Washington Navy Yard, D.C. Samuel Arnold, a Conspirator (U.S. Civil War) Color Changing Coffee Mug 11oz

The Washington Navy Yard, located in Washington, D.C., is a United States naval base with a rich history dating back to 1799. During the U.S. Civil War, one of its significant events involved Samuel Arnold, a Confederate spy who attempted an attack on the facility. Samuel Arnold, a former employee of the Navy Yard, was captured and imprisoned within its walls in July 1864. In an effort to gain freedom, Arnold conspired with John S. Mosby, a Confederate partisan ranger known as "The Grey Ghost," to stage an attack on the Navy Yard in October of that year. The planned assault aimed at releasing Confederate prisoners held there and potentially disrupting Union naval operations. However, the plot was discovered, and Arnold's associates were arrested before they could carry out the operation. Arnold himself was hanged on November 19, 1864, as a result of his role in the conspiracy. Today, the Washington Navy Yard continues to serve as an active military installation, playing a crucial part in naval defense and operations. The Samuel Arnold incident remains a notable episode in the facility's extensive history.