203

CHAPTER VIII.

During the winter of 1863-4 Colonel Johnson originated a plan for capturing
President Lincoln, which he suggested to General Hampton, who, after several
conversations with Johnson upon the subject, gave it his approval, and entered
heartily into the undertaking.

Confederate spies in Washington had kept General Lee thoroughly posted as
to the disposition and force of every command of the enemy in and around his
Capital. To carry out this daring enterprise, then, Colonel Johnson was to take
the Maryland battalion, numbering two hundred and fifty sabres, and cross the
Potomac above Georgetown, make a dash at a battalion of cavalry known to be
stationed there, and push on to the Soldiers' Home, where it was well known
President Lincoln lived, and after capturing him to send him across the river in
charge of a body of picked men, whilst the main body was to cut the wires and
roads between Washington and Baltimore, and then move back through Western
Maryland to the Valley of Virginia; or, if that means of retreat was cut off,
Johnson was to go up into Pennsylvania, and on west to West Virginia beyond
Grafton. It seemed, indeed, a most desperate undertaking, but everything
promised its successful accomplishment. Indeed, so sanguine was Hampton that
the plan of Johnson would succeed that he wanted to undertake it himself at the
head of four thousand horse, and was only prevented by Sheridan's advance upon
the Confederate Capital.

After the fight at Trevillians, then, he gave Johnson orders to prepare for his
trip. The best horses in the cavalry command were selected, and the best men in
the battalion picked out, but whilst shoeing his horses and recruiting his men he
was prevented from carrying out his much-cherished plans by an order from
General Early to join him at once with his battalion in the Valley of Virginia, and
cover his rear whilst that General went after Hunter, who had marched upon
Lynchburg.

In a week General Early returned to Staunton, and it was then that Colonel
Johnson received his long-delayed commission as Brigadier-General of cavalry,
and was at once assigned to the command of the brigade formerly commanded
by General William E. Jones, who had been killed at the battle fought near
New Hope.

Much to his gratification, he was given permission, on the third day of July,
1864, to attach the First Maryland to his brigade, and then ordered to take the
advance of Early's army, moving on Martinsburg. At Leetown the brigade
encountered Mulligan's advance, and after a severe engagement the enemy was