From the N. Y. Evening Post.
We have been shown a dispatch or message, in cipher, from Beauregard to some Confederate in Washington, which, in addition to the ingenuity which characterizes the cipher, contains intrinsic evidence both as to its origin and the desperate means proposed by the rebel General for getting possession of the capital. It seems certain that arson and assassination were component parts of the chivalry of which we have heard so much a year or so ago, and perhaps the publication of such a dispatch as this may modify the tender sensibilities of those where adhere to the kid glove policy in dealing with rebels who themselves stick at nothing in prosecuting their traitorous schemes. The message, deciphered, reads thus:
“I shall cross the river at Little Falls on Sunday at 2 A. M. Signal red and white rockets from Turner’s Hill. For God’s sake don’t fail us. Fire the city at all points agreed upon at once. Dispatch Lincoln and Scott, can you suggest, and let the execution of our plot be perfect.
“BEAUREGARD.”
The construction of the cipher in which the above interesting communication is made is difficult of explanation but simple in practice. It consists in laying over a white surface a piece of paper on which is printed the alphabet in various combinations and in parallel lines, covering the entire sheet. By perforating both pieces at the letters needed to spell out such words as the writer wishes to use, the white paper becomes an inexplicable medley of little holes, useless to every one who has not the corresponding printed sheet to place under it. Of course the Confederate conspirator had only to fit the white paper sent to him to find the key in his possession to read with facility what his friends in Dixie would have him know and do.
We may add that the message above printed was found under circumstances which mark it as authentic and genuine. It is in the hands of a gentleman in this city, who is highly prized as an important link in the chain of evidence which will go to complete the great treason when history shall make up the account.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862 & the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday April 19, 1862 which cites the original source of the article as the N. Y. Post
We have been shown a dispatch or message, in cipher, from Beauregard to some Confederate in Washington, which, in addition to the ingenuity which characterizes the cipher, contains intrinsic evidence both as to its origin and the desperate means proposed by the rebel General for getting possession of the capital. It seems certain that arson and assassination were component parts of the chivalry of which we have heard so much a year or so ago, and perhaps the publication of such a dispatch as this may modify the tender sensibilities of those where adhere to the kid glove policy in dealing with rebels who themselves stick at nothing in prosecuting their traitorous schemes. The message, deciphered, reads thus:
“I shall cross the river at Little Falls on Sunday at 2 A. M. Signal red and white rockets from Turner’s Hill. For God’s sake don’t fail us. Fire the city at all points agreed upon at once. Dispatch Lincoln and Scott, can you suggest, and let the execution of our plot be perfect.
“BEAUREGARD.”
The construction of the cipher in which the above interesting communication is made is difficult of explanation but simple in practice. It consists in laying over a white surface a piece of paper on which is printed the alphabet in various combinations and in parallel lines, covering the entire sheet. By perforating both pieces at the letters needed to spell out such words as the writer wishes to use, the white paper becomes an inexplicable medley of little holes, useless to every one who has not the corresponding printed sheet to place under it. Of course the Confederate conspirator had only to fit the white paper sent to him to find the key in his possession to read with facility what his friends in Dixie would have him know and do.
We may add that the message above printed was found under circumstances which mark it as authentic and genuine. It is in the hands of a gentleman in this city, who is highly prized as an important link in the chain of evidence which will go to complete the great treason when history shall make up the account.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862 & the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday April 19, 1862 which cites the original source of the article as the N. Y. Post
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