pushed off and began heading down the Ohio. The next morning the militia reached Blennerhassett Island only to find it empty. Perhaps out of frustration, they destroyed the fine furniture, vases, and art of Blennerhassett's mansion, fired rifle balls through his painted ceilings, and drank the whiskey stored in his cellar.

Burr was in Nashville when he learned that federal authorities were out to crush his plans. On November 22, he beat a hurried retreat down the Cumberland River. All the Burr detachments met up at the Falls of the Ohio. Addressing his recruits, Burr told them that he had intended at this point to describe their specific objective, but circumstances had caused him to defer doing so. Instead, the flotilla would head down the Mississippi, where Burr--still ignorantbank of the Mississippi. Burr was handed a letter from the Governor of Mississippi demanding his surrender. Burr responded to the letter by denouncing Wilkinson whose "perfidious conduct" had "completely frustrated" his "projects."

The next day Burr met with the Governor who convinced him to surrender and allow himself to be conducted to the nearby town of Washington. A grand jury, after listening to evidence against Burr, declared Burr "not guilty of any crime or misdemeanor against the United States." The jury went on to condemn the arrest, suggesting that it had given cause to "the enemies of our glorious Constitution to rejoice." Burr demanded and received his release. He disguised himself as a boatman and disappeared into the wilderness on the eastern side of the Mississippi.

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