.
INQUEST
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Woodward held an Inquest in view of the body of the teamster Wolfe, who was shot yesterday near the railroad, in Swampoodle. The testimony differed in no respect from the statement published in the Star yesterday. The verdict was that he came to his death by a shot fired from a gun in the hands of one Daniel Roberts, of Company F, 26th Pennsylvania Regiment. Wolfe was comparatively a stranger to his companions, they only knew that he was called Wolfe, and believed that had come from Baltimore. He had a small amount of money (about ten dollars) in his pocket. The coroner was required to give orders for the burial of the body
Once Condemned to be Hanged.
From the New York Sun.
John Boyle was sentenced to be hanged in Williamsburg, Va., in 1863 for killing an officer, and he escaped from confinement. He was met in New York by a former comrade in arms about fifteen years ago, where he was working in a boiler shop, and afterward fled the city, fearing, it is supposed, that he would be rearrested and executed. He had relatives living in New York and a brother of his is an employe of a railroad in Jersey City. He has been living under an assumed name in the west, and has written to his relatives here at regular intervals. They received a letter from him last week. He was then working as a miner at Crested Butte, Col., in the mine where the disastrous explosion occurred on Jan. 24. His relatives believe he was one of the fifty victims of that disaster.
. . .
How the rebels had learned of Wistar's expedition has never been made known with certainty. A rebel prisoner however, taken after the disappointment at Bottom's bridge declared that a man giving bis name as John Boyle had been captured nearly dead from exhaustion and exposure, in their lines on the night of February 2. He told them he was a deserter from Wistar, and gave them, so the rebel prisoner said, the intelligence that enabled them to throw a strong force in the way of Gen. Wistar, and thus thwart what might have been one of the most brilliant and important movements of the army during the war.
On the return of the command measures were at once taken to ascertain the cause of the defeat of the plans, or rather how the information reached the enemy in time to defend the crossings at the Chickahominy River. As a result of the investigation Private Thomas Abrahams, Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth New York Volunteers, was arrested, tried by court-martial, convicted of some connection with the divulging of the plans, and sentenced to be "shot to death with musketry." The proceedings, findings, and sentence of the court were approved, and, on the seventh day of March, 1864, the sentence was carried into effect in the presence of all the troops stationed at Yorktown.
The execution took place on the plain south of Fort Yorktown. The troops were formed in line, on three sides of a parallelogram, the battery at one end, and the prisoner sitting on his coffin at the other. When all were in position the order condemning the prisoner to death was read to the troops by the adjutant of each organization ; the firing detail marched into the centre, near the prisoner; the detail was divided into two parties, one of eight men, who constituted the main firing party, and one of four men as a reserve, to be used in case the first fire was not effective; the prisoner was blindfolded and the work very quickly performed. In this case no call was made for the reserve firing party. The body remained as it fell across the coffin and the whole command was marched in review, as it were, before the dead man. As each company arrived opposite the body the command was given " Eyes right," that each and all might receive a lasting impression of the penalty of treason. This was the only execution witnessed by the whole battery, although others took place at Yorktown.
An account of the execution published in The Cavalier, newspaper printed at Yorktown, in its issue of March 7, 1864, reads as follows:
"Private Thomas Abrahams, of Company G, 139th New York Volunteers, found guilty by court-martial of giving intelligence to the enemy, in violation of the 57th Article of War, and advising and persuading another soldier to desert the service of the United States, in violation of the 23d Article of War, was shot, this morning, at this place.
Abrahams was the sentinel placed over William J. Boyle, of the 1st N. Y. Mounted Rifles, a prisoner under sentence of death at Fort Magruder, on the night of that prisoner's escape, and the testimony against him shows that he put Boyle in possession of valuable information in regard to an expedition against Richmond, and then wilfully and maliciously advised and assisted him to escape to the enemy's lines with such information.
He was ordered to be shot to death with musketry within forty-eight hours after hearing his sentence read. which took place at sunset on Saturday.
Abrahams was much affected upon hearing his sentence, and protested his innocence, weeping bitterly. The prisoner desired that a Catholic priest should be sent for to act as his spiritual adviser, and one arrived yesterday evening, from Norfolk, and entered upon his good work with zeal. We are unable to learn his name. He also expressed a strong desire to see his wife and children, who reside in Brooklyn, and requested that two of his comrades-in-arms might be sent for, but it was impossible for them to reach this place before the time appointed for his death.
The spot selected for the execution was outside the fort, near the southern gate, and every arrangement was made to render the melancholy spectacle what it should be, a solemn and impressive warning to all who witnessed it. At ten o'clock the 148th N. Y. Vols., 16th N. Y. Artillery, and Belger's and Hunt's Batteries, were upon the ground and formed three sides of a square, opening towards the river. Soon after Colonels West and Spear, with the officers of their staffs, the officers of General Wistar's staff. Surgeon Voorhees and others, made their appearance, and took their positions near the spot where the execution was to take place.
About eleven o'clock the prisoner was brought on the ground, seated upon his coffin in an open wagon, which was preceded by Captain Brooks, provost-marshal, and Captain Reynolds, assistant adjutant-general, a detachment of the provost guard bringing up the rear. His spiritual adviser was seated in the wagon beside him.
The prisoner was taken directly to the place of execution, where the cortege halted. He got out of the wagon unassisted, climbing over the side and jumping lightly from the wheel. He showed but little trepidation, and upon his coffin being placed upon the ground, took his position in front of it with remarkable firmness.
The twelve men from the provost guard who were detailed to shoot him then filed around to his front, and took their position in two ranks, fifteen paces from the coffin. Captain Reynolds, A. A. G., then read to the prisoner the charges and specifications against him, with the findings and sentence of the court-martial and the order for his execution. The prisoner then knelt with his spiritual adviser, who had remained at his side in front of his coffin, and, for a few moments, devoted himself to earnest prayer. Upon arising he took an affectionate leave of the priest, expressing an earnest hope of salvation. The priest then retired, and the prisoner seated himself upon his coffin without hesitation, seeming completely resigned to his fate.
The provost-marshal now approached him, when his handcuffs were taken off and he rapidly divested himself of his blouse, deposited it at the head of his coffin, and, seating himself for the last time, held up his wrists to be again secured, without any apparent nervousness. The provost-marshal then placed a white handkerchief over his eyes, and, shaking him by the hand, bid him farewell. The prisoner returned the last earthly adieu with warmth, and then, turning his thoughts heavenward, devoted his last moments to prayer. The earnestness of his last appeal for Divine mercy was visible in the raising of his clasped hands, the motion of his head, and the swaying of his body.
The sergeant of the squad now gave the command "Ready — Aim — Fire !"and, simultaneously with the last word, the men discharged their pieces and the unfortunate man fell dead across his coffin without the quivering of a muscle. One musket of the twelve contained a blank cartridge.
Surgeon Voorhees then approached the body, and, upon examination, it was found that eight balls had entered it — three in the chest (at least one of which entered the heart), one in the left eye, one in each arm, and two in the stomach. When the surgeon reached him he was quite dead, the shot in the eye having caused instantaneous death.
The troops who were drawn up to witness the execution were now marched past the corpse, and the guards that had been posted to keep back the crowd being removed, all who desired to do so were permitted to approach the body. To the credit of humanity be it said but few availed themselves of the opportunity, and the large concourse of people present soon dispersed to their homes or quarters.
The body was soon after placed in the coffin by a squad of negroes in attendance for the purpose, and consigned to mother earth.
Abrahams enlisted from the city of Brooklyn, where he has left a widow and several small children to deplore his unhappy fate. He was apparently about thirty years of age."
LIEUT. WM. WILKINS DISOSWAY.
In the death of Lieut. DISOSWAY, which has already been announced, the army loses a prompt and efficient officer, and society is deprived of a youth of high promise. In the first year of the war, Lieut. DISOSWAY entered the service as Corporal in the First New-York Volunteer cavalry, and served under MCCLELLAN in his Peninsular campaign. He was promoted to a Sergeantcy, and in the following year procured a commission as Second Lieutenant in the First New-York Mounted Rifles. Four months later, for an act of daring valor, in a skirmish on the Blackwater, he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy; and but a few weeks since, was honored by an appointment to the post of Provost-Marshal of Williamsburgh. The circumstances leading to this appointment are so indicative of his character as to deserve mention. From a mistaken idea of his duty, he failed to make the guard observe a slight mark of respect toward the commanding officer of the post, and was, in consequence, ordered under arrest for two days; but the persistency with which he adhered to what he thought at the time was the military rule in the case, and the frankness and readiness with which he acknowledged his mistake when it was made known to him, made so deep an impression upon Col. WEST, the officer in question, that almost immediately he received from him the appointment of Provost-Marshal. At this time he was only in his 20th year.
During the brief period allotted him for the discharge of his duties in this capacity, he won the universal esteem of the people of Williamsburgh; and a striking instance of this was shown in their touching testimonials of affection and sympathy at his decease. Pillows were sent for his dying head, and wreaths of flowers to perfume his coffin.
The circumstances of his death were most painful. On the afternoon of the 13th inst., Lieut. DISOSWAY was coming out of his quarters in Williamsburgh, when a man named BOYLE, one of the Provost Guard, but who had been relieved of provost duty for drunkenness the day previous, rushed into the yard; he had run the guard at Williamsburgh, and succeeded in regaining his arms. The Marshal's horse was standing in the yard, saddled; BOYLE mounted it, using infamous language, and discharged his revolver, the ball striking the ground at the feet of the Lieutenant. Several of the guard raised their pistols to kill him, but were deterred by the deceased, who, at the same time, ordered him under arrest; then, in the face of BOYLE's repeated threats to shoot him, he walked calmly up to the horse, in moderate language expostulating with the wretch. BOYLE dismounted, but the moment the Lieutenant laid his hand on the horse's bit, he fired; the fatal ball entered the half-opened mouth of the fearless youth and passed out at the back of his neck; he fell into the arms of his faithful body-servant, saying only, "IKE, I'm shot," and died within an hour.
Lieut. DISOSWAY's orderly rushed after the murderer, who had fled, snapped four caps at him, and finally, overtaking him, knocked him down with the butt of his pistol. At the time of the murder BOYLE was slightly intoxicated. He was taken to Fort Magruder, where he had been confined before for drawing his revolver upon an officer. Lieut. DISOSWAY's talents and virtues as an officer have been alluded to, as well as the promise he gave of future usefulness in life. To the sacred grief of the stricken ones at home, no reference may be made; those only who, like them, have laid in the dust an only son and brother, may know the extent and intensity of their loss; a loss irreparable, though softened by the memory of his bravery, forbearance and stainless honor. The deceased once said to his father, (CORNELIUS R. DISOSWAY, Esq.,) "he never would be wounded in the back," and this heroic resolution he sealed with his blood.
The following proceedings took place at a meeting held by his brother officers, and were forwarded to his father's family in this City:
A meeting was held by the officers of the First regiment Mounted Rifles N.Y.S.V., in camp near Williamsburgh, Va., Oct. 13, 1863, in consequence of the death of First Lieut. William W. Disosway. A Committee was appointed to further the proceedings of the assembly, and the following resolutions were submitted, and unanimously adopted:
Whereas, It has pleased an all wise Providence to remove suddenly from our midst Lieut. W.W. Disosway; that while we deeply deplore the loss of our young comrade in arms, we remember that he died like a soldier, in the performance of his duty, therefore.
Resolved, That in the death of Lieut. W.W. DISOSWAY, our regiment has sustained in almost irreparable loss, and our country has been deprived of a variable and accomplished officer.
Resolved, That the name of deceased will ever be associated in our minds with one of sterling character, manly aspirations, and of the most brilliant promise.
Resolved, That we tender our deepest sympathies to the afflicted ones at home, who will cherish in their grief the consolation that to the last he was a worthy son, a kind brother, and a true soldier.
Resolved, That we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
On behalf of the regiment.
JAMES N. WHEELAN,
Major First regiment Mounted Rifles.
C.J. MASTEN,
Captain Co. C. First N.Y. Mounted Rifles;
D. EDWARD CRONIN,
Captain Co. C. First N.Y., Mounted Rifles;
Approved by vote of the officers.
B.F. ONDERDONK.
Colonel Commanding Mounted Rifles;
His remains were brought to this City, and buried in Greenwood Cemetery. M.
During the brief period allotted him for the discharge of his duties in this capacity, he won the universal esteem of the people of Williamsburgh; and a striking instance of this was shown in their touching testimonials of affection and sympathy at his decease. Pillows were sent for his dying head, and wreaths of flowers to perfume his coffin.
An Unwritten History.
The history of the world is full of wonderful accidents. The most common-place occurrences have not unfrequently(sic) decided the fates of Empires and influenced the whole world. We ae told that the cackle of a goose once saved Rome; a summer shower of two hours' duration decided the fate of the first Napoleon and changed the map of Europe; an error of fifteen minutes in his watch once saved the life of Washington, and the merest accident spared the great Luther's life and gave to the world the Reformation.
Said an old English writer, by way of illustrating the subject, quoting from an old ballad:
For the want of a nail the shoe was lost;
For the want of the shoe the horse was lost;
For the want of the horse the rider was lost;
For the want of the rider the battle was lost;
By the loss of the battle the kingdom was lost —
All for the want of a horseshoe nail.
The war for the Union was replete with these little momentous incidents, now deciding a battle, now destroying a reputation, and then defeating the profoundest strategy. A single mishap was sufficient to neutralize the best matured plans of military genius, and by their intervention the grandest combinations became useless folly.
Did the reader ever hear how narrowly Richmond escaped capture in the early part of 1864, and how trifling its fate? It ranks among the most "curious chapters" of our whole history, and can hardly fail to prove very interesting.
The story opens with a murder.
On the 13th of October, 1863, the Provost Marshal of Williamsburg, Lieutenant W. W. Disosway, a handsome young officer of much promise, was shot dead by a soldier named James Boyle, whom he had ordered under arrest for disorderly conduct. The murderer was immediately seized, ironed, and, pending his trial, confined in Fort Magruder, an extensive earthwork about a mile below the town of Williamsburg.
Major Wheelan, an able and energetic officer, succeeded the murdered man as Provost Marshal, and the matter was soon forgotten.
At this time refugees, rebel deserters, and escaped Union prisoners were daily arriving from Richmond, sixty miles distant. Such persons were, immediately on their arrival, taken to the Provost Marshals headquarters, carefully examined, and their statements forwarded to Major-General Wistar, whose headquarters were at Yorktown. The substance of these reports was that the rebel capital was practically defenseless. The regular troops, it was said, had all been sent to the front, and only a few home guards kept watch over the city.
In January, 1864, an officer, who was introduced as Major Howard, arrived at headquarters, and for a day or two was in close conference with General Wistar.
On a dark, blustering night, near the close of the month. Major Howard and an old and daring scout named William Plunkett, belonging to the 1st New York Mounted Rifles, were passed outside of the Union lines and proceeded toward Richmond by the Jamestown road, with a view of confirming these statements, and report if a sudden descent upon the city was advisable.
Two weeks nearly passed, and one day a "refugee" was brought, who refused to communicate with the Provost Marshal, but demanded to be taken at once to the Commanding General, for whom he had important information. It proved to be a report from Major Howard and his companion, confirming all that had been said of the defenseless condition of the rebel city.
An attack was immediately determined on, and the scattered troops were drawn together for that purpose. A brigade of infantry, three batteries of artillery and four regiments of cavalry comprised the expedition. They were moved cautiously, and rendezvoused in the woods on the road leading from Yorktown to Williamsburg.
It soon became known that an important movement of some kind was on the tapis, but few believed at first that it was anything more than a grand scouting or foraging expedition. The suspense was not of long duration. On the 5th of February all was excitement and bustle. The infantry moved out and the cavalry received orders to follow the next morning. The field officers received their instructions. A stining general order was read to the troops, giving the first information that their march was to be "on to Richmond." The order evoked the wildest, enthusiasm, and cheer after cheer ascended along the line. The bugles sounded " forward," and the far extending lines of cavalry and artillery moved gayly on their way.
There were the strongest reasons for believing that by being cautious, bold and expeditious the cavalry could enter Richmond, liberate the Union prisoners confined in Libby and Castle Thunder, capture the rebel President and the officers of his government, seize the treasury, destroy the vast depots of rebel supplies, bum the bridges across the James, and otherwise weaken the defenses of the city. Certain officers and squadrons were assigned to perform certain portions of the work of destruction, the Capital square designated as the general rendezvous, when the work should have been thoroughly accomplished.
On the 2d or 3d of February, the murderer Boyle, whose trial had been for some reason delayed, escaped in the night from his prison at Fort Magruder, through the connivance of one of his guards. Search was immediately made in all directions, and every possible effort made for his recapture. But all exertions were fruitless. He had been seen near our camps in the wood, but soon all trace was lost, and it was supposed he had crossed the James and fled in the direction of Suffolk.
In the meantime the expedition was pushing on to the point of its destination. The route lay though a dreary pine forest, along the sandy roads,and by deserted plantations. To divert the enemy's attention General Sedgwick's corps had been thrown across the Rapidan, and had engaged a large portion of General Lee's army, and the "raiders" were unmolested.
At daylight on the morning of the 7th of .February the infantry reached Baltimore Cross Roads, where they made a brief halt for rest. At the same time, however, the extreme cavalry advance had reached Bottom Bridge, within thirteen miles of the rebel capital. It was intensely dark when they reached there, and a careful reconnissance(sic) showing that the bridge had been stripped of its planking, it was resolved to wait until daylight. The strictest orders were issued against lighting fires or making unnecessary noise, and pickets were thrown out in all directions.
The condition of the bridge caused the more sagacious officers no little uneasiness. They saw in it an evidence that the expedition had been discovered, in which event surprise was impossible and success doubtful. The bulk of the command had no such forebodings. Once across the little stream they believed the way to Richmond was open and without obstacle, and the capture of the proud capital, which had already cost us so much blood and treasure, was looked upon as inevitable.
At about the same hour that Wistar's men were waiting patiently the break of day at Bottom Bridge, two Union "refugees" presented themselves before our lines at Williamsburg, and were speedily examined by the officer of the guard. They proved to be Union citizens from Richmond, who had left that city three days before, in company with Major Howard and Sergeant Plunkett¹, the two Federal officers who had been sent to investigate matters inside of the Confederate capital.
Their statement was that the party had proceeded with the utmost caution after leaving Richmond, until within twelve miles of Williamsburg, when, emboldened by the close proximity of our outposts, they took the open road, and were speedily captured by a small party of rebel scouts and hurried back toward Richmond. At Tunstall's Station the citizens escaped, leaving Howard and Plunkett prisoners. By following the course of the York River they had reached the Federal camp, but had not encountered the cavalry column under Wistar.
When informed of the expedition they were enthusiastic and predicted its easy success. They asserted positively (and the truth of their assertions was subsequently confirmed), that there were no military organizations in the city, and that the Union forces would be assisted by a secret league of loyal men who were prepared to bum the bridge across the North Anna, thus preventing the approach of reinforcements from Lee's army; else to spike the guns commanding the principal roads leading into the city, and a corps to act as guides for the Federalists as soon as they effected an entrance into the town.
But to return to the little army at Bottom Bridge. They rested on their arms as patiently as possible, waiting and watching for the first shimmering of dawn, full of confidence and hope. But, alas I by the dim light of the coming day the outer pickets discerned a long line of shadowy figures filing down the road on the opposite bank of the stream, and taking position to oppose the passage of the bridge. An old earthwork, which had been thrown up by McClellan during his Richmond campaign of the year previous, soon shielded them from view, and as no enemy could be seen through the mists which hung over the little valley, when the balance of the army came up the reported discovery of the pickets was not believed.
The brigade was speedily mounted and put in motion. But scarcely had the advance guard crossed the brow of the little hill and commenced the descent toward the ruined bridge, when a puff of white smoke was observed beyond the stream, instantly followed by the deafening boom of a gun and the wild shriek of a shell. The cannon shot destroyed in an instant all hope of surprising Richmond; and being too weak in numbers to hope for a successful assault, the expedition was reluctantly abandoned and the troops, weary, disheartened and disappointed, returned leisurely to Williamsburg.
For a long time it was a matter of profound wonder how the secret of the expedition was carried to the rebel capital Men of high rank were suspected, and more than one staff officer was dropped from the rolls because of a suspicion that he might have imparted information so valuable to the enemy and so disheartening to us.
At last, however, the facts came out; and herein is the really curious part of this chapter on the history of our late war. Boyle, the escaped murderer, had obtained his liberty just as the expedition was collecting. From the guard, who connived at his escape, he had learned the prevalent rumors of a contemplated dash on Richmond. In his flight, which was toward the threatened city, he gained more information, and reached Richmond soon enough to give timely alarm, and strong detachments from Lee's army were hurried forward to defeat the movement By such a singular circumstance was the rebel capital saved.
Boyle enlisted in the Southern service, but of his subsequent life nothing is known. It is possible that he yet lives, and may learn from this book the injury he inflicted upon the country he had betrayed.
Of the fate of Major Howard, who, with Sergeant Plunkett, had entered the rebel capital for information, nothing is known, though he probably died in prison; for, had he been executed as a spy, the fact could hardly have been concealed. Plunkett, believing death inevitable if he was brought to trial, determined to offer his services to the enemy, and was accepted as a recruit in Stuart's cavalry. A few months after he made his escape, and entered the Union lines. Here he was at once seized as a rebel spy, and confined in the Old Capitol Prison at Washington. He communicated the circumstances of his situation to General Butler, by whom he had been previously employed, and that officer soon obtained his release, discharge from the service and a handsome pecuniary recompense.
The faithless soldier who aided in Boyle's escape was subsequently tried, convicted and executed².
Rifle shots and bugle notes: or, the national military album of sketches of the principal battles ... connected with the late war
Joseph A. Joel, Lewis R. Stegman, Grand Army Gazette, 1883
