CHAPTER XXXVIII.
IN THE INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL.—FAILURE OF THE PROJECTED RAID.
I deliver Despatches to Agents in Indianapolis. -- Waiting for Orders. -- I obtain Access to the Prison Camp, and confer with a Confederate Officer confined there. -- I apply to Governor Morton for Employment, and am sent by him to the Arsenal. -- I obtain a Situation in the Arsenal, and am set to Work packing Cartridges. -- I form a Project for blowing up the Arsenal. Reasons for its Abandonment. -- I receive a suspicious Number of Letters. -- How I obtained my Money Package from the Express Office. -- I go to St. Louis, and endeavor to obtain Employment at the Planters' House, for the Purpose of enabling me to gain Information from the Federal Officers lodging there. -- Failing in this, I strike up an Acquaintance with a Chambermaid, and by Means of her pass Key gain Access to several Rooms. -- I gain some Information from Despatches which I find, and am very nearly detected by a Bell Boy. -- I go to Hannibal to deliver a Despatch relating to the Indians. -- Hear ing of the Failure of the Johnson's Island Raid, I return East, and send in my Resignation to Colonel Baker.
ON my arrival at Indianapolis, I found two men from St. Louis awaiting me, they having been sent there in compliance with my telegraphic despatch from Sahdusky. I had a long talk with them about the condition of affairs, and delivered the despatches I had for them. One of them a tall Missourian was to go to the borders, to operate with the Indians, and the other was to report to Quantrell, on some business of a secret nature. I had no idea what the despatch which I handed to this second man was about, and, as he did not seem disposed to tell me, I did not ask him.
In compliance with my orders, I was now to wait in Indianapolis until I should receive directions to proceed elsewhere, and was to occupy my time in obtaining access to the prison camp for the purpose of conversing with the prisoners, in forming them of the movements that were in progress, and encouraging them to make an effort to escape, as no rescue could be attempted in their case.
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