"Sunday night was the time appointed to burn the town of Dalton, and destroy as many lives as possible. It was fortunately discovered in time and thirty-six negroes were arrested and confined in jail. They confessed that after destroying the town of Dalton they were to go out into the little villages and vicinity and accomplish all they could in the work of destruction. They intended on the succeeding day (Monday) to go in a body to the railroad and after taking possession of the train, to proceed down the road, stopping as long as they saw fit at each station, intending to reach Marietta in the night, where it was designed to pursue the work of killing and burning, and thence as far on the road as they were successful.
From Dalton to a few miles above Marietta, the people were under arms and adopted measures to protect the women and children. As soon as the train from Chattanooga reached Marietta Saturday morning, a meeting of the citizens was called and as strong guard appointed who were relieved by another on Sunday. The military companies turned out and every precaution taken.
It is not thought that any of the negroes of Marietta were concerned in it, though those arrested in Dalton say they expected to gain men and arms along the railroad as far as they went. They had quantities of arms in their possession, and white men instigated the plot, though none have been arrested for want of sufficient proof."

I was born and raised in Marietta, when there were people alive who would have known of this, yet never heard a word about it. I suppose later events involving Mr. Sherman pushed it into the background as old news. Stan