Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1883 — Rebellion Reminiscence. [ARTICLE]

Rebellion Reminiscence.

Washington Special Chicago News. The death of Daniel Ratcliffe, at Baltimore, recalls the fact that he Jwas the last survivor of the trio of citizens who planned and carried out the capture of Harper’s Ferry by the Confederate Government. Mr. A. B. Taloott, who was in charge of the Washington telegraph office at the outbreak of the rebellion was a very loyal man. Early in April, 1861, he took off a dispatch sent by Ratcliffe to Richmond authorities. The dispatch said: "I recommend that you go ahead at onoe with troops and possession of Harper’s Ferry in the name of the State of Virginia. It is important that you aet at once.’' Mr. Taloott took a copy of this dispatch to Gideon Wells, the Secretary of the Navy. He showed it to Simon Cameron, and it was afterward carried to Mr. Lincoln. Neither Cameron or Wells thought the Riohmond authorities would dare to go ahead, and so took no action. The night of April 18th Mr. Taloott took off another dispatoh from Ratcliffe to the , Riohmond people. It said: “Your wife and family have arrived. Everything looks favorable.” Mr. Taloott took this dispatch to Mr. Welles. He read it over and over, and then he said: “Mr. Taloott I know yon are a very zealous man, but I think you are exceeding your duty in bringing me these dispatches. It is a grave impropriety.” “This is a cipher dispatch,” Taloott explained. “It means that the Riohmond troops have finally arrived at Harper’s Ferry, and that everything is favorable to the capture of the government property there. At this Mr. Welles awoke. He consulted with Simon Cameron. The latter telegraphed to a Massachusetts regiment, then on its way to Washington, to stop at Baltimore and go to Harper’s Ferry. The riot in Baltimore on the night of April 19 put a stop to the advance of the Massachusetts regiment That night Mr. Taloott out off the connection between Baltimore and Richmond and it was never established again till after the war. The next news that came from Harper’s Ferry was of its capture after the Federal officer in charge had partially destroyed the property in his charge before retreating to Ghambersburg. If the first information had been promptly acted upon Harper’s Ferry oould have been easily held by the federal authorities.