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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8543-8.txt b/8543-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac2ed68 --- /dev/null +++ b/8543-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5460 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great North-Western Conspiracy In All +Its Startling Details, by I. Windslow Ayer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great North-Western Conspiracy In All Its Startling Details + +Author: I. Windslow Ayer + + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8543] +This file was first posted on July 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 21, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY *** + + + + +Produced by Lee Dawei, Andy Schmitt and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +THE GREAT NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY IN ALL ITS STARTLING DETAILS. + + +By I. Winslow Ayer, M.D. + +_The Plot to plunder and burn Chicago--Release of all Rebel +prisoners--Seizure of arsenals--Raids from Canada--Plot to burn New +York--Piracy on the Lakes--Parts for the Sons of Liberty--Trial of +Chicago conspirators--Inside views of the Temples of the Sons of +Liberty--Names of prominent members._ + +ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF LEADING CHARACTERS, ETC., ETC. + + +[Illustration: I. WINSLOW AYER, M.D.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The trial before the Military Commission in Cincinnati, just concluded, +was in many respects one of the most remarkable events of the war. The +investigation has elicited testimony of the most startling character, +showing conclusively to the minds of all reasonable men who have given +to it careful, earnest attention that there was a most formidable, +deep and well arranged conspiracy, which, but for timely discovery and +judicious action, would have resulted most disastrously, not only to the +particular cities and towns specified and doomed to destruction, but to +the whole country. None can contemplate the danger through which we +have passed without a shudder and without a recognition of the hand of +a merciful Providence who has guided our beloved country in its darkest +hours and who has crowned our struggles for liberty and union with +glorious victory. + +To have proclaimed to the public, even a few short months ago, that +a scheme had been concocted in Richmond, of so vast and formidable a +character, so insidious in its operations, so complete in its details +that it had found favor and support in all the great cities and towns in +Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, and sections of other +States that scarcely a village was exempt from its corruption, that it +numbered in its ranks more traitors in the aggregate than the number of +brave men in the combined armies of the gallant Grant and Sherman, +and that all who had thus united recognised but one common cause--the +destruction of our country, the defeat and humiliation of our people, +and the triumph of the Rebellion--the author of such a proclamation +would have been written down a madman or a fool, by most persons in the +community; and yet the developments before the military tribunal have +established the fact, to the eternal infamy of all who were leagued in +the conspiracy. + +As the trial opened, and the charges if the indictment were made +public, all sympathisers with the conspiracy affected to disbelieve its +existence, and raised their eyes and hands to Heaven, in pious horror, +and prayed that _justice_ might be meted out to the accused, who were, +they claimed, the best of citizens, the most devout Christians, the most +zealous patriots, the most earnest advocates of law and order, and that +their accusers might be shunned of all good men forever. To this prayer +the accused will scarce utter the response, Amen! Even some good, +careful, honest Union men, astonished at the startling revelations, +refused, for a time, to believe that there was any truth in the +allegations against the prisoners; by degrees, however, as corroborative +evidence accumulated, the truth was forced upon their minds, and there +are now few persons of ordinary intelligence and candor, who have not +been able to discover that "there was something in it, after all," and +that we have been Providentially saved a most terrible disaster. + +But the investigation has been lengthy, and the reports in the +newspapers have been brief and irregular, and few, comparatively, there +are who have heard or read all of even the more important testimony, +or appreciate fully the vast magnitude of the conspiracy; and there are +many who having read only the indictment, have conceived the idea that +if the charges therein alleged are true, the crime was confined to a +few desperate and wicked men in Chicago alone, and that, therefore, it +possessed but a local interest. Such a conclusion is wholly groundless. +The history of this conspiracy is of the most vital interest for the +people of every State in the Union, for had the conspirators not +been foiled at a most opportune moment, their plans would have been +successful in every particular, and once in operation they could not +have been frustrated by any force we could have arrayed against them; +and who shall say that had the savage hordes of Jeff. Davis then been +turned loose upon an unarmed community, to carry desolation and ruin as +they should sweep over our fair States, that to-day the Southern rebels +would be, as they now are, in their last extremity--that victory would +now be perched upon our banners wherever our noble pioneers of freedom +advance, and that our brave boys of the Potomac would now be reposing +from, their labors in the halls of the rebel capitol! Those who, upon +investigation, fail to recognise the magnitude, the sagacity, the +completeness of this Northwestern Conspiracy, and realise its immense +importance to the rebel chieftains at the South, corroborated as the +evidence before the Commission has been by incidents of almost daily +occurrence for many months, have not learned to read correctly the +history of the Great Southern Rebellion. If an idea ever entered +the heads of malcontents at the North to establish a Northwestern +Confederacy, it was speedily chased away by the more promising schemes +of the arch traitor late of Richmond. It is to collect facts already +elicited, and to give further information, and with a hope of aiding +the cause of the Union so sacred and dear to us all, that the writer +has yielded to the oft-repeated requests of his friends to present a +connected and concise history of the Northwestern Conspiracy. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +CHAP.I. + + +SECRET SERVICE TO SECURE SUCCESS OF SOUTHERN ARMS--STATE +SOVEREIGNTY--THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF SECRET POLITICAL +ORGANIZATIONS--RECOLLECTIONS THAT CAN NEVER DIE--VOICES FROM OUR BRAVE +SOLDIERS AT THE FRONT, BESPEAKING OUR PROTECTION FOR THEIR WIVES, +CHILDREN, PARENTS AND HOMES FROM NORTHERN COPPERHEADS--CHARACTER OF THE +LEADERS OF THE DIFFERENT SECRET ORDERS. + +The signal potency of secret organizations at the South prior to the +secession of States, and indeed the only really effective machinery +by which an attempt at disunion by the people could have been made +to appear possible, early in the great struggle engaged the earnest +attention of the Southern leaders. Knowing as they did that had the +question of secession been primarily an open one, for free discussion, +that the masses of the people would have rejected the proposition with +deserved scorn and indignation, and hung the ambitious adventurers +who dared propose the sacrilege. They realized the importance of +establishing the order in the North. The leaders saw with delight the +working of secret organizations, where men were sworn to secrecy, and +drawn onward step by step, till they reached the very brink of the +fearful precipice. Thus did the people fasten upon themselves and each +other the shackles of slavery, which they have since so unwillingly +worn. The doctrine of State sovereignty proclaimed by John C. Calhoun, +and which, together with its apostles, Jackson well knew how to receive, +had been instilled into the minds of the people of the States, which +since their admission into the Union had been at war with destiny, and +in the hope of securing perpetuity of their peculiar institutions, they +attempted the dissolution of the Union. Truly gratifying it must have +been to the extremists in those States to have watched the gathering +clouds, and to listen to the low murmuring thunder which presaged the +coming storm, and well they knew how fearful would be its fury, but +blinded to the inevitable result, they were confident of ultimate +success, when they should have so far disseminated the Calhoun poison +at the North, as to have made oath-bound slaves in such numbers as would +paralyze the efforts of Union men, and render it necessary to recall our +armies from the field to suppress insurrection at home, and to change +the theatre of the war to Northern soil. None knew the importance of +introducing the machinery of secret political organizations better than +Davis himself, for he had not forgotten the Charleston Convention, the +working of the secret orders then, and subsequent events had of course +confirmed him in the opinion that a divided North would not be a +formidable adversary, and that he was warranted in the firm belief that +his wish to be "let alone" would be realised. With these views, shrewd +and sagacious men established themselves early in Missouri, Kentucky, +Indiana, Illinois and other States, and put the machinery in motion. +The order sprung up in various sections of the country, and treason +flourished well, as poisonous plants often show the greatest vitality. +This plan was a success. Men high in rank and station--men from every +profession and walk in life, embraced the principles of the order, +and soon it could boast of legislators, judges of the higher courts, +clergymen, doctors, lawyers, merchants and men from every avocation. +Judge Bullitt, from the Supreme bench in Kentucky, Judge Morris of the +Circuit Court of Illinois, Judd and Robinson, lawyers and candidates for +the highest State offices, Col. Walker, agent of the State of Indiana, +editors of the daily press, and men high in official station, and in +the confidence of the people, ex-Governors of States and disaffected +politicians, all seized upon this new element of power and with various +motives, the chief of which was self agrandisement at any cost, even at +the cost of our National existence--entered with zeal upon the work of +disseminating the doctrines, and extending the organization throughout +the North and West. + +The leaders gratified by success, courted the support of the +organizations they fostered till the candidates for the highest offices +in the State and Nation felt certain of obtaining election, were they +but in favor with the secret orders they aided in establishing. +While the leaders were men of cunning, many of them of intellect and +education, the rank and file was made up of different material. It not +being necessary by the tenets of the order that they should _think_ at +all, brains were at a discount--muscle only was required--beings +who would fall into line at the word of command and follow on to an +undertaking, however desperate and criminal, without asking or thinking, +or caring for the purpose to be attained; beings who could be put in +harness and led or driven wherever and whenever it might suit their +masters. Men from the lowest walks of life were preferred. In the lower +strata of the order, social distinction was waived by the leaders, +and the lowest wretch in the order was placed on a level with judges, +merchants and politicians, at least within the hall of meeting, thus +offering inducements potent enough to make the lodge room a place of +interest and pleasure, and thus the organization thrived. + +It became known of course that secret organizations of a most dangerous +class were in existence, and their fruits were easily recognized. Our +brave boys in the army were often importuned by letters, to desert their +posts and to betray their flag. Union men were subject to annoyances +that became unendurable, soldiers wives and families were grossly +insulted, soldiers visiting their homes upon furloughs were often +assaulted or murdered, quarrels upon petty pretexts were incited, +neighbors arrayed against each other, dwellings burned by incendiaries, +unoffending union men murdered, military secrets of greatest importance +betrayed, libels of the most gross and malicious character by such +papers as the Chicago Times, and by such men as Wilbur F. Story, its +editor, till at length a voice came to us from the army in the field, +which was often echoed, begging Union citizens at home, by their love +of the Union, by the love they bore their own families, to protect +the absent soldiers' wives, mothers, sisters and firesides from the +Copperheads who remained at home; they would meet the enemy at the +front, they would march fearlessly to the cannon's belching throat, and +meet death or mutilation upon the field of battle for their Country's +cause; not for themselves did they know fear or care for danger, but +when the tidings came to them from home, when after toilsome marches, +hunger and fatigue, or suffering from wounds received in desperate +engagements, when resting a brief hour, and their eyes fell upon +missives from home, from wives who bade them go and fight for freedom, +and return not with shame upon their brows, when tender thoughts of +home, of children and every "loved spot" that they had left behind, came +crowding to their minds, who shall say that they were wanting in heroism +if their faces became pale, their lips trembled and the tears dimmed +their eyes, as they read of wrongs and insults endured from Copperheads +at home, or of plots and acts by cowardly traitors to aid the common +enemy; and when their entreaty comes to us to strike down the deadly foe +at home and give protection to the helpless, let him blush with shame to +call himself a man, let him never claim to be an American citizen, never +claim protection of our Country's flag, let him close his ears to the +sound of rejoicing for final and complete victory, let him only hold +companionship with cowards and with culprits, and hide himself from +the light of day who will turn a deaf ear to the soldiers' prayer. +Copperheads who have withheld their sympathy and their efforts for our +country in its days of darkness and of peril, should and will be known +of men in all future time; their lives will be blighted, their names +will be a reproach and a by-word, their children will blush for their +parents, and the name of Benedict Arnold will no longer be the synonym +of treason and betrayal--his name will be rescued from the infamy each +passing year of the existence of our country has heaped upon it, and the +Copperheads of the present day will receive the anathemas of all coming +generations, till their very names shall be a curse too horrid for +mortals to apply, and thenceforth be only echoed in the lowest depths of +hell. + +By Providential discovery of the existence of the Order of Sons of +Liberty in Chicago, and the utmost vigilance, prudence, perseverance, +patience, promptness and daring, the aims, designs and acts of this +Order, of the American Knights and kindred organizations have been +brought to light, its every evil purpose and plan laid before the +Government, and the pet institution of Jeff. Davis has been turned +inside out, so that "he who runs may read;" the curtain has been raised +and the light of noonday has been let in, discovering to the public the +horrid creation of traitors in our very midst--people who breathe the +very air we do, who enjoy the same blessings and privileges, aye, and +perhaps sit at the same tables. The friends and sympathizers of these +traitors have sought to cast obloquy and distrust upon the statements of +those who have successfully broken up the great conspiracy, and perjury +has sought to blacken their reputations, but in vain. _Truth will +prevail_. + +The list of names of the members of the Sons of Liberty have been +obtained and preserved, and will be valuable for reference hereafter. + +As the reader passes down South Clark street, at the corner of Monroe, +he will notice upon the right a large building of peculiar structure, +and, now bearing the name "Invincible Club Hall." It was here the +temples of the Sons of Liberty, or, as they were then called, the +"American Knights," held their secret sessions, going stealthily up the +stairs singly or in groups of two or three, to avoid observation, and +when once inside the hall they were guarded by an outside sentinel, +whose duty it was to apprise them of danger and to guard against its +approach to the "temple"; but let not the fault-finding Sons blame their +Tyler now for any neglect of duty; once under the ban of suspicion +he has proved himself as staunch a rebel and traitor as Jeff. Davis +himself, and is entitled to all the consideration of a "devilish good +fellow." But within a year, more or less, the "temple" of the _Illini_, +as it was called, removed from Clark street to the large building upon +the corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets, known as "McCormick's +Block." Every Thursday evening prior to the eighth of November 1864, the +windows of the hall in the fifth story gave evidence that the hall +was occupied, but further than this evidence was not for the observer, +however curious he might be, unless, perchance, he was a member of "the +Order." Clambering up the long nights of stairs that lead to the hall, +on a Thursday evening, the party in quest of discovery would be not +a little surprised at the class of men he would notice upon the march +upward; he would involuntarily button up his pockets and keep as far +distant from his fellow travelers as possible, for a more God-forsaken +looking class of vagabonds never before entered a respectable building, +and it is a matter of some doubt whether so many graceless scoundrels +were ever before convened in one building in Chicago, not excepting +the Armory when the police have been unusually active and vigilant. +Occasionally a fine looking man would brush hastily by you, as if afraid +to be discovered and recognised--not in the least conscience-stricken, +perhaps, for his purposes and intentions. Should the gas-light show to +you the comely features of the Grand Senior Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., +on his pilgrimage upward, you would scarcely be willing to believe that +he was the presiding genius of the room in the upper regions, and bound +to dispense light and wisdom to the motley crowd who would so soon be +filling the hall with fumes of cheap tobacco and the poorest quality of +whiskey, mingled with the fragrance of onions, borne by gentle zephyrs +from yonder open vestibule. Yonder comes L.A. Doolittle, Esq., a lawyer +of some distinction and a justice of the peace; he wears a look of +wisdom, and you can read upon his face that he is certain that the +"despot Lincoln," and "Lincoln's hirelings," and "Lincoln's bastiles" +are all going under together beneath the wheels of the triumphal car +drawn by the opposition party, with Vallandigham as the leader. But we +will not try to find any great number of fine looking men in very close +proximity to the hall. Arriving on the fifth floor, and proceeding to +a door upon which you find the sign of the "American Protestant +Association," your friends casting furtive glances around and behind +them, disappear by the door and are lost to view; one by one, like stars +upon the approach of dawn, our constellation vanishes. You open the +door, but your curiosity is not repaid; the seedy friends who preceded +you but an instant are lost to sight--presto! the room is as vacant as +a last year's robin's nest, and observation detects a hole of six inches +in diameter in a door in one side of the room; you try the door, but +it is fast, and you may leave if you wish, but the idea of a Copperhead +crawling through a hole six inches in diameter will haunt your dreams +that night. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +FOREIGN POWERS THE ENEMIES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT--THEIR PART IN THE +PROGRAMME OF THE REBELLION. + +The event of the American revolution burst upon the world as the most +startling era in the history of nations. Monarchical Europe had long +envied the proud career and inevitable destiny of these States, +which had been shaken as the brightest jewels from the British Crown. +Monarchs, Emperors, Queens, lords, princes and diplomats, who wield the +sceptre of dominion, could not conceal the joy afforded them by a +scene, which executed, promised the speedy extinguishment of the leading +national power on the globe, and the final demolition of the only altar +of liberty upon which the fires of freedom had continued bright. + +The event created the more joy, because it was attributable partly to +the efforts so strenuously put forth for many preceding years by the +combined enemies of American Independence, to poison the American +mind and breed disunion in the ranks of a free, industrious and honest +yeomanry, with a view to the ultimate dissolution of the bonds of the +Union. + +These enemies, however, for some time anterior to the development of the +fruit of their labors, had begun to despair of the cause in which they +had engaged, and it is possible that the scheme of American wreck +and ruin upon their part had been permanently abandoned, hence their +immediate demonstrations of joy at the triumph of their cause of +sedition. + +But seeds sown, however barren the soil, seldom fail of some growth, +and subsequent to the presidential election of 1860, the great American +rebellion became transparent to both friend and foe. To enumerate and +examine in detail the different phases of the programme of artificial +causes which precipitated defiance of the General Government, and gave +origin to the chronic disorder of the people of different sections upon +the subject of their government, would occupy more space than has been +allotted this brief narrative, which is more especially intended to +embrace a readable compilation of the later movements of the enemies of +the Government to crown the Confederate cause with success, through the +bloody implement of Conspiracy and Revolution in the Northern States. + +Having alluded to the prominent part occupied by foreign hostile powers +in the general scheme of Conspiracy against the Federal Government, a +brief allusion to the part executed by the native born American will not +be out of place. + +The cheek tingles with the blush of shame, when alas, it _must_ be said +that the pride of the American has been humbled by his too faithful +adherence to the grand original compact of treason, even after the +second most potent auxiliary to the plan had been tenderly touched +with the wickedness of the scheme, and had withdrawn in dismay at the +approach of the enactment of crime so revolting. + +All things material and tangible have their bases and starting points, +so too, had the Southern Rebellion its foundation stone laid deep and +solid in the minds of the people by John C. Calhoun, the first great +Supreme Commander of the germ from whence sprung the various elements of +treason, which have entered into the composition of the powers seeking +the destruction of the Federal Government. As for the doctrine of State +Rights as expounded by Calhoun, it is carried beyond the Virginia and +Kentucky resolutions of '98, to that point which renders it destructive +of the end for which it is claimed to be enunciated. + +It has been sought to carry the doctrine to that extremity beyond the +exercise of its own reserved powers, which must inevitably bring it in +collision with the legitimate operation of the powers delegated to the +General Government. + +With this extreme, hence fallacious, doctrine of State Rights thus +firmly imbedded in the hearts and heads of a zealous people, rendering +them, upon conscientious principles, the ready tools of ambitious +leaders, filled with lust for power and place, it should not be a matter +of so much surprise, that, after years of uninterrupted and persistent +education and training of the generations in their order, that the year +of 1860 found the continent trembling beneath the crack of musketry, the +tread of horse, and the roar of cannon. + +As among the more important means used by designing men in aid of +the scheme of rebellion, and the ultimate establishment of a separate +government in the South, the nucleus of which was to be the cotton +states, secret organizations, assuming different names and traditions +in different localities in the South were established, having for +their special mission in the meantime the privacy of the plot, and the +education of the people to that indispensable standard of treason which +would eventually lead them to avow their principles at the point of the +sword. + +These organizations, in point of antiquity, are traced to a time not +long anterior to the nullification of South Carolina in 1832, which was +so promptly suppressed by General Jackson, then President of the United +States. Some of them, however, claim even greater antiquity, and point +with affected pride to the historical period of the American colonial +revolution against the taxation and tyranny of England, as the date of +their origin. Whatever may be the facts as to the precise date of the +existence, respectively, of these disreputable cables, laid to undermine +the greatness and glory of the National Union, cemented as it is by the +blood of the sires and sages of the Revolution, is unimportant to the +purpose of the author, while the great living fact that they have been +the most deadly weapon in the hands of the enemy is corroborated by the +eventful history of the union of these States. + +Prior to the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, these various +organizations, being the van-guards in the general conspiracy against +the integrity and perpetuity of the Federal Government, had not been +introduced, to any great extent, in the non-slaveholding states, and in +consequence thereof had little or no tangibility north of the compromise +of 1820, familiarly known as Mason and Dixon's line. South of this line, +however, they had long been standing institutions in every city, +town, hamlet, villa and populated district throughout all of the late +so-called Confederate States of America; vying the Palmetto in rankness +of growth, and rivaling the rattlesnake in deadness of poison, until +at length, gorged with their own baneful offspring, and pale with the +sickness of their own stomachs, the child of secession was born unto +them as a curse and reproach to the Southern people and the generations +to follow them forever. + +On the 17th of April, 1861, the report of the gun fired upon Fort Sumter +was heard by every member of these secret conclaves in the South, and +was the signal for the opening of the outer gates of every temple of +treason in the land. + +From that inauspicious moment forward to the present, no mask has hid +from the scorn of the Christian world treason's hideous visage, but that +blear-eyed monster, armed with every weapon of iniquity which devilish +invention could devise, has alternately, with rage and despair, rushed +to and fro across the continent, spilling the blood of innocence. + +When, upon the occurrence of the Presidential election in 1860, it was +found that the kernel planted by Calhoun had been fostered to maturity +by secret organization, the blood and treasure of seven states was at +once staked upon the fearful result, and the disruption of the Republic +and the erection of a slave-driving despotism upon the ruins solemnly +declared. In the outset, it was thought by leading political minds at +the North, that but little sincerity could be attached to the assertion +of independence by the Southern people. But as time elapsed and the +contest grew more formidable and bloody, Northern men began by degrees +to comprehend the magnitude of a chronic conspiracy which had cost the +life-long labors of its ablest advocates to prepare. And though the +hosts enlisted in the execution of this conspiracy for a time won the +prestige of victors upon fields of blood, knowledge of their sincerity +of purpose and the extent of their carefully collected resources at +length came to every loyal man in the country, and vigorous measures, +corresponding to the necessity, were at once devised, the effects of +which are now seen in the capture of Richmond and the surrender of Lee. + +Earlier than this date in the progress of the struggle, however, it +became manifest that the wheel of fortune would eventually turn against +the cause of the South in consequence of her comparative weakness to +contend against a power so amply provided with the material of war as +the government at Washington. Then it was that the project of enlarging +the area of the rebellion, first fell upon the Southern mind as +indispensable to their cause, now fast becoming desperate in the +extreme. Hurried raids into border northern states gave to the prowess +of southern arms but momentary _eclat_, and little or no enduring +strength was added to the stability of the Richmond government, beyond +the plunder obtained in the line of march. On the contrary, these raids, +instead of being evidence of the power of the South to maintain the +standard of independence, were looked upon by the military chieftains +of the North, without apprehension further than the demoralization, +consequent upon the particular neighborhoods and districts thus invaded. +In fact each recurring raid gave additional grounds for the confident +belief on the part of the North, that the downfall of the rebellion was +but a question of time, much sooner to be solved than many people of +both sections supposed. These symptoms of the distress of the cause +meantime did not escape the sagacity of the leaders of the rebellion, +and as an expedient remedy, the plan of secretly organizing traitors +in the northern states was determined upon as early as 1862, by the +political representatives and agents of the confederate states, the +attempt, character and success of which project will be the subject of +the next chapter. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +ARENA OF THE REBELLION EXTENDED--SECRET ORGANIZATION--PLAN OF +FORMATION--KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE--TRANSPORTS ON THE RIVERS +BURNED--EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES--SUPREME COUNCIL IN NEW YORK--DEGREES OF +THE ORDERS. + +As above intimated, early in 1862 the Richmond Government foresaw the +necessity of bringing to its aid the hitherto comparatively dormant +resources of treason in the Northern States, and the enlargement of the +arena of the Rebellion. Raids having ominously failed in their design to +arouse the lethargic spirits of Northern sympathizers and advocates, +to rush to the standard of the misguided South, it was immediately +determined to prolong the war, at least, to the date of the next +Presidential election, and then through the agencies of secret +organization and equipment, seize upon the excitement of the people in +a hotly contested election, to force a rebellion against the +administration elect in the North, as had been done in the South in +1860. + +The executive part of this object was at once given into the hands of +such trustworthy men, both North and South, as were deemed suitable +to the enterprise, and the work of secret political organization was +vigorously begun in Northern Missouri and Kentucky, from thence it +gradually spread, until it was firmly rooted in the political tenets of +the minority party in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, New +York, and portions of other adjoining States. + +Much dissimilarity existed in the operative structure and formation of +the various organizations, from time to time thus instituted. To give +the public a full and complete description of these organizations, would +be foreign to the writer's time, space and purpose, but in order that +some record of their character may be made, a general description of +each in its order in point of time, with a reference to the features in +which radical dissimilarities appear, would seem indispensible to the +poor perfection sought to be obtained by the author of these sketches. + +Upon the discovery by Southern leaders that their cause must fail unless +"fire in the rear" was at once instigated in the North, the Order of the +Knights of the Golden Circle, an old Southern institution, was infused +with life, and began its pilgrimage Northward, one additional creed +having been ingrafted upon it. + +It will be remembered that this Order was originally composed of the +wealthiest planters, merchants and professional men of the South, and +had for its sole object the inculcation of treason against the United +States. It was simply an institution to educate the Southern mind to the +required standard of rebellion. But when the Order was introduced into +the North, it was found feasible to give it a double capacity, first +that of an educational capacity, and second that of an incendiary +capacity, which comprised the destruction of government property, and +the houses and property of leading loyal citizens of the North, known +to be strong advocates of the suppression of the rebellion. But this +organization in name and cardinal purpose was short-lived, its career +having subserved but a meagre benefit to the South, in a practical point +of view. The damage it did was principally confined to the burning of +United States transports on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the +moulding of the crude opinions of its members, which served as a solid +foundation for the establishment of the Order of American Knights, which +immediately succeeded its dissolution. + +Like all institutions of iniquity, the sun of the Order of Knights of +the Golden Circle went down in blood, but was the signal for the advent +of an Order better calculated to meet the ends of its design. + +It had been seen upon experiment that the Golden Circle had been +successful beyond the most sanguine expectations of its instigators, and +as the necessity of Northern revolution to insure the certain success of +the Confederacy daily became more apparent to the rebels, both North +and South, the Order of the American Knights was inaugurated--the +executioner of that fell purpose. Its sun arose to its meridian with the +suddenness of a meteor, doomed to flash across the canopy and burst in +scattering atoms. + +The Order of American Knights was erected upon the dissolved fragments +of the Order of the Knights of the Golden Circle, which Order, in name, +was abandoned for the additional reason that the suspicions of the +Government had begun to be aroused as to the character of its movements. +At the time of the extinction of the Golden Circle, its members were +at once inducted into the Order of American Knights, so that this Order +obtained much primary advantage, in point of numerical strength, over +its predecessor, for the Golden Circle had already insidiously crept +into the very hearts of several Northern cities and states. The American +Knights being composed in the outset wholly of men who from experience +had discovered whatever defectiveness may have been chargeable upon the +Golden Circle, it was sought in the new Order to remedy the evils of the +old Order. + +With this in view, looking over the former and later phases of the +Golden Circle as it had existed in the North and South, respectively, +it was agreed to give the new Order still another capacity, and what +was called the military branch or department was added, the incendiary +capacity of the old Order being merged into this new military +department. + +We have seen that there had been in the North an Order mainly of +educational capacity, contemplating revolution so soon as the public +mind could be put in readiness for such an event, but now for the first +time we find an Order prepared in its organic structure, to speedily +collect together the elements of revolution and set them in motion. Such +a concern was the Order of American Knights. True, the rise of the Order +created a momentary excitement in political circles, as yet unaccustomed +to dealing with the stern problems of Northern revolution by resort to +arms. But, by the admirable adjustment of the administrative powers +of the Order, into degrees, sub-degrees and departments of degrees and +sub-degrees, the leaders were enabled to give to each adventurer in +quest of the hidden mysteries of the so-called impartial maxims of +genuine Democracy--that Democracy which _boasts of having permeated +through every fibre and artery of our political, commercial and social +systems_, a comfortable and genial sphere in which he was left to +operate upon his good behavior. + +Upon this ingenious plan the vast body and mass of the Order simply +held the relation of probationary membership, until they were rendered +competent through the educational capacity of the society, to advance +into full fellowship with its diabolical design. A glance at this +organization will suffice to show the shrewdness of the transient and +local agents of the Confederacy, in their formation of an Order, having +for its mission the attainment of so many incidental objects, without in +the meantime subjecting themselves to the dangers of collision in their +machinery. Accordingly, the Order was composed of three general degrees, +viz.: First, the Temple Degree, second, the Grand Council Degree, and +third, the Supreme Council Degree. + +The first or Temple Degree, resembled the county organization of a +State, and held the same relation to the second or Grand Council +Degree (which was the state organization of the Order,) that our county +government holds to our State government, and it was always sought to +establish this first or Temple Degree at each county seat in a State, as +expeditiously as possible, that the second or Grand Council Degree could +the sooner be fully represented, and begin its State management of +the Order. In other chapters the writer has made a passing, though +sufficient allusion to the internal workings of these Temples, and +doubtless the initiated reader, in different sections, will +recognize the facts we have already and are further about to state, +notwithstanding the "_obligation_" the author is supposed to have +subscribed to, not to reveal the existence of the Order and its secrets, +under _penalty of "suffering a shameful death."_ + +The process usually followed in instituting the Temple Degree, was to +send missionaries with authority, into the districts proposed to be +organized, who called together such of the "unterrified" leaders as were +known to be "_sound_ on Jeff. Davis' goose," before whom the design +and object of the Order was confidentially laid for their approval or +rejection, by a majority vote. It is important to recollect that the +record does not afford an instance where a majority of those assembled +for this purpose, rejected the Order as inconsistent with their +political views. On the contrary, it was everywhere received by the +politicians, both great and small, as "_just the thing they had been +looking for_." These politicians were then left to "manage their own +local affairs" concerning the Order, "subject only to the constitution" +of _Jeff. Davis_. Generally, several meetings and some discussion +enabled these empyrics to determine plans of strategy to screen +themselves, by "_covering the tracks in the sand_," a remark frequently +heard from members. + +[Illustration: THE MILITARY COMMISSION IN SESSION IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE +COURT HOUSE IN CINCINNATI. + +"All whom we arrested wore the same general wolfish aspect."--From the +testimony of Brig. Gen. B.J. Sweet.] + +The plan in most cases adopted, was to familiarize a sufficient number +of the _elect_, with a grossly immoral and treasonable pamphlet, called +the "Ritual of the Order," to enable them to officer the Temple, and +"induct" any number of "candidates" _supposed_ to be "in waiting in the +ante-room, into the sublime," but in fact dark and dubious "mysteries of +the Order." + +After one or more squads of these "candidates in" anxious and breathless +"waiting" had been inducted, (meanwhile staring like stuck pigs at every +object and officer which met their eyes,) in addition to the regular +officers of the Temple already installed, it was considered that +enough official and canvassing material had been acquired, and the more +prominent politicians, not officers of the Temple, deemed it prudent +to absent themselves from most of the weekly meetings. Again, it was an +illusion of these leaders, to put forward the most irresponsible persons +at their command, as the mouth-pieces and official representatives of +the Order, to the end that if detected, the theory of _crazy, powerless +fools_, could be wielded upon public sentiment by an undisturbed +partisan press, to save the scheme from thorough investigation and +development by the authorities. + +In evidence of the fact of these illusions, L.A. Doolittle lectures the +Temple in Chicago on the "purposes and plans of the Order," (but who +by the way, was not so "insane on the subject" as the men who put him +forward have sought to show him to be,) and prominent politicians, +not before known to be members of the fraternity, appear prior to +semi-annual elections as candidates for representatives in the Grand +Council. + +It was duly announced, also, that an extra session of the Supreme +Council had been convened in the city of New York, charged with the +special business of revising the ritual, changing the signs, passwords, +grips, and giving to the Order a new name. Pursuant to announcement, +Charles W. Patten made his appearance in the Temple with the rituals and +paraphernalia of the new Order of the Sons of Liberty--the result of the +proceedings of the late Supreme Council. + +This obscure individual, with fame limited to the dusty walls of the +Invincible Club Rooms and the traitor's dungeon at Camp Douglas, upon +his appearance in the Temple, assigned two chief reasons for the recent +action of the Supreme Council. First and most important was, the obvious +inadequacy of the Order of American Knights to subserve the purpose +for which it was instituted, in consequence of the subordination of the +military to the civil department. And, second, the disclosure in +St. Louis had rendered the Order liable to intrusion by spies, an +embarrassment to be avoided only by alteration of signs, grips, +passwords, and name. We were then informed that we were Sons of Liberty +(a sensible man would have said sons of the devil, if he had dared to +have spoken the truth), and earnestly exhorted to exercise the utmost +caution in adhering to the new rules and instructions of the Supreme +Council. It is not a little amusing to witness the homeopathic doses +of modern democracy, carefully administered to the rank and file of the +northern people through the medium of these Orders. + +In the first place, the Golden Circle edifies the "stranger advancing in +dark, devious ways" with lessons upon the doctrine of state sovereignty, +and admonishes him to "follow the straight and narrow path which is +paved with gems and pearls, and bordered with perennial flowers whose +perfumes all his senses will entrance," all of which is received by the +sincere candidate with every mark of approval. We next find the American +Knights embracing its members in the bedazzling folds of military lace +to be used when in arms against the Government. A splendid spectacle of +the doctrines of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Douglas! And to cap +the miserable climax, men boasting of the Democracy of their fathers in +a line of lineal descent for generations back, are required to subscribe +to the doctrine of the subordination of the civil to the military +authority by the tenets of the Sons of Liberty. + +This astonishing feature of the Sons of Liberty, as contradistinguished +from the Orders which preceded it, at first met with murmurs of +disfavor, but the dissatisfaction was principally among men who +ultimately acted the _nobler part_, and as the tide of treason rolled +up to sustain this measure "for the good of the Order," all such were +submerged and lost sight of, except by the evil eye set upon them as +spies. + +Without offering his advice, the writer would respectfully ask the +_true_ Democrat, who may yet, from the temptations of firmly-rooted +prejudices, incline to the belief that this organization was purely +democratic in the Andrew Jackson acceptation of that term, how the above +statement of principles comports with his notions of the doctrines of +the party with which he has hitherto seen fit to fellowship? + +Is it not clearly to be seen that this Order meditated the establishment +of a government more despotic in its character than history furnishes +any example of? A government with three degrees or departments, each +oath-bound and a profound secret to the other, moving in their appointed +spheres, and the civil departments of which were secondary, in point of +power, to the military departments! + +Let no man, of whatever political persuasion he may be, flatter himself +for a moment that such a government could be Republican in its nature. + +Having now traced, with perhaps a tedious hand, the rise and fall of two +political Orders, ranking among the most powerful instruments of crime +and public wrong of their day, the writer bids their unmourned remains +farewell, to pass to the consideration in the succeeding chapter, of +the desperate career and final explosion of the Order of the Sons of +Liberty--a solemn warning to the American people forever. + +To save the Goudys, Caulfields, Adams, Edwards, Duncans, Wickershams, +Cuttings, and Kimberlys, the Morrises, Walshes, Jacksons, Pattens, +Gearys, and Doolittles were put forward because they were eager for the +fray, and possessed the temerity to brave the danger of Union bullets. + +We have now seen how the Temple or First Degree was instituted in +counties; how the various elements of treason were collected together +and detailed for their special service of educating the ignorant, +manufacturing materials and munitions of war, and devising plots to +burn, plunder, and pillage unsuspecting cities; how each member was +singled out according to his fitness for certain duties, which he +performed without their character coming even to his fellow members +of the same degree; and how the brained leaders of these institutions +retired to the back ground to elude the vigilance of the ministers of +the law, and "adjust the wires" that were to check to-day, and to-morrow +precipitate the conspiracy. + +The Grand Council, or Second Degree, was established in every State +where the Temple Degree had obtained any strength and character as +to numbers. This Degree resembled the State in its governmental +organization, and bore the same relation to the Supreme Council or +Third Degree that the State governments of the Federal Union bear to the +government at Washington. The Order having a military department, these +Grand Councils, in council assembled, adopted the militia and other +statute laws of the particular State, with such revisions, exceptions +and additional laws as were deemed essential to the successful operation +of the Order. + +Regular semi-annual meetings of the Grand Councils were held, convening +respectively on the 22d of August and the 22d of February--the latter, +in sacrilege be it said, being religiously observed as the birthday of +Washington. + +But extra sessions were almost monthly called during the year of 1864, +prior to the election, to take precautionary and other expedient +action upon the continually recurring changes of that eventful year. No +considerable battle was fought in the front, that was not the signal for +the assembling of this council, and no political event of any importance +transpired that did not receive the solemn deliberations of this already +_de facto_ legislative body. Of course no person ever became a member of +this Council who had not first been inducted into the Temple, and then +by his Temple elected as a representative in the Grand Council, the +election for which purpose was held semi-annually as above, and new +representatives took their seats at each regular session. + +The Grand Council embraced in its sphere of labors such duties as +experience seemed to dictate, as being necessary to the fulfilment of +the mission of the Order. It provided remedies for unmistakable evils, +and watched with a zealous care and fostering hand, every interest of +treason within the boundaries of its jurisdiction. + +The Supreme Council or Third and highest Degree of the Order in +organization, was built after the pattern of the Federal government at +Washington, and wielded a similar general control over the affairs of +the Order, that our National government exerts over the consequences +growing out of the union of the States under one central government. +Here we see how admirably the design to effect Northern rebellion +was conceived. The whole machinery of a government _de facto_, and in +disguise though, it was, with all its branches, both civil and military +in active operation for months and years within the very sound of the +echoing steps of senators in the halls of the Capitol, was indeed a +source of the most serious concern to the authorities, for the safety of +the Republic. But valorous daring, tempered with prudence, was +destined to bring to the light of day this infernal work of years, and +accordingly the city of St. Louis was the scene of the first public +development of the Order of American Knights, early in the spring of +1864, the principal facts of which disclosure the public learned +from the press at the time, hence the writer will only allude in this +connection to the effect created in various Circles of the Order, by the +attempt upon the part of the Government to thwart the perpetration +of the red-handed crimes contemplated by the leaders. When it was +officially announced by Reuben Cassile, presiding Grand Seignior of the +Chicago Temple, then recently removed from the Invincible Club Hall to +McCormick's Building, that disclosures of the Order in St. Louis +had occurred, every countenance was stamped with dismay. The timely +appearance at the Temple, however, of Judge Morris and other leaders, +served to interpose restraint upon any serious apprehensions of +difficulty resulting to the Order. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +NEW ERA IN SECRET POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS--PLEDGE TO "TAKE UP ARMS" +FOR JEFF. DAVIS--TRUE DEMOCRACY STRUCK DOWN--NATIONAL AND STATE +LEADERS--INVINCIBLE CLUB LEADERS--VALLANDIGHAM'S RETURN TO THE STATES IN +HIS CAPACITY OF SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY. + +A new era in the history of secret political orders was opened by the +Sons of Liberty. + +As the Presidential election of 1864 approached, the party in the +minority began to appreciate the awkwardness of its attitude upon the +political issues of the day, and appeared determined in its conclusion +to obtain the ascendency in the coming administration, by means of fraud +and force. + +The great mass of the party had now become conversant and familiar with +every species of political crime, through secret organization, and it +only remained for the leaders to decide upon a programme, to have it +executed with despatch and fidelity. + +Languishing under the lash of chastisement inflicted upon those infamous +enough to aid and abet the cause of dismemberment, mutual hate and +slaughter, National extinction and death, they swore in this Order an +eternal and most dreadful oath of vengeance upon their offenders, and +pledged themselves, under fearful penalties of death, "ever to take up +arms in the cause of the oppressed in their own country, first of all, +against any monarch, prince, potentate, power or government usurped, +and found in arms and waging war against a people or peoples, who had +of their own _free choice_, inaugurated a government for themselves, in +accordance with and founded upon the eternal principles of truth." + +Thus, the liveliest form of ancient or modern civilization, in a +republic just rising to the glories of empire, was to be sacrificed +to the mad notion of petty "State Sovereignty," by a sworn band of +desperadoes. How sad when other generations would ask, where is the +Federal Government, to be answered only by poets, who would sing her +elegy, as in the past they have sang that of the lamented Hellas: + + + "Ask the Paynim slave, + Who treads all tearless on her hallowed grave; + Invoke the spirits of the past, and shed + The voice of your strong bidding on the dead! + Lo! from a thousand crumbling tombs they rise-- + The great of old, the powerful and the wise! + And a sad tale which none but they can tell, + Falls on the mournful silence like a knell. + Then mark yon lonely pilgrim bend and weep + Above the mound where genius lies in sleep. + And is this all? Alas! we turn in vain, + And, turning, meet the self-same waste again-- + The same drear wilderness of stern decay; + Its former pride, the phantom of a day; + A song of summer-birds within a bower; + A dream of beauty traced upon a flower; + A lute whose master-chord has ceased to sound; + A morning-star struck darkling to the ground." + + +The thought of the miserable commentary stirs the ire of the patriot +and nerves his arm to daring deeds, in the holy cause of liberty, the +constitution, and his country. + +Skulk back into your dark dens of iniquity, you Clement L. Vallandigham, +and you James A. McMaster, and you S. Corning Judd, and you Amos Green, +and you P.C. Wright, (in Fort Lafayette where you ought to be,) before +the wrath of honest people falls upon your wicked heads! Each of you, +with the exception of _you_, Wright, being too infamous for that, even, +have been before the Commission at Cincinnati, and stand before an +outraged people condemned out of your own lips! Dare insult the light +of day with your hideous faces, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks of +public scorn! + +But to return to our text, the Sons of Liberty, we find that undaunted +organization in full blast from the time of its official inception in +New York up to the Monday morning of the arrests on the 7th of November +last. + +It is now proposed to show, by an allusion to certain prominent facts +occurring during the summer of '64, that the so-called Democratic party +was the mainspring to the great conspiracy that has been attempted in +the North with so much audacity that many men of the best judgment +can scarcely believe it to be a reality. In this we do not wish to be +understood that all men who have heretofore voted the "unterrified" +ticket, have knowingly and willingly given aid and comfort to the +treasonable plans and purposes of their leaders, for our personal +acquaintance among that class of anti-administration men, is sufficient +to enable us to say, with confidence, that many of them are as loyal at +heart as any man who ever breathed the air of an American freeman. + +But we mean this, and proclaim the fact in the face of every foe, +that upon the death of that lamented statesman and patriot, Stephen +A. Douglas, the Woods and McMasters of New York, the Seymours of +Connecticut, the Vallandighams and Pendletons of Ohio, the Voorhees and +Dodds of Indiana, the Judds and Greens of Illinois, and others of +like ilk in other States, obtained the chieftainship of the party and +inveigled its too pliable ranks into the prostituting embrace of this +foul conspiracy, to overthrow the government and crown with success the +cause of the confederate arms. It must be readily seen by every honest +man of ordinary intelligence, that such an affair could never have +gained a foothold among our people under a truly loyal condition of the +opposing party. The truthfulness of this assertion is so very forcible +to the candid reader, that illustration or argument in support of it +would be superfluous. However, occasional incidents will serve better to +connect popular leaders with the subject of these sketches, and call to +the minds of participants practical facts. + +Brig. Gen. Charles Walsh, some time during the winter of '64 and '65, +received his quantum of a fund, of which we shall hereafter speak, to +purchase arms to be distributed in the 1st Congressional district of +Illinois, comprising the county of Cook, and the scene of the late +Chicago conspiracy, the enactment of which was to be the signal for a +general conflagration of our cities, and thus fulfil the prophecy of +Jeff. Davis, that the grass would grow again, on the streets of the +cities of the North. + +Do the leaders of the Invincible Club, among whom are W.C. Goudy, John +Garrick, Malcom McDonald, and Dr. Swayne Wickersham, remember that that +institution was to be the public mouth-piece of the Sons of Liberty, in +an address to the Democracy of Chicago, to have been issued during the +Presidential campaign? + +Do they also remember the joint delegation of Invincibles and Sons of +Liberty that received Vallandigham and the Woods of New York, on their +arrival in Chicago to participate in, and mould the proceedings of the +National Democratic Convention? + +Do they further remember the remarkable speech made in their Hall during +the Convention, by Capt. Rynders of New York, whom they hissed from the +platform for his bold and fearless expression of loyal sentiments? + +Do they remember the motto, "Never worship the setting sun," which +appeared on transparencies, and frequently fell from their own lips, +and was meant as a hit upon those who were supposed to have allied +themselves with treason, because of their belief in its eventual +success? + +Do they remember how it was proposed that Charles Walsh, of the Sons of +Liberty, was to negotiate a purchase of the Chicago _Post_, and convert +it to the same villainous purpose of its contemporary, the _Times_? + +Have they forgotten the fifty or sixty thousand dollars raised by +subscription to the books of the Club, nominally to be used for +procession and illuminating purposes, but which was used for the +purchase of arms and the importation of butternuts, to engage in the +attack upon Camp Douglas? + +Have they forgotten that large sums of this money was obtained under +false pretences--under pretences that it was to be used for ordinary +campaign purposes? + +Have they forgotten that through their instrumentality the McClellan +Escorts, then organized in every ward, were officered by Sons of +Liberty? + +Have they forgotten the meeting of Invincible Club members and Sons +of Liberty in the sanctum sanctorum of the Chicago _Times_, where +the question of punishing Col. R.M. Hough and Mr. Eddy, in redress of +personal injuries alleged to have been inflicted upon Wilbur F. Story, +was gravely discussed by B.G. Caulfield, O.J. Rose, Alderman Barrett, +S. Remington and others, and where also, large numbers of muskets and +smaller arms were exhibited? + +And lastly, have they forgotten that the Sons of Liberty, upon a certain +occasion well known to every Copperhead member of the last Common +Council of the city of Chicago, held themselves in readiness till after +midnight, expecting to be called to the assistance of that, at that +time, treasonable body? + +None know the significance of these questions better than the persons +above mentioned, and _others who were on hand about those times_. The +merchants of South Water street in Chicago can now, perhaps, explain +why they were called upon to subscribe so heavily to the books of the +Invincible Club, and the writer would suggest the propriety of these +merchants compelling those who solicited these subscriptions, to deliver +up the arms so purchased, or refund the money to its rightful owners. + +It is pretty well understood, we believe, that the Bridgeport Irish, +vote the "_straight ticket_." It is said, also, that James Geary, a +Son of Liberty and "old clothes man" on the corner of Wells and Madison +streets, could "influence hundreds of them by the wave of his hand." +Now this "old clothes man" was empowered to furnish food, raiment and +shelter to all escaped rebel prisoners, and charge the same to the +Sons of Liberty, _alias_ the Invincible Club, which, it is thought, +_sometimes paid such bills_ out of South Water Street money _subscribed +for processions and illuminations_. These facts are the keys to the +revenue plan of the Sons of Liberty. + +The complicity of the "_straight ticket_" voters in this scheme is +further shown by the character of their State ticket, headed by Robinson +for Governor, Judd for Lieut. Governor, and Hise of La Salle for +Auditor, each Sons of Liberty, and Judd the Grand Commander of the +State. If, as it would be made to appear, there was no complicity +between the Democracy and the Confederate agents, why did Vallandigham, +the Supreme Commander of an Order having its inception in Richmond, +address the people from every stump in Illinois? If there was no +complicity, why did Vallandigham, on his return from exile, in his +official capacity, with his staff around him, defy the United States +government that had justly banished him--with 80,000 Ohioans at his +command? + +If no complicity, why did all the rebels and confederate agents in +Canada come to the Chicago Convention, and why were they here again +at the November election? Copperheads of Chicago and elsewhere, answer +these questions! + + + + +CHAP.V. + + +INSIDE VIEW OF A LODGE OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY IN CHICAGO--OPEN +EXPRESSIONS OF TREASON--SIGNS OF THE TIMES--WAITING FOR REBEL +VICTORIES--THE GREAT PEORIA PEACE MEETING--WHISKEY, TREASON AND +GUNPOWDER. + +Prior to July 1864, the information of the public or the authorities, in +respect to the aims, intents and objects of the organized bands of home +traitors, was very meagre and indefinite, for it was no easy task for +detectives or loyal citizens to enter the portals of the Temples. +True, enough had transpired at the investigations, and before military +commissions in different sections of the country, to awaken a painful +interest and unceasing vigilance on the part of loyal men. So well were +these organizations guarded, that vigilance committees of their members +were appointed with imperative instructions to report the names of all +civic officers and detectives in the employment of the United States and +Provost Marshals, and all persons, by whomsoever employed, who should +attempt to obtain the secrets of the Order. So complete was the +organization, that lists of names were reported and read at the weekly +meetings, and the following day the names and descriptions of such +officers were thoroughly circulated and reported to the brethren in +other cities and towns, and as well might a belled cat hope to invade +the precincts of rats and attain success, as for such a "spotted" +individual to gain access to the Temples of American Knights and Sons +of Liberty. Not a change was made on the police, not an increase +or decrease of Provost guards, not a change of even the location of +artillery in Camp Douglas, no change, however minute of interest to the +rebels, was made but that it was reported and discussed within these +nests and dens of treason. + +It was attempted on several occasions by parties of loyal men, to ferret +out and secure the secrets of the Order, but as well might an attempt +have been made to possess the secrets of the Council of Ten, by the +officers of the governments of Europe; it was almost impossible, and yet +the developments upon the recent trials show conclusively, that had the +task not been effected, the most terrible results would have ensued. +With the desire to aid the Government to the extent of individual +ability, it was not strange that when opportunity occurred, whereby +all might be known, and that knowledge applied to the benefit of our +bleeding country, that any loyal man would have availed himself of +it, at any hazard. The writer found such opportunity, and waiving +all personal considerations, undertook the task, trusting in God for +success, and conscious that all good men would approve the motive, and +that if for a time, reproach and calumny should cloud his reputation, or +if perchance the assassin's hand should execute the sworn purpose of +the Order, as the penalty for surrendering them to the hands of our +Government, the time would surely come when the motives and the acts +would find that approval in the hearts of all honest men, as it did in +his own. Confiding the information accidentally obtained to W.H. Rand, +Esq., of Chicago, a gentleman whose patriotism and whose reputation +needs no encomiums, he immediately advised the expediency of conference +with the State Executive, and to the honor of Governor Richard Yates, it +should be said, he fully realized the importance of acquiring reliable +information of the plots of the secret ally of Jeff. Davis. By Governor +Yates an introduction was given to Brig.-Gen. Paine, then in command of +the department, and again full and unqualified approval of the course +thus far taken, was expressed, with the urgent request to follow up +every avenue of information in this direction. Gen. Paine issued an +introduction to Col. B.J. Sweet, whom he declared to be a "model man +and a model officer in every respect," and in whom all confidence in so +commendable a cause might be reposed. How nobly, how wisely and how well +that gallant officer discharged his trust, all who have observed his +course will concede, and that man whose heroism at the memorable battle +of Perryville, and on other battle fields, will ever be held in grateful +remembrance by his countrymen, has added new lustre to his name, and +the hearty benedictions which will ever be invoked for the defender of +Chicago--the noble Col. Sweet--attest the satisfaction and joy of the +people, to know that his services in this most difficult and hazardous +undertaking are appreciated by the General Government, and the star upon +his shoulder will glitter brighter as time wears on, and Copperheads +live only in history, an evidence of how low men may sink in the scale +of morality, and a warning to all future time. For the writer to have +hesitated in a course of duty so plain, and yet so distasteful would +have been criminal, cowardly, and unworthy of an American citizen. The +advantage gained was followed up unremittingly, by day and by night, for +many weary months, regardless of all professional duties and personal +considerations. It was at the outset found highly necessary, if not +indispensable, to have the concurrence of one good, loyal man of marked +qualification--one who was discreet, who had experience upon police +duties, who was prompt, energetic, persevering, patient, fearless, +and withal a strictly honest man, a citizen whose reputation was above +reproach; that man was found; he was Robert Alexander. After brief +consideration, Mr. Alexander gave to the writer his hearty and earnest +concurrence. Nothing was left undone by him that could further +the hazardous undertaking, and personal gratitude for his ready +acquiescence, which we tender to him, will meet with a ready response +in the hearts of all good citizens. It is now Thursday evening in July +1864. We will now ask the reader to go again with us up those long, +tedious flights of stairs to the outer rooms of the "temple" of the Sons +of Liberty in Chicago. We left the room before with the remembrance of +only a hole six inches in diameter for a full sized Copperhead to crawl +through, but we shall have better success this time. Advancing to the +aforesaid door, and giving three distinct raps, the slide, which we find +covers the hole from the inside, is moved up, and a live, full-grown +Copperhead peers through the orifice. "We whisper the word "Peace," or +"Peoria," or whatever the monthly pass-word is, and the door is open, +and we find ourselves within the vestibule of the temple, surrounded by +a little group going through the preliminary exercises of initiation. We +see the candidate and sponsors, with hands uplifted, and listen to the +very poor reading of an officer, from the ritual, and giving the new +comer his first dose of States' sovereignty and secession. This is so +mystified and clouded with high-sounding words that the poor devil nods +at every time the reader stops for breath, or to expectorate tobacco +juice, and the ceremony is concluded, and the candidate, respectable +for the good clothes which he wears this night as a rarity, follows +his conductor to another door, where he hopes for admission, the only +impression on the candidate being, that his right arm is weary from +being elevated so long, and that he is coming rapidly into good +fellowship with men of high judicial standing, who propose to give +Abolitionists and Lincoln particular "hell under the shirt tail." Again +they knock and are challenged by an inside guardian, who lectures the +newly fledged Son, who having nodded sufficiently, is conducted to the +Ancient Brother in the West, so that the _Son_, reversing the order of +nature, begins rising in the West. The "Ancient Brother" is a better +reader, for here we find _brains_ for the first time, as it is the +leaders, as we have already said, who do all the thinking, unless, +perchance, the simple wretches find themselves in Camp Douglas, where +they begin thinking for themselves. While the Ancient Brother is reading +to the attentive comer, now happy in the thought that he has taken +himself in out of the _draft_, let us survey the sanctum sanctorum; but +first let us advance to the centre of the hall, where we find a piece +of dirty oil cloth the size of a door mat, and stepping upon this, +with body erect and turning our back upon the Ancient Brother, we find +ourselves facing the Grand Seignior, who, on our first introduction, is +Judge Morris; we salute, which we do by applying the palm of our right +hand to the lips, then turning the hand to his seigniorship and bringing +our left hand across the breast, which salutation being returned by the +Grand Seignior, who sits upon a raised platform and wields a gavel, we +take seats wherever our sense of cleanliness will permit, and where we +hope there may be no traveling minute messengers conveying ideas from +one man's head to another. On the north side of the room is another +platform and desk, where a guardian sits and addresses the candidate, +who is supposed to lose his way and to be set right by this guardian, +and even if the candidate is thoroughly sober he may be excused for +losing his way, for it is a matter of much doubt whether he was ever in +such a labarynth of words as he has just heard from the Ancient Brother, +who, having given the man some pretty strong obligations, to endorse and +support the policy of Jeff. Davis, together with an intimation that if +he ever exposes any of the secrets, he may expect to suffer all sorts +of penalties, and told him to fancy he had just received an acorn, +the emblem of the order--he now sits down quietly in the pleasant +consciousness that "we have got one more good voter on our side." The +guardian of the North having put the new _Son_ on his way, he appears in +the East, reflecting his effulgence all around. The Grand Seignior now +rises from his seat, drops his gavel and explains the mysteries of the +initiation, giving him another dose of secession, about as much as the +poor fellow can carry; tells him how to challenge a brother, concluding +by giving the grand sign of distress, which is by raising the right hand +and calling out "_Ocoon_" three times, which he says is made up of the +name of _Calhoun_, whose name is mentioned with great reverence. Thus +closes the ceremony of initiation. "Considerations for the good of the +Order" being the next order of business, speeches are made by some of +the older heads to make the new one feel at home. This "feast of reason +and flow of soul" over, other business is transacted, and the temple +is closed, the Grand Seignor occasionally expressing a few words of +caution, saying that but few members must be present at the meetings at +_this_ hall, as the presence of too great numbers will excite suspicion +and lead to arrest. The next weekly meeting similar events occur, but +_new faces_ appear at every meeting, that is to say, the greater number +of members who were present last week are absent this week, and others +take their places. The Chicago _Times_, however, is well represented at +most of the important meetings. There were about two thousand members of +the Sons of Liberty in "good and regular standing" in Chicago alone, +at the time they were let down. By careful arrangements we were able to +have reports from the different temples throughout the most important +points in the Northwest, and carefully noted the chief business and +obtained the list of members, all of which has been as carefully placed +in the hands of the authorities of the War Department, and months ago +much of the information was imparted to Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, in +command of the Northern Department, who was pleased to express his +highest appreciation of the services rendered, and a desire to have +the investigation thoroughly made, that indisputable facts might be +obtained, that truth and justice might be promoted and the interest of +the country thereby protected. So thorough and searching has been the +investigation that _every_ man of any note in this order, in almost +every locality where this moral cancer has existed, is known and may +consider himself in future upon his good behavior. It was the policy of +the Sons of Liberty, which they observed as far as it was possible for +them to do, to obtain positions of trust in the army, upon the police, +in the courts, in railway offices and telegraph stations, in the office +of Provost Marshals, post-offices, departments of government, both local +and general, indeed, so completely did they carry out this plan, that +they made their boasts that they were represented upon all the railroads +running out of Chicago, and it was not an unusual thing for them to +report matters of the various departments just mentioned. One member +of the Chicago Order, as appeared in evidence before the military +commission, traveled over the North wherever he desired, on the pass +of a Provost Marshal in Indiana, his business being to aid in the +organization of Temples in the different sections of the West. So +rapidly did they increase in numbers, that Judge Morris estimated the +number in Illinois alone at 80,000 members. + +It was a rule of the organization, that its members should all be well +armed and skilled in the use of weapons. The rapidity of increase in +numbers, rendered them conscious of their strength, and they became +openly defiant and talked treason upon the corners of our streets, and +wherever little groups of people assembled. The mob spirit was excited, +and all were ready for mischief whenever opportunity offered; and while +all were bound to wait submissively till their leaders should give the +signal for revolution, still many were restless and impatient for the +hour to come, and hoped that they would not long have to wait. The +suppression of the Chicago _Times_ was an auspicious moment for them, +and they made capital of it. They were never tired of talking of +Vallandigham, and while that worthy staid in Canada he was very +serviceable to the Order, as John Rogers was of more service to the +church dead than while living. Vallandigham made an excellent martyr and +an accomplished exile, but as an active member at home, old Doolittle, +or Charles W. Patten, or James A. Wilkinson, or J.L. Rock, or Obadiah +Jackson, Jr., Esq., or even Mrs. Morris herself, was worth two just like +him. Why he could not have staid in Canada for the good of the cause, we +cannot understand. What a Mecca was Windsor, and how great was Mahomet, +but alas, when the great, the Hon. Clement Vallandigham relapsed into +the three-cent fourth-class lawyer, in the little one horse city of +Dayton, "what a fall was there my countrymen." No more pilgrimages, no +more dinners with the great exile, no more texts of "arbitrary arrests" +to preach from, that could draw as Val used to draw. + +The reception of the news of a victory by the rebels, was always an +occasion of rejoicing among the Sons and Knights, and in the exuberance +of their joy they shouted their treason in all sorts of places, and at +all seasons. They assumed to be peace men, and yet were always ready for +a quarrel. It became evident to all who kept posted in politics, that +there would be a wide division between the different wings of the +Democracy at the coming National Convention, and a most determined +effort was to be made by the Peace faction, to control the action of +the Convention, and long before the assembling of that body, newspaper +strife had commenced between them, and it was hoped, and so it proved, +that like the Kilkenny cats, they devoured each other. With Peace in +their mouths and contention in their hearts, the "unterrified" resolved +upon a great meeting, to be held in Peoria. It was a "big thing." +The Chicago delegation took for the calumet of peace several boxes of +fire-arms, so that if opportunity offered they might conquer a peace. +Whiskey and gunpowder were other elements of that meeting, and as the +escape of gas in petroleum wells, so noisy for a time, finally subsides, +so after the ebullition at Peoria, Brig.-Gen. Walsh, and all the Chicago +delegates, returned home, bringing with them their fire arms, without +breaking bulk, and these weapons were carefully deposited, where they +could instantly be obtained at the time of the uprising. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +MEETING OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL, F.O.S.L. AT THE RICHMOND HOUSE, +CHICAGO--TWO MILLION DOLLARS DISBURSED AS CONSIDERATION FOR THE GOOD +OF THE ORDER--TRAITORS TO BE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER BY BADGES, AND THEIR +PROPERTY SAVED BY DISPLAYING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. + +We have already shown that the three degrees in the Sons of Liberty had +each their specific province. The lower strata composed of the rough +material from which the Grand Council was made up by selections or +choice of the brighter and more shining lights,--persons whose political +views were up to the standard of treason, whose qualifications of +intellect, shrewdness, cunning, caution, promptness, and firmness of +purpose fully met the requirements of this degree of the order. The +Supreme Council was composed of the Supreme Commanders--the ruling +spirits of the order. This council was the body, therefore, from which +all important measures must emanate, and the secrecy of their movements, +even from the order below them, except such business as was regularly +transmitted, was quite equal to that of the lower order, from the rest +of the world. Such being the nature and character of this royal degree, +and the fact that an uprising had been determined upon, it will be +seen how essential it was to the Government of the United States, to be +advised of their plans, and the old adage that "where there is a will +there is a way," was not a fallacy in the present case. On or about +the 20th of July, 1863, agreeably to a private notice which had been +extended to the Supreme Council, a meeting of that body was convened +at the Richmond House, Chicago. During that day, as well as on the day +preceding, members of that organization arrived in the city, and among +the notables present on that occasion was Col. Barrett, who was a +Major-General of the Sons of Liberty, in command of the District of +Illinois, but who on the present occasion appeared in another character +of no less moment, that of representative of the Confederate States +Government, and charged with certain important instructions. Among the +members present were Captain Majors, from Canada; Brig.-Gen. Charles +Walsh, of Chicago; Judge Bullitt, of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, who +acted as Chairman; Dr. Bowles, Mr. Swan, Mr. Williams, Mr. Green, +Mr. Piper, Mr. Holloway, H.H. Dodd and James B. Wilson, Auditor of +Washington County, Indiana. The last named person and Mr. Green were +present as members of Dr. Bowles' staff. After considerable discussion +upon minor matters, Major-General Barrett, (commonly called Colonel +Barrett, who had served the Rebel Government with some distinction, and +was a first class rebel), made a formal proposition to unite Illinois, +Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana with the Confederate States, +through the agency of the Sons of Liberty, and as to the other States, +their relations would be an after consideration. The enterprise, he +stated, would be attended with no little expense, and would necessarily +involve extreme caution, prudence and firmness. He added, that the +Southern Confederacy had placed in his hands the snug little sum of two +millions of dollars, which had been captured from a Federal paymaster +on the Red River, in Arkansas, to be applied in furtherance of +this proposition. Captain Majors was also, by his own statement, a +representative of the Rebel Government. It was proposed to distribute +the two millions of dollars through the Grand Commanders of Indiana, +Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois, and that the money was by them to +be distributed through the Major-Generals to the subordinate officers, +according as might be deemed expedient. This money, says Mr. Wilson, +(and we have the best of reasons to credit his statement,) was expended +for arms. Well do we remember that an oral report was submitted one +evening at the Temple of the Illini, by the Grand Seignor presiding, +that the pro rata for Illinois had been so expended, and that the +weapons had been started for their destination, which was Chicago. +These arms consisted of muskets, carbines, pistols, pistol belts and +ammunition. At the Council meeting, of which we have spoken, the whole +subject of revolution was freely discussed, and received the unanimous +support of all present, and a time was named and agreed upon, but not +until after much debate, several dates being named by different parties, +and reasons given for fixing upon each. It was arranged that the Order +in Indiana were to rendezvous at Indianapolis, also at Evansville, New +Albany (opposite Louisville,) and Terra Haute, that they would seize +the arsenal at Indianapolis, and the arms and ammunition would be +distributed among the members. Wilson, before the military commission +in Cincinnati, states that he learned from Dr. Bowles, that it was the +purpose of the Order to free the rebel prisoners at Indianapolis, and +that the same had been agreed upon with respect to other rebel camps, in +other States, on the supposition that they would unite with the Sons of +Liberty, in overturning the Government, and if they were found willing +to do this, arms were to be placed in their hands. At that meeting it +was a matter of discussion in what manner it was feasible to communicate +with Gens. Buckner and Price, in order that they might co-operate, and +have their forces near St. Louis and Louisville. The approach of their +troops to those cities was the favored moment for beginning hostilities +in the North. Mr. Wilson testified that he received a thousand dollars +of the two million fund, but that instead of appropriating it according +to the programme, he used it for buying substitutes, but the rightful +owner can have the same upon call. Maj.-Gen. Barrett, the party having +the fund in trust, has left the country, doubtless for his _health_, and +the thousand dollars is still without an applicant. + +At this memorable meeting, as it was the last meeting of this body ever +held in Chicago, it was agreed that at the time of the uprising, friends +(rebels and copperheads) should appear with red and white badges, and +the property of such persons would also be saved from destruction by +displaying from their buildings the Confederate flag. Thus were ample +and definite arrangements made, and as that meeting adjourned it was the +deliberate end and aim of all the persons there assembled (with a single +exception) to effect their objects at all hazards. All who were present, +as well as the rebels then in Richmond, conceded that of all points in +the several States embraced in the proposition with which Col. Barrett +was entrusted, Chicago was by far the most important post, and the one +which, of all others, should first fall. The facility and ease with +which Camp Douglas could be taken, was a matter of remark among the +traitors in every section, and it was understood that communication +could readily be made with the prisoners, as Mrs. Morris, wife of +Judge Morris, and others who were known to be in the interest of +the Confederacy, had never been denied access to the camp, and such +prohibition was scarcely expected, as of course the plans of the +conspirators must be a dead secret from the commander of the post. In +the temples of the Sons of Liberty it was a matter of congratulation +that it was impossible for a detective to obtain their secrets, yet all +this time Col. B.J. Sweet was well acquainted with every move that had +the least importance, for the writer made it an invariable custom +to send dispatches regularly to Col. Sweet, who thus came into full +possession of the plans and designs of the Order, as soon as they were +announced, and hence was at all times in a position that he could not +have been surprised by any assault upon the Camp. The Colonel is at all +times perfectly cool and self-possessed, prudent in the highest degree, +and inflexible in purpose, when once resolved upon a line of action. His +arrangements were made with all celerity and completeness, and though +his little force was quite too small to offer great resistance in case +of surprise had not the facts been known to the commandant, yet the +interior arrangement of the camp, the disposition of his forces, and +above all, the perfect discipline which had ever been maintained by him, +now offered a silent barrier which caused the conspirators to entertain +direful apprehensions, as to the disaster to themselves when they should +make the undertaking, for the movements of the camp were noticed +from the observatories near by, and on one occasion Brig. Gen. Walsh, +accompanied by an attaché of the Chicago _Times_, made a personal visit +to the camp, and being received as gentlemen by the gallant Colonel, +they were able to make certain discoveries of a disagreeable nature. +The greatest precaution, of course, was observed in the transmission of +dispatches by the writer to Col. Sweet, for had it been supposed for a +moment, that the commander of the post was cognizant of their acts, it +would most certainly have precipitated the uprising, as the leaders of +the conspiracy could not hope for so favorable a time again. The camp +was enclosed by only one thickness of inch boards, not over twelve feet +high, and a little force of less than eight hundred men were to guard +some eight or ten thousand prisoners, many of them being the lowest +class of raiders and ruffians. + +During the latter part of July, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, +Colonel Walker, of Indiana, was present, and in a speech referred to +the recent seizure of arms in Indiana, and said a formal demand had been +made upon Governor Morton of that State for them, and if they were +not forthcoming they (the copperheads) would compel restitution by the +bullet, and said Morton would be assassinated if he refused. At this +time a man named James A. Wilkinson was Grand Seignior of the temple. +The question of supplying our quota to avoid the draft, agitating the +community, it was proposed to resist the draft, and all the members +were required forthwith to arm themselves with firearms, and Charles W. +Patten and Wilkinson both offered to supply all who could not afford to +purchase firearms. Wilkinson was a very efficient member of the order, +and very zealous. Much of his time he passed in the organization of +temples in different sections of country; and it was often stated as +encouragement for the members that the temples were rapidly multiplying, +and being filled with the "best kind" of men. It was earnestly requested +of the members, as the time was short--Judge Morris saying the purposes +of the organization would be fulfilled within the next sixty days--to +bring in as many new members as possible, and the injunction was duly +heeded. The temple in Chicago thrived remarkably, and arrangements were +made by which individuals could initiate members, and the initiated +increased in numbers rapidly. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +TIME FIXED FOR THE UPRISING OR REVOLUTION--EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS--DRILL +AND DISCIPLINE OF CLUBS--OPEN THREATS UPON OUR STREETS--MASS MEETINGS +AND TARGET PRACTICE OF TRAITORS--PREPARATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL +DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN CHICAGO--WHY THE UPRISING DID NOT TAKE +PLACE--PRICE BEHIND TIME--ANOTHER PERIOD FIXED--ALL READY AT THE +CONVENTION--PROMPT AND TIMELY PRECAUTION BY COLONEL SWEET. + +The approach of the time fixed for the general uprising, witnessed +remarkable and very unusual activity among the members of the Sons of +Liberty, who now saw vividly the complete realization of their +wishes, and were all, rank and file, in obedience to orders, busy with +preparations. Little did the busy bustling city know of the plans and +movements on foot. The same activity in trade, the same hopeful spirit +among Union persons, the same gatherings at amusements, the same busy +hum of industry as ever; nothing gave evidence of the existence of the +terrible plot so soon to culminate, and to destroy by a single blow the +hopes of our people,--to inaugurate a reign of terror as fearful as any +in the history of the war. Citizens met and congratulated each other +upon Union victories, and upon the probable speedy close of the national +strife, and at the firesides of home discussed the terrible ravages of +war, and as they knelt at the family altar, thanked God that our own +city, and our State, and our section of the Union, had thus far been +spared the immediate horrors and desolation which ever mark the theatre +of warfare. Who of all in our fair city, besides the guilty wretches +who were plotting the ruin and slaughter, had even a foreboding of the +trouble so nearly upon them. For rebels in arms to commit cruelties and +barbarities would have been expected, but for the authors of our ruin +to be our very friends and neighbors, persons associated with us in +business avocations, in social relations, and in the enjoyment of the +same general blessings with ourselves, surpassed belief; yet such was +the fact, and the faces that beamed smiles upon us by day, and joined +us in our congratulations for national victories, by night were hideous +with the dark designs and murderous intent. The gunsmiths were busy, +and trade in weapons of all kinds was brisk; revolvers and knives +particularly were articles of demand. So brisk and yet so silently and +secretly, was the arming of individuals carried on, that weeks before +the Convention assembled, but few, if any, of the members of Copperhead +organizations but were well armed, and many had arms with which to +supply other persons who might be less fortunate than themselves. It was +indeed a dark picture to look in upon a group of the Sons of Liberty in +their secure retreats, in the quiet hours of night, cleaning, repairing +and inspecting their muskets and revolvers, moulding bullets, and making +other preparations, and realizing that the mission of these monsters was +the murder of men who dared proclaim and maintain their devotion to the +Union. Upon the streets treason became emboldened, as time rolled on, +and not a few personal collisions occurred from its utterance. + +All this while that contemptible print, the Chicago _Times_, was +instilling treason into the minds of its readers, and doing all that it +could to embarrass the Government, discourage patriotism, and to give +aid and comfort to the rebels; our victories, with that sheet, were +always unimportant; our cause was unholy; our President a despot; our +Union soldiers were hirelings; our Union-loving citizens were abolition +fanatics; Jeff Davis was a master spirit of the age; his generals the +heroes of the _Times_; and rebel victories were events cheering and hope +giving, as they presaged the close of the war and peace; peace at the +sacrifice of the Union, of national honor, of national dignity and +national interests. Such was the Chicago _Times_ at that period--the +darkest era in our history--and as well might we have looked for +mercy from a hyena, or reason from a ghoul, as in the event of open +insurrection in our city, to have looked to Wilbur F. Story, editor of +the _Times_, to have endeavored to suppress the flames his incendiary +print had for years been fanning into a blaze. And yet, citizens +of Chicago and the West, this same Chicago _Times, now_, after the +occupation of Richmond by our forces, and the surrender of Lee and all +his forces, and the end of the rebellion is at hand, this same Chicago +_Times_ pretends to rejoice in our success, and some days turns a cold +shoulder upon its old friend and patron, who has contributed to its +circulation and prosperity for years--Jeff Davis--and really declares +that his master's cause is hopeless. Most noble Story, most patriotic +Story, most consistent Story! Rather weep with the fallen fortunes of +your masters. Flatter not yourself that the cloak of loyalty, which +you have found it so convenient to fling around you, as our Union +processions come marching along with thundering tread, that they will +believe your conversion sincere and lasting; the cloak is not long +enough to conceal your feet, and Union men will recognize the same +Wilbur F. Story, and none will be so obtuse as not to discover under any +disguise Bottom, the tailor. In the position of that Copperhead print, +the state of mind of the _Times_ man reminds us of an instance of what +may be called poor consolation, A soldier of a division, after the +command had run two days from the scene of an engagement, had thrown +away his gun and accouterments, and alone in the woods sat down and +commenced thinking--the first opportunity he had for doing so. Rolling +up his sleeves, and looking at his legs and general physique, he thus +gave utterance to his feelings: "I am whipped--badly whipped--and +somewhat demoralized, but no man, thank God, can say I'm scattered!" And +so, the Chicago _Times_, though kicked out of respectable society long +ago, continues to print its daily issues, while from the scarcity of +Copperheads all at once, since our recent glorious victories, we infer +that _they_ have been "scattered;" and as snakes cast their skins in +the spring, so the Copperhead _Times_ seems to have cast its own this +season; but though it may appear in more pleasing garb with its present +covering, let none forget that it is the same old Copperhead still. +And the time will come when some enterprising showman will obtain and +exhibit the last issue of that delectable sheet as the acme of treason +and corruption during the war, and as an illustration of what villainy +the mind of man may conceive, when he once turns against his country. + +About the period of which we write, say a month prior to the Convention, +informal meetings of the Sons of Liberty were frequent, and large +numbers of the members often went out of the city on excursions, +nominally for pleasure, but really for practice with fire arms. The most +active preparations were made by the Democrats, resident of Chicago, to +be able to accommodate their brethren from abroad, who would attend the +Convention, or who would pay them an earlier visit; for the time of the +uprising, it will be remembered, had been fixed for about the middle of +August. The time assigned arrived, but "all was quiet on the Potomac," +and along the placid and fragrant Chicago. It was a complete fizzle, but +not from want of harmonious action on the part of the Copperheads of the +Northwest, but to the chagrin of the Rebel government, Gen. Price failed +to make his appearance in the vicinity of St. Louis, or Buckner about +Louisville. The disappointment and vexation of the Sons of Liberty was +great, and it found expression in the peculiar style of oratory and +diction, which Judge Morris had introduced into the Temple. The failure +of the rebels to concur, as had been arranged, was for a time quite +inexplicable and unsatisfactory to the most ultra secesh of the Temple. +It was not easy to communicate with Price and Buckner, and much mystery +and doubt hung over the failure. The leaders were in doubt as to the +wisdom of rising at the Convention, some being in favor and others +adverse to it. It was evident the leaders were not a little embarrassed, +but they finally agreed that a large force of "bone and muscle" should +be on hand in Chicago at the Convention, and if it was found that the +War Democrats should be in the ascendency, and the Peace wing could get +nothing--either platform or candidate--the uprising should occur at that +time, but so confident were the Peace men that they should be able to +have the control of the Convention, that Judge Morris and Brig.-Gen. +Walsh, and other leaders, announced to the members of the _Illini_ their +entire belief that there would be no doubt of the success of the Peace +wing, in that Convention, and if so, no insurrectionary movement would +be expedient; but if the uprising did not occur then, it surely would +at the time of the Presidential election, and in the time which would +elapse between the Convention and the election, the most active and +earnest efforts would be made to strengthen the numbers of the Temples +of the Sons of Liberty, wherever they existed. Judge Morris had +expressed the confident belief that no difficulty would occur at the +Convention, but declared if they (the Copperheads) should meet with any +interference, the most serious results would follow. + +The rank and file who had been edified by such men as J.L. Rock, Charles +W. Patten, James A. Wilkinson, L.C. Morrison, L.A. Doolittle, James +Geary, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Dooley, Mr. Frank Adams, City Attorney, and many +others were most impatient, and it was quite probable that a slight +cause of offence with Union men would result in an open riot, that could +not be suppressed till the grand aim of the Order was accomplished. +About this time L.A. Doolittle, who was never tired of expressing his +devotion to the distinguished exile Mr. Vallandigham, announced that +Mr. V., who was Supreme Commander of the whole Order, would honor the +Chicago Temple with a visit during the Convention, but that worthy +could not find time to make the visit. As the excitement of the coming +Convention seized upon the minds of those who were to participate in it, +much speech making was done inside the Temples. At these meetings the +writer particularly noticed two members, who seemed to have fallen into +disfavor by the course which they had seen fit to adopt. One of these +men was Christopher C. Strawn, a young lawyer of this city, of some +education, a very fair order of talents, and who had seemed hitherto +taciturn and reserved. Upon conversation with him we were astonished to +find that he did not approve of the Jeff. Davis principles, and had +no fellowship with any overt act of treason. He had been appointed a +Brigadier-General, on the ground of his supposed ability, but early took +occasion to express himself, in such a manner that his commission was +speedily revoked. Mr. Strawn was, he declares, not in the clique who +favored a revolution. Mr. Strawn was subsequently arrested, but he +was soon released, and freely communicated truthful information to the +authorities. + +During the summer an event truly unfortunate for the Sons of Liberty +took place, it being an exposé in the Chicago _Tribune_ of the signs, +grips, passwords, &c. of the order. This was a cause of great distress +of mind. We remember that at a meeting about the 25th of August (Charles +W. Patten presiding), the expediency of changing the signs, grips, &c. +was considered, inasmuch as it would be unsafe to use them in public, +but the lateness of the day, and the time drawing so near when the +entire forces of the order would be called into requisition, it was +not deemed expedient to undertake any change or modification. At this +meeting Judge Morris made a speech in which he said that a demand had +been made for arms seized in Indiana (as Col. Walker had proposed to +do), and if the demand failed, the revolution would be begun in Indiana +"as sure as there was a God in heaven or an abolitionist in hell." + +At a meeting of the Chicago Temple Sons of Liberty, on the eve of the +Convention, we heard for the first time (and that from the mouth of L.A. +Doolittle), a definite plan for the attack of Camp Douglas. Doolittle +told how the camp was situated, and that it was accessible on two sides; +that guns were in position on only one side, and the west side was +referred to by him as being the weakest; he spoke of the common board +fence which formed the enclosure, and of the ease with which the camp +could be taken, and the vast importance of liberating the prisoners +the first thing upon an uprising. The speech of Doolittle was variously +received; many of the members were much interested; others who were in +the higher degrees of the order were vexed beyond measure that Doolittle +should be so stupid as to proclaim, in this public manner, a matter +which really belonged to higher degrees of the organization to decide. +One of the number, James Geary, a second-hand clothes dealer and broker +on Wells street, who will receive further mention by and by, became so +much incensed that he ordered Mr. Doolittle to his seat, declaring, with +an oath, that Doolittle was telling too much. + +At a meeting about this time, several of the members spoke upon the +subject of releasing the prisoners at Camp Douglas. A map of Camp +Douglas was exhibited by an individual present, who seemed to be a +soldier. The map was a fine piece of work and had been made by a hand +accustomed to such labor. Upon this map the precise position of the +various departments, headquarters, cannon, &c., were laid down. There +could be no shadow of doubt in the mind of any man not stupefied with +whiskey, and possessed of common sense, that the details of the attack +had been carefully considered by those who were most interested in +leading it on. + +It had for some time been the policy of the Sons of Liberty to unite +with the Invincible Democratic Club and the various McClellan escorts in +the city and elsewhere, and seek to become its officers, that in case of +an outbreak it would be far better to be the controlling power, than to +be controlled. This plan worked admirably, and the Democratic Invincible +Club of Chicago became one of the most corrupt organizations outside +the order of Sons of Liberty. Its secretary at one time was Charles W. +Patten, who had been a Grand Seignior of the Chicago Temple, was also +a member of the Grand Council, and had taken a very active part in the +prosperity of the order, and was chairman of the committee to see that +all the Sons of Liberty were armed. One of the officers of the above +named Club was Capt. P.D. Parks, whose devotion to Jeff. Davis and good +whiskey were noticeable features in his character. This Capt. Parks was +captain of the Invincible Club and often made speeches in the Sons of +Liberty Hall. + +On Saturday the 26th August (two days prior to the National Democratic +Convention), immense numbers of persons came flocking to Chicago, indeed +at no former time in the history of the city was there such an influx of +strangers; they came in the cars and in wagon trains, and on horseback. +One county alone sent nearly a thousand men. It was a noticeable fact +that almost all persons who came into the city were well armed, and some +of them even brought muskets. Treason was now rampant, and it would not +be difficult, in looking around upon the most unprepossessing groups, +and to hear the language, to fancy one's-self in Charleston, or some +other nest of treason. From all the men who came to the city we did not, +in a single instance, hear one good, hearty expression of Unionism, but +our "Southern brethren and their rights," and this "wicked war," &c., +&c., were the topics of conversation, and it was safe to set it down, +that this was the Peace wing of that most remarkable bird,--Democracy of +1864. + +The writer was in close communication with Col. Sweet, commandant at +Camp Douglas, and by aid of our auxiliaries not an item of information +concerning the hostile intentions of the party transpired, that was not +known instantly by Col. Sweet,--special carriers or orderlies conveying +our dispatches. It must not be supposed that our observations were +confined to Chicago. Our channels of communication with the principal +points in the West were unobstructed; our "telegraphic cable" was in +fine working order, and if those wise heads for a moment fancied +that Col. B.J. Sweet might be caught napping, they were the worst +self-deceived men we have ever seen. Col. Sweet proceeded with all +caution and celerity to make his arrangements, and we beg the Colonel +not to regard it as a breach of confidence in us to say, that the guns +were in such a position and so well managed, that had there been +any attempt to have assaulted the camp, there would not have been +able-bodied traitors enough left, to have carried the killed and wounded +to secure retreats. Almost any officer, perhaps, less cool than Col. +Sweet would have blustered about in such a manner as to have rendered +himself not only positively offensive to the citizens, but would have +placed the city under martial law, and doubtless precipitated the very +event it was wise for a time to avert. Col. Sweet was cool, and +managed the matter with the most perfect military ability and skill. He +compelled everybody, friend and foe, to respect him by his dignified, +gentlemanly bearing, and yet there was that about his appearance that +told plainer than words, that while he was courteous, polite, kind and +willing to do all in his power and consistent with his duty to preserve +the peace, yet had an outbreak been begun, of all men in Chicago, rebels +and sympathisers would prefer to get as far as possible from Col. Sweet, +or the reach of his influence. This gallant officer had his men under +such perfect discipline that a simple request, even when the men were +not on duty, was obeyed with the alacrity as if it had been a peremptory +order. The discovery that Col. Sweet was ready for them, which discovery +was early made and duly reported, had much to do with the good order +which prevailed in Chicago during the Convention. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +TIME OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION--TREASON EVERYWHERE +PREVALENT--INSIDE VIEW OF THE TEMPLE OF SONS OF LIBERTY--MAJ.-GEN. +BARRETT WITH COMMISSION FROM JEFF. DAVIS, AT THE HEAD OF A TORCHLIGHT +PROCESSION IN CHICAGO--TRAITORS WITH LOADED MUSKETS UPON OUR STREETS. + +The extraordinary activity of recruiting for the Sons of Liberty, and +the zeal displayed by the master spirit of the Temple was ominous of the +wicked work they might be called upon to perform. James A. Wilkinson, +who was elected Grand Senior, was too young a man in the estimation of +many, and he was about to resign, when Judge Morris remarked, that "age +was not always wisdom" (the truth of which his own career has fully +illustrated,) and by request Wilkinson continued to hold the post. The +old order for arming of members was called up, and all were required to +comply with the condition at once; a particular pattern of revolvers was +specially recommended, and it was ascertained that the members were in +almost every instance, fully armed. A young man named R.T. Semmes, who +was said to be a near relative to the commander of the rebel pirate +Alabama, was appointed to deliver an address before the Order, but this +duty was never complied with in a formal manner, as it was subsequently +thought Judge Morris was better qualified, he being in a higher degree +than Mr. Semmes, to impart such information as the lower degree should +know. Upon an occasion of a special meeting, the Judge made a long +address, in which he stated the number of members of the Order in +Illinois at 80,000 men, saying they were all well drilled and could +be implicitly relied upon, at the right time; members were enjoined to +remember their obligations to sustain the principles of the Order, and +to aid each other. The Judge stated that "we" (the Sons of Liberty,) had +_two full regiments_ all well armed and drilled, in Chicago, and that +a third was forming. Such cheering information was received with great +gratification, and gave a greater impetus to the recruiting for the +Order. + +The question of the draft agitated the members at each meeting, and all +declared their purpose never to go to the army, either voluntarily or +otherwise, to fight our brethren, "whose cause was just and right," and +a strong attempt was made to array the organization by formal action to +oppose the Government, and those especially who were impatient for the +general uprising, thought it a timely opportunity and ample provocation, +and felt confident that as the South manifested open hostility and +presented a bold and united front instantly upon the firing of the +first gun upon Fort Sumter, so would it be in all the States of the +Northwestern league; they would at once rise, when knowing that +their brethren of Chicago were in arms against the "usurper and his +hirelings;" but these hasty counsels did not prevail, and individuals +were exhorted to take care of themselves if drafted, but on no account +to go to the army. + +Not only was there remarkable activity in the Chicago Temple just prior +to the Convention, but in all the States where the order existed. Our +Indiana neighbors often sent their worst Copperheads to the Chicago +Temple to receive instructions in regard to the mode of initiation; and +about this time, a man named Westfall, of Elkhart, Indiana, appeared in +the Temple, and edified the members with most _encouraging_ accounts +of the order in his own State. He was properly qualified as a Grand +Seignor, and no doubt served with that grace and dignity of which his +appearance gave such promise. It is hoped that the citizens of Elkhart +appreciate this gentleman's devotion to "the great cause." Judge T.H. +Marsh was put through a similar course of training, and being possessed +of remarkable dignity, no doubt made an excellent Grand Seignor. If he +was not fit for a good Judge, he was fit for a Son of Liberty. He no +doubt remembers the artist, who by an unlucky daub, spoiled his +picture of an angel, but took fresh courage, declaring it would make an +excellent devil. So the judge may make his own application. + +The day of the great Convention at length dawned upon at least a hundred +thousand strangers in Chicago. Every hotel was densely packed from +cellar to garret, private houses were filled to their uttermost +capacity, while hundreds the night before, who could not find any kind +of a shelter, took in plenty of whisky to prevent catching cold, +and laid themselves quietly at rest in the gutters, much to the +consternation of the myriads of rats that infest our streets. These +street sleepers now arose, and shaking themselves, their toilet was +complete. Of all the God-forsaken, shaggy-haired, red-faced, un-shorn, +hard-fisted, blasphemous wretches that have ever congregated, even at +the gallows at Newgate, many of the visitors of the Peace wing of the +Democracy were entitled to the first consideration. Still there was +no collision with the citizens, although the representatives of the +"unterrified" had sworn that there should be no arrests in Chicago +during the Convention. The better class of strangers were War Democrats, +and it was evident they had no fellowship for the ragmuffins of the +Peace wing. + +It should here be stated that the Order of the Sons of Liberty had +purchased firearms, carbines, pistols, shot guns and rifles, and at the +time of the Convention had stored in the city of Chicago, arms, for +at least ten thousand men. These arms had been brought here at various +times; some of them had been brought by vessels and others by rail, +and were now safely deposited in four different depots in Chicago, the +locations of which were known only to the Sons themselves. From these +four principal depots one or more boxes of arms were taken on such +occasions as would best serve, and placed in trust with some out-and-out +rebel sympathizer in the different wards, so that at the time of the +general uprising the "faithful" could readily obtain supplies. On one +occasion Brig.-Gen. Walsh applied to H.A. Phelps, on State street, with +a request for him to receive two boxes of muskets, but that man did not +like to incur the risk, whatever his sympathies may have been, and the +arms were not deposited with him. + +It was quite apparent, the first day of the Convention, that our +citizens had resolved to act upon the advice of Adjutant-General Fuller, +to let these fellows "have their jaw out," and they did have it out, and +became terrible _bores_. + +At an early hour, the temporary building erected for this gathering, +near Michigan Avenue, was crowded to excess, and after beginning their +labors all the speakers, without exception, entertained the audience +and relieved themselves of the most violent denunciations of President +Lincoln, and the policy of the administration. Each speaker vied +with the last in culling from his vocabulary of hard words, terms +sufficiently expressive of their feelings toward the government, but +do as well as they might, even with the aid of the poorest quality of +whiskey and education, evidently of many years among the lowest of the +low, not one of them could out-do the Chicago _Times_. The only parties +who could approximate it were Gov. Harris of Maryland, and Long of Ohio, +who were most decidedly in favor of secession. The differences between +the War Democrats and the Peace men, well nigh ended in personal +violence, and would, but for timely interference of the police. It is +not our purpose to report the doings of the Convention, and an allusion +is only made to call special attention to the elements which made up the +party who gave to General George B. McClellan a nomination which +proved to him the worst punishment that could have been inflicted, and +exhibited him to the world in worse company than he had ever before +mingled. The hostility between the different factions of the party, but +rendered the Peace wing or Sons of Liberty the more united, and more +firmly bent upon the overthrow of the government, as they saw clearly +enough, even before the adjournment, that there was not a shadow of hope +of electing the ticket formed, and the only hope of genuine copperheads +now laid in the election of State officers, and Judge Morris told the +people "if we can but get our Governor and Lieut.-Governor, it is all +we ask for; the order is strong enough in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, +Missouri, Iowa and Ohio to enable us to take the general government into +our own hands." He added, "as the Washington government had not seen fit +to execute the Constitution and the laws, we will bring them to Illinois +and execute them ourselves." + +At the close of the Convention, and the compromise had been made by the +different factions of the party, then came a time for general rejoicing. +In the evening torchlight processions, with lanterns and transparencies +bearing devices and mottos, all expressive of their animosity at the +administration. At the head of one of these processions was Maj.-Gen. +Barrett, the military commander of Illinois. At that very time Barrett +had in his pocket a programme, which had an intimation been received +from Price or Buckner, would have been of fearful import to the citizens +of Chicago. Barrett had at one time lived in Chicago, but for some +months past was a resident of Missouri. He was thoroughly armed, and +well knew the elements that had assembled in the city. Barrett had been +in the rebel service, or rather we should say in _another_ arm of the +service, inasmuch as none in these days, when all men are for the Union, +and it is so easy to be a patriot, will pretend to deny that the Sons of +Liberty were as much an arm of service for Jeff. Davis as his artillery +or infantry. This fellow Barrett, had on one occasion, as appears by +testimony before the Cincinnati military commission, visited Chicago as +an accredited agent of the Davis government, but he was not molested, +and mingled with men of his own stripe, without fear and without +difficulty. It will be interesting by and by, to read of the Chicago +Convention, and the incongruous elements there assembled. But as all +things have an end, so did this remarkable gathering, and dispersed +quietly, never again to meet as the representatives of the American +people. + +Of course most of the Roughs of the Peace wing had been induced to come +to Chicago, with the idea that an uprising was imminent, and would no +doubt take place, when they would be able to repay themselves abundantly +from the property of our citizens. It is not strange therefore, that +these half starved, brutal wretches looked with evil eyes upon our +National banks, and hoped till the last that some lucky incident +might occur which would provoke an outbreak, and they would have an +opportunity to pillage our banks, stores and dwellings, but they were +doomed to disappointment, and with surly looks and threats of vengeance, +left the city, resolved at a future day to draw their pay, principle +and interest, from our banks, and we shall, in a future chapter, see +the manifestation of the same spirit, easily recognized as Peace wing +democracy. + + + + +CHAP. IX + + +REBEL OFFICERS IN THE TEMPLES OF SONS OF LIBERTY--MURDERERS, BOUNTY +JUMPERS, DESERTERS, FELONS, VAGABONDS AND TRAITORS IN COUNCIL--PLANS +OF ATTACK ON CAMP DOUGLAS--FIRES TO BE KINDLED IN THE CITY--BANKS AND +STORES TO BE ROBBED--NAMES OF SPEAKERS--HATRED OF UNION SOLDIERS. + +At a meeting of the Sons of Liberty in September, 1864, a plan was +reported, much to the relief of those who had a horror of conscription; +it was arranged that such of the members as might be drafted, should +report within three days to the Grand Senior of the Temple, and they +would be supplied with means to defray their expenses to the southern +part of the State, where they would remain till their services should +be required, and that they would find friends there, strong enough in +numbers, to defy the officers of the law. Such persons were to form +military organizations, and to be drilled and disciplined by rebel +officers sent thither for that express purpose. The "Sons" of Chicago +expressed their extreme regret at the very open and defiant manner of +their brethren in the southern part of the State, and believed that it +would be prejudicial to the prosperity of the Order. Our readers have +not forgotten the Coles county tragedy, the murderers and their victims. +There is not a particle of doubt that those murders were premeditated, +and first the subject of discussion in the temples of the Sons of +Liberty. The assault was made without provocation, and the thirst +for the blood of Union men was the motive for the deed. We have never +advocated or countenanced mob law, but if there was ever a time in the +history of our government in which it was justifiable, it was in the +cases of the Coles county murderers. The times seemed, perhaps, to have +demanded a vigilance committee of citizens, who would administer justice +fast enough to suit the emergency of the cases upon which they might be +called to adjudicate, and having "cleaned out" the murderous scoundrels +in that locality, they might have found a demand for their services +in Chicago. But it is better that the people controlled their just +indignation and left it to time, to punish the infamous wretches who +turned their arms and their all against the country, to whom they +are indebted for all the blessings which they proved themselves to be +utterly incapable of appreciating. It was the boast of the "Sons" that +their numbers embraced many of the officers of our armies, and the names +of several were mentioned, who had sworn that they would never fire or +order their commands to fire upon "our Southern brethren," and it was +added that such officers could serve the cause of this order better in +the field, than in any other manner. As time passed on, the plans of +the villains belonging to the Chicago Temple, or the plans of the +order throughout the State for the attack upon Camp Douglas became more +complete in their details. The policy of obtaining positions for members +upon all the railroads and in telegraph offices, was very popular with +the order, and it was confidently stated, that upon the release of +the prisoners the leaders would at once take full possession of the +railroads and telegraph offices. It was arranged that the attack upon +the camp should be made the night after election, as it now became fully +apparent to all that there was not a shadow of a chance to elect either +National or State ticket by the Copperheads. Fires were to be kindled in +different parts of the city, and these were to be so numerous that they +would necessarily divert the attention of the citizens, while the attack +should be made. Near the camp is a growth of small oaks and other small +wood which offered a fine retreat or hiding place for those who would +attack the camp. The attacking party were to go singly or in groups +which might not attract attention, and when they were in readiness, they +were suddenly to spring forward and commence an assault simultaneously +on three sides of the enclosure. The risk to the invading party was not +considered large, as the whole undertaking would be but the work of a +few moments, and it was confidently believed that some communication +could previously be established with the rebels by their desperate +friends and allies upon the outside; and it is now quite certain that +some intelligence was communicated to the rebels, and well understood +by them, as not long before the election, supposed signals in the way of +rockets, blue lights, &c. were at one time exhibited by a small group of +persons, without any apparent design, which could have been distinctly +seen at camp. Mrs. Morris, who has confessed her complicity with the +rebel sympathizers, was a frequent visitor to the camp, and it was +thought that she might be very useful in conveying letters, messages, +&c. Indeed it was morally certain that there was an understanding +between the rebels inside, and the cowardly dogs on the outside of the +post. It will be remembered that fire arms for at least ten thousand men +were safely and secretly stored in Chicago, and that there was a perfect +understanding between the members of the higher degrees of the Sons +of Liberty, and the leaders of the invading party from Canada; Had the +attack been made, however good the understanding between the "Sons" and +the rebels might have been, the former would soon have found, to their +surprise and to their dismay, that their glory would suddenly have +departed, for the released rebels would instantly have obeyed the +commands of their own officers, and Northern Sons of Liberty would have +been compelled to fall into line, whether they would or not. A few +of the Sons would have received some consideration, and this would +especially have been the case with Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, but in +the main the "accursed democracy,"--as one rebel writing to another was +pleased to speak of the order--was to be kept in the front, or in other +words, used as circumstances might require to do the vilest offices +of this vile and devilish conspiracy. As the time of the election was +drawing near, the Sons of Liberty expressed a wish to have a man at +their head, in the place of Wilkinson, who would command respect, and +whose appearance of dignity and years would impress new comers most +favorably. This man was found in Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., as Grand +Seignior, and so much gratified were they with his peculiar fitness for +this distinguished honor, that they resolved to find a second officer, +or Ancient Brother, and Lewis C. Morrison gave place to a Mr. Hoffman. +Things were now working smoothly, new members were rapidly joining, +and it was evident that the new organization was most favorable for the +growth and unity of the Order. The rapidly increasing number of Temples +in every part of the State, would have been truly alarming to the +friends of the Union. New comers were introduced at every meeting, and +large numbers were initiated at Judge Morris' residence, where favored +individuals were also initiated in the mysteries of the higher degrees; +so that there were hundreds of persons, in good standing with the Order +as bona fide members, who seldom or never visited the lodge room; +this was especially the case with the higher grade of persons--the +politicians, lawyers and others. At a meeting in the autumn, Judge +Morris was present and made a speech in response to the request of +several members, who asked information concerning the immediate purposes +of the Order. He spoke, as was his custom, of the tyranny of the +President; he said the rights of the people had been trampled upon, and +the constitution had been violated by him. He referred to the suspension +of the _habeas corpus_, and said many of our best men were at that +moment "rotting in Lincoln's bastiles;" that it was our duty to wage a +war against them, and open their doors; that when the Democrats got into +power they would impeach and probably hang him, and all who were thus +incarcerated should be set at liberty; that thousands of our best men +were prisoners in Camp Douglas, and if once at liberty would "send +abolitionists to hell in a hand basket;" he said the meanest of those +prisoners was purity itself compared to "Lincoln's hirelings." He added +that the tyranny of "Abraham the First" was fast drawing to a close, and +those who were anxious to fight, would not have to wait long. He also +spoke in favor of retaliation. + +The Judge's speeches were always marked by vehemence, profanity +and violent gesticulation; he never spoke except to condemn the +administration, and to express his confidence in this Order to remedy +all the evils of the administration, and that we should very soon--"in +sixty days," have the power, and yet on several occasions he expressed +the belief that McClellan would not be elected. No one, not even the +most stupid in the first degree of the Temple, could fail to understand +how the Copperheads were to have the reins of the General Government +in sixty days, and yet that the party could not hope for success at the +polls. A man named William Hull, connected with the Order, rebuked +such speeches in unqualified terms, and as a consequence drew down upon +himself the odium of the Order. Mr. Hull expressed himself in favor of +compliance with the Constitution and the laws, and of the Union. His +denunciations of the rebels excluded him from the confidence of the +leaders, who began to regard him as a "dangerous man," and expressed the +belief that he would turn against them, and therefore required watching. +Mr. Hull was a man of good common sense, and made several Union speeches +in the Order, which confirmed the suspicion that had been expressed by +some, that he was a spy and detective, and it was said it would be far +better to _put him out of the way_, or in other words to kill him, lest +he might betray them, and further as the time of the election was so +near at hand, it was voted by the Sons of Liberty to destroy all their +records, so that in case of arrest no documentary evidence could be +brought against them. While the motion was pending, Mr. Richard T. +Semmes, one of the prisoners tried at Cincinnati, moved an amendment, +that the names of members be retained, so that in case any one should +betray the Order they might be known and hung, but it was not deemed +safe to preserve the record, and most of the memoranda was destroyed, +but for the edification of the members, we will add that we have on +deposit in Chicago an entire and correct list of names of the Chicago, +and most of the prominent Temples, and it may be deemed expedient to +publish it hereafter; this will be determined by the general behavior of +the members themselves. + +In regard to Mr. Hull, to whom we have alluded, it should be said that +his death was fixed upon by the members. Felton and Morrison agreed to +do the work, but afterwards another proposition was made, to give +him money and induce him to leave for parts unknown. This peaceable +disposition of the man was _not_ satisfactory. Said they, "dead men tell +no tales," and at an informal meeting, a vote was taken and all, with +a single exception, present were in favor of _death_. That exception +required more satisfactory evidence that Hull was the informer, and thus +the murder of the man was prevented. The writer has not a particle of +doubt, having been present at this meeting and heard the proposition +and the vote taken, that the murder would have been perpetrated within +twenty-four hours had not a single person been so exacting in regard to +the facts. It may readily be believed that the writer never mingled in +this murderous company without a brace of revolvers in his pocket, ready +for instant use, and it may be no stretch of credulity to believe, +that in case of an assault, the instruments would have been called into +requisition. + +About the first of October, the restrictions upon the purchase and sale +of firearms were removed, and the trade in the city in this department +became very active. + +[Illustration: COL.G. ST. LEGER GRENFELL, + +"Who has fought in every clime, the man who advised raising the Black +Flag and murdering Union soldiers, and who was to have assumed command +of the Rebel prisoners upon being released from Camp Douglas, and to +whom the citizens of Chicago would have had to appeal for mercy."] + +The intensity of hatred of Union soldiers, by the Copperheads would +almost challenge credence. It was a common thing to seek to embroil +them in personal altercations, and to fall upon them with violence and +malice, and it is our opinion, that in almost every case where soldiers +ever became involved in personal difficulty, the provocation came from +Copperheads. We may mention an instance in point. During the summer, a +Union soldier presented himself at our office and required surgical aid. +His head was bleeding copiously, and his hair matted with blood, and so +mutilated was he that he could scarcely speak or walk. He was perfectly +sober, and evidently a very quiet, worthy man. It was doubtful how +his injuries might terminate, but the poor fellow received our best +attention, and thanks to a kind Providence, recovered after a long and +painful illness. It appears that he was beset by a party of Copperheads, +without the least provocation, only that he was a _Union soldier_. +For our act of humanity in rendering professional aid, we were gravely +suspected for a time of being "a dangerous man," and received several +lectures of censure from the Sons of Liberty. He was but a "Union +soldier," and his death, they said, was a matter of congratulation +rather than of regret. + + + + +CHAP. X + + +THE REASONS WHY REBEL AGENTS WERE SENT TO CANADA, AND THEIR +DOINGS--VARIOUS PLOTS OF MISCHIEF, HARRASSING, PILLAGING, &c.--THE +WATCHWORD OF THE REBELS IN CANADA. + +The United States armies being continually pressed forward, step by +step, towards the heart of the Confederacy, occupying more and more of +the soil from which their commissary was but illy and scantily supplied, +together with a desire on the part of the Southern people, to let the +people of the North see what invasion meant, to make them feel and +see the destruction and desolation following our army of invasion, +determined the Richmond government, in 1863, to send its agents to the +Canadas, well supplied with money, to endeavor to foment discord, and +to intensify the dissatisfaction already existing in certain political +circles, with the government, to such an extent that it could be made +available for their own uses and purposes. Knowing that thousands of +their soldiers were confined at Johnston's Island, and Camp Douglas near +Chicago, almost within twelve hours' travel of Canada, it was the great +object of the rebel government to release those prisoners of war, and in +the mean time having stirred up and excited a formidable conspiracy in +the North, particularly in the North-West, having in view the subversion +of the government, and the securing of material aid and assistance +to the rebels, and those rebel prisoners being released through the +instrumentality of the rebels from Canada and those of the Northern +sympathizers who could be induced to join in the expeditions for +that purpose, the conspiracy was to culminate all over the North--but +principally in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and New York, +and effect the release of the prisoners of war confined in the various +prisons in those States. The prisoners at all these places being +released, were to form a nucleus around which all the dissatisfied +people of the Northern States could rally, and endeavor to maintain +themselves and their cause here in the North, and by rallying in +formidable numbers, to cause the withdrawal of so many troops from the +field in front, to establish peace at home, that it would materially +change the whole character of the war, and remove the seat of war +from the cotton States to the Northern States--Kentucky, Tennessee and +Missouri. Upon the withdrawal of the troops in any considerable numbers +from the front, was to follow the advance of the rebel armies into +Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. + +Sterling Price would never have invaded the State of Missouri in the +fall of 1864, had it not been to give all the aid and assistance the +rebellion could afford, to the conspiracy just then ready to break +loose, and this explains the position that Hood occupied for nearly two +months in Northern Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. He would never have +placed himself in such a position, had it not been deemed absolutely +necessary by the Richmond Government, that his army should be placed +where upon the breaking out of the conspiracy he could exercise a great +influence over its prospects of success. To further the objects and +views just stated, Jacob Thompson, of Miss., formerly Secretary of the +Interior under Buchanan's administration, was made a secret agent for +the Rebel Government in the Canadas, and two hundred and fifty or three +hundred thousand dollars in specie, or its equivalent, was placed in his +hands by the Rebel Government, for the purpose of arming and equipping +any expedition he might place on foot from British America, for +the injury of the inland or ocean commerce of the United States, or +harrassing its Northern borders, and particularly for the release of the +Rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas and Johnston Island, and from +the beginning of Mr. Thompson's services in Canada, we may date all +the regularly organized and officered expeditions from British America +against the United States. Chief of all these expeditions were the two +attempts, during last year, to release the prisoners of war at Camp +Douglas, near Chicago, Ill., and the two different attempts to capture +the steamer "Michigan" (a United States vessel of war stationed on Lake +Erie, carrying eighteen guns), and release the prisoners on Johnston's +Island. All four of these expeditions failed totally in the objects for +which they were organized, mainly by some friendly parties having put +the military authorities on their guard soon enough to enable them +to defeat the attempts, and in some instances to capture the parties +concerned in them. + +To aid Mr. Thompson in his nefarious efforts in Canada, several officers +of various ranks were detailed from the Rebel army, by the Richmond +government, most prominent among these were Col. St. Leger Grenfell, +an Englishman of great military experience and daring, and Capt. T.H. +Hines, a young officer, who having been one of Gen. John A. Morgan's +pets, was recommended by him for the position he held in Canada, but +who was possessed of no more than ordinary military talents or genius, +unless his shrewdness in getting other and better persons involved in +difficulty, and condemned either to prison or death, and getting himself +out, evidenced military prowess. In connection with these men, were a +great many citizens, of both the United States and the South, who while +they were not authorized to act in any way by the Rebel government, yet +showed their zeal in the cause of the rebellion, by aiding and advising +with Mr. Thompson, and advising and exhorting all the rebel soldiers +in Canada, and the refugees from the Northern States, to take an active +part in the different schemes there on foot, to harass the northern +border of the United States. The most prominent of this class were +George N. Sanders, C.C. Clay, formerly Representative in the United +States Congress from Alabama, Col. Steele and Daniel Hibber. There was +still another secret agent of the rebels on special duty in Canada, +viz., Judge Holcombe of Virginia, who was sent there for the purpose of +secretly establishing agencies for the returning of rebel soldiers, who +desired to go South. However much Mr. Holcombe's mission removed +him from military matters, he nevertheless approved of the different +expeditions which were then being organized, and did more perhaps, than +any one else, to cause the irritation now existing between the Canadians +and the citizens of the United States. His policy in establishing +agencies in Canada, was to get some prominent and influential citizens +of the country who sympathized with his government, to act as agents +to furnish rebel soldiers who had escaped to Canada, and who desired to +return South, with all the necessary clothing, rations and money, &c., +to enable them to go to Montreal or Quebec, where there were regularly +established rebel agencies, who upon the arrival of such soldiers +so furnished with money, for all the money so advanced, with perhaps +interest, was returned. In this way Mr. Holcombe enlisted, besides the +feelings, the interests of a great many prominent business men, whose +means had been advanced to rebels, and all along the Grand Trunk +and Great Western railway, in all the principal towns and cities, +he succeeded in establishing such agencies, which although at first +intended only for those who were rebel soldiers, finally became nothing +more than recruiting rendezvous for the rebel army, which all the +skedadlers, refugees from the Northern and Border States who wished +to join the Southern army, were received, fed, clothed and quietly +transported to the South. Upon the departure of Mr. Holcombe south, +his business was turned over to C.C. Clay, who after that acted in this +capacity. It was during Holcombe's stay in Canada, that the speculative +brain of George N. Sanders, first originated the great humbug of +the Niagara Falls peace conference, at which there was but one rebel +official, and he was not authorized to act in any such capacity. But +the speculative Sanders, having lived like Barnum nearly his whole life, +upon humbugs, made his last and greatest effort to humbug the American +people, into the belief that the Southern people really desired peace, +and that he Clay and Holcombe, although not regularly authorized by +the Rebel government, still could speak for and influence the Southern +people. While in reality the whole conference was nothing on the part of +Sanders & Co., but the last act of a desperate political gamester, who +ventured his all upon one last throw of dice, to win or lose it all. If +Sanders, Holcombe, Clay and others, could have made the people of the +North believe the South really desired peace, and that the only obstacle +in the way was the obstinacy of the General Government, which did not +desire it, but wished to annihilate the Southern people, they could have +materially affected the then coming Presidential election in the North, +and perhaps elected a Democratic president, who would have added to the +disasters then affecting the country--general and complete ruin. The +election of such a man as Gen. McClellan, at such a time, and professing +such principles as actuated the Democratic party at that time, would +have insured to the South her independence, rather than further war +and a dismemberment of the Union. All this these parties professing +to represent Southern opinion well knew, and had they been successful, +would have reaped a rich political reward. Having endeavored to give a +correct outline of the characters of the rebel leaders in Canada, and +the different spheres in which they acted, it is now necessary to give +some idea of the different classes of individuals who were led by +such men, and prompted by them to undertake the many hair-brained +expeditions, which they first plotted and started. These persons +are rightfully and very expressively divided into four different and +distinct classes: 1st. The Rebels. 2d. The skedadlers. 3d. Refugees. +4th. Bounty jumpers and escaped criminals. The term rebel is applied +only to persons who have been or are connected with the rebel army, and +they again are subdivided into two classes; first, those rebels who have +gone to Canada as a means of escape to the South; and, secondly, those +who, having been accustomed to easy and luxurious living in times of +peace, and having become thoroughly disgusted with service in the army, +where they were subjected to strict military discipline, sought +in Canada an asylum from compulsory service of both parties. 2d. +Skedadlers, as they are called, are those persons who having been +drafted, or seeing a possibility of it, in the United States army, had +fled to Canada to avoid the service. This class consisted mostly of fast +young men, having either their own or the pockets of their parents +well lined, and accustomed to live without labor of any kind, were not +disposed to take a part on either side which would subject them to the +inconveniences, hardships or privations of a soldier's life; and partly +of persons who, while they sympathized with the rebellion, still did not +care to make their precious bodies targets for the sake of upholding the +principles which they professed to entertain. 3d. Refugees, or persons +who, for the sake of expressing their opinions and feelings against the +government, without fear of imprisonment, had removed to Canada where +they could vent their spleen and malice against all things connected +with the United States, and vaunt their pernicious principles under +the protection of the outstretched paw of the British lion. 4th. Bounty +jumpers and criminals who could not be pursued and brought back to this +country for punishment under the existing extradition treaty between the +United States and Canada. This last class exceeds by far all the others +in point of numbers, and the low degree of infamy to which they are +reduced--rebels, skedadlers, refugees and bounty jumpers, with a mixture +of escaped criminals, forming an almost indescribable mass of +people, from all nations, all climes, and of almost every imaginable +description, and chiefly distinguished for being more frequently found +in the bar-rooms, billiard saloons, gambling halls, &c. + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS OF WAR AT CAMP DOUGLAS--THE +CHARACTER IN WHICH THEY CAME--UNDER THE LEAD OF CAPT. HINES--THE REASONS +WHY THEY FAILED TO EFFECT THEIR OBJECT--REBEL OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS +DRILLING COPPERHEADS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. + +It is the writer's intention to speak first of two expeditions to +Chicago, for the release of the prisoners confined there. The first of +these took place during the Chicago Democratic Convention, when it was +hoped that the rebels from Canada and their sympathizers from Missouri, +Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, who came armed to assist them in their +projects, would be enabled to go quietly into the city without fear of +detection, in the vast crowds who were then assembling there, from all +parts of the United States, and under the guise of friendly visitors, +were to be ready at a moment's notice whenever their leaders called upon +them to spring out before the people in their true light, and effect +the release of those rebels confined at Camp Douglas. As early as the +twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of August last, at the request of Jacob +Thompson, secretly and quietly circulated all through the Canadas, Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick, all the Rebels, Skedadlers, Refugees, and +others who could be relied upon to take part in the expedition, began to +assemble in Toronto, Canada West, at the different hotels and boarding +houses; of these, at that time, it was generally reported that there +were about three hundred; but so far as positive evidence goes, out +of this number only about seventy-five men were induced to join this +expedition and go to Chicago. At Toronto the objects of the expedition +were made known to nearly all of them, and arms furnished them--_arms +manufactured in New York city and shipped to Canada for that express +purpose_. The details of the affair were only known to a few of the +leaders, who maintained the strictest silence upon the subject, and +enjoined upon the men the most implicit obedience to their orders, +pledging themselves for their safety and the feasibility of their plans. +On the nights of the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth of +August, these men began to leave Toronto, by all the different routes +leading to Chicago, in squads of from two to ten, and began to arrive +at the Richmond House in that city, as early as the Saturday before the +Convention. They were all pledged to fight to the last, and never under +any circumstances surrender, as their lives would be forfeited, if +caught. The whole expedition was under the charge of Capt. Thomas H. +Hines, who had a commission as Major-General in the Rebel army, to take +effect and date from the release of the rebel prisoners of war at Rock +Island or Camp Douglas. Hines is the person who is said to have effected +the escape of General John H. Morgan himself, and others from the +penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, and although it is not generally known +in the North or South how Morgan escaped, and there not being one word +of truth in his report, he has enjoyed for a long time the reputation of +having been the author of it, and of being a desperate shrewd character. +The real facts in the case were (and it does not do the service of the +United States much credit to mention them,) that General John H. Morgan +"_was bribed out_." It was absolutely necessary however for General +Morgan to make some report of his escape to the public, that would +hoodwink the United States Government and save the officers, whom his +friends in the North had bribed to let him out, from punishment by +the authorities, and therefore a very romantic tale was made up, and +Morgan's pet _Capt. Hines_, was made the hero of it; and it was the +object of the rebel government in sending Hines to Canada to give an air +of truth to this romantic tale, to secure the United States officials +who have failed in their duty to their country. Hines was assisted in +his efforts by Col. St. Leger Grenfel an English adventurer of great +military experience, personal bravery and daring, who has had a romantic +connection with nearly every important war in America, Europe, Asia and +Africa for the past thirty years, and served in the Southern army with +the rank of Col., as Adjt.-Gen. to Morgan, and afterwards on General +Bragg's staff; but who pretended to have resigned his commission in the +rebel army and was living quietly in Canada; also by one Capt. Castleman +of Morgan's command, from Kentucky, who acted as Quartermaster of the +party, and about seventy-five, rank and file, (nearly all of whom were +officers) of the rebel army from Canada. These men were to be met here +in Chicago by parties from nearly all the middle, western and border +States, who came armed like themselves and for the same purpose. Of +those citizens who came to Chicago, armed and ready like the rebels, +there were over a thousand persons organized and officered, camped in +this city, just waiting for the command, and there were in the vast +throng then assembled in Chicago five or six thousand, who, while they +would not attach themselves to any organization, and were afraid to risk +the first attempt, yet if the first attempt had been successful +they would have joined the others in their work of devastation and +destruction. The above is most too low an estimate of the number of +these malcontents who did not join any military organization, but would +have eventually joined if it had been successful; for rebel officers +have been heard to say in Canada, after the Convention was over, that if +they could have "_started the thing right,_" they would have had an army +of twenty-five thousand in a week. With such a force, or even a force +of ten thousand, in possession of the city of Chicago, almost every city +and large town where there were many Democrats, and where the Sons of +Liberty, the Illinois Societies, Illini, &c., had full sway in Missouri, +Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, were to raise the insurrectionary +cry, and endeavor to bring all peace men and Democrats under their +banners. They were also to endeavor to maintain themselves in their +respective neighborhoods, districts, States, etc., were to seize upon +all the railroads and public buildings, and in the event they were not +strong enough to hold all the country, they were to rally around the +liberated rebels and their friends at Chicago, Camp Chase, Camp Morton, +and other places, after destroying all the public works, railroads, +etc., that would be of any service to the Government, in following them +up, or baulking their movements. In the meantime, however, the military +authorities in Chicago had not been idle, and the rebels and their +abettors looked with dismay upon every fresh arrival of troops and +artillery, as it was reported in their headquarters by spies, who had +the temerity to go to the observatory just opposite the camp, from +which they could see almost all over it, and send up hourly reports of +everything taking place inside. + +[Illustration: JAMES A. WILKINSON, Past Grand Seignior of the Chicago +Temple of the Sons of Liberty, and one of those who brought the +"Butternuts" to Chicago "to vote and to fight."] + +They not only had their spies, one might almost say, in Camp Douglas, +but in the telegraph offices, and were in or so near Post Headquarters, +that they were able to chronicle nearly every event of any importance to +them, that transpired, in any of those places. + +On the third day of the Convention, it was announced from rebel +headquarters at the Richmond House, that the expedition was a failure, +that owing to the precautions taken by the military authorities, and the +non-arrival of a thousand or two of other Copperheads, who had promised +to be in Chicago, ready to assist in the undertaking, and owing to the +want of sufficient discipline and organization among the Copperheads, +who were on hand, that an attempt at that time upon the garrison of +Camp Douglas would involve the destruction of the lives of too many +prisoners, and perhaps the killing and capturing of all those who made +the attempt to release them. As soon as it was generally known among the +rebels that they had failed in attaining the objects for which they +came to Chicago, Col. Grenfell and Capt. Castleman made their appearance +among them, and stated that it had been generally agreed upon that all +who were willing should go to Southern Illinois and Indiana, to drill +and organize the Copperheads for the coming struggle, which they thought +would take place very soon, or in other words, as soon as Gen. Lee +should have Gen. Grant's army in full retreat towards Washington city, +or should have inflicted some other almost irreparable disaster upon the +Union arms, which event both they and the Copperheads with them, were +not only wishing to take place, but confidently expecting every day; +that they with Hines and others were going home with some delegates +to the Convention, where they could live quietly and work to a great +advantage. On the fourth day of the Convention, the men and officers +were paid various sums from twenty to one hundred dollars, and it +was left to their option whether they would go to Southern Illinois, +Indiana, or return to Canada. Some fifteen or twenty went to Canada, and +about fifty went to Southern Illinois and Indiana. Thus ended the first +attempt to release the rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. It was +certainly a bold movement, both on the part of the rebels, who exposed +themselves to such great risk of suffering a disgraceful and ignominious +death, and the citizens who aided them in their nefarious designs. +But it seemed that an angel of an all-seeing Providence stretched its +protecting wings over the fair city, which was doomed by the rebels +and their friends at the North first to see and feel the demoralizing +influence of an insurrectionary force. What expression, or what degree +of contempt is most appropriate for the citizens connected with these +rebel efforts;--persons owing a true and faithful allegiance to the +Government, yet aiding and abetting its public enemies, persons who +while professing a common fealty with their fellow citizens, would +welcome to their homes incendiaries, and incite them to murder and +plunder those very fellow citizens, and compel them to suffer all the +horrors of a cruel warfare! No epithets that human ingenuity could +heap upon them would be too harsh, or too undeserved, no contempt too +humiliating for a people so devoid of honesty and all the qualities +essential to render them prosperous and happy. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +SECOND ATTEMPT--HINES IN COMMAND AGAIN--COPPERHEADS AGAIN TO BE THE MAIN +FORCES TO BE RELIED UPON--REBEL GENERALS TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE RELEASED +PRISONERS AND THE INSURRECTIONARY FORCES--THE DAY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL +ELECTION APPOINTED AS THE ONE MOST PROPER FOR THE UPRISING--THE CAPTURE +OF SOME OF THE REBEL LEADERS AND THEIR SYMPATHIZING FRIENDS. + +At the time the rebel officers and soldiers left Chicago, after the +Convention, none of them had any idea of ever coming back again, except +Capt. Hines and a few of the leaders who consulted with him. He was +shrewd enough to see that any effort at that time would be fruitless, +and determined, so far as possible, to have all the Copperheads +who would assist him in any second affair of the kind, drilled and +organized, and men able to render effective assistance. It was for +this purpose that he, with his comrades, went to Southern Illinois and +Indiana with cavalry and infantry tactics and all the appliances for +instructing others in military matters. The conspirators having failed +at Chicago during the convention to make their starting point, having +failed to make the great bonfire, which was to be the signal for +thousands of others not quite so large, to burn up brightly from almost +every hill-top in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, it +was necessary for their leaders to meet again, and determine upon a +new programme. It appears that they did meet again, and again the +starting-point of the whole conspiracy was the release of the rebel +prisoners of war at Chicago, and from facts brought to light by the +evidence before the great military commission held in Cincinnati, Ohio, +the plan of operations was nearly the same as that of the first. The +prisoners being released at Chicago, those at Johnston's Island, +Camp Morton, Camp Chase and other places were to be released by their +friends, and then all were to be immediately placed under the command of +rebel generals sent here for the purpose of heading the rebellion, when +it once broke out. This may seem like fiction to some; the idea of rebel +generals being here in the North for the purpose of aiding and taking +the lead of the conspirators; but it is nevertheless true, as disclosed +by one of the prisoners taken at Chicago; and it also appears that +these generals had several states partitioned off into districts and +departments, of which, each department commander was to have exclusive +control. + +The new programme having been adopted, all that was necessary was to fix +upon the day. The day must be one upon which more than the usual number +of visitors would be in the city, in order that their coming and staying +would not be noticed, and it seemed they selected the day of election, +as the one most suitable for their purposes; and if possible a day when +the military and civil authorities would be most likely to be caught +off their guard. For several days before the 8th of November last, their +spies had been coming into the city, in order to get suitable quarters +for the men when they arrived, and in parts of the city where they would +be least liable to suspicion. In the efforts to secure suitable boarding +houses for these incendiaries, various citizens of Chicago took an +active part, and even went to the depots to receive them, and escort +them into the bosom of the city they were so soon to attempt to destroy. +It was not until the Saturday just before the election, that Gen. Sweet +had positive information of the _rebels_ being in the city, and received +full information of the details of their plans, and began to take +measures quietly to capture them. This he did at once, and at the same +time had every preparation made to repel any attack upon the garrison of +Camp Douglas; and he succeeded admirably, following up his information +with such energy, that before daylight of the Monday morning following, +he had captured enough of the rebel leaders (and their friends in such +connexion as to leave no doubt of their guilt,) to make every disloyal +man quake in his boots. The captures of the military and police were +not confined alone to the conspirators, and in addition to them were +captured immense military stores of all kinds, boxes of guns already +shotted, cart loads of army pistols loaded and ready for the bloody work +expected of them, holsters, pistol belts, cartridges by the cart load, +and enough munitions of war to have started an arsenal of moderate size. +These arms were not taken from the rebels, but found in the houses +of citizens of Chicago, who can produce witnesses upon the stand (of +pretended loyalty and standing, some of them being office-holders under +the Government,) to swear that they themselves are, and have always been +loyal and true to their allegiance. In the house of Charles Walsh, +most of these arms were taken, and also there were captured two rebel +soldiers, Captain George Cantrill and Charles Travis Daniels, who were +shortly after identified; and Cantrill partly confessed his views, and +his complicity with the Copperheads. This man Cantrill had been one +of those who had come to Chicago during the Convention, for the same +purpose, and averred that then and at the election, the Copperheads had +offered and held out to them every inducement to get them here. That had +it not been for them he would never have come here. It may be well +here to publish a little incident, showing fully the kindred feelings +existing between the conspirators and the inmates of Camp Douglas. It +was a well known fact, that there were several thousand of John Morgan's +desperadoes confined in this prison, and the Copperhead conspirators, to +show their refinement of feeling, their accommodating dispositions, and +their attention to the worst of these men, had purchased for their use +exclusively, the finest cavalry carbines then made in the United States, +and had them stored in the immediate neighborhood of the prison, when +upon being released they could at once begin to revel in a carnival of +blood. Happy, happy for the people of Chicago, having passed through one +of the most critical periods of their existence, without knowing that +they were threatened with any disaster, ignorant that there was a mine +beneath their feet, just ready to be sprung at any moment, with their +own fellow citizens pulling at the spring, willing to involve them in +general and complete ruin--willing to subject them to the ravages of +such bloodthirsty villains as the inmates of Camp Douglas. The people of +Chicago never can appreciate, to its fullest extent, the danger through +which they have passed, for several reasons. First, because they were +ignorant of it at the time, and the conspirators had and have now at +their command, a bitter partizan press in their interests, and entirely +subservient to their views, whose interests it is to prevent these facts +from becoming generally believed, and when they are presented to the +public with the naked truth, to hiss at and cry them down as emanating +from the brains of lunatics, or a conspiracy of detectives to ruin the +reputation of innocent and guiltless persons. Secondly, because they +never experienced the horrors which must necessarily have followed had +the conspirators been successful. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE REBELS TO CAPTURE UNITED STATES STEAMER MICHIGAN +CARRYING EIGHTEEN GUNS--MODUS OPERANDI--WHY THEY FAILED, &c., +&c.--UNITED STATES COMMERCE UPON THE LAKES TO BE DESTROYED--NORTHERN +CITIES TO BE LAID UNDER CONTRIBUTION, &c. + +Canada, occupying the geographical position and belonging to another +nation as it does, has been ever since this war broke out, the +rendezvous of thousands upon thousands of the vagabond and criminal +population of the United States, together with the rebels and refugees, +until its population far exceeds what it had in 1860; almost every +business occupation is crowded to such an extent that it is almost +impossible to obtain employment of any kind, many persons being obliged +to keep from starving by begging, for their food, and the clothes they +wear upon their backs. Some of this refugee population have means, +others are supplied by their friends and families at home; but by +far the greater number are without any occupation or visible means of +support, habitué of the gambling hells, drinking saloons, &c., in favor +of any crime or villainy to supply their depleted purses, and furnish +them with the means of living at ease and idleness. Under such +circumstances and among such a class of population, is it anything +strange, that the robbery of banks, the pillaging of the inhabitants of +the Northern border, that raids with all the necessary plundering and +so forth, found plenty of advocates and supporters, and when the time +arrived to carry them into execution, plenty of desperadoes, fit tools +for such infamous projects. The great difficulty in Canada was not in +getting enough of these men to participate in matters of this kind; but +to prevent too many of them from knowing of them, so that there would +be a smaller number among whom to divide the spoils and plunder thus +obtained, so that the chief difficulty lay in getting together just +enough of the most desperate characters to carry out an expedition. +During the Chicago Democratic Convention the efforts of the rebels +were not confined alone to Camp Douglas; but simultaneously with their +efforts in Chicago, they were to make an attempt to capture the United +States Steamer Michigan, carrying eighteen guns, stationed on Lake Erie, +the steamer permitted by the treaty between the United States and +Great Britain, for the better protection of rebel prisoners confined at +Johnston's Island. + +The prisoners of war at Chicago, Illinois, being released, and the great +conspiracy in the North once fairly inaugurated, the capture of the +steamer Michigan was to be one of the combined movements that were to +startle the country, and aid the conspiracy in overturning the authority +of the United States Government, With the "Michigan" in their hands, +the conspirators would have a powerful auxilliary in their pernicious +designs upon the country, and be able to render effective aid to the +Southern Rebellion; ruining the commercial status of the United States +on the great lakes, and effectually closing all the ports on their +borders, and in addition to this, their laying all the large towns and +cities on the northern portion under contributions, and exacting from +them enormous sums of money, through fear of bombardment. The plan of +the conspirators to get possession of the Michigan was by bribery and by +surprise. Mr. Thompson, in his efforts to seize the vessel, secured the +services of a man named Cole, of Sandusky City, who, whilom, had been +a citizen of Virginia, but who still retained his sympathies for the +rebellion, and took an active part in aiding it whenever he had an +opportunity, and a woman, said to have been his paramour, who carried +dispatches backwards and forwards between the parties. This man Cole +seems to have been the most wiley conspirator of them all, and played +his infamous part of the plot with the most adroit shrewdness; and the +defeat of the whole scheme was not owing to any blunder of his, but +rather the blunder of those who employed and furnished him with the +means. Having been well supplied with money by Mr. Thompson, and no +limit put to his expenses, he began his work with a will. He seems to +have begun by getting generally well acquainted with the officers of +the vessel, by feasting them, and now and then lending them money, or +accommodating them in some other way, until he had won the confidence +of all those in command of the steamer, as well as those in charge +of Johnston's Island. After a time, he found out those who were most +vulnerable on the money question, and those whom he did not dare to +approach upon the subject. Of the latter class, there is one mentioned +in particular by the rebels, whose suspicions they did not care to +arouse, and which they made every attempt to lull. This was an officer +named Eddy, from Massachusetts. Of the former class, whom they bribed, +the rebels mentioned particularly the chief engineer, who, they said, +had agreed, for twenty thousand dollars in gold, to get the machinery +out of order, and otherwise aid in the vessel's capture, and one or two +others. + +[Illustration: BRIG. GEN. CHARLES WALSH, + +A citizen of Chicago, he was at one time the Democratic candidate for +Sheriff of Cook County, in which is the city of Chicago, during the +earliest part of the war he was very active in helping to raise what +was called the Irish brigade. He afterwards became a bitter democratic +partizan and was connected with the Sons of Liberty. Just before and +during the Convention be received into his family several rebel soldiers +who were there during the day and night time, making cartridges for the +expected release of the rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. He was +arrested in his own house on the morning of the 7th of November, as was +also his son, and two Rebel soldiers and taken to Camp Douglas. In his +house and on his premises were an immense numbers of guns of several +kinds and also immense military stores, consisting of powder, buckshot, +cartridges, with two or three cast braces of army revolvers, all these +guns and pistols were loaded and ready with the exception of being +capped. Charles Walsh is of Irish extraction and about forty years of +age, and a fine looking man. He is generous, impulsive, rather easily +influenced, agreeable in conversation, and except in the character he +assumed as an enemy to his country was possessed of qualities which +would win for him many friends. There are as bad men, in our opinion, as +Mr. Charles Walsh, to day at liberty and talking treason in our midst.] + +Of the remainder of the officers of the Michigan, they thought their +well-known Democratic faith and sympathy with the rebellion, would +prevent them from seeing or knowing _too much_, until too late to avoid +the disaster. Of these last, the conspirators did not seem to entertain +the least fear, some of them being Southern men by birth, and at most, +but passive in their fidelity to the government. The men of the vessel +who were loyal, were also tampered with, and the rebels in Canada looked +for assistance from them, and claimed that some of their own men from +Canada had enlisted on board of her for the purpose of aiding to capture +her. Of these rebels, however, there were but few. As the writer +has stated before, the attempt on the steamer Michigan was to be +simultaneous with that at Chicago, Ill., and while the rebels and their +friends were assembling in Chicago, they were also gathering in Sandusky +City, for the capture of the Michigan. The exact number of conspirators +in Sandusky, at that time, is not known to the writer, nor the details +of their plans; but let it suffice to say, _that they were there, armed +and ready_. When the time of action arrived, however, the engineer and +his accomplices were no where to be found, and after waiting for nearly +two days, the rebel portion of the conspirators, with the exception of +Capt. Beall, returned to Canada. On their return, they said that the +persons whom they had bribed were afraid to toe the mark--that is, were +afraid to carry out their infamous and hazardous part of the contract. +The rebels were in great fear, lest something had happened that would +put an end forever to their hopes, in regard to the steamer, but in a +few days after this, the non-appearance of the engineer and friends, +were duly explained, and the alarm caused by it quieted, and another +time set for the attempt; the sequel will show how _much_ they intended, +and how much they ventured to effect their aims. It is a well known fact +that the rebels while in Sandusky city, were feasted and toasted in +the houses of some of the prominent citizens and business men, +and encouraged in every way by them. The day being set once more, +preparations were again made to capture the vessel, and this time +occurred what was called the _Lake Erie Piracy_, nearly everything +connected with which was so disgraceful to the United States service, +that although the government hastened to remove all the reprehensible +officers, and retain those who deserved well of their country, yet seems +to have endeavored to keep some of the facts connected with it, from +being made public. About one week before the time set for the second +attempt arrived, Capt. Beall returned from Sandusky to Windsor, Canada +West, and announced that all was ready for the capture, and immediately +telegraphed to Jacob Thompson, who was then at the Queen's Hotel, in +Toronto, who at once answered that he would come to Windsor that night, +and desired not to be recognized. That evening he arrived at Windsor, +and without apparently being known got into a carriage waiting, and was +taken to the residence of a Col. Steele, about a mile below Windsor, +where he was expected. During this week all the men who were to +participate in the affair were notified, and this time the services +of some of the men who had been to Chicago during the Convention, were +called into requisition. The officers of the rebel army could be seen +running about, here and there, to the different boarding houses +where the men were stopping, carrying ominous looking carpet bags, +distributing from them pistols, ammunition and other things, deemed +necessary for the undertaking, which was to be made on the night of the +following Monday. Most active in these efforts to incite these men to +deeds of desperation, were Col. Steele and Jake Thompson--or when he +used his assumed name, Col. Carson. The plans of the pirates were as +follows, and the writer gives them just as he heard them from the lips +of two of the rebel officers who participated in the affair, commanding +detachments on board of the "Philo Parsons." Part of the men, amounting +in all to about seventy-five, were to go from Canada to Sandusky city by +rail, another party were to cross the river at Detroit early on Monday +morning, and take passage on the steamer "Philo Parsons" for Sandusky, +another portion were to take passage on her from Sandwich, Canada, about +two miles below Detroit, and still another party of them, consisting of +about fifteen (with eight or ten citizens who knew nothing of what was +contemplated), on Sunday morning were to charter a small steamer called +the "Scotia," plying between Windsor and Detroit, ostensibly for the +purpose of taking a pleasure ride to Malden, Canada, about twenty miles +below Detroit, and near the entrance of the river into the lake, when +they were also on Monday to take passage for the same place on the +Parsons. At Kelley's Island, one of the points at which the boat touched +in her daily trips, they were to receive a messenger from Cole, letting +them know, that up to that time everything was going on smoothly in +Sandusky; upon receiving this information, all the different portions +of the gang were to unite and seize the steamer, before she reached the +next landing, at which she generally stopped. The engineers and pilots +were to be forced, by threats of instant death if they refused, to still +occupy their respective places; the passengers were to be put off at +some out of the way place, where it would be impossible for them to give +any information to the authorities, and after dark they were to run down +into Sandusky bay, where they would see certain signals, made by those +conspirators on the shore, when they would land, take on board all those +who had come by rail from Detroit, and some Copperheads from Cincinnati, +Ohio, and other places, and at once would immediately turn the prow of +the Parson for the steamer Michigan. Cole was to give a champagne supper +on board the Michigan that evening, to the officers, and was to be there +himself with a party of rebels, who had also become well acquainted with +the officers, and was invited at the request of Cole, to join in the +festivities of the occasion. It was intended for the Philo Parsons to +reach hailing distance of the Michigan about eleven or twelve o'clock +that night, in order that by this time as many of the crew as possible, +through the champagne, would be incapable of rendering any resistance, +when the Parsons was hailed by the watch on board the steamer, and Cole +and his associates were at once to take possession of a gun, which would +sweep the whole decks, to prevent that portion of the crew who were +not rendered incapable of it by drink, from attempting any effectual +resistance to the conspirators boarding her from the Parsons. Once in +possession of this vessel of war, the prisoners on the island were to +be immediately released, landed at Sandusky, when the Sons of Liberty, +Illini and other secret societies were to seize the opportunity of +rising up, and asserting their peculiar doctrines, under the protection +of this powerful man of war. The same course was to be pursued at +Cleveland and other places, along the lake coast, where their secret +societies were in full blast, the conspirators exacting an enormous +tribute of the loyal portion of these communities to save their property +from the dangers of bombardment. This expected tribute of ten millions +of dollars, (to be divided equally among them,) from the border cities, +was the greatest inducement held out by the rebel leaders before leaving +Canada, to their desperadoes, in order to excite their cupidity and +zeal, and inflame their minds to such a pitch, that they would render a +strict obedience to their officers, and hesitate at no act of violence. +These were the plans of the conspirators, and although they may seem +almost ideal and improbable, yet are very possible even to the most +minute details, when one will take time to stop and consider the great +chances of success the pirates had in having a portion of the crew +bribed, and their prospects of having the remainder too excited by +liquor, to make any effectual opposition--the surprise, the chaos and +confusion of the crew at finding those whom they supposed their friends, +as well as their own comrades and fellow-soldiers, fighting them hand to +hand. Under such circumstances as these, it is very easy to conceive of +the capture of a vessel by a band of desperadoes, who would hesitate at +no act of bloodshed or villainy to accomplish their objects. In addition +to this, they were rendered more desperate, if such a thing could be, +by the certainty that if they failed and were captured, a speedy and +disgraceful death awaited them. The Michigan being captured, it is also +easy to conceive that all the other portions of their plans could have +been carried out, perhaps to a greater extent than already mentioned, +that contributions could have been levied and exacted from the people, +and especially that the Sons of Liberty and other secret societies would +joyously seize such an opportunity as the protection of this man-of-war +afforded them, to throw off the mantle of secrecy and darkness from +their hell-born principles, and parade them to the view of the public +in all their hideousness. We will now follow up the plans of the +conspirators, and mention the facts as they occurred. On Sunday the --th +of September, just preceding the attempt, although it was a rainy +and very disagreeable day, in accordance with orders, the Scotia was +chartered and conveyed her part of the pirates, together with some arms +to Maiden, C.W. It is due to the citizens who were with the pirates, to +say here, that they had no idea that the piracy was contemplated, and +thought that it was only a fishing excursion, which at that time was a +very common occurrence with the Southeners at Windsor. That evening when +the Scotia returned, they alleged that it was so unpleasant that they +would wait until the next day before going back to Windsor, in this way +lulling everything like suspicion in the minds of those who had only +been invited to go with them, the more effectually to conceal the real +objects of the pirates. On Monday, on the arrival of the Steamer +_Philo Parsons_ at Malden, those who had taken passage from Detroit and +Sandwich, were seen in very conspicuous places on the decks, by those on +the wharf, who immediately boarded her in the capacity of passengers. It +was not the intention of the pirates to seize the vessel until nearly +to Sandusky, and in the event they received no messenger from _Cole_, +at Kelley's Island, they were not to take possession of her at all, but +continue in their characters as passengers to Sandusky, and there learn +the cause of his failure to communicate with them. But as subsequent +events will show, they were compelled to change their whole plan of +operations. Shortly after the vessel left Malden, the frequency with +which all of these men patronized the bar of the boat, attracted the +suspicions of some of the passengers, as well as the officers, one of +whom, from some remarks let fall by one of the men, thought they were a +suspicious set, and said that as soon as the boat arrived at Sandusky, +he would have them arrested and taken care of. Some of the pirates +happened to hear this remark, and as soon as it was generally known, +created the greatest consternation among them, and upon arriving at +Kelley's Island and not receiving the messenger promised by _Cole_, +they were in a very unenviable position. To go to Sandusky they would +be arrested; the only course they could take to save their own lives +and liberty, was that which they eventually adopted. Capt. Beall, after +hearing this report, quickly determined to seize the vessel, which was +accordingly done, to the great terror of the passengers and crew. One +or two of the crew who refused to obey the orders given by the pirates, +were severely wounded. Finding that there was only wood enough on board +to last for a short time, she was run to Put-in-bay to get a supply, and +it was at this landing that they seized the Island Queen, which happened +to be there also, for the same purpose. This vessel, after removing her +valuables, was immediately scuttled and left floating with the current +in a sinking condition. After dark that night, the pirates ran down +into Sandusky Bay, but failing to see the signals agreed upon, and after +waiting a short time, again returned to the open lake, convinced by this +time that something had happened to their friends in Sandusky. Capt. +Beall then seeing that something had happened which would prevent them +from capturing the Michigan, announced his determination to cruise on +the lake as long as possible, burning and destroying all he could, +and endeavored to induce his men to go with him; but they were already +scared, and begun to fear the consequences of their act, and insisted +upon going back to Canada. This is what Capt. Beall himself told Mr. +Thompson on his return to Canada, that "if it had not been for these +mutinous scoundrels, I could have run that boat on these lakes for two +weeks, burning and destroying all the vessels we met with, before the +Yankees could have made us take to land." The owners of shipping upon +the great lakes, can now if they never could before, appreciate fully +the danger to their vessels at that time. The day before the rebels left +Windsor, C.W., the United States authorities had been notified of the +expedition, and fully placed upon their guard, and if the plans of +Lieut. Col. Hill, the efficient commander of the post at Detroit could +have been followed, he would have captured the whole gang. However, he +telegraphed to Sandusky, and had Cole arrested while he was sitting at +the table, taking dinner with the officers on board the Michigan. This +effectually prevented Cole from communicating with the conspirators. + +Col. Hill's plans were to let the pirates take the _Parsons_, and then +before they had time to do any damage, have the Michigan meet them on +their way to Sandusky and capture them all together, and thus relieve +the Government from any farther trouble with this most desperate band +of incendiaries. Col. Hill telegraphed to the commander of the Michigan, +requesting him to do this, and it is generally understood that the +reason why he did not do it was that the machinery of the vessel was out +of order, thus showing how well those who had been bribed had done their +duty. In addition to these attempts to capture the steamer Michigan, was +the celebrated St. Albans raid, which among others, was one of the +rebel modes of carrying the war into Africa and harrassing the northern +border. + +This raid, which has become so famous in the history of this war, was +first started by a Texan, named _Bracey_, belonging to one of the rebel +Texan regiments. This man, for four or five years before the war, had +been going to one of the schools or colleges (according to his own +account of himself,) in St. Albans, and was well acquainted, both with +the city and country, in the immediate neighborhood. He gave all the +information he could, and offered to return there to get more, which +he, with one or two rebel soldiers did, and obtained all the necessary +information that would, in any way, aid them in their criminal designs. +Upon their report, on their return to Canada, the fitting out the +expedition immediately began--the money, arms, etc., being furnished by +the rebel agents in Montreal or Quebec. Of the details of this affair, +as carried out, the people have been fully advised by the newspapers, +and, to all intents and purposes, the raid has been a success, or +has operated in this manner by the winding and twisting course of the +Canadian law courts, which seem to be actuated by no fixed principles, +but wavering between the fear of the public opinion of the American +people, and their desire to aid the rebels in overturning the +government--and had it not been for the sudden turn the war has taken +in the last six months, the people along the northern border would have +been subjected to numerous other and similar raids. The St. Albans raid +was only a part of one grand scheme of the rebels, for the past two +years, to inaugurate a new mode of warfare, entirely beyond the pale of +that waged by civilized nations, and a relic of the more barbarous ages. +This new mode of warfare, or incendiarism, as it is generally called, +was first started by the rebel government, after the fall of Memphis, +Tenn., for the purpose of destroying vessels, loaded with government +property, and cut off the communications of the armies in the lower +countries, with their depots of supplies; with this end in view, +companies of men were regularly enlisted for the purpose, and after +a time, the sympathies and the aid rendered the rebellion by certain +classes of the people at the North, justified them in extending its +pernicious effects further North. Companies were enlisted and sent +through the lines, with orders to burn public buildings, army stores, +and supplies, wherever they could find them. Thus far, secret agents of +the rebels were scattered all over the North, in small squads, wherever +there was a prospect of doing injury to the government; and it is to +the efforts of these men, that the country is indebted for the wholesale +destruction of steamboat and other property at St. Louis, Cairo, and +other places on the western rivers. These men performing the incendiary +acts frequently upon information furnished them by their sympathizing +friends. The public are already well aware of the manner in which some +of these acts of incendiarism terminated, most especially the attempt of +Capt. Kennedy and others, holding commissions in the rebel service, to +burn New York city. If ever a man deserved his fate, this man Kennedy +certainly did, and the public, having been saved, unscathed, can never +fully appreciate the enormity of his crime. One, knowing the facts of +these men being in the North for this purpose, can readily appreciate +the punishment awarded them; but upon reviewing all the facts in +the case, will as readily say that they are now less guilty than the +citizens of the North, who aided them in their designs, by furnishing +them information and associating with them, and even receiving them into +their families, while they were yet public enemies, and in arms against +the country. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + +SABBATH EVENING IN INVINCIBLE CLUB HALL---A SCENE NEVER TO BE +FORGOTTEN--PLANS REHEARSED--ARMS INSPECTED--REPORT OF THE BRIG.-GEN. OF +THE SONS OF LIBERTY--REVOLUTION AND BLOODSHED WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY-SIX +HOURS--DISTRIBUTION OF FIREARMS UPON OUR STREETS. + +The evening of the 3d of November, 1864, found a large representation of +the Sons of Liberty in their lodge room in Chicago, for as the time drew +near for the Presidential election--the period fixed for the carnival +of crime--the members of the organization realized the importance of the +utmost vigilance--lest their plans should be discovered--and of the most +entire concurrence with their leaders, and concert of action in obeying +the commands that might be given. At this meeting, the Brigadier-General +of the Order was present, as were also Captains and Lieutenants of the +Invincible Club, and a more exciting meeting had rarely ever been held +in the Temple. Speakers were vehement and earnest, and their theme was +the proposed uprising. As had ever been their policy, certain important +facts were withheld from the fledglings in treason, who had not yet +tried their wings, but there was no discord, no dissention, and all +exhibited enthusiasm and confidence. Brig.-Gen. Walsh called a meeting +of the Order, to be held in the hall of the Invincible Club, on Sunday +evening November 6th, the hour being fixed for eight o'clock. All +were exhorted to be "on hand," as the Brig.-General had an important +communication to make. Friday and Saturday an immense number of pistols, +and much ammunition were sold, and many were given away in quarters, +where it was certain material aid might be expected, when the time +should arrive for the inauguration of revolution. To the few of us +having the interests of the country at heart, who were cognisant of +the acts, preparations and intentions of the Order, it will readily be +believed the days were tedious, and the nights sleepless. So well had +the principal secrets of the Order--the details of the uprising---been +kept from the lower degree of the "Sons," that but few of the members +had a definite idea of the infamous part they were expected to perform, +and it was to communicate enough information to secure harmony among the +men, and that concert of action which promised the most complete success +of the terrible scheme of villainy before them, that the meeting was +called for Sabbath evening. It will be seen by the report of Gen. +Sweet's testimony, before the military commission, to what peril the +city was exposed. With but a handful of men to garrison the post, +without the ability to obtain adequate reinforcements, with ten thousand +veteran rebels in a camp, so incomplete in its structure, with the +certainty that our secret enemies were upon the railroads already, and +seeking positions in the post-office, in telegraph offices, if, as there +was good reason to apprehend, the telegraph stations were not already +under their control, that by Judge Morris' official report to the +Temple, two full regiments of Sons of Liberty, all well armed and +disciplined, were ready at an hour's notice, and that a third regiment +was almost complete, the knowledge also that the entire body +of Copperheads in the State, and in the northwest, would rise +simultaneously with the traitors in our city, with good reason to +believe it impossible to safely communicate with the head of the State +military department--in this most unenviable position, to know that the +fatal moment was fast coming, when the infernal machinery was to be set +in motion, and to make arrangements to avert the catastrophe so quietly +as not to arrest attention, or excite the alarm of the leaders of the +plot, which would have instantly been executed, had it become apparent +that the movements of these traitors were watched; these considerations +and the discharge of the fearful responsibilities resting upon the only +parties who could then hope to avert the danger, occupied the mind and +hands of the commandant of the post, and employed the utmost vigilance +of the writer and able assistants. Every few hours orderlies and special +couriers were despatched to the headquarters of the camp, with such +reports as could be obtained. We have read Eastern tales of travelers, +when accident had discovered them in closest proximity to the deadly +cobra de capello, the breathless horror with which they contemplated its +motions, and saw it slowly coiling itself upon their limbs, or upon a +table at their bedsides, and knowing that a single motion on the part +of the imperilled person would be but to invite certain death, the +vigilance and eager solicitude, the distressing anxiety with which they +regarded the movements and intent of the venomous creature, but never +till a full realization of our position in regard to this organized +band of traitors, did we ever experience sensations akin to those of +the unfortunate traveler; and when the loathsome reptile had got into +a position where it was safe to attempt its destruction, and when +this attempt was successful, no greater relief or deeper emotions +of gratitude could have been felt by him--a moment before exposed to +instant and terrible death--than were experienced by us when the danger +had been averted. + +Sunday evening came. Our citizens worshiping in the churches, or in +peaceful repose in their own residences, little knew of the imminent +peril to which they were exposed, or of the gathering of their fellow +citizens in the Invincible Club Hall to arrange the details which, if +successful, would bring ruin, desolation and death to thousands of our +unsuspecting people. Up the entrance to the hall, cautiously crept the +members of the order, peering behind them, and advancing one by one, +or in groups of two or three, till they reached the hall. The door was +guarded by a sentinel, so that intrusion was out of the question. At +nine o'clock, the assemblage was called to order by Obadiah Jackson, +Jr., Esq., the Grand Seignior. Patrick Dooley, Secretary, was in his +place on the right of the Grand Seignior. The meeting was large, and +a more desperate looking collection of men have rarely assembled in a +convention in our city. Such desecration of the evening of the Sabbath +has never before been witnessed here. After the opening of the meeting, +one of the members took early occasion to remark substantially, that it +must have been noticed by all present, as well as himself, that the city +was full of strangers, and that he had noticed many of them were dressed +in butternut clothes, and had good reason to believe that they were +Abolitionists in disguise; that it was advisable to watch them, it being +his confident opinion that they had come to the city for the purpose of +fraudulently voting the Abolition ticket; and the speaker was proceeding +in this strain, much to the amusement of the members of the higher +degree, to whom the men in butternut clothes were no strangers. The +speaker had scarcely taken his seat, when James A. Wilkinson, Past Grand +Seignior, rose and stated that the suspicious looking persons were "our +friends," and that he himself had brought a company of sixty of them to +the city, and that they were entitled to every attention, as they would +do good service for "us," and stated that he was going back for more. +The strangers who were the subject of discussion, were from the counties +in the Southern part of the State, and all bore the same general +appearance of vagabonds, cut-throats, felons, bounty-jumpers and +deserters. They had all seemed to appear simultaneously in our city, +unheralded even to the "Sons," and their advent was as much a subject of +remark, as would have been a shower of toads and tadpoles. They did not +take up their quarters at respectable hotels and private houses, but +sneaked away stealthily to the lowest dens of vice, and resorts of +criminals unwhipped of justice. They came to help perform infamous work, +and had a part of the price of their guilt upon their persons, or had +already invested it for the poorest quality of intoxicating liquors. +They had been collected together from the various country towns in the +Southern part of the State, where they had been in training under the +command of rebel officers, and many of them were the same parties who +had come to Chicago at the time of the Democratic National Convention, +hopeful and confident of the uprising, and who had been so wofully +disappointed, and turned their backs so reluctantly upon our banks and +stores, from which they had intended to glut their avarice, and amply +remunerate themselves with the property of our citizens. Nothing on +earth is more positively certain than, had the work not been arrested +at the moment it was, these devils would have pillaged every bank and +rifled every storehouse in Chicago; and it is equally certain that +beyond Colonel Sweet and the writer, with his assistant, Robert +Alexander, none knew of the intricate deadly plot in detail, although +Major-General Hooker, Brig.-Gen. Paine, Governor Yates, Hon. I.N. +Arnold, and William Rand, Esq., of the _Tribune_ had been informed by +the writer of the general intent of the organization. But to return to +the secret convention at the hall. The explanation of J.A. Wilkinson not +being satisfactory to Mr. Hull, some curt remarks were banded between +the speakers, which Obadiah Jackson, Jr., Esq., the Grand Seignior could +not well control, Brig.-Gen. Charlie Walsh rose to his feet and said +unhesitatingly, that he had by his own order "brought these men here +_to vote and to fight_," and he added, "by God they will vote early and +often, and they will fight." Gen. Walsh desired that all the "brethren" +would extend the hospitalities of the city to the visitors, for they +were "our friends." While this discussion was going on, there was a +Confederate officer in the hall, and within ten feet of Walsh. The +joy upon the announcement by Walsh, found expression in a rude and +boisterous manner. It having been definitely settled that the wretches +who had been the subject of discussion were good for any number of +votes, and fully prepared to take part in the attack, so soon to startle +our city; the convention proceeded to ascertain who among its members +were unarmed, and to supply such delinquents forthwith. The members +generally exhibited revolvers of various patterns, but upon inspection +by the officers, preference was expressed for the pattern like those +which were subsequently found in the house of Walsh, by the officers, +at the time of his arrest. There were several who had not the approved +pattern, and such persons were instructed to apply next morning at the +store of James Geary, corner of Wells and Madison streets, and they +would be supplied, but upon consultation it was remarked by Geary, that +as he was already suspected he feared it would hardly be expedient for +Walsh to send arms to him for distribution, and it was agreed by J.H. +Hubbard, the treasurer of the Invincible Club, that he would receive +possession of the revolvers, and give them to all who might apply, and +such persons were to call at the door of the Invincible Club hall, at 9 +o'clock the next morning, when they would be supplied. It was arranged +that a guard of not less than fifty or one hundred men, all well armed, +should remain all day on Tuesday, (election day,) at the polls in each +ward, making not _less_ than one full regiment in the aggregate, thus +detailed for special "service." + +To distinguish friends and members at a time when trouble should break +out, was a subject now raised for debate, and it was finally agreed that +the members should wear McClellan badges upon the left breast, attached +by _red and white_ ribbons. It was understood that orderlies were to be +constantly reporting from each ward at the headquarters of Gen. Walsh, +and thus a regular line of communication would be kept up, which in case +of trouble, would be greatly to the advantage of these ruffians. They +were all advised to deposit their vote with one hand, and present their +revolver with the other. It was confidently asserted by individuals, +but with how much truth we know not, that an Invincible Club from +Philadelphia, would also be present and help do the voting, but as no +Philadelphia Roughs were reported in the city, the help expected +from Philadelphia probably did not arrive. The most violent secession +speeches were made by Duncan, who was then connected with the Mercantile +agency in McCormick's block, Walsh, Wilkinson, and many others. + +The meeting adjourned at a late hour, and many of the leaders, prominent +among whom was James Geary, proceeded to a secure retreat, and then in +the quiet hours of Sunday night, gave away a great number of revolvers +of the same style and pattern with those subsequently seized by the +authorities. + + + + +CHAP. XV. + + +ARRESTS--GREAT EXCITEMENT--GENERAL CONSTERNATION OF THE COPPERHEADS--NEW +VICTORIES IN THE FIELD--DEATH-BLOW OF JEFF. DAVIS' SECRET ORGANIZATION +AND HOPES IN THE NORTH--FINDING OF ARMS--THE EFFECT ALL THROUGHOUT THE +NORTH-WEST. + +Before the morning of Monday, November 7th dawned, a dispatch, embracing +the most important features of the Sunday night meeting, had been +prepared by the writer, and forwarded to the commandant of Camp Douglas, +who, during the night, arrested Judge Morris, Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, +and others, and a large number of "butternuts," who had been the subject +of discussion at the Sunday night meeting, and these prisoners were +safely lodged in Camp Douglas. The news of the arrests, and the charges +upon which they were made, caused intense excitement among all classes, +loyal men rejoicing for the promptness and wisdom of the measure, while +the Copperheads howled fearfully, and denounced it as a fresh evidence +of "Lincoln's tyranny." As the facts became generally known, there +was an unanimous expression of approval on the part of all good, loyal +citizens. The consternation of the Copperheads was truly great; they +felt that, notwithstanding their many precautions for secrecy, the eye +of the government had been upon them in their most secret places, and +this consternation was not by any means relieved when they read in the +morning papers an extract of Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh's speech before +the order in the Invincible Club hall. They felt certain that they were +watched, and that they were under careful espionage, and the effect was +precisely what we had expected and desired. It was telegraphed in every +direction, that the government bad a complete knowledge of their designs +and proceedings, and such a tremor and quaking with fear the Copperheads +had not previously exhibited. It completely deranged their designs, +and caused an utter abandonment of the plot, for the leaders in Chicago +having been arrested, no one knew how soon his turn would come, and +it is a general and well-established fact, that however sanguinary and +fiendish a rabble may prove when attacking their victims by surprise, +the mass of such beings lose their brute courage when discovering, to a +certainty, that the details of their strategy are known, and the party +upon whom an assault is contemplated is prepared, and will repel the +attack with that fury, vigor, desperation and perseverance that will +surely carry death to many of the assailants. They lack zeal, because +they know their cause is a bad one, just as one honest man will put +three rogues to flight. It was telegraphed that the heads of the +government were fully advised of the conspiracy, and that officers +were freely visiting all the more important temples in the North-West, +mingling in the "business" of these meetings, and apprising the military +leaders of every move which had been made, which was being made, and +which was contemplated. Suspicion was aroused, and so general did this +distrust soon become, that no one was willing to trust his neck in a +halter, and any one of his associates having possession of the other +end. Suddenly a most wonderful reform was apparent, as rats disappear +from view after a few have been captured. Those who were at Invincible +Club hall, and made secession speeches, declared they were all drunk, +or were not in earnest, and other equally flimsy excuses;--these are the +apologies members made to each other, presuming they were addressing +the party who had surrendered them to the government. It was amusing +to notice their trepidation. They were variously affected. Capt. P.D. +Parks, of the Invincible Club, really cried, like a whipped schoolboy, +from fear; many ran away with all possible speed. Doolittle, the man of +valor, who was to lead a party against Camp Douglas, was the first to +run away, and from certain "surface indications," we rather think he is +running yet. James A. Wilkinson, the valorous Past Grand Seignior, has +gone to look after Doolittle; Silver has gone to Canada; Strawn has +turned a summerset into the Republican party; S. Corning Judd helped +to convict the prisoners in Cincinnati, although called by the defense; +Amos Green, the Major-General of the Order in Illinois, has quietly +subsided, and is no longer belligerent; Vallandigham gives the Order the +cold-shoulder, and affects pious horror upon the recital of its aims and +purposes--and, indeed, the whole organization, as formidable as it was +in numbers, was soon in the most terrible condition, and died in great +agony. The complications of the disease of which the order came to its +death, would puzzle the most profound pathologist. It might, perhaps, be +set down as a disease of the heart, induced by corrupt morals, with the +following complications: Softening of the brain from the study of State +sovereignty; extreme nervous debility from the reproach of a guilty +conscience; injury to the spine by suddenness of fall; weakness of the +limbs from bad whiskey, and impurity of the blood from contamination. +The child of secession is dead--as dead as the cause of the Southern +Confederacy! Jeff. Davis' pet institution was decently buried within the +enclosure of Camp Douglas. There being no provision or service in the +ritual for this occasion, we may only exclaim, as we look upon his last +resting-place, "_Requiescat in pace._" + +The arrest of General Walsh and others, and the discovery of a great +number of revolvers, etc., all loaded and ready for use, and the rather +unpleasant discovery that the Brigadier-General had actually employed a +Government detective to go to his house and give instructions in making +cartridges, were _rather_ mortifying to the order, and when it appeared +that the Chairman of the Vigilance Committee, whose province was to take +the balance of the arms, which we learned were in Walsh's barn, and with +all possible haste remove them to a place of safety, and the Chairman +(who makes this record for the edification of his constituents), deemed +the safest place he could find the retired locality of Camp Douglas, and +if the inquisitive eyes of Gen. Sweet, and his grasping propensities, +should take possession of all the valuable carbines, Enfield rifles, +muskets and revolvers, let them moderate their wrath, and find +consolation in the thought that in their last hour it will be a pleasant +reflection that all those bristling warlike implements fell into the +hands of men who will not put them to base uses. + +When it was announced, with all confidence, that beneath the hay +in Charley Walsh's barn was a large number of firearms that must be +speedily removed, a new idea of the value of ladies' hoops burst upon +the world (not "The Wide-Wide World,") but the few who were present when +James L. Rock, one of the editors of the Chicago _Times_ announced +that his wife (and Mr. Rock ought to know), and some other ladies could +quickly remove these weapons by concealing them under their hoops, +Colonel Sweet, with his usual gallantry, spared the ladies the +inconvenience and trouble, and removed them quite as well and as +quickly. + +After the first arrests, other followed, but after a time many of these +worthies were liberated, not because of their innocence; and they may +now one and all consider themselves on their good behavior. + +After the first arrests, the hall of the "Temple" in Chicago was +deserted. It was not thought to be exactly _safe_, and meetings were +held occasionally wherever they could find a place of safety, where it +was morally certain Gen. Sweet would not know of their gatherings or of +their business, and where it would be a dead secret forever; and they +one and all swore that whoever had exposed them to the Government +_should die by assassination_. This was their fixed purpose, and when +suspicion fastened upon Hull, no less than three persons _volunteered_ +to do the deed, those men were Lewis C. Morrison, old Felton, the +Outside Guardian, and, by his own confession, detective of the order, +and James L. Rock, one of the editors o the Chicago _Times_. + +Two of these "gentlemen" visited the office of the writer of this book +during the progress of the trial, and used the following language. "If +it be _true_, (he having inferred from Alexander's testimony that the +writer had been in the interest of the General Government), a thousand +times you had better be Charley Walsh than Dr. Ayer." + +A project was considered to rally the order and carry out the original +programme, but as well might an attempt have been made to infuse life +into a body that had been buried a fortnight. A messenger who went to +Lewiston, Ill., to "see what the order would do about it," were coolly +told by their Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, Esq., that "they +wouldn't do a thing." This unsatisfactory report proved two things--that +S. Corning Judd, Grand Commander, and candidate for Lieut. Governor of +Illinois, (who might have got the election, if the "ballot and +bullet" butternut machinery had only proved available), considered the +institution as "gone up," and 2d--that he was ungrateful to a people who +had at least made him their nominee. Gentlemen who, by request, visited +the different sections of the State and of the Northwest, all reported +that immediately after it was known that the Government knew their +secrets as well as they did themselves, they tacitly agreed not to +regard themselves as a "secret" organization in future, and we have the +best of reasons to believe the entire order is so completely uprooted +that it can never again spring up to curse the land. Home traitors have +been taught, and it is well if they profit by the lesson, they +cannot form any society or order based upon treason, that can for any +considerable time continue "secret." Its purposes will transpire, for +the all-seeing eye of Him who reads the hearts of men, and will not +suffer "a sparrow to fall to the ground without his notice," that +God who hath decreed that this nation shall be re-united, shall be +prosperous, free, happy, and truly great, will not suffer traitors to be +successful, but will give them into the hands of those who reverence +His mighty and terrible name; and their cunning shall be a reproach, and +their machinations shall be known of all men, and they shall blush with +burning shame that they were ever false to their country. + +[Illustration: JUDGE BUCKNER S. MORRIS + +A prominent lawyer and citizen of Chicago, a bitter and strong advocate +of Democratic faith and the peculiar notions of the Sons of Liberty. +He was arrested at the same time with Walsh in his own house. He was +a strong Southern man in his feelings and openly sympathized with +the rebellion, and so strong were his sympathies that he frequently +furnished escaped rebel prisoners of war with clothing, food, and money, +and otherwise aided them in escaping from the country. B.S. Morris +was at one time judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and was +a candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois. He was born in +Kentucky, and is about sixty years of age. Out side of his treason, +Judge Morris was generally regarded as possessing many noble qualities +of heart.] + + + + +CHAP. XVI + + +TESTIMONY OF GEN. B.J. SWEET--LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE +McCLELLAN CLUBS IN CHICAGO. + +The services of Brig.-Gen. B.J. Sweet, in relation to the Northwestern +Conspiracy, have already been briefly mentioned, and the reader will +perhaps find the report of that officer's testimony full of interest. +After the communications by the writer to Gen. Sweet (then Colonel) +in command of Camp Douglas, which were made by request of Gen. Paine, +dispatches were regularly forwarded to that officer, who never failed to +receive them with gratification. The service was one of extreme danger, +difficulty and delicacy, requiring the most careful attention, unceasing +vigilance, and only the consciousness of discharging an important and +imperative duty to the country, and the confident belief that invaluable +aid might thus be rendered, could have induced the writer to enter upon +and pursue a line of service, a thousand times more distasteful and +perilous than active service upon the field. + +The recognition of the writer's services by Brig.-Gen. Paine, and +subsequently by Maj. Gen. Hooker, in commendatory letters, will ever be +remembered, showing as it did, a grateful appreciation by those gallant +officers, of services of which, from their character, the public could +have no knowledge for the time being. + +The following is the testimony of Gen. Sweet, as substantially given +before the military commission in Cincinnati: + +EVIDENCE OF COLONEL SWEET. + +My name is Benjamin J. Sweet; I am and was, during the months of +September, October, and November of last year, Colonel of the 8th +Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps; I was also, and still am, Commandant +of the Post of Chicago, including Camp Douglas. The post I command +extended, I suppose to the limits of the surrounding posts. + +_The Judge Advocate_.--What are the geographical limits of the command +of the Post of Chicago. + +Mr. Asay objected to the question, as involving a matter of law and not +of evidence, but his objection was overruled by the Court. + +_Witness continued_.--My jurisdiction extends to the limits of the posts +north at Madison, Wisconsin, southwest to Rock Island, south, or almost +south, to Springfield, and east to Detroit, Michigan. The Commandant +has jurisdiction over everything pertaining to military affairs in the +jurisdiction, over the command of all troops, and for the protection of +the property of the Government and of the people. Chicago is one of the +first military depots of supplies in the country. There are ten +depots in charge of a Colonel, and Chicago is one of them. The Depot +Quartermaster at that time was Colonel Potter. From the commencement to +the latter end of August, the number of troops under my command, fit for +duty, was from 800 to 900. Towards the end of August, I was reinforced +by about 1,200 men, consisting of four companies of one hundred days' +men, and the 196th Pennsylvania Regiment, which numbered 750 men, also +one hundred days' men; these remained with me sixty or seventy days. I +telegraphed for these reinforcements. There were between 8,000 and 9,000 +prisoners in camp up to November. On the 6th of November, the morning +report shows 796 men, rank and file, fit for duty. There were always on +duty in Chicago about sixty men acting as provost guard; this left +736 men in camp to do guard duty. The sixty men in the city performed +service in looking after deserters, guarding property, &c. The depot for +supplies is in the city, and is in charge of the depot quartermaster. +Troops were used for doing camp duty, and guarding prisoners of war, and +forwarding deserters to various camps. The entire guard in Camp Douglas +was about 500 men, 250 on duty at a time, and 250 off. These were +changed every other day. The camp is within the city limits, and is +about three miles from the Court House. + +The conveniences to reach the camp are by way of street cars. There were +buildings on the north side of the camp; on the opposite side of the +street, also on the east side, there was a hotel and other dwellings. +Walsh's house was about one-fourth of a mile from the camp, with +three or four houses between Walsh's house and the camp. My duties are +two-fold; I have to report to Gen. Cook, at Springfield, commanding in +the State, and to Gen. Hooker, at Department headquarters. In relation +to prisoners of war, I am under the instructions of the Commissary +General of prisoners at Washington. These prisoners were arrested at my +order. Messrs. Walsh, Cantrill and Daniels were arrested by Lieut. Col. +Skinner and a detachment of troops, at Walsh's house. Grenfel and the +witness Shanks were arrested at the Richmond House, and Mr. Marmaduke +was arrested at the residence of Dr. Edwards, No. 70 Adams street. +Judge Morris was arrested by Mr. Keefe and members of the police. +These arrests were made on the 6th of November. They were arrested upon +information which led me to believe that there was on foot a conspiracy +to release the prisoners, and get up a revolution in Indiana and +Illinois. I regarded the emergency as immediate, and therefore acted +promptly. I dared not trust the telegraph and the railroad, for I +understood that the Sons of Liberty had men employed upon them. There +were one hundred and fifty men arrested in all. They were principally +from the South and Central Illinois, and had lately arrived in Chicago. +These were mainly from Fayette and Christian counties, Illinois. These +were arrested in grog-shops, boarding-houses, under the pavements, and +in every part of the city. All of these men were arrested from their +appearance and description, and by their looks were taken to be +vagabonds. There were but few of them armed. They asserted that they +came to Chicago to see the city. Some of them stated that they belonged +to the Sons of Liberty, and some from the Southern army; about one tenth +came from the Southern army. These bushwhackers were arrested partly by +the city police, partly by citizens, and some by soldiers. + +I have heard of such an organization as Klingmen's men. Most of them +coming from Christain and Fayette counties. It was chiefly made up of +deserters from the Federal army and those who ran away from the draft, +and was intended to resist the draft and all the operations of the +Provost Marshal and the General government in the prosecution of the +war. I succeeded in capturing the Captain and Lieutenant, and the +principal men of the organization. It was not an organization under the +United States or State law. I received all of these men up to the 8th of +November, and all being strangers, I took them in. + +I do not know the exact size of Camp Douglas, but believed it comprises +from 60 to 70 acres of land. The prisoners square proper, covers about +20 acres. In November last it was enclosed by a board fence 12 feet in +height and made of lumber an inch and a quarter in thickness. The +boards were placed endways and were nailed from the inside. The outside +sentinels were stationed on a parapet about three feet from the top +of the fence on the outside. The camp was more easily assailable from +without and less defensible than if the attack was made from inside. + +The Judge Advocate here exhibited to the witness a plan of the camp +found on the person of one of the conspirators. + +_Colonel Sweet_.--The map is very roughly drawn and is a little out of +proportion in detail, but is a correct drawing of the camp as it was in +August and September of last year. The outlines are precisely the same. +As shown on the map there were then 40 barracks in the prison square. +This number is now increased. The Guard-house and small tents on the +west side of the camp are also moved now. The barracks marked "Yankee +Barracks" is the correct position of the barracks occupied by the +garrison in Garrison Square. The building marked "Douglas House" on the +South side of the camp is, I suppose the Douglas University. It is a +magnificent building and is located about eighteen or twenty rods from +the camp fence, and overlooks the entire camp. One hundred men, or even +fifty men, stationed in that building, would command Camp Douglas, +and almost make it untenable to any force. During the session of the +Democratic Convention, and until the danger was over, I stationed two +companies near that building. I had in my charge a prisoner named John +T. Shanks at that time; he was there when I assumed the command of the +camp, on the second of May, 1864. He was a clerk in the office for the +commissary of prisoners. He applied to me to take the oath of allegiance +during the summer. His application went through me to the Commissary +General of Prisoners with my approval. I never approved these +applications unless I was fully convinced that the applicant was +desirous of becoming a loyal citizen. The application was not granted, +but I made it the basis of communication to Commissary General that +Shanks desired to serve the United States, and to take the oath. In this +camp there were some men who were more largely entrusted than others. +Shanks was a paroled prisoner, having the freedom of Garrison Square +during the day time. There were others there in the same condition--a +man named Grey, and clerks in the medical department. Shanks was allowed +to go to the city two or three times in company with an officer. The +prisoners are never permitted to have any funds. I gave Shanks a dollar. + +Shanks never used a nomme de plume that I am aware of. The prisoners +were not allowed to have any money, nor did they possess any unless they +obtained it secretly. Shanks, however, had, I believe, one dollar, +which I gave him. When a prisoner is brought to camp he is thoroughly +searched, and any money taken from him is placed in bands of the +Prisoner's Accountant, to be drawn, if required, in provisions from the +sutler. Letters are all opened, and any money they contain similarly +applied. I sent Shanks to the house of Judge Morris on the 3rd of +November, because five men had just escaped from the camp, and I traced +them, I believe, to that house. I asked Shanks if he would not like to +do the government a service. He replied that he would, when I told him +that I wanted him to go to the house of Morris and represent that he had +violated his parole and escaped, and if possible must be secreted with +the other prisoners. I then sent for Keefe, and the two went to the city +in a buggy. I followed on the street cars, and went to my office, No +90 Washington street, where I had told Shanks to report if he could not +find the prisoners. After I had been there a short time, Shanks came to +me and gave me $30, which he said Mrs. Morris had given to him, with the +exception of one dollar. I do not think he had any money when he went to +her house. + +I know Maurice Langhorne. He introduced himself to me on the 5th of +November, by showing me a letter from Secretary Seward to Secretary +Stanton, recommending that he be allowed to take the oath of allegiance. +He gave me some information regarding the plot, but I did not know +whether or not to take him into my confidence. At a subsequent meeting, +the next day, however, at the Tremont House, I determined that he was an +honest, reliable man, and one who could be trusted. He has been of +great value to me, and his information was ever correct. On the 12th of +November, after the first arrests were made, I first offered to employ +him. I asked him to identify all who he remembered having seen in +Canada, in connection with the conspirators, and arrest them. He +personally arrested the witness, John Maughan, at the Tremont House. He +gave me information of the ammunition in Walsh's house, and subsequent +facts proved that his information was perfectly correct. I gave him the +fictitious name of Johnson. He never acted as a detective, but simply +aided in arresting men he had known before. Shanks worked for the +Government ever since I knew him. Up to the 12th of November, he +received no pay, and after that got $100 a month as his salary. I +believe, however, that I previously gave him one month's salary, to +purchase some citizen's clothing. Of the arms seized at Walsh's house I +have the shot guns at camp. The pistols were entrusted to Col. Hough to +arm a citizens' patrol, and he has not returned them. I do not know the +exact number of arms we captured. There were about 354 revolvers and 200 +double barreled guns found in his house, and thirty cavalry carbines +in his barn in the city; the latter weapons were not loaded, but those +found in his dwelling were. There were also from 14,000 to 15,000 rounds +of cartridges, and some roughly made buckshot cartridges, the number of +which I do not remember. We also obtained some arms from other persons +arrested, I mean the bushwhackers. I do not think that any arms were +found on any of the prisoners at the bar, except, possibly, Grenfell. + +It will be interesting to the citizens of Chicago, if not in other +localities, to peruse the following report from a newspaper, which +has perhaps done more than any other in the United States, to aid and +promote the interests and cause of the rebels--a paper, the baneful +influence of which Gen. Burnside well knew, and would have crushed out; +but the editor of that print was suffered to proceed on his dirty and +devilish work, and most industrious has he been. The most loathsome +reptiles, as we see in the economy of nature, have their uses; "the +toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head;" the +spider, cunning and fierce, is not without his uses; the wily serpent +has his office, the viper was not made in vain, and as the mighty plan +of the Great Creator of the Universe is above the comprehension of man, +we may wonder at, but never understand why beings in the guise of men, +were ever formed, who know no patriotism, no gratitude, none of the +nobler attributes of man, and whose mission seems but destruction to his +race, and deadly enmity to his country. The Times, who in these days of +victory and triumph of Union arms, would "steal the livery of heaven to +serve the devil in," and prate of its devotion to the Union, furnishes +us some information it were well for good citizens to know, and which we +will presume is (unlike most statements in that concern) reliable. + +THE LIST OF McCLELLAN ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. + +We extract the following from the Chicago Times of October 20, 1864. It +will do to keep for reference. The comments which preface the list are +from the pen of the editor of that delectable print. The only comment we +need make is, that almost every man whose name is upon the list, was a +member of the Chicago Temple of the Sons of Liberty, in good and regular +standing with the order: + +"There is at present a thoroughly organized and efficient McClellan +club in nearly every ward in the city. The good that has resulted to the +democratic party from these organizations is more than can be readily +imagined. They have done much to stimulate men to an interest in the +issues of the day which never would have been felt but for the exertions +of the clubs. In those wards where these organizations have not already +been formed, meetings are appointed to take place this week for the +purpose of forming them, and by the next Sabbath there will be one in +every ward in the city. Ordinarily the clubs meet once a week, but they +convene oftener for special purposes. There are always speakers ready to +address these meetings, being local candidates, speakers residing in the +wards where the meetings are held, or speakers from abroad. Below will +be found a list of the McClellan clubs now in effect, together with the +names of their officers:" + +FIRST WARD. + +President, Chas. W. Patten; Vice-Presd'nt, P.D. Parks; Secretary, J.O. +More; Executive Committee, George S. Kimberly, William Y. Daniels, Dr. +J.A. Hahn, Augustus Banyon, Andrew Schall. + +SECOND WARD. + +President, William Baragwanatle; Vice-Presidents, Anton Berg, Dr. +E.W. Edwards, Samuel Duncan; Secretary, James Rattray; Treasurer, F.E. +Barber; Executive Committee, F.E. Barber, James Rattray, C.C. Strawn, J. +Schlossman, P.M. Donelan, H.L. Stewart, F. Cahill, Thos. Tilley, William +Hull. + +THIRD WARD. + +President, Geo. A. Meech; Vice-President, Stephen A. Barrett; Secretary, +Benjamin F. Smith; Treasurer, John Dalton; Executive Committee, Joshua +L. Marsh, John Schank, James McGrath. + +FOURTH WARD. + +President, A.A. Campbell; Vice-President, M.L. Kuth; Treasurer, Thomas +Horless; Secretary, L.W. Binz; Executive Committee, J.H. Ferrell, Mark +Kimball, Charles Walsh. + +FIFTH WARD. + +President, Mark Sheridan; First Vice-President, M.C. Quinn; Second +Vice-President, Jas. Brennan; Secretary, Christopher Dennis; Assistant +Secretary, James Fox; Treasurer, John Reid; Executive Committee, +Constantine Kanu, John Keyes, John Myers, L.J. Prout, John Lyons, +Michael McDermott, Michael Finucan, Thomas Barry. + +SEVENTH WARD. + +President, E. Gilmore; First Vice-President, D.W. Quirk; Second +Vice-President, Gotthard Schaaff; Secretary, M.A. Donahue; Treasurer, +Joseph Sherwin; Executive Committee, John Comisky, J.K. Boland, P. +Caraher, T. Tully, and T.E. Courtney. + +NINTH WARD. + +President, S.S. Elson; Vice-President, R. O'Malley; Secretary, A.S. +Morrison; Treasurer, P. Moran; Executive Committee, E.F. Runnison, P.S. +Hade, Michael Gerrity. + +TENTH WARD. + +President, Hiram M. Chase; Vice-President, H.N. Hahn; Secretary, A.L. +Amberg; Treasurer, T.T. Gurney; Executive Committee, D.W. Manchester, M. +McCurdy, Joseph Hogan. + +FOURTEENTH WARD. + +President, Joseph Kuhn; Vice-President, P. Stech; Treasurer, John +Schierer; Secretary, J.B. Winkelman; Executive Committee, B. Docter, +Fred. Licht, N. Gerten. + + +The _Times_ adds: + +"The above list gives all the names that have ever been published. +In some of the wards there are two clubs, and yet the permanent +organization of either has never been given. In some other wards they +have no permanent organization, but elect officers at each weekly +meeting. In the other wards clubs will be formed within a few days. +It should be borne in mind that the above clubs are independent of the +Invincible Club, which is not a mere ward organization, but represents +the whole city." + + + + +CHAP. XVII. + + +PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES--THE CONSUMMATION +OF THE INFERNAL PLOT--DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND DEADLY ASSAULT UPON +SECRETARY SEWARD--RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE. + +During the autumn of 1864, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, in +Chicago, a proposition was introduced which contemplated the raising of +a fund of fifty thousand dollars, which was to be expended in payment +of the services of some person who would undertake to assassinate the +President of the United States. This was an informal proceeding, the +meeting having just adjourned, but it was discussed by several of the +leading members, who declared that the "extermination of tyrants was +obedience to God." + +What say you, citizens of Chicago, concerning the band of traitors +in your midst, who meditate and discuss such crimes as make the soul +sicken, and the face blanch with horror; would not any honest man +deliver this department of Jeff Davis' most efficient allies into the +hands of the United States Government, by any means Heaven might place +in his power? If there is a man so fastidious of propriety, so mindful +of selfish considerations, that he would not, then, in our opinion, +that man is a coward, a traitor, an imbecile too weak to punish, and +deserving the scorn and contumely of his countrymen, for all coming +time. This proposition was the next day reported in a dispatch to Col. +Sweet, and is now on file in his office. It may be that the persons +who discussed the proposition, would not themselves have undertaken +the accomplishment of the deed, but the animus of the party was thus +rendered apparent, and the proposition was gravely considered and +discussed. This occurred soon after an interview, by the writer, with +Maj. Gen. Hooker, at the Tremont House, in Chicago, in October. It had +been often said that in case Lincoln was elected, he should never be +inaugurated, implying that his life would be terminated before that +event. Some of the very parties who made these threats, have since been +prisoners in Camp Douglas, but are now at large. On the night of the +14th of April, 1865, assassins, who were, doubtless, members of the Sons +of Liberty, in accordance with the same spirit in which that Order came +into existence, and was conducted from first to last, consummated their +hellish designs by shooting President Lincoln, and stabbing Secretary +Seward. The nation now mourns the loss of the noble martyr of freedom, +the truest heart, the most devoted patriot, the sincere advocate of +republican institutions, and the friend of the people. In every city, +town, and village, and hamlet of the land, is sincere mourning; deepest +grief swells the hearts and dim the eyes of all who have hearts to +feel, and fountains of tears, for the greatest bereavement that has +ever befallen our nation. The emblems of mourning, the solemn tolling of +bells, the universal gloom which overshadows our land, all impress upon +our hearts the terrible affliction that has come upon us, and while we +would bow reverently before Him who doeth all things well, and whose +wise purpose in this chastening of our already sorrowing people may not +now be apparent, we cannot repress the just indignation of our +souls that moves us to the enactment of that stern justice which is +uncompromising, and which cries to Heaven for vengeance, which nerves +our hearts and hands to deeds, the generous, noble, President of the +nation, now silent in the tomb, would have softened or averted. Villains +have slain the man whose heart was large enough to take into his +affections and paternal love, the whole country,--the man who knew no +North, no South, no East, no West, but whose devotion to the best good +of the people, was the ruling motive of a life so full of honors and +usefulness. The North had no friend like Lincoln! The South had no +friend like Lincoln! And, as our noble armies now march onward to +victory, and crush out beneath their iron heel, the last vestige of +treason, the memory of Lincoln will prove a watch-word of magic power; +soldiers will remember the entreaties, the offers of pardon, the +paternal affection of the noble Lincoln, and the base ingratitude of +the demon who consigned him to the tomb; they who have commended his +magnanimity, his humanity, his hopefulness, his reluctance to deal out +stern justice, which required hard blows--such of our fellow-citizens +will now, with holy indignation, rise in their might, and sweep from the +land those whose treason is heard, and whose bloody hand is uplifted, +aye, and those who devise their hellish schemes in secret chambers and +hiding places in our own cities and towns. "Remember Lincoln," will be +the battle-cry of our boys as they encounter armed treason in the field, +and "Remember Lincoln," should be the watchword of friends of freedom at +home, when hesitating in clemency, to strike down Copperheads who seek +to embarrass the government, and hope for, prophecy and delight in its +reverses upon the field of contest. Remember Lincoln and Seward ye men +who would now compromise by any and all sacrifices, with a people who +have sought to destroy our country, and have stricken down the pride of +our nation, the noblest of our land, and the champion of liberty. The +Chicago Board of Trade assembled upon the morning of the 15th of April, +and adopted the following resolutions: + +_Resolved_, That this Board has heard with mingled sentiments of grief +and horror of the foul assassination, by accursed traitors, of Abraham +Lincoln, President of the United States. + +_Resolved_, That we mourn in the deepest sorrow his loss as a national +calamity. His persevering and devoted patriotism through the dark days +of the Republic; his wisdom alike in the hour of trial and triumph, have +embalmed his memory in the hearts of his countrymen, and encircled his +fame with a glory which time can never tarnish. + +_Resolved_, That in this infernal act we see but another instance of +the demoniac hate of the slave power, arrested by the strong arm of the +government, under the heaven inspired leadership of Abraham Lincoln, in +its career of treason, murder and despotism; and we are admonished +anew to insist upon no compromise with the infamy, and upon the condign +punishment by the mailed hand of power, and the strong arm of the law, +of treason and its abettors, wherever found. + +_Resolved_, That in our capacity of business men and citizens, we vow +eternal hate to the treachery and treason of the rebellion, which, +in addition to its before unnumbered crimes, has added the cowardly +assassination of Abraham Lincoln in the vain hope of destroying this +Republic. + +_Resolved_, That in deep humiliation, we bow before the God of battles +and of Nations, and, in this hour of our grand triumph and overwhelming +sorrow, we reverently consign to His all-guiding wisdom the destiny of +this Republic, and pray Him still to have it in His holy keeping. + +_Resolved_, That the members of this Board, who have, from the war's +beginning, felt it their duty, as it has been their privilege and their +pride, to stand by the nation and its President and all its constituted +leaders, loyally aiding and encouraging, as they could, the Cabinet +and the Army in the gigantic struggle of the past four years, do now +solemnly, unitedly, in the presence of Almighty God, and in humble +reliance on the Divine help, pledge our full, unreserved, and trusting +support to the Government of these United States, and to the men who now +constitutionally succeed to the authority and powers, now laid down by +the great and good man, who has fallen a precious and holy sacrifice on +the altar of his country. And the members of this Board, in making this +solemn pledge, do the same, not for themselves only, but in behalf +of the loyal and patriotic people of the North-west, who have freely +offered their first-born, and best beloved for their country's +existence, security and honor. + +_Resolved_, That the members of this Board express their profound and +respectful sympathy with the bereaved family of the deceased, and +with the associates of the departed in the Cabinet, as well as all the +members of the national councils, in the tragic and deplorable events in +which they share so largely. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII. + + +HYPOCRISY OF COPPERHEAD NEWSPAPERS--COMPLICITY WITH ASSASSINATION--THE +LEADERS AND THEIR VICTIMS. + +During the month of February, by Executive clemency, a number of +Copperheads were released from confinement in Washington, where they had +been placed as a measure of public safety. The _Times_ published, and +other Copperhead papers echoed the following. That paper now, in a very +pious spirit, piteously urges, and the prints of like character also +echo it, that "there should be no more party strife," "no more rancor," +that it has not stabbed the President since he was shot, and the office +is now draped with deep mourning. Aminadab Sleek is going to them as a +comforter, and as tears mitigate woe, he bears with him an onion. The +_Times_ says: + +"We submit that this fact should damn this Administration, not only for +all time, but, if there be justice hereafter, to all eternity. There is +not a single civilized government in existence to-day, against which +can be charged a similar display of tyranny. With the title of being +the freest government of modern ages, we have shown ourselves to be one +whose disregard of right and whose outrageous assumptions of power are +only paralleled in the reign of despots. + +The liberty of fifty men may seem a small affair; but the matter has +not so much reference to the magnitude of the offence as it has to the +principle which underlies it. The moment Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Seward, or +any other man, dares to deprive one person of his liberty without due +process of law, that moment has the government been changed from one of +the people to an autocracy--a tyranny. If any man to-day is free in +this country, it is not because he is a good citizen, surrounded by the +protection of the laws, but simply because Seward or Lincoln has not +chosen to order his incarceration. + +The epitaph of posterity upon this people is easily anticipated. It will +be--died 24,000,000 of whites, who lost their liberties and lives in an +attempt to give a fictitious freedom to 4,000,000 negroes." + +_"Sic semper tyrannis!"_ exclaims Booth, who has read the above article, +and the mission of the _Times_ is accomplished, and it now wants "no +more party rancor." + + +"Out of my sight thou serpent! That name best Befits thee with him +leagu'd, thyself as false!" + + +The palpable HYPOCRISY of rebel sympathizers, can now only excite +contempt. Who that read the evidence of Clement L. Vallandigham, before +the military commission in Cincinnati, gave him credit for sincerity +when he said substantially had he supposed there was a plot against the +Government, he would have been the first to oppose or expose it. +Have the people forgotten Mr. Vallandigham's record? Have his Dayton +neighbors forgotten his cry of "Ocoon," the cry of distress of the Order +to which he belonged, and which was to summon Sons of Liberty to +his rescue, when arrested by the Government? Have they forgotten +Vallandigham's visit to Fulton county, Illinois, during the autumn of +1864, and its consequences? This county was the stamping ground of the +leaders of the treasonable organization, which has been dissected, and +whose head and heart are now in a state of decomposition. In that county +Assistant Provost Marshal Phelps was shot, there too enrolling officer +Criss was shot; in that county is Lewiston, where resides S. Corning +Judd, Esq., the Grand Commander of the Sons of Liberty in the State of +Illinois. C.L. Vallandigham was the Supreme Commander of the Order +in the United States. This Order inaugurated the new warfare at the +instance of the Southern rebel leaders--inaugurated assassination. This +order began with Provost Marshals and enrolling officers, and ended--if +indeed the loyal people _will_ it to have ended--with the assassination +of the best, the wisest, the most deeply loved President since the +immortal Washington. It is the education of Copperhead prints, and +Copperhead secret societies that has fitted the instruments of death, +and our indulgence which has fostered them. + +Vallandigham's party had been defeated, his greatness had departed, and +to wheel into line and "keep step to the music of the Union," was not +for him, and as Milton's creation once exclaimed, so might he have +uttered: + + +"And in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell; + Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. + But wherefore let me then our faithful friends, + The associates and co-partners of our loss, + Lie thus astonished on the oblivion pool, + And call them not to share with us their part + In this unhappy mansion; or once more + With rallied arms to try what may be yet + Regained in heaven, or what more lost in hell." + + +And so Clement L. Vallandigham became Supreme Commander of the Sons of +Liberty. + +Who is S. Corning Judd, who testifies before the Commission that _"the +organization_ (Sons of Liberty) _was being used in Indiana and Missouri +for improper purposes"?_ Who is he that says the organization in Chicago +"was looked upon by many of the leaders with great distrust; many of +those connected with the order in Chicago were radical, extreme men, and +understood to be men of little standing or character"? that one of the +delegates from Missouri stated his belief that the order in that State +was in favor of "giving aid and comfort to the Confederates"? When Judd +made these statements upon the stand, all loyal papers, with one accord, +declared that the evidence fully warranted the arrests, in the manner +and at the time they were made. No fair-minded man _then_ could come to +any other conclusion. Who, we ask, is S. Corning Judd? Stump-speakers, +last fall, would have said that he was the "Democratic" candidate for +Lieutenant Governor--and so he was. The Gubernatorial ticket bore +the name of James C. Robinson for Governor, and S. Corning Judd for +Lieutenant Governor--the former a man who, in Congress, voted against +"fighting, crushing, and destroying" the rebellion. Both Robinson and +Judd were Sons of Liberty, and to them Copperheads fondly turned, and +had they carried the State, anarchy and bloodshed would have been the +consequence; and, indeed, in the expressed opinion of Judge Morris, "had +they carried the State, he cared not who might be President, for they +would possess the reins of the General Government." S. Corning Judd +sought to serve his own ends by controlling the Sons of Liberty, and +failing in this, he gave the cold-shoulder to his Brig.-General (Walsh), +when, in consequence of executing the edicts of the order, he found +himself a close prisoner for the horrid doctrine of secession; _he_ must +be tried and convicted, but the Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, and +the Supreme Commander, C.L. Vallandigham, and the Past Grand Commander, +or Major-General, Amos Green, each, severally appear upon the stand +against him, and they permitted to go scott free. O, cursed doctrine of +secession! + + + "So stretch'd out huge in length the arch-fiend lay, + Chain'd on the burning lake; nor ever thence + Had risen or heaved his head, but that the will + And high permission of All-ruling Heaven + Left him at large to his own dark designs; + That with reiterated crimes he might + Heap on himself damnation, while he sought + Evil to others." + + +If Vallandigham, if Judd, if Green, if Barrett, and if the many equally +guilty persons released from custody go unpunished, then "Justice, thou +art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason." Not that we +would contradict Judd in the least in aught that he has said against the +Chicago temple, but we would tell him that we know the Chicago temple, +so far from taking the lead in radicalism, was behind the order in +Peoria, in Bloomington, in Dubuque, in St. Louis, Louisville, and many +other places. Give the devil his due. In some places the boldness +of Copperheadism induced prominent members of the Sons of Liberty to +approach members of Congress, with their base proposals to enter the +order. + + + + +CHAP. XIX. + + +EXTINCTION OF SLAVERY--NO CONCILIATION WITH TRAITORS--DOWN WITH +COPPERHEADS AT HOME. + +In a publication of this character, it will not be expected we should +review either the causes which led to the great rebellion, with its +hydra heads and its sad consequences; but in closing, and especially +in view of the terrible tragedy which has plunged a nation in deepest +grief, we cannot refrain from saying, that the last most diabolical deed +was not the act of individual madness, of personal hate and passion, it +was the culmination of the hatred by the slave power of the principle +of liberty, and the champion of freedom. It was not because the assassin +felt in his heart a hatred of Abraham Lincoln, but because he, and the +people at whose instigation he acted, hated the apostle of liberty, and +the instrument in the hand of God for the accomplishment of a great and +mighty work. Although it was the purpose of this band of murderers +to assassinate the President and the whole Cabinet, it was not from +personal malice against them as men, but the enemy sought by the +destruction of the exponents of a free government, to give new life +to the expiring representation of the slave power. So antagonistic was +freedom to slavery that it was impossible to permanently embody the +representatives of these principles with a republican government, which +should be perfect in its formation, wise and just in its action, the +hope of the liberty loving people throughout the world, and the pride +and glory of American citizens. Every year since the adoption of the +old Constitution, have discordant elements cropped out, and incidents +transpired, which demonstrated to every rational mind, that as time +rolled on, the accumulation of combustible elements would ultimately +explode, and shake the civilized world to its center. + +The facts that Northern teachers, Northern clergymen, Northern +mercantile agents, Northern men upon business or pleasure, travelling +at the South, and unwilling to stultify themselves, or become passive +approvers and admirers of the "peculiar institution," were treated with +all possible indignities, and might count themselves fortunate if they +escaped with their lives. So complete was the universal devotion to +slavery in all sections of the South, and so baneful its effects upon +the people, that all other considerations were made subservient to this. +For slavery, friends were alienated, hatred established, so bitter in +its extent that only death could appease it. It demoralized the entire +people; it found its way with all its horrid moral deformities, into +the very capitol; it caused the murderous assault of Brooks upon Charles +Sumner in the Senate, and the many altercations and bitter harangues +which have from time to time disgraced our National Congress; it was its +cropping out that caused the fearless and noble President Andy Johnson, +to threaten to hang Jeff. Davis--and which he may yet be called upon to +perform;--it was slavery that devised the doctrine of secession; that +has led to the deadly conflict upon hundreds of battle fields, and has +spilled the best blood of our nation, and caused mourning and gloom all +over the face of our once happy land. What wonder then, that the noble +Lincoln, who, in the sincerity of his heart, and in the dictates of +superior wisdom, who, seeing and appreciating the encroachments and +horrors of slavery, not only to the people in bondage, but to the +citizens of our country in every section--who wonders that Lincoln, +whose name is immortal, especially for his extirpation of this curse, +should be singled out by the demon of slavery, and assigned by Davis, +his prophet, for a violent death. Thank God, the cancer is extirpated +so thoroughly, that its fibres of death can never again form to threaten +destruction to our land. True, the operation has been most painful, and +no anesthetic agent has been employed; the suffering has been fearful, +and the country has, to its extremities, trembled with anguish; but it +is over now. + +The assassination of the President was the will of Jeff. Davis, +whispered in the temples of the Sons of Liberty or American Knights, +into the ears of those of the members of the Orders, who had made the +most proficiency in their teachings, and these beings, true to their +_oaths_, went forth upon their mission of blood. + +The following "gems," from the debates in the Democratic National +Convention, will be read with interest now and in future time: + +S.S. Cox, said: + +"He had attempted in his own city, a few weeks since, to show, in a +very quiet way, that ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD DELUGED THE COUNTRY WITH BLOOD, +created a debt of four thousand million of dollars, sacrificed two +millions of human lives, and filled the land with grief and mourning." + +A pious man, who had listened attentively to his remarks, sang out +"G----d d----n him." + +"For less offenses than Mr. Lincoln had been guilty of, the English +people had chopped off the head of the first Charles. IN HIS OPINION, +LINCOLN AND DAVIS OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT TO THE SAME BLOCK TOGETHER." + +C. Chauncey Burr, editor of several Copperhead New York journals, said: + +"And it was a wonder that they had a Cabinet and men who carried out +the infamous orders of the gorilla tyrant that usurped the Presidential +chair." + +Capt. Koontz, of Pittsburg, an ardent McClellan leader, said: + +"If Democrats catch Lincoln's bloody spies among them, they must cut +their d----d throats, that's all. [Applause.] It is the duty of every +American to vote for a peace candidate." + +Baker, of Michigan, said: + +"Let us hurl that usurper from power. Never till that day comes when the +usurper and his victim meet at the judgment seat, can he be punished for +his wrongs, for his conspiracy against American liberty." + +Benjamin Allen, of New York, said: + +"The people will soon rise, AND IF THEY CANNOT PUT LINCOLN OUT OF POWER +BY THE BALLOT THEY WILL BY THE BULLET." [Loud cheers.] Mr. Stambaugh, a +delegate from Ohio, said: + +"That, if he was called upon to elect between the freedom of the nigger +and disunion and separation, he should choose the latter." (Cheers.) + +"They might search hell over and they could not find a worse President +than Abraham Lincoln." + +Hon. Mr. Trainor, of Ohio, said: + +"He would urge the people to be freemen, and HURL ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND +HIS MINIONS FROM POWER." + +Henry Clay Dean, said: + +"In the presence of the face of Camp Douglas and all the satraps of +Lincoln, that the American people were ruled by felons. Lincoln had +never turned a dishonest man out of office, or kept an honest man in. +[A voice--'What have you to say of Jeff. Davis?] I have nothing to say +about him. LINCOLN IS ENGAGED IN A CONTROVERSY WITH HIM, AND I NEVER +INTERFERE BETWEEN BLACK DOGS." + +"He blushed that such a felon should occupy the highest place in the +gift of the people. PERJURY AND LARCENY WERE WRITTEN OVER HIM AS OFTEN +AS WAS 'ONE DOLLAR' ON THE ONE DOLLAR BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE OF +INDIANA. (Cries of the 'old villain.') The Democracy were for peace." + +W.W. O'Brien, of Peoria, also threatened "to try him as Charles the +first was tried, as a tyrant and a traitor, and if they found him guilty +to hang him." + +The essential unity of Copperheadism with assassination, appears in the +following remarks of Koontz, of Pennsylvania: + +"Shall more wives be made widows, and more children fatherless, and +greater hate be stirred up between children of the same glorious +constitution? IF NOT WE MUST PUT OUR FOOT UPON THE TYRANT'S NECK, and +destroy it, The Democratic government must be raised to power, and +Lincoln with his Cabinet of rogues, thieves and spies, be driven to +destruction. What shall we do with him? [A voice--"Send him here, and +I'll make a coffin for him, d----n him."]" + +As we review the events which have transpired during this war, we are +strikingly impressed with the magnanimity, the forbearance, the humanity +of the loyal States in their relations to the rebels in arms, and we +are also impressed with the great lack of the exhibition of these +qualities--the most ennobling in national character--on the part of the +so-called Southern Confederacy. From the hour of firing upon Fort Sumter +to the present moment, the war has not been waged by the rebels as if +in defense of the great principles of truth and justice, but with the +malignity, the cruelty and barbarity which would, in many instances, put +to blush the savages upon our western borders. In our dealing with them, +the honor, integrity, fidelity and dignity of the nation have never been +forgotten; and the policy of the noble President, laid low by the hand +of the assassin, was never to give blows when words would answer,--never +to exact by force what might be attained by reasoning,--and never, under +any circumstances, to forget those qualities which make a nation truly +great, the first and chief of which is charity. How has our enemy failed +to appreciate this? The manner in which the warfare has been waged by +the South will be mentioned by historians as cruel, dishonorable and +disgraceful to people of a Christian nation. Failing of success upon +the field, we find the Davis Government countenancing guerrilla warfare, +burning bridges, murdering unarmed citizens, and desolating the homes +of unoffending people, and committing piracy upon the high seas. Still +failing of success and losing ground daily, but driven to desperation +by the apparent hopelessness of their cause, they sink to the depth of +infamy by establishing among us secret orders, the aim of which is to +educate men of base passions to deeds of dark dishonor and unmeasured +infamy; men who receiving such instruction will concoct schemes for the +burning of cities, for the liberation of their prisoners; and, lastly, +they have sunk so low in the mire of dishonor, impelled by savage +ferocity and hate, that it would appear folly, if not downright +criminality to longer deal with them on the principles of liberality +and gentleness, which has marked our conduct hitherto. It was our +generosity, our mildness, our spirit of conciliation that moved the +hand of the demon who slew the country's truest friend. Let it be so no +longer! Let rebels feel that we are terribly in earnest. Let heavy blows +be struck, and struck without delay, and let there be no exhibition of +concession or conciliation, till the enemy sue for peace upon the terms +the country proclaims. As well make Copperheads Christians or honest +men, as to attempt by gentleness longer to subdue rebels, whose weapons +are firebrands and assassins' daggers. It is futile; try it no longer. +Said the great French advocate of justice, when he was charged with +being sanguinary, because he so frequently punished murder with death, +"You tell me that it is bloody work, and sinful in the sight of Heaven +to execute men; so it is, and I am disposed to desist, and I will, the +moment men stop the crime of murder." So will we show clemency, when our +enemy has laid down his arms, and not before. + +Another measure by our people would be attended with salutary +results--the extermination of Copperheadism at home. Who helped to +form secret societies of Sons of Liberty and kindred organizations, so +industriously and so efficiently as editors of Copperhead publications. +It is in these orders that assassins are trained, and prepared for their +fiendish mission. Henceforth let the people--the loyal people of the +most glorious country on which the sun shines--swear by the memory of +our much loved and deeply lamented President, that henceforth no paper +shall print, no man shall utter sentiments of treason, under the penalty +of incurring that summary punishment, the righteous indignation of a +sorrowing, long suffering people may inflict. If the people resolve to +endure the curse of home treason no longer, and let Copperheads know +that they can no longer co-operate with Jeff. Davis in any part of +our land, we shall never again be called upon to aid in suppressing or +exposing a North-Western Conspiracy, or any plot against our country, in +any section of our land. + + + + +CHAP. XX. + + +TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO CONSPIRATORS--THE WITNESSES AND THE TESTIMONY. + +When our troops entered Richmond, among other rebel documents found was +a bill, offered in secret session of the rebel House of Representatives, +January 30th, 1865, establishing a Secret Service Bureau, for the +employment of secret agents, "either in the Confederate States, or +within the enemy's lines, or in any foreign country," and authorizing +the chief officer "to organize such a system _for the application of new +means of warfare approved_, and of secret service agencies, as may tend +best to secure the objects of the establishment of the bureau." + +The trial, conviction, sentence, and execution of Capt. Beall, for +piracy on the lakes, and of Kennedy, for incendiarism in New York, are +still fresh in the recollection of our readers. That these men were +acting under instructions from the bureau of secret service of Jeff. +Davis, no rational person can doubt. These acts were but incidents in +the grand conspiracy at the North; the guilty parties, who suffered +death, were but the instruments of others, and the members of the secret +organizations, who were cognizant of these acts and purposes, though yet +unwhipped of justice, are more guilty, in the sight of Heaven, than +the wretches who undertook the execution of the hellish design, and for +which they suffered ignominious death. + +After the discovery of the purposes and acts of the leaders of the Sons +of Liberty in Illinois, in co-operation with rebels, and the arrests +detailed in a former chapter, a Military Commission was convened in +Cincinnati for the trial of the prisoners, Morris, Walsh, Grenfell, +Anderson, Daniels, Cantril, Marmaduke and Semmes, upon a charge of +conspiring to sack and burn Chicago, and to liberate the prisoners in +Camp Douglas. + +The Commission consisted of the following named officers: + +C.D. Murray, Colonel 89th Indiana Volunteers, President Commission. +Ben. Spooner, Colonel 83d Indiana Volunteers. N.C. Macrae, Major United +States Army. P. Vous Radowitz, Lieutenant-Colonel United States Army. +S.P. Lee, Major 6th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. M.N. Wiswell, +Colonel Veteran Reserve Corps. B.P. DeHart, Colonel 128th Indiana +Volunteers. S.H. Lathrop, Lieutenant-Colonel, A.I.G. Albert Heath, +Lieutenant-Colonel 100th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. + +CONFESSION OF MRS. MORRIS, B.S., AND HER SENTENCE. + +CINCINNATI, Feb. 13. + +The following is Mrs. Morris' confession: + +McLEAN BARRACKS, CINCINNATI, Feb. 5, 1865. + +To Maj.-Gen. J. Hooker, Commanding Northern Department, Cincinnati, O.: + +General--I was arrested in Chicago, on the 11th day of December, by the +United States authorities, charged with assisting rebel prisoners to +escape, and relieving them with money and clothing; also, with holding +correspondence with the enemy. I desire to state the facts of the case, +to confess the truth, and to ask such clemency at your hands as may be +consistent with your duty as an officer of the government. I was born +and reared in Kentucky. My home was in the South till within the last +ten years, my connections and friends all being there. I had sympathy +with them, though I was as much opposed to the secession movement as +any one could be. Having a large acquaintance in Kentucky, I was charged +with the distribution of a great deal of clothing and money among the +prisoners in Camp Douglas, Chicago, sent to them by their friends, and +which was done under the supervision of the proper officers of the camp. +This I continued to do up to the time of my arrest, and in this way +I made the acquaintance, and was understood to be the friend of the +prisoners in camp. + +In the early part of last winter, an escaped prisoner named John +Harrington, came to me and asked for assistance. He stated that he was +going to Canada for the purpose of completing his education. I gave him +money to the amount I believe of $20. Some time in the summer of the +past year, a rebel prisoner named Charles Swager, a young man who had +escaped from the cars while being conveyed to Rock Island, came to me +for assistance. I gave him a coat, a pair of boots, and some money, to +the amount I believe, of $15. There were two or three others that I had +reason to believe were escaped prisoners, whose names I do not know. +These I assisted with money, and to one of them I gave some clothing. +There were some others to whom I gave money and clothing, that I did not +at the time know were rebel prisoners, but who afterwards I had reason +to believe were such. + +I received letters from Capt. J. B, Castleman of the rebel army, and +sent him verbal messages in return. He called at my house, and remained +for a little while. Capt. Hines, also of the Confederate army, called +and ate at my house once during last summer. + +I beg to be released from my present imprisonment, and promise that, if +my prayer is granted, I will henceforth conduct myself as a truly loyal +woman, without in any way interfering with the government or aiding its +enemies. + +Witness my hand and seal, this 5th day of February, 1805. MARY B. +MORRIS. + +The following is Gen. Hooker's order relative to Mrs. Morris: + + +HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DEPARTMENT, + + CINCINNATI, O., Feb. 10, 1865. + + +[_Extract._] + +Mrs. Mary B. Morris, now in confinement at McLean barracks, in the city +of Cincinnati, O., charged with giving aid and comfort to the enemy, +assisting rebel prisoners to escape, and other disloyal practices, will, +on or before Monday the 13th inst., be sent south of our military lines, +under guard, into the so-called Southern Confederacy. Her sympathy with +those in rebellion can there find its natural expression, and a more +appropriate theatre of action. It is but just to our government and +laws, that the shield of its power should not be thrown over those +who are inimical to it, and are giving active aid and sympathy to +its enemies. The claim to protection by the government implies the +reciprocity of fealty. + +Mrs. Mary B. Morris, who was ordered sent out of our lines by paragraph +1 of this order, in consideration of her professions and promises, is +permitted to remain on the premises of her father, Edward M. Blackburne, +at Spring Station, Woodford county, Ky., on consideration that she +complies with the promises accompanying her confession, filed at these +headquarters, Feb. 5th, 1865. If such promises are not complied with, +the first paragraph of the order to be in full force. + +By command of Maj.-Gen. HOOKER. + +(Signed) C.H. POTTER, Assistant Adjutant-General. + +The trial of the prisoner Cantril was deferred, owing to serious +illness. During the progress of the trial, Anderson committed suicide, +and Daniels escaped. [It will be remembered that H.H. Dodd, convicted +of treason in Indianapolis, some months ago, and sentenced to suffer +the death penalty, also escaped. Neither Daniels or Dodd have been +recaptured.] The evidence before the Military Commission elicited most +of the important facts embraced in this narrative, and therefore need +not be reviewed. + +In regard to several of the witnesses before the Military Commission, a +few remarks may not be uninteresting. It has been observed by the reader +who has carefully perused the foregoing statement, that there were +two distinct elements which made up the great conspiracy, viz: The +Copperheads, or Sons of Liberty, and Knights of the Golden Circle, and +the rebel emissaries both in the Northern States and in Canada. The +discovery of the designs, purposes and intents of the former, was made +by the writer of this work, who was aided by Robert Alexander. With such +aid as we were able to control, we obtained and imparted the information +which resulted in the total defeat of the devilish intent of our secret +enemies--the Copperheads; the purposes, movements, ends and aims of +the _Rebels in Canada_, were reported by Maurice Langhorn, aid by +two others. The parties in charge of observing and defeating the two +distinct elements, were utter strangers, and had never met or had any +communication whatever. + +In regard to the writer, it need only be said, that when it was +announced to Hon. I.N. Arnold, M.C., Governor Yates, and Brig.-Gen. +Paine, that there was a formidable conspiracy against the General +Government, embracing many thousand persons in its league, and that its +purpose was the subversion of our Government in aid of the rebellion, +that their plots were rapidly maturing, and the most alarming +consequences might be apprehended, if timely precautions were not +observed, all of these gentlemen gave to the matter their earnest and +careful attention. It was not the purpose of the writer to proceed with +further investigations, except by advice and direction, as it was a +work for which he felt wholly unqualified, from his tastes, disposition, +professional, and social position, but the arguments of Gen. Paine, +which, at this time and place, it is unnecessary to state, but which it +is believed neither party will soon forget, decided the matter, and +the task was undertaken, and with what success it was attended, let the +history of the proceedings in Cincinnati determine. For more than six +months, the work was prosecuted with unceasing vigilance, regardless +of all other considerations, and although, when he was called to the +witness stand, he could not shield himself from the malignant abuse of +counsel, by stating _that he had been acting under a commission received +from his Government_, yet he then felt morally certain, and that +confidence _yet remains unshaken_, that when his true relations to the +Government and country, are finally known, his motives, his acts, and +his services, will be duly appreciated. He has not been mistaken. +The contemptible falsehood of the party who stated that the writer's +services had been compensated, or that a claim for compensation had been +made, is hereby hurled back into his teeth. Not a dollar, not a dime, +has been received, not even for _actual expenses incurred_, and _no +claim_ whatever has been made--no consideration whatever has been +proffered. The service was the result of a deep conviction of duty, a +feeling that no citizen should withhold personal sacrifice, even of life +and reputation, if the interest of his country demands it. We knew the +condition upon which we stepped aside from the agreeable and peaceful +avocations of life, and entered upon the task so distasteful, so +repulsive, and for a time so thankless. We had reason to know that +the shafts of fiendish calumny would assail, that friendship would be +broken, _that envy and jealousy would ply their innuendoes_, that the +Copperhead elements of a fraternity, claiming one of the offenders in +its ranks, would assail with bitterness and awaken poignant grief, but +no regret, that we should have the hatred of Copperheads, as long as +that genus (thank Heaven, short-lived), existed in our land, and be +regarded with distrust by those negative persons, who would be for the +Union, had they any independence of character; we knew all this would +follow, if the assassin's bullet or dagger did not execute the sworn +purpose of the Order, but with an abiding faith in the justice of +Heaven, with an approving conscience, and our earnest heartfelt prayer +for our loved country in her dark hours, we took our course, and our +only regret is, that we had not sooner entered upon the work, and +thereby frustrated plans which have contributed to our national +suffering; for who shall say how many have been its victims, how many +homes has it made desolate, how many hearts has it broken, and how many +graves now enclose misguided men, and misguided youths, who, educated +in its fallacies, lured by its snake-like influence, arrayed themselves +against their country, and fell victims to their fanaticism! + +We have heard the cry of our Union soldiers at the front, to protect the +helpless in the rear, and we have tried to comply. We have given our +own near and dear kindred to the bullet and the sword, a sacrifice to +freedom, and staunched the life-blood of a dearly loved brother, upon +the field of Antietam, and as we wiped away the dew of death, gathering +upon his brow, we pledged our life--our all--to the cause of the Union; +and if better service might be rendered in vanquishing the secret foe at +home, than meeting the more honorable enemy upon the field of battle, +we were ready for the work. Had it not been for the potent influence +of Copperheads at the North, the counsel, the sympathy, the comfort +extended to the rebels, the rebellion would have been put down long ago. +Entertaining such views, we shall, under any and all circumstances, and +at all times, be a bitter opponent of Copperheadism wherever found, and +regard it as legitimate warfare to arrest the assassin of our country, +wherever and whenever we can. If the disaffected find comfort in this, +let them make the most of it. + +ROBERT ALEXANDER.--This gentleman, who is well known to the citizens of +Chicago, has held several positions of responsibility and trust, and +has ever been a consistent, earnest, devoted advocate of the Union. So +intensely Republican in sentiment is he, that the attempt to introduce +him into the Sons of Liberty, called forth such opposition that it +was thought we should fail in the attempt, and he finally, was only +admitted, after he and his sponsor (the writer) had been told, in plain +words, accompanied with an oath, that if he proved false to them, _both +should die_. For months he bore the opprobrium of a Copperhead, and +suffered extreme annoyances in sustaining the role it was his duty +to assume. Conscientious, earnest, persevering, patient, with keen +perception, and a remarkable power of reading human character, with the +experience of an excellent police officer, Mr. Alexander brought to his +post of duty high qualifications, and was a valuable, ready and willing +assistant. It should be remarked that Mr. Alexander had been informed in +May, 1864, that he had been appointed First-Lieutenant in the 53d U.S. +Infantry, and supposed he was in the service of the U.S. Government at +the time of joining this great undertaking, but the information, though +coming from a high source, proved incorrect, and this is one additional +reason why the writer made choice of Mr. Alexander. While we know that +loyal men will appreciate Mr. Alexander's valuable services, we have yet +to learn that he has, thus far, experienced any other satisfaction than +the approval of his own heart, and the sincere gratitude of the writer, +for his hazardous undertaking, and the able manner in which he performed +his duty. + +MAURICE LANGHORN, one of the principal government witnesses, was born in +Pittsburgh, Penn., and reared in Marysville, Ky. He is a lawyer, and a +man of ability. Like many other Kentuckians who were in the South at +the time the rebellion broke out, Mr. Langhorn committed himself to the +doctrine of secession. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in a Louisiana +regiment of heavy artillery. He was subsequently recommended for +Colonelcy in the rebel army, but failed to get the appointment. In 1861 +he went to Bowling Green, Ky., where he enlisted as a private in the +9th Kentucky Infantry, Col. Thomas H. Hunt, of Louisville, and was +transferred to the artillery. He mounted the guns on the fortifications +around Bowling Green, and seems to have given great satisfaction. He ran +as candidate for representative to the rebel congress from Kentucky, but +before the result of the canvass was known, was captured and held eight +months as a prisoner of war. Mr. Langhorn subsequently took the oath of +allegiance to the United States, and was of great service in reporting +the movements and designs of the rebel emissaries in Canada to Col. +Sweet. The information Mr. Langhorn gave of those men was reliable, and +upon it certain arrests were made. Mr. Langhorn is now a loyal citizen, +in its broadest and best sense. Mr. Langhorn is a young man not over +twenty-five years of age, of quick, nervous temperament, kind and +generous impulses, a man of strong feelings, warm friendship, bitter +animosities, and whatever he undertakes, he executes with a will. Of +Mr. Langhorn it may be truly said, that while he was a rebel, he was an +earnest, active foe, but a true soldier, having a high regard for honor +and integrity, loving the State in which he was reared, and ever +jealous of her honor and fair name. Mr. Langhorn was a rebel from +principle--because he felt that the South was right--but when convinced +of his error, he made haste to repair it, and when he had once taken the +oath of allegiance, he went to work with all his might to aid the cause +of the Union. To Mr. Langhorn is due all the honor of frustrating the +designs of the _rebels from Canada_; and Col. Sweet being advised by +Mr. Langhorn of _this_ portion of the plot, and by the writer of the +_Copperheads' movements and intents_, the Colonel had the best possible +opportunity of acquiring important knowledge, and regulating his conduct +in accordance therewith. Mr. Langhorn is a true friend of the Union, +an admirer of our lamented President, and has rendered the citizens of +Chicago a service which should ever be held in grateful remembrance. + +MR. SHANKS--Once a Rebel officer of distinction, but now a loyal man, +consistent in conduct, and of very great assistance to the Government, +in ferreting out Rebel officers and Rebel sympathisers, has the +confidence and respect of those who know him. He is a young man of +signal ability, and if he continues to serve the country as faithfully +as he has in the present case, will yet attain distinction. + +CHRISTOPHER C. STRAWN--Was a valuable witness. He is a young man who +has taken an active part with the Democrats, and is well informed of the +incomings and outgoings, and the eccentricities and peccadilloes of the +managers in Chicago, although the _Post_ says, that "before his arrest +he was not worthy of notice, and after his arrest still less so." We +think the _Post_ man a little severe on Strawn, who has done all he +could to have the guilty Copperhead readers of that paper brought +to justice. Mr. Strawn, has bade his brethren, the Copperheads, an +affectionate and, we trust, final adieu. + +JOHN MAUGHAN, an Englishman, born in Berkshire county, and about 22 +years of age. His family moved to Toronto, Canada West. He was always +in Canada regarded as a young man, with fine business qualities and +promise. For three years just before his connection with the rebels, and +their Northern conspirators, he occupied a very responsible position as +a clerk and teller, in one of the branches of the bank of Upper Canada, +and was in every way worthy the confidence reposed in him. During the +spring and summer of 1864, he however became acquainted with rebel +soldiers in Canada, earnestly espoused their cause, and left his +position to go with them to the Southern army. They, however, instead +of going South, went to Chicago, where he became acquainted with the +conspirators, and also gained their confidence, and on account of being +an Englishman, and having his papers with him, and being able to +travel without fear of detection, he was used by them to carry their +correspondence and other communications, which were of too dangerous +a character to trust to the mails. This man was truly a dangerous +character. No one, except those who employed him, knew him, or the +character in which he was acting, and he was able, frequently, to render +the conspirators immense service in their desperate schemes. He was +captured in Chicago in November, and finally agreed to turn State's +evidence, when he saw that unless he did, his own life was forfeited. +After this agreement, he was treated with great leniency by the +Government, but upon being placed upon the witness stand, his old +sympathies and prejudices returned, and it is believed he distinctly +perjured himself, acting through the whole trial with bad faith toward +the Government which had treated him so generously. + +THOS.E. COURTNEY--A Son of Liberty, and a leading Democrat of Chicago, +called a witness for _defence_, testified, among other things, as +follows: + +"_I was on a Committee of the Democratic party to receive, at the Alton +Depot, some bogus voters that were to be imported into Chicago to vote +at the Presidential election_; they were part and parcel of the tribe +that came from Egypt, and I was one of the _Committee appointed to +escort them to their boarding houses_." + +OBADIAH JACKSON, JR., ESQ., Grand Seignior of the Temple, who had been +arrested and sent to Camp Douglas, and while there had written and +signed a "statement," was called for the defence, but it neither helped +him or the defendants. + +COL.B. M. ANDERSON--Was born, reared, and educated in Kentucky. He was +a young man of education, ability, and fine personal appearance, and +had he not been a rebel would have been an accomplished gentleman. He +possessed many fine points of character, and was, in our opinion, a much +better man than any of the Northern Copperheads who have been arrested. +He had been in the Nicaraugua expedition, under the fillibuster, Walker. +Col. Anderson was the dupe of others. He committed suicide at the +barracks in Cincinnati, during the progress of the trial. He leaves a +wife and many friends to mourn his death. His history is a sad one. In +any other position than a rebel, he would have been a most useful member +of society. He was not of the material of which the Sons of Liberty was +made up, but aside from that deadly fanaticism which ruined him, he won +warm friends wherever he went. Nature did everything for him, but the +accursed doctrine of Calhoun, consigned him to a suicide's grave, "after +life's fitful fever" of war upon the land of his birth. + +CHARLES TRAVIS DANIELS--One of the prisoners, is a native of Harrison +County, Ky. A lawyer by profession, about 26 years of age and very +prepossessing in appearance. He is somewhat remarkable for a rather +strange and singular expression of his eyes. Belonged to John H. +Morgan's command, but never served in any other capacity than as an +enlisted man. He was captured with Morgan during his raid in Ohio, and +confined in Camp Douglas, from which he escaped; was captured at Charles +Walsh's house, on the 7th of November, and escaped again from the +military authorities in Cincinnati, Ohio, while being tried by the +Commission. He has not been recaptured, but has been found guilty by the +Commission. + +CAPT. GEORGE CANTRILL--Is a native of Scott County, Ky. Is about the +same age as Daniels. There is nothing remarkable in connection with him, +and of no more than ordinary intelligence. He also belonged to Morgan's +command, in which he served as Company commander; was in Morgan's last +raid in Kentucky, and at his defeat at Cynthiana escaped to Canada. He +was with the other rebels at Chicago during the Convention, and went +with them to Southern Illinois for the purpose of drilling Copperheads. +He was captured in the house of Charles Walsh, on the morning of the 7th +of November last. On account of severe sickness he was not tried with +the other conspirators. + +RICHARD T. SEMMES--One of the prisoners, tried, convicted, and +sentenced, for being one of the Chicago Conspirators, is a young +man--not over 23 or 24 years of age, a Marylander by birth, and a lawyer +by profession. He is a relation of the pirate Semmes (unfortunate +in name,) said to be a nephew. He graduated at Yale College with +distinction, and his prospects in Chicago were flattering till he +connected himself with the Sons of Liberty, and listened to the +teachings of older and "wiser" men. + +Of the witnesses for the defence we have nothing to say, further +than most of them were Sons of Liberty. Some of them so far perjured +themselves, that now a common lie to them is considered as good as the +truth, if not a little better. It is said of Judge H.L. Burnet, that he +remarked, had he known what witnesses the defence would have introduced, +he would not have called any witnesses for the _Government_--they would +have been superfluous. Rather severe, and we will hope he did not say +it. + +Space will not admit of a review of the evidence, and this will be +unnecessary for all who will read the sketch of the Judge Advocate's +argument. + + + + +CHAP XXI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE IN THE CONSPIRACY CASES--CONVICTION OF +THE PRISONERS. + +The evidence in the case before the military commission at Cincinnati, +having closed, the counsel who represented the prisoners made their +addresses--they cannot be called arguments--and the court adjourned to +Tuesday, April 18. As lawyers who have no valid defence, observe it as +a policy to attack the Government witnesses with great fury, so Messrs. +Hervey and Wilson, true to the ethics of their profession, made a +grand assault upon the principal witnesses. Counsellor Hervey, in his +harangue, used the following language, which illustrates the line of +"argument" for defence: + +"Some two hundred years ago," said the learned counsel, "there was a man +in England who swore away the lives of his fellow citizens by wholesale. +His name was Dr. Titus Oates--the man who got up what was called the +Popish plot, and by perjury and villainy, consigned many an innocent +head to the scaffold. He was assisted by a man who has, as no other +judge has, disgraced the ermine--Jeffries, who drank himself to death in +the tower, when his co-worker in iniquities and evil deeds with dreadful +and condign punishment followed him. The effort of nature to produce so +great a monster was so terrible that it required a resting spell of two +hundred years before she could produce another such monster in the shape +of Dr. I. Winslow Ayer." + +We forgive him, for he was obliged to seem to do or say something to +earn his "fee." There being no arguments for defence, but only such +pathetic appeals as only a lawyer, without the least hope, would make, +feeling that his clients would expect _something_, we need not take our +space to report their remarks. + +On Tuesday April 18, Judge Advocate Burnet made his closing argument for +the Government. It was truly a master-piece, complete in every part. It +was such an effort as might have been expected, of one who has, +during this long tedious trial, shown himself a gentleman, a profound +counsellor, a true patriot and an advocate of justice, whose only aim +has been to elicit truth, and be the better enabled to serve the true +interests of the country. We would gladly present every argument and +address he has made, during the trial, but space will not admit, and +we therefore invite careful attention to the following sketch of his +address: + +The Judge Advocate, in referring to the accused, said: + +There are two sides to this case; two sides for the manifestation of +sympathy. While here is an old, white-haired man before you, whose every +thing is at stake; while here is a father, a generous, open-hearted, +and impulsive man, whose all is at stake; and here is a soldier, who has +fought in every clime, and who has taken up his sword to destroy life +in every cause, whose everything is also at stake, yet there is, on the +other side, your Government at stake. If these men be guilty, justice to +the nation demands of you this day that you should convict them, and +you must not waver. In the consideration of this case, you must bring to +your aid a power, that may be a little more than is ordinarily given +to human nature. You must, for the time, sink all hatred, malice, even +human sympathy; and rise, God-like, to determine the truth and adjust +the punishment. + +That these accused would enter upon the commission of so heinous a +crime, I can scarcely permit myself to believe. They have made a strong +appeal to your sympathies. Each counsel has advocated the cause of his +client with an earnestness and an eloquence that does him honor; I shall +always respect them, and bear them in kindly recollection. + +But there seems to have been something, during these four years of the +nation's trial, that has appeared to paralyze the native instincts of +the American heart. This phantom, this siren of secession, with her +enticing song, seems to have lulled to sleep the better part of human +nature. At the sound of her voice, and the flash of her eye, men have +sprung to arms, to grapple with the life of the nation, because it +was free! They have followed, at the beck of the siren, over desolated +homes; they have trampled over the dead corpses of murdered brothers, +and innocent women and children. They have blackened the land with +desolation, and made it the abode of moaning and woe. She has blinded, +while she has demoralized them. Old men, forgetting their white hairs, +have joined in the conspiracy at the beck of this phantom, who has taken +out of the human heart its heaven-born instincts, to plant there those +of vengeance, and the thirst for blood. + +My tongue falters as I look over this country and see bereaved widows +and orphans, the white-haired patriots that mourn for the first-born, +that shall ne'er greet them, and those who sit at the desolate hearth, +with hands upraised, waiting for the knock that will be but the +death-knell of all their hopes; and think that the phantom of secession +has caused all this! + +Men who were kind fathers, kind husbands and noble patriots, have +forgotten it all in a day, and have become traitors, and inculcated +doctrines that have, by the hands of fiends, stricken down that +patriotic and noble leader of the human race. There is something in it +which no man can comprehend. The doctrines which they inculcate harden +the heart, and nerve the arm to crime, enabling them to commit robbery, +arson and murder, for all is in her category; and as they commit those +crimes, the appeal to God for the justness of their cause. That is what +has deceived these men; it is this accursed phantom of secession that +has blinded their eyes; that has cooled their hearts and filled them +with vengeance. It is this that has changed and perverted the human +instincts, that should have ruled in their breasts. + +Of this man Walsh, I have simply this to say: The evidence is as you +have seen it. I have briefly sketched it; I will not dwell upon much +that ought to be said; I can not. The testimony is voluminous, filling +2,000 or 2,500 pages. I have had but a few days to scan through it; I +have given you only the leading points, and you must judge. I would not +say one word that would take from this family their father; but if this +man was guilty of this crime, or has aided and abetted this conspiracy, +you have but one duty to perform. You must know no man, be influenced by +no bias, betray no sympathy, but must be firm in the performance of your +stern duty. There are thirty millions of suffering people in this land, +and against these, one man's life, if guilty, weighs little in the scale +of justice. We have, unhappily, in the history of this war, frequently +seen sympathy manifested for criminals, rebels and traitors--those who +have brought this great injustice upon the true and the loyal. It is not +mercy to acquit those guilty of cruelty to a people who are struggling +for their very existence; it would be cruelty to our brave soldiers, and +to those who have been left widows and orphans. + +As to Judge Morris--for his white hair and old age, I have only respect. +For all that is worthy in him as a citizen, I do him reverence; but if +this white-haired old man has engaged in a conspiracy against my nation +and my country, I turn to the other side, and see white-haired patriots +who mourn in sadness because such as he have done these evil deeds,--and +I remember Justice! + +As to this man Grenfel, I confess I have no sympathy with him; no +sympathy for the foreigner who lands in our country when this nation is +engaged in the struggle for human right and human liberty, and who takes +part in the quarrel against us, and arrays himself on the side of those +who are trying to establish tyranny and slavery. I have no sympathy for +the man whose sword is unsheathed for hire and not for principle; for +whom slavery and despotism have more charms than freedom and liberty. +The motive of such a one does not rise even to the dignity of vengeance. +As has been said by his counsel, his sword has gleamed in every sun, +and has been employed on the side of almost every nationality, and after +this he engages in our struggle, and, as testified to by Colonel Moore, +desires to raise the black flag against our prisoners; and after men +have yielded as prisoners of war, he rides up to one, and stabs him, +coward like, in the back. + +But he is not true to the cause he espouses. When in Washington he went +to the Secretary of War and betrays the very people with whom he had +been fighting; tells all he knows of the strength, position and designs +of the Confederates. He said he proposed to leave immediately for +England, but he breaks his faith, proceeds to Canada, and is found among +the conspirators, and is now here, charged with these crimes to-day. +There is no throb of my heart that beats in unison with such conduct as +this. He was a fit instrument to be used in this enterprise. What to +him would be the wail of women and little ones? What to him would be the +pleadings of old men and unarmed citizens? + +The delivery of Judge Burnett's argument occupied three and a half +hours, after which the Commission adjourned to meet at four o'clock +P.M., to deliberate on the findings and sentence. They accordingly met +at the hour appointed, and, after mature deliberation, finally recorded +their verdict. + +General Hooker issued General Orders No. 30, April 22, in which he +promulgates the finding of the military commission which, for three +months past, has been engaged in the trial of the alleged Chicago +conspirators. The commission have acquitted Buckner S. Morris and +Vincent Marmaduke, and they are to be discharged upon their taking the +oath of allegiance. They find Charles Walsh and Richard T. Semmes guilty +of all the charges and specifications, and sentence the former to five +years' imprisonment at hard labor from the 7th of November last, and the +latter to three years' imprisonment at hard labor from the same date, at +such place as the commanding general may direct. Gen. Hooker has named +the State penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio. + +Cantrill's trial has been continued; Anderson committed suicide, and +Charles Travis Daniels escaped. The commission found a verdict against +Daniels, but it has not yet been promulgated. The findings against G. +St. Leger Grenfell have not yet been announced officially; but it +is death, at such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall designate. The +commission has been dissolved. + +The Chicago _Tribune_, in speaking of the sentence, says: + +The trial of the Chicago conspirators has ended, the sentences have been +pronounced and approved, and the court has adjourned. Buckner S. Morris +and Vincent Marmaduke are acquitted and Charles Walsh and Richard T. +Semmes were found guilty of the entire charges and specifications, to +wit: of conspiracy for the relief of the prisoners at Camp Douglas, and +of conspiring to "lay waste and destroy" the city of Chicago. Walsh is +sentenced to imprisonment for five years from November 7th, 1864, and +Semmes to imprisonment at hard labor for three years from the date +of sentence. The findings against G. St. Leger Grenfell have not been +officially promulgated, but it is stated that he is found guilty +and sentenced to death, at such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall +designate. The penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, is designated as the +place of confinement of Walsh and Semmes. The trial has been long, +mainly by reason of the course pursued by the defense, whose aim +has been to protract it, so as to tire out the perseverance of the +prosecution and the patience of the court and people. The court have +performed their arduous duties with great ability and fairness. The +result will doubtless be satisfactory to the people. It is proved that +this great crime was in all its naked deformity and depravity actually +committed. It follows that the Copperhead statement, published in the +rebel organ in this city, charging that the entire plot and arrest +of these Copperhead traitors and assassins were invented by the Union +Republicans of Chicago as an electioneering trick, was the subterfuge of +conscious guilt trying to cover up its tracks and to rub out the stains +of its own attempted crimes. The same organ now impugns the "competency" +of the Court. It may consider itself fortunate that it has not had an +opportunity to argue the question of jurisdiction on its own behalf +before a similar tribunal. Its opposition to such courts originates in a +feeling of uneasiness about its own safety. For + +"Thief ne'er felt the halter draw With good opinion of the law." + + + +REV. DR. TIFFANY UPON COPPERHEADS. + +At a public meeting held in Chicago, after the announcement of the +assassination, Rev. Dr. Tiffany, in an able and eloquent address said: + +"God alone is great. At rare intervals he sends us a man beyond the +limit of our measure. Our attention has been directed to the excellences +of the character which belonged to our late President, and to the spirit +of the system which gave strength to the blow of the assassin. A more +terrible topic is now to be discussed--our relation to that spirit--our +responsibility for that blow. + +We have been accustomed to say, "slavery is sectional, and freedom +national," let those who elect slavery take the results of slavery to +themselves; let them suffer, if their choice brings suffering; but as +for us, we wash our hands in innocency, and hold ourselves guiltless of +blood." And so we have been going on ever since the outbreak of slavery +in the form of armed rebellion. "They are the guilty parties, let them +suffer." But has all this been right? Have we had no responsibility? +Is no guilt ours? We may not have owned slaves, but we may have made +a common cause with men owners--may have brought condemnation upon +ourselves by our tolerance, by our compromises. + +Sad and almost disgraceful is the record which exhibits our complicity +with this sin. We began by making free States wait at the door of the +Union until slavery had a counterpoise, or balance adjusted in the form +of slave State, to preserve the balance against freedom in the National +Senate. We compromised the territories west of the Mississippi, by +tolerating slaves there, and as one demand after another was made it was +granted, till we even allowed slave rule in free States, by submitting +to the Fugitive Slave law--these things could not have been done without +our votes. When they threatened and blustered we fawned and cringed, +until they knew and avowed their belief that the crack of a slave whip +would bring the north to its knees. All they asked we granted, more than +they demanded we offered. We held out our wrists for manacles. When we +elected the great good man, who embodied our idea of nationality and +freedom; and even after official announcement had been made of the +position slavery occupied in their proposed nationalism, we guarded +their slaves, and kept them secure to labor for the support of the +masters who were fighting against us. When these slaves, acting on an +intuition of freedom, came fleeing to us, we sent them back to chains +and bondage. In all this we showed our complicity with the sin which +struck the blow which killed our good President. + +And after the slaughter of thousands in battle, and the death of as many +more in hospitals, of fever, starvation and wounds, still was our hatred +of the sin which caused them not deep enough. We talked of amnesty and +non-humiliation, and God has permitted the sad cup to come to each lip +in bitterness. Each one mourns to-day as if personally bereaved. The +blackness of darkness is in our homes, and the whole nation mourns +its first-born--its first-loved. May not--does not--a measure of +responsibility rest upon us for this last sad event? Have we not been +tolerant of the treason which has wrought this crime? Have we not been +apologists for infamy under the name of different political opinions? +Have we not spared when we should have punished--been merciful when +mercy was but cruelty? We seem to have believed that because there were +more serpents away from our homes, the few left here had no venom. We +felt secure because the loyalists were more numerous than the traitors. +But of the few who were here, and tolerated here, some plotted the +escape of rebel prisoners, some the burning of our city, some the +conflagration of New York, and some the murder of the Cabinet, while +one has killed the good President. Had they all been driven out, or put +under strict surveillance, there would have been none of these things +from them. We have lost our President by tolerating traitors in our +streets. + +Who was the assassin of the President? Not an armed rebel, clothed with +belligerent rights; not a political refugee, who had skulked into our +lines for rapine and for plunder; but the citizen of a free State, who +could visit and send his cards to the Vice-President with a flippant +familiarity, which his aristocratic slave-holding associates presume +to use,--a man allowed to go about the streets of Washington, breathing +treason and blaspheming God, without rebuke. He could command attention +from proprietors of houses and saloons, from owners of blooded stock, +from men who were called loyal, and the toleration of this killed our +good President. + +He was a wretch, of whom a press said, but yesterday, that he was +sincere in thinking he should rid the earth of a tyrant, by slaying the +President, this sincerity must place him on a level with John Brown. +[Hisses and cries of _The Times_.] This was said yesterday, and read +by thousands, and I know of no steps taken to prevent the utterance +of similar insult and outrage to-morrow. For this tolerance we are +responsible, and tolerance like this killed the good President. When +a far-seeing military commandant ordered the suppression of published +treason, there were men in high places, and men all over the land, who +outraged the loyal masses by interfering to prevent the execution of +that order, on the ground of disturbing the freedom of the press; but +when our ministers went into Richmond they were muzzled, and the +result has been that treason has been littered, the good man called an +_imbecile_--the generous man a _tyrant_--the restraint of traitors has +been referred to as, _usurpation_ of power, and prisons have been called +_Bastiles_. All this has been, and we have tolerated it. This has given +aid and comfort to treason in the South, and traitors in the North, and +this has killed the good President. + +The measure of our responsibility is the amount of our connivance at +these things. No man is free from guilt who has winked at this wrong, +who has interfered to prevent the punishment of wrong-doers, who has +apologies for treason, who has not done all in his power to rebuke, +denounce and punish the foes of the nation, at home and abroad. We +stand, to-day, as though in the presence of the nation's dead, and here, +on the tomb of our chieftain, let us swear eternal enmity to treason +and to traitors. Nor let us, when the assassin shall be arrested and +punished--oh! let us not then think we have done our duty. I had rather +the profane wretch who has done this deed were never taken, than that +his execution should relieve our minds from one thought of our personal +responsibility. No; rather let the wretch be a fugitive and vagabond, +with the mark of Cain upon him. Let none slay him, for we ourselves are +not guiltless. And as he flies from men, with hate in his eyes and hell +in his heart, let every home be an asylum from which he shall be barred, +and every honest, loyal heart a sanctuary where no thought of complicity +with him, or sympathy for him may enter. Let us bow before God to-day in +humble penitence; let us ask of Him forgiveness--Father forgive us, for +we knew not what we did--that His hand be stayed, and the measure of our +responsibility be canceled." + + +In this connection, we may with propriety, introduce the following +extract from President Johnson's recent speech to the Indiana +delegation: + +"We are living at a time when the public mind had almost become +oblivious of what treason is. The time has arrived, my countrymen, when +the American people should be educated and taught what crime is, and +that treason is crime, and the highest crime known to the law and the +Constitution. Yes, treason against a State, treason against all the +States, treason against the Government of the United States, is the +highest crime that can be committed, and those engaged in it should +suffer all the penalties. It is not promulgating anything that I have +not heretofore said, to say that traitors must be made odious; that +treason must be made odious; that traitors must be punished and +imprisoned. [Applause.] They must not only be punished, but their social +power must be destroyed. If not, they will still maintain an ascendency, +and may again become numerous and powerful; for, in the words of a +former senator of the United States, when traitors become numerous +enough, treason becomes respectable. And I say that, after making +treason odious, every Union man and the Government, should be +remunerated out of the pockets of those who have inflicted the great +suffering upon the country. [Applause.] But do not understand me as +saying this in a spirit of anger; for, if I understand my own heart, the +reverse is the case; and, while I say that the penalties of the law, +in a stern and inflexible manner, should be executed upon conscious, +intelligent, and influential traitors,--the leaders who have deceived +thousands upon thousands of laboring men, who have been drawn into +the rebellion; and while I say, as to leaders, punishment, I also say +leniency, conciliation, and amnesty, to the thousands whom they have +misled and deceived, and, in relation to this, as I have remarked, I +might have adopted your speech as my own." + + * * * * * + +THE LIST OF PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE "SONS OF LIBERTY" IN ILLINOIS. + +List of names of prominent members of the "Sons of Liberty" in the +several counties of the State of Illinois, as reported by Col. J.B. +Sweet. + + Names. County. + James W. Singleton ............................................Adams. + Thomas P. Bond................................................. Bond. + Harry Wilton....................................................Bond. + Thos. Hunter....................................................Bond. + Martin Brooks..................................................Brown. + C.H. Atwood....................................................Brown. + Fred Rearick ...................................................Cass. + Allen J. Hill...................................................Cass. + David Epler.....................................................Cass. + James A. Dick...................................................Cass. + Samuel Christey.................................................Cass. + T.J. Clark................................................Champaigne. + James Morrow .............................................Champaigne. + H.M. Vandeveer.............................................Christian. + J.H. Clark.................................................Christian. + S.S. Whitehed..................................................Clark. + H.H. Peyton....................................................Clark. + Phillip Dougherty..............................................Clark. + A.M. Christian..................................................Clay. + Stephen B. Moore...............................................Coles. + Dr. Wickersham .................................................Cook. + G.S. Kimberly...................................................Cook. + S. Corning Judd...............................................Fulton. + Charles Sweeny ...............................................Fulton. + L. Walker...................................................Hamilton. + M. Couchman..................................................Hancock. + M.M. Morrow..................................................Hancock. + J.M. Finch...................................................Hancock. + Dennis Smith.................................................Hancock. + J.S. Rainsdell.............................................Henderson. + A. Johnson.................................................Henderson. + Ira R. Wills...................................................Henry. + Chas. Durham...................................................Henry. + Morrison Francis...............................................Henry. + J.B. Carpenter.................................................Henry. + J. Osborn....................................................Jackson. + G.W. Jeffries.................................................Jasper. + G.H. Varnell...............................................Jefferson. + Wm. Dodds..................................................Jefferson. + J.M. Pace..................................................Jefferson. + James Sample..................................................Jersey. + O.W. Powell...................................................Jersey. + M.Y. Johnson...............................................Jo Davies. + David Shean................................................Jo Davies. + M. Simmons.................................................Jo Davies. + Louis Shisler..............................................Jo Davies. + Thomas McKee................................................... Knox. + J.F. Worrell..................................................McLean. + E.D. Wright...................................................Menard. + Edward Lanning ...............................................Menard. + Robert Halloway ..............................................Mercer. + Robert Davis..............................................Montgomery. + Thomas Grey...............................................Montgomery. + W.J. Latham...................................................Morgan. + J.O. S. Hays..................................................Morgan. + J.W. McMillen.................................................Morgan. + D. Patterson ...............................................Moultrie. + Dr. Kellar..................................................Moultrie. + G.D. Read ......................................................Ogle. + W.W. O'Brien..................................................Peoria. + Peter Sweat...................................................Peoria. + Jacob Gale....................................................Peoria. + P.W. Dunne....................................................Peoria. + John Fuller...................................................Peoria. + John Francis..................................................Peoria. + C.H. Wright.................................................. Peoria. + John Oug......................................................Putnam. + M. Richardson.................................................Shelby. + M. Shallenberger...............................................Stark. + J.B. Smith.................................................Stevenson. + J.L. Carr.................................................Vermillion. + John Donlar...............................................Vermillion. + Wm. S. Moore...............................................Christian. + B.S. Morris.....................................................Cook. + W.C. Wilson.................................................Crawford. + L.W. Onell..................................................Crawford. + Dickins ..................................................Cumberland. + J.C. Armstrong ...............................................Dewitt. + C.H. Palmer...................................................Dewitt. + B.T. Williams................................................Douglas. + Amos Green.....................................................Edgar. + R.M. Bishop....................................................Edgar. + W.D. Latshaw.................................................Edwards. + Levi Eckels..................................................Fayette. + Dr. Bassett..................................................Fayette. + T. Greathouse................................................Fayette. + Chas. T. Smith...............................................Fayette. + N. Simmons......................................................Ford. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great North-Western Conspiracy In +All Its Startling Details, by I. 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Windslow Ayer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great North-Western Conspiracy In All Its Startling Details + +Author: I. Windslow Ayer + + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8543] +This file was first posted on July 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 21, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY *** + + + + +Text file produced by Lee Dawei, Andy Schmitt and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + +HTML file produced by David Widger + + + + +</pre> + + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE GREAT NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY IN ALL ITS STARTLING DETAILS. + </h1> + <h2> + By I. Winslow Ayer, M.D. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="middle"> + <p> + <i>The Plot to plunder and burn Chicago—Release of all Rebel + prisoners—Seizure of arsenals—Raids from Canada—Plot + to burn New York—Piracy on the Lakes—Parts for the Sons of + Liberty—Trial of Chicago conspirators—Inside views of the + Temples of the Sons of Liberty—Names of prominent members.</i> + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h5> + ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF LEADING CHARACTERS, ETC., ETC. <br /> <br /> + {Illustration: I. WINSLOW AYER, M.D.} <br /> <br /> (Illustrations are not + included in this file) + </h5> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <p> + <b>CONTENTS</b> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> CHAP.I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> CHAP. II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> CHAP. III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> CHAP. IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> CHAP.V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> CHAP. VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> CHAP. VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> CHAP. VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> CHAP. IX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> CHAP. X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> CHAP. XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> CHAP. XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> CHAP. XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> CHAP. XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> CHAP. XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> CHAP. XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> CHAP. XVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> CHAP. XVIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> CHAP. XIX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> CHAP. XX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> CHAP XXI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_LIST"> List of names of prominent members of the "Sons of + Liberty" in the </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION. + </h2> + <p> + The trial before the Military Commission in Cincinnati, just concluded, + was in many respects one of the most remarkable events of the war. The + investigation has elicited testimony of the most startling character, + showing conclusively to the minds of all reasonable men who have given to + it careful, earnest attention that there was a most formidable, deep and + well arranged conspiracy, which, but for timely discovery and judicious + action, would have resulted most disastrously, not only to the particular + cities and towns specified and doomed to destruction, but to the whole + country. None can contemplate the danger through which we have passed + without a shudder and without a recognition of the hand of a merciful + Providence who has guided our beloved country in its darkest hours and who + has crowned our struggles for liberty and union with glorious victory. + </p> + <p> + To have proclaimed to the public, even a few short months ago, that a + scheme had been concocted in Richmond, of so vast and formidable a + character, so insidious in its operations, so complete in its details that + it had found favor and support in all the great cities and towns in + Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, and sections of other + States that scarcely a village was exempt from its corruption, that it + numbered in its ranks more traitors in the aggregate than the number of + brave men in the combined armies of the gallant Grant and Sherman, and + that all who had thus united recognised but one common cause—the + destruction of our country, the defeat and humiliation of our people, and + the triumph of the Rebellion—the author of such a proclamation would + have been written down a madman or a fool, by most persons in the + community; and yet the developments before the military tribunal have + established the fact, to the eternal infamy of all who were leagued in the + conspiracy. + </p> + <p> + As the trial opened, and the charges if the indictment were made public, + all sympathisers with the conspiracy affected to disbelieve its existence, + and raised their eyes and hands to Heaven, in pious horror, and prayed + that <i>justice</i> might be meted out to the accused, who were, they + claimed, the best of citizens, the most devout Christians, the most + zealous patriots, the most earnest advocates of law and order, and that + their accusers might be shunned of all good men forever. To this prayer + the accused will scarce utter the response, Amen! Even some good, careful, + honest Union men, astonished at the startling revelations, refused, for a + time, to believe that there was any truth in the allegations against the + prisoners; by degrees, however, as corroborative evidence accumulated, the + truth was forced upon their minds, and there are now few persons of + ordinary intelligence and candor, who have not been able to discover that + "there was something in it, after all," and that we have been + Providentially saved a most terrible disaster. + </p> + <p> + But the investigation has been lengthy, and the reports in the newspapers + have been brief and irregular, and few, comparatively, there are who have + heard or read all of even the more important testimony, or appreciate + fully the vast magnitude of the conspiracy; and there are many who having + read only the indictment, have conceived the idea that if the charges + therein alleged are true, the crime was confined to a few desperate and + wicked men in Chicago alone, and that, therefore, it possessed but a local + interest. Such a conclusion is wholly groundless. The history of this + conspiracy is of the most vital interest for the people of every State in + the Union, for had the conspirators not been foiled at a most opportune + moment, their plans would have been successful in every particular, and + once in operation they could not have been frustrated by any force we + could have arrayed against them; and who shall say that had the savage + hordes of Jeff. Davis then been turned loose upon an unarmed community, to + carry desolation and ruin as they should sweep over our fair States, that + to-day the Southern rebels would be, as they now are, in their last + extremity—that victory would now be perched upon our banners + wherever our noble pioneers of freedom advance, and that our brave boys of + the Potomac would now be reposing from, their labors in the halls of the + rebel capitol! Those who, upon investigation, fail to recognise the + magnitude, the sagacity, the completeness of this Northwestern Conspiracy, + and realise its immense importance to the rebel chieftains at the South, + corroborated as the evidence before the Commission has been by incidents + of almost daily occurrence for many months, have not learned to read + correctly the history of the Great Southern Rebellion. If an idea ever + entered the heads of malcontents at the North to establish a Northwestern + Confederacy, it was speedily chased away by the more promising schemes of + the arch traitor late of Richmond. It is to collect facts already + elicited, and to give further information, and with a hope of aiding the + cause of the Union so sacred and dear to us all, that the writer has + yielded to the oft-repeated requests of his friends to present a connected + and concise history of the Northwestern Conspiracy. + </p> + <h3> + THE AUTHOR. + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP.I. + </h2> + <p> + SECRET SERVICE TO SECURE SUCCESS OF SOUTHERN ARMS—STATE SOVEREIGNTY—THE + GENERAL PURPOSES OF SECRET POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS—RECOLLECTIONS + THAT CAN NEVER DIE—VOICES FROM OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS AT THE FRONT, + BESPEAKING OUR PROTECTION FOR THEIR WIVES, CHILDREN, PARENTS AND HOMES + FROM NORTHERN COPPERHEADS—CHARACTER OF THE LEADERS OF THE DIFFERENT + SECRET ORDERS. + </p> + <p> + The signal potency of secret organizations at the South prior to the + secession of States, and indeed the only really effective machinery by + which an attempt at disunion by the people could have been made to appear + possible, early in the great struggle engaged the earnest attention of the + Southern leaders. Knowing as they did that had the question of secession + been primarily an open one, for free discussion, that the masses of the + people would have rejected the proposition with deserved scorn and + indignation, and hung the ambitious adventurers who dared propose the + sacrilege. They realized the importance of establishing the order in the + North. The leaders saw with delight the working of secret organizations, + where men were sworn to secrecy, and drawn onward step by step, till they + reached the very brink of the fearful precipice. Thus did the people + fasten upon themselves and each other the shackles of slavery, which they + have since so unwillingly worn. The doctrine of State sovereignty + proclaimed by John C. Calhoun, and which, together with its apostles, + Jackson well knew how to receive, had been instilled into the minds of the + people of the States, which since their admission into the Union had been + at war with destiny, and in the hope of securing perpetuity of their + peculiar institutions, they attempted the dissolution of the Union. Truly + gratifying it must have been to the extremists in those States to have + watched the gathering clouds, and to listen to the low murmuring thunder + which presaged the coming storm, and well they knew how fearful would be + its fury, but blinded to the inevitable result, they were confident of + ultimate success, when they should have so far disseminated the Calhoun + poison at the North, as to have made oath-bound slaves in such numbers as + would paralyze the efforts of Union men, and render it necessary to recall + our armies from the field to suppress insurrection at home, and to change + the theatre of the war to Northern soil. None knew the importance of + introducing the machinery of secret political organizations better than + Davis himself, for he had not forgotten the Charleston Convention, the + working of the secret orders then, and subsequent events had of course + confirmed him in the opinion that a divided North would not be a + formidable adversary, and that he was warranted in the firm belief that + his wish to be "let alone" would be realised. With these views, shrewd and + sagacious men established themselves early in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, + Illinois and other States, and put the machinery in motion. The order + sprung up in various sections of the country, and treason flourished well, + as poisonous plants often show the greatest vitality. This plan was a + success. Men high in rank and station—men from every profession and + walk in life, embraced the principles of the order, and soon it could + boast of legislators, judges of the higher courts, clergymen, doctors, + lawyers, merchants and men from every avocation. Judge Bullitt, from the + Supreme bench in Kentucky, Judge Morris of the Circuit Court of Illinois, + Judd and Robinson, lawyers and candidates for the highest State offices, + Col. Walker, agent of the State of Indiana, editors of the daily press, + and men high in official station, and in the confidence of the people, + ex-Governors of States and disaffected politicians, all seized upon this + new element of power and with various motives, the chief of which was self + agrandisement at any cost, even at the cost of our National existence—entered + with zeal upon the work of disseminating the doctrines, and extending the + organization throughout the North and West. + </p> + <p> + The leaders gratified by success, courted the support of the organizations + they fostered till the candidates for the highest offices in the State and + Nation felt certain of obtaining election, were they but in favor with the + secret orders they aided in establishing. While the leaders were men of + cunning, many of them of intellect and education, the rank and file was + made up of different material. It not being necessary by the tenets of the + order that they should <i>think</i> at all, brains were at a discount—muscle + only was required—beings who would fall into line at the word of + command and follow on to an undertaking, however desperate and criminal, + without asking or thinking, or caring for the purpose to be attained; + beings who could be put in harness and led or driven wherever and whenever + it might suit their masters. Men from the lowest walks of life were + preferred. In the lower strata of the order, social distinction was waived + by the leaders, and the lowest wretch in the order was placed on a level + with judges, merchants and politicians, at least within the hall of + meeting, thus offering inducements potent enough to make the lodge room a + place of interest and pleasure, and thus the organization thrived. + </p> + <p> + It became known of course that secret organizations of a most dangerous + class were in existence, and their fruits were easily recognized. Our + brave boys in the army were often importuned by letters, to desert their + posts and to betray their flag. Union men were subject to annoyances that + became unendurable, soldiers wives and families were grossly insulted, + soldiers visiting their homes upon furloughs were often assaulted or + murdered, quarrels upon petty pretexts were incited, neighbors arrayed + against each other, dwellings burned by incendiaries, unoffending union + men murdered, military secrets of greatest importance betrayed, libels of + the most gross and malicious character by such papers as the Chicago + Times, and by such men as Wilbur F. Story, its editor, till at length a + voice came to us from the army in the field, which was often echoed, + begging Union citizens at home, by their love of the Union, by the love + they bore their own families, to protect the absent soldiers' wives, + mothers, sisters and firesides from the Copperheads who remained at home; + they would meet the enemy at the front, they would march fearlessly to the + cannon's belching throat, and meet death or mutilation upon the field of + battle for their Country's cause; not for themselves did they know fear or + care for danger, but when the tidings came to them from home, when after + toilsome marches, hunger and fatigue, or suffering from wounds received in + desperate engagements, when resting a brief hour, and their eyes fell upon + missives from home, from wives who bade them go and fight for freedom, and + return not with shame upon their brows, when tender thoughts of home, of + children and every "loved spot" that they had left behind, came crowding + to their minds, who shall say that they were wanting in heroism if their + faces became pale, their lips trembled and the tears dimmed their eyes, as + they read of wrongs and insults endured from Copperheads at home, or of + plots and acts by cowardly traitors to aid the common enemy; and when + their entreaty comes to us to strike down the deadly foe at home and give + protection to the helpless, let him blush with shame to call himself a + man, let him never claim to be an American citizen, never claim protection + of our Country's flag, let him close his ears to the sound of rejoicing + for final and complete victory, let him only hold companionship with + cowards and with culprits, and hide himself from the light of day who will + turn a deaf ear to the soldiers' prayer. Copperheads who have withheld + their sympathy and their efforts for our country in its days of darkness + and of peril, should and will be known of men in all future time; their + lives will be blighted, their names will be a reproach and a by-word, + their children will blush for their parents, and the name of Benedict + Arnold will no longer be the synonym of treason and betrayal—his + name will be rescued from the infamy each passing year of the existence of + our country has heaped upon it, and the Copperheads of the present day + will receive the anathemas of all coming generations, till their very + names shall be a curse too horrid for mortals to apply, and thenceforth be + only echoed in the lowest depths of hell. + </p> + <p> + By Providential discovery of the existence of the Order of Sons of Liberty + in Chicago, and the utmost vigilance, prudence, perseverance, patience, + promptness and daring, the aims, designs and acts of this Order, of the + American Knights and kindred organizations have been brought to light, its + every evil purpose and plan laid before the Government, and the pet + institution of Jeff. Davis has been turned inside out, so that "he who + runs may read;" the curtain has been raised and the light of noonday has + been let in, discovering to the public the horrid creation of traitors in + our very midst—people who breathe the very air we do, who enjoy the + same blessings and privileges, aye, and perhaps sit at the same tables. + The friends and sympathizers of these traitors have sought to cast obloquy + and distrust upon the statements of those who have successfully broken up + the great conspiracy, and perjury has sought to blacken their reputations, + but in vain. <i>Truth will prevail</i>. + </p> + <p> + The list of names of the members of the Sons of Liberty have been obtained + and preserved, and will be valuable for reference hereafter. + </p> + <p> + As the reader passes down South Clark street, at the corner of Monroe, he + will notice upon the right a large building of peculiar structure, and, + now bearing the name "Invincible Club Hall." It was here the temples of + the Sons of Liberty, or, as they were then called, the "American Knights," + held their secret sessions, going stealthily up the stairs singly or in + groups of two or three, to avoid observation, and when once inside the + hall they were guarded by an outside sentinel, whose duty it was to + apprise them of danger and to guard against its approach to the "temple"; + but let not the fault-finding Sons blame their Tyler now for any neglect + of duty; once under the ban of suspicion he has proved himself as staunch + a rebel and traitor as Jeff. Davis himself, and is entitled to all the + consideration of a "devilish good fellow." But within a year, more or + less, the "temple" of the <i>Illini</i>, as it was called, removed from + Clark street to the large building upon the corner of Randolph and + Dearborn streets, known as "McCormick's Block." Every Thursday evening + prior to the eighth of November 1864, the windows of the hall in the fifth + story gave evidence that the hall was occupied, but further than this + evidence was not for the observer, however curious he might be, unless, + perchance, he was a member of "the Order." Clambering up the long nights + of stairs that lead to the hall, on a Thursday evening, the party in quest + of discovery would be not a little surprised at the class of men he would + notice upon the march upward; he would involuntarily button up his pockets + and keep as far distant from his fellow travelers as possible, for a more + God-forsaken looking class of vagabonds never before entered a respectable + building, and it is a matter of some doubt whether so many graceless + scoundrels were ever before convened in one building in Chicago, not + excepting the Armory when the police have been unusually active and + vigilant. Occasionally a fine looking man would brush hastily by you, as + if afraid to be discovered and recognised—not in the least + conscience-stricken, perhaps, for his purposes and intentions. Should the + gas-light show to you the comely features of the Grand Senior Obadiah + Jackson, Jr. Esq., on his pilgrimage upward, you would scarcely be willing + to believe that he was the presiding genius of the room in the upper + regions, and bound to dispense light and wisdom to the motley crowd who + would so soon be filling the hall with fumes of cheap tobacco and the + poorest quality of whiskey, mingled with the fragrance of onions, borne by + gentle zephyrs from yonder open vestibule. Yonder comes L.A. Doolittle, + Esq., a lawyer of some distinction and a justice of the peace; he wears a + look of wisdom, and you can read upon his face that he is certain that the + "despot Lincoln," and "Lincoln's hirelings," and "Lincoln's bastiles" are + all going under together beneath the wheels of the triumphal car drawn by + the opposition party, with Vallandigham as the leader. But we will not try + to find any great number of fine looking men in very close proximity to + the hall. Arriving on the fifth floor, and proceeding to a door upon which + you find the sign of the "American Protestant Association," your friends + casting furtive glances around and behind them, disappear by the door and + are lost to view; one by one, like stars upon the approach of dawn, our + constellation vanishes. You open the door, but your curiosity is not + repaid; the seedy friends who preceded you but an instant are lost to + sight—presto! the room is as vacant as a last year's robin's nest, + and observation detects a hole of six inches in diameter in a door in one + side of the room; you try the door, but it is fast, and you may leave if + you wish, but the idea of a Copperhead crawling through a hole six inches + in diameter will haunt your dreams that night. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. II. + </h2> + <p> + FOREIGN POWERS THE ENEMIES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT—THEIR PART IN + THE PROGRAMME OF THE REBELLION. + </p> + <p> + The event of the American revolution burst upon the world as the most + startling era in the history of nations. Monarchical Europe had long + envied the proud career and inevitable destiny of these States, which had + been shaken as the brightest jewels from the British Crown. Monarchs, + Emperors, Queens, lords, princes and diplomats, who wield the sceptre of + dominion, could not conceal the joy afforded them by a scene, which + executed, promised the speedy extinguishment of the leading national power + on the globe, and the final demolition of the only altar of liberty upon + which the fires of freedom had continued bright. + </p> + <p> + The event created the more joy, because it was attributable partly to the + efforts so strenuously put forth for many preceding years by the combined + enemies of American Independence, to poison the American mind and breed + disunion in the ranks of a free, industrious and honest yeomanry, with a + view to the ultimate dissolution of the bonds of the Union. + </p> + <p> + These enemies, however, for some time anterior to the development of the + fruit of their labors, had begun to despair of the cause in which they had + engaged, and it is possible that the scheme of American wreck and ruin + upon their part had been permanently abandoned, hence their immediate + demonstrations of joy at the triumph of their cause of sedition. + </p> + <p> + But seeds sown, however barren the soil, seldom fail of some growth, and + subsequent to the presidential election of 1860, the great American + rebellion became transparent to both friend and foe. To enumerate and + examine in detail the different phases of the programme of artificial + causes which precipitated defiance of the General Government, and gave + origin to the chronic disorder of the people of different sections upon + the subject of their government, would occupy more space than has been + allotted this brief narrative, which is more especially intended to + embrace a readable compilation of the later movements of the enemies of + the Government to crown the Confederate cause with success, through the + bloody implement of Conspiracy and Revolution in the Northern States. + </p> + <p> + Having alluded to the prominent part occupied by foreign hostile powers in + the general scheme of Conspiracy against the Federal Government, a brief + allusion to the part executed by the native born American will not be out + of place. + </p> + <p> + The cheek tingles with the blush of shame, when alas, it <i>must</i> be + said that the pride of the American has been humbled by his too faithful + adherence to the grand original compact of treason, even after the second + most potent auxiliary to the plan had been tenderly touched with the + wickedness of the scheme, and had withdrawn in dismay at the approach of + the enactment of crime so revolting. + </p> + <p> + All things material and tangible have their bases and starting points, so + too, had the Southern Rebellion its foundation stone laid deep and solid + in the minds of the people by John C. Calhoun, the first great Supreme + Commander of the germ from whence sprung the various elements of treason, + which have entered into the composition of the powers seeking the + destruction of the Federal Government. As for the doctrine of State Rights + as expounded by Calhoun, it is carried beyond the Virginia and Kentucky + resolutions of '98, to that point which renders it destructive of the end + for which it is claimed to be enunciated. + </p> + <p> + It has been sought to carry the doctrine to that extremity beyond the + exercise of its own reserved powers, which must inevitably bring it in + collision with the legitimate operation of the powers delegated to the + General Government. + </p> + <p> + With this extreme, hence fallacious, doctrine of State Rights thus firmly + imbedded in the hearts and heads of a zealous people, rendering them, upon + conscientious principles, the ready tools of ambitious leaders, filled + with lust for power and place, it should not be a matter of so much + surprise, that, after years of uninterrupted and persistent education and + training of the generations in their order, that the year of 1860 found + the continent trembling beneath the crack of musketry, the tread of horse, + and the roar of cannon. + </p> + <p> + As among the more important means used by designing men in aid of the + scheme of rebellion, and the ultimate establishment of a separate + government in the South, the nucleus of which was to be the cotton states, + secret organizations, assuming different names and traditions in different + localities in the South were established, having for their special mission + in the meantime the privacy of the plot, and the education of the people + to that indispensable standard of treason which would eventually lead them + to avow their principles at the point of the sword. + </p> + <p> + These organizations, in point of antiquity, are traced to a time not long + anterior to the nullification of South Carolina in 1832, which was so + promptly suppressed by General Jackson, then President of the United + States. Some of them, however, claim even greater antiquity, and point + with affected pride to the historical period of the American colonial + revolution against the taxation and tyranny of England, as the date of + their origin. Whatever may be the facts as to the precise date of the + existence, respectively, of these disreputable cables, laid to undermine + the greatness and glory of the National Union, cemented as it is by the + blood of the sires and sages of the Revolution, is unimportant to the + purpose of the author, while the great living fact that they have been the + most deadly weapon in the hands of the enemy is corroborated by the + eventful history of the union of these States. + </p> + <p> + Prior to the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, these various + organizations, being the van-guards in the general conspiracy against the + integrity and perpetuity of the Federal Government, had not been + introduced, to any great extent, in the non-slaveholding states, and in + consequence thereof had little or no tangibility north of the compromise + of 1820, familiarly known as Mason and Dixon's line. South of this line, + however, they had long been standing institutions in every city, town, + hamlet, villa and populated district throughout all of the late so-called + Confederate States of America; vying the Palmetto in rankness of growth, + and rivaling the rattlesnake in deadness of poison, until at length, + gorged with their own baneful offspring, and pale with the sickness of + their own stomachs, the child of secession was born unto them as a curse + and reproach to the Southern people and the generations to follow them + forever. + </p> + <p> + On the 17th of April, 1861, the report of the gun fired upon Fort Sumter + was heard by every member of these secret conclaves in the South, and was + the signal for the opening of the outer gates of every temple of treason + in the land. + </p> + <p> + From that inauspicious moment forward to the present, no mask has hid from + the scorn of the Christian world treason's hideous visage, but that + blear-eyed monster, armed with every weapon of iniquity which devilish + invention could devise, has alternately, with rage and despair, rushed to + and fro across the continent, spilling the blood of innocence. + </p> + <p> + When, upon the occurrence of the Presidential election in 1860, it was + found that the kernel planted by Calhoun had been fostered to maturity by + secret organization, the blood and treasure of seven states was at once + staked upon the fearful result, and the disruption of the Republic and the + erection of a slave-driving despotism upon the ruins solemnly declared. In + the outset, it was thought by leading political minds at the North, that + but little sincerity could be attached to the assertion of independence by + the Southern people. But as time elapsed and the contest grew more + formidable and bloody, Northern men began by degrees to comprehend the + magnitude of a chronic conspiracy which had cost the life-long labors of + its ablest advocates to prepare. And though the hosts enlisted in the + execution of this conspiracy for a time won the prestige of victors upon + fields of blood, knowledge of their sincerity of purpose and the extent of + their carefully collected resources at length came to every loyal man in + the country, and vigorous measures, corresponding to the necessity, were + at once devised, the effects of which are now seen in the capture of + Richmond and the surrender of Lee. + </p> + <p> + Earlier than this date in the progress of the struggle, however, it became + manifest that the wheel of fortune would eventually turn against the cause + of the South in consequence of her comparative weakness to contend against + a power so amply provided with the material of war as the government at + Washington. Then it was that the project of enlarging the area of the + rebellion, first fell upon the Southern mind as indispensable to their + cause, now fast becoming desperate in the extreme. Hurried raids into + border northern states gave to the prowess of southern arms but momentary + <i>eclat</i>, and little or no enduring strength was added to the + stability of the Richmond government, beyond the plunder obtained in the + line of march. On the contrary, these raids, instead of being evidence of + the power of the South to maintain the standard of independence, were + looked upon by the military chieftains of the North, without apprehension + further than the demoralization, consequent upon the particular + neighborhoods and districts thus invaded. In fact each recurring raid gave + additional grounds for the confident belief on the part of the North, that + the downfall of the rebellion was but a question of time, much sooner to + be solved than many people of both sections supposed. These symptoms of + the distress of the cause meantime did not escape the sagacity of the + leaders of the rebellion, and as an expedient remedy, the plan of secretly + organizing traitors in the northern states was determined upon as early as + 1862, by the political representatives and agents of the confederate + states, the attempt, character and success of which project will be the + subject of the next chapter. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. III. + </h2> + <p> + ARENA OF THE REBELLION EXTENDED—SECRET ORGANIZATION—PLAN OF + FORMATION—KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE—TRANSPORTS ON THE RIVERS + BURNED—EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES—SUPREME COUNCIL IN NEW YORK—DEGREES + OF THE ORDERS. + </p> + <p> + As above intimated, early in 1862 the Richmond Government foresaw the + necessity of bringing to its aid the hitherto comparatively dormant + resources of treason in the Northern States, and the enlargement of the + arena of the Rebellion. Raids having ominously failed in their design to + arouse the lethargic spirits of Northern sympathizers and advocates, to + rush to the standard of the misguided South, it was immediately determined + to prolong the war, at least, to the date of the next Presidential + election, and then through the agencies of secret organization and + equipment, seize upon the excitement of the people in a hotly contested + election, to force a rebellion against the administration elect in the + North, as had been done in the South in 1860. + </p> + <p> + The executive part of this object was at once given into the hands of such + trustworthy men, both North and South, as were deemed suitable to the + enterprise, and the work of secret political organization was vigorously + begun in Northern Missouri and Kentucky, from thence it gradually spread, + until it was firmly rooted in the political tenets of the minority party + in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and portions of + other adjoining States. + </p> + <p> + Much dissimilarity existed in the operative structure and formation of the + various organizations, from time to time thus instituted. To give the + public a full and complete description of these organizations, would be + foreign to the writer's time, space and purpose, but in order that some + record of their character may be made, a general description of each in + its order in point of time, with a reference to the features in which + radical dissimilarities appear, would seem indispensible to the poor + perfection sought to be obtained by the author of these sketches. + </p> + <p> + Upon the discovery by Southern leaders that their cause must fail unless + "fire in the rear" was at once instigated in the North, the Order of the + Knights of the Golden Circle, an old Southern institution, was infused + with life, and began its pilgrimage Northward, one additional creed having + been ingrafted upon it. + </p> + <p> + It will be remembered that this Order was originally composed of the + wealthiest planters, merchants and professional men of the South, and had + for its sole object the inculcation of treason against the United States. + It was simply an institution to educate the Southern mind to the required + standard of rebellion. But when the Order was introduced into the North, + it was found feasible to give it a double capacity, first that of an + educational capacity, and second that of an incendiary capacity, which + comprised the destruction of government property, and the houses and + property of leading loyal citizens of the North, known to be strong + advocates of the suppression of the rebellion. But this organization in + name and cardinal purpose was short-lived, its career having subserved but + a meagre benefit to the South, in a practical point of view. The damage it + did was principally confined to the burning of United States transports on + the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the moulding of the crude opinions of + its members, which served as a solid foundation for the establishment of + the Order of American Knights, which immediately succeeded its + dissolution. + </p> + <p> + Like all institutions of iniquity, the sun of the Order of Knights of the + Golden Circle went down in blood, but was the signal for the advent of an + Order better calculated to meet the ends of its design. + </p> + <p> + It had been seen upon experiment that the Golden Circle had been + successful beyond the most sanguine expectations of its instigators, and + as the necessity of Northern revolution to insure the certain success of + the Confederacy daily became more apparent to the rebels, both North and + South, the Order of the American Knights was inaugurated—the + executioner of that fell purpose. Its sun arose to its meridian with the + suddenness of a meteor, doomed to flash across the canopy and burst in + scattering atoms. + </p> + <p> + The Order of American Knights was erected upon the dissolved fragments of + the Order of the Knights of the Golden Circle, which Order, in name, was + abandoned for the additional reason that the suspicions of the Government + had begun to be aroused as to the character of its movements. At the time + of the extinction of the Golden Circle, its members were at once inducted + into the Order of American Knights, so that this Order obtained much + primary advantage, in point of numerical strength, over its predecessor, + for the Golden Circle had already insidiously crept into the very hearts + of several Northern cities and states. The American Knights being composed + in the outset wholly of men who from experience had discovered whatever + defectiveness may have been chargeable upon the Golden Circle, it was + sought in the new Order to remedy the evils of the old Order. + </p> + <p> + With this in view, looking over the former and later phases of the Golden + Circle as it had existed in the North and South, respectively, it was + agreed to give the new Order still another capacity, and what was called + the military branch or department was added, the incendiary capacity of + the old Order being merged into this new military department. + </p> + <p> + We have seen that there had been in the North an Order mainly of + educational capacity, contemplating revolution so soon as the public mind + could be put in readiness for such an event, but now for the first time we + find an Order prepared in its organic structure, to speedily collect + together the elements of revolution and set them in motion. Such a concern + was the Order of American Knights. True, the rise of the Order created a + momentary excitement in political circles, as yet unaccustomed to dealing + with the stern problems of Northern revolution by resort to arms. But, by + the admirable adjustment of the administrative powers of the Order, into + degrees, sub-degrees and departments of degrees and sub-degrees, the + leaders were enabled to give to each adventurer in quest of the hidden + mysteries of the so-called impartial maxims of genuine Democracy—that + Democracy which <i>boasts of having permeated through every fibre and + artery of our political, commercial and social systems</i>, a comfortable + and genial sphere in which he was left to operate upon his good behavior. + </p> + <p> + Upon this ingenious plan the vast body and mass of the Order simply held + the relation of probationary membership, until they were rendered + competent through the educational capacity of the society, to advance into + full fellowship with its diabolical design. A glance at this organization + will suffice to show the shrewdness of the transient and local agents of + the Confederacy, in their formation of an Order, having for its mission + the attainment of so many incidental objects, without in the meantime + subjecting themselves to the dangers of collision in their machinery. + Accordingly, the Order was composed of three general degrees, viz.: First, + the Temple Degree, second, the Grand Council Degree, and third, the + Supreme Council Degree. + </p> + <p> + The first or Temple Degree, resembled the county organization of a State, + and held the same relation to the second or Grand Council Degree (which + was the state organization of the Order,) that our county government holds + to our State government, and it was always sought to establish this first + or Temple Degree at each county seat in a State, as expeditiously as + possible, that the second or Grand Council Degree could the sooner be + fully represented, and begin its State management of the Order. In other + chapters the writer has made a passing, though sufficient allusion to the + internal workings of these Temples, and doubtless the initiated reader, in + different sections, will recognize the facts we have already and are + further about to state, notwithstanding the "<i>obligation</i>" the author + is supposed to have subscribed to, not to reveal the existence of the + Order and its secrets, under <i>penalty of "suffering a shameful death."</i> + </p> + <p> + The process usually followed in instituting the Temple Degree, was to send + missionaries with authority, into the districts proposed to be organized, + who called together such of the "unterrified" leaders as were known to be + "<i>sound</i> on Jeff. Davis' goose," before whom the design and object of + the Order was confidentially laid for their approval or rejection, by a + majority vote. It is important to recollect that the record does not + afford an instance where a majority of those assembled for this purpose, + rejected the Order as inconsistent with their political views. On the + contrary, it was everywhere received by the politicians, both great and + small, as "<i>just the thing they had been looking for</i>." These + politicians were then left to "manage their own local affairs" concerning + the Order, "subject only to the constitution" of <i>Jeff. Davis</i>. + Generally, several meetings and some discussion enabled these empyrics to + determine plans of strategy to screen themselves, by "<i>covering the + tracks in the sand</i>," a remark frequently heard from members. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: THE MILITARY COMMISSION IN SESSION IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE + COURT HOUSE IN CINCINNATI. + </p> + <p> + "All whom we arrested wore the same general wolfish aspect."—From + the testimony of Brig. Gen. B.J. Sweet.} + </p> + <p> + The plan in most cases adopted, was to familiarize a sufficient number of + the <i>elect</i>, with a grossly immoral and treasonable pamphlet, called + the "Ritual of the Order," to enable them to officer the Temple, and + "induct" any number of "candidates" <i>supposed</i> to be "in waiting in + the ante-room, into the sublime," but in fact dark and dubious "mysteries + of the Order." + </p> + <p> + After one or more squads of these "candidates in" anxious and breathless + "waiting" had been inducted, (meanwhile staring like stuck pigs at every + object and officer which met their eyes,) in addition to the regular + officers of the Temple already installed, it was considered that enough + official and canvassing material had been acquired, and the more prominent + politicians, not officers of the Temple, deemed it prudent to absent + themselves from most of the weekly meetings. Again, it was an illusion of + these leaders, to put forward the most irresponsible persons at their + command, as the mouth-pieces and official representatives of the Order, to + the end that if detected, the theory of <i>crazy, powerless fools</i>, + could be wielded upon public sentiment by an undisturbed partisan press, + to save the scheme from thorough investigation and development by the + authorities. + </p> + <p> + In evidence of the fact of these illusions, L.A. Doolittle lectures the + Temple in Chicago on the "purposes and plans of the Order," (but who by + the way, was not so "insane on the subject" as the men who put him forward + have sought to show him to be,) and prominent politicians, not before + known to be members of the fraternity, appear prior to semi-annual + elections as candidates for representatives in the Grand Council. + </p> + <p> + It was duly announced, also, that an extra session of the Supreme Council + had been convened in the city of New York, charged with the special + business of revising the ritual, changing the signs, passwords, grips, and + giving to the Order a new name. Pursuant to announcement, Charles W. + Patten made his appearance in the Temple with the rituals and + paraphernalia of the new Order of the Sons of Liberty—the result of + the proceedings of the late Supreme Council. + </p> + <p> + This obscure individual, with fame limited to the dusty walls of the + Invincible Club Rooms and the traitor's dungeon at Camp Douglas, upon his + appearance in the Temple, assigned two chief reasons for the recent action + of the Supreme Council. First and most important was, the obvious + inadequacy of the Order of American Knights to subserve the purpose for + which it was instituted, in consequence of the subordination of the + military to the civil department. And, second, the disclosure in St. Louis + had rendered the Order liable to intrusion by spies, an embarrassment to + be avoided only by alteration of signs, grips, passwords, and name. We + were then informed that we were Sons of Liberty (a sensible man would have + said sons of the devil, if he had dared to have spoken the truth), and + earnestly exhorted to exercise the utmost caution in adhering to the new + rules and instructions of the Supreme Council. It is not a little amusing + to witness the homeopathic doses of modern democracy, carefully + administered to the rank and file of the northern people through the + medium of these Orders. + </p> + <p> + In the first place, the Golden Circle edifies the "stranger advancing in + dark, devious ways" with lessons upon the doctrine of state sovereignty, + and admonishes him to "follow the straight and narrow path which is paved + with gems and pearls, and bordered with perennial flowers whose perfumes + all his senses will entrance," all of which is received by the sincere + candidate with every mark of approval. We next find the American Knights + embracing its members in the bedazzling folds of military lace to be used + when in arms against the Government. A splendid spectacle of the doctrines + of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Douglas! And to cap the miserable + climax, men boasting of the Democracy of their fathers in a line of lineal + descent for generations back, are required to subscribe to the doctrine of + the subordination of the civil to the military authority by the tenets of + the Sons of Liberty. + </p> + <p> + This astonishing feature of the Sons of Liberty, as contradistinguished + from the Orders which preceded it, at first met with murmurs of disfavor, + but the dissatisfaction was principally among men who ultimately acted the + <i>nobler part</i>, and as the tide of treason rolled up to sustain this + measure "for the good of the Order," all such were submerged and lost + sight of, except by the evil eye set upon them as spies. + </p> + <p> + Without offering his advice, the writer would respectfully ask the <i>true</i> + Democrat, who may yet, from the temptations of firmly-rooted prejudices, + incline to the belief that this organization was purely democratic in the + Andrew Jackson acceptation of that term, how the above statement of + principles comports with his notions of the doctrines of the party with + which he has hitherto seen fit to fellowship? + </p> + <p> + Is it not clearly to be seen that this Order meditated the establishment + of a government more despotic in its character than history furnishes any + example of? A government with three degrees or departments, each + oath-bound and a profound secret to the other, moving in their appointed + spheres, and the civil departments of which were secondary, in point of + power, to the military departments! + </p> + <p> + Let no man, of whatever political persuasion he may be, flatter himself + for a moment that such a government could be Republican in its nature. + </p> + <p> + Having now traced, with perhaps a tedious hand, the rise and fall of two + political Orders, ranking among the most powerful instruments of crime and + public wrong of their day, the writer bids their unmourned remains + farewell, to pass to the consideration in the succeeding chapter, of the + desperate career and final explosion of the Order of the Sons of Liberty—a + solemn warning to the American people forever. + </p> + <p> + To save the Goudys, Caulfields, Adams, Edwards, Duncans, Wickershams, + Cuttings, and Kimberlys, the Morrises, Walshes, Jacksons, Pattens, Gearys, + and Doolittles were put forward because they were eager for the fray, and + possessed the temerity to brave the danger of Union bullets. + </p> + <p> + We have now seen how the Temple or First Degree was instituted in + counties; how the various elements of treason were collected together and + detailed for their special service of educating the ignorant, + manufacturing materials and munitions of war, and devising plots to burn, + plunder, and pillage unsuspecting cities; how each member was singled out + according to his fitness for certain duties, which he performed without + their character coming even to his fellow members of the same degree; and + how the brained leaders of these institutions retired to the back ground + to elude the vigilance of the ministers of the law, and "adjust the wires" + that were to check to-day, and to-morrow precipitate the conspiracy. + </p> + <p> + The Grand Council, or Second Degree, was established in every State where + the Temple Degree had obtained any strength and character as to numbers. + This Degree resembled the State in its governmental organization, and bore + the same relation to the Supreme Council or Third Degree that the State + governments of the Federal Union bear to the government at Washington. The + Order having a military department, these Grand Councils, in council + assembled, adopted the militia and other statute laws of the particular + State, with such revisions, exceptions and additional laws as were deemed + essential to the successful operation of the Order. + </p> + <p> + Regular semi-annual meetings of the Grand Councils were held, convening + respectively on the 22d of August and the 22d of February—the + latter, in sacrilege be it said, being religiously observed as the + birthday of Washington. + </p> + <p> + But extra sessions were almost monthly called during the year of 1864, + prior to the election, to take precautionary and other expedient action + upon the continually recurring changes of that eventful year. No + considerable battle was fought in the front, that was not the signal for + the assembling of this council, and no political event of any importance + transpired that did not receive the solemn deliberations of this already + <i>de facto</i> legislative body. Of course no person ever became a member + of this Council who had not first been inducted into the Temple, and then + by his Temple elected as a representative in the Grand Council, the + election for which purpose was held semi-annually as above, and new + representatives took their seats at each regular session. + </p> + <p> + The Grand Council embraced in its sphere of labors such duties as + experience seemed to dictate, as being necessary to the fulfilment of the + mission of the Order. It provided remedies for unmistakable evils, and + watched with a zealous care and fostering hand, every interest of treason + within the boundaries of its jurisdiction. + </p> + <p> + The Supreme Council or Third and highest Degree of the Order in + organization, was built after the pattern of the Federal government at + Washington, and wielded a similar general control over the affairs of the + Order, that our National government exerts over the consequences growing + out of the union of the States under one central government. Here we see + how admirably the design to effect Northern rebellion was conceived. The + whole machinery of a government <i>de facto</i>, and in disguise though, + it was, with all its branches, both civil and military in active operation + for months and years within the very sound of the echoing steps of + senators in the halls of the Capitol, was indeed a source of the most + serious concern to the authorities, for the safety of the Republic. But + valorous daring, tempered with prudence, was destined to bring to the + light of day this infernal work of years, and accordingly the city of St. + Louis was the scene of the first public development of the Order of + American Knights, early in the spring of 1864, the principal facts of + which disclosure the public learned from the press at the time, hence the + writer will only allude in this connection to the effect created in + various Circles of the Order, by the attempt upon the part of the + Government to thwart the perpetration of the red-handed crimes + contemplated by the leaders. When it was officially announced by Reuben + Cassile, presiding Grand Seignior of the Chicago Temple, then recently + removed from the Invincible Club Hall to McCormick's Building, that + disclosures of the Order in St. Louis had occurred, every countenance was + stamped with dismay. The timely appearance at the Temple, however, of + Judge Morris and other leaders, served to interpose restraint upon any + serious apprehensions of difficulty resulting to the Order. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. IV. + </h2> + <p> + NEW ERA IN SECRET POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS—PLEDGE TO "TAKE UP ARMS" + FOR JEFF. DAVIS—TRUE DEMOCRACY STRUCK DOWN—NATIONAL AND STATE + LEADERS—INVINCIBLE CLUB LEADERS—VALLANDIGHAM'S RETURN TO THE + STATES IN HIS CAPACITY OF SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY. + </p> + <p> + A new era in the history of secret political orders was opened by the Sons + of Liberty. + </p> + <p> + As the Presidential election of 1864 approached, the party in the minority + began to appreciate the awkwardness of its attitude upon the political + issues of the day, and appeared determined in its conclusion to obtain the + ascendency in the coming administration, by means of fraud and force. + </p> + <p> + The great mass of the party had now become conversant and familiar with + every species of political crime, through secret organization, and it only + remained for the leaders to decide upon a programme, to have it executed + with despatch and fidelity. + </p> + <p> + Languishing under the lash of chastisement inflicted upon those infamous + enough to aid and abet the cause of dismemberment, mutual hate and + slaughter, National extinction and death, they swore in this Order an + eternal and most dreadful oath of vengeance upon their offenders, and + pledged themselves, under fearful penalties of death, "ever to take up + arms in the cause of the oppressed in their own country, first of all, + against any monarch, prince, potentate, power or government usurped, and + found in arms and waging war against a people or peoples, who had of their + own <i>free choice</i>, inaugurated a government for themselves, in + accordance with and founded upon the eternal principles of truth." + </p> + <p> + Thus, the liveliest form of ancient or modern civilization, in a republic + just rising to the glories of empire, was to be sacrificed to the mad + notion of petty "State Sovereignty," by a sworn band of desperadoes. How + sad when other generations would ask, where is the Federal Government, to + be answered only by poets, who would sing her elegy, as in the past they + have sang that of the lamented Hellas: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Ask the Paynim slave, + Who treads all tearless on her hallowed grave; + Invoke the spirits of the past, and shed + The voice of your strong bidding on the dead! + Lo! from a thousand crumbling tombs they rise— + The great of old, the powerful and the wise! + And a sad tale which none but they can tell, + Falls on the mournful silence like a knell. + Then mark yon lonely pilgrim bend and weep + Above the mound where genius lies in sleep. + And is this all? Alas! we turn in vain, + And, turning, meet the self-same waste again— + The same drear wilderness of stern decay; + Its former pride, the phantom of a day; + A song of summer-birds within a bower; + A dream of beauty traced upon a flower; + A lute whose master-chord has ceased to sound; + A morning-star struck darkling to the ground." +</pre> + <p> + The thought of the miserable commentary stirs the ire of the patriot and + nerves his arm to daring deeds, in the holy cause of liberty, the + constitution, and his country. + </p> + <p> + Skulk back into your dark dens of iniquity, you Clement L. Vallandigham, + and you James A. McMaster, and you S. Corning Judd, and you Amos Green, + and you P.C. Wright, (in Fort Lafayette where you ought to be,) before the + wrath of honest people falls upon your wicked heads! Each of you, with the + exception of <i>you</i>, Wright, being too infamous for that, even, have + been before the Commission at Cincinnati, and stand before an outraged + people condemned out of your own lips! Dare insult the light of day with + your hideous faces, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks of public scorn! + </p> + <p> + But to return to our text, the Sons of Liberty, we find that undaunted + organization in full blast from the time of its official inception in New + York up to the Monday morning of the arrests on the 7th of November last. + </p> + <p> + It is now proposed to show, by an allusion to certain prominent facts + occurring during the summer of '64, that the so-called Democratic party + was the mainspring to the great conspiracy that has been attempted in the + North with so much audacity that many men of the best judgment can + scarcely believe it to be a reality. In this we do not wish to be + understood that all men who have heretofore voted the "unterrified" + ticket, have knowingly and willingly given aid and comfort to the + treasonable plans and purposes of their leaders, for our personal + acquaintance among that class of anti-administration men, is sufficient to + enable us to say, with confidence, that many of them are as loyal at heart + as any man who ever breathed the air of an American freeman. + </p> + <p> + But we mean this, and proclaim the fact in the face of every foe, that + upon the death of that lamented statesman and patriot, Stephen A. Douglas, + the Woods and McMasters of New York, the Seymours of Connecticut, the + Vallandighams and Pendletons of Ohio, the Voorhees and Dodds of Indiana, + the Judds and Greens of Illinois, and others of like ilk in other States, + obtained the chieftainship of the party and inveigled its too pliable + ranks into the prostituting embrace of this foul conspiracy, to overthrow + the government and crown with success the cause of the confederate arms. + It must be readily seen by every honest man of ordinary intelligence, that + such an affair could never have gained a foothold among our people under a + truly loyal condition of the opposing party. The truthfulness of this + assertion is so very forcible to the candid reader, that illustration or + argument in support of it would be superfluous. However, occasional + incidents will serve better to connect popular leaders with the subject of + these sketches, and call to the minds of participants practical facts. + </p> + <p> + Brig. Gen. Charles Walsh, some time during the winter of '64 and '65, + received his quantum of a fund, of which we shall hereafter speak, to + purchase arms to be distributed in the 1st Congressional district of + Illinois, comprising the county of Cook, and the scene of the late Chicago + conspiracy, the enactment of which was to be the signal for a general + conflagration of our cities, and thus fulfil the prophecy of Jeff. Davis, + that the grass would grow again, on the streets of the cities of the + North. + </p> + <p> + Do the leaders of the Invincible Club, among whom are W.C. Goudy, John + Garrick, Malcom McDonald, and Dr. Swayne Wickersham, remember that that + institution was to be the public mouth-piece of the Sons of Liberty, in an + address to the Democracy of Chicago, to have been issued during the + Presidential campaign? + </p> + <p> + Do they also remember the joint delegation of Invincibles and Sons of + Liberty that received Vallandigham and the Woods of New York, on their + arrival in Chicago to participate in, and mould the proceedings of the + National Democratic Convention? + </p> + <p> + Do they further remember the remarkable speech made in their Hall during + the Convention, by Capt. Rynders of New York, whom they hissed from the + platform for his bold and fearless expression of loyal sentiments? + </p> + <p> + Do they remember the motto, "Never worship the setting sun," which + appeared on transparencies, and frequently fell from their own lips, and + was meant as a hit upon those who were supposed to have allied themselves + with treason, because of their belief in its eventual success? + </p> + <p> + Do they remember how it was proposed that Charles Walsh, of the Sons of + Liberty, was to negotiate a purchase of the Chicago <i>Post</i>, and + convert it to the same villainous purpose of its contemporary, the <i>Times</i>? + </p> + <p> + Have they forgotten the fifty or sixty thousand dollars raised by + subscription to the books of the Club, nominally to be used for procession + and illuminating purposes, but which was used for the purchase of arms and + the importation of butternuts, to engage in the attack upon Camp Douglas? + </p> + <p> + Have they forgotten that large sums of this money was obtained under false + pretences—under pretences that it was to be used for ordinary + campaign purposes? + </p> + <p> + Have they forgotten that through their instrumentality the McClellan + Escorts, then organized in every ward, were officered by Sons of Liberty? + </p> + <p> + Have they forgotten the meeting of Invincible Club members and Sons of + Liberty in the sanctum sanctorum of the Chicago <i>Times</i>, where the + question of punishing Col. R.M. Hough and Mr. Eddy, in redress of personal + injuries alleged to have been inflicted upon Wilbur F. Story, was gravely + discussed by B.G. Caulfield, O.J. Rose, Alderman Barrett, S. Remington and + others, and where also, large numbers of muskets and smaller arms were + exhibited? + </p> + <p> + And lastly, have they forgotten that the Sons of Liberty, upon a certain + occasion well known to every Copperhead member of the last Common Council + of the city of Chicago, held themselves in readiness till after midnight, + expecting to be called to the assistance of that, at that time, + treasonable body? + </p> + <p> + None know the significance of these questions better than the persons + above mentioned, and <i>others who were on hand about those times</i>. The + merchants of South Water street in Chicago can now, perhaps, explain why + they were called upon to subscribe so heavily to the books of the + Invincible Club, and the writer would suggest the propriety of these + merchants compelling those who solicited these subscriptions, to deliver + up the arms so purchased, or refund the money to its rightful owners. + </p> + <p> + It is pretty well understood, we believe, that the Bridgeport Irish, vote + the "<i>straight ticket</i>." It is said, also, that James Geary, a Son of + Liberty and "old clothes man" on the corner of Wells and Madison streets, + could "influence hundreds of them by the wave of his hand." Now this "old + clothes man" was empowered to furnish food, raiment and shelter to all + escaped rebel prisoners, and charge the same to the Sons of Liberty, <i>alias</i> + the Invincible Club, which, it is thought, <i>sometimes paid such bills</i> + out of South Water Street money <i>subscribed for processions and + illuminations</i>. These facts are the keys to the revenue plan of the + Sons of Liberty. + </p> + <p> + The complicity of the "<i>straight ticket</i>" voters in this scheme is + further shown by the character of their State ticket, headed by Robinson + for Governor, Judd for Lieut. Governor, and Hise of La Salle for Auditor, + each Sons of Liberty, and Judd the Grand Commander of the State. If, as it + would be made to appear, there was no complicity between the Democracy and + the Confederate agents, why did Vallandigham, the Supreme Commander of an + Order having its inception in Richmond, address the people from every + stump in Illinois? If there was no complicity, why did Vallandigham, on + his return from exile, in his official capacity, with his staff around + him, defy the United States government that had justly banished him—with + 80,000 Ohioans at his command? + </p> + <p> + If no complicity, why did all the rebels and confederate agents in Canada + come to the Chicago Convention, and why were they here again at the + November election? Copperheads of Chicago and elsewhere, answer these + questions! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP.V. + </h2> + <p> + INSIDE VIEW OF A LODGE OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY IN CHICAGO—OPEN + EXPRESSIONS OF TREASON—SIGNS OF THE TIMES—WAITING FOR REBEL + VICTORIES—THE GREAT PEORIA PEACE MEETING—WHISKEY, TREASON AND + GUNPOWDER. + </p> + <p> + Prior to July 1864, the information of the public or the authorities, in + respect to the aims, intents and objects of the organized bands of home + traitors, was very meagre and indefinite, for it was no easy task for + detectives or loyal citizens to enter the portals of the Temples. True, + enough had transpired at the investigations, and before military + commissions in different sections of the country, to awaken a painful + interest and unceasing vigilance on the part of loyal men. So well were + these organizations guarded, that vigilance committees of their members + were appointed with imperative instructions to report the names of all + civic officers and detectives in the employment of the United States and + Provost Marshals, and all persons, by whomsoever employed, who should + attempt to obtain the secrets of the Order. So complete was the + organization, that lists of names were reported and read at the weekly + meetings, and the following day the names and descriptions of such + officers were thoroughly circulated and reported to the brethren in other + cities and towns, and as well might a belled cat hope to invade the + precincts of rats and attain success, as for such a "spotted" individual + to gain access to the Temples of American Knights and Sons of Liberty. Not + a change was made on the police, not an increase or decrease of Provost + guards, not a change of even the location of artillery in Camp Douglas, no + change, however minute of interest to the rebels, was made but that it was + reported and discussed within these nests and dens of treason. + </p> + <p> + It was attempted on several occasions by parties of loyal men, to ferret + out and secure the secrets of the Order, but as well might an attempt have + been made to possess the secrets of the Council of Ten, by the officers of + the governments of Europe; it was almost impossible, and yet the + developments upon the recent trials show conclusively, that had the task + not been effected, the most terrible results would have ensued. With the + desire to aid the Government to the extent of individual ability, it was + not strange that when opportunity occurred, whereby all might be known, + and that knowledge applied to the benefit of our bleeding country, that + any loyal man would have availed himself of it, at any hazard. The writer + found such opportunity, and waiving all personal considerations, undertook + the task, trusting in God for success, and conscious that all good men + would approve the motive, and that if for a time, reproach and calumny + should cloud his reputation, or if perchance the assassin's hand should + execute the sworn purpose of the Order, as the penalty for surrendering + them to the hands of our Government, the time would surely come when the + motives and the acts would find that approval in the hearts of all honest + men, as it did in his own. Confiding the information accidentally obtained + to W.H. Rand, Esq., of Chicago, a gentleman whose patriotism and whose + reputation needs no encomiums, he immediately advised the expediency of + conference with the State Executive, and to the honor of Governor Richard + Yates, it should be said, he fully realized the importance of acquiring + reliable information of the plots of the secret ally of Jeff. Davis. By + Governor Yates an introduction was given to Brig.-Gen. Paine, then in + command of the department, and again full and unqualified approval of the + course thus far taken, was expressed, with the urgent request to follow up + every avenue of information in this direction. Gen. Paine issued an + introduction to Col. B.J. Sweet, whom he declared to be a "model man and a + model officer in every respect," and in whom all confidence in so + commendable a cause might be reposed. How nobly, how wisely and how well + that gallant officer discharged his trust, all who have observed his + course will concede, and that man whose heroism at the memorable battle of + Perryville, and on other battle fields, will ever be held in grateful + remembrance by his countrymen, has added new lustre to his name, and the + hearty benedictions which will ever be invoked for the defender of Chicago—the + noble Col. Sweet—attest the satisfaction and joy of the people, to + know that his services in this most difficult and hazardous undertaking + are appreciated by the General Government, and the star upon his shoulder + will glitter brighter as time wears on, and Copperheads live only in + history, an evidence of how low men may sink in the scale of morality, and + a warning to all future time. For the writer to have hesitated in a course + of duty so plain, and yet so distasteful would have been criminal, + cowardly, and unworthy of an American citizen. The advantage gained was + followed up unremittingly, by day and by night, for many weary months, + regardless of all professional duties and personal considerations. It was + at the outset found highly necessary, if not indispensable, to have the + concurrence of one good, loyal man of marked qualification—one who + was discreet, who had experience upon police duties, who was prompt, + energetic, persevering, patient, fearless, and withal a strictly honest + man, a citizen whose reputation was above reproach; that man was found; he + was Robert Alexander. After brief consideration, Mr. Alexander gave to the + writer his hearty and earnest concurrence. Nothing was left undone by him + that could further the hazardous undertaking, and personal gratitude for + his ready acquiescence, which we tender to him, will meet with a ready + response in the hearts of all good citizens. It is now Thursday evening in + July 1864. We will now ask the reader to go again with us up those long, + tedious flights of stairs to the outer rooms of the "temple" of the Sons + of Liberty in Chicago. We left the room before with the remembrance of + only a hole six inches in diameter for a full sized Copperhead to crawl + through, but we shall have better success this time. Advancing to the + aforesaid door, and giving three distinct raps, the slide, which we find + covers the hole from the inside, is moved up, and a live, full-grown + Copperhead peers through the orifice. "We whisper the word "Peace," or + "Peoria," or whatever the monthly pass-word is, and the door is open, and + we find ourselves within the vestibule of the temple, surrounded by a + little group going through the preliminary exercises of initiation. We see + the candidate and sponsors, with hands uplifted, and listen to the very + poor reading of an officer, from the ritual, and giving the new comer his + first dose of States' sovereignty and secession. This is so mystified and + clouded with high-sounding words that the poor devil nods at every time + the reader stops for breath, or to expectorate tobacco juice, and the + ceremony is concluded, and the candidate, respectable for the good clothes + which he wears this night as a rarity, follows his conductor to another + door, where he hopes for admission, the only impression on the candidate + being, that his right arm is weary from being elevated so long, and that + he is coming rapidly into good fellowship with men of high judicial + standing, who propose to give Abolitionists and Lincoln particular "hell + under the shirt tail." Again they knock and are challenged by an inside + guardian, who lectures the newly fledged Son, who having nodded + sufficiently, is conducted to the Ancient Brother in the West, so that the + <i>Son</i>, reversing the order of nature, begins rising in the West. The + "Ancient Brother" is a better reader, for here we find <i>brains</i> for + the first time, as it is the leaders, as we have already said, who do all + the thinking, unless, perchance, the simple wretches find themselves in + Camp Douglas, where they begin thinking for themselves. While the Ancient + Brother is reading to the attentive comer, now happy in the thought that + he has taken himself in out of the <i>draft</i>, let us survey the sanctum + sanctorum; but first let us advance to the centre of the hall, where we + find a piece of dirty oil cloth the size of a door mat, and stepping upon + this, with body erect and turning our back upon the Ancient Brother, we + find ourselves facing the Grand Seignior, who, on our first introduction, + is Judge Morris; we salute, which we do by applying the palm of our right + hand to the lips, then turning the hand to his seigniorship and bringing + our left hand across the breast, which salutation being returned by the + Grand Seignior, who sits upon a raised platform and wields a gavel, we + take seats wherever our sense of cleanliness will permit, and where we + hope there may be no traveling minute messengers conveying ideas from one + man's head to another. On the north side of the room is another platform + and desk, where a guardian sits and addresses the candidate, who is + supposed to lose his way and to be set right by this guardian, and even if + the candidate is thoroughly sober he may be excused for losing his way, + for it is a matter of much doubt whether he was ever in such a labarynth + of words as he has just heard from the Ancient Brother, who, having given + the man some pretty strong obligations, to endorse and support the policy + of Jeff. Davis, together with an intimation that if he ever exposes any of + the secrets, he may expect to suffer all sorts of penalties, and told him + to fancy he had just received an acorn, the emblem of the order—he + now sits down quietly in the pleasant consciousness that "we have got one + more good voter on our side." The guardian of the North having put the new + <i>Son</i> on his way, he appears in the East, reflecting his effulgence + all around. The Grand Seignior now rises from his seat, drops his gavel + and explains the mysteries of the initiation, giving him another dose of + secession, about as much as the poor fellow can carry; tells him how to + challenge a brother, concluding by giving the grand sign of distress, + which is by raising the right hand and calling out "<i>Ocoon</i>" three + times, which he says is made up of the name of <i>Calhoun</i>, whose name + is mentioned with great reverence. Thus closes the ceremony of initiation. + "Considerations for the good of the Order" being the next order of + business, speeches are made by some of the older heads to make the new one + feel at home. This "feast of reason and flow of soul" over, other business + is transacted, and the temple is closed, the Grand Seignor occasionally + expressing a few words of caution, saying that but few members must be + present at the meetings at <i>this</i> hall, as the presence of too great + numbers will excite suspicion and lead to arrest. The next weekly meeting + similar events occur, but <i>new faces</i> appear at every meeting, that + is to say, the greater number of members who were present last week are + absent this week, and others take their places. The Chicago <i>Times</i>, + however, is well represented at most of the important meetings. There were + about two thousand members of the Sons of Liberty in "good and regular + standing" in Chicago alone, at the time they were let down. By careful + arrangements we were able to have reports from the different temples + throughout the most important points in the Northwest, and carefully noted + the chief business and obtained the list of members, all of which has been + as carefully placed in the hands of the authorities of the War Department, + and months ago much of the information was imparted to Maj. Gen. Joseph + Hooker, in command of the Northern Department, who was pleased to express + his highest appreciation of the services rendered, and a desire to have + the investigation thoroughly made, that indisputable facts might be + obtained, that truth and justice might be promoted and the interest of the + country thereby protected. So thorough and searching has been the + investigation that <i>every</i> man of any note in this order, in almost + every locality where this moral cancer has existed, is known and may + consider himself in future upon his good behavior. It was the policy of + the Sons of Liberty, which they observed as far as it was possible for + them to do, to obtain positions of trust in the army, upon the police, in + the courts, in railway offices and telegraph stations, in the office of + Provost Marshals, post-offices, departments of government, both local and + general, indeed, so completely did they carry out this plan, that they + made their boasts that they were represented upon all the railroads + running out of Chicago, and it was not an unusual thing for them to report + matters of the various departments just mentioned. One member of the + Chicago Order, as appeared in evidence before the military commission, + traveled over the North wherever he desired, on the pass of a Provost + Marshal in Indiana, his business being to aid in the organization of + Temples in the different sections of the West. So rapidly did they + increase in numbers, that Judge Morris estimated the number in Illinois + alone at 80,000 members. + </p> + <p> + It was a rule of the organization, that its members should all be well + armed and skilled in the use of weapons. The rapidity of increase in + numbers, rendered them conscious of their strength, and they became openly + defiant and talked treason upon the corners of our streets, and wherever + little groups of people assembled. The mob spirit was excited, and all + were ready for mischief whenever opportunity offered; and while all were + bound to wait submissively till their leaders should give the signal for + revolution, still many were restless and impatient for the hour to come, + and hoped that they would not long have to wait. The suppression of the + Chicago <i>Times</i> was an auspicious moment for them, and they made + capital of it. They were never tired of talking of Vallandigham, and while + that worthy staid in Canada he was very serviceable to the Order, as John + Rogers was of more service to the church dead than while living. + Vallandigham made an excellent martyr and an accomplished exile, but as an + active member at home, old Doolittle, or Charles W. Patten, or James A. + Wilkinson, or J.L. Rock, or Obadiah Jackson, Jr., Esq., or even Mrs. + Morris herself, was worth two just like him. Why he could not have staid + in Canada for the good of the cause, we cannot understand. What a Mecca + was Windsor, and how great was Mahomet, but alas, when the great, the Hon. + Clement Vallandigham relapsed into the three-cent fourth-class lawyer, in + the little one horse city of Dayton, "what a fall was there my + countrymen." No more pilgrimages, no more dinners with the great exile, no + more texts of "arbitrary arrests" to preach from, that could draw as Val + used to draw. + </p> + <p> + The reception of the news of a victory by the rebels, was always an + occasion of rejoicing among the Sons and Knights, and in the exuberance of + their joy they shouted their treason in all sorts of places, and at all + seasons. They assumed to be peace men, and yet were always ready for a + quarrel. It became evident to all who kept posted in politics, that there + would be a wide division between the different wings of the Democracy at + the coming National Convention, and a most determined effort was to be + made by the Peace faction, to control the action of the Convention, and + long before the assembling of that body, newspaper strife had commenced + between them, and it was hoped, and so it proved, that like the Kilkenny + cats, they devoured each other. With Peace in their mouths and contention + in their hearts, the "unterrified" resolved upon a great meeting, to be + held in Peoria. It was a "big thing." The Chicago delegation took for the + calumet of peace several boxes of fire-arms, so that if opportunity + offered they might conquer a peace. Whiskey and gunpowder were other + elements of that meeting, and as the escape of gas in petroleum wells, so + noisy for a time, finally subsides, so after the ebullition at Peoria, + Brig.-Gen. Walsh, and all the Chicago delegates, returned home, bringing + with them their fire arms, without breaking bulk, and these weapons were + carefully deposited, where they could instantly be obtained at the time of + the uprising. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. VI. + </h2> + <p> + MEETING OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL, F.O.S.L. AT THE RICHMOND HOUSE, CHICAGO—TWO + MILLION DOLLARS DISBURSED AS CONSIDERATION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER—TRAITORS + TO BE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER BY BADGES, AND THEIR PROPERTY SAVED BY + DISPLAYING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. + </p> + <p> + We have already shown that the three degrees in the Sons of Liberty had + each their specific province. The lower strata composed of the rough + material from which the Grand Council was made up by selections or choice + of the brighter and more shining lights,—persons whose political + views were up to the standard of treason, whose qualifications of + intellect, shrewdness, cunning, caution, promptness, and firmness of + purpose fully met the requirements of this degree of the order. The + Supreme Council was composed of the Supreme Commanders—the ruling + spirits of the order. This council was the body, therefore, from which all + important measures must emanate, and the secrecy of their movements, even + from the order below them, except such business as was regularly + transmitted, was quite equal to that of the lower order, from the rest of + the world. Such being the nature and character of this royal degree, and + the fact that an uprising had been determined upon, it will be seen how + essential it was to the Government of the United States, to be advised of + their plans, and the old adage that "where there is a will there is a + way," was not a fallacy in the present case. On or about the 20th of July, + 1863, agreeably to a private notice which had been extended to the Supreme + Council, a meeting of that body was convened at the Richmond House, + Chicago. During that day, as well as on the day preceding, members of that + organization arrived in the city, and among the notables present on that + occasion was Col. Barrett, who was a Major-General of the Sons of Liberty, + in command of the District of Illinois, but who on the present occasion + appeared in another character of no less moment, that of representative of + the Confederate States Government, and charged with certain important + instructions. Among the members present were Captain Majors, from Canada; + Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, of Chicago; Judge Bullitt, of the Supreme Court + of Kentucky, who acted as Chairman; Dr. Bowles, Mr. Swan, Mr. Williams, + Mr. Green, Mr. Piper, Mr. Holloway, H.H. Dodd and James B. Wilson, Auditor + of Washington County, Indiana. The last named person and Mr. Green were + present as members of Dr. Bowles' staff. After considerable discussion + upon minor matters, Major-General Barrett, (commonly called Colonel + Barrett, who had served the Rebel Government with some distinction, and + was a first class rebel), made a formal proposition to unite Illinois, + Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana with the Confederate States, through + the agency of the Sons of Liberty, and as to the other States, their + relations would be an after consideration. The enterprise, he stated, + would be attended with no little expense, and would necessarily involve + extreme caution, prudence and firmness. He added, that the Southern + Confederacy had placed in his hands the snug little sum of two millions of + dollars, which had been captured from a Federal paymaster on the Red + River, in Arkansas, to be applied in furtherance of this proposition. + Captain Majors was also, by his own statement, a representative of the + Rebel Government. It was proposed to distribute the two millions of + dollars through the Grand Commanders of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri + and Illinois, and that the money was by them to be distributed through the + Major-Generals to the subordinate officers, according as might be deemed + expedient. This money, says Mr. Wilson, (and we have the best of reasons + to credit his statement,) was expended for arms. Well do we remember that + an oral report was submitted one evening at the Temple of the Illini, by + the Grand Seignor presiding, that the pro rata for Illinois had been so + expended, and that the weapons had been started for their destination, + which was Chicago. These arms consisted of muskets, carbines, pistols, + pistol belts and ammunition. At the Council meeting, of which we have + spoken, the whole subject of revolution was freely discussed, and received + the unanimous support of all present, and a time was named and agreed + upon, but not until after much debate, several dates being named by + different parties, and reasons given for fixing upon each. It was arranged + that the Order in Indiana were to rendezvous at Indianapolis, also at + Evansville, New Albany (opposite Louisville,) and Terra Haute, that they + would seize the arsenal at Indianapolis, and the arms and ammunition would + be distributed among the members. Wilson, before the military commission + in Cincinnati, states that he learned from Dr. Bowles, that it was the + purpose of the Order to free the rebel prisoners at Indianapolis, and that + the same had been agreed upon with respect to other rebel camps, in other + States, on the supposition that they would unite with the Sons of Liberty, + in overturning the Government, and if they were found willing to do this, + arms were to be placed in their hands. At that meeting it was a matter of + discussion in what manner it was feasible to communicate with Gens. + Buckner and Price, in order that they might co-operate, and have their + forces near St. Louis and Louisville. The approach of their troops to + those cities was the favored moment for beginning hostilities in the + North. Mr. Wilson testified that he received a thousand dollars of the two + million fund, but that instead of appropriating it according to the + programme, he used it for buying substitutes, but the rightful owner can + have the same upon call. Maj.-Gen. Barrett, the party having the fund in + trust, has left the country, doubtless for his <i>health</i>, and the + thousand dollars is still without an applicant. + </p> + <p> + At this memorable meeting, as it was the last meeting of this body ever + held in Chicago, it was agreed that at the time of the uprising, friends + (rebels and copperheads) should appear with red and white badges, and the + property of such persons would also be saved from destruction by + displaying from their buildings the Confederate flag. Thus were ample and + definite arrangements made, and as that meeting adjourned it was the + deliberate end and aim of all the persons there assembled (with a single + exception) to effect their objects at all hazards. All who were present, + as well as the rebels then in Richmond, conceded that of all points in the + several States embraced in the proposition with which Col. Barrett was + entrusted, Chicago was by far the most important post, and the one which, + of all others, should first fall. The facility and ease with which Camp + Douglas could be taken, was a matter of remark among the traitors in every + section, and it was understood that communication could readily be made + with the prisoners, as Mrs. Morris, wife of Judge Morris, and others who + were known to be in the interest of the Confederacy, had never been denied + access to the camp, and such prohibition was scarcely expected, as of + course the plans of the conspirators must be a dead secret from the + commander of the post. In the temples of the Sons of Liberty it was a + matter of congratulation that it was impossible for a detective to obtain + their secrets, yet all this time Col. B.J. Sweet was well acquainted with + every move that had the least importance, for the writer made it an + invariable custom to send dispatches regularly to Col. Sweet, who thus + came into full possession of the plans and designs of the Order, as soon + as they were announced, and hence was at all times in a position that he + could not have been surprised by any assault upon the Camp. The Colonel is + at all times perfectly cool and self-possessed, prudent in the highest + degree, and inflexible in purpose, when once resolved upon a line of + action. His arrangements were made with all celerity and completeness, and + though his little force was quite too small to offer great resistance in + case of surprise had not the facts been known to the commandant, yet the + interior arrangement of the camp, the disposition of his forces, and above + all, the perfect discipline which had ever been maintained by him, now + offered a silent barrier which caused the conspirators to entertain + direful apprehensions, as to the disaster to themselves when they should + make the undertaking, for the movements of the camp were noticed from the + observatories near by, and on one occasion Brig. Gen. Walsh, accompanied + by an attaché of the Chicago <i>Times</i>, made a personal visit to the + camp, and being received as gentlemen by the gallant Colonel, they were + able to make certain discoveries of a disagreeable nature. The greatest + precaution, of course, was observed in the transmission of dispatches by + the writer to Col. Sweet, for had it been supposed for a moment, that the + commander of the post was cognizant of their acts, it would most certainly + have precipitated the uprising, as the leaders of the conspiracy could not + hope for so favorable a time again. The camp was enclosed by only one + thickness of inch boards, not over twelve feet high, and a little force of + less than eight hundred men were to guard some eight or ten thousand + prisoners, many of them being the lowest class of raiders and ruffians. + </p> + <p> + During the latter part of July, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, + Colonel Walker, of Indiana, was present, and in a speech referred to the + recent seizure of arms in Indiana, and said a formal demand had been made + upon Governor Morton of that State for them, and if they were not + forthcoming they (the copperheads) would compel restitution by the bullet, + and said Morton would be assassinated if he refused. At this time a man + named James A. Wilkinson was Grand Seignior of the temple. The question of + supplying our quota to avoid the draft, agitating the community, it was + proposed to resist the draft, and all the members were required forthwith + to arm themselves with firearms, and Charles W. Patten and Wilkinson both + offered to supply all who could not afford to purchase firearms. Wilkinson + was a very efficient member of the order, and very zealous. Much of his + time he passed in the organization of temples in different sections of + country; and it was often stated as encouragement for the members that the + temples were rapidly multiplying, and being filled with the "best kind" of + men. It was earnestly requested of the members, as the time was short—Judge + Morris saying the purposes of the organization would be fulfilled within + the next sixty days—to bring in as many new members as possible, and + the injunction was duly heeded. The temple in Chicago thrived remarkably, + and arrangements were made by which individuals could initiate members, + and the initiated increased in numbers rapidly. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. VII. + </h2> + <p> + TIME FIXED FOR THE UPRISING OR REVOLUTION—EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS—DRILL + AND DISCIPLINE OF CLUBS—OPEN THREATS UPON OUR STREETS—MASS + MEETINGS AND TARGET PRACTICE OF TRAITORS—PREPARATIONS FOR THE + NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN CHICAGO—WHY THE UPRISING DID NOT + TAKE PLACE—PRICE BEHIND TIME—ANOTHER PERIOD FIXED—ALL + READY AT THE CONVENTION—PROMPT AND TIMELY PRECAUTION BY COLONEL + SWEET. + </p> + <p> + The approach of the time fixed for the general uprising, witnessed + remarkable and very unusual activity among the members of the Sons of + Liberty, who now saw vividly the complete realization of their wishes, and + were all, rank and file, in obedience to orders, busy with preparations. + Little did the busy bustling city know of the plans and movements on foot. + The same activity in trade, the same hopeful spirit among Union persons, + the same gatherings at amusements, the same busy hum of industry as ever; + nothing gave evidence of the existence of the terrible plot so soon to + culminate, and to destroy by a single blow the hopes of our people,—to + inaugurate a reign of terror as fearful as any in the history of the war. + Citizens met and congratulated each other upon Union victories, and upon + the probable speedy close of the national strife, and at the firesides of + home discussed the terrible ravages of war, and as they knelt at the + family altar, thanked God that our own city, and our State, and our + section of the Union, had thus far been spared the immediate horrors and + desolation which ever mark the theatre of warfare. Who of all in our fair + city, besides the guilty wretches who were plotting the ruin and + slaughter, had even a foreboding of the trouble so nearly upon them. For + rebels in arms to commit cruelties and barbarities would have been + expected, but for the authors of our ruin to be our very friends and + neighbors, persons associated with us in business avocations, in social + relations, and in the enjoyment of the same general blessings with + ourselves, surpassed belief; yet such was the fact, and the faces that + beamed smiles upon us by day, and joined us in our congratulations for + national victories, by night were hideous with the dark designs and + murderous intent. The gunsmiths were busy, and trade in weapons of all + kinds was brisk; revolvers and knives particularly were articles of + demand. So brisk and yet so silently and secretly, was the arming of + individuals carried on, that weeks before the Convention assembled, but + few, if any, of the members of Copperhead organizations but were well + armed, and many had arms with which to supply other persons who might be + less fortunate than themselves. It was indeed a dark picture to look in + upon a group of the Sons of Liberty in their secure retreats, in the quiet + hours of night, cleaning, repairing and inspecting their muskets and + revolvers, moulding bullets, and making other preparations, and realizing + that the mission of these monsters was the murder of men who dared + proclaim and maintain their devotion to the Union. Upon the streets + treason became emboldened, as time rolled on, and not a few personal + collisions occurred from its utterance. + </p> + <p> + All this while that contemptible print, the Chicago <i>Times</i>, was + instilling treason into the minds of its readers, and doing all that it + could to embarrass the Government, discourage patriotism, and to give aid + and comfort to the rebels; our victories, with that sheet, were always + unimportant; our cause was unholy; our President a despot; our Union + soldiers were hirelings; our Union-loving citizens were abolition + fanatics; Jeff Davis was a master spirit of the age; his generals the + heroes of the <i>Times</i>; and rebel victories were events cheering and + hope giving, as they presaged the close of the war and peace; peace at the + sacrifice of the Union, of national honor, of national dignity and + national interests. Such was the Chicago <i>Times</i> at that period—the + darkest era in our history—and as well might we have looked for + mercy from a hyena, or reason from a ghoul, as in the event of open + insurrection in our city, to have looked to Wilbur F. Story, editor of the + <i>Times</i>, to have endeavored to suppress the flames his incendiary + print had for years been fanning into a blaze. And yet, citizens of + Chicago and the West, this same Chicago <i>Times, now</i>, after the + occupation of Richmond by our forces, and the surrender of Lee and all his + forces, and the end of the rebellion is at hand, this same Chicago <i>Times</i> + pretends to rejoice in our success, and some days turns a cold shoulder + upon its old friend and patron, who has contributed to its circulation and + prosperity for years—Jeff Davis—and really declares that his + master's cause is hopeless. Most noble Story, most patriotic Story, most + consistent Story! Rather weep with the fallen fortunes of your masters. + Flatter not yourself that the cloak of loyalty, which you have found it so + convenient to fling around you, as our Union processions come marching + along with thundering tread, that they will believe your conversion + sincere and lasting; the cloak is not long enough to conceal your feet, + and Union men will recognize the same Wilbur F. Story, and none will be so + obtuse as not to discover under any disguise Bottom, the tailor. In the + position of that Copperhead print, the state of mind of the <i>Times</i> + man reminds us of an instance of what may be called poor consolation, A + soldier of a division, after the command had run two days from the scene + of an engagement, had thrown away his gun and accouterments, and alone in + the woods sat down and commenced thinking—the first opportunity he + had for doing so. Rolling up his sleeves, and looking at his legs and + general physique, he thus gave utterance to his feelings: "I am whipped—badly + whipped—and somewhat demoralized, but no man, thank God, can say I'm + scattered!" And so, the Chicago <i>Times</i>, though kicked out of + respectable society long ago, continues to print its daily issues, while + from the scarcity of Copperheads all at once, since our recent glorious + victories, we infer that <i>they</i> have been "scattered;" and as snakes + cast their skins in the spring, so the Copperhead <i>Times</i> seems to + have cast its own this season; but though it may appear in more pleasing + garb with its present covering, let none forget that it is the same old + Copperhead still. And the time will come when some enterprising showman + will obtain and exhibit the last issue of that delectable sheet as the + acme of treason and corruption during the war, and as an illustration of + what villainy the mind of man may conceive, when he once turns against his + country. + </p> + <p> + About the period of which we write, say a month prior to the Convention, + informal meetings of the Sons of Liberty were frequent, and large numbers + of the members often went out of the city on excursions, nominally for + pleasure, but really for practice with fire arms. The most active + preparations were made by the Democrats, resident of Chicago, to be able + to accommodate their brethren from abroad, who would attend the + Convention, or who would pay them an earlier visit; for the time of the + uprising, it will be remembered, had been fixed for about the middle of + August. The time assigned arrived, but "all was quiet on the Potomac," and + along the placid and fragrant Chicago. It was a complete fizzle, but not + from want of harmonious action on the part of the Copperheads of the + Northwest, but to the chagrin of the Rebel government, Gen. Price failed + to make his appearance in the vicinity of St. Louis, or Buckner about + Louisville. The disappointment and vexation of the Sons of Liberty was + great, and it found expression in the peculiar style of oratory and + diction, which Judge Morris had introduced into the Temple. The failure of + the rebels to concur, as had been arranged, was for a time quite + inexplicable and unsatisfactory to the most ultra secesh of the Temple. It + was not easy to communicate with Price and Buckner, and much mystery and + doubt hung over the failure. The leaders were in doubt as to the wisdom of + rising at the Convention, some being in favor and others adverse to it. It + was evident the leaders were not a little embarrassed, but they finally + agreed that a large force of "bone and muscle" should be on hand in + Chicago at the Convention, and if it was found that the War Democrats + should be in the ascendency, and the Peace wing could get nothing—either + platform or candidate—the uprising should occur at that time, but so + confident were the Peace men that they should be able to have the control + of the Convention, that Judge Morris and Brig.-Gen. Walsh, and other + leaders, announced to the members of the <i>Illini</i> their entire belief + that there would be no doubt of the success of the Peace wing, in that + Convention, and if so, no insurrectionary movement would be expedient; but + if the uprising did not occur then, it surely would at the time of the + Presidential election, and in the time which would elapse between the + Convention and the election, the most active and earnest efforts would be + made to strengthen the numbers of the Temples of the Sons of Liberty, + wherever they existed. Judge Morris had expressed the confident belief + that no difficulty would occur at the Convention, but declared if they + (the Copperheads) should meet with any interference, the most serious + results would follow. + </p> + <p> + The rank and file who had been edified by such men as J.L. Rock, Charles + W. Patten, James A. Wilkinson, L.C. Morrison, L.A. Doolittle, James Geary, + Mr. Duncan, Mr. Dooley, Mr. Frank Adams, City Attorney, and many others + were most impatient, and it was quite probable that a slight cause of + offence with Union men would result in an open riot, that could not be + suppressed till the grand aim of the Order was accomplished. About this + time L.A. Doolittle, who was never tired of expressing his devotion to the + distinguished exile Mr. Vallandigham, announced that Mr. V., who was + Supreme Commander of the whole Order, would honor the Chicago Temple with + a visit during the Convention, but that worthy could not find time to make + the visit. As the excitement of the coming Convention seized upon the + minds of those who were to participate in it, much speech making was done + inside the Temples. At these meetings the writer particularly noticed two + members, who seemed to have fallen into disfavor by the course which they + had seen fit to adopt. One of these men was Christopher C. Strawn, a young + lawyer of this city, of some education, a very fair order of talents, and + who had seemed hitherto taciturn and reserved. Upon conversation with him + we were astonished to find that he did not approve of the Jeff. Davis + principles, and had no fellowship with any overt act of treason. He had + been appointed a Brigadier-General, on the ground of his supposed ability, + but early took occasion to express himself, in such a manner that his + commission was speedily revoked. Mr. Strawn was, he declares, not in the + clique who favored a revolution. Mr. Strawn was subsequently arrested, but + he was soon released, and freely communicated truthful information to the + authorities. + </p> + <p> + During the summer an event truly unfortunate for the Sons of Liberty took + place, it being an exposé in the Chicago <i>Tribune</i> of the signs, + grips, passwords, &c. of the order. This was a cause of great distress + of mind. We remember that at a meeting about the 25th of August (Charles + W. Patten presiding), the expediency of changing the signs, grips, &c. + was considered, inasmuch as it would be unsafe to use them in public, but + the lateness of the day, and the time drawing so near when the entire + forces of the order would be called into requisition, it was not deemed + expedient to undertake any change or modification. At this meeting Judge + Morris made a speech in which he said that a demand had been made for arms + seized in Indiana (as Col. Walker had proposed to do), and if the demand + failed, the revolution would be begun in Indiana "as sure as there was a + God in heaven or an abolitionist in hell." + </p> + <p> + At a meeting of the Chicago Temple Sons of Liberty, on the eve of the + Convention, we heard for the first time (and that from the mouth of L.A. + Doolittle), a definite plan for the attack of Camp Douglas. Doolittle told + how the camp was situated, and that it was accessible on two sides; that + guns were in position on only one side, and the west side was referred to + by him as being the weakest; he spoke of the common board fence which + formed the enclosure, and of the ease with which the camp could be taken, + and the vast importance of liberating the prisoners the first thing upon + an uprising. The speech of Doolittle was variously received; many of the + members were much interested; others who were in the higher degrees of the + order were vexed beyond measure that Doolittle should be so stupid as to + proclaim, in this public manner, a matter which really belonged to higher + degrees of the organization to decide. One of the number, James Geary, a + second-hand clothes dealer and broker on Wells street, who will receive + further mention by and by, became so much incensed that he ordered Mr. + Doolittle to his seat, declaring, with an oath, that Doolittle was telling + too much. + </p> + <p> + At a meeting about this time, several of the members spoke upon the + subject of releasing the prisoners at Camp Douglas. A map of Camp Douglas + was exhibited by an individual present, who seemed to be a soldier. The + map was a fine piece of work and had been made by a hand accustomed to + such labor. Upon this map the precise position of the various departments, + headquarters, cannon, &c., were laid down. There could be no shadow of + doubt in the mind of any man not stupefied with whiskey, and possessed of + common sense, that the details of the attack had been carefully considered + by those who were most interested in leading it on. + </p> + <p> + It had for some time been the policy of the Sons of Liberty to unite with + the Invincible Democratic Club and the various McClellan escorts in the + city and elsewhere, and seek to become its officers, that in case of an + outbreak it would be far better to be the controlling power, than to be + controlled. This plan worked admirably, and the Democratic Invincible Club + of Chicago became one of the most corrupt organizations outside the order + of Sons of Liberty. Its secretary at one time was Charles W. Patten, who + had been a Grand Seignior of the Chicago Temple, was also a member of the + Grand Council, and had taken a very active part in the prosperity of the + order, and was chairman of the committee to see that all the Sons of + Liberty were armed. One of the officers of the above named Club was Capt. + P.D. Parks, whose devotion to Jeff. Davis and good whiskey were noticeable + features in his character. This Capt. Parks was captain of the Invincible + Club and often made speeches in the Sons of Liberty Hall. + </p> + <p> + On Saturday the 26th August (two days prior to the National Democratic + Convention), immense numbers of persons came flocking to Chicago, indeed + at no former time in the history of the city was there such an influx of + strangers; they came in the cars and in wagon trains, and on horseback. + One county alone sent nearly a thousand men. It was a noticeable fact that + almost all persons who came into the city were well armed, and some of + them even brought muskets. Treason was now rampant, and it would not be + difficult, in looking around upon the most unprepossessing groups, and to + hear the language, to fancy one's-self in Charleston, or some other nest + of treason. From all the men who came to the city we did not, in a single + instance, hear one good, hearty expression of Unionism, but our "Southern + brethren and their rights," and this "wicked war," &c., &c., were + the topics of conversation, and it was safe to set it down, that this was + the Peace wing of that most remarkable bird,—Democracy of 1864. + </p> + <p> + The writer was in close communication with Col. Sweet, commandant at Camp + Douglas, and by aid of our auxiliaries not an item of information + concerning the hostile intentions of the party transpired, that was not + known instantly by Col. Sweet,—special carriers or orderlies + conveying our dispatches. It must not be supposed that our observations + were confined to Chicago. Our channels of communication with the principal + points in the West were unobstructed; our "telegraphic cable" was in fine + working order, and if those wise heads for a moment fancied that Col. B.J. + Sweet might be caught napping, they were the worst self-deceived men we + have ever seen. Col. Sweet proceeded with all caution and celerity to make + his arrangements, and we beg the Colonel not to regard it as a breach of + confidence in us to say, that the guns were in such a position and so well + managed, that had there been any attempt to have assaulted the camp, there + would not have been able-bodied traitors enough left, to have carried the + killed and wounded to secure retreats. Almost any officer, perhaps, less + cool than Col. Sweet would have blustered about in such a manner as to + have rendered himself not only positively offensive to the citizens, but + would have placed the city under martial law, and doubtless precipitated + the very event it was wise for a time to avert. Col. Sweet was cool, and + managed the matter with the most perfect military ability and skill. He + compelled everybody, friend and foe, to respect him by his dignified, + gentlemanly bearing, and yet there was that about his appearance that told + plainer than words, that while he was courteous, polite, kind and willing + to do all in his power and consistent with his duty to preserve the peace, + yet had an outbreak been begun, of all men in Chicago, rebels and + sympathisers would prefer to get as far as possible from Col. Sweet, or + the reach of his influence. This gallant officer had his men under such + perfect discipline that a simple request, even when the men were not on + duty, was obeyed with the alacrity as if it had been a peremptory order. + The discovery that Col. Sweet was ready for them, which discovery was + early made and duly reported, had much to do with the good order which + prevailed in Chicago during the Convention. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. VIII. + </h2> + <p> + TIME OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION—TREASON EVERYWHERE + PREVALENT—INSIDE VIEW OF THE TEMPLE OF SONS OF LIBERTY—MAJ.-GEN. + BARRETT WITH COMMISSION FROM JEFF. DAVIS, AT THE HEAD OF A TORCHLIGHT + PROCESSION IN CHICAGO—TRAITORS WITH LOADED MUSKETS UPON OUR STREETS. + </p> + <p> + The extraordinary activity of recruiting for the Sons of Liberty, and the + zeal displayed by the master spirit of the Temple was ominous of the + wicked work they might be called upon to perform. James A. Wilkinson, who + was elected Grand Senior, was too young a man in the estimation of many, + and he was about to resign, when Judge Morris remarked, that "age was not + always wisdom" (the truth of which his own career has fully illustrated,) + and by request Wilkinson continued to hold the post. The old order for + arming of members was called up, and all were required to comply with the + condition at once; a particular pattern of revolvers was specially + recommended, and it was ascertained that the members were in almost every + instance, fully armed. A young man named R.T. Semmes, who was said to be a + near relative to the commander of the rebel pirate Alabama, was appointed + to deliver an address before the Order, but this duty was never complied + with in a formal manner, as it was subsequently thought Judge Morris was + better qualified, he being in a higher degree than Mr. Semmes, to impart + such information as the lower degree should know. Upon an occasion of a + special meeting, the Judge made a long address, in which he stated the + number of members of the Order in Illinois at 80,000 men, saying they were + all well drilled and could be implicitly relied upon, at the right time; + members were enjoined to remember their obligations to sustain the + principles of the Order, and to aid each other. The Judge stated that "we" + (the Sons of Liberty,) had <i>two full regiments</i> all well armed and + drilled, in Chicago, and that a third was forming. Such cheering + information was received with great gratification, and gave a greater + impetus to the recruiting for the Order. + </p> + <p> + The question of the draft agitated the members at each meeting, and all + declared their purpose never to go to the army, either voluntarily or + otherwise, to fight our brethren, "whose cause was just and right," and a + strong attempt was made to array the organization by formal action to + oppose the Government, and those especially who were impatient for the + general uprising, thought it a timely opportunity and ample provocation, + and felt confident that as the South manifested open hostility and + presented a bold and united front instantly upon the firing of the first + gun upon Fort Sumter, so would it be in all the States of the Northwestern + league; they would at once rise, when knowing that their brethren of + Chicago were in arms against the "usurper and his hirelings;" but these + hasty counsels did not prevail, and individuals were exhorted to take care + of themselves if drafted, but on no account to go to the army. + </p> + <p> + Not only was there remarkable activity in the Chicago Temple just prior to + the Convention, but in all the States where the order existed. Our Indiana + neighbors often sent their worst Copperheads to the Chicago Temple to + receive instructions in regard to the mode of initiation; and about this + time, a man named Westfall, of Elkhart, Indiana, appeared in the Temple, + and edified the members with most <i>encouraging</i> accounts of the order + in his own State. He was properly qualified as a Grand Seignor, and no + doubt served with that grace and dignity of which his appearance gave such + promise. It is hoped that the citizens of Elkhart appreciate this + gentleman's devotion to "the great cause." Judge T.H. Marsh was put + through a similar course of training, and being possessed of remarkable + dignity, no doubt made an excellent Grand Seignor. If he was not fit for a + good Judge, he was fit for a Son of Liberty. He no doubt remembers the + artist, who by an unlucky daub, spoiled his picture of an angel, but took + fresh courage, declaring it would make an excellent devil. So the judge + may make his own application. + </p> + <p> + The day of the great Convention at length dawned upon at least a hundred + thousand strangers in Chicago. Every hotel was densely packed from cellar + to garret, private houses were filled to their uttermost capacity, while + hundreds the night before, who could not find any kind of a shelter, took + in plenty of whisky to prevent catching cold, and laid themselves quietly + at rest in the gutters, much to the consternation of the myriads of rats + that infest our streets. These street sleepers now arose, and shaking + themselves, their toilet was complete. Of all the God-forsaken, + shaggy-haired, red-faced, un-shorn, hard-fisted, blasphemous wretches that + have ever congregated, even at the gallows at Newgate, many of the + visitors of the Peace wing of the Democracy were entitled to the first + consideration. Still there was no collision with the citizens, although + the representatives of the "unterrified" had sworn that there should be no + arrests in Chicago during the Convention. The better class of strangers + were War Democrats, and it was evident they had no fellowship for the + ragmuffins of the Peace wing. + </p> + <p> + It should here be stated that the Order of the Sons of Liberty had + purchased firearms, carbines, pistols, shot guns and rifles, and at the + time of the Convention had stored in the city of Chicago, arms, for at + least ten thousand men. These arms had been brought here at various times; + some of them had been brought by vessels and others by rail, and were now + safely deposited in four different depots in Chicago, the locations of + which were known only to the Sons themselves. From these four principal + depots one or more boxes of arms were taken on such occasions as would + best serve, and placed in trust with some out-and-out rebel sympathizer in + the different wards, so that at the time of the general uprising the + "faithful" could readily obtain supplies. On one occasion Brig.-Gen. Walsh + applied to H.A. Phelps, on State street, with a request for him to receive + two boxes of muskets, but that man did not like to incur the risk, + whatever his sympathies may have been, and the arms were not deposited + with him. + </p> + <p> + It was quite apparent, the first day of the Convention, that our citizens + had resolved to act upon the advice of Adjutant-General Fuller, to let + these fellows "have their jaw out," and they did have it out, and became + terrible <i>bores</i>. + </p> + <p> + At an early hour, the temporary building erected for this gathering, near + Michigan Avenue, was crowded to excess, and after beginning their labors + all the speakers, without exception, entertained the audience and relieved + themselves of the most violent denunciations of President Lincoln, and the + policy of the administration. Each speaker vied with the last in culling + from his vocabulary of hard words, terms sufficiently expressive of their + feelings toward the government, but do as well as they might, even with + the aid of the poorest quality of whiskey and education, evidently of many + years among the lowest of the low, not one of them could out-do the + Chicago <i>Times</i>. The only parties who could approximate it were Gov. + Harris of Maryland, and Long of Ohio, who were most decidedly in favor of + secession. The differences between the War Democrats and the Peace men, + well nigh ended in personal violence, and would, but for timely + interference of the police. It is not our purpose to report the doings of + the Convention, and an allusion is only made to call special attention to + the elements which made up the party who gave to General George B. + McClellan a nomination which proved to him the worst punishment that could + have been inflicted, and exhibited him to the world in worse company than + he had ever before mingled. The hostility between the different factions + of the party, but rendered the Peace wing or Sons of Liberty the more + united, and more firmly bent upon the overthrow of the government, as they + saw clearly enough, even before the adjournment, that there was not a + shadow of hope of electing the ticket formed, and the only hope of genuine + copperheads now laid in the election of State officers, and Judge Morris + told the people "if we can but get our Governor and Lieut.-Governor, it is + all we ask for; the order is strong enough in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, + Missouri, Iowa and Ohio to enable us to take the general government into + our own hands." He added, "as the Washington government had not seen fit + to execute the Constitution and the laws, we will bring them to Illinois + and execute them ourselves." + </p> + <p> + At the close of the Convention, and the compromise had been made by the + different factions of the party, then came a time for general rejoicing. + In the evening torchlight processions, with lanterns and transparencies + bearing devices and mottos, all expressive of their animosity at the + administration. At the head of one of these processions was Maj.-Gen. + Barrett, the military commander of Illinois. At that very time Barrett had + in his pocket a programme, which had an intimation been received from + Price or Buckner, would have been of fearful import to the citizens of + Chicago. Barrett had at one time lived in Chicago, but for some months + past was a resident of Missouri. He was thoroughly armed, and well knew + the elements that had assembled in the city. Barrett had been in the rebel + service, or rather we should say in <i>another</i> arm of the service, + inasmuch as none in these days, when all men are for the Union, and it is + so easy to be a patriot, will pretend to deny that the Sons of Liberty + were as much an arm of service for Jeff. Davis as his artillery or + infantry. This fellow Barrett, had on one occasion, as appears by + testimony before the Cincinnati military commission, visited Chicago as an + accredited agent of the Davis government, but he was not molested, and + mingled with men of his own stripe, without fear and without difficulty. + It will be interesting by and by, to read of the Chicago Convention, and + the incongruous elements there assembled. But as all things have an end, + so did this remarkable gathering, and dispersed quietly, never again to + meet as the representatives of the American people. + </p> + <p> + Of course most of the Roughs of the Peace wing had been induced to come to + Chicago, with the idea that an uprising was imminent, and would no doubt + take place, when they would be able to repay themselves abundantly from + the property of our citizens. It is not strange therefore, that these half + starved, brutal wretches looked with evil eyes upon our National banks, + and hoped till the last that some lucky incident might occur which would + provoke an outbreak, and they would have an opportunity to pillage our + banks, stores and dwellings, but they were doomed to disappointment, and + with surly looks and threats of vengeance, left the city, resolved at a + future day to draw their pay, principle and interest, from our banks, and + we shall, in a future chapter, see the manifestation of the same spirit, + easily recognized as Peace wing democracy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. IX + </h2> + <p> + REBEL OFFICERS IN THE TEMPLES OF SONS OF LIBERTY—MURDERERS, BOUNTY + JUMPERS, DESERTERS, FELONS, VAGABONDS AND TRAITORS IN COUNCIL—PLANS + OF ATTACK ON CAMP DOUGLAS—FIRES TO BE KINDLED IN THE CITY—BANKS + AND STORES TO BE ROBBED—NAMES OF SPEAKERS—HATRED OF UNION + SOLDIERS. + </p> + <p> + At a meeting of the Sons of Liberty in September, 1864, a plan was + reported, much to the relief of those who had a horror of conscription; it + was arranged that such of the members as might be drafted, should report + within three days to the Grand Senior of the Temple, and they would be + supplied with means to defray their expenses to the southern part of the + State, where they would remain till their services should be required, and + that they would find friends there, strong enough in numbers, to defy the + officers of the law. Such persons were to form military organizations, and + to be drilled and disciplined by rebel officers sent thither for that + express purpose. The "Sons" of Chicago expressed their extreme regret at + the very open and defiant manner of their brethren in the southern part of + the State, and believed that it would be prejudicial to the prosperity of + the Order. Our readers have not forgotten the Coles county tragedy, the + murderers and their victims. There is not a particle of doubt that those + murders were premeditated, and first the subject of discussion in the + temples of the Sons of Liberty. The assault was made without provocation, + and the thirst for the blood of Union men was the motive for the deed. We + have never advocated or countenanced mob law, but if there was ever a time + in the history of our government in which it was justifiable, it was in + the cases of the Coles county murderers. The times seemed, perhaps, to + have demanded a vigilance committee of citizens, who would administer + justice fast enough to suit the emergency of the cases upon which they + might be called to adjudicate, and having "cleaned out" the murderous + scoundrels in that locality, they might have found a demand for their + services in Chicago. But it is better that the people controlled their + just indignation and left it to time, to punish the infamous wretches who + turned their arms and their all against the country, to whom they are + indebted for all the blessings which they proved themselves to be utterly + incapable of appreciating. It was the boast of the "Sons" that their + numbers embraced many of the officers of our armies, and the names of + several were mentioned, who had sworn that they would never fire or order + their commands to fire upon "our Southern brethren," and it was added that + such officers could serve the cause of this order better in the field, + than in any other manner. As time passed on, the plans of the villains + belonging to the Chicago Temple, or the plans of the order throughout the + State for the attack upon Camp Douglas became more complete in their + details. The policy of obtaining positions for members upon all the + railroads and in telegraph offices, was very popular with the order, and + it was confidently stated, that upon the release of the prisoners the + leaders would at once take full possession of the railroads and telegraph + offices. It was arranged that the attack upon the camp should be made the + night after election, as it now became fully apparent to all that there + was not a shadow of a chance to elect either National or State ticket by + the Copperheads. Fires were to be kindled in different parts of the city, + and these were to be so numerous that they would necessarily divert the + attention of the citizens, while the attack should be made. Near the camp + is a growth of small oaks and other small wood which offered a fine + retreat or hiding place for those who would attack the camp. The attacking + party were to go singly or in groups which might not attract attention, + and when they were in readiness, they were suddenly to spring forward and + commence an assault simultaneously on three sides of the enclosure. The + risk to the invading party was not considered large, as the whole + undertaking would be but the work of a few moments, and it was confidently + believed that some communication could previously be established with the + rebels by their desperate friends and allies upon the outside; and it is + now quite certain that some intelligence was communicated to the rebels, + and well understood by them, as not long before the election, supposed + signals in the way of rockets, blue lights, &c. were at one time + exhibited by a small group of persons, without any apparent design, which + could have been distinctly seen at camp. Mrs. Morris, who has confessed + her complicity with the rebel sympathizers, was a frequent visitor to the + camp, and it was thought that she might be very useful in conveying + letters, messages, &c. Indeed it was morally certain that there was an + understanding between the rebels inside, and the cowardly dogs on the + outside of the post. It will be remembered that fire arms for at least ten + thousand men were safely and secretly stored in Chicago, and that there + was a perfect understanding between the members of the higher degrees of + the Sons of Liberty, and the leaders of the invading party from Canada; + Had the attack been made, however good the understanding between the + "Sons" and the rebels might have been, the former would soon have found, + to their surprise and to their dismay, that their glory would suddenly + have departed, for the released rebels would instantly have obeyed the + commands of their own officers, and Northern Sons of Liberty would have + been compelled to fall into line, whether they would or not. A few of the + Sons would have received some consideration, and this would especially + have been the case with Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, but in the main the + "accursed democracy,"—as one rebel writing to another was pleased to + speak of the order—was to be kept in the front, or in other words, + used as circumstances might require to do the vilest offices of this vile + and devilish conspiracy. As the time of the election was drawing near, the + Sons of Liberty expressed a wish to have a man at their head, in the place + of Wilkinson, who would command respect, and whose appearance of dignity + and years would impress new comers most favorably. This man was found in + Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., as Grand Seignior, and so much gratified were + they with his peculiar fitness for this distinguished honor, that they + resolved to find a second officer, or Ancient Brother, and Lewis C. + Morrison gave place to a Mr. Hoffman. Things were now working smoothly, + new members were rapidly joining, and it was evident that the new + organization was most favorable for the growth and unity of the Order. The + rapidly increasing number of Temples in every part of the State, would + have been truly alarming to the friends of the Union. New comers were + introduced at every meeting, and large numbers were initiated at Judge + Morris' residence, where favored individuals were also initiated in the + mysteries of the higher degrees; so that there were hundreds of persons, + in good standing with the Order as bona fide members, who seldom or never + visited the lodge room; this was especially the case with the higher grade + of persons—the politicians, lawyers and others. At a meeting in the + autumn, Judge Morris was present and made a speech in response to the + request of several members, who asked information concerning the immediate + purposes of the Order. He spoke, as was his custom, of the tyranny of the + President; he said the rights of the people had been trampled upon, and + the constitution had been violated by him. He referred to the suspension + of the <i>habeas corpus</i>, and said many of our best men were at that + moment "rotting in Lincoln's bastiles;" that it was our duty to wage a war + against them, and open their doors; that when the Democrats got into power + they would impeach and probably hang him, and all who were thus + incarcerated should be set at liberty; that thousands of our best men were + prisoners in Camp Douglas, and if once at liberty would "send + abolitionists to hell in a hand basket;" he said the meanest of those + prisoners was purity itself compared to "Lincoln's hirelings." He added + that the tyranny of "Abraham the First" was fast drawing to a close, and + those who were anxious to fight, would not have to wait long. He also + spoke in favor of retaliation. + </p> + <p> + The Judge's speeches were always marked by vehemence, profanity and + violent gesticulation; he never spoke except to condemn the + administration, and to express his confidence in this Order to remedy all + the evils of the administration, and that we should very soon—"in + sixty days," have the power, and yet on several occasions he expressed the + belief that McClellan would not be elected. No one, not even the most + stupid in the first degree of the Temple, could fail to understand how the + Copperheads were to have the reins of the General Government in sixty + days, and yet that the party could not hope for success at the polls. A + man named William Hull, connected with the Order, rebuked such speeches in + unqualified terms, and as a consequence drew down upon himself the odium + of the Order. Mr. Hull expressed himself in favor of compliance with the + Constitution and the laws, and of the Union. His denunciations of the + rebels excluded him from the confidence of the leaders, who began to + regard him as a "dangerous man," and expressed the belief that he would + turn against them, and therefore required watching. Mr. Hull was a man of + good common sense, and made several Union speeches in the Order, which + confirmed the suspicion that had been expressed by some, that he was a spy + and detective, and it was said it would be far better to <i>put him out of + the way</i>, or in other words to kill him, lest he might betray them, and + further as the time of the election was so near at hand, it was voted by + the Sons of Liberty to destroy all their records, so that in case of + arrest no documentary evidence could be brought against them. While the + motion was pending, Mr. Richard T. Semmes, one of the prisoners tried at + Cincinnati, moved an amendment, that the names of members be retained, so + that in case any one should betray the Order they might be known and hung, + but it was not deemed safe to preserve the record, and most of the + memoranda was destroyed, but for the edification of the members, we will + add that we have on deposit in Chicago an entire and correct list of names + of the Chicago, and most of the prominent Temples, and it may be deemed + expedient to publish it hereafter; this will be determined by the general + behavior of the members themselves. + </p> + <p> + In regard to Mr. Hull, to whom we have alluded, it should be said that his + death was fixed upon by the members. Felton and Morrison agreed to do the + work, but afterwards another proposition was made, to give him money and + induce him to leave for parts unknown. This peaceable disposition of the + man was <i>not</i> satisfactory. Said they, "dead men tell no tales," and + at an informal meeting, a vote was taken and all, with a single exception, + present were in favor of <i>death</i>. That exception required more + satisfactory evidence that Hull was the informer, and thus the murder of + the man was prevented. The writer has not a particle of doubt, having been + present at this meeting and heard the proposition and the vote taken, that + the murder would have been perpetrated within twenty-four hours had not a + single person been so exacting in regard to the facts. It may readily be + believed that the writer never mingled in this murderous company without a + brace of revolvers in his pocket, ready for instant use, and it may be no + stretch of credulity to believe, that in case of an assault, the + instruments would have been called into requisition. + </p> + <p> + About the first of October, the restrictions upon the purchase and sale of + firearms were removed, and the trade in the city in this department became + very active. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: COL.G. ST. LEGER GRENFELL, + </p> + <p> + "Who has fought in every clime, the man who advised raising the Black Flag + and murdering Union soldiers, and who was to have assumed command of the + Rebel prisoners upon being released from Camp Douglas, and to whom the + citizens of Chicago would have had to appeal for mercy."} + </p> + <p> + The intensity of hatred of Union soldiers, by the Copperheads would almost + challenge credence. It was a common thing to seek to embroil them in + personal altercations, and to fall upon them with violence and malice, and + it is our opinion, that in almost every case where soldiers ever became + involved in personal difficulty, the provocation came from Copperheads. We + may mention an instance in point. During the summer, a Union soldier + presented himself at our office and required surgical aid. His head was + bleeding copiously, and his hair matted with blood, and so mutilated was + he that he could scarcely speak or walk. He was perfectly sober, and + evidently a very quiet, worthy man. It was doubtful how his injuries might + terminate, but the poor fellow received our best attention, and thanks to + a kind Providence, recovered after a long and painful illness. It appears + that he was beset by a party of Copperheads, without the least + provocation, only that he was a <i>Union soldier</i>. For our act of + humanity in rendering professional aid, we were gravely suspected for a + time of being "a dangerous man," and received several lectures of censure + from the Sons of Liberty. He was but a "Union soldier," and his death, + they said, was a matter of congratulation rather than of regret. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. X + </h2> + <p> + THE REASONS WHY REBEL AGENTS WERE SENT TO CANADA, AND THEIR DOINGS—VARIOUS + PLOTS OF MISCHIEF, HARRASSING, PILLAGING, &c.—THE WATCHWORD OF + THE REBELS IN CANADA. + </p> + <p> + The United States armies being continually pressed forward, step by step, + towards the heart of the Confederacy, occupying more and more of the soil + from which their commissary was but illy and scantily supplied, together + with a desire on the part of the Southern people, to let the people of the + North see what invasion meant, to make them feel and see the destruction + and desolation following our army of invasion, determined the Richmond + government, in 1863, to send its agents to the Canadas, well supplied with + money, to endeavor to foment discord, and to intensify the dissatisfaction + already existing in certain political circles, with the government, to + such an extent that it could be made available for their own uses and + purposes. Knowing that thousands of their soldiers were confined at + Johnston's Island, and Camp Douglas near Chicago, almost within twelve + hours' travel of Canada, it was the great object of the rebel government + to release those prisoners of war, and in the mean time having stirred up + and excited a formidable conspiracy in the North, particularly in the + North-West, having in view the subversion of the government, and the + securing of material aid and assistance to the rebels, and those rebel + prisoners being released through the instrumentality of the rebels from + Canada and those of the Northern sympathizers who could be induced to join + in the expeditions for that purpose, the conspiracy was to culminate all + over the North—but principally in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, + Missouri and New York, and effect the release of the prisoners of war + confined in the various prisons in those States. The prisoners at all + these places being released, were to form a nucleus around which all the + dissatisfied people of the Northern States could rally, and endeavor to + maintain themselves and their cause here in the North, and by rallying in + formidable numbers, to cause the withdrawal of so many troops from the + field in front, to establish peace at home, that it would materially + change the whole character of the war, and remove the seat of war from the + cotton States to the Northern States—Kentucky, Tennessee and + Missouri. Upon the withdrawal of the troops in any considerable numbers + from the front, was to follow the advance of the rebel armies into + Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. + </p> + <p> + Sterling Price would never have invaded the State of Missouri in the fall + of 1864, had it not been to give all the aid and assistance the rebellion + could afford, to the conspiracy just then ready to break loose, and this + explains the position that Hood occupied for nearly two months in Northern + Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. He would never have placed himself in such + a position, had it not been deemed absolutely necessary by the Richmond + Government, that his army should be placed where upon the breaking out of + the conspiracy he could exercise a great influence over its prospects of + success. To further the objects and views just stated, Jacob Thompson, of + Miss., formerly Secretary of the Interior under Buchanan's administration, + was made a secret agent for the Rebel Government in the Canadas, and two + hundred and fifty or three hundred thousand dollars in specie, or its + equivalent, was placed in his hands by the Rebel Government, for the + purpose of arming and equipping any expedition he might place on foot from + British America, for the injury of the inland or ocean commerce of the + United States, or harrassing its Northern borders, and particularly for + the release of the Rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas and Johnston + Island, and from the beginning of Mr. Thompson's services in Canada, we + may date all the regularly organized and officered expeditions from + British America against the United States. Chief of all these expeditions + were the two attempts, during last year, to release the prisoners of war + at Camp Douglas, near Chicago, Ill., and the two different attempts to + capture the steamer "Michigan" (a United States vessel of war stationed on + Lake Erie, carrying eighteen guns), and release the prisoners on + Johnston's Island. All four of these expeditions failed totally in the + objects for which they were organized, mainly by some friendly parties + having put the military authorities on their guard soon enough to enable + them to defeat the attempts, and in some instances to capture the parties + concerned in them. + </p> + <p> + To aid Mr. Thompson in his nefarious efforts in Canada, several officers + of various ranks were detailed from the Rebel army, by the Richmond + government, most prominent among these were Col. St. Leger Grenfell, an + Englishman of great military experience and daring, and Capt. T.H. Hines, + a young officer, who having been one of Gen. John A. Morgan's pets, was + recommended by him for the position he held in Canada, but who was + possessed of no more than ordinary military talents or genius, unless his + shrewdness in getting other and better persons involved in difficulty, and + condemned either to prison or death, and getting himself out, evidenced + military prowess. In connection with these men, were a great many + citizens, of both the United States and the South, who while they were not + authorized to act in any way by the Rebel government, yet showed their + zeal in the cause of the rebellion, by aiding and advising with Mr. + Thompson, and advising and exhorting all the rebel soldiers in Canada, and + the refugees from the Northern States, to take an active part in the + different schemes there on foot, to harass the northern border of the + United States. The most prominent of this class were George N. Sanders, + C.C. Clay, formerly Representative in the United States Congress from + Alabama, Col. Steele and Daniel Hibber. There was still another secret + agent of the rebels on special duty in Canada, viz., Judge Holcombe of + Virginia, who was sent there for the purpose of secretly establishing + agencies for the returning of rebel soldiers, who desired to go South. + However much Mr. Holcombe's mission removed him from military matters, he + nevertheless approved of the different expeditions which were then being + organized, and did more perhaps, than any one else, to cause the + irritation now existing between the Canadians and the citizens of the + United States. His policy in establishing agencies in Canada, was to get + some prominent and influential citizens of the country who sympathized + with his government, to act as agents to furnish rebel soldiers who had + escaped to Canada, and who desired to return South, with all the necessary + clothing, rations and money, &c., to enable them to go to Montreal or + Quebec, where there were regularly established rebel agencies, who upon + the arrival of such soldiers so furnished with money, for all the money so + advanced, with perhaps interest, was returned. In this way Mr. Holcombe + enlisted, besides the feelings, the interests of a great many prominent + business men, whose means had been advanced to rebels, and all along the + Grand Trunk and Great Western railway, in all the principal towns and + cities, he succeeded in establishing such agencies, which although at + first intended only for those who were rebel soldiers, finally became + nothing more than recruiting rendezvous for the rebel army, which all the + skedadlers, refugees from the Northern and Border States who wished to + join the Southern army, were received, fed, clothed and quietly + transported to the South. Upon the departure of Mr. Holcombe south, his + business was turned over to C.C. Clay, who after that acted in this + capacity. It was during Holcombe's stay in Canada, that the speculative + brain of George N. Sanders, first originated the great humbug of the + Niagara Falls peace conference, at which there was but one rebel official, + and he was not authorized to act in any such capacity. But the speculative + Sanders, having lived like Barnum nearly his whole life, upon humbugs, + made his last and greatest effort to humbug the American people, into the + belief that the Southern people really desired peace, and that he Clay and + Holcombe, although not regularly authorized by the Rebel government, still + could speak for and influence the Southern people. While in reality the + whole conference was nothing on the part of Sanders & Co., but the + last act of a desperate political gamester, who ventured his all upon one + last throw of dice, to win or lose it all. If Sanders, Holcombe, Clay and + others, could have made the people of the North believe the South really + desired peace, and that the only obstacle in the way was the obstinacy of + the General Government, which did not desire it, but wished to annihilate + the Southern people, they could have materially affected the then coming + Presidential election in the North, and perhaps elected a Democratic + president, who would have added to the disasters then affecting the + country—general and complete ruin. The election of such a man as + Gen. McClellan, at such a time, and professing such principles as actuated + the Democratic party at that time, would have insured to the South her + independence, rather than further war and a dismemberment of the Union. + All this these parties professing to represent Southern opinion well knew, + and had they been successful, would have reaped a rich political reward. + Having endeavored to give a correct outline of the characters of the rebel + leaders in Canada, and the different spheres in which they acted, it is + now necessary to give some idea of the different classes of individuals + who were led by such men, and prompted by them to undertake the many + hair-brained expeditions, which they first plotted and started. These + persons are rightfully and very expressively divided into four different + and distinct classes: 1st. The Rebels. 2d. The skedadlers. 3d. Refugees. + 4th. Bounty jumpers and escaped criminals. The term rebel is applied only + to persons who have been or are connected with the rebel army, and they + again are subdivided into two classes; first, those rebels who have gone + to Canada as a means of escape to the South; and, secondly, those who, + having been accustomed to easy and luxurious living in times of peace, and + having become thoroughly disgusted with service in the army, where they + were subjected to strict military discipline, sought in Canada an asylum + from compulsory service of both parties. 2d. Skedadlers, as they are + called, are those persons who having been drafted, or seeing a possibility + of it, in the United States army, had fled to Canada to avoid the service. + This class consisted mostly of fast young men, having either their own or + the pockets of their parents well lined, and accustomed to live without + labor of any kind, were not disposed to take a part on either side which + would subject them to the inconveniences, hardships or privations of a + soldier's life; and partly of persons who, while they sympathized with the + rebellion, still did not care to make their precious bodies targets for + the sake of upholding the principles which they professed to entertain. + 3d. Refugees, or persons who, for the sake of expressing their opinions + and feelings against the government, without fear of imprisonment, had + removed to Canada where they could vent their spleen and malice against + all things connected with the United States, and vaunt their pernicious + principles under the protection of the outstretched paw of the British + lion. 4th. Bounty jumpers and criminals who could not be pursued and + brought back to this country for punishment under the existing extradition + treaty between the United States and Canada. This last class exceeds by + far all the others in point of numbers, and the low degree of infamy to + which they are reduced—rebels, skedadlers, refugees and bounty + jumpers, with a mixture of escaped criminals, forming an almost + indescribable mass of people, from all nations, all climes, and of almost + every imaginable description, and chiefly distinguished for being more + frequently found in the bar-rooms, billiard saloons, gambling halls, &c. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XI. + </h2> + <p> + THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS OF WAR AT CAMP DOUGLAS—THE + CHARACTER IN WHICH THEY CAME—UNDER THE LEAD OF CAPT. HINES—THE + REASONS WHY THEY FAILED TO EFFECT THEIR OBJECT—REBEL OFFICERS AND + SOLDIERS DRILLING COPPERHEADS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. + </p> + <p> + It is the writer's intention to speak first of two expeditions to Chicago, + for the release of the prisoners confined there. The first of these took + place during the Chicago Democratic Convention, when it was hoped that the + rebels from Canada and their sympathizers from Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana + and Illinois, who came armed to assist them in their projects, would be + enabled to go quietly into the city without fear of detection, in the vast + crowds who were then assembling there, from all parts of the United + States, and under the guise of friendly visitors, were to be ready at a + moment's notice whenever their leaders called upon them to spring out + before the people in their true light, and effect the release of those + rebels confined at Camp Douglas. As early as the twenty-fourth and + twenty-fifth of August last, at the request of Jacob Thompson, secretly + and quietly circulated all through the Canadas, Nova Scotia and New + Brunswick, all the Rebels, Skedadlers, Refugees, and others who could be + relied upon to take part in the expedition, began to assemble in Toronto, + Canada West, at the different hotels and boarding houses; of these, at + that time, it was generally reported that there were about three hundred; + but so far as positive evidence goes, out of this number only about + seventy-five men were induced to join this expedition and go to Chicago. + At Toronto the objects of the expedition were made known to nearly all of + them, and arms furnished them—<i>arms manufactured in New York city + and shipped to Canada for that express purpose</i>. The details of the + affair were only known to a few of the leaders, who maintained the + strictest silence upon the subject, and enjoined upon the men the most + implicit obedience to their orders, pledging themselves for their safety + and the feasibility of their plans. On the nights of the twenty-sixth, + twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth of August, these men began to leave + Toronto, by all the different routes leading to Chicago, in squads of from + two to ten, and began to arrive at the Richmond House in that city, as + early as the Saturday before the Convention. They were all pledged to + fight to the last, and never under any circumstances surrender, as their + lives would be forfeited, if caught. The whole expedition was under the + charge of Capt. Thomas H. Hines, who had a commission as Major-General in + the Rebel army, to take effect and date from the release of the rebel + prisoners of war at Rock Island or Camp Douglas. Hines is the person who + is said to have effected the escape of General John H. Morgan himself, and + others from the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, and although it is not + generally known in the North or South how Morgan escaped, and there not + being one word of truth in his report, he has enjoyed for a long time the + reputation of having been the author of it, and of being a desperate + shrewd character. The real facts in the case were (and it does not do the + service of the United States much credit to mention them,) that General + John H. Morgan "<i>was bribed out</i>." It was absolutely necessary + however for General Morgan to make some report of his escape to the + public, that would hoodwink the United States Government and save the + officers, whom his friends in the North had bribed to let him out, from + punishment by the authorities, and therefore a very romantic tale was made + up, and Morgan's pet <i>Capt. Hines</i>, was made the hero of it; and it + was the object of the rebel government in sending Hines to Canada to give + an air of truth to this romantic tale, to secure the United States + officials who have failed in their duty to their country. Hines was + assisted in his efforts by Col. St. Leger Grenfel an English adventurer of + great military experience, personal bravery and daring, who has had a + romantic connection with nearly every important war in America, Europe, + Asia and Africa for the past thirty years, and served in the Southern army + with the rank of Col., as Adjt.-Gen. to Morgan, and afterwards on General + Bragg's staff; but who pretended to have resigned his commission in the + rebel army and was living quietly in Canada; also by one Capt. Castleman + of Morgan's command, from Kentucky, who acted as Quartermaster of the + party, and about seventy-five, rank and file, (nearly all of whom were + officers) of the rebel army from Canada. These men were to be met here in + Chicago by parties from nearly all the middle, western and border States, + who came armed like themselves and for the same purpose. Of those citizens + who came to Chicago, armed and ready like the rebels, there were over a + thousand persons organized and officered, camped in this city, just + waiting for the command, and there were in the vast throng then assembled + in Chicago five or six thousand, who, while they would not attach + themselves to any organization, and were afraid to risk the first attempt, + yet if the first attempt had been successful they would have joined the + others in their work of devastation and destruction. The above is most too + low an estimate of the number of these malcontents who did not join any + military organization, but would have eventually joined if it had been + successful; for rebel officers have been heard to say in Canada, after the + Convention was over, that if they could have "<i>started the thing right,</i>" + they would have had an army of twenty-five thousand in a week. With such a + force, or even a force of ten thousand, in possession of the city of + Chicago, almost every city and large town where there were many Democrats, + and where the Sons of Liberty, the Illinois Societies, Illini, &c., + had full sway in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, were to + raise the insurrectionary cry, and endeavor to bring all peace men and + Democrats under their banners. They were also to endeavor to maintain + themselves in their respective neighborhoods, districts, States, etc., + were to seize upon all the railroads and public buildings, and in the + event they were not strong enough to hold all the country, they were to + rally around the liberated rebels and their friends at Chicago, Camp + Chase, Camp Morton, and other places, after destroying all the public + works, railroads, etc., that would be of any service to the Government, in + following them up, or baulking their movements. In the meantime, however, + the military authorities in Chicago had not been idle, and the rebels and + their abettors looked with dismay upon every fresh arrival of troops and + artillery, as it was reported in their headquarters by spies, who had the + temerity to go to the observatory just opposite the camp, from which they + could see almost all over it, and send up hourly reports of everything + taking place inside. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: JAMES A. WILKINSON, Past Grand Seignior of the Chicago + Temple of the Sons of Liberty, and one of those who brought the + "Butternuts" to Chicago "to vote and to fight."} + </p> + <p> + They not only had their spies, one might almost say, in Camp Douglas, but + in the telegraph offices, and were in or so near Post Headquarters, that + they were able to chronicle nearly every event of any importance to them, + that transpired, in any of those places. + </p> + <p> + On the third day of the Convention, it was announced from rebel + headquarters at the Richmond House, that the expedition was a failure, + that owing to the precautions taken by the military authorities, and the + non-arrival of a thousand or two of other Copperheads, who had promised to + be in Chicago, ready to assist in the undertaking, and owing to the want + of sufficient discipline and organization among the Copperheads, who were + on hand, that an attempt at that time upon the garrison of Camp Douglas + would involve the destruction of the lives of too many prisoners, and + perhaps the killing and capturing of all those who made the attempt to + release them. As soon as it was generally known among the rebels that they + had failed in attaining the objects for which they came to Chicago, Col. + Grenfell and Capt. Castleman made their appearance among them, and stated + that it had been generally agreed upon that all who were willing should go + to Southern Illinois and Indiana, to drill and organize the Copperheads + for the coming struggle, which they thought would take place very soon, or + in other words, as soon as Gen. Lee should have Gen. Grant's army in full + retreat towards Washington city, or should have inflicted some other + almost irreparable disaster upon the Union arms, which event both they and + the Copperheads with them, were not only wishing to take place, but + confidently expecting every day; that they with Hines and others were + going home with some delegates to the Convention, where they could live + quietly and work to a great advantage. On the fourth day of the + Convention, the men and officers were paid various sums from twenty to one + hundred dollars, and it was left to their option whether they would go to + Southern Illinois, Indiana, or return to Canada. Some fifteen or twenty + went to Canada, and about fifty went to Southern Illinois and Indiana. + Thus ended the first attempt to release the rebel prisoners of war at Camp + Douglas. It was certainly a bold movement, both on the part of the rebels, + who exposed themselves to such great risk of suffering a disgraceful and + ignominious death, and the citizens who aided them in their nefarious + designs. But it seemed that an angel of an all-seeing Providence stretched + its protecting wings over the fair city, which was doomed by the rebels + and their friends at the North first to see and feel the demoralizing + influence of an insurrectionary force. What expression, or what degree of + contempt is most appropriate for the citizens connected with these rebel + efforts;—persons owing a true and faithful allegiance to the + Government, yet aiding and abetting its public enemies, persons who while + professing a common fealty with their fellow citizens, would welcome to + their homes incendiaries, and incite them to murder and plunder those very + fellow citizens, and compel them to suffer all the horrors of a cruel + warfare! No epithets that human ingenuity could heap upon them would be + too harsh, or too undeserved, no contempt too humiliating for a people so + devoid of honesty and all the qualities essential to render them + prosperous and happy. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XII. + </h2> + <p> + SECOND ATTEMPT—HINES IN COMMAND AGAIN—COPPERHEADS AGAIN TO BE + THE MAIN FORCES TO BE RELIED UPON—REBEL GENERALS TO TAKE COMMAND OF + THE RELEASED PRISONERS AND THE INSURRECTIONARY FORCES—THE DAY OF THE + PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPOINTED AS THE ONE MOST PROPER FOR THE UPRISING—THE + CAPTURE OF SOME OF THE REBEL LEADERS AND THEIR SYMPATHIZING FRIENDS. + </p> + <p> + At the time the rebel officers and soldiers left Chicago, after the + Convention, none of them had any idea of ever coming back again, except + Capt. Hines and a few of the leaders who consulted with him. He was shrewd + enough to see that any effort at that time would be fruitless, and + determined, so far as possible, to have all the Copperheads who would + assist him in any second affair of the kind, drilled and organized, and + men able to render effective assistance. It was for this purpose that he, + with his comrades, went to Southern Illinois and Indiana with cavalry and + infantry tactics and all the appliances for instructing others in military + matters. The conspirators having failed at Chicago during the convention + to make their starting point, having failed to make the great bonfire, + which was to be the signal for thousands of others not quite so large, to + burn up brightly from almost every hill-top in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, + Indiana and Illinois, it was necessary for their leaders to meet again, + and determine upon a new programme. It appears that they did meet again, + and again the starting-point of the whole conspiracy was the release of + the rebel prisoners of war at Chicago, and from facts brought to light by + the evidence before the great military commission held in Cincinnati, + Ohio, the plan of operations was nearly the same as that of the first. The + prisoners being released at Chicago, those at Johnston's Island, Camp + Morton, Camp Chase and other places were to be released by their friends, + and then all were to be immediately placed under the command of rebel + generals sent here for the purpose of heading the rebellion, when it once + broke out. This may seem like fiction to some; the idea of rebel generals + being here in the North for the purpose of aiding and taking the lead of + the conspirators; but it is nevertheless true, as disclosed by one of the + prisoners taken at Chicago; and it also appears that these generals had + several states partitioned off into districts and departments, of which, + each department commander was to have exclusive control. + </p> + <p> + The new programme having been adopted, all that was necessary was to fix + upon the day. The day must be one upon which more than the usual number of + visitors would be in the city, in order that their coming and staying + would not be noticed, and it seemed they selected the day of election, as + the one most suitable for their purposes; and if possible a day when the + military and civil authorities would be most likely to be caught off their + guard. For several days before the 8th of November last, their spies had + been coming into the city, in order to get suitable quarters for the men + when they arrived, and in parts of the city where they would be least + liable to suspicion. In the efforts to secure suitable boarding houses for + these incendiaries, various citizens of Chicago took an active part, and + even went to the depots to receive them, and escort them into the bosom of + the city they were so soon to attempt to destroy. It was not until the + Saturday just before the election, that Gen. Sweet had positive + information of the <i>rebels</i> being in the city, and received full + information of the details of their plans, and began to take measures + quietly to capture them. This he did at once, and at the same time had + every preparation made to repel any attack upon the garrison of Camp + Douglas; and he succeeded admirably, following up his information with + such energy, that before daylight of the Monday morning following, he had + captured enough of the rebel leaders (and their friends in such connexion + as to leave no doubt of their guilt,) to make every disloyal man quake in + his boots. The captures of the military and police were not confined alone + to the conspirators, and in addition to them were captured immense + military stores of all kinds, boxes of guns already shotted, cart loads of + army pistols loaded and ready for the bloody work expected of them, + holsters, pistol belts, cartridges by the cart load, and enough munitions + of war to have started an arsenal of moderate size. These arms were not + taken from the rebels, but found in the houses of citizens of Chicago, who + can produce witnesses upon the stand (of pretended loyalty and standing, + some of them being office-holders under the Government,) to swear that + they themselves are, and have always been loyal and true to their + allegiance. In the house of Charles Walsh, most of these arms were taken, + and also there were captured two rebel soldiers, Captain George Cantrill + and Charles Travis Daniels, who were shortly after identified; and + Cantrill partly confessed his views, and his complicity with the + Copperheads. This man Cantrill had been one of those who had come to + Chicago during the Convention, for the same purpose, and averred that then + and at the election, the Copperheads had offered and held out to them + every inducement to get them here. That had it not been for them he would + never have come here. It may be well here to publish a little incident, + showing fully the kindred feelings existing between the conspirators and + the inmates of Camp Douglas. It was a well known fact, that there were + several thousand of John Morgan's desperadoes confined in this prison, and + the Copperhead conspirators, to show their refinement of feeling, their + accommodating dispositions, and their attention to the worst of these men, + had purchased for their use exclusively, the finest cavalry carbines then + made in the United States, and had them stored in the immediate + neighborhood of the prison, when upon being released they could at once + begin to revel in a carnival of blood. Happy, happy for the people of + Chicago, having passed through one of the most critical periods of their + existence, without knowing that they were threatened with any disaster, + ignorant that there was a mine beneath their feet, just ready to be sprung + at any moment, with their own fellow citizens pulling at the spring, + willing to involve them in general and complete ruin—willing to + subject them to the ravages of such bloodthirsty villains as the inmates + of Camp Douglas. The people of Chicago never can appreciate, to its + fullest extent, the danger through which they have passed, for several + reasons. First, because they were ignorant of it at the time, and the + conspirators had and have now at their command, a bitter partizan press in + their interests, and entirely subservient to their views, whose interests + it is to prevent these facts from becoming generally believed, and when + they are presented to the public with the naked truth, to hiss at and cry + them down as emanating from the brains of lunatics, or a conspiracy of + detectives to ruin the reputation of innocent and guiltless persons. + Secondly, because they never experienced the horrors which must + necessarily have followed had the conspirators been successful. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XIII. + </h2> + <p> + FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE REBELS TO CAPTURE UNITED STATES STEAMER MICHIGAN + CARRYING EIGHTEEN GUNS—MODUS OPERANDI—WHY THEY FAILED, &c., + &c.—UNITED STATES COMMERCE UPON THE LAKES TO BE DESTROYED—NORTHERN + CITIES TO BE LAID UNDER CONTRIBUTION, &c. + </p> + <p> + Canada, occupying the geographical position and belonging to another + nation as it does, has been ever since this war broke out, the rendezvous + of thousands upon thousands of the vagabond and criminal population of the + United States, together with the rebels and refugees, until its population + far exceeds what it had in 1860; almost every business occupation is + crowded to such an extent that it is almost impossible to obtain + employment of any kind, many persons being obliged to keep from starving + by begging, for their food, and the clothes they wear upon their backs. + Some of this refugee population have means, others are supplied by their + friends and families at home; but by far the greater number are without + any occupation or visible means of support, habitué of the gambling hells, + drinking saloons, &c., in favor of any crime or villainy to supply + their depleted purses, and furnish them with the means of living at ease + and idleness. Under such circumstances and among such a class of + population, is it anything strange, that the robbery of banks, the + pillaging of the inhabitants of the Northern border, that raids with all + the necessary plundering and so forth, found plenty of advocates and + supporters, and when the time arrived to carry them into execution, plenty + of desperadoes, fit tools for such infamous projects. The great difficulty + in Canada was not in getting enough of these men to participate in matters + of this kind; but to prevent too many of them from knowing of them, so + that there would be a smaller number among whom to divide the spoils and + plunder thus obtained, so that the chief difficulty lay in getting + together just enough of the most desperate characters to carry out an + expedition. During the Chicago Democratic Convention the efforts of the + rebels were not confined alone to Camp Douglas; but simultaneously with + their efforts in Chicago, they were to make an attempt to capture the + United States Steamer Michigan, carrying eighteen guns, stationed on Lake + Erie, the steamer permitted by the treaty between the United States and + Great Britain, for the better protection of rebel prisoners confined at + Johnston's Island. + </p> + <p> + The prisoners of war at Chicago, Illinois, being released, and the great + conspiracy in the North once fairly inaugurated, the capture of the + steamer Michigan was to be one of the combined movements that were to + startle the country, and aid the conspiracy in overturning the authority + of the United States Government, With the "Michigan" in their hands, the + conspirators would have a powerful auxilliary in their pernicious designs + upon the country, and be able to render effective aid to the Southern + Rebellion; ruining the commercial status of the United States on the great + lakes, and effectually closing all the ports on their borders, and in + addition to this, their laying all the large towns and cities on the + northern portion under contributions, and exacting from them enormous sums + of money, through fear of bombardment. The plan of the conspirators to get + possession of the Michigan was by bribery and by surprise. Mr. Thompson, + in his efforts to seize the vessel, secured the services of a man named + Cole, of Sandusky City, who, whilom, had been a citizen of Virginia, but + who still retained his sympathies for the rebellion, and took an active + part in aiding it whenever he had an opportunity, and a woman, said to + have been his paramour, who carried dispatches backwards and forwards + between the parties. This man Cole seems to have been the most wiley + conspirator of them all, and played his infamous part of the plot with the + most adroit shrewdness; and the defeat of the whole scheme was not owing + to any blunder of his, but rather the blunder of those who employed and + furnished him with the means. Having been well supplied with money by Mr. + Thompson, and no limit put to his expenses, he began his work with a will. + He seems to have begun by getting generally well acquainted with the + officers of the vessel, by feasting them, and now and then lending them + money, or accommodating them in some other way, until he had won the + confidence of all those in command of the steamer, as well as those in + charge of Johnston's Island. After a time, he found out those who were + most vulnerable on the money question, and those whom he did not dare to + approach upon the subject. Of the latter class, there is one mentioned in + particular by the rebels, whose suspicions they did not care to arouse, + and which they made every attempt to lull. This was an officer named Eddy, + from Massachusetts. Of the former class, whom they bribed, the rebels + mentioned particularly the chief engineer, who, they said, had agreed, for + twenty thousand dollars in gold, to get the machinery out of order, and + otherwise aid in the vessel's capture, and one or two others. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: BRIG. GEN. CHARLES WALSH, + </p> + <p> + A citizen of Chicago, he was at one time the Democratic candidate for + Sheriff of Cook County, in which is the city of Chicago, during the + earliest part of the war he was very active in helping to raise what was + called the Irish brigade. He afterwards became a bitter democratic + partizan and was connected with the Sons of Liberty. Just before and + during the Convention be received into his family several rebel soldiers + who were there during the day and night time, making cartridges for the + expected release of the rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. He was + arrested in his own house on the morning of the 7th of November, as was + also his son, and two Rebel soldiers and taken to Camp Douglas. In his + house and on his premises were an immense numbers of guns of several kinds + and also immense military stores, consisting of powder, buckshot, + cartridges, with two or three cast braces of army revolvers, all these + guns and pistols were loaded and ready with the exception of being capped. + Charles Walsh is of Irish extraction and about forty years of age, and a + fine looking man. He is generous, impulsive, rather easily influenced, + agreeable in conversation, and except in the character he assumed as an + enemy to his country was possessed of qualities which would win for him + many friends. There are as bad men, in our opinion, as Mr. Charles Walsh, + to day at liberty and talking treason in our midst.} + </p> + <p> + Of the remainder of the officers of the Michigan, they thought their + well-known Democratic faith and sympathy with the rebellion, would prevent + them from seeing or knowing <i>too much</i>, until too late to avoid the + disaster. Of these last, the conspirators did not seem to entertain the + least fear, some of them being Southern men by birth, and at most, but + passive in their fidelity to the government. The men of the vessel who + were loyal, were also tampered with, and the rebels in Canada looked for + assistance from them, and claimed that some of their own men from Canada + had enlisted on board of her for the purpose of aiding to capture her. Of + these rebels, however, there were but few. As the writer has stated + before, the attempt on the steamer Michigan was to be simultaneous with + that at Chicago, Ill., and while the rebels and their friends were + assembling in Chicago, they were also gathering in Sandusky City, for the + capture of the Michigan. The exact number of conspirators in Sandusky, at + that time, is not known to the writer, nor the details of their plans; but + let it suffice to say, <i>that they were there, armed and ready</i>. When + the time of action arrived, however, the engineer and his accomplices were + no where to be found, and after waiting for nearly two days, the rebel + portion of the conspirators, with the exception of Capt. Beall, returned + to Canada. On their return, they said that the persons whom they had + bribed were afraid to toe the mark—that is, were afraid to carry out + their infamous and hazardous part of the contract. The rebels were in + great fear, lest something had happened that would put an end forever to + their hopes, in regard to the steamer, but in a few days after this, the + non-appearance of the engineer and friends, were duly explained, and the + alarm caused by it quieted, and another time set for the attempt; the + sequel will show how <i>much</i> they intended, and how much they ventured + to effect their aims. It is a well known fact that the rebels while in + Sandusky city, were feasted and toasted in the houses of some of the + prominent citizens and business men, and encouraged in every way by them. + The day being set once more, preparations were again made to capture the + vessel, and this time occurred what was called the <i>Lake Erie Piracy</i>, + nearly everything connected with which was so disgraceful to the United + States service, that although the government hastened to remove all the + reprehensible officers, and retain those who deserved well of their + country, yet seems to have endeavored to keep some of the facts connected + with it, from being made public. About one week before the time set for + the second attempt arrived, Capt. Beall returned from Sandusky to Windsor, + Canada West, and announced that all was ready for the capture, and + immediately telegraphed to Jacob Thompson, who was then at the Queen's + Hotel, in Toronto, who at once answered that he would come to Windsor that + night, and desired not to be recognized. That evening he arrived at + Windsor, and without apparently being known got into a carriage waiting, + and was taken to the residence of a Col. Steele, about a mile below + Windsor, where he was expected. During this week all the men who were to + participate in the affair were notified, and this time the services of + some of the men who had been to Chicago during the Convention, were called + into requisition. The officers of the rebel army could be seen running + about, here and there, to the different boarding houses where the men were + stopping, carrying ominous looking carpet bags, distributing from them + pistols, ammunition and other things, deemed necessary for the + undertaking, which was to be made on the night of the following Monday. + Most active in these efforts to incite these men to deeds of desperation, + were Col. Steele and Jake Thompson—or when he used his assumed name, + Col. Carson. The plans of the pirates were as follows, and the writer + gives them just as he heard them from the lips of two of the rebel + officers who participated in the affair, commanding detachments on board + of the "Philo Parsons." Part of the men, amounting in all to about + seventy-five, were to go from Canada to Sandusky city by rail, another + party were to cross the river at Detroit early on Monday morning, and take + passage on the steamer "Philo Parsons" for Sandusky, another portion were + to take passage on her from Sandwich, Canada, about two miles below + Detroit, and still another party of them, consisting of about fifteen + (with eight or ten citizens who knew nothing of what was contemplated), on + Sunday morning were to charter a small steamer called the "Scotia," plying + between Windsor and Detroit, ostensibly for the purpose of taking a + pleasure ride to Malden, Canada, about twenty miles below Detroit, and + near the entrance of the river into the lake, when they were also on + Monday to take passage for the same place on the Parsons. At Kelley's + Island, one of the points at which the boat touched in her daily trips, + they were to receive a messenger from Cole, letting them know, that up to + that time everything was going on smoothly in Sandusky; upon receiving + this information, all the different portions of the gang were to unite and + seize the steamer, before she reached the next landing, at which she + generally stopped. The engineers and pilots were to be forced, by threats + of instant death if they refused, to still occupy their respective places; + the passengers were to be put off at some out of the way place, where it + would be impossible for them to give any information to the authorities, + and after dark they were to run down into Sandusky bay, where they would + see certain signals, made by those conspirators on the shore, when they + would land, take on board all those who had come by rail from Detroit, and + some Copperheads from Cincinnati, Ohio, and other places, and at once + would immediately turn the prow of the Parson for the steamer Michigan. + Cole was to give a champagne supper on board the Michigan that evening, to + the officers, and was to be there himself with a party of rebels, who had + also become well acquainted with the officers, and was invited at the + request of Cole, to join in the festivities of the occasion. It was + intended for the Philo Parsons to reach hailing distance of the Michigan + about eleven or twelve o'clock that night, in order that by this time as + many of the crew as possible, through the champagne, would be incapable of + rendering any resistance, when the Parsons was hailed by the watch on + board the steamer, and Cole and his associates were at once to take + possession of a gun, which would sweep the whole decks, to prevent that + portion of the crew who were not rendered incapable of it by drink, from + attempting any effectual resistance to the conspirators boarding her from + the Parsons. Once in possession of this vessel of war, the prisoners on + the island were to be immediately released, landed at Sandusky, when the + Sons of Liberty, Illini and other secret societies were to seize the + opportunity of rising up, and asserting their peculiar doctrines, under + the protection of this powerful man of war. The same course was to be + pursued at Cleveland and other places, along the lake coast, where their + secret societies were in full blast, the conspirators exacting an enormous + tribute of the loyal portion of these communities to save their property + from the dangers of bombardment. This expected tribute of ten millions of + dollars, (to be divided equally among them,) from the border cities, was + the greatest inducement held out by the rebel leaders before leaving + Canada, to their desperadoes, in order to excite their cupidity and zeal, + and inflame their minds to such a pitch, that they would render a strict + obedience to their officers, and hesitate at no act of violence. These + were the plans of the conspirators, and although they may seem almost + ideal and improbable, yet are very possible even to the most minute + details, when one will take time to stop and consider the great chances of + success the pirates had in having a portion of the crew bribed, and their + prospects of having the remainder too excited by liquor, to make any + effectual opposition—the surprise, the chaos and confusion of the + crew at finding those whom they supposed their friends, as well as their + own comrades and fellow-soldiers, fighting them hand to hand. Under such + circumstances as these, it is very easy to conceive of the capture of a + vessel by a band of desperadoes, who would hesitate at no act of bloodshed + or villainy to accomplish their objects. In addition to this, they were + rendered more desperate, if such a thing could be, by the certainty that + if they failed and were captured, a speedy and disgraceful death awaited + them. The Michigan being captured, it is also easy to conceive that all + the other portions of their plans could have been carried out, perhaps to + a greater extent than already mentioned, that contributions could have + been levied and exacted from the people, and especially that the Sons of + Liberty and other secret societies would joyously seize such an + opportunity as the protection of this man-of-war afforded them, to throw + off the mantle of secrecy and darkness from their hell-born principles, + and parade them to the view of the public in all their hideousness. We + will now follow up the plans of the conspirators, and mention the facts as + they occurred. On Sunday the —th of September, just preceding the + attempt, although it was a rainy and very disagreeable day, in accordance + with orders, the Scotia was chartered and conveyed her part of the + pirates, together with some arms to Maiden, C.W. It is due to the citizens + who were with the pirates, to say here, that they had no idea that the + piracy was contemplated, and thought that it was only a fishing excursion, + which at that time was a very common occurrence with the Southeners at + Windsor. That evening when the Scotia returned, they alleged that it was + so unpleasant that they would wait until the next day before going back to + Windsor, in this way lulling everything like suspicion in the minds of + those who had only been invited to go with them, the more effectually to + conceal the real objects of the pirates. On Monday, on the arrival of the + Steamer <i>Philo Parsons</i> at Malden, those who had taken passage from + Detroit and Sandwich, were seen in very conspicuous places on the decks, + by those on the wharf, who immediately boarded her in the capacity of + passengers. It was not the intention of the pirates to seize the vessel + until nearly to Sandusky, and in the event they received no messenger from + <i>Cole</i>, at Kelley's Island, they were not to take possession of her + at all, but continue in their characters as passengers to Sandusky, and + there learn the cause of his failure to communicate with them. But as + subsequent events will show, they were compelled to change their whole + plan of operations. Shortly after the vessel left Malden, the frequency + with which all of these men patronized the bar of the boat, attracted the + suspicions of some of the passengers, as well as the officers, one of + whom, from some remarks let fall by one of the men, thought they were a + suspicious set, and said that as soon as the boat arrived at Sandusky, he + would have them arrested and taken care of. Some of the pirates happened + to hear this remark, and as soon as it was generally known, created the + greatest consternation among them, and upon arriving at Kelley's Island + and not receiving the messenger promised by <i>Cole</i>, they were in a + very unenviable position. To go to Sandusky they would be arrested; the + only course they could take to save their own lives and liberty, was that + which they eventually adopted. Capt. Beall, after hearing this report, + quickly determined to seize the vessel, which was accordingly done, to the + great terror of the passengers and crew. One or two of the crew who + refused to obey the orders given by the pirates, were severely wounded. + Finding that there was only wood enough on board to last for a short time, + she was run to Put-in-bay to get a supply, and it was at this landing that + they seized the Island Queen, which happened to be there also, for the + same purpose. This vessel, after removing her valuables, was immediately + scuttled and left floating with the current in a sinking condition. After + dark that night, the pirates ran down into Sandusky Bay, but failing to + see the signals agreed upon, and after waiting a short time, again + returned to the open lake, convinced by this time that something had + happened to their friends in Sandusky. Capt. Beall then seeing that + something had happened which would prevent them from capturing the + Michigan, announced his determination to cruise on the lake as long as + possible, burning and destroying all he could, and endeavored to induce + his men to go with him; but they were already scared, and begun to fear + the consequences of their act, and insisted upon going back to Canada. + This is what Capt. Beall himself told Mr. Thompson on his return to + Canada, that "if it had not been for these mutinous scoundrels, I could + have run that boat on these lakes for two weeks, burning and destroying + all the vessels we met with, before the Yankees could have made us take to + land." The owners of shipping upon the great lakes, can now if they never + could before, appreciate fully the danger to their vessels at that time. + The day before the rebels left Windsor, C.W., the United States + authorities had been notified of the expedition, and fully placed upon + their guard, and if the plans of Lieut. Col. Hill, the efficient commander + of the post at Detroit could have been followed, he would have captured + the whole gang. However, he telegraphed to Sandusky, and had Cole arrested + while he was sitting at the table, taking dinner with the officers on + board the Michigan. This effectually prevented Cole from communicating + with the conspirators. + </p> + <p> + Col. Hill's plans were to let the pirates take the <i>Parsons</i>, and + then before they had time to do any damage, have the Michigan meet them on + their way to Sandusky and capture them all together, and thus relieve the + Government from any farther trouble with this most desperate band of + incendiaries. Col. Hill telegraphed to the commander of the Michigan, + requesting him to do this, and it is generally understood that the reason + why he did not do it was that the machinery of the vessel was out of + order, thus showing how well those who had been bribed had done their + duty. In addition to these attempts to capture the steamer Michigan, was + the celebrated St. Albans raid, which among others, was one of the rebel + modes of carrying the war into Africa and harrassing the northern border. + </p> + <p> + This raid, which has become so famous in the history of this war, was + first started by a Texan, named <i>Bracey</i>, belonging to one of the + rebel Texan regiments. This man, for four or five years before the war, + had been going to one of the schools or colleges (according to his own + account of himself,) in St. Albans, and was well acquainted, both with the + city and country, in the immediate neighborhood. He gave all the + information he could, and offered to return there to get more, which he, + with one or two rebel soldiers did, and obtained all the necessary + information that would, in any way, aid them in their criminal designs. + Upon their report, on their return to Canada, the fitting out the + expedition immediately began—the money, arms, etc., being furnished + by the rebel agents in Montreal or Quebec. Of the details of this affair, + as carried out, the people have been fully advised by the newspapers, and, + to all intents and purposes, the raid has been a success, or has operated + in this manner by the winding and twisting course of the Canadian law + courts, which seem to be actuated by no fixed principles, but wavering + between the fear of the public opinion of the American people, and their + desire to aid the rebels in overturning the government—and had it + not been for the sudden turn the war has taken in the last six months, the + people along the northern border would have been subjected to numerous + other and similar raids. The St. Albans raid was only a part of one grand + scheme of the rebels, for the past two years, to inaugurate a new mode of + warfare, entirely beyond the pale of that waged by civilized nations, and + a relic of the more barbarous ages. This new mode of warfare, or + incendiarism, as it is generally called, was first started by the rebel + government, after the fall of Memphis, Tenn., for the purpose of + destroying vessels, loaded with government property, and cut off the + communications of the armies in the lower countries, with their depots of + supplies; with this end in view, companies of men were regularly enlisted + for the purpose, and after a time, the sympathies and the aid rendered the + rebellion by certain classes of the people at the North, justified them in + extending its pernicious effects further North. Companies were enlisted + and sent through the lines, with orders to burn public buildings, army + stores, and supplies, wherever they could find them. Thus far, secret + agents of the rebels were scattered all over the North, in small squads, + wherever there was a prospect of doing injury to the government; and it is + to the efforts of these men, that the country is indebted for the + wholesale destruction of steamboat and other property at St. Louis, Cairo, + and other places on the western rivers. These men performing the + incendiary acts frequently upon information furnished them by their + sympathizing friends. The public are already well aware of the manner in + which some of these acts of incendiarism terminated, most especially the + attempt of Capt. Kennedy and others, holding commissions in the rebel + service, to burn New York city. If ever a man deserved his fate, this man + Kennedy certainly did, and the public, having been saved, unscathed, can + never fully appreciate the enormity of his crime. One, knowing the facts + of these men being in the North for this purpose, can readily appreciate + the punishment awarded them; but upon reviewing all the facts in the case, + will as readily say that they are now less guilty than the citizens of the + North, who aided them in their designs, by furnishing them information and + associating with them, and even receiving them into their families, while + they were yet public enemies, and in arms against the country. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XIV. + </h2> + <p> + SABBATH EVENING IN INVINCIBLE CLUB HALL—-A SCENE NEVER TO BE + FORGOTTEN—PLANS REHEARSED—ARMS INSPECTED—REPORT OF THE + BRIG.-GEN. OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY—REVOLUTION AND BLOODSHED WITHIN + THE NEXT THIRTY-SIX HOURS—DISTRIBUTION OF FIREARMS UPON OUR STREETS. + </p> + <p> + The evening of the 3d of November, 1864, found a large representation of + the Sons of Liberty in their lodge room in Chicago, for as the time drew + near for the Presidential election—the period fixed for the carnival + of crime—the members of the organization realized the importance of + the utmost vigilance—lest their plans should be discovered—and + of the most entire concurrence with their leaders, and concert of action + in obeying the commands that might be given. At this meeting, the + Brigadier-General of the Order was present, as were also Captains and + Lieutenants of the Invincible Club, and a more exciting meeting had rarely + ever been held in the Temple. Speakers were vehement and earnest, and + their theme was the proposed uprising. As had ever been their policy, + certain important facts were withheld from the fledglings in treason, who + had not yet tried their wings, but there was no discord, no dissention, + and all exhibited enthusiasm and confidence. Brig.-Gen. Walsh called a + meeting of the Order, to be held in the hall of the Invincible Club, on + Sunday evening November 6th, the hour being fixed for eight o'clock. All + were exhorted to be "on hand," as the Brig.-General had an important + communication to make. Friday and Saturday an immense number of pistols, + and much ammunition were sold, and many were given away in quarters, where + it was certain material aid might be expected, when the time should arrive + for the inauguration of revolution. To the few of us having the interests + of the country at heart, who were cognisant of the acts, preparations and + intentions of the Order, it will readily be believed the days were + tedious, and the nights sleepless. So well had the principal secrets of + the Order—the details of the uprising—-been kept from the + lower degree of the "Sons," that but few of the members had a definite + idea of the infamous part they were expected to perform, and it was to + communicate enough information to secure harmony among the men, and that + concert of action which promised the most complete success of the terrible + scheme of villainy before them, that the meeting was called for Sabbath + evening. It will be seen by the report of Gen. Sweet's testimony, before + the military commission, to what peril the city was exposed. With but a + handful of men to garrison the post, without the ability to obtain + adequate reinforcements, with ten thousand veteran rebels in a camp, so + incomplete in its structure, with the certainty that our secret enemies + were upon the railroads already, and seeking positions in the post-office, + in telegraph offices, if, as there was good reason to apprehend, the + telegraph stations were not already under their control, that by Judge + Morris' official report to the Temple, two full regiments of Sons of + Liberty, all well armed and disciplined, were ready at an hour's notice, + and that a third regiment was almost complete, the knowledge also that the + entire body of Copperheads in the State, and in the northwest, would rise + simultaneously with the traitors in our city, with good reason to believe + it impossible to safely communicate with the head of the State military + department—in this most unenviable position, to know that the fatal + moment was fast coming, when the infernal machinery was to be set in + motion, and to make arrangements to avert the catastrophe so quietly as + not to arrest attention, or excite the alarm of the leaders of the plot, + which would have instantly been executed, had it become apparent that the + movements of these traitors were watched; these considerations and the + discharge of the fearful responsibilities resting upon the only parties + who could then hope to avert the danger, occupied the mind and hands of + the commandant of the post, and employed the utmost vigilance of the + writer and able assistants. Every few hours orderlies and special couriers + were despatched to the headquarters of the camp, with such reports as + could be obtained. We have read Eastern tales of travelers, when accident + had discovered them in closest proximity to the deadly cobra de capello, + the breathless horror with which they contemplated its motions, and saw it + slowly coiling itself upon their limbs, or upon a table at their bedsides, + and knowing that a single motion on the part of the imperilled person + would be but to invite certain death, the vigilance and eager solicitude, + the distressing anxiety with which they regarded the movements and intent + of the venomous creature, but never till a full realization of our + position in regard to this organized band of traitors, did we ever + experience sensations akin to those of the unfortunate traveler; and when + the loathsome reptile had got into a position where it was safe to attempt + its destruction, and when this attempt was successful, no greater relief + or deeper emotions of gratitude could have been felt by him—a moment + before exposed to instant and terrible death—than were experienced + by us when the danger had been averted. + </p> + <p> + Sunday evening came. Our citizens worshiping in the churches, or in + peaceful repose in their own residences, little knew of the imminent peril + to which they were exposed, or of the gathering of their fellow citizens + in the Invincible Club Hall to arrange the details which, if successful, + would bring ruin, desolation and death to thousands of our unsuspecting + people. Up the entrance to the hall, cautiously crept the members of the + order, peering behind them, and advancing one by one, or in groups of two + or three, till they reached the hall. The door was guarded by a sentinel, + so that intrusion was out of the question. At nine o'clock, the assemblage + was called to order by Obadiah Jackson, Jr., Esq., the Grand Seignior. + Patrick Dooley, Secretary, was in his place on the right of the Grand + Seignior. The meeting was large, and a more desperate looking collection + of men have rarely assembled in a convention in our city. Such desecration + of the evening of the Sabbath has never before been witnessed here. After + the opening of the meeting, one of the members took early occasion to + remark substantially, that it must have been noticed by all present, as + well as himself, that the city was full of strangers, and that he had + noticed many of them were dressed in butternut clothes, and had good + reason to believe that they were Abolitionists in disguise; that it was + advisable to watch them, it being his confident opinion that they had come + to the city for the purpose of fraudulently voting the Abolition ticket; + and the speaker was proceeding in this strain, much to the amusement of + the members of the higher degree, to whom the men in butternut clothes + were no strangers. The speaker had scarcely taken his seat, when James A. + Wilkinson, Past Grand Seignior, rose and stated that the suspicious + looking persons were "our friends," and that he himself had brought a + company of sixty of them to the city, and that they were entitled to every + attention, as they would do good service for "us," and stated that he was + going back for more. The strangers who were the subject of discussion, + were from the counties in the Southern part of the State, and all bore the + same general appearance of vagabonds, cut-throats, felons, bounty-jumpers + and deserters. They had all seemed to appear simultaneously in our city, + unheralded even to the "Sons," and their advent was as much a subject of + remark, as would have been a shower of toads and tadpoles. They did not + take up their quarters at respectable hotels and private houses, but + sneaked away stealthily to the lowest dens of vice, and resorts of + criminals unwhipped of justice. They came to help perform infamous work, + and had a part of the price of their guilt upon their persons, or had + already invested it for the poorest quality of intoxicating liquors. They + had been collected together from the various country towns in the Southern + part of the State, where they had been in training under the command of + rebel officers, and many of them were the same parties who had come to + Chicago at the time of the Democratic National Convention, hopeful and + confident of the uprising, and who had been so wofully disappointed, and + turned their backs so reluctantly upon our banks and stores, from which + they had intended to glut their avarice, and amply remunerate themselves + with the property of our citizens. Nothing on earth is more positively + certain than, had the work not been arrested at the moment it was, these + devils would have pillaged every bank and rifled every storehouse in + Chicago; and it is equally certain that beyond Colonel Sweet and the + writer, with his assistant, Robert Alexander, none knew of the intricate + deadly plot in detail, although Major-General Hooker, Brig.-Gen. Paine, + Governor Yates, Hon. I.N. Arnold, and William Rand, Esq., of the <i>Tribune</i> + had been informed by the writer of the general intent of the organization. + But to return to the secret convention at the hall. The explanation of + J.A. Wilkinson not being satisfactory to Mr. Hull, some curt remarks were + banded between the speakers, which Obadiah Jackson, Jr., Esq., the Grand + Seignior could not well control, Brig.-Gen. Charlie Walsh rose to his feet + and said unhesitatingly, that he had by his own order "brought these men + here <i>to vote and to fight</i>," and he added, "by God they will vote + early and often, and they will fight." Gen. Walsh desired that all the + "brethren" would extend the hospitalities of the city to the visitors, for + they were "our friends." While this discussion was going on, there was a + Confederate officer in the hall, and within ten feet of Walsh. The joy + upon the announcement by Walsh, found expression in a rude and boisterous + manner. It having been definitely settled that the wretches who had been + the subject of discussion were good for any number of votes, and fully + prepared to take part in the attack, so soon to startle our city; the + convention proceeded to ascertain who among its members were unarmed, and + to supply such delinquents forthwith. The members generally exhibited + revolvers of various patterns, but upon inspection by the officers, + preference was expressed for the pattern like those which were + subsequently found in the house of Walsh, by the officers, at the time of + his arrest. There were several who had not the approved pattern, and such + persons were instructed to apply next morning at the store of James Geary, + corner of Wells and Madison streets, and they would be supplied, but upon + consultation it was remarked by Geary, that as he was already suspected he + feared it would hardly be expedient for Walsh to send arms to him for + distribution, and it was agreed by J.H. Hubbard, the treasurer of the + Invincible Club, that he would receive possession of the revolvers, and + give them to all who might apply, and such persons were to call at the + door of the Invincible Club hall, at 9 o'clock the next morning, when they + would be supplied. It was arranged that a guard of not less than fifty or + one hundred men, all well armed, should remain all day on Tuesday, + (election day,) at the polls in each ward, making not <i>less</i> than one + full regiment in the aggregate, thus detailed for special "service." + </p> + <p> + To distinguish friends and members at a time when trouble should break + out, was a subject now raised for debate, and it was finally agreed that + the members should wear McClellan badges upon the left breast, attached by + <i>red and white</i> ribbons. It was understood that orderlies were to be + constantly reporting from each ward at the headquarters of Gen. Walsh, and + thus a regular line of communication would be kept up, which in case of + trouble, would be greatly to the advantage of these ruffians. They were + all advised to deposit their vote with one hand, and present their + revolver with the other. It was confidently asserted by individuals, but + with how much truth we know not, that an Invincible Club from + Philadelphia, would also be present and help do the voting, but as no + Philadelphia Roughs were reported in the city, the help expected from + Philadelphia probably did not arrive. The most violent secession speeches + were made by Duncan, who was then connected with the Mercantile agency in + McCormick's block, Walsh, Wilkinson, and many others. + </p> + <p> + The meeting adjourned at a late hour, and many of the leaders, prominent + among whom was James Geary, proceeded to a secure retreat, and then in the + quiet hours of Sunday night, gave away a great number of revolvers of the + same style and pattern with those subsequently seized by the authorities. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XV. + </h2> + <p> + ARRESTS—GREAT EXCITEMENT—GENERAL CONSTERNATION OF THE + COPPERHEADS—NEW VICTORIES IN THE FIELD—DEATH-BLOW OF JEFF. + DAVIS' SECRET ORGANIZATION AND HOPES IN THE NORTH—FINDING OF ARMS—THE + EFFECT ALL THROUGHOUT THE NORTH-WEST. + </p> + <p> + Before the morning of Monday, November 7th dawned, a dispatch, embracing + the most important features of the Sunday night meeting, had been prepared + by the writer, and forwarded to the commandant of Camp Douglas, who, + during the night, arrested Judge Morris, Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, and + others, and a large number of "butternuts," who had been the subject of + discussion at the Sunday night meeting, and these prisoners were safely + lodged in Camp Douglas. The news of the arrests, and the charges upon + which they were made, caused intense excitement among all classes, loyal + men rejoicing for the promptness and wisdom of the measure, while the + Copperheads howled fearfully, and denounced it as a fresh evidence of + "Lincoln's tyranny." As the facts became generally known, there was an + unanimous expression of approval on the part of all good, loyal citizens. + The consternation of the Copperheads was truly great; they felt that, + notwithstanding their many precautions for secrecy, the eye of the + government had been upon them in their most secret places, and this + consternation was not by any means relieved when they read in the morning + papers an extract of Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh's speech before the order in + the Invincible Club hall. They felt certain that they were watched, and + that they were under careful espionage, and the effect was precisely what + we had expected and desired. It was telegraphed in every direction, that + the government bad a complete knowledge of their designs and proceedings, + and such a tremor and quaking with fear the Copperheads had not previously + exhibited. It completely deranged their designs, and caused an utter + abandonment of the plot, for the leaders in Chicago having been arrested, + no one knew how soon his turn would come, and it is a general and + well-established fact, that however sanguinary and fiendish a rabble may + prove when attacking their victims by surprise, the mass of such beings + lose their brute courage when discovering, to a certainty, that the + details of their strategy are known, and the party upon whom an assault is + contemplated is prepared, and will repel the attack with that fury, vigor, + desperation and perseverance that will surely carry death to many of the + assailants. They lack zeal, because they know their cause is a bad one, + just as one honest man will put three rogues to flight. It was telegraphed + that the heads of the government were fully advised of the conspiracy, and + that officers were freely visiting all the more important temples in the + North-West, mingling in the "business" of these meetings, and apprising + the military leaders of every move which had been made, which was being + made, and which was contemplated. Suspicion was aroused, and so general + did this distrust soon become, that no one was willing to trust his neck + in a halter, and any one of his associates having possession of the other + end. Suddenly a most wonderful reform was apparent, as rats disappear from + view after a few have been captured. Those who were at Invincible Club + hall, and made secession speeches, declared they were all drunk, or were + not in earnest, and other equally flimsy excuses;—these are the + apologies members made to each other, presuming they were addressing the + party who had surrendered them to the government. It was amusing to notice + their trepidation. They were variously affected. Capt. P.D. Parks, of the + Invincible Club, really cried, like a whipped schoolboy, from fear; many + ran away with all possible speed. Doolittle, the man of valor, who was to + lead a party against Camp Douglas, was the first to run away, and from + certain "surface indications," we rather think he is running yet. James A. + Wilkinson, the valorous Past Grand Seignior, has gone to look after + Doolittle; Silver has gone to Canada; Strawn has turned a summerset into + the Republican party; S. Corning Judd helped to convict the prisoners in + Cincinnati, although called by the defense; Amos Green, the Major-General + of the Order in Illinois, has quietly subsided, and is no longer + belligerent; Vallandigham gives the Order the cold-shoulder, and affects + pious horror upon the recital of its aims and purposes—and, indeed, + the whole organization, as formidable as it was in numbers, was soon in + the most terrible condition, and died in great agony. The complications of + the disease of which the order came to its death, would puzzle the most + profound pathologist. It might, perhaps, be set down as a disease of the + heart, induced by corrupt morals, with the following complications: + Softening of the brain from the study of State sovereignty; extreme + nervous debility from the reproach of a guilty conscience; injury to the + spine by suddenness of fall; weakness of the limbs from bad whiskey, and + impurity of the blood from contamination. The child of secession is dead—as + dead as the cause of the Southern Confederacy! Jeff. Davis' pet + institution was decently buried within the enclosure of Camp Douglas. + There being no provision or service in the ritual for this occasion, we + may only exclaim, as we look upon his last resting-place, "<i>Requiescat + in pace.</i>" + </p> + <p> + The arrest of General Walsh and others, and the discovery of a great + number of revolvers, etc., all loaded and ready for use, and the rather + unpleasant discovery that the Brigadier-General had actually employed a + Government detective to go to his house and give instructions in making + cartridges, were <i>rather</i> mortifying to the order, and when it + appeared that the Chairman of the Vigilance Committee, whose province was + to take the balance of the arms, which we learned were in Walsh's barn, + and with all possible haste remove them to a place of safety, and the + Chairman (who makes this record for the edification of his constituents), + deemed the safest place he could find the retired locality of Camp + Douglas, and if the inquisitive eyes of Gen. Sweet, and his grasping + propensities, should take possession of all the valuable carbines, Enfield + rifles, muskets and revolvers, let them moderate their wrath, and find + consolation in the thought that in their last hour it will be a pleasant + reflection that all those bristling warlike implements fell into the hands + of men who will not put them to base uses. + </p> + <p> + When it was announced, with all confidence, that beneath the hay in + Charley Walsh's barn was a large number of firearms that must be speedily + removed, a new idea of the value of ladies' hoops burst upon the world + (not "The Wide-Wide World,") but the few who were present when James L. + Rock, one of the editors of the Chicago <i>Times</i> announced that his + wife (and Mr. Rock ought to know), and some other ladies could quickly + remove these weapons by concealing them under their hoops, Colonel Sweet, + with his usual gallantry, spared the ladies the inconvenience and trouble, + and removed them quite as well and as quickly. + </p> + <p> + After the first arrests, other followed, but after a time many of these + worthies were liberated, not because of their innocence; and they may now + one and all consider themselves on their good behavior. + </p> + <p> + After the first arrests, the hall of the "Temple" in Chicago was deserted. + It was not thought to be exactly <i>safe</i>, and meetings were held + occasionally wherever they could find a place of safety, where it was + morally certain Gen. Sweet would not know of their gatherings or of their + business, and where it would be a dead secret forever; and they one and + all swore that whoever had exposed them to the Government <i>should die by + assassination</i>. This was their fixed purpose, and when suspicion + fastened upon Hull, no less than three persons <i>volunteered</i> to do + the deed, those men were Lewis C. Morrison, old Felton, the Outside + Guardian, and, by his own confession, detective of the order, and James L. + Rock, one of the editors o the Chicago <i>Times</i>. + </p> + <p> + Two of these "gentlemen" visited the office of the writer of this book + during the progress of the trial, and used the following language. "If it + be <i>true</i>, (he having inferred from Alexander's testimony that the + writer had been in the interest of the General Government), a thousand + times you had better be Charley Walsh than Dr. Ayer." + </p> + <p> + A project was considered to rally the order and carry out the original + programme, but as well might an attempt have been made to infuse life into + a body that had been buried a fortnight. A messenger who went to Lewiston, + Ill., to "see what the order would do about it," were coolly told by their + Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, Esq., that "they wouldn't do a thing." + This unsatisfactory report proved two things—that S. Corning Judd, + Grand Commander, and candidate for Lieut. Governor of Illinois, (who might + have got the election, if the "ballot and bullet" butternut machinery had + only proved available), considered the institution as "gone up," and 2d—that + he was ungrateful to a people who had at least made him their nominee. + Gentlemen who, by request, visited the different sections of the State and + of the Northwest, all reported that immediately after it was known that + the Government knew their secrets as well as they did themselves, they + tacitly agreed not to regard themselves as a "secret" organization in + future, and we have the best of reasons to believe the entire order is so + completely uprooted that it can never again spring up to curse the land. + Home traitors have been taught, and it is well if they profit by the + lesson, they cannot form any society or order based upon treason, that can + for any considerable time continue "secret." Its purposes will transpire, + for the all-seeing eye of Him who reads the hearts of men, and will not + suffer "a sparrow to fall to the ground without his notice," that God who + hath decreed that this nation shall be re-united, shall be prosperous, + free, happy, and truly great, will not suffer traitors to be successful, + but will give them into the hands of those who reverence His mighty and + terrible name; and their cunning shall be a reproach, and their + machinations shall be known of all men, and they shall blush with burning + shame that they were ever false to their country. + </p> + <p> + {Illustration: JUDGE BUCKNER S. MORRIS + </p> + <p> + A prominent lawyer and citizen of Chicago, a bitter and strong advocate of + Democratic faith and the peculiar notions of the Sons of Liberty. He was + arrested at the same time with Walsh in his own house. He was a strong + Southern man in his feelings and openly sympathized with the rebellion, + and so strong were his sympathies that he frequently furnished escaped + rebel prisoners of war with clothing, food, and money, and otherwise aided + them in escaping from the country. B.S. Morris was at one time judge of + the Circuit Court of Cook County, and was a candidate for Governor of the + State of Illinois. He was born in Kentucky, and is about sixty years of + age. Out side of his treason, Judge Morris was generally regarded as + possessing many noble qualities of heart.} + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XVI + </h2> + <p> + TESTIMONY OF GEN. B.J. SWEET—LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE + McCLELLAN CLUBS IN CHICAGO. + </p> + <p> + The services of Brig.-Gen. B.J. Sweet, in relation to the Northwestern + Conspiracy, have already been briefly mentioned, and the reader will + perhaps find the report of that officer's testimony full of interest. + After the communications by the writer to Gen. Sweet (then Colonel) in + command of Camp Douglas, which were made by request of Gen. Paine, + dispatches were regularly forwarded to that officer, who never failed to + receive them with gratification. The service was one of extreme danger, + difficulty and delicacy, requiring the most careful attention, unceasing + vigilance, and only the consciousness of discharging an important and + imperative duty to the country, and the confident belief that invaluable + aid might thus be rendered, could have induced the writer to enter upon + and pursue a line of service, a thousand times more distasteful and + perilous than active service upon the field. + </p> + <p> + The recognition of the writer's services by Brig.-Gen. Paine, and + subsequently by Maj. Gen. Hooker, in commendatory letters, will ever be + remembered, showing as it did, a grateful appreciation by those gallant + officers, of services of which, from their character, the public could + have no knowledge for the time being. + </p> + <p> + The following is the testimony of Gen. Sweet, as substantially given + before the military commission in Cincinnati: + </p> + <h3> + EVIDENCE OF COLONEL SWEET. + </h3> + <p> + My name is Benjamin J. Sweet; I am and was, during the months of + September, October, and November of last year, Colonel of the 8th Regiment + Veteran Reserve Corps; I was also, and still am, Commandant of the Post of + Chicago, including Camp Douglas. The post I command extended, I suppose to + the limits of the surrounding posts. + </p> + <p> + <i>The Judge Advocate</i>.—What are the geographical limits of the + command of the Post of Chicago. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Asay objected to the question, as involving a matter of law and not of + evidence, but his objection was overruled by the Court. + </p> + <p> + <i>Witness continued</i>.—My jurisdiction extends to the limits of + the posts north at Madison, Wisconsin, southwest to Rock Island, south, or + almost south, to Springfield, and east to Detroit, Michigan. The + Commandant has jurisdiction over everything pertaining to military affairs + in the jurisdiction, over the command of all troops, and for the + protection of the property of the Government and of the people. Chicago is + one of the first military depots of supplies in the country. There are ten + depots in charge of a Colonel, and Chicago is one of them. The Depot + Quartermaster at that time was Colonel Potter. From the commencement to + the latter end of August, the number of troops under my command, fit for + duty, was from 800 to 900. Towards the end of August, I was reinforced by + about 1,200 men, consisting of four companies of one hundred days' men, + and the 196th Pennsylvania Regiment, which numbered 750 men, also one + hundred days' men; these remained with me sixty or seventy days. I + telegraphed for these reinforcements. There were between 8,000 and 9,000 + prisoners in camp up to November. On the 6th of November, the morning + report shows 796 men, rank and file, fit for duty. There were always on + duty in Chicago about sixty men acting as provost guard; this left 736 men + in camp to do guard duty. The sixty men in the city performed service in + looking after deserters, guarding property, &c. The depot for supplies + is in the city, and is in charge of the depot quartermaster. Troops were + used for doing camp duty, and guarding prisoners of war, and forwarding + deserters to various camps. The entire guard in Camp Douglas was about 500 + men, 250 on duty at a time, and 250 off. These were changed every other + day. The camp is within the city limits, and is about three miles from the + Court House. + </p> + <p> + The conveniences to reach the camp are by way of street cars. There were + buildings on the north side of the camp; on the opposite side of the + street, also on the east side, there was a hotel and other dwellings. + Walsh's house was about one-fourth of a mile from the camp, with three or + four houses between Walsh's house and the camp. My duties are two-fold; I + have to report to Gen. Cook, at Springfield, commanding in the State, and + to Gen. Hooker, at Department headquarters. In relation to prisoners of + war, I am under the instructions of the Commissary General of prisoners at + Washington. These prisoners were arrested at my order. Messrs. Walsh, + Cantrill and Daniels were arrested by Lieut. Col. Skinner and a detachment + of troops, at Walsh's house. Grenfel and the witness Shanks were arrested + at the Richmond House, and Mr. Marmaduke was arrested at the residence of + Dr. Edwards, No. 70 Adams street. Judge Morris was arrested by Mr. Keefe + and members of the police. These arrests were made on the 6th of November. + They were arrested upon information which led me to believe that there was + on foot a conspiracy to release the prisoners, and get up a revolution in + Indiana and Illinois. I regarded the emergency as immediate, and therefore + acted promptly. I dared not trust the telegraph and the railroad, for I + understood that the Sons of Liberty had men employed upon them. There were + one hundred and fifty men arrested in all. They were principally from the + South and Central Illinois, and had lately arrived in Chicago. These were + mainly from Fayette and Christian counties, Illinois. These were arrested + in grog-shops, boarding-houses, under the pavements, and in every part of + the city. All of these men were arrested from their appearance and + description, and by their looks were taken to be vagabonds. There were but + few of them armed. They asserted that they came to Chicago to see the + city. Some of them stated that they belonged to the Sons of Liberty, and + some from the Southern army; about one tenth came from the Southern army. + These bushwhackers were arrested partly by the city police, partly by + citizens, and some by soldiers. + </p> + <p> + I have heard of such an organization as Klingmen's men. Most of them + coming from Christain and Fayette counties. It was chiefly made up of + deserters from the Federal army and those who ran away from the draft, and + was intended to resist the draft and all the operations of the Provost + Marshal and the General government in the prosecution of the war. I + succeeded in capturing the Captain and Lieutenant, and the principal men + of the organization. It was not an organization under the United States or + State law. I received all of these men up to the 8th of November, and all + being strangers, I took them in. + </p> + <p> + I do not know the exact size of Camp Douglas, but believed it comprises + from 60 to 70 acres of land. The prisoners square proper, covers about 20 + acres. In November last it was enclosed by a board fence 12 feet in height + and made of lumber an inch and a quarter in thickness. The boards were + placed endways and were nailed from the inside. The outside sentinels were + stationed on a parapet about three feet from the top of the fence on the + outside. The camp was more easily assailable from without and less + defensible than if the attack was made from inside. + </p> + <p> + The Judge Advocate here exhibited to the witness a plan of the camp found + on the person of one of the conspirators. + </p> + <p> + <i>Colonel Sweet</i>.—The map is very roughly drawn and is a little + out of proportion in detail, but is a correct drawing of the camp as it + was in August and September of last year. The outlines are precisely the + same. As shown on the map there were then 40 barracks in the prison + square. This number is now increased. The Guard-house and small tents on + the west side of the camp are also moved now. The barracks marked "Yankee + Barracks" is the correct position of the barracks occupied by the garrison + in Garrison Square. The building marked "Douglas House" on the South side + of the camp is, I suppose the Douglas University. It is a magnificent + building and is located about eighteen or twenty rods from the camp fence, + and overlooks the entire camp. One hundred men, or even fifty men, + stationed in that building, would command Camp Douglas, and almost make it + untenable to any force. During the session of the Democratic Convention, + and until the danger was over, I stationed two companies near that + building. I had in my charge a prisoner named John T. Shanks at that time; + he was there when I assumed the command of the camp, on the second of May, + 1864. He was a clerk in the office for the commissary of prisoners. He + applied to me to take the oath of allegiance during the summer. His + application went through me to the Commissary General of Prisoners with my + approval. I never approved these applications unless I was fully convinced + that the applicant was desirous of becoming a loyal citizen. The + application was not granted, but I made it the basis of communication to + Commissary General that Shanks desired to serve the United States, and to + take the oath. In this camp there were some men who were more largely + entrusted than others. Shanks was a paroled prisoner, having the freedom + of Garrison Square during the day time. There were others there in the + same condition—a man named Grey, and clerks in the medical + department. Shanks was allowed to go to the city two or three times in + company with an officer. The prisoners are never permitted to have any + funds. I gave Shanks a dollar. + </p> + <p> + Shanks never used a nomme de plume that I am aware of. The prisoners were + not allowed to have any money, nor did they possess any unless they + obtained it secretly. Shanks, however, had, I believe, one dollar, which I + gave him. When a prisoner is brought to camp he is thoroughly searched, + and any money taken from him is placed in bands of the Prisoner's + Accountant, to be drawn, if required, in provisions from the sutler. + Letters are all opened, and any money they contain similarly applied. I + sent Shanks to the house of Judge Morris on the 3rd of November, because + five men had just escaped from the camp, and I traced them, I believe, to + that house. I asked Shanks if he would not like to do the government a + service. He replied that he would, when I told him that I wanted him to go + to the house of Morris and represent that he had violated his parole and + escaped, and if possible must be secreted with the other prisoners. I then + sent for Keefe, and the two went to the city in a buggy. I followed on the + street cars, and went to my office, No 90 Washington street, where I had + told Shanks to report if he could not find the prisoners. After I had been + there a short time, Shanks came to me and gave me $30, which he said Mrs. + Morris had given to him, with the exception of one dollar. I do not think + he had any money when he went to her house. + </p> + <p> + I know Maurice Langhorne. He introduced himself to me on the 5th of + November, by showing me a letter from Secretary Seward to Secretary + Stanton, recommending that he be allowed to take the oath of allegiance. + He gave me some information regarding the plot, but I did not know whether + or not to take him into my confidence. At a subsequent meeting, the next + day, however, at the Tremont House, I determined that he was an honest, + reliable man, and one who could be trusted. He has been of great value to + me, and his information was ever correct. On the 12th of November, after + the first arrests were made, I first offered to employ him. I asked him to + identify all who he remembered having seen in Canada, in connection with + the conspirators, and arrest them. He personally arrested the witness, + John Maughan, at the Tremont House. He gave me information of the + ammunition in Walsh's house, and subsequent facts proved that his + information was perfectly correct. I gave him the fictitious name of + Johnson. He never acted as a detective, but simply aided in arresting men + he had known before. Shanks worked for the Government ever since I knew + him. Up to the 12th of November, he received no pay, and after that got + $100 a month as his salary. I believe, however, that I previously gave him + one month's salary, to purchase some citizen's clothing. Of the arms + seized at Walsh's house I have the shot guns at camp. The pistols were + entrusted to Col. Hough to arm a citizens' patrol, and he has not returned + them. I do not know the exact number of arms we captured. There were about + 354 revolvers and 200 double barreled guns found in his house, and thirty + cavalry carbines in his barn in the city; the latter weapons were not + loaded, but those found in his dwelling were. There were also from 14,000 + to 15,000 rounds of cartridges, and some roughly made buckshot cartridges, + the number of which I do not remember. We also obtained some arms from + other persons arrested, I mean the bushwhackers. I do not think that any + arms were found on any of the prisoners at the bar, except, possibly, + Grenfell. + </p> + <p> + It will be interesting to the citizens of Chicago, if not in other + localities, to peruse the following report from a newspaper, which has + perhaps done more than any other in the United States, to aid and promote + the interests and cause of the rebels—a paper, the baneful influence + of which Gen. Burnside well knew, and would have crushed out; but the + editor of that print was suffered to proceed on his dirty and devilish + work, and most industrious has he been. The most loathsome reptiles, as we + see in the economy of nature, have their uses; "the toad, ugly and + venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head;" the spider, cunning and + fierce, is not without his uses; the wily serpent has his office, the + viper was not made in vain, and as the mighty plan of the Great Creator of + the Universe is above the comprehension of man, we may wonder at, but + never understand why beings in the guise of men, were ever formed, who + know no patriotism, no gratitude, none of the nobler attributes of man, + and whose mission seems but destruction to his race, and deadly enmity to + his country. The Times, who in these days of victory and triumph of Union + arms, would "steal the livery of heaven to serve the devil in," and prate + of its devotion to the Union, furnishes us some information it were well + for good citizens to know, and which we will presume is (unlike most + statements in that concern) reliable. + </p> + <p> + THE LIST OF McCLELLAN ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. + </p> + <p> + We extract the following from the Chicago Times of October 20, 1864. It + will do to keep for reference. The comments which preface the list are + from the pen of the editor of that delectable print. The only comment we + need make is, that almost every man whose name is upon the list, was a + member of the Chicago Temple of the Sons of Liberty, in good and regular + standing with the order: + </p> + <p> + "There is at present a thoroughly organized and efficient McClellan club + in nearly every ward in the city. The good that has resulted to the + democratic party from these organizations is more than can be readily + imagined. They have done much to stimulate men to an interest in the + issues of the day which never would have been felt but for the exertions + of the clubs. In those wards where these organizations have not already + been formed, meetings are appointed to take place this week for the + purpose of forming them, and by the next Sabbath there will be one in + every ward in the city. Ordinarily the clubs meet once a week, but they + convene oftener for special purposes. There are always speakers ready to + address these meetings, being local candidates, speakers residing in the + wards where the meetings are held, or speakers from abroad. Below will be + found a list of the McClellan clubs now in effect, together with the names + of their officers:" + </p> + <h3> + FIRST WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, Chas. W. Patten; Vice-Presd'nt, P.D. Parks; Secretary, J.O. + More; Executive Committee, George S. Kimberly, William Y. Daniels, Dr. + J.A. Hahn, Augustus Banyon, Andrew Schall. + </p> + <h3> + SECOND WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, William Baragwanatle; Vice-Presidents, Anton Berg, Dr. E.W. + Edwards, Samuel Duncan; Secretary, James Rattray; Treasurer, F.E. Barber; + Executive Committee, F.E. Barber, James Rattray, C.C. Strawn, J. + Schlossman, P.M. Donelan, H.L. Stewart, F. Cahill, Thos. Tilley, William + Hull. + </p> + <h3> + THIRD WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, Geo. A. Meech; Vice-President, Stephen A. Barrett; Secretary, + Benjamin F. Smith; Treasurer, John Dalton; Executive Committee, Joshua L. + Marsh, John Schank, James McGrath. + </p> + <h3> + FOURTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, A.A. Campbell; Vice-President, M.L. Kuth; Treasurer, Thomas + Horless; Secretary, L.W. Binz; Executive Committee, J.H. Ferrell, Mark + Kimball, Charles Walsh. + </p> + <h3> + FIFTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, Mark Sheridan; First Vice-President, M.C. Quinn; Second + Vice-President, Jas. Brennan; Secretary, Christopher Dennis; Assistant + Secretary, James Fox; Treasurer, John Reid; Executive Committee, + Constantine Kanu, John Keyes, John Myers, L.J. Prout, John Lyons, Michael + McDermott, Michael Finucan, Thomas Barry. + </p> + <h3> + SEVENTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, E. Gilmore; First Vice-President, D.W. Quirk; Second + Vice-President, Gotthard Schaaff; Secretary, M.A. Donahue; Treasurer, + Joseph Sherwin; Executive Committee, John Comisky, J.K. Boland, P. + Caraher, T. Tully, and T.E. Courtney. + </p> + <h3> + NINTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, S.S. Elson; Vice-President, R. O'Malley; Secretary, A.S. + Morrison; Treasurer, P. Moran; Executive Committee, E.F. Runnison, P.S. + Hade, Michael Gerrity. + </p> + <h3> + TENTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, Hiram M. Chase; Vice-President, H.N. Hahn; Secretary, A.L. + Amberg; Treasurer, T.T. Gurney; Executive Committee, D.W. Manchester, M. + McCurdy, Joseph Hogan. + </p> + <h3> + FOURTEENTH WARD. + </h3> + <p> + President, Joseph Kuhn; Vice-President, P. Stech; Treasurer, John + Schierer; Secretary, J.B. Winkelman; Executive Committee, B. Docter, Fred. + Licht, N. Gerten. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Times</i> adds: + </p> + <p> + "The above list gives all the names that have ever been published. In some + of the wards there are two clubs, and yet the permanent organization of + either has never been given. In some other wards they have no permanent + organization, but elect officers at each weekly meeting. In the other + wards clubs will be formed within a few days. It should be borne in mind + that the above clubs are independent of the Invincible Club, which is not + a mere ward organization, but represents the whole city." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XVII. + </h2> + <p> + PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES—THE + CONSUMMATION OF THE INFERNAL PLOT—DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND + DEADLY ASSAULT UPON SECRETARY SEWARD—RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHICAGO + BOARD OF TRADE. + </p> + <p> + During the autumn of 1864, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, in + Chicago, a proposition was introduced which contemplated the raising of a + fund of fifty thousand dollars, which was to be expended in payment of the + services of some person who would undertake to assassinate the President + of the United States. This was an informal proceeding, the meeting having + just adjourned, but it was discussed by several of the leading members, + who declared that the "extermination of tyrants was obedience to God." + </p> + <p> + What say you, citizens of Chicago, concerning the band of traitors in your + midst, who meditate and discuss such crimes as make the soul sicken, and + the face blanch with horror; would not any honest man deliver this + department of Jeff Davis' most efficient allies into the hands of the + United States Government, by any means Heaven might place in his power? If + there is a man so fastidious of propriety, so mindful of selfish + considerations, that he would not, then, in our opinion, that man is a + coward, a traitor, an imbecile too weak to punish, and deserving the scorn + and contumely of his countrymen, for all coming time. This proposition was + the next day reported in a dispatch to Col. Sweet, and is now on file in + his office. It may be that the persons who discussed the proposition, + would not themselves have undertaken the accomplishment of the deed, but + the animus of the party was thus rendered apparent, and the proposition + was gravely considered and discussed. This occurred soon after an + interview, by the writer, with Maj. Gen. Hooker, at the Tremont House, in + Chicago, in October. It had been often said that in case Lincoln was + elected, he should never be inaugurated, implying that his life would be + terminated before that event. Some of the very parties who made these + threats, have since been prisoners in Camp Douglas, but are now at large. + On the night of the 14th of April, 1865, assassins, who were, doubtless, + members of the Sons of Liberty, in accordance with the same spirit in + which that Order came into existence, and was conducted from first to + last, consummated their hellish designs by shooting President Lincoln, and + stabbing Secretary Seward. The nation now mourns the loss of the noble + martyr of freedom, the truest heart, the most devoted patriot, the sincere + advocate of republican institutions, and the friend of the people. In + every city, town, and village, and hamlet of the land, is sincere + mourning; deepest grief swells the hearts and dim the eyes of all who have + hearts to feel, and fountains of tears, for the greatest bereavement that + has ever befallen our nation. The emblems of mourning, the solemn tolling + of bells, the universal gloom which overshadows our land, all impress upon + our hearts the terrible affliction that has come upon us, and while we + would bow reverently before Him who doeth all things well, and whose wise + purpose in this chastening of our already sorrowing people may not now be + apparent, we cannot repress the just indignation of our souls that moves + us to the enactment of that stern justice which is uncompromising, and + which cries to Heaven for vengeance, which nerves our hearts and hands to + deeds, the generous, noble, President of the nation, now silent in the + tomb, would have softened or averted. Villains have slain the man whose + heart was large enough to take into his affections and paternal love, the + whole country,—the man who knew no North, no South, no East, no + West, but whose devotion to the best good of the people, was the ruling + motive of a life so full of honors and usefulness. The North had no friend + like Lincoln! The South had no friend like Lincoln! And, as our noble + armies now march onward to victory, and crush out beneath their iron heel, + the last vestige of treason, the memory of Lincoln will prove a watch-word + of magic power; soldiers will remember the entreaties, the offers of + pardon, the paternal affection of the noble Lincoln, and the base + ingratitude of the demon who consigned him to the tomb; they who have + commended his magnanimity, his humanity, his hopefulness, his reluctance + to deal out stern justice, which required hard blows—such of our + fellow-citizens will now, with holy indignation, rise in their might, and + sweep from the land those whose treason is heard, and whose bloody hand is + uplifted, aye, and those who devise their hellish schemes in secret + chambers and hiding places in our own cities and towns. "Remember + Lincoln," will be the battle-cry of our boys as they encounter armed + treason in the field, and "Remember Lincoln," should be the watchword of + friends of freedom at home, when hesitating in clemency, to strike down + Copperheads who seek to embarrass the government, and hope for, prophecy + and delight in its reverses upon the field of contest. Remember Lincoln + and Seward ye men who would now compromise by any and all sacrifices, with + a people who have sought to destroy our country, and have stricken down + the pride of our nation, the noblest of our land, and the champion of + liberty. The Chicago Board of Trade assembled upon the morning of the 15th + of April, and adopted the following resolutions: + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That this Board has heard with mingled sentiments of + grief and horror of the foul assassination, by accursed traitors, of + Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That we mourn in the deepest sorrow his loss as a + national calamity. His persevering and devoted patriotism through the dark + days of the Republic; his wisdom alike in the hour of trial and triumph, + have embalmed his memory in the hearts of his countrymen, and encircled + his fame with a glory which time can never tarnish. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That in this infernal act we see but another instance of + the demoniac hate of the slave power, arrested by the strong arm of the + government, under the heaven inspired leadership of Abraham Lincoln, in + its career of treason, murder and despotism; and we are admonished anew to + insist upon no compromise with the infamy, and upon the condign punishment + by the mailed hand of power, and the strong arm of the law, of treason and + its abettors, wherever found. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That in our capacity of business men and citizens, we vow + eternal hate to the treachery and treason of the rebellion, which, in + addition to its before unnumbered crimes, has added the cowardly + assassination of Abraham Lincoln in the vain hope of destroying this + Republic. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That in deep humiliation, we bow before the God of + battles and of Nations, and, in this hour of our grand triumph and + overwhelming sorrow, we reverently consign to His all-guiding wisdom the + destiny of this Republic, and pray Him still to have it in His holy + keeping. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the members of this Board, who have, from the war's + beginning, felt it their duty, as it has been their privilege and their + pride, to stand by the nation and its President and all its constituted + leaders, loyally aiding and encouraging, as they could, the Cabinet and + the Army in the gigantic struggle of the past four years, do now solemnly, + unitedly, in the presence of Almighty God, and in humble reliance on the + Divine help, pledge our full, unreserved, and trusting support to the + Government of these United States, and to the men who now constitutionally + succeed to the authority and powers, now laid down by the great and good + man, who has fallen a precious and holy sacrifice on the altar of his + country. And the members of this Board, in making this solemn pledge, do + the same, not for themselves only, but in behalf of the loyal and + patriotic people of the North-west, who have freely offered their + first-born, and best beloved for their country's existence, security and + honor. + </p> + <p> + <i>Resolved</i>, That the members of this Board express their profound and + respectful sympathy with the bereaved family of the deceased, and with the + associates of the departed in the Cabinet, as well as all the members of + the national councils, in the tragic and deplorable events in which they + share so largely. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + HYPOCRISY OF COPPERHEAD NEWSPAPERS—COMPLICITY WITH ASSASSINATION—THE + LEADERS AND THEIR VICTIMS. + </p> + <p> + During the month of February, by Executive clemency, a number of + Copperheads were released from confinement in Washington, where they had + been placed as a measure of public safety. The <i>Times</i> published, and + other Copperhead papers echoed the following. That paper now, in a very + pious spirit, piteously urges, and the prints of like character also echo + it, that "there should be no more party strife," "no more rancor," that it + has not stabbed the President since he was shot, and the office is now + draped with deep mourning. Aminadab Sleek is going to them as a comforter, + and as tears mitigate woe, he bears with him an onion. The <i>Times</i> + says: + </p> + <p> + "We submit that this fact should damn this Administration, not only for + all time, but, if there be justice hereafter, to all eternity. There is + not a single civilized government in existence to-day, against which can + be charged a similar display of tyranny. With the title of being the + freest government of modern ages, we have shown ourselves to be one whose + disregard of right and whose outrageous assumptions of power are only + paralleled in the reign of despots. + </p> + <p> + The liberty of fifty men may seem a small affair; but the matter has not + so much reference to the magnitude of the offence as it has to the + principle which underlies it. The moment Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Seward, or + any other man, dares to deprive one person of his liberty without due + process of law, that moment has the government been changed from one of + the people to an autocracy—a tyranny. If any man to-day is free in + this country, it is not because he is a good citizen, surrounded by the + protection of the laws, but simply because Seward or Lincoln has not + chosen to order his incarceration. + </p> + <p> + The epitaph of posterity upon this people is easily anticipated. It will + be—died 24,000,000 of whites, who lost their liberties and lives in + an attempt to give a fictitious freedom to 4,000,000 negroes." + </p> + <p> + <i>"Sic semper tyrannis!"</i> exclaims Booth, who has read the above + article, and the mission of the <i>Times</i> is accomplished, and it now + wants "no more party rancor." + </p> + <p> + "Out of my sight thou serpent! That name best Befits thee with him + leagu'd, thyself as false!" + </p> + <p> + The palpable HYPOCRISY of rebel sympathizers, can now only excite + contempt. Who that read the evidence of Clement L. Vallandigham, before + the military commission in Cincinnati, gave him credit for sincerity when + he said substantially had he supposed there was a plot against the + Government, he would have been the first to oppose or expose it. Have the + people forgotten Mr. Vallandigham's record? Have his Dayton neighbors + forgotten his cry of "Ocoon," the cry of distress of the Order to which he + belonged, and which was to summon Sons of Liberty to his rescue, when + arrested by the Government? Have they forgotten Vallandigham's visit to + Fulton county, Illinois, during the autumn of 1864, and its consequences? + This county was the stamping ground of the leaders of the treasonable + organization, which has been dissected, and whose head and heart are now + in a state of decomposition. In that county Assistant Provost Marshal + Phelps was shot, there too enrolling officer Criss was shot; in that + county is Lewiston, where resides S. Corning Judd, Esq., the Grand + Commander of the Sons of Liberty in the State of Illinois. C.L. + Vallandigham was the Supreme Commander of the Order in the United States. + This Order inaugurated the new warfare at the instance of the Southern + rebel leaders—inaugurated assassination. This order began with + Provost Marshals and enrolling officers, and ended—if indeed the + loyal people <i>will</i> it to have ended—with the assassination of + the best, the wisest, the most deeply loved President since the immortal + Washington. It is the education of Copperhead prints, and Copperhead + secret societies that has fitted the instruments of death, and our + indulgence which has fostered them. + </p> + <p> + Vallandigham's party had been defeated, his greatness had departed, and to + wheel into line and "keep step to the music of the Union," was not for + him, and as Milton's creation once exclaimed, so might he have uttered: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +"And in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell; + Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. + But wherefore let me then our faithful friends, + The associates and co-partners of our loss, + Lie thus astonished on the oblivion pool, + And call them not to share with us their part + In this unhappy mansion; or once more + With rallied arms to try what may be yet + Regained in heaven, or what more lost in hell." +</pre> + <p> + And so Clement L. Vallandigham became Supreme Commander of the Sons of + Liberty. + </p> + <p> + Who is S. Corning Judd, who testifies before the Commission that <i>"the + organization</i> (Sons of Liberty) <i>was being used in Indiana and + Missouri for improper purposes"?</i> Who is he that says the organization + in Chicago "was looked upon by many of the leaders with great distrust; + many of those connected with the order in Chicago were radical, extreme + men, and understood to be men of little standing or character"? that one + of the delegates from Missouri stated his belief that the order in that + State was in favor of "giving aid and comfort to the Confederates"? When + Judd made these statements upon the stand, all loyal papers, with one + accord, declared that the evidence fully warranted the arrests, in the + manner and at the time they were made. No fair-minded man <i>then</i> + could come to any other conclusion. Who, we ask, is S. Corning Judd? + Stump-speakers, last fall, would have said that he was the "Democratic" + candidate for Lieutenant Governor—and so he was. The Gubernatorial + ticket bore the name of James C. Robinson for Governor, and S. Corning + Judd for Lieutenant Governor—the former a man who, in Congress, + voted against "fighting, crushing, and destroying" the rebellion. Both + Robinson and Judd were Sons of Liberty, and to them Copperheads fondly + turned, and had they carried the State, anarchy and bloodshed would have + been the consequence; and, indeed, in the expressed opinion of Judge + Morris, "had they carried the State, he cared not who might be President, + for they would possess the reins of the General Government." S. Corning + Judd sought to serve his own ends by controlling the Sons of Liberty, and + failing in this, he gave the cold-shoulder to his Brig.-General (Walsh), + when, in consequence of executing the edicts of the order, he found + himself a close prisoner for the horrid doctrine of secession; <i>he</i> + must be tried and convicted, but the Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, and + the Supreme Commander, C.L. Vallandigham, and the Past Grand Commander, or + Major-General, Amos Green, each, severally appear upon the stand against + him, and they permitted to go scott free. O, cursed doctrine of secession! + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "So stretch'd out huge in length the arch-fiend lay, + Chain'd on the burning lake; nor ever thence + Had risen or heaved his head, but that the will + And high permission of All-ruling Heaven + Left him at large to his own dark designs; + That with reiterated crimes he might + Heap on himself damnation, while he sought + Evil to others." +</pre> + <p> + If Vallandigham, if Judd, if Green, if Barrett, and if the many equally + guilty persons released from custody go unpunished, then "Justice, thou + art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason." Not that we + would contradict Judd in the least in aught that he has said against the + Chicago temple, but we would tell him that we know the Chicago temple, so + far from taking the lead in radicalism, was behind the order in Peoria, in + Bloomington, in Dubuque, in St. Louis, Louisville, and many other places. + Give the devil his due. In some places the boldness of Copperheadism + induced prominent members of the Sons of Liberty to approach members of + Congress, with their base proposals to enter the order. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XIX. + </h2> + <p> + EXTINCTION OF SLAVERY—NO CONCILIATION WITH TRAITORS—DOWN WITH + COPPERHEADS AT HOME. + </p> + <p> + In a publication of this character, it will not be expected we should + review either the causes which led to the great rebellion, with its hydra + heads and its sad consequences; but in closing, and especially in view of + the terrible tragedy which has plunged a nation in deepest grief, we + cannot refrain from saying, that the last most diabolical deed was not the + act of individual madness, of personal hate and passion, it was the + culmination of the hatred by the slave power of the principle of liberty, + and the champion of freedom. It was not because the assassin felt in his + heart a hatred of Abraham Lincoln, but because he, and the people at whose + instigation he acted, hated the apostle of liberty, and the instrument in + the hand of God for the accomplishment of a great and mighty work. + Although it was the purpose of this band of murderers to assassinate the + President and the whole Cabinet, it was not from personal malice against + them as men, but the enemy sought by the destruction of the exponents of a + free government, to give new life to the expiring representation of the + slave power. So antagonistic was freedom to slavery that it was impossible + to permanently embody the representatives of these principles with a + republican government, which should be perfect in its formation, wise and + just in its action, the hope of the liberty loving people throughout the + world, and the pride and glory of American citizens. Every year since the + adoption of the old Constitution, have discordant elements cropped out, + and incidents transpired, which demonstrated to every rational mind, that + as time rolled on, the accumulation of combustible elements would + ultimately explode, and shake the civilized world to its center. + </p> + <p> + The facts that Northern teachers, Northern clergymen, Northern mercantile + agents, Northern men upon business or pleasure, travelling at the South, + and unwilling to stultify themselves, or become passive approvers and + admirers of the "peculiar institution," were treated with all possible + indignities, and might count themselves fortunate if they escaped with + their lives. So complete was the universal devotion to slavery in all + sections of the South, and so baneful its effects upon the people, that + all other considerations were made subservient to this. For slavery, + friends were alienated, hatred established, so bitter in its extent that + only death could appease it. It demoralized the entire people; it found + its way with all its horrid moral deformities, into the very capitol; it + caused the murderous assault of Brooks upon Charles Sumner in the Senate, + and the many altercations and bitter harangues which have from time to + time disgraced our National Congress; it was its cropping out that caused + the fearless and noble President Andy Johnson, to threaten to hang Jeff. + Davis—and which he may yet be called upon to perform;—it was + slavery that devised the doctrine of secession; that has led to the deadly + conflict upon hundreds of battle fields, and has spilled the best blood of + our nation, and caused mourning and gloom all over the face of our once + happy land. What wonder then, that the noble Lincoln, who, in the + sincerity of his heart, and in the dictates of superior wisdom, who, + seeing and appreciating the encroachments and horrors of slavery, not only + to the people in bondage, but to the citizens of our country in every + section—who wonders that Lincoln, whose name is immortal, especially + for his extirpation of this curse, should be singled out by the demon of + slavery, and assigned by Davis, his prophet, for a violent death. Thank + God, the cancer is extirpated so thoroughly, that its fibres of death can + never again form to threaten destruction to our land. True, the operation + has been most painful, and no anesthetic agent has been employed; the + suffering has been fearful, and the country has, to its extremities, + trembled with anguish; but it is over now. + </p> + <p> + The assassination of the President was the will of Jeff. Davis, whispered + in the temples of the Sons of Liberty or American Knights, into the ears + of those of the members of the Orders, who had made the most proficiency + in their teachings, and these beings, true to their <i>oaths</i>, went + forth upon their mission of blood. + </p> + <p> + The following "gems," from the debates in the Democratic National + Convention, will be read with interest now and in future time: + </p> + <p> + S.S. Cox, said: + </p> + <p> + "He had attempted in his own city, a few weeks since, to show, in a very + quiet way, that ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD DELUGED THE COUNTRY WITH BLOOD, + created a debt of four thousand million of dollars, sacrificed two + millions of human lives, and filled the land with grief and mourning." + </p> + <p> + A pious man, who had listened attentively to his remarks, sang out "G——d + d——n him." + </p> + <p> + "For less offenses than Mr. Lincoln had been guilty of, the English people + had chopped off the head of the first Charles. IN HIS OPINION, LINCOLN AND + DAVIS OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT TO THE SAME BLOCK TOGETHER." + </p> + <p> + C. Chauncey Burr, editor of several Copperhead New York journals, said: + </p> + <p> + "And it was a wonder that they had a Cabinet and men who carried out the + infamous orders of the gorilla tyrant that usurped the Presidential + chair." + </p> + <p> + Capt. Koontz, of Pittsburg, an ardent McClellan leader, said: + </p> + <p> + "If Democrats catch Lincoln's bloody spies among them, they must cut their + d——d throats, that's all. {Applause.} It is the duty of every + American to vote for a peace candidate." + </p> + <p> + Baker, of Michigan, said: + </p> + <p> + "Let us hurl that usurper from power. Never till that day comes when the + usurper and his victim meet at the judgment seat, can he be punished for + his wrongs, for his conspiracy against American liberty." + </p> + <p> + Benjamin Allen, of New York, said: + </p> + <p> + "The people will soon rise, AND IF THEY CANNOT PUT LINCOLN OUT OF POWER BY + THE BALLOT THEY WILL BY THE BULLET." {Loud cheers.} Mr. Stambaugh, a + delegate from Ohio, said: + </p> + <p> + "That, if he was called upon to elect between the freedom of the nigger + and disunion and separation, he should choose the latter." (Cheers.) + </p> + <p> + "They might search hell over and they could not find a worse President + than Abraham Lincoln." + </p> + <p> + Hon. Mr. Trainor, of Ohio, said: + </p> + <p> + "He would urge the people to be freemen, and HURL ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND HIS + MINIONS FROM POWER." + </p> + <p> + Henry Clay Dean, said: + </p> + <p> + "In the presence of the face of Camp Douglas and all the satraps of + Lincoln, that the American people were ruled by felons. Lincoln had never + turned a dishonest man out of office, or kept an honest man in. {A voice—'What + have you to say of Jeff. Davis?} I have nothing to say about him. LINCOLN + IS ENGAGED IN A CONTROVERSY WITH HIM, AND I NEVER INTERFERE BETWEEN BLACK + DOGS." + </p> + <p> + "He blushed that such a felon should occupy the highest place in the gift + of the people. PERJURY AND LARCENY WERE WRITTEN OVER HIM AS OFTEN AS WAS + 'ONE DOLLAR' ON THE ONE DOLLAR BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE OF INDIANA. + (Cries of the 'old villain.') The Democracy were for peace." + </p> + <p> + W.W. O'Brien, of Peoria, also threatened "to try him as Charles the first + was tried, as a tyrant and a traitor, and if they found him guilty to hang + him." + </p> + <p> + The essential unity of Copperheadism with assassination, appears in the + following remarks of Koontz, of Pennsylvania: + </p> + <p> + "Shall more wives be made widows, and more children fatherless, and + greater hate be stirred up between children of the same glorious + constitution? IF NOT WE MUST PUT OUR FOOT UPON THE TYRANT'S NECK, and + destroy it, The Democratic government must be raised to power, and Lincoln + with his Cabinet of rogues, thieves and spies, be driven to destruction. + What shall we do with him? {A voice—"Send him here, and I'll make a + coffin for him, d——n him."}" + </p> + <p> + As we review the events which have transpired during this war, we are + strikingly impressed with the magnanimity, the forbearance, the humanity + of the loyal States in their relations to the rebels in arms, and we are + also impressed with the great lack of the exhibition of these qualities—the + most ennobling in national character—on the part of the so-called + Southern Confederacy. From the hour of firing upon Fort Sumter to the + present moment, the war has not been waged by the rebels as if in defense + of the great principles of truth and justice, but with the malignity, the + cruelty and barbarity which would, in many instances, put to blush the + savages upon our western borders. In our dealing with them, the honor, + integrity, fidelity and dignity of the nation have never been forgotten; + and the policy of the noble President, laid low by the hand of the + assassin, was never to give blows when words would answer,—never to + exact by force what might be attained by reasoning,—and never, under + any circumstances, to forget those qualities which make a nation truly + great, the first and chief of which is charity. How has our enemy failed + to appreciate this? The manner in which the warfare has been waged by the + South will be mentioned by historians as cruel, dishonorable and + disgraceful to people of a Christian nation. Failing of success upon the + field, we find the Davis Government countenancing guerrilla warfare, + burning bridges, murdering unarmed citizens, and desolating the homes of + unoffending people, and committing piracy upon the high seas. Still + failing of success and losing ground daily, but driven to desperation by + the apparent hopelessness of their cause, they sink to the depth of infamy + by establishing among us secret orders, the aim of which is to educate men + of base passions to deeds of dark dishonor and unmeasured infamy; men who + receiving such instruction will concoct schemes for the burning of cities, + for the liberation of their prisoners; and, lastly, they have sunk so low + in the mire of dishonor, impelled by savage ferocity and hate, that it + would appear folly, if not downright criminality to longer deal with them + on the principles of liberality and gentleness, which has marked our + conduct hitherto. It was our generosity, our mildness, our spirit of + conciliation that moved the hand of the demon who slew the country's + truest friend. Let it be so no longer! Let rebels feel that we are + terribly in earnest. Let heavy blows be struck, and struck without delay, + and let there be no exhibition of concession or conciliation, till the + enemy sue for peace upon the terms the country proclaims. As well make + Copperheads Christians or honest men, as to attempt by gentleness longer + to subdue rebels, whose weapons are firebrands and assassins' daggers. It + is futile; try it no longer. Said the great French advocate of justice, + when he was charged with being sanguinary, because he so frequently + punished murder with death, "You tell me that it is bloody work, and + sinful in the sight of Heaven to execute men; so it is, and I am disposed + to desist, and I will, the moment men stop the crime of murder." So will + we show clemency, when our enemy has laid down his arms, and not before. + </p> + <p> + Another measure by our people would be attended with salutary results—the + extermination of Copperheadism at home. Who helped to form secret + societies of Sons of Liberty and kindred organizations, so industriously + and so efficiently as editors of Copperhead publications. It is in these + orders that assassins are trained, and prepared for their fiendish + mission. Henceforth let the people—the loyal people of the most + glorious country on which the sun shines—swear by the memory of our + much loved and deeply lamented President, that henceforth no paper shall + print, no man shall utter sentiments of treason, under the penalty of + incurring that summary punishment, the righteous indignation of a + sorrowing, long suffering people may inflict. If the people resolve to + endure the curse of home treason no longer, and let Copperheads know that + they can no longer co-operate with Jeff. Davis in any part of our land, we + shall never again be called upon to aid in suppressing or exposing a + North-Western Conspiracy, or any plot against our country, in any section + of our land. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP. XX. + </h2> + <h3> + TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO CONSPIRATORS—THE WITNESSES AND THE TESTIMONY. + </h3> + <p> + When our troops entered Richmond, among other rebel documents found was a + bill, offered in secret session of the rebel House of Representatives, + January 30th, 1865, establishing a Secret Service Bureau, for the + employment of secret agents, "either in the Confederate States, or within + the enemy's lines, or in any foreign country," and authorizing the chief + officer "to organize such a system <i>for the application of new means of + warfare approved</i>, and of secret service agencies, as may tend best to + secure the objects of the establishment of the bureau." + </p> + <p> + The trial, conviction, sentence, and execution of Capt. Beall, for piracy + on the lakes, and of Kennedy, for incendiarism in New York, are still + fresh in the recollection of our readers. That these men were acting under + instructions from the bureau of secret service of Jeff. Davis, no rational + person can doubt. These acts were but incidents in the grand conspiracy at + the North; the guilty parties, who suffered death, were but the + instruments of others, and the members of the secret organizations, who + were cognizant of these acts and purposes, though yet unwhipped of + justice, are more guilty, in the sight of Heaven, than the wretches who + undertook the execution of the hellish design, and for which they suffered + ignominious death. + </p> + <p> + After the discovery of the purposes and acts of the leaders of the Sons of + Liberty in Illinois, in co-operation with rebels, and the arrests detailed + in a former chapter, a Military Commission was convened in Cincinnati for + the trial of the prisoners, Morris, Walsh, Grenfell, Anderson, Daniels, + Cantril, Marmaduke and Semmes, upon a charge of conspiring to sack and + burn Chicago, and to liberate the prisoners in Camp Douglas. + </p> + <p> + The Commission consisted of the following named officers: + </p> + <p> + C.D. Murray, Colonel 89th Indiana Volunteers, President Commission. Ben. + Spooner, Colonel 83d Indiana Volunteers. N.C. Macrae, Major United States + Army. P. Vous Radowitz, Lieutenant-Colonel United States Army. S.P. Lee, + Major 6th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. M.N. Wiswell, Colonel Veteran + Reserve Corps. B.P. DeHart, Colonel 128th Indiana Volunteers. S.H. + Lathrop, Lieutenant-Colonel, A.I.G. Albert Heath, Lieutenant-Colonel 100th + Regiment Indiana Volunteers. + </p> + <h3> + CONFESSION OF MRS. MORRIS, B.S., AND HER SENTENCE. + </h3> + <p> + CINCINNATI, Feb. 13. + </p> + <p> + The following is Mrs. Morris' confession: + </p> + <p> + McLEAN BARRACKS, CINCINNATI, Feb. 5, 1865. + </p> + <p> + To Maj.-Gen. J. Hooker, Commanding Northern Department, Cincinnati, O.: + </p> + <p> + General—I was arrested in Chicago, on the 11th day of December, by + the United States authorities, charged with assisting rebel prisoners to + escape, and relieving them with money and clothing; also, with holding + correspondence with the enemy. I desire to state the facts of the case, to + confess the truth, and to ask such clemency at your hands as may be + consistent with your duty as an officer of the government. I was born and + reared in Kentucky. My home was in the South till within the last ten + years, my connections and friends all being there. I had sympathy with + them, though I was as much opposed to the secession movement as any one + could be. Having a large acquaintance in Kentucky, I was charged with the + distribution of a great deal of clothing and money among the prisoners in + Camp Douglas, Chicago, sent to them by their friends, and which was done + under the supervision of the proper officers of the camp. This I continued + to do up to the time of my arrest, and in this way I made the + acquaintance, and was understood to be the friend of the prisoners in + camp. + </p> + <p> + In the early part of last winter, an escaped prisoner named John + Harrington, came to me and asked for assistance. He stated that he was + going to Canada for the purpose of completing his education. I gave him + money to the amount I believe of $20. Some time in the summer of the past + year, a rebel prisoner named Charles Swager, a young man who had escaped + from the cars while being conveyed to Rock Island, came to me for + assistance. I gave him a coat, a pair of boots, and some money, to the + amount I believe, of $15. There were two or three others that I had reason + to believe were escaped prisoners, whose names I do not know. These I + assisted with money, and to one of them I gave some clothing. There were + some others to whom I gave money and clothing, that I did not at the time + know were rebel prisoners, but who afterwards I had reason to believe were + such. + </p> + <p> + I received letters from Capt. J. B, Castleman of the rebel army, and sent + him verbal messages in return. He called at my house, and remained for a + little while. Capt. Hines, also of the Confederate army, called and ate at + my house once during last summer. + </p> + <p> + I beg to be released from my present imprisonment, and promise that, if my + prayer is granted, I will henceforth conduct myself as a truly loyal + woman, without in any way interfering with the government or aiding its + enemies. + </p> + <p> + Witness my hand and seal, this 5th day of February, 1805. MARY B. MORRIS. + </p> + <p> + The following is Gen. Hooker's order relative to Mrs. Morris: + </p> + <h3> + HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DEPARTMENT, + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + CINCINNATI, O., Feb. 10, 1865. +</pre> + <p> + {<i>Extract.</i>} + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Mary B. Morris, now in confinement at McLean barracks, in the city of + Cincinnati, O., charged with giving aid and comfort to the enemy, + assisting rebel prisoners to escape, and other disloyal practices, will, + on or before Monday the 13th inst., be sent south of our military lines, + under guard, into the so-called Southern Confederacy. Her sympathy with + those in rebellion can there find its natural expression, and a more + appropriate theatre of action. It is but just to our government and laws, + that the shield of its power should not be thrown over those who are + inimical to it, and are giving active aid and sympathy to its enemies. The + claim to protection by the government implies the reciprocity of fealty. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Mary B. Morris, who was ordered sent out of our lines by paragraph 1 + of this order, in consideration of her professions and promises, is + permitted to remain on the premises of her father, Edward M. Blackburne, + at Spring Station, Woodford county, Ky., on consideration that she + complies with the promises accompanying her confession, filed at these + headquarters, Feb. 5th, 1865. If such promises are not complied with, the + first paragraph of the order to be in full force. + </p> + <p> + By command of Maj.-Gen. HOOKER. + </p> + <p> + (Signed) C.H. POTTER, Assistant Adjutant-General. + </p> + <p> + The trial of the prisoner Cantril was deferred, owing to serious illness. + During the progress of the trial, Anderson committed suicide, and Daniels + escaped. {It will be remembered that H.H. Dodd, convicted of treason in + Indianapolis, some months ago, and sentenced to suffer the death penalty, + also escaped. Neither Daniels or Dodd have been recaptured.} The evidence + before the Military Commission elicited most of the important facts + embraced in this narrative, and therefore need not be reviewed. + </p> + <p> + In regard to several of the witnesses before the Military Commission, a + few remarks may not be uninteresting. It has been observed by the reader + who has carefully perused the foregoing statement, that there were two + distinct elements which made up the great conspiracy, viz: The + Copperheads, or Sons of Liberty, and Knights of the Golden Circle, and the + rebel emissaries both in the Northern States and in Canada. The discovery + of the designs, purposes and intents of the former, was made by the writer + of this work, who was aided by Robert Alexander. With such aid as we were + able to control, we obtained and imparted the information which resulted + in the total defeat of the devilish intent of our secret enemies—the + Copperheads; the purposes, movements, ends and aims of the <i>Rebels in + Canada</i>, were reported by Maurice Langhorn, aid by two others. The + parties in charge of observing and defeating the two distinct elements, + were utter strangers, and had never met or had any communication whatever. + </p> + <p> + In regard to the writer, it need only be said, that when it was announced + to Hon. I.N. Arnold, M.C., Governor Yates, and Brig.-Gen. Paine, that + there was a formidable conspiracy against the General Government, + embracing many thousand persons in its league, and that its purpose was + the subversion of our Government in aid of the rebellion, that their plots + were rapidly maturing, and the most alarming consequences might be + apprehended, if timely precautions were not observed, all of these + gentlemen gave to the matter their earnest and careful attention. It was + not the purpose of the writer to proceed with further investigations, + except by advice and direction, as it was a work for which he felt wholly + unqualified, from his tastes, disposition, professional, and social + position, but the arguments of Gen. Paine, which, at this time and place, + it is unnecessary to state, but which it is believed neither party will + soon forget, decided the matter, and the task was undertaken, and with + what success it was attended, let the history of the proceedings in + Cincinnati determine. For more than six months, the work was prosecuted + with unceasing vigilance, regardless of all other considerations, and + although, when he was called to the witness stand, he could not shield + himself from the malignant abuse of counsel, by stating <i>that he had + been acting under a commission received from his Government</i>, yet he + then felt morally certain, and that confidence <i>yet remains unshaken</i>, + that when his true relations to the Government and country, are finally + known, his motives, his acts, and his services, will be duly appreciated. + He has not been mistaken. The contemptible falsehood of the party who + stated that the writer's services had been compensated, or that a claim + for compensation had been made, is hereby hurled back into his teeth. Not + a dollar, not a dime, has been received, not even for <i>actual expenses + incurred</i>, and <i>no claim</i> whatever has been made—no + consideration whatever has been proffered. The service was the result of a + deep conviction of duty, a feeling that no citizen should withhold + personal sacrifice, even of life and reputation, if the interest of his + country demands it. We knew the condition upon which we stepped aside from + the agreeable and peaceful avocations of life, and entered upon the task + so distasteful, so repulsive, and for a time so thankless. We had reason + to know that the shafts of fiendish calumny would assail, that friendship + would be broken, <i>that envy and jealousy would ply their innuendoes</i>, + that the Copperhead elements of a fraternity, claiming one of the + offenders in its ranks, would assail with bitterness and awaken poignant + grief, but no regret, that we should have the hatred of Copperheads, as + long as that genus (thank Heaven, short-lived), existed in our land, and + be regarded with distrust by those negative persons, who would be for the + Union, had they any independence of character; we knew all this would + follow, if the assassin's bullet or dagger did not execute the sworn + purpose of the Order, but with an abiding faith in the justice of Heaven, + with an approving conscience, and our earnest heartfelt prayer for our + loved country in her dark hours, we took our course, and our only regret + is, that we had not sooner entered upon the work, and thereby frustrated + plans which have contributed to our national suffering; for who shall say + how many have been its victims, how many homes has it made desolate, how + many hearts has it broken, and how many graves now enclose misguided men, + and misguided youths, who, educated in its fallacies, lured by its + snake-like influence, arrayed themselves against their country, and fell + victims to their fanaticism! + </p> + <p> + We have heard the cry of our Union soldiers at the front, to protect the + helpless in the rear, and we have tried to comply. We have given our own + near and dear kindred to the bullet and the sword, a sacrifice to freedom, + and staunched the life-blood of a dearly loved brother, upon the field of + Antietam, and as we wiped away the dew of death, gathering upon his brow, + we pledged our life—our all—to the cause of the Union; and if + better service might be rendered in vanquishing the secret foe at home, + than meeting the more honorable enemy upon the field of battle, we were + ready for the work. Had it not been for the potent influence of + Copperheads at the North, the counsel, the sympathy, the comfort extended + to the rebels, the rebellion would have been put down long ago. + Entertaining such views, we shall, under any and all circumstances, and at + all times, be a bitter opponent of Copperheadism wherever found, and + regard it as legitimate warfare to arrest the assassin of our country, + wherever and whenever we can. If the disaffected find comfort in this, let + them make the most of it. + </p> + <p> + ROBERT ALEXANDER.—This gentleman, who is well known to the citizens + of Chicago, has held several positions of responsibility and trust, and + has ever been a consistent, earnest, devoted advocate of the Union. So + intensely Republican in sentiment is he, that the attempt to introduce him + into the Sons of Liberty, called forth such opposition that it was thought + we should fail in the attempt, and he finally, was only admitted, after he + and his sponsor (the writer) had been told, in plain words, accompanied + with an oath, that if he proved false to them, <i>both should die</i>. For + months he bore the opprobrium of a Copperhead, and suffered extreme + annoyances in sustaining the role it was his duty to assume. + Conscientious, earnest, persevering, patient, with keen perception, and a + remarkable power of reading human character, with the experience of an + excellent police officer, Mr. Alexander brought to his post of duty high + qualifications, and was a valuable, ready and willing assistant. It should + be remarked that Mr. Alexander had been informed in May, 1864, that he had + been appointed First-Lieutenant in the 53d U.S. Infantry, and supposed he + was in the service of the U.S. Government at the time of joining this + great undertaking, but the information, though coming from a high source, + proved incorrect, and this is one additional reason why the writer made + choice of Mr. Alexander. While we know that loyal men will appreciate Mr. + Alexander's valuable services, we have yet to learn that he has, thus far, + experienced any other satisfaction than the approval of his own heart, and + the sincere gratitude of the writer, for his hazardous undertaking, and + the able manner in which he performed his duty. + </p> + <p> + MAURICE LANGHORN, one of the principal government witnesses, was born in + Pittsburgh, Penn., and reared in Marysville, Ky. He is a lawyer, and a man + of ability. Like many other Kentuckians who were in the South at the time + the rebellion broke out, Mr. Langhorn committed himself to the doctrine of + secession. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in a Louisiana regiment of + heavy artillery. He was subsequently recommended for Colonelcy in the + rebel army, but failed to get the appointment. In 1861 he went to Bowling + Green, Ky., where he enlisted as a private in the 9th Kentucky Infantry, + Col. Thomas H. Hunt, of Louisville, and was transferred to the artillery. + He mounted the guns on the fortifications around Bowling Green, and seems + to have given great satisfaction. He ran as candidate for representative + to the rebel congress from Kentucky, but before the result of the canvass + was known, was captured and held eight months as a prisoner of war. Mr. + Langhorn subsequently took the oath of allegiance to the United States, + and was of great service in reporting the movements and designs of the + rebel emissaries in Canada to Col. Sweet. The information Mr. Langhorn + gave of those men was reliable, and upon it certain arrests were made. Mr. + Langhorn is now a loyal citizen, in its broadest and best sense. Mr. + Langhorn is a young man not over twenty-five years of age, of quick, + nervous temperament, kind and generous impulses, a man of strong feelings, + warm friendship, bitter animosities, and whatever he undertakes, he + executes with a will. Of Mr. Langhorn it may be truly said, that while he + was a rebel, he was an earnest, active foe, but a true soldier, having a + high regard for honor and integrity, loving the State in which he was + reared, and ever jealous of her honor and fair name. Mr. Langhorn was a + rebel from principle—because he felt that the South was right—but + when convinced of his error, he made haste to repair it, and when he had + once taken the oath of allegiance, he went to work with all his might to + aid the cause of the Union. To Mr. Langhorn is due all the honor of + frustrating the designs of the <i>rebels from Canada</i>; and Col. Sweet + being advised by Mr. Langhorn of <i>this</i> portion of the plot, and by + the writer of the <i>Copperheads' movements and intents</i>, the Colonel + had the best possible opportunity of acquiring important knowledge, and + regulating his conduct in accordance therewith. Mr. Langhorn is a true + friend of the Union, an admirer of our lamented President, and has + rendered the citizens of Chicago a service which should ever be held in + grateful remembrance. + </p> + <p> + MR. SHANKS—Once a Rebel officer of distinction, but now a loyal man, + consistent in conduct, and of very great assistance to the Government, in + ferreting out Rebel officers and Rebel sympathisers, has the confidence + and respect of those who know him. He is a young man of signal ability, + and if he continues to serve the country as faithfully as he has in the + present case, will yet attain distinction. + </p> + <p> + CHRISTOPHER C. STRAWN—Was a valuable witness. He is a young man who + has taken an active part with the Democrats, and is well informed of the + incomings and outgoings, and the eccentricities and peccadilloes of the + managers in Chicago, although the <i>Post</i> says, that "before his + arrest he was not worthy of notice, and after his arrest still less so." + We think the <i>Post</i> man a little severe on Strawn, who has done all + he could to have the guilty Copperhead readers of that paper brought to + justice. Mr. Strawn, has bade his brethren, the Copperheads, an + affectionate and, we trust, final adieu. + </p> + <p> + JOHN MAUGHAN, an Englishman, born in Berkshire county, and about 22 years + of age. His family moved to Toronto, Canada West. He was always in Canada + regarded as a young man, with fine business qualities and promise. For + three years just before his connection with the rebels, and their Northern + conspirators, he occupied a very responsible position as a clerk and + teller, in one of the branches of the bank of Upper Canada, and was in + every way worthy the confidence reposed in him. During the spring and + summer of 1864, he however became acquainted with rebel soldiers in + Canada, earnestly espoused their cause, and left his position to go with + them to the Southern army. They, however, instead of going South, went to + Chicago, where he became acquainted with the conspirators, and also gained + their confidence, and on account of being an Englishman, and having his + papers with him, and being able to travel without fear of detection, he + was used by them to carry their correspondence and other communications, + which were of too dangerous a character to trust to the mails. This man + was truly a dangerous character. No one, except those who employed him, + knew him, or the character in which he was acting, and he was able, + frequently, to render the conspirators immense service in their desperate + schemes. He was captured in Chicago in November, and finally agreed to + turn State's evidence, when he saw that unless he did, his own life was + forfeited. After this agreement, he was treated with great leniency by the + Government, but upon being placed upon the witness stand, his old + sympathies and prejudices returned, and it is believed he distinctly + perjured himself, acting through the whole trial with bad faith toward the + Government which had treated him so generously. + </p> + <p> + THOS.E. COURTNEY—A Son of Liberty, and a leading Democrat of + Chicago, called a witness for <i>defence</i>, testified, among other + things, as follows: + </p> + <p> + "<i>I was on a Committee of the Democratic party to receive, at the Alton + Depot, some bogus voters that were to be imported into Chicago to vote at + the Presidential election</i>; they were part and parcel of the tribe that + came from Egypt, and I was one of the <i>Committee appointed to escort + them to their boarding houses</i>." + </p> + <p> + OBADIAH JACKSON, JR., ESQ., Grand Seignior of the Temple, who had been + arrested and sent to Camp Douglas, and while there had written and signed + a "statement," was called for the defence, but it neither helped him or + the defendants. + </p> + <p> + COL.B. M. ANDERSON—Was born, reared, and educated in Kentucky. He + was a young man of education, ability, and fine personal appearance, and + had he not been a rebel would have been an accomplished gentleman. He + possessed many fine points of character, and was, in our opinion, a much + better man than any of the Northern Copperheads who have been arrested. He + had been in the Nicaraugua expedition, under the fillibuster, Walker. Col. + Anderson was the dupe of others. He committed suicide at the barracks in + Cincinnati, during the progress of the trial. He leaves a wife and many + friends to mourn his death. His history is a sad one. In any other + position than a rebel, he would have been a most useful member of society. + He was not of the material of which the Sons of Liberty was made up, but + aside from that deadly fanaticism which ruined him, he won warm friends + wherever he went. Nature did everything for him, but the accursed doctrine + of Calhoun, consigned him to a suicide's grave, "after life's fitful + fever" of war upon the land of his birth. + </p> + <p> + CHARLES TRAVIS DANIELS—One of the prisoners, is a native of Harrison + County, Ky. A lawyer by profession, about 26 years of age and very + prepossessing in appearance. He is somewhat remarkable for a rather + strange and singular expression of his eyes. Belonged to John H. Morgan's + command, but never served in any other capacity than as an enlisted man. + He was captured with Morgan during his raid in Ohio, and confined in Camp + Douglas, from which he escaped; was captured at Charles Walsh's house, on + the 7th of November, and escaped again from the military authorities in + Cincinnati, Ohio, while being tried by the Commission. He has not been + recaptured, but has been found guilty by the Commission. + </p> + <p> + CAPT. GEORGE CANTRILL—Is a native of Scott County, Ky. Is about the + same age as Daniels. There is nothing remarkable in connection with him, + and of no more than ordinary intelligence. He also belonged to Morgan's + command, in which he served as Company commander; was in Morgan's last + raid in Kentucky, and at his defeat at Cynthiana escaped to Canada. He was + with the other rebels at Chicago during the Convention, and went with them + to Southern Illinois for the purpose of drilling Copperheads. He was + captured in the house of Charles Walsh, on the morning of the 7th of + November last. On account of severe sickness he was not tried with the + other conspirators. + </p> + <p> + RICHARD T. SEMMES—One of the prisoners, tried, convicted, and + sentenced, for being one of the Chicago Conspirators, is a young man—not + over 23 or 24 years of age, a Marylander by birth, and a lawyer by + profession. He is a relation of the pirate Semmes (unfortunate in name,) + said to be a nephew. He graduated at Yale College with distinction, and + his prospects in Chicago were flattering till he connected himself with + the Sons of Liberty, and listened to the teachings of older and "wiser" + men. + </p> + <p> + Of the witnesses for the defence we have nothing to say, further than most + of them were Sons of Liberty. Some of them so far perjured themselves, + that now a common lie to them is considered as good as the truth, if not a + little better. It is said of Judge H.L. Burnet, that he remarked, had he + known what witnesses the defence would have introduced, he would not have + called any witnesses for the <i>Government</i>—they would have been + superfluous. Rather severe, and we will hope he did not say it. + </p> + <p> + Space will not admit of a review of the evidence, and this will be + unnecessary for all who will read the sketch of the Judge Advocate's + argument. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAP XXI. + </h2> + <p> + ARGUMENT OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE IN THE CONSPIRACY CASES—CONVICTION OF + THE PRISONERS. + </p> + <p> + The evidence in the case before the military commission at Cincinnati, + having closed, the counsel who represented the prisoners made their + addresses—they cannot be called arguments—and the court + adjourned to Tuesday, April 18. As lawyers who have no valid defence, + observe it as a policy to attack the Government witnesses with great fury, + so Messrs. Hervey and Wilson, true to the ethics of their profession, made + a grand assault upon the principal witnesses. Counsellor Hervey, in his + harangue, used the following language, which illustrates the line of + "argument" for defence: + </p> + <p> + "Some two hundred years ago," said the learned counsel, "there was a man + in England who swore away the lives of his fellow citizens by wholesale. + His name was Dr. Titus Oates—the man who got up what was called the + Popish plot, and by perjury and villainy, consigned many an innocent head + to the scaffold. He was assisted by a man who has, as no other judge has, + disgraced the ermine—Jeffries, who drank himself to death in the + tower, when his co-worker in iniquities and evil deeds with dreadful and + condign punishment followed him. The effort of nature to produce so great + a monster was so terrible that it required a resting spell of two hundred + years before she could produce another such monster in the shape of Dr. I. + Winslow Ayer." + </p> + <p> + We forgive him, for he was obliged to seem to do or say something to earn + his "fee." There being no arguments for defence, but only such pathetic + appeals as only a lawyer, without the least hope, would make, feeling that + his clients would expect <i>something</i>, we need not take our space to + report their remarks. + </p> + <p> + On Tuesday April 18, Judge Advocate Burnet made his closing argument for + the Government. It was truly a master-piece, complete in every part. It + was such an effort as might have been expected, of one who has, during + this long tedious trial, shown himself a gentleman, a profound counsellor, + a true patriot and an advocate of justice, whose only aim has been to + elicit truth, and be the better enabled to serve the true interests of the + country. We would gladly present every argument and address he has made, + during the trial, but space will not admit, and we therefore invite + careful attention to the following sketch of his address: + </p> + <p> + The Judge Advocate, in referring to the accused, said: + </p> + <p> + There are two sides to this case; two sides for the manifestation of + sympathy. While here is an old, white-haired man before you, whose every + thing is at stake; while here is a father, a generous, open-hearted, and + impulsive man, whose all is at stake; and here is a soldier, who has + fought in every clime, and who has taken up his sword to destroy life in + every cause, whose everything is also at stake, yet there is, on the other + side, your Government at stake. If these men be guilty, justice to the + nation demands of you this day that you should convict them, and you must + not waver. In the consideration of this case, you must bring to your aid a + power, that may be a little more than is ordinarily given to human nature. + You must, for the time, sink all hatred, malice, even human sympathy; and + rise, God-like, to determine the truth and adjust the punishment. + </p> + <p> + That these accused would enter upon the commission of so heinous a crime, + I can scarcely permit myself to believe. They have made a strong appeal to + your sympathies. Each counsel has advocated the cause of his client with + an earnestness and an eloquence that does him honor; I shall always + respect them, and bear them in kindly recollection. + </p> + <p> + But there seems to have been something, during these four years of the + nation's trial, that has appeared to paralyze the native instincts of the + American heart. This phantom, this siren of secession, with her enticing + song, seems to have lulled to sleep the better part of human nature. At + the sound of her voice, and the flash of her eye, men have sprung to arms, + to grapple with the life of the nation, because it was free! They have + followed, at the beck of the siren, over desolated homes; they have + trampled over the dead corpses of murdered brothers, and innocent women + and children. They have blackened the land with desolation, and made it + the abode of moaning and woe. She has blinded, while she has demoralized + them. Old men, forgetting their white hairs, have joined in the conspiracy + at the beck of this phantom, who has taken out of the human heart its + heaven-born instincts, to plant there those of vengeance, and the thirst + for blood. + </p> + <p> + My tongue falters as I look over this country and see bereaved widows and + orphans, the white-haired patriots that mourn for the first-born, that + shall ne'er greet them, and those who sit at the desolate hearth, with + hands upraised, waiting for the knock that will be but the death-knell of + all their hopes; and think that the phantom of secession has caused all + this! + </p> + <p> + Men who were kind fathers, kind husbands and noble patriots, have + forgotten it all in a day, and have become traitors, and inculcated + doctrines that have, by the hands of fiends, stricken down that patriotic + and noble leader of the human race. There is something in it which no man + can comprehend. The doctrines which they inculcate harden the heart, and + nerve the arm to crime, enabling them to commit robbery, arson and murder, + for all is in her category; and as they commit those crimes, the appeal to + God for the justness of their cause. That is what has deceived these men; + it is this accursed phantom of secession that has blinded their eyes; that + has cooled their hearts and filled them with vengeance. It is this that + has changed and perverted the human instincts, that should have ruled in + their breasts. + </p> + <p> + Of this man Walsh, I have simply this to say: The evidence is as you have + seen it. I have briefly sketched it; I will not dwell upon much that ought + to be said; I can not. The testimony is voluminous, filling 2,000 or 2,500 + pages. I have had but a few days to scan through it; I have given you only + the leading points, and you must judge. I would not say one word that + would take from this family their father; but if this man was guilty of + this crime, or has aided and abetted this conspiracy, you have but one + duty to perform. You must know no man, be influenced by no bias, betray no + sympathy, but must be firm in the performance of your stern duty. There + are thirty millions of suffering people in this land, and against these, + one man's life, if guilty, weighs little in the scale of justice. We have, + unhappily, in the history of this war, frequently seen sympathy manifested + for criminals, rebels and traitors—those who have brought this great + injustice upon the true and the loyal. It is not mercy to acquit those + guilty of cruelty to a people who are struggling for their very existence; + it would be cruelty to our brave soldiers, and to those who have been left + widows and orphans. + </p> + <p> + As to Judge Morris—for his white hair and old age, I have only + respect. For all that is worthy in him as a citizen, I do him reverence; + but if this white-haired old man has engaged in a conspiracy against my + nation and my country, I turn to the other side, and see white-haired + patriots who mourn in sadness because such as he have done these evil + deeds,—and I remember Justice! + </p> + <p> + As to this man Grenfel, I confess I have no sympathy with him; no sympathy + for the foreigner who lands in our country when this nation is engaged in + the struggle for human right and human liberty, and who takes part in the + quarrel against us, and arrays himself on the side of those who are trying + to establish tyranny and slavery. I have no sympathy for the man whose + sword is unsheathed for hire and not for principle; for whom slavery and + despotism have more charms than freedom and liberty. The motive of such a + one does not rise even to the dignity of vengeance. As has been said by + his counsel, his sword has gleamed in every sun, and has been employed on + the side of almost every nationality, and after this he engages in our + struggle, and, as testified to by Colonel Moore, desires to raise the + black flag against our prisoners; and after men have yielded as prisoners + of war, he rides up to one, and stabs him, coward like, in the back. + </p> + <p> + But he is not true to the cause he espouses. When in Washington he went to + the Secretary of War and betrays the very people with whom he had been + fighting; tells all he knows of the strength, position and designs of the + Confederates. He said he proposed to leave immediately for England, but he + breaks his faith, proceeds to Canada, and is found among the conspirators, + and is now here, charged with these crimes to-day. There is no throb of my + heart that beats in unison with such conduct as this. He was a fit + instrument to be used in this enterprise. What to him would be the wail of + women and little ones? What to him would be the pleadings of old men and + unarmed citizens? + </p> + <p> + The delivery of Judge Burnett's argument occupied three and a half hours, + after which the Commission adjourned to meet at four o'clock P.M., to + deliberate on the findings and sentence. They accordingly met at the hour + appointed, and, after mature deliberation, finally recorded their verdict. + </p> + <p> + General Hooker issued General Orders No. 30, April 22, in which he + promulgates the finding of the military commission which, for three months + past, has been engaged in the trial of the alleged Chicago conspirators. + The commission have acquitted Buckner S. Morris and Vincent Marmaduke, and + they are to be discharged upon their taking the oath of allegiance. They + find Charles Walsh and Richard T. Semmes guilty of all the charges and + specifications, and sentence the former to five years' imprisonment at + hard labor from the 7th of November last, and the latter to three years' + imprisonment at hard labor from the same date, at such place as the + commanding general may direct. Gen. Hooker has named the State + penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio. + </p> + <p> + Cantrill's trial has been continued; Anderson committed suicide, and + Charles Travis Daniels escaped. The commission found a verdict against + Daniels, but it has not yet been promulgated. The findings against G. St. + Leger Grenfell have not yet been announced officially; but it is death, at + such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall designate. The commission has + been dissolved. + </p> + <p> + The Chicago <i>Tribune</i>, in speaking of the sentence, says: + </p> + <p> + The trial of the Chicago conspirators has ended, the sentences have been + pronounced and approved, and the court has adjourned. Buckner S. Morris + and Vincent Marmaduke are acquitted and Charles Walsh and Richard T. + Semmes were found guilty of the entire charges and specifications, to wit: + of conspiracy for the relief of the prisoners at Camp Douglas, and of + conspiring to "lay waste and destroy" the city of Chicago. Walsh is + sentenced to imprisonment for five years from November 7th, 1864, and + Semmes to imprisonment at hard labor for three years from the date of + sentence. The findings against G. St. Leger Grenfell have not been + officially promulgated, but it is stated that he is found guilty and + sentenced to death, at such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall designate. + The penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, is designated as the place of + confinement of Walsh and Semmes. The trial has been long, mainly by reason + of the course pursued by the defense, whose aim has been to protract it, + so as to tire out the perseverance of the prosecution and the patience of + the court and people. The court have performed their arduous duties with + great ability and fairness. The result will doubtless be satisfactory to + the people. It is proved that this great crime was in all its naked + deformity and depravity actually committed. It follows that the Copperhead + statement, published in the rebel organ in this city, charging that the + entire plot and arrest of these Copperhead traitors and assassins were + invented by the Union Republicans of Chicago as an electioneering trick, + was the subterfuge of conscious guilt trying to cover up its tracks and to + rub out the stains of its own attempted crimes. The same organ now impugns + the "competency" of the Court. It may consider itself fortunate that it + has not had an opportunity to argue the question of jurisdiction on its + own behalf before a similar tribunal. Its opposition to such courts + originates in a feeling of uneasiness about its own safety. For + </p> + <p> + "Thief ne'er felt the halter draw With good opinion of the law." + </p> + <h3> + REV. DR. TIFFANY UPON COPPERHEADS. + </h3> + <p> + At a public meeting held in Chicago, after the announcement of the + assassination, Rev. Dr. Tiffany, in an able and eloquent address said: + </p> + <p> + "God alone is great. At rare intervals he sends us a man beyond the limit + of our measure. Our attention has been directed to the excellences of the + character which belonged to our late President, and to the spirit of the + system which gave strength to the blow of the assassin. A more terrible + topic is now to be discussed—our relation to that spirit—our + responsibility for that blow. + </p> + <p> + We have been accustomed to say, "slavery is sectional, and freedom + national," let those who elect slavery take the results of slavery to + themselves; let them suffer, if their choice brings suffering; but as for + us, we wash our hands in innocency, and hold ourselves guiltless of + blood." And so we have been going on ever since the outbreak of slavery in + the form of armed rebellion. "They are the guilty parties, let them + suffer." But has all this been right? Have we had no responsibility? Is no + guilt ours? We may not have owned slaves, but we may have made a common + cause with men owners—may have brought condemnation upon ourselves + by our tolerance, by our compromises. + </p> + <p> + Sad and almost disgraceful is the record which exhibits our complicity + with this sin. We began by making free States wait at the door of the + Union until slavery had a counterpoise, or balance adjusted in the form of + slave State, to preserve the balance against freedom in the National + Senate. We compromised the territories west of the Mississippi, by + tolerating slaves there, and as one demand after another was made it was + granted, till we even allowed slave rule in free States, by submitting to + the Fugitive Slave law—these things could not have been done without + our votes. When they threatened and blustered we fawned and cringed, until + they knew and avowed their belief that the crack of a slave whip would + bring the north to its knees. All they asked we granted, more than they + demanded we offered. We held out our wrists for manacles. When we elected + the great good man, who embodied our idea of nationality and freedom; and + even after official announcement had been made of the position slavery + occupied in their proposed nationalism, we guarded their slaves, and kept + them secure to labor for the support of the masters who were fighting + against us. When these slaves, acting on an intuition of freedom, came + fleeing to us, we sent them back to chains and bondage. In all this we + showed our complicity with the sin which struck the blow which killed our + good President. + </p> + <p> + And after the slaughter of thousands in battle, and the death of as many + more in hospitals, of fever, starvation and wounds, still was our hatred + of the sin which caused them not deep enough. We talked of amnesty and + non-humiliation, and God has permitted the sad cup to come to each lip in + bitterness. Each one mourns to-day as if personally bereaved. The + blackness of darkness is in our homes, and the whole nation mourns its + first-born—its first-loved. May not—does not—a measure + of responsibility rest upon us for this last sad event? Have we not been + tolerant of the treason which has wrought this crime? Have we not been + apologists for infamy under the name of different political opinions? Have + we not spared when we should have punished—been merciful when mercy + was but cruelty? We seem to have believed that because there were more + serpents away from our homes, the few left here had no venom. We felt + secure because the loyalists were more numerous than the traitors. But of + the few who were here, and tolerated here, some plotted the escape of + rebel prisoners, some the burning of our city, some the conflagration of + New York, and some the murder of the Cabinet, while one has killed the + good President. Had they all been driven out, or put under strict + surveillance, there would have been none of these things from them. We + have lost our President by tolerating traitors in our streets. + </p> + <p> + Who was the assassin of the President? Not an armed rebel, clothed with + belligerent rights; not a political refugee, who had skulked into our + lines for rapine and for plunder; but the citizen of a free State, who + could visit and send his cards to the Vice-President with a flippant + familiarity, which his aristocratic slave-holding associates presume to + use,—a man allowed to go about the streets of Washington, breathing + treason and blaspheming God, without rebuke. He could command attention + from proprietors of houses and saloons, from owners of blooded stock, from + men who were called loyal, and the toleration of this killed our good + President. + </p> + <p> + He was a wretch, of whom a press said, but yesterday, that he was sincere + in thinking he should rid the earth of a tyrant, by slaying the President, + this sincerity must place him on a level with John Brown. {Hisses and + cries of <i>The Times</i>.} This was said yesterday, and read by + thousands, and I know of no steps taken to prevent the utterance of + similar insult and outrage to-morrow. For this tolerance we are + responsible, and tolerance like this killed the good President. When a + far-seeing military commandant ordered the suppression of published + treason, there were men in high places, and men all over the land, who + outraged the loyal masses by interfering to prevent the execution of that + order, on the ground of disturbing the freedom of the press; but when our + ministers went into Richmond they were muzzled, and the result has been + that treason has been littered, the good man called an <i>imbecile</i>—the + generous man a <i>tyrant</i>—the restraint of traitors has been + referred to as, <i>usurpation</i> of power, and prisons have been called + <i>Bastiles</i>. All this has been, and we have tolerated it. This has + given aid and comfort to treason in the South, and traitors in the North, + and this has killed the good President. + </p> + <p> + The measure of our responsibility is the amount of our connivance at these + things. No man is free from guilt who has winked at this wrong, who has + interfered to prevent the punishment of wrong-doers, who has apologies for + treason, who has not done all in his power to rebuke, denounce and punish + the foes of the nation, at home and abroad. We stand, to-day, as though in + the presence of the nation's dead, and here, on the tomb of our chieftain, + let us swear eternal enmity to treason and to traitors. Nor let us, when + the assassin shall be arrested and punished—oh! let us not then + think we have done our duty. I had rather the profane wretch who has done + this deed were never taken, than that his execution should relieve our + minds from one thought of our personal responsibility. No; rather let the + wretch be a fugitive and vagabond, with the mark of Cain upon him. Let + none slay him, for we ourselves are not guiltless. And as he flies from + men, with hate in his eyes and hell in his heart, let every home be an + asylum from which he shall be barred, and every honest, loyal heart a + sanctuary where no thought of complicity with him, or sympathy for him may + enter. Let us bow before God to-day in humble penitence; let us ask of Him + forgiveness—Father forgive us, for we knew not what we did—that + His hand be stayed, and the measure of our responsibility be canceled." + </p> + <p> + In this connection, we may with propriety, introduce the following extract + from President Johnson's recent speech to the Indiana delegation: + </p> + <p> + "We are living at a time when the public mind had almost become oblivious + of what treason is. The time has arrived, my countrymen, when the American + people should be educated and taught what crime is, and that treason is + crime, and the highest crime known to the law and the Constitution. Yes, + treason against a State, treason against all the States, treason against + the Government of the United States, is the highest crime that can be + committed, and those engaged in it should suffer all the penalties. It is + not promulgating anything that I have not heretofore said, to say that + traitors must be made odious; that treason must be made odious; that + traitors must be punished and imprisoned. {Applause.} They must not only + be punished, but their social power must be destroyed. If not, they will + still maintain an ascendency, and may again become numerous and powerful; + for, in the words of a former senator of the United States, when traitors + become numerous enough, treason becomes respectable. And I say that, after + making treason odious, every Union man and the Government, should be + remunerated out of the pockets of those who have inflicted the great + suffering upon the country. {Applause.} But do not understand me as saying + this in a spirit of anger; for, if I understand my own heart, the reverse + is the case; and, while I say that the penalties of the law, in a stern + and inflexible manner, should be executed upon conscious, intelligent, and + influential traitors,—the leaders who have deceived thousands upon + thousands of laboring men, who have been drawn into the rebellion; and + while I say, as to leaders, punishment, I also say leniency, conciliation, + and amnesty, to the thousands whom they have misled and deceived, and, in + relation to this, as I have remarked, I might have adopted your speech as + my own." + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + THE LIST OF PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE "SONS OF LIBERTY" IN ILLINOIS. + </h3> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <a name="link2H_LIST" id="link2H_LIST"> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + List of names of prominent members of the "Sons of Liberty" in the + </h2> + <p> + several counties of the State of Illinois, as reported by Col. J.B. Sweet. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Names. County. + James W. Singleton ............................................Adams. + Thomas P. Bond................................................. Bond. + Harry Wilton....................................................Bond. + Thos. Hunter....................................................Bond. + Martin Brooks..................................................Brown. + C.H. Atwood....................................................Brown. + Fred Rearick ...................................................Cass. + Allen J. Hill...................................................Cass. + David Epler.....................................................Cass. + James A. Dick...................................................Cass. + Samuel Christey.................................................Cass. + T.J. Clark................................................Champaigne. + James Morrow .............................................Champaigne. + H.M. Vandeveer.............................................Christian. + J.H. Clark.................................................Christian. + S.S. Whitehed..................................................Clark. + H.H. Peyton....................................................Clark. + Phillip Dougherty..............................................Clark. + A.M. Christian..................................................Clay. + Stephen B. Moore...............................................Coles. + Dr. Wickersham .................................................Cook. + G.S. Kimberly...................................................Cook. + S. Corning Judd...............................................Fulton. + Charles Sweeny ...............................................Fulton. + L. Walker...................................................Hamilton. + M. Couchman..................................................Hancock. + M.M. Morrow..................................................Hancock. + J.M. Finch...................................................Hancock. + Dennis Smith.................................................Hancock. + J.S. Rainsdell.............................................Henderson. + A. Johnson.................................................Henderson. + Ira R. Wills...................................................Henry. + Chas. Durham...................................................Henry. + Morrison Francis...............................................Henry. + J.B. Carpenter.................................................Henry. + J. Osborn....................................................Jackson. + G.W. Jeffries.................................................Jasper. + G.H. Varnell...............................................Jefferson. + Wm. Dodds..................................................Jefferson. + J.M. Pace..................................................Jefferson. + James Sample..................................................Jersey. + O.W. Powell...................................................Jersey. + M.Y. Johnson...............................................Jo Davies. + David Shean................................................Jo Davies. + M. Simmons.................................................Jo Davies. + Louis Shisler..............................................Jo Davies. + Thomas McKee................................................... Knox. + J.F. Worrell..................................................McLean. + E.D. Wright...................................................Menard. + Edward Lanning ...............................................Menard. + Robert Halloway ..............................................Mercer. + Robert Davis..............................................Montgomery. + Thomas Grey...............................................Montgomery. + W.J. Latham...................................................Morgan. + J.O. S. Hays..................................................Morgan. + J.W. McMillen.................................................Morgan. + D. Patterson ...............................................Moultrie. + Dr. Kellar..................................................Moultrie. + G.D. Read ......................................................Ogle. + W.W. O'Brien..................................................Peoria. + Peter Sweat...................................................Peoria. + Jacob Gale....................................................Peoria. + P.W. Dunne....................................................Peoria. + John Fuller...................................................Peoria. + John Francis..................................................Peoria. + C.H. Wright.................................................. Peoria. + John Oug......................................................Putnam. + M. Richardson.................................................Shelby. + M. Shallenberger...............................................Stark. + J.B. Smith.................................................Stevenson. + J.L. Carr.................................................Vermillion. + John Donlar...............................................Vermillion. + Wm. S. Moore...............................................Christian. + B.S. Morris.....................................................Cook. + W.C. Wilson.................................................Crawford. + L.W. Onell..................................................Crawford. + Dickins ..................................................Cumberland. + J.C. Armstrong ...............................................Dewitt. + C.H. Palmer...................................................Dewitt. + B.T. Williams................................................Douglas. + Amos Green.....................................................Edgar. + R.M. Bishop....................................................Edgar. + W.D. Latshaw.................................................Edwards. + Levi Eckels..................................................Fayette. + Dr. Bassett..................................................Fayette. + T. Greathouse................................................Fayette. + Chas. T. Smith...............................................Fayette. + N. Simmons......................................................Ford. +</pre> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great North-Western Conspiracy In +All Its Startling Details, by I. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Great North-Western Conspiracy In All Its Startling Details + +Author: I. Windslow Ayer + + +Release Date: July, 2005 [EBook #8543] +This file was first posted on July 21, 2003 +Last Updated: May 21, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY *** + + + + +Produced by Lee Dawei, Andy Schmitt and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +THE GREAT NORTH-WESTERN CONSPIRACY IN ALL ITS STARTLING DETAILS. + + +By I. Winslow Ayer, M.D. + +_The Plot to plunder and burn Chicago--Release of all Rebel +prisoners--Seizure of arsenals--Raids from Canada--Plot to burn New +York--Piracy on the Lakes--Parts for the Sons of Liberty--Trial of +Chicago conspirators--Inside views of the Temples of the Sons of +Liberty--Names of prominent members._ + +ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF LEADING CHARACTERS, ETC., ETC. + + +[Illustration: I. WINSLOW AYER, M.D.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The trial before the Military Commission in Cincinnati, just concluded, +was in many respects one of the most remarkable events of the war. The +investigation has elicited testimony of the most startling character, +showing conclusively to the minds of all reasonable men who have given +to it careful, earnest attention that there was a most formidable, +deep and well arranged conspiracy, which, but for timely discovery and +judicious action, would have resulted most disastrously, not only to the +particular cities and towns specified and doomed to destruction, but to +the whole country. None can contemplate the danger through which we +have passed without a shudder and without a recognition of the hand of +a merciful Providence who has guided our beloved country in its darkest +hours and who has crowned our struggles for liberty and union with +glorious victory. + +To have proclaimed to the public, even a few short months ago, that +a scheme had been concocted in Richmond, of so vast and formidable a +character, so insidious in its operations, so complete in its details +that it had found favor and support in all the great cities and towns in +Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, and sections of other +States that scarcely a village was exempt from its corruption, that it +numbered in its ranks more traitors in the aggregate than the number of +brave men in the combined armies of the gallant Grant and Sherman, +and that all who had thus united recognised but one common cause--the +destruction of our country, the defeat and humiliation of our people, +and the triumph of the Rebellion--the author of such a proclamation +would have been written down a madman or a fool, by most persons in the +community; and yet the developments before the military tribunal have +established the fact, to the eternal infamy of all who were leagued in +the conspiracy. + +As the trial opened, and the charges if the indictment were made +public, all sympathisers with the conspiracy affected to disbelieve its +existence, and raised their eyes and hands to Heaven, in pious horror, +and prayed that _justice_ might be meted out to the accused, who were, +they claimed, the best of citizens, the most devout Christians, the most +zealous patriots, the most earnest advocates of law and order, and that +their accusers might be shunned of all good men forever. To this prayer +the accused will scarce utter the response, Amen! Even some good, +careful, honest Union men, astonished at the startling revelations, +refused, for a time, to believe that there was any truth in the +allegations against the prisoners; by degrees, however, as corroborative +evidence accumulated, the truth was forced upon their minds, and there +are now few persons of ordinary intelligence and candor, who have not +been able to discover that "there was something in it, after all," and +that we have been Providentially saved a most terrible disaster. + +But the investigation has been lengthy, and the reports in the +newspapers have been brief and irregular, and few, comparatively, there +are who have heard or read all of even the more important testimony, +or appreciate fully the vast magnitude of the conspiracy; and there are +many who having read only the indictment, have conceived the idea that +if the charges therein alleged are true, the crime was confined to a +few desperate and wicked men in Chicago alone, and that, therefore, it +possessed but a local interest. Such a conclusion is wholly groundless. +The history of this conspiracy is of the most vital interest for the +people of every State in the Union, for had the conspirators not +been foiled at a most opportune moment, their plans would have been +successful in every particular, and once in operation they could not +have been frustrated by any force we could have arrayed against them; +and who shall say that had the savage hordes of Jeff. Davis then been +turned loose upon an unarmed community, to carry desolation and ruin as +they should sweep over our fair States, that to-day the Southern rebels +would be, as they now are, in their last extremity--that victory would +now be perched upon our banners wherever our noble pioneers of freedom +advance, and that our brave boys of the Potomac would now be reposing +from, their labors in the halls of the rebel capitol! Those who, upon +investigation, fail to recognise the magnitude, the sagacity, the +completeness of this Northwestern Conspiracy, and realise its immense +importance to the rebel chieftains at the South, corroborated as the +evidence before the Commission has been by incidents of almost daily +occurrence for many months, have not learned to read correctly the +history of the Great Southern Rebellion. If an idea ever entered +the heads of malcontents at the North to establish a Northwestern +Confederacy, it was speedily chased away by the more promising schemes +of the arch traitor late of Richmond. It is to collect facts already +elicited, and to give further information, and with a hope of aiding +the cause of the Union so sacred and dear to us all, that the writer +has yielded to the oft-repeated requests of his friends to present a +connected and concise history of the Northwestern Conspiracy. + +THE AUTHOR. + + + + +CHAP.I. + + +SECRET SERVICE TO SECURE SUCCESS OF SOUTHERN ARMS--STATE +SOVEREIGNTY--THE GENERAL PURPOSES OF SECRET POLITICAL +ORGANIZATIONS--RECOLLECTIONS THAT CAN NEVER DIE--VOICES FROM OUR BRAVE +SOLDIERS AT THE FRONT, BESPEAKING OUR PROTECTION FOR THEIR WIVES, +CHILDREN, PARENTS AND HOMES FROM NORTHERN COPPERHEADS--CHARACTER OF THE +LEADERS OF THE DIFFERENT SECRET ORDERS. + +The signal potency of secret organizations at the South prior to the +secession of States, and indeed the only really effective machinery +by which an attempt at disunion by the people could have been made +to appear possible, early in the great struggle engaged the earnest +attention of the Southern leaders. Knowing as they did that had the +question of secession been primarily an open one, for free discussion, +that the masses of the people would have rejected the proposition with +deserved scorn and indignation, and hung the ambitious adventurers +who dared propose the sacrilege. They realized the importance of +establishing the order in the North. The leaders saw with delight the +working of secret organizations, where men were sworn to secrecy, and +drawn onward step by step, till they reached the very brink of the +fearful precipice. Thus did the people fasten upon themselves and each +other the shackles of slavery, which they have since so unwillingly +worn. The doctrine of State sovereignty proclaimed by John C. Calhoun, +and which, together with its apostles, Jackson well knew how to receive, +had been instilled into the minds of the people of the States, which +since their admission into the Union had been at war with destiny, and +in the hope of securing perpetuity of their peculiar institutions, they +attempted the dissolution of the Union. Truly gratifying it must have +been to the extremists in those States to have watched the gathering +clouds, and to listen to the low murmuring thunder which presaged the +coming storm, and well they knew how fearful would be its fury, but +blinded to the inevitable result, they were confident of ultimate +success, when they should have so far disseminated the Calhoun poison +at the North, as to have made oath-bound slaves in such numbers as would +paralyze the efforts of Union men, and render it necessary to recall our +armies from the field to suppress insurrection at home, and to change +the theatre of the war to Northern soil. None knew the importance of +introducing the machinery of secret political organizations better than +Davis himself, for he had not forgotten the Charleston Convention, the +working of the secret orders then, and subsequent events had of course +confirmed him in the opinion that a divided North would not be a +formidable adversary, and that he was warranted in the firm belief that +his wish to be "let alone" would be realised. With these views, shrewd +and sagacious men established themselves early in Missouri, Kentucky, +Indiana, Illinois and other States, and put the machinery in motion. +The order sprung up in various sections of the country, and treason +flourished well, as poisonous plants often show the greatest vitality. +This plan was a success. Men high in rank and station--men from every +profession and walk in life, embraced the principles of the order, +and soon it could boast of legislators, judges of the higher courts, +clergymen, doctors, lawyers, merchants and men from every avocation. +Judge Bullitt, from the Supreme bench in Kentucky, Judge Morris of the +Circuit Court of Illinois, Judd and Robinson, lawyers and candidates for +the highest State offices, Col. Walker, agent of the State of Indiana, +editors of the daily press, and men high in official station, and in +the confidence of the people, ex-Governors of States and disaffected +politicians, all seized upon this new element of power and with various +motives, the chief of which was self agrandisement at any cost, even at +the cost of our National existence--entered with zeal upon the work of +disseminating the doctrines, and extending the organization throughout +the North and West. + +The leaders gratified by success, courted the support of the +organizations they fostered till the candidates for the highest offices +in the State and Nation felt certain of obtaining election, were they +but in favor with the secret orders they aided in establishing. +While the leaders were men of cunning, many of them of intellect and +education, the rank and file was made up of different material. It not +being necessary by the tenets of the order that they should _think_ at +all, brains were at a discount--muscle only was required--beings +who would fall into line at the word of command and follow on to an +undertaking, however desperate and criminal, without asking or thinking, +or caring for the purpose to be attained; beings who could be put in +harness and led or driven wherever and whenever it might suit their +masters. Men from the lowest walks of life were preferred. In the lower +strata of the order, social distinction was waived by the leaders, +and the lowest wretch in the order was placed on a level with judges, +merchants and politicians, at least within the hall of meeting, thus +offering inducements potent enough to make the lodge room a place of +interest and pleasure, and thus the organization thrived. + +It became known of course that secret organizations of a most dangerous +class were in existence, and their fruits were easily recognized. Our +brave boys in the army were often importuned by letters, to desert their +posts and to betray their flag. Union men were subject to annoyances +that became unendurable, soldiers wives and families were grossly +insulted, soldiers visiting their homes upon furloughs were often +assaulted or murdered, quarrels upon petty pretexts were incited, +neighbors arrayed against each other, dwellings burned by incendiaries, +unoffending union men murdered, military secrets of greatest importance +betrayed, libels of the most gross and malicious character by such +papers as the Chicago Times, and by such men as Wilbur F. Story, its +editor, till at length a voice came to us from the army in the field, +which was often echoed, begging Union citizens at home, by their love +of the Union, by the love they bore their own families, to protect +the absent soldiers' wives, mothers, sisters and firesides from the +Copperheads who remained at home; they would meet the enemy at the +front, they would march fearlessly to the cannon's belching throat, and +meet death or mutilation upon the field of battle for their Country's +cause; not for themselves did they know fear or care for danger, but +when the tidings came to them from home, when after toilsome marches, +hunger and fatigue, or suffering from wounds received in desperate +engagements, when resting a brief hour, and their eyes fell upon +missives from home, from wives who bade them go and fight for freedom, +and return not with shame upon their brows, when tender thoughts of +home, of children and every "loved spot" that they had left behind, came +crowding to their minds, who shall say that they were wanting in heroism +if their faces became pale, their lips trembled and the tears dimmed +their eyes, as they read of wrongs and insults endured from Copperheads +at home, or of plots and acts by cowardly traitors to aid the common +enemy; and when their entreaty comes to us to strike down the deadly foe +at home and give protection to the helpless, let him blush with shame to +call himself a man, let him never claim to be an American citizen, never +claim protection of our Country's flag, let him close his ears to the +sound of rejoicing for final and complete victory, let him only hold +companionship with cowards and with culprits, and hide himself from +the light of day who will turn a deaf ear to the soldiers' prayer. +Copperheads who have withheld their sympathy and their efforts for our +country in its days of darkness and of peril, should and will be known +of men in all future time; their lives will be blighted, their names +will be a reproach and a by-word, their children will blush for their +parents, and the name of Benedict Arnold will no longer be the synonym +of treason and betrayal--his name will be rescued from the infamy each +passing year of the existence of our country has heaped upon it, and the +Copperheads of the present day will receive the anathemas of all coming +generations, till their very names shall be a curse too horrid for +mortals to apply, and thenceforth be only echoed in the lowest depths of +hell. + +By Providential discovery of the existence of the Order of Sons of +Liberty in Chicago, and the utmost vigilance, prudence, perseverance, +patience, promptness and daring, the aims, designs and acts of this +Order, of the American Knights and kindred organizations have been +brought to light, its every evil purpose and plan laid before the +Government, and the pet institution of Jeff. Davis has been turned +inside out, so that "he who runs may read;" the curtain has been raised +and the light of noonday has been let in, discovering to the public the +horrid creation of traitors in our very midst--people who breathe the +very air we do, who enjoy the same blessings and privileges, aye, and +perhaps sit at the same tables. The friends and sympathizers of these +traitors have sought to cast obloquy and distrust upon the statements of +those who have successfully broken up the great conspiracy, and perjury +has sought to blacken their reputations, but in vain. _Truth will +prevail_. + +The list of names of the members of the Sons of Liberty have been +obtained and preserved, and will be valuable for reference hereafter. + +As the reader passes down South Clark street, at the corner of Monroe, +he will notice upon the right a large building of peculiar structure, +and, now bearing the name "Invincible Club Hall." It was here the +temples of the Sons of Liberty, or, as they were then called, the +"American Knights," held their secret sessions, going stealthily up the +stairs singly or in groups of two or three, to avoid observation, and +when once inside the hall they were guarded by an outside sentinel, +whose duty it was to apprise them of danger and to guard against its +approach to the "temple"; but let not the fault-finding Sons blame their +Tyler now for any neglect of duty; once under the ban of suspicion +he has proved himself as staunch a rebel and traitor as Jeff. Davis +himself, and is entitled to all the consideration of a "devilish good +fellow." But within a year, more or less, the "temple" of the _Illini_, +as it was called, removed from Clark street to the large building upon +the corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets, known as "McCormick's +Block." Every Thursday evening prior to the eighth of November 1864, the +windows of the hall in the fifth story gave evidence that the hall +was occupied, but further than this evidence was not for the observer, +however curious he might be, unless, perchance, he was a member of "the +Order." Clambering up the long nights of stairs that lead to the hall, +on a Thursday evening, the party in quest of discovery would be not +a little surprised at the class of men he would notice upon the march +upward; he would involuntarily button up his pockets and keep as far +distant from his fellow travelers as possible, for a more God-forsaken +looking class of vagabonds never before entered a respectable building, +and it is a matter of some doubt whether so many graceless scoundrels +were ever before convened in one building in Chicago, not excepting +the Armory when the police have been unusually active and vigilant. +Occasionally a fine looking man would brush hastily by you, as if afraid +to be discovered and recognised--not in the least conscience-stricken, +perhaps, for his purposes and intentions. Should the gas-light show to +you the comely features of the Grand Senior Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., +on his pilgrimage upward, you would scarcely be willing to believe that +he was the presiding genius of the room in the upper regions, and bound +to dispense light and wisdom to the motley crowd who would so soon be +filling the hall with fumes of cheap tobacco and the poorest quality of +whiskey, mingled with the fragrance of onions, borne by gentle zephyrs +from yonder open vestibule. Yonder comes L.A. Doolittle, Esq., a lawyer +of some distinction and a justice of the peace; he wears a look of +wisdom, and you can read upon his face that he is certain that the +"despot Lincoln," and "Lincoln's hirelings," and "Lincoln's bastiles" +are all going under together beneath the wheels of the triumphal car +drawn by the opposition party, with Vallandigham as the leader. But we +will not try to find any great number of fine looking men in very close +proximity to the hall. Arriving on the fifth floor, and proceeding to +a door upon which you find the sign of the "American Protestant +Association," your friends casting furtive glances around and behind +them, disappear by the door and are lost to view; one by one, like stars +upon the approach of dawn, our constellation vanishes. You open the +door, but your curiosity is not repaid; the seedy friends who preceded +you but an instant are lost to sight--presto! the room is as vacant as +a last year's robin's nest, and observation detects a hole of six inches +in diameter in a door in one side of the room; you try the door, but +it is fast, and you may leave if you wish, but the idea of a Copperhead +crawling through a hole six inches in diameter will haunt your dreams +that night. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +FOREIGN POWERS THE ENEMIES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT--THEIR PART IN THE +PROGRAMME OF THE REBELLION. + +The event of the American revolution burst upon the world as the most +startling era in the history of nations. Monarchical Europe had long +envied the proud career and inevitable destiny of these States, +which had been shaken as the brightest jewels from the British Crown. +Monarchs, Emperors, Queens, lords, princes and diplomats, who wield the +sceptre of dominion, could not conceal the joy afforded them by a +scene, which executed, promised the speedy extinguishment of the leading +national power on the globe, and the final demolition of the only altar +of liberty upon which the fires of freedom had continued bright. + +The event created the more joy, because it was attributable partly to +the efforts so strenuously put forth for many preceding years by the +combined enemies of American Independence, to poison the American +mind and breed disunion in the ranks of a free, industrious and honest +yeomanry, with a view to the ultimate dissolution of the bonds of the +Union. + +These enemies, however, for some time anterior to the development of the +fruit of their labors, had begun to despair of the cause in which they +had engaged, and it is possible that the scheme of American wreck +and ruin upon their part had been permanently abandoned, hence their +immediate demonstrations of joy at the triumph of their cause of +sedition. + +But seeds sown, however barren the soil, seldom fail of some growth, +and subsequent to the presidential election of 1860, the great American +rebellion became transparent to both friend and foe. To enumerate and +examine in detail the different phases of the programme of artificial +causes which precipitated defiance of the General Government, and gave +origin to the chronic disorder of the people of different sections upon +the subject of their government, would occupy more space than has been +allotted this brief narrative, which is more especially intended to +embrace a readable compilation of the later movements of the enemies of +the Government to crown the Confederate cause with success, through the +bloody implement of Conspiracy and Revolution in the Northern States. + +Having alluded to the prominent part occupied by foreign hostile powers +in the general scheme of Conspiracy against the Federal Government, a +brief allusion to the part executed by the native born American will not +be out of place. + +The cheek tingles with the blush of shame, when alas, it _must_ be said +that the pride of the American has been humbled by his too faithful +adherence to the grand original compact of treason, even after the +second most potent auxiliary to the plan had been tenderly touched +with the wickedness of the scheme, and had withdrawn in dismay at the +approach of the enactment of crime so revolting. + +All things material and tangible have their bases and starting points, +so too, had the Southern Rebellion its foundation stone laid deep and +solid in the minds of the people by John C. Calhoun, the first great +Supreme Commander of the germ from whence sprung the various elements of +treason, which have entered into the composition of the powers seeking +the destruction of the Federal Government. As for the doctrine of State +Rights as expounded by Calhoun, it is carried beyond the Virginia and +Kentucky resolutions of '98, to that point which renders it destructive +of the end for which it is claimed to be enunciated. + +It has been sought to carry the doctrine to that extremity beyond the +exercise of its own reserved powers, which must inevitably bring it in +collision with the legitimate operation of the powers delegated to the +General Government. + +With this extreme, hence fallacious, doctrine of State Rights thus +firmly imbedded in the hearts and heads of a zealous people, rendering +them, upon conscientious principles, the ready tools of ambitious +leaders, filled with lust for power and place, it should not be a matter +of so much surprise, that, after years of uninterrupted and persistent +education and training of the generations in their order, that the year +of 1860 found the continent trembling beneath the crack of musketry, the +tread of horse, and the roar of cannon. + +As among the more important means used by designing men in aid of +the scheme of rebellion, and the ultimate establishment of a separate +government in the South, the nucleus of which was to be the cotton +states, secret organizations, assuming different names and traditions +in different localities in the South were established, having for +their special mission in the meantime the privacy of the plot, and the +education of the people to that indispensable standard of treason which +would eventually lead them to avow their principles at the point of the +sword. + +These organizations, in point of antiquity, are traced to a time not +long anterior to the nullification of South Carolina in 1832, which was +so promptly suppressed by General Jackson, then President of the United +States. Some of them, however, claim even greater antiquity, and point +with affected pride to the historical period of the American colonial +revolution against the taxation and tyranny of England, as the date of +their origin. Whatever may be the facts as to the precise date of the +existence, respectively, of these disreputable cables, laid to undermine +the greatness and glory of the National Union, cemented as it is by the +blood of the sires and sages of the Revolution, is unimportant to the +purpose of the author, while the great living fact that they have been +the most deadly weapon in the hands of the enemy is corroborated by the +eventful history of the union of these States. + +Prior to the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, these various +organizations, being the van-guards in the general conspiracy against +the integrity and perpetuity of the Federal Government, had not been +introduced, to any great extent, in the non-slaveholding states, and in +consequence thereof had little or no tangibility north of the compromise +of 1820, familiarly known as Mason and Dixon's line. South of this line, +however, they had long been standing institutions in every city, +town, hamlet, villa and populated district throughout all of the late +so-called Confederate States of America; vying the Palmetto in rankness +of growth, and rivaling the rattlesnake in deadness of poison, until +at length, gorged with their own baneful offspring, and pale with the +sickness of their own stomachs, the child of secession was born unto +them as a curse and reproach to the Southern people and the generations +to follow them forever. + +On the 17th of April, 1861, the report of the gun fired upon Fort Sumter +was heard by every member of these secret conclaves in the South, and +was the signal for the opening of the outer gates of every temple of +treason in the land. + +From that inauspicious moment forward to the present, no mask has hid +from the scorn of the Christian world treason's hideous visage, but that +blear-eyed monster, armed with every weapon of iniquity which devilish +invention could devise, has alternately, with rage and despair, rushed +to and fro across the continent, spilling the blood of innocence. + +When, upon the occurrence of the Presidential election in 1860, it was +found that the kernel planted by Calhoun had been fostered to maturity +by secret organization, the blood and treasure of seven states was at +once staked upon the fearful result, and the disruption of the Republic +and the erection of a slave-driving despotism upon the ruins solemnly +declared. In the outset, it was thought by leading political minds at +the North, that but little sincerity could be attached to the assertion +of independence by the Southern people. But as time elapsed and the +contest grew more formidable and bloody, Northern men began by degrees +to comprehend the magnitude of a chronic conspiracy which had cost the +life-long labors of its ablest advocates to prepare. And though the +hosts enlisted in the execution of this conspiracy for a time won the +prestige of victors upon fields of blood, knowledge of their sincerity +of purpose and the extent of their carefully collected resources at +length came to every loyal man in the country, and vigorous measures, +corresponding to the necessity, were at once devised, the effects of +which are now seen in the capture of Richmond and the surrender of Lee. + +Earlier than this date in the progress of the struggle, however, it +became manifest that the wheel of fortune would eventually turn against +the cause of the South in consequence of her comparative weakness to +contend against a power so amply provided with the material of war as +the government at Washington. Then it was that the project of enlarging +the area of the rebellion, first fell upon the Southern mind as +indispensable to their cause, now fast becoming desperate in the +extreme. Hurried raids into border northern states gave to the prowess +of southern arms but momentary _eclat_, and little or no enduring +strength was added to the stability of the Richmond government, beyond +the plunder obtained in the line of march. On the contrary, these raids, +instead of being evidence of the power of the South to maintain the +standard of independence, were looked upon by the military chieftains +of the North, without apprehension further than the demoralization, +consequent upon the particular neighborhoods and districts thus invaded. +In fact each recurring raid gave additional grounds for the confident +belief on the part of the North, that the downfall of the rebellion was +but a question of time, much sooner to be solved than many people of +both sections supposed. These symptoms of the distress of the cause +meantime did not escape the sagacity of the leaders of the rebellion, +and as an expedient remedy, the plan of secretly organizing traitors +in the northern states was determined upon as early as 1862, by the +political representatives and agents of the confederate states, the +attempt, character and success of which project will be the subject of +the next chapter. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +ARENA OF THE REBELLION EXTENDED--SECRET ORGANIZATION--PLAN OF +FORMATION--KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE--TRANSPORTS ON THE RIVERS +BURNED--EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES--SUPREME COUNCIL IN NEW YORK--DEGREES OF +THE ORDERS. + +As above intimated, early in 1862 the Richmond Government foresaw the +necessity of bringing to its aid the hitherto comparatively dormant +resources of treason in the Northern States, and the enlargement of the +arena of the Rebellion. Raids having ominously failed in their design to +arouse the lethargic spirits of Northern sympathizers and advocates, +to rush to the standard of the misguided South, it was immediately +determined to prolong the war, at least, to the date of the next +Presidential election, and then through the agencies of secret +organization and equipment, seize upon the excitement of the people in +a hotly contested election, to force a rebellion against the +administration elect in the North, as had been done in the South in +1860. + +The executive part of this object was at once given into the hands of +such trustworthy men, both North and South, as were deemed suitable +to the enterprise, and the work of secret political organization was +vigorously begun in Northern Missouri and Kentucky, from thence it +gradually spread, until it was firmly rooted in the political tenets of +the minority party in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, New +York, and portions of other adjoining States. + +Much dissimilarity existed in the operative structure and formation of +the various organizations, from time to time thus instituted. To give +the public a full and complete description of these organizations, would +be foreign to the writer's time, space and purpose, but in order that +some record of their character may be made, a general description of +each in its order in point of time, with a reference to the features in +which radical dissimilarities appear, would seem indispensible to the +poor perfection sought to be obtained by the author of these sketches. + +Upon the discovery by Southern leaders that their cause must fail unless +"fire in the rear" was at once instigated in the North, the Order of the +Knights of the Golden Circle, an old Southern institution, was infused +with life, and began its pilgrimage Northward, one additional creed +having been ingrafted upon it. + +It will be remembered that this Order was originally composed of the +wealthiest planters, merchants and professional men of the South, and +had for its sole object the inculcation of treason against the United +States. It was simply an institution to educate the Southern mind to the +required standard of rebellion. But when the Order was introduced into +the North, it was found feasible to give it a double capacity, first +that of an educational capacity, and second that of an incendiary +capacity, which comprised the destruction of government property, and +the houses and property of leading loyal citizens of the North, known +to be strong advocates of the suppression of the rebellion. But this +organization in name and cardinal purpose was short-lived, its career +having subserved but a meagre benefit to the South, in a practical point +of view. The damage it did was principally confined to the burning of +United States transports on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and the +moulding of the crude opinions of its members, which served as a solid +foundation for the establishment of the Order of American Knights, which +immediately succeeded its dissolution. + +Like all institutions of iniquity, the sun of the Order of Knights of +the Golden Circle went down in blood, but was the signal for the advent +of an Order better calculated to meet the ends of its design. + +It had been seen upon experiment that the Golden Circle had been +successful beyond the most sanguine expectations of its instigators, and +as the necessity of Northern revolution to insure the certain success of +the Confederacy daily became more apparent to the rebels, both North +and South, the Order of the American Knights was inaugurated--the +executioner of that fell purpose. Its sun arose to its meridian with the +suddenness of a meteor, doomed to flash across the canopy and burst in +scattering atoms. + +The Order of American Knights was erected upon the dissolved fragments +of the Order of the Knights of the Golden Circle, which Order, in name, +was abandoned for the additional reason that the suspicions of the +Government had begun to be aroused as to the character of its movements. +At the time of the extinction of the Golden Circle, its members were +at once inducted into the Order of American Knights, so that this Order +obtained much primary advantage, in point of numerical strength, over +its predecessor, for the Golden Circle had already insidiously crept +into the very hearts of several Northern cities and states. The American +Knights being composed in the outset wholly of men who from experience +had discovered whatever defectiveness may have been chargeable upon the +Golden Circle, it was sought in the new Order to remedy the evils of the +old Order. + +With this in view, looking over the former and later phases of the +Golden Circle as it had existed in the North and South, respectively, +it was agreed to give the new Order still another capacity, and what +was called the military branch or department was added, the incendiary +capacity of the old Order being merged into this new military +department. + +We have seen that there had been in the North an Order mainly of +educational capacity, contemplating revolution so soon as the public +mind could be put in readiness for such an event, but now for the first +time we find an Order prepared in its organic structure, to speedily +collect together the elements of revolution and set them in motion. Such +a concern was the Order of American Knights. True, the rise of the Order +created a momentary excitement in political circles, as yet unaccustomed +to dealing with the stern problems of Northern revolution by resort to +arms. But, by the admirable adjustment of the administrative powers +of the Order, into degrees, sub-degrees and departments of degrees and +sub-degrees, the leaders were enabled to give to each adventurer in +quest of the hidden mysteries of the so-called impartial maxims of +genuine Democracy--that Democracy which _boasts of having permeated +through every fibre and artery of our political, commercial and social +systems_, a comfortable and genial sphere in which he was left to +operate upon his good behavior. + +Upon this ingenious plan the vast body and mass of the Order simply +held the relation of probationary membership, until they were rendered +competent through the educational capacity of the society, to advance +into full fellowship with its diabolical design. A glance at this +organization will suffice to show the shrewdness of the transient and +local agents of the Confederacy, in their formation of an Order, having +for its mission the attainment of so many incidental objects, without in +the meantime subjecting themselves to the dangers of collision in their +machinery. Accordingly, the Order was composed of three general degrees, +viz.: First, the Temple Degree, second, the Grand Council Degree, and +third, the Supreme Council Degree. + +The first or Temple Degree, resembled the county organization of a +State, and held the same relation to the second or Grand Council +Degree (which was the state organization of the Order,) that our county +government holds to our State government, and it was always sought to +establish this first or Temple Degree at each county seat in a State, as +expeditiously as possible, that the second or Grand Council Degree could +the sooner be fully represented, and begin its State management of +the Order. In other chapters the writer has made a passing, though +sufficient allusion to the internal workings of these Temples, and +doubtless the initiated reader, in different sections, will +recognize the facts we have already and are further about to state, +notwithstanding the "_obligation_" the author is supposed to have +subscribed to, not to reveal the existence of the Order and its secrets, +under _penalty of "suffering a shameful death."_ + +The process usually followed in instituting the Temple Degree, was to +send missionaries with authority, into the districts proposed to be +organized, who called together such of the "unterrified" leaders as were +known to be "_sound_ on Jeff. Davis' goose," before whom the design +and object of the Order was confidentially laid for their approval or +rejection, by a majority vote. It is important to recollect that the +record does not afford an instance where a majority of those assembled +for this purpose, rejected the Order as inconsistent with their +political views. On the contrary, it was everywhere received by the +politicians, both great and small, as "_just the thing they had been +looking for_." These politicians were then left to "manage their own +local affairs" concerning the Order, "subject only to the constitution" +of _Jeff. Davis_. Generally, several meetings and some discussion +enabled these empyrics to determine plans of strategy to screen +themselves, by "_covering the tracks in the sand_," a remark frequently +heard from members. + +[Illustration: THE MILITARY COMMISSION IN SESSION IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE +COURT HOUSE IN CINCINNATI. + +"All whom we arrested wore the same general wolfish aspect."--From the +testimony of Brig. Gen. B.J. Sweet.] + +The plan in most cases adopted, was to familiarize a sufficient number +of the _elect_, with a grossly immoral and treasonable pamphlet, called +the "Ritual of the Order," to enable them to officer the Temple, and +"induct" any number of "candidates" _supposed_ to be "in waiting in the +ante-room, into the sublime," but in fact dark and dubious "mysteries of +the Order." + +After one or more squads of these "candidates in" anxious and breathless +"waiting" had been inducted, (meanwhile staring like stuck pigs at every +object and officer which met their eyes,) in addition to the regular +officers of the Temple already installed, it was considered that +enough official and canvassing material had been acquired, and the more +prominent politicians, not officers of the Temple, deemed it prudent +to absent themselves from most of the weekly meetings. Again, it was an +illusion of these leaders, to put forward the most irresponsible persons +at their command, as the mouth-pieces and official representatives of +the Order, to the end that if detected, the theory of _crazy, powerless +fools_, could be wielded upon public sentiment by an undisturbed +partisan press, to save the scheme from thorough investigation and +development by the authorities. + +In evidence of the fact of these illusions, L.A. Doolittle lectures the +Temple in Chicago on the "purposes and plans of the Order," (but who +by the way, was not so "insane on the subject" as the men who put him +forward have sought to show him to be,) and prominent politicians, +not before known to be members of the fraternity, appear prior to +semi-annual elections as candidates for representatives in the Grand +Council. + +It was duly announced, also, that an extra session of the Supreme +Council had been convened in the city of New York, charged with the +special business of revising the ritual, changing the signs, passwords, +grips, and giving to the Order a new name. Pursuant to announcement, +Charles W. Patten made his appearance in the Temple with the rituals and +paraphernalia of the new Order of the Sons of Liberty--the result of the +proceedings of the late Supreme Council. + +This obscure individual, with fame limited to the dusty walls of the +Invincible Club Rooms and the traitor's dungeon at Camp Douglas, upon +his appearance in the Temple, assigned two chief reasons for the recent +action of the Supreme Council. First and most important was, the obvious +inadequacy of the Order of American Knights to subserve the purpose +for which it was instituted, in consequence of the subordination of the +military to the civil department. And, second, the disclosure in +St. Louis had rendered the Order liable to intrusion by spies, an +embarrassment to be avoided only by alteration of signs, grips, +passwords, and name. We were then informed that we were Sons of Liberty +(a sensible man would have said sons of the devil, if he had dared to +have spoken the truth), and earnestly exhorted to exercise the utmost +caution in adhering to the new rules and instructions of the Supreme +Council. It is not a little amusing to witness the homeopathic doses +of modern democracy, carefully administered to the rank and file of the +northern people through the medium of these Orders. + +In the first place, the Golden Circle edifies the "stranger advancing in +dark, devious ways" with lessons upon the doctrine of state sovereignty, +and admonishes him to "follow the straight and narrow path which is +paved with gems and pearls, and bordered with perennial flowers whose +perfumes all his senses will entrance," all of which is received by the +sincere candidate with every mark of approval. We next find the American +Knights embracing its members in the bedazzling folds of military lace +to be used when in arms against the Government. A splendid spectacle of +the doctrines of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson and Douglas! And to cap +the miserable climax, men boasting of the Democracy of their fathers in +a line of lineal descent for generations back, are required to subscribe +to the doctrine of the subordination of the civil to the military +authority by the tenets of the Sons of Liberty. + +This astonishing feature of the Sons of Liberty, as contradistinguished +from the Orders which preceded it, at first met with murmurs of +disfavor, but the dissatisfaction was principally among men who +ultimately acted the _nobler part_, and as the tide of treason rolled +up to sustain this measure "for the good of the Order," all such were +submerged and lost sight of, except by the evil eye set upon them as +spies. + +Without offering his advice, the writer would respectfully ask the +_true_ Democrat, who may yet, from the temptations of firmly-rooted +prejudices, incline to the belief that this organization was purely +democratic in the Andrew Jackson acceptation of that term, how the above +statement of principles comports with his notions of the doctrines of +the party with which he has hitherto seen fit to fellowship? + +Is it not clearly to be seen that this Order meditated the establishment +of a government more despotic in its character than history furnishes +any example of? A government with three degrees or departments, each +oath-bound and a profound secret to the other, moving in their appointed +spheres, and the civil departments of which were secondary, in point of +power, to the military departments! + +Let no man, of whatever political persuasion he may be, flatter himself +for a moment that such a government could be Republican in its nature. + +Having now traced, with perhaps a tedious hand, the rise and fall of two +political Orders, ranking among the most powerful instruments of crime +and public wrong of their day, the writer bids their unmourned remains +farewell, to pass to the consideration in the succeeding chapter, of +the desperate career and final explosion of the Order of the Sons of +Liberty--a solemn warning to the American people forever. + +To save the Goudys, Caulfields, Adams, Edwards, Duncans, Wickershams, +Cuttings, and Kimberlys, the Morrises, Walshes, Jacksons, Pattens, +Gearys, and Doolittles were put forward because they were eager for the +fray, and possessed the temerity to brave the danger of Union bullets. + +We have now seen how the Temple or First Degree was instituted in +counties; how the various elements of treason were collected together +and detailed for their special service of educating the ignorant, +manufacturing materials and munitions of war, and devising plots to +burn, plunder, and pillage unsuspecting cities; how each member was +singled out according to his fitness for certain duties, which he +performed without their character coming even to his fellow members +of the same degree; and how the brained leaders of these institutions +retired to the back ground to elude the vigilance of the ministers of +the law, and "adjust the wires" that were to check to-day, and to-morrow +precipitate the conspiracy. + +The Grand Council, or Second Degree, was established in every State +where the Temple Degree had obtained any strength and character as +to numbers. This Degree resembled the State in its governmental +organization, and bore the same relation to the Supreme Council or +Third Degree that the State governments of the Federal Union bear to the +government at Washington. The Order having a military department, these +Grand Councils, in council assembled, adopted the militia and other +statute laws of the particular State, with such revisions, exceptions +and additional laws as were deemed essential to the successful operation +of the Order. + +Regular semi-annual meetings of the Grand Councils were held, convening +respectively on the 22d of August and the 22d of February--the latter, +in sacrilege be it said, being religiously observed as the birthday of +Washington. + +But extra sessions were almost monthly called during the year of 1864, +prior to the election, to take precautionary and other expedient +action upon the continually recurring changes of that eventful year. No +considerable battle was fought in the front, that was not the signal for +the assembling of this council, and no political event of any importance +transpired that did not receive the solemn deliberations of this already +_de facto_ legislative body. Of course no person ever became a member of +this Council who had not first been inducted into the Temple, and then +by his Temple elected as a representative in the Grand Council, the +election for which purpose was held semi-annually as above, and new +representatives took their seats at each regular session. + +The Grand Council embraced in its sphere of labors such duties as +experience seemed to dictate, as being necessary to the fulfilment of +the mission of the Order. It provided remedies for unmistakable evils, +and watched with a zealous care and fostering hand, every interest of +treason within the boundaries of its jurisdiction. + +The Supreme Council or Third and highest Degree of the Order in +organization, was built after the pattern of the Federal government at +Washington, and wielded a similar general control over the affairs of +the Order, that our National government exerts over the consequences +growing out of the union of the States under one central government. +Here we see how admirably the design to effect Northern rebellion +was conceived. The whole machinery of a government _de facto_, and in +disguise though, it was, with all its branches, both civil and military +in active operation for months and years within the very sound of the +echoing steps of senators in the halls of the Capitol, was indeed a +source of the most serious concern to the authorities, for the safety of +the Republic. But valorous daring, tempered with prudence, was +destined to bring to the light of day this infernal work of years, and +accordingly the city of St. Louis was the scene of the first public +development of the Order of American Knights, early in the spring of +1864, the principal facts of which disclosure the public learned +from the press at the time, hence the writer will only allude in this +connection to the effect created in various Circles of the Order, by the +attempt upon the part of the Government to thwart the perpetration +of the red-handed crimes contemplated by the leaders. When it was +officially announced by Reuben Cassile, presiding Grand Seignior of the +Chicago Temple, then recently removed from the Invincible Club Hall to +McCormick's Building, that disclosures of the Order in St. Louis +had occurred, every countenance was stamped with dismay. The timely +appearance at the Temple, however, of Judge Morris and other leaders, +served to interpose restraint upon any serious apprehensions of +difficulty resulting to the Order. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +NEW ERA IN SECRET POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS--PLEDGE TO "TAKE UP ARMS" +FOR JEFF. DAVIS--TRUE DEMOCRACY STRUCK DOWN--NATIONAL AND STATE +LEADERS--INVINCIBLE CLUB LEADERS--VALLANDIGHAM'S RETURN TO THE STATES IN +HIS CAPACITY OF SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY. + +A new era in the history of secret political orders was opened by the +Sons of Liberty. + +As the Presidential election of 1864 approached, the party in the +minority began to appreciate the awkwardness of its attitude upon the +political issues of the day, and appeared determined in its conclusion +to obtain the ascendency in the coming administration, by means of fraud +and force. + +The great mass of the party had now become conversant and familiar with +every species of political crime, through secret organization, and it +only remained for the leaders to decide upon a programme, to have it +executed with despatch and fidelity. + +Languishing under the lash of chastisement inflicted upon those infamous +enough to aid and abet the cause of dismemberment, mutual hate and +slaughter, National extinction and death, they swore in this Order an +eternal and most dreadful oath of vengeance upon their offenders, and +pledged themselves, under fearful penalties of death, "ever to take up +arms in the cause of the oppressed in their own country, first of all, +against any monarch, prince, potentate, power or government usurped, +and found in arms and waging war against a people or peoples, who had +of their own _free choice_, inaugurated a government for themselves, in +accordance with and founded upon the eternal principles of truth." + +Thus, the liveliest form of ancient or modern civilization, in a +republic just rising to the glories of empire, was to be sacrificed +to the mad notion of petty "State Sovereignty," by a sworn band of +desperadoes. How sad when other generations would ask, where is the +Federal Government, to be answered only by poets, who would sing her +elegy, as in the past they have sang that of the lamented Hellas: + + + "Ask the Paynim slave, + Who treads all tearless on her hallowed grave; + Invoke the spirits of the past, and shed + The voice of your strong bidding on the dead! + Lo! from a thousand crumbling tombs they rise-- + The great of old, the powerful and the wise! + And a sad tale which none but they can tell, + Falls on the mournful silence like a knell. + Then mark yon lonely pilgrim bend and weep + Above the mound where genius lies in sleep. + And is this all? Alas! we turn in vain, + And, turning, meet the self-same waste again-- + The same drear wilderness of stern decay; + Its former pride, the phantom of a day; + A song of summer-birds within a bower; + A dream of beauty traced upon a flower; + A lute whose master-chord has ceased to sound; + A morning-star struck darkling to the ground." + + +The thought of the miserable commentary stirs the ire of the patriot +and nerves his arm to daring deeds, in the holy cause of liberty, the +constitution, and his country. + +Skulk back into your dark dens of iniquity, you Clement L. Vallandigham, +and you James A. McMaster, and you S. Corning Judd, and you Amos Green, +and you P.C. Wright, (in Fort Lafayette where you ought to be,) before +the wrath of honest people falls upon your wicked heads! Each of you, +with the exception of _you_, Wright, being too infamous for that, even, +have been before the Commission at Cincinnati, and stand before an +outraged people condemned out of your own lips! Dare insult the light +of day with your hideous faces, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks of +public scorn! + +But to return to our text, the Sons of Liberty, we find that undaunted +organization in full blast from the time of its official inception in +New York up to the Monday morning of the arrests on the 7th of November +last. + +It is now proposed to show, by an allusion to certain prominent facts +occurring during the summer of '64, that the so-called Democratic party +was the mainspring to the great conspiracy that has been attempted in +the North with so much audacity that many men of the best judgment +can scarcely believe it to be a reality. In this we do not wish to be +understood that all men who have heretofore voted the "unterrified" +ticket, have knowingly and willingly given aid and comfort to the +treasonable plans and purposes of their leaders, for our personal +acquaintance among that class of anti-administration men, is sufficient +to enable us to say, with confidence, that many of them are as loyal at +heart as any man who ever breathed the air of an American freeman. + +But we mean this, and proclaim the fact in the face of every foe, +that upon the death of that lamented statesman and patriot, Stephen +A. Douglas, the Woods and McMasters of New York, the Seymours of +Connecticut, the Vallandighams and Pendletons of Ohio, the Voorhees and +Dodds of Indiana, the Judds and Greens of Illinois, and others of +like ilk in other States, obtained the chieftainship of the party and +inveigled its too pliable ranks into the prostituting embrace of this +foul conspiracy, to overthrow the government and crown with success the +cause of the confederate arms. It must be readily seen by every honest +man of ordinary intelligence, that such an affair could never have +gained a foothold among our people under a truly loyal condition of the +opposing party. The truthfulness of this assertion is so very forcible +to the candid reader, that illustration or argument in support of it +would be superfluous. However, occasional incidents will serve better to +connect popular leaders with the subject of these sketches, and call to +the minds of participants practical facts. + +Brig. Gen. Charles Walsh, some time during the winter of '64 and '65, +received his quantum of a fund, of which we shall hereafter speak, to +purchase arms to be distributed in the 1st Congressional district of +Illinois, comprising the county of Cook, and the scene of the late +Chicago conspiracy, the enactment of which was to be the signal for a +general conflagration of our cities, and thus fulfil the prophecy of +Jeff. Davis, that the grass would grow again, on the streets of the +cities of the North. + +Do the leaders of the Invincible Club, among whom are W.C. Goudy, John +Garrick, Malcom McDonald, and Dr. Swayne Wickersham, remember that that +institution was to be the public mouth-piece of the Sons of Liberty, in +an address to the Democracy of Chicago, to have been issued during the +Presidential campaign? + +Do they also remember the joint delegation of Invincibles and Sons of +Liberty that received Vallandigham and the Woods of New York, on their +arrival in Chicago to participate in, and mould the proceedings of the +National Democratic Convention? + +Do they further remember the remarkable speech made in their Hall during +the Convention, by Capt. Rynders of New York, whom they hissed from the +platform for his bold and fearless expression of loyal sentiments? + +Do they remember the motto, "Never worship the setting sun," which +appeared on transparencies, and frequently fell from their own lips, +and was meant as a hit upon those who were supposed to have allied +themselves with treason, because of their belief in its eventual +success? + +Do they remember how it was proposed that Charles Walsh, of the Sons of +Liberty, was to negotiate a purchase of the Chicago _Post_, and convert +it to the same villainous purpose of its contemporary, the _Times_? + +Have they forgotten the fifty or sixty thousand dollars raised by +subscription to the books of the Club, nominally to be used for +procession and illuminating purposes, but which was used for the +purchase of arms and the importation of butternuts, to engage in the +attack upon Camp Douglas? + +Have they forgotten that large sums of this money was obtained under +false pretences--under pretences that it was to be used for ordinary +campaign purposes? + +Have they forgotten that through their instrumentality the McClellan +Escorts, then organized in every ward, were officered by Sons of +Liberty? + +Have they forgotten the meeting of Invincible Club members and Sons +of Liberty in the sanctum sanctorum of the Chicago _Times_, where +the question of punishing Col. R.M. Hough and Mr. Eddy, in redress of +personal injuries alleged to have been inflicted upon Wilbur F. Story, +was gravely discussed by B.G. Caulfield, O.J. Rose, Alderman Barrett, +S. Remington and others, and where also, large numbers of muskets and +smaller arms were exhibited? + +And lastly, have they forgotten that the Sons of Liberty, upon a certain +occasion well known to every Copperhead member of the last Common +Council of the city of Chicago, held themselves in readiness till after +midnight, expecting to be called to the assistance of that, at that +time, treasonable body? + +None know the significance of these questions better than the persons +above mentioned, and _others who were on hand about those times_. The +merchants of South Water street in Chicago can now, perhaps, explain +why they were called upon to subscribe so heavily to the books of the +Invincible Club, and the writer would suggest the propriety of these +merchants compelling those who solicited these subscriptions, to deliver +up the arms so purchased, or refund the money to its rightful owners. + +It is pretty well understood, we believe, that the Bridgeport Irish, +vote the "_straight ticket_." It is said, also, that James Geary, a +Son of Liberty and "old clothes man" on the corner of Wells and Madison +streets, could "influence hundreds of them by the wave of his hand." +Now this "old clothes man" was empowered to furnish food, raiment and +shelter to all escaped rebel prisoners, and charge the same to the +Sons of Liberty, _alias_ the Invincible Club, which, it is thought, +_sometimes paid such bills_ out of South Water Street money _subscribed +for processions and illuminations_. These facts are the keys to the +revenue plan of the Sons of Liberty. + +The complicity of the "_straight ticket_" voters in this scheme is +further shown by the character of their State ticket, headed by Robinson +for Governor, Judd for Lieut. Governor, and Hise of La Salle for +Auditor, each Sons of Liberty, and Judd the Grand Commander of the +State. If, as it would be made to appear, there was no complicity +between the Democracy and the Confederate agents, why did Vallandigham, +the Supreme Commander of an Order having its inception in Richmond, +address the people from every stump in Illinois? If there was no +complicity, why did Vallandigham, on his return from exile, in his +official capacity, with his staff around him, defy the United States +government that had justly banished him--with 80,000 Ohioans at his +command? + +If no complicity, why did all the rebels and confederate agents in +Canada come to the Chicago Convention, and why were they here again +at the November election? Copperheads of Chicago and elsewhere, answer +these questions! + + + + +CHAP.V. + + +INSIDE VIEW OF A LODGE OF THE SONS OF LIBERTY IN CHICAGO--OPEN +EXPRESSIONS OF TREASON--SIGNS OF THE TIMES--WAITING FOR REBEL +VICTORIES--THE GREAT PEORIA PEACE MEETING--WHISKEY, TREASON AND +GUNPOWDER. + +Prior to July 1864, the information of the public or the authorities, in +respect to the aims, intents and objects of the organized bands of home +traitors, was very meagre and indefinite, for it was no easy task for +detectives or loyal citizens to enter the portals of the Temples. +True, enough had transpired at the investigations, and before military +commissions in different sections of the country, to awaken a painful +interest and unceasing vigilance on the part of loyal men. So well were +these organizations guarded, that vigilance committees of their members +were appointed with imperative instructions to report the names of all +civic officers and detectives in the employment of the United States and +Provost Marshals, and all persons, by whomsoever employed, who should +attempt to obtain the secrets of the Order. So complete was the +organization, that lists of names were reported and read at the weekly +meetings, and the following day the names and descriptions of such +officers were thoroughly circulated and reported to the brethren in +other cities and towns, and as well might a belled cat hope to invade +the precincts of rats and attain success, as for such a "spotted" +individual to gain access to the Temples of American Knights and Sons +of Liberty. Not a change was made on the police, not an increase +or decrease of Provost guards, not a change of even the location of +artillery in Camp Douglas, no change, however minute of interest to the +rebels, was made but that it was reported and discussed within these +nests and dens of treason. + +It was attempted on several occasions by parties of loyal men, to ferret +out and secure the secrets of the Order, but as well might an attempt +have been made to possess the secrets of the Council of Ten, by the +officers of the governments of Europe; it was almost impossible, and yet +the developments upon the recent trials show conclusively, that had the +task not been effected, the most terrible results would have ensued. +With the desire to aid the Government to the extent of individual +ability, it was not strange that when opportunity occurred, whereby +all might be known, and that knowledge applied to the benefit of our +bleeding country, that any loyal man would have availed himself of +it, at any hazard. The writer found such opportunity, and waiving +all personal considerations, undertook the task, trusting in God for +success, and conscious that all good men would approve the motive, and +that if for a time, reproach and calumny should cloud his reputation, or +if perchance the assassin's hand should execute the sworn purpose of +the Order, as the penalty for surrendering them to the hands of our +Government, the time would surely come when the motives and the acts +would find that approval in the hearts of all honest men, as it did in +his own. Confiding the information accidentally obtained to W.H. Rand, +Esq., of Chicago, a gentleman whose patriotism and whose reputation +needs no encomiums, he immediately advised the expediency of conference +with the State Executive, and to the honor of Governor Richard Yates, it +should be said, he fully realized the importance of acquiring reliable +information of the plots of the secret ally of Jeff. Davis. By Governor +Yates an introduction was given to Brig.-Gen. Paine, then in command of +the department, and again full and unqualified approval of the course +thus far taken, was expressed, with the urgent request to follow up +every avenue of information in this direction. Gen. Paine issued an +introduction to Col. B.J. Sweet, whom he declared to be a "model man +and a model officer in every respect," and in whom all confidence in so +commendable a cause might be reposed. How nobly, how wisely and how well +that gallant officer discharged his trust, all who have observed his +course will concede, and that man whose heroism at the memorable battle +of Perryville, and on other battle fields, will ever be held in grateful +remembrance by his countrymen, has added new lustre to his name, and +the hearty benedictions which will ever be invoked for the defender of +Chicago--the noble Col. Sweet--attest the satisfaction and joy of the +people, to know that his services in this most difficult and hazardous +undertaking are appreciated by the General Government, and the star upon +his shoulder will glitter brighter as time wears on, and Copperheads +live only in history, an evidence of how low men may sink in the scale +of morality, and a warning to all future time. For the writer to have +hesitated in a course of duty so plain, and yet so distasteful would +have been criminal, cowardly, and unworthy of an American citizen. The +advantage gained was followed up unremittingly, by day and by night, for +many weary months, regardless of all professional duties and personal +considerations. It was at the outset found highly necessary, if not +indispensable, to have the concurrence of one good, loyal man of marked +qualification--one who was discreet, who had experience upon police +duties, who was prompt, energetic, persevering, patient, fearless, +and withal a strictly honest man, a citizen whose reputation was above +reproach; that man was found; he was Robert Alexander. After brief +consideration, Mr. Alexander gave to the writer his hearty and earnest +concurrence. Nothing was left undone by him that could further +the hazardous undertaking, and personal gratitude for his ready +acquiescence, which we tender to him, will meet with a ready response +in the hearts of all good citizens. It is now Thursday evening in July +1864. We will now ask the reader to go again with us up those long, +tedious flights of stairs to the outer rooms of the "temple" of the Sons +of Liberty in Chicago. We left the room before with the remembrance of +only a hole six inches in diameter for a full sized Copperhead to crawl +through, but we shall have better success this time. Advancing to the +aforesaid door, and giving three distinct raps, the slide, which we find +covers the hole from the inside, is moved up, and a live, full-grown +Copperhead peers through the orifice. "We whisper the word "Peace," or +"Peoria," or whatever the monthly pass-word is, and the door is open, +and we find ourselves within the vestibule of the temple, surrounded by +a little group going through the preliminary exercises of initiation. We +see the candidate and sponsors, with hands uplifted, and listen to the +very poor reading of an officer, from the ritual, and giving the new +comer his first dose of States' sovereignty and secession. This is so +mystified and clouded with high-sounding words that the poor devil nods +at every time the reader stops for breath, or to expectorate tobacco +juice, and the ceremony is concluded, and the candidate, respectable +for the good clothes which he wears this night as a rarity, follows +his conductor to another door, where he hopes for admission, the only +impression on the candidate being, that his right arm is weary from +being elevated so long, and that he is coming rapidly into good +fellowship with men of high judicial standing, who propose to give +Abolitionists and Lincoln particular "hell under the shirt tail." Again +they knock and are challenged by an inside guardian, who lectures the +newly fledged Son, who having nodded sufficiently, is conducted to the +Ancient Brother in the West, so that the _Son_, reversing the order of +nature, begins rising in the West. The "Ancient Brother" is a better +reader, for here we find _brains_ for the first time, as it is the +leaders, as we have already said, who do all the thinking, unless, +perchance, the simple wretches find themselves in Camp Douglas, where +they begin thinking for themselves. While the Ancient Brother is reading +to the attentive comer, now happy in the thought that he has taken +himself in out of the _draft_, let us survey the sanctum sanctorum; but +first let us advance to the centre of the hall, where we find a piece +of dirty oil cloth the size of a door mat, and stepping upon this, +with body erect and turning our back upon the Ancient Brother, we find +ourselves facing the Grand Seignior, who, on our first introduction, is +Judge Morris; we salute, which we do by applying the palm of our right +hand to the lips, then turning the hand to his seigniorship and bringing +our left hand across the breast, which salutation being returned by the +Grand Seignior, who sits upon a raised platform and wields a gavel, we +take seats wherever our sense of cleanliness will permit, and where we +hope there may be no traveling minute messengers conveying ideas from +one man's head to another. On the north side of the room is another +platform and desk, where a guardian sits and addresses the candidate, +who is supposed to lose his way and to be set right by this guardian, +and even if the candidate is thoroughly sober he may be excused for +losing his way, for it is a matter of much doubt whether he was ever in +such a labarynth of words as he has just heard from the Ancient Brother, +who, having given the man some pretty strong obligations, to endorse and +support the policy of Jeff. Davis, together with an intimation that if +he ever exposes any of the secrets, he may expect to suffer all sorts +of penalties, and told him to fancy he had just received an acorn, +the emblem of the order--he now sits down quietly in the pleasant +consciousness that "we have got one more good voter on our side." The +guardian of the North having put the new _Son_ on his way, he appears in +the East, reflecting his effulgence all around. The Grand Seignior now +rises from his seat, drops his gavel and explains the mysteries of the +initiation, giving him another dose of secession, about as much as the +poor fellow can carry; tells him how to challenge a brother, concluding +by giving the grand sign of distress, which is by raising the right hand +and calling out "_Ocoon_" three times, which he says is made up of the +name of _Calhoun_, whose name is mentioned with great reverence. Thus +closes the ceremony of initiation. "Considerations for the good of the +Order" being the next order of business, speeches are made by some of +the older heads to make the new one feel at home. This "feast of reason +and flow of soul" over, other business is transacted, and the temple +is closed, the Grand Seignor occasionally expressing a few words of +caution, saying that but few members must be present at the meetings at +_this_ hall, as the presence of too great numbers will excite suspicion +and lead to arrest. The next weekly meeting similar events occur, but +_new faces_ appear at every meeting, that is to say, the greater number +of members who were present last week are absent this week, and others +take their places. The Chicago _Times_, however, is well represented at +most of the important meetings. There were about two thousand members of +the Sons of Liberty in "good and regular standing" in Chicago alone, +at the time they were let down. By careful arrangements we were able to +have reports from the different temples throughout the most important +points in the Northwest, and carefully noted the chief business and +obtained the list of members, all of which has been as carefully placed +in the hands of the authorities of the War Department, and months ago +much of the information was imparted to Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, in +command of the Northern Department, who was pleased to express his +highest appreciation of the services rendered, and a desire to have +the investigation thoroughly made, that indisputable facts might be +obtained, that truth and justice might be promoted and the interest of +the country thereby protected. So thorough and searching has been the +investigation that _every_ man of any note in this order, in almost +every locality where this moral cancer has existed, is known and may +consider himself in future upon his good behavior. It was the policy of +the Sons of Liberty, which they observed as far as it was possible for +them to do, to obtain positions of trust in the army, upon the police, +in the courts, in railway offices and telegraph stations, in the office +of Provost Marshals, post-offices, departments of government, both local +and general, indeed, so completely did they carry out this plan, that +they made their boasts that they were represented upon all the railroads +running out of Chicago, and it was not an unusual thing for them to +report matters of the various departments just mentioned. One member +of the Chicago Order, as appeared in evidence before the military +commission, traveled over the North wherever he desired, on the pass +of a Provost Marshal in Indiana, his business being to aid in the +organization of Temples in the different sections of the West. So +rapidly did they increase in numbers, that Judge Morris estimated the +number in Illinois alone at 80,000 members. + +It was a rule of the organization, that its members should all be well +armed and skilled in the use of weapons. The rapidity of increase in +numbers, rendered them conscious of their strength, and they became +openly defiant and talked treason upon the corners of our streets, and +wherever little groups of people assembled. The mob spirit was excited, +and all were ready for mischief whenever opportunity offered; and while +all were bound to wait submissively till their leaders should give the +signal for revolution, still many were restless and impatient for the +hour to come, and hoped that they would not long have to wait. The +suppression of the Chicago _Times_ was an auspicious moment for them, +and they made capital of it. They were never tired of talking of +Vallandigham, and while that worthy staid in Canada he was very +serviceable to the Order, as John Rogers was of more service to the +church dead than while living. Vallandigham made an excellent martyr and +an accomplished exile, but as an active member at home, old Doolittle, +or Charles W. Patten, or James A. Wilkinson, or J.L. Rock, or Obadiah +Jackson, Jr., Esq., or even Mrs. Morris herself, was worth two just like +him. Why he could not have staid in Canada for the good of the cause, we +cannot understand. What a Mecca was Windsor, and how great was Mahomet, +but alas, when the great, the Hon. Clement Vallandigham relapsed into +the three-cent fourth-class lawyer, in the little one horse city of +Dayton, "what a fall was there my countrymen." No more pilgrimages, no +more dinners with the great exile, no more texts of "arbitrary arrests" +to preach from, that could draw as Val used to draw. + +The reception of the news of a victory by the rebels, was always an +occasion of rejoicing among the Sons and Knights, and in the exuberance +of their joy they shouted their treason in all sorts of places, and at +all seasons. They assumed to be peace men, and yet were always ready for +a quarrel. It became evident to all who kept posted in politics, that +there would be a wide division between the different wings of the +Democracy at the coming National Convention, and a most determined +effort was to be made by the Peace faction, to control the action of +the Convention, and long before the assembling of that body, newspaper +strife had commenced between them, and it was hoped, and so it proved, +that like the Kilkenny cats, they devoured each other. With Peace in +their mouths and contention in their hearts, the "unterrified" resolved +upon a great meeting, to be held in Peoria. It was a "big thing." +The Chicago delegation took for the calumet of peace several boxes of +fire-arms, so that if opportunity offered they might conquer a peace. +Whiskey and gunpowder were other elements of that meeting, and as the +escape of gas in petroleum wells, so noisy for a time, finally subsides, +so after the ebullition at Peoria, Brig.-Gen. Walsh, and all the Chicago +delegates, returned home, bringing with them their fire arms, without +breaking bulk, and these weapons were carefully deposited, where they +could instantly be obtained at the time of the uprising. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +MEETING OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL, F.O.S.L. AT THE RICHMOND HOUSE, +CHICAGO--TWO MILLION DOLLARS DISBURSED AS CONSIDERATION FOR THE GOOD +OF THE ORDER--TRAITORS TO BE KNOWN TO EACH OTHER BY BADGES, AND THEIR +PROPERTY SAVED BY DISPLAYING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. + +We have already shown that the three degrees in the Sons of Liberty had +each their specific province. The lower strata composed of the rough +material from which the Grand Council was made up by selections or +choice of the brighter and more shining lights,--persons whose political +views were up to the standard of treason, whose qualifications of +intellect, shrewdness, cunning, caution, promptness, and firmness of +purpose fully met the requirements of this degree of the order. The +Supreme Council was composed of the Supreme Commanders--the ruling +spirits of the order. This council was the body, therefore, from which +all important measures must emanate, and the secrecy of their movements, +even from the order below them, except such business as was regularly +transmitted, was quite equal to that of the lower order, from the rest +of the world. Such being the nature and character of this royal degree, +and the fact that an uprising had been determined upon, it will be +seen how essential it was to the Government of the United States, to be +advised of their plans, and the old adage that "where there is a will +there is a way," was not a fallacy in the present case. On or about +the 20th of July, 1863, agreeably to a private notice which had been +extended to the Supreme Council, a meeting of that body was convened +at the Richmond House, Chicago. During that day, as well as on the day +preceding, members of that organization arrived in the city, and among +the notables present on that occasion was Col. Barrett, who was a +Major-General of the Sons of Liberty, in command of the District of +Illinois, but who on the present occasion appeared in another character +of no less moment, that of representative of the Confederate States +Government, and charged with certain important instructions. Among the +members present were Captain Majors, from Canada; Brig.-Gen. Charles +Walsh, of Chicago; Judge Bullitt, of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, who +acted as Chairman; Dr. Bowles, Mr. Swan, Mr. Williams, Mr. Green, +Mr. Piper, Mr. Holloway, H.H. Dodd and James B. Wilson, Auditor of +Washington County, Indiana. The last named person and Mr. Green were +present as members of Dr. Bowles' staff. After considerable discussion +upon minor matters, Major-General Barrett, (commonly called Colonel +Barrett, who had served the Rebel Government with some distinction, and +was a first class rebel), made a formal proposition to unite Illinois, +Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana with the Confederate States, +through the agency of the Sons of Liberty, and as to the other States, +their relations would be an after consideration. The enterprise, he +stated, would be attended with no little expense, and would necessarily +involve extreme caution, prudence and firmness. He added, that the +Southern Confederacy had placed in his hands the snug little sum of two +millions of dollars, which had been captured from a Federal paymaster +on the Red River, in Arkansas, to be applied in furtherance of +this proposition. Captain Majors was also, by his own statement, a +representative of the Rebel Government. It was proposed to distribute +the two millions of dollars through the Grand Commanders of Indiana, +Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois, and that the money was by them to +be distributed through the Major-Generals to the subordinate officers, +according as might be deemed expedient. This money, says Mr. Wilson, +(and we have the best of reasons to credit his statement,) was expended +for arms. Well do we remember that an oral report was submitted one +evening at the Temple of the Illini, by the Grand Seignor presiding, +that the pro rata for Illinois had been so expended, and that the +weapons had been started for their destination, which was Chicago. +These arms consisted of muskets, carbines, pistols, pistol belts and +ammunition. At the Council meeting, of which we have spoken, the whole +subject of revolution was freely discussed, and received the unanimous +support of all present, and a time was named and agreed upon, but not +until after much debate, several dates being named by different parties, +and reasons given for fixing upon each. It was arranged that the Order +in Indiana were to rendezvous at Indianapolis, also at Evansville, New +Albany (opposite Louisville,) and Terra Haute, that they would seize +the arsenal at Indianapolis, and the arms and ammunition would be +distributed among the members. Wilson, before the military commission +in Cincinnati, states that he learned from Dr. Bowles, that it was the +purpose of the Order to free the rebel prisoners at Indianapolis, and +that the same had been agreed upon with respect to other rebel camps, in +other States, on the supposition that they would unite with the Sons of +Liberty, in overturning the Government, and if they were found willing +to do this, arms were to be placed in their hands. At that meeting it +was a matter of discussion in what manner it was feasible to communicate +with Gens. Buckner and Price, in order that they might co-operate, and +have their forces near St. Louis and Louisville. The approach of their +troops to those cities was the favored moment for beginning hostilities +in the North. Mr. Wilson testified that he received a thousand dollars +of the two million fund, but that instead of appropriating it according +to the programme, he used it for buying substitutes, but the rightful +owner can have the same upon call. Maj.-Gen. Barrett, the party having +the fund in trust, has left the country, doubtless for his _health_, and +the thousand dollars is still without an applicant. + +At this memorable meeting, as it was the last meeting of this body ever +held in Chicago, it was agreed that at the time of the uprising, friends +(rebels and copperheads) should appear with red and white badges, and +the property of such persons would also be saved from destruction by +displaying from their buildings the Confederate flag. Thus were ample +and definite arrangements made, and as that meeting adjourned it was the +deliberate end and aim of all the persons there assembled (with a single +exception) to effect their objects at all hazards. All who were present, +as well as the rebels then in Richmond, conceded that of all points in +the several States embraced in the proposition with which Col. Barrett +was entrusted, Chicago was by far the most important post, and the one +which, of all others, should first fall. The facility and ease with +which Camp Douglas could be taken, was a matter of remark among the +traitors in every section, and it was understood that communication +could readily be made with the prisoners, as Mrs. Morris, wife of +Judge Morris, and others who were known to be in the interest of +the Confederacy, had never been denied access to the camp, and such +prohibition was scarcely expected, as of course the plans of the +conspirators must be a dead secret from the commander of the post. In +the temples of the Sons of Liberty it was a matter of congratulation +that it was impossible for a detective to obtain their secrets, yet all +this time Col. B.J. Sweet was well acquainted with every move that had +the least importance, for the writer made it an invariable custom +to send dispatches regularly to Col. Sweet, who thus came into full +possession of the plans and designs of the Order, as soon as they were +announced, and hence was at all times in a position that he could not +have been surprised by any assault upon the Camp. The Colonel is at all +times perfectly cool and self-possessed, prudent in the highest degree, +and inflexible in purpose, when once resolved upon a line of action. His +arrangements were made with all celerity and completeness, and though +his little force was quite too small to offer great resistance in case +of surprise had not the facts been known to the commandant, yet the +interior arrangement of the camp, the disposition of his forces, and +above all, the perfect discipline which had ever been maintained by him, +now offered a silent barrier which caused the conspirators to entertain +direful apprehensions, as to the disaster to themselves when they should +make the undertaking, for the movements of the camp were noticed +from the observatories near by, and on one occasion Brig. Gen. Walsh, +accompanied by an attache of the Chicago _Times_, made a personal visit +to the camp, and being received as gentlemen by the gallant Colonel, +they were able to make certain discoveries of a disagreeable nature. +The greatest precaution, of course, was observed in the transmission of +dispatches by the writer to Col. Sweet, for had it been supposed for a +moment, that the commander of the post was cognizant of their acts, it +would most certainly have precipitated the uprising, as the leaders of +the conspiracy could not hope for so favorable a time again. The camp +was enclosed by only one thickness of inch boards, not over twelve feet +high, and a little force of less than eight hundred men were to guard +some eight or ten thousand prisoners, many of them being the lowest +class of raiders and ruffians. + +During the latter part of July, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, +Colonel Walker, of Indiana, was present, and in a speech referred to +the recent seizure of arms in Indiana, and said a formal demand had been +made upon Governor Morton of that State for them, and if they were +not forthcoming they (the copperheads) would compel restitution by the +bullet, and said Morton would be assassinated if he refused. At this +time a man named James A. Wilkinson was Grand Seignior of the temple. +The question of supplying our quota to avoid the draft, agitating the +community, it was proposed to resist the draft, and all the members +were required forthwith to arm themselves with firearms, and Charles W. +Patten and Wilkinson both offered to supply all who could not afford to +purchase firearms. Wilkinson was a very efficient member of the order, +and very zealous. Much of his time he passed in the organization of +temples in different sections of country; and it was often stated as +encouragement for the members that the temples were rapidly multiplying, +and being filled with the "best kind" of men. It was earnestly requested +of the members, as the time was short--Judge Morris saying the purposes +of the organization would be fulfilled within the next sixty days--to +bring in as many new members as possible, and the injunction was duly +heeded. The temple in Chicago thrived remarkably, and arrangements were +made by which individuals could initiate members, and the initiated +increased in numbers rapidly. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +TIME FIXED FOR THE UPRISING OR REVOLUTION--EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS--DRILL +AND DISCIPLINE OF CLUBS--OPEN THREATS UPON OUR STREETS--MASS MEETINGS +AND TARGET PRACTICE OF TRAITORS--PREPARATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL +DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN CHICAGO--WHY THE UPRISING DID NOT TAKE +PLACE--PRICE BEHIND TIME--ANOTHER PERIOD FIXED--ALL READY AT THE +CONVENTION--PROMPT AND TIMELY PRECAUTION BY COLONEL SWEET. + +The approach of the time fixed for the general uprising, witnessed +remarkable and very unusual activity among the members of the Sons of +Liberty, who now saw vividly the complete realization of their +wishes, and were all, rank and file, in obedience to orders, busy with +preparations. Little did the busy bustling city know of the plans and +movements on foot. The same activity in trade, the same hopeful spirit +among Union persons, the same gatherings at amusements, the same busy +hum of industry as ever; nothing gave evidence of the existence of the +terrible plot so soon to culminate, and to destroy by a single blow the +hopes of our people,--to inaugurate a reign of terror as fearful as any +in the history of the war. Citizens met and congratulated each other +upon Union victories, and upon the probable speedy close of the national +strife, and at the firesides of home discussed the terrible ravages of +war, and as they knelt at the family altar, thanked God that our own +city, and our State, and our section of the Union, had thus far been +spared the immediate horrors and desolation which ever mark the theatre +of warfare. Who of all in our fair city, besides the guilty wretches +who were plotting the ruin and slaughter, had even a foreboding of the +trouble so nearly upon them. For rebels in arms to commit cruelties and +barbarities would have been expected, but for the authors of our ruin +to be our very friends and neighbors, persons associated with us in +business avocations, in social relations, and in the enjoyment of the +same general blessings with ourselves, surpassed belief; yet such was +the fact, and the faces that beamed smiles upon us by day, and joined +us in our congratulations for national victories, by night were hideous +with the dark designs and murderous intent. The gunsmiths were busy, +and trade in weapons of all kinds was brisk; revolvers and knives +particularly were articles of demand. So brisk and yet so silently and +secretly, was the arming of individuals carried on, that weeks before +the Convention assembled, but few, if any, of the members of Copperhead +organizations but were well armed, and many had arms with which to +supply other persons who might be less fortunate than themselves. It was +indeed a dark picture to look in upon a group of the Sons of Liberty in +their secure retreats, in the quiet hours of night, cleaning, repairing +and inspecting their muskets and revolvers, moulding bullets, and making +other preparations, and realizing that the mission of these monsters was +the murder of men who dared proclaim and maintain their devotion to the +Union. Upon the streets treason became emboldened, as time rolled on, +and not a few personal collisions occurred from its utterance. + +All this while that contemptible print, the Chicago _Times_, was +instilling treason into the minds of its readers, and doing all that it +could to embarrass the Government, discourage patriotism, and to give +aid and comfort to the rebels; our victories, with that sheet, were +always unimportant; our cause was unholy; our President a despot; our +Union soldiers were hirelings; our Union-loving citizens were abolition +fanatics; Jeff Davis was a master spirit of the age; his generals the +heroes of the _Times_; and rebel victories were events cheering and hope +giving, as they presaged the close of the war and peace; peace at the +sacrifice of the Union, of national honor, of national dignity and +national interests. Such was the Chicago _Times_ at that period--the +darkest era in our history--and as well might we have looked for +mercy from a hyena, or reason from a ghoul, as in the event of open +insurrection in our city, to have looked to Wilbur F. Story, editor of +the _Times_, to have endeavored to suppress the flames his incendiary +print had for years been fanning into a blaze. And yet, citizens +of Chicago and the West, this same Chicago _Times, now_, after the +occupation of Richmond by our forces, and the surrender of Lee and all +his forces, and the end of the rebellion is at hand, this same Chicago +_Times_ pretends to rejoice in our success, and some days turns a cold +shoulder upon its old friend and patron, who has contributed to its +circulation and prosperity for years--Jeff Davis--and really declares +that his master's cause is hopeless. Most noble Story, most patriotic +Story, most consistent Story! Rather weep with the fallen fortunes of +your masters. Flatter not yourself that the cloak of loyalty, which +you have found it so convenient to fling around you, as our Union +processions come marching along with thundering tread, that they will +believe your conversion sincere and lasting; the cloak is not long +enough to conceal your feet, and Union men will recognize the same +Wilbur F. Story, and none will be so obtuse as not to discover under any +disguise Bottom, the tailor. In the position of that Copperhead print, +the state of mind of the _Times_ man reminds us of an instance of what +may be called poor consolation, A soldier of a division, after the +command had run two days from the scene of an engagement, had thrown +away his gun and accouterments, and alone in the woods sat down and +commenced thinking--the first opportunity he had for doing so. Rolling +up his sleeves, and looking at his legs and general physique, he thus +gave utterance to his feelings: "I am whipped--badly whipped--and +somewhat demoralized, but no man, thank God, can say I'm scattered!" And +so, the Chicago _Times_, though kicked out of respectable society long +ago, continues to print its daily issues, while from the scarcity of +Copperheads all at once, since our recent glorious victories, we infer +that _they_ have been "scattered;" and as snakes cast their skins in +the spring, so the Copperhead _Times_ seems to have cast its own this +season; but though it may appear in more pleasing garb with its present +covering, let none forget that it is the same old Copperhead still. +And the time will come when some enterprising showman will obtain and +exhibit the last issue of that delectable sheet as the acme of treason +and corruption during the war, and as an illustration of what villainy +the mind of man may conceive, when he once turns against his country. + +About the period of which we write, say a month prior to the Convention, +informal meetings of the Sons of Liberty were frequent, and large +numbers of the members often went out of the city on excursions, +nominally for pleasure, but really for practice with fire arms. The most +active preparations were made by the Democrats, resident of Chicago, to +be able to accommodate their brethren from abroad, who would attend the +Convention, or who would pay them an earlier visit; for the time of the +uprising, it will be remembered, had been fixed for about the middle of +August. The time assigned arrived, but "all was quiet on the Potomac," +and along the placid and fragrant Chicago. It was a complete fizzle, but +not from want of harmonious action on the part of the Copperheads of the +Northwest, but to the chagrin of the Rebel government, Gen. Price failed +to make his appearance in the vicinity of St. Louis, or Buckner about +Louisville. The disappointment and vexation of the Sons of Liberty was +great, and it found expression in the peculiar style of oratory and +diction, which Judge Morris had introduced into the Temple. The failure +of the rebels to concur, as had been arranged, was for a time quite +inexplicable and unsatisfactory to the most ultra secesh of the Temple. +It was not easy to communicate with Price and Buckner, and much mystery +and doubt hung over the failure. The leaders were in doubt as to the +wisdom of rising at the Convention, some being in favor and others +adverse to it. It was evident the leaders were not a little embarrassed, +but they finally agreed that a large force of "bone and muscle" should +be on hand in Chicago at the Convention, and if it was found that the +War Democrats should be in the ascendency, and the Peace wing could get +nothing--either platform or candidate--the uprising should occur at that +time, but so confident were the Peace men that they should be able to +have the control of the Convention, that Judge Morris and Brig.-Gen. +Walsh, and other leaders, announced to the members of the _Illini_ their +entire belief that there would be no doubt of the success of the Peace +wing, in that Convention, and if so, no insurrectionary movement would +be expedient; but if the uprising did not occur then, it surely would +at the time of the Presidential election, and in the time which would +elapse between the Convention and the election, the most active and +earnest efforts would be made to strengthen the numbers of the Temples +of the Sons of Liberty, wherever they existed. Judge Morris had +expressed the confident belief that no difficulty would occur at the +Convention, but declared if they (the Copperheads) should meet with any +interference, the most serious results would follow. + +The rank and file who had been edified by such men as J.L. Rock, Charles +W. Patten, James A. Wilkinson, L.C. Morrison, L.A. Doolittle, James +Geary, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Dooley, Mr. Frank Adams, City Attorney, and many +others were most impatient, and it was quite probable that a slight +cause of offence with Union men would result in an open riot, that could +not be suppressed till the grand aim of the Order was accomplished. +About this time L.A. Doolittle, who was never tired of expressing his +devotion to the distinguished exile Mr. Vallandigham, announced that +Mr. V., who was Supreme Commander of the whole Order, would honor the +Chicago Temple with a visit during the Convention, but that worthy +could not find time to make the visit. As the excitement of the coming +Convention seized upon the minds of those who were to participate in it, +much speech making was done inside the Temples. At these meetings the +writer particularly noticed two members, who seemed to have fallen into +disfavor by the course which they had seen fit to adopt. One of these +men was Christopher C. Strawn, a young lawyer of this city, of some +education, a very fair order of talents, and who had seemed hitherto +taciturn and reserved. Upon conversation with him we were astonished to +find that he did not approve of the Jeff. Davis principles, and had +no fellowship with any overt act of treason. He had been appointed a +Brigadier-General, on the ground of his supposed ability, but early took +occasion to express himself, in such a manner that his commission was +speedily revoked. Mr. Strawn was, he declares, not in the clique who +favored a revolution. Mr. Strawn was subsequently arrested, but he +was soon released, and freely communicated truthful information to the +authorities. + +During the summer an event truly unfortunate for the Sons of Liberty +took place, it being an expose in the Chicago _Tribune_ of the signs, +grips, passwords, &c. of the order. This was a cause of great distress +of mind. We remember that at a meeting about the 25th of August (Charles +W. Patten presiding), the expediency of changing the signs, grips, &c. +was considered, inasmuch as it would be unsafe to use them in public, +but the lateness of the day, and the time drawing so near when the +entire forces of the order would be called into requisition, it was +not deemed expedient to undertake any change or modification. At this +meeting Judge Morris made a speech in which he said that a demand had +been made for arms seized in Indiana (as Col. Walker had proposed to +do), and if the demand failed, the revolution would be begun in Indiana +"as sure as there was a God in heaven or an abolitionist in hell." + +At a meeting of the Chicago Temple Sons of Liberty, on the eve of the +Convention, we heard for the first time (and that from the mouth of L.A. +Doolittle), a definite plan for the attack of Camp Douglas. Doolittle +told how the camp was situated, and that it was accessible on two sides; +that guns were in position on only one side, and the west side was +referred to by him as being the weakest; he spoke of the common board +fence which formed the enclosure, and of the ease with which the camp +could be taken, and the vast importance of liberating the prisoners +the first thing upon an uprising. The speech of Doolittle was variously +received; many of the members were much interested; others who were in +the higher degrees of the order were vexed beyond measure that Doolittle +should be so stupid as to proclaim, in this public manner, a matter +which really belonged to higher degrees of the organization to decide. +One of the number, James Geary, a second-hand clothes dealer and broker +on Wells street, who will receive further mention by and by, became so +much incensed that he ordered Mr. Doolittle to his seat, declaring, with +an oath, that Doolittle was telling too much. + +At a meeting about this time, several of the members spoke upon the +subject of releasing the prisoners at Camp Douglas. A map of Camp +Douglas was exhibited by an individual present, who seemed to be a +soldier. The map was a fine piece of work and had been made by a hand +accustomed to such labor. Upon this map the precise position of the +various departments, headquarters, cannon, &c., were laid down. There +could be no shadow of doubt in the mind of any man not stupefied with +whiskey, and possessed of common sense, that the details of the attack +had been carefully considered by those who were most interested in +leading it on. + +It had for some time been the policy of the Sons of Liberty to unite +with the Invincible Democratic Club and the various McClellan escorts in +the city and elsewhere, and seek to become its officers, that in case of +an outbreak it would be far better to be the controlling power, than to +be controlled. This plan worked admirably, and the Democratic Invincible +Club of Chicago became one of the most corrupt organizations outside +the order of Sons of Liberty. Its secretary at one time was Charles W. +Patten, who had been a Grand Seignior of the Chicago Temple, was also +a member of the Grand Council, and had taken a very active part in the +prosperity of the order, and was chairman of the committee to see that +all the Sons of Liberty were armed. One of the officers of the above +named Club was Capt. P.D. Parks, whose devotion to Jeff. Davis and good +whiskey were noticeable features in his character. This Capt. Parks was +captain of the Invincible Club and often made speeches in the Sons of +Liberty Hall. + +On Saturday the 26th August (two days prior to the National Democratic +Convention), immense numbers of persons came flocking to Chicago, indeed +at no former time in the history of the city was there such an influx of +strangers; they came in the cars and in wagon trains, and on horseback. +One county alone sent nearly a thousand men. It was a noticeable fact +that almost all persons who came into the city were well armed, and some +of them even brought muskets. Treason was now rampant, and it would not +be difficult, in looking around upon the most unprepossessing groups, +and to hear the language, to fancy one's-self in Charleston, or some +other nest of treason. From all the men who came to the city we did not, +in a single instance, hear one good, hearty expression of Unionism, but +our "Southern brethren and their rights," and this "wicked war," &c., +&c., were the topics of conversation, and it was safe to set it down, +that this was the Peace wing of that most remarkable bird,--Democracy of +1864. + +The writer was in close communication with Col. Sweet, commandant at +Camp Douglas, and by aid of our auxiliaries not an item of information +concerning the hostile intentions of the party transpired, that was not +known instantly by Col. Sweet,--special carriers or orderlies conveying +our dispatches. It must not be supposed that our observations were +confined to Chicago. Our channels of communication with the principal +points in the West were unobstructed; our "telegraphic cable" was in +fine working order, and if those wise heads for a moment fancied +that Col. B.J. Sweet might be caught napping, they were the worst +self-deceived men we have ever seen. Col. Sweet proceeded with all +caution and celerity to make his arrangements, and we beg the Colonel +not to regard it as a breach of confidence in us to say, that the guns +were in such a position and so well managed, that had there been +any attempt to have assaulted the camp, there would not have been +able-bodied traitors enough left, to have carried the killed and wounded +to secure retreats. Almost any officer, perhaps, less cool than Col. +Sweet would have blustered about in such a manner as to have rendered +himself not only positively offensive to the citizens, but would have +placed the city under martial law, and doubtless precipitated the very +event it was wise for a time to avert. Col. Sweet was cool, and +managed the matter with the most perfect military ability and skill. He +compelled everybody, friend and foe, to respect him by his dignified, +gentlemanly bearing, and yet there was that about his appearance that +told plainer than words, that while he was courteous, polite, kind and +willing to do all in his power and consistent with his duty to preserve +the peace, yet had an outbreak been begun, of all men in Chicago, rebels +and sympathisers would prefer to get as far as possible from Col. Sweet, +or the reach of his influence. This gallant officer had his men under +such perfect discipline that a simple request, even when the men were +not on duty, was obeyed with the alacrity as if it had been a peremptory +order. The discovery that Col. Sweet was ready for them, which discovery +was early made and duly reported, had much to do with the good order +which prevailed in Chicago during the Convention. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +TIME OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION--TREASON EVERYWHERE +PREVALENT--INSIDE VIEW OF THE TEMPLE OF SONS OF LIBERTY--MAJ.-GEN. +BARRETT WITH COMMISSION FROM JEFF. DAVIS, AT THE HEAD OF A TORCHLIGHT +PROCESSION IN CHICAGO--TRAITORS WITH LOADED MUSKETS UPON OUR STREETS. + +The extraordinary activity of recruiting for the Sons of Liberty, and +the zeal displayed by the master spirit of the Temple was ominous of the +wicked work they might be called upon to perform. James A. Wilkinson, +who was elected Grand Senior, was too young a man in the estimation of +many, and he was about to resign, when Judge Morris remarked, that "age +was not always wisdom" (the truth of which his own career has fully +illustrated,) and by request Wilkinson continued to hold the post. The +old order for arming of members was called up, and all were required to +comply with the condition at once; a particular pattern of revolvers was +specially recommended, and it was ascertained that the members were in +almost every instance, fully armed. A young man named R.T. Semmes, who +was said to be a near relative to the commander of the rebel pirate +Alabama, was appointed to deliver an address before the Order, but this +duty was never complied with in a formal manner, as it was subsequently +thought Judge Morris was better qualified, he being in a higher degree +than Mr. Semmes, to impart such information as the lower degree should +know. Upon an occasion of a special meeting, the Judge made a long +address, in which he stated the number of members of the Order in +Illinois at 80,000 men, saying they were all well drilled and could +be implicitly relied upon, at the right time; members were enjoined to +remember their obligations to sustain the principles of the Order, and +to aid each other. The Judge stated that "we" (the Sons of Liberty,) had +_two full regiments_ all well armed and drilled, in Chicago, and that +a third was forming. Such cheering information was received with great +gratification, and gave a greater impetus to the recruiting for the +Order. + +The question of the draft agitated the members at each meeting, and all +declared their purpose never to go to the army, either voluntarily or +otherwise, to fight our brethren, "whose cause was just and right," and +a strong attempt was made to array the organization by formal action to +oppose the Government, and those especially who were impatient for the +general uprising, thought it a timely opportunity and ample provocation, +and felt confident that as the South manifested open hostility and +presented a bold and united front instantly upon the firing of the +first gun upon Fort Sumter, so would it be in all the States of the +Northwestern league; they would at once rise, when knowing that +their brethren of Chicago were in arms against the "usurper and his +hirelings;" but these hasty counsels did not prevail, and individuals +were exhorted to take care of themselves if drafted, but on no account +to go to the army. + +Not only was there remarkable activity in the Chicago Temple just prior +to the Convention, but in all the States where the order existed. Our +Indiana neighbors often sent their worst Copperheads to the Chicago +Temple to receive instructions in regard to the mode of initiation; and +about this time, a man named Westfall, of Elkhart, Indiana, appeared in +the Temple, and edified the members with most _encouraging_ accounts +of the order in his own State. He was properly qualified as a Grand +Seignor, and no doubt served with that grace and dignity of which his +appearance gave such promise. It is hoped that the citizens of Elkhart +appreciate this gentleman's devotion to "the great cause." Judge T.H. +Marsh was put through a similar course of training, and being possessed +of remarkable dignity, no doubt made an excellent Grand Seignor. If he +was not fit for a good Judge, he was fit for a Son of Liberty. He no +doubt remembers the artist, who by an unlucky daub, spoiled his +picture of an angel, but took fresh courage, declaring it would make an +excellent devil. So the judge may make his own application. + +The day of the great Convention at length dawned upon at least a hundred +thousand strangers in Chicago. Every hotel was densely packed from +cellar to garret, private houses were filled to their uttermost +capacity, while hundreds the night before, who could not find any kind +of a shelter, took in plenty of whisky to prevent catching cold, +and laid themselves quietly at rest in the gutters, much to the +consternation of the myriads of rats that infest our streets. These +street sleepers now arose, and shaking themselves, their toilet was +complete. Of all the God-forsaken, shaggy-haired, red-faced, un-shorn, +hard-fisted, blasphemous wretches that have ever congregated, even at +the gallows at Newgate, many of the visitors of the Peace wing of the +Democracy were entitled to the first consideration. Still there was +no collision with the citizens, although the representatives of the +"unterrified" had sworn that there should be no arrests in Chicago +during the Convention. The better class of strangers were War Democrats, +and it was evident they had no fellowship for the ragmuffins of the +Peace wing. + +It should here be stated that the Order of the Sons of Liberty had +purchased firearms, carbines, pistols, shot guns and rifles, and at the +time of the Convention had stored in the city of Chicago, arms, for +at least ten thousand men. These arms had been brought here at various +times; some of them had been brought by vessels and others by rail, +and were now safely deposited in four different depots in Chicago, the +locations of which were known only to the Sons themselves. From these +four principal depots one or more boxes of arms were taken on such +occasions as would best serve, and placed in trust with some out-and-out +rebel sympathizer in the different wards, so that at the time of the +general uprising the "faithful" could readily obtain supplies. On one +occasion Brig.-Gen. Walsh applied to H.A. Phelps, on State street, with +a request for him to receive two boxes of muskets, but that man did not +like to incur the risk, whatever his sympathies may have been, and the +arms were not deposited with him. + +It was quite apparent, the first day of the Convention, that our +citizens had resolved to act upon the advice of Adjutant-General Fuller, +to let these fellows "have their jaw out," and they did have it out, and +became terrible _bores_. + +At an early hour, the temporary building erected for this gathering, +near Michigan Avenue, was crowded to excess, and after beginning their +labors all the speakers, without exception, entertained the audience +and relieved themselves of the most violent denunciations of President +Lincoln, and the policy of the administration. Each speaker vied +with the last in culling from his vocabulary of hard words, terms +sufficiently expressive of their feelings toward the government, but +do as well as they might, even with the aid of the poorest quality of +whiskey and education, evidently of many years among the lowest of the +low, not one of them could out-do the Chicago _Times_. The only parties +who could approximate it were Gov. Harris of Maryland, and Long of Ohio, +who were most decidedly in favor of secession. The differences between +the War Democrats and the Peace men, well nigh ended in personal +violence, and would, but for timely interference of the police. It is +not our purpose to report the doings of the Convention, and an allusion +is only made to call special attention to the elements which made up the +party who gave to General George B. McClellan a nomination which +proved to him the worst punishment that could have been inflicted, and +exhibited him to the world in worse company than he had ever before +mingled. The hostility between the different factions of the party, but +rendered the Peace wing or Sons of Liberty the more united, and more +firmly bent upon the overthrow of the government, as they saw clearly +enough, even before the adjournment, that there was not a shadow of hope +of electing the ticket formed, and the only hope of genuine copperheads +now laid in the election of State officers, and Judge Morris told the +people "if we can but get our Governor and Lieut.-Governor, it is all +we ask for; the order is strong enough in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, +Missouri, Iowa and Ohio to enable us to take the general government into +our own hands." He added, "as the Washington government had not seen fit +to execute the Constitution and the laws, we will bring them to Illinois +and execute them ourselves." + +At the close of the Convention, and the compromise had been made by the +different factions of the party, then came a time for general rejoicing. +In the evening torchlight processions, with lanterns and transparencies +bearing devices and mottos, all expressive of their animosity at the +administration. At the head of one of these processions was Maj.-Gen. +Barrett, the military commander of Illinois. At that very time Barrett +had in his pocket a programme, which had an intimation been received +from Price or Buckner, would have been of fearful import to the citizens +of Chicago. Barrett had at one time lived in Chicago, but for some +months past was a resident of Missouri. He was thoroughly armed, and +well knew the elements that had assembled in the city. Barrett had been +in the rebel service, or rather we should say in _another_ arm of the +service, inasmuch as none in these days, when all men are for the Union, +and it is so easy to be a patriot, will pretend to deny that the Sons of +Liberty were as much an arm of service for Jeff. Davis as his artillery +or infantry. This fellow Barrett, had on one occasion, as appears by +testimony before the Cincinnati military commission, visited Chicago as +an accredited agent of the Davis government, but he was not molested, +and mingled with men of his own stripe, without fear and without +difficulty. It will be interesting by and by, to read of the Chicago +Convention, and the incongruous elements there assembled. But as all +things have an end, so did this remarkable gathering, and dispersed +quietly, never again to meet as the representatives of the American +people. + +Of course most of the Roughs of the Peace wing had been induced to come +to Chicago, with the idea that an uprising was imminent, and would no +doubt take place, when they would be able to repay themselves abundantly +from the property of our citizens. It is not strange therefore, that +these half starved, brutal wretches looked with evil eyes upon our +National banks, and hoped till the last that some lucky incident +might occur which would provoke an outbreak, and they would have an +opportunity to pillage our banks, stores and dwellings, but they were +doomed to disappointment, and with surly looks and threats of vengeance, +left the city, resolved at a future day to draw their pay, principle +and interest, from our banks, and we shall, in a future chapter, see +the manifestation of the same spirit, easily recognized as Peace wing +democracy. + + + + +CHAP. IX + + +REBEL OFFICERS IN THE TEMPLES OF SONS OF LIBERTY--MURDERERS, BOUNTY +JUMPERS, DESERTERS, FELONS, VAGABONDS AND TRAITORS IN COUNCIL--PLANS +OF ATTACK ON CAMP DOUGLAS--FIRES TO BE KINDLED IN THE CITY--BANKS AND +STORES TO BE ROBBED--NAMES OF SPEAKERS--HATRED OF UNION SOLDIERS. + +At a meeting of the Sons of Liberty in September, 1864, a plan was +reported, much to the relief of those who had a horror of conscription; +it was arranged that such of the members as might be drafted, should +report within three days to the Grand Senior of the Temple, and they +would be supplied with means to defray their expenses to the southern +part of the State, where they would remain till their services should +be required, and that they would find friends there, strong enough in +numbers, to defy the officers of the law. Such persons were to form +military organizations, and to be drilled and disciplined by rebel +officers sent thither for that express purpose. The "Sons" of Chicago +expressed their extreme regret at the very open and defiant manner of +their brethren in the southern part of the State, and believed that it +would be prejudicial to the prosperity of the Order. Our readers have +not forgotten the Coles county tragedy, the murderers and their victims. +There is not a particle of doubt that those murders were premeditated, +and first the subject of discussion in the temples of the Sons of +Liberty. The assault was made without provocation, and the thirst +for the blood of Union men was the motive for the deed. We have never +advocated or countenanced mob law, but if there was ever a time in the +history of our government in which it was justifiable, it was in the +cases of the Coles county murderers. The times seemed, perhaps, to have +demanded a vigilance committee of citizens, who would administer justice +fast enough to suit the emergency of the cases upon which they might be +called to adjudicate, and having "cleaned out" the murderous scoundrels +in that locality, they might have found a demand for their services +in Chicago. But it is better that the people controlled their just +indignation and left it to time, to punish the infamous wretches who +turned their arms and their all against the country, to whom they +are indebted for all the blessings which they proved themselves to be +utterly incapable of appreciating. It was the boast of the "Sons" that +their numbers embraced many of the officers of our armies, and the names +of several were mentioned, who had sworn that they would never fire or +order their commands to fire upon "our Southern brethren," and it was +added that such officers could serve the cause of this order better in +the field, than in any other manner. As time passed on, the plans of +the villains belonging to the Chicago Temple, or the plans of the +order throughout the State for the attack upon Camp Douglas became more +complete in their details. The policy of obtaining positions for members +upon all the railroads and in telegraph offices, was very popular with +the order, and it was confidently stated, that upon the release of +the prisoners the leaders would at once take full possession of the +railroads and telegraph offices. It was arranged that the attack upon +the camp should be made the night after election, as it now became fully +apparent to all that there was not a shadow of a chance to elect either +National or State ticket by the Copperheads. Fires were to be kindled in +different parts of the city, and these were to be so numerous that they +would necessarily divert the attention of the citizens, while the attack +should be made. Near the camp is a growth of small oaks and other small +wood which offered a fine retreat or hiding place for those who would +attack the camp. The attacking party were to go singly or in groups +which might not attract attention, and when they were in readiness, they +were suddenly to spring forward and commence an assault simultaneously +on three sides of the enclosure. The risk to the invading party was not +considered large, as the whole undertaking would be but the work of a +few moments, and it was confidently believed that some communication +could previously be established with the rebels by their desperate +friends and allies upon the outside; and it is now quite certain that +some intelligence was communicated to the rebels, and well understood +by them, as not long before the election, supposed signals in the way of +rockets, blue lights, &c. were at one time exhibited by a small group of +persons, without any apparent design, which could have been distinctly +seen at camp. Mrs. Morris, who has confessed her complicity with the +rebel sympathizers, was a frequent visitor to the camp, and it was +thought that she might be very useful in conveying letters, messages, +&c. Indeed it was morally certain that there was an understanding +between the rebels inside, and the cowardly dogs on the outside of the +post. It will be remembered that fire arms for at least ten thousand men +were safely and secretly stored in Chicago, and that there was a perfect +understanding between the members of the higher degrees of the Sons +of Liberty, and the leaders of the invading party from Canada; Had the +attack been made, however good the understanding between the "Sons" and +the rebels might have been, the former would soon have found, to their +surprise and to their dismay, that their glory would suddenly have +departed, for the released rebels would instantly have obeyed the +commands of their own officers, and Northern Sons of Liberty would have +been compelled to fall into line, whether they would or not. A few +of the Sons would have received some consideration, and this would +especially have been the case with Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, but in +the main the "accursed democracy,"--as one rebel writing to another was +pleased to speak of the order--was to be kept in the front, or in other +words, used as circumstances might require to do the vilest offices +of this vile and devilish conspiracy. As the time of the election was +drawing near, the Sons of Liberty expressed a wish to have a man at +their head, in the place of Wilkinson, who would command respect, and +whose appearance of dignity and years would impress new comers most +favorably. This man was found in Obadiah Jackson, Jr. Esq., as Grand +Seignior, and so much gratified were they with his peculiar fitness for +this distinguished honor, that they resolved to find a second officer, +or Ancient Brother, and Lewis C. Morrison gave place to a Mr. Hoffman. +Things were now working smoothly, new members were rapidly joining, +and it was evident that the new organization was most favorable for the +growth and unity of the Order. The rapidly increasing number of Temples +in every part of the State, would have been truly alarming to the +friends of the Union. New comers were introduced at every meeting, and +large numbers were initiated at Judge Morris' residence, where favored +individuals were also initiated in the mysteries of the higher degrees; +so that there were hundreds of persons, in good standing with the Order +as bona fide members, who seldom or never visited the lodge room; +this was especially the case with the higher grade of persons--the +politicians, lawyers and others. At a meeting in the autumn, Judge +Morris was present and made a speech in response to the request of +several members, who asked information concerning the immediate purposes +of the Order. He spoke, as was his custom, of the tyranny of the +President; he said the rights of the people had been trampled upon, and +the constitution had been violated by him. He referred to the suspension +of the _habeas corpus_, and said many of our best men were at that +moment "rotting in Lincoln's bastiles;" that it was our duty to wage a +war against them, and open their doors; that when the Democrats got into +power they would impeach and probably hang him, and all who were thus +incarcerated should be set at liberty; that thousands of our best men +were prisoners in Camp Douglas, and if once at liberty would "send +abolitionists to hell in a hand basket;" he said the meanest of those +prisoners was purity itself compared to "Lincoln's hirelings." He added +that the tyranny of "Abraham the First" was fast drawing to a close, and +those who were anxious to fight, would not have to wait long. He also +spoke in favor of retaliation. + +The Judge's speeches were always marked by vehemence, profanity +and violent gesticulation; he never spoke except to condemn the +administration, and to express his confidence in this Order to remedy +all the evils of the administration, and that we should very soon--"in +sixty days," have the power, and yet on several occasions he expressed +the belief that McClellan would not be elected. No one, not even the +most stupid in the first degree of the Temple, could fail to understand +how the Copperheads were to have the reins of the General Government +in sixty days, and yet that the party could not hope for success at the +polls. A man named William Hull, connected with the Order, rebuked +such speeches in unqualified terms, and as a consequence drew down upon +himself the odium of the Order. Mr. Hull expressed himself in favor of +compliance with the Constitution and the laws, and of the Union. His +denunciations of the rebels excluded him from the confidence of the +leaders, who began to regard him as a "dangerous man," and expressed the +belief that he would turn against them, and therefore required watching. +Mr. Hull was a man of good common sense, and made several Union speeches +in the Order, which confirmed the suspicion that had been expressed by +some, that he was a spy and detective, and it was said it would be far +better to _put him out of the way_, or in other words to kill him, lest +he might betray them, and further as the time of the election was so +near at hand, it was voted by the Sons of Liberty to destroy all their +records, so that in case of arrest no documentary evidence could be +brought against them. While the motion was pending, Mr. Richard T. +Semmes, one of the prisoners tried at Cincinnati, moved an amendment, +that the names of members be retained, so that in case any one should +betray the Order they might be known and hung, but it was not deemed +safe to preserve the record, and most of the memoranda was destroyed, +but for the edification of the members, we will add that we have on +deposit in Chicago an entire and correct list of names of the Chicago, +and most of the prominent Temples, and it may be deemed expedient to +publish it hereafter; this will be determined by the general behavior of +the members themselves. + +In regard to Mr. Hull, to whom we have alluded, it should be said that +his death was fixed upon by the members. Felton and Morrison agreed to +do the work, but afterwards another proposition was made, to give +him money and induce him to leave for parts unknown. This peaceable +disposition of the man was _not_ satisfactory. Said they, "dead men tell +no tales," and at an informal meeting, a vote was taken and all, with +a single exception, present were in favor of _death_. That exception +required more satisfactory evidence that Hull was the informer, and thus +the murder of the man was prevented. The writer has not a particle of +doubt, having been present at this meeting and heard the proposition +and the vote taken, that the murder would have been perpetrated within +twenty-four hours had not a single person been so exacting in regard to +the facts. It may readily be believed that the writer never mingled in +this murderous company without a brace of revolvers in his pocket, ready +for instant use, and it may be no stretch of credulity to believe, +that in case of an assault, the instruments would have been called into +requisition. + +About the first of October, the restrictions upon the purchase and sale +of firearms were removed, and the trade in the city in this department +became very active. + +[Illustration: COL.G. ST. LEGER GRENFELL, + +"Who has fought in every clime, the man who advised raising the Black +Flag and murdering Union soldiers, and who was to have assumed command +of the Rebel prisoners upon being released from Camp Douglas, and to +whom the citizens of Chicago would have had to appeal for mercy."] + +The intensity of hatred of Union soldiers, by the Copperheads would +almost challenge credence. It was a common thing to seek to embroil +them in personal altercations, and to fall upon them with violence and +malice, and it is our opinion, that in almost every case where soldiers +ever became involved in personal difficulty, the provocation came from +Copperheads. We may mention an instance in point. During the summer, a +Union soldier presented himself at our office and required surgical aid. +His head was bleeding copiously, and his hair matted with blood, and so +mutilated was he that he could scarcely speak or walk. He was perfectly +sober, and evidently a very quiet, worthy man. It was doubtful how +his injuries might terminate, but the poor fellow received our best +attention, and thanks to a kind Providence, recovered after a long and +painful illness. It appears that he was beset by a party of Copperheads, +without the least provocation, only that he was a _Union soldier_. +For our act of humanity in rendering professional aid, we were gravely +suspected for a time of being "a dangerous man," and received several +lectures of censure from the Sons of Liberty. He was but a "Union +soldier," and his death, they said, was a matter of congratulation +rather than of regret. + + + + +CHAP. X + + +THE REASONS WHY REBEL AGENTS WERE SENT TO CANADA, AND THEIR +DOINGS--VARIOUS PLOTS OF MISCHIEF, HARRASSING, PILLAGING, &c.--THE +WATCHWORD OF THE REBELS IN CANADA. + +The United States armies being continually pressed forward, step by +step, towards the heart of the Confederacy, occupying more and more of +the soil from which their commissary was but illy and scantily supplied, +together with a desire on the part of the Southern people, to let the +people of the North see what invasion meant, to make them feel and +see the destruction and desolation following our army of invasion, +determined the Richmond government, in 1863, to send its agents to the +Canadas, well supplied with money, to endeavor to foment discord, and +to intensify the dissatisfaction already existing in certain political +circles, with the government, to such an extent that it could be made +available for their own uses and purposes. Knowing that thousands of +their soldiers were confined at Johnston's Island, and Camp Douglas near +Chicago, almost within twelve hours' travel of Canada, it was the great +object of the rebel government to release those prisoners of war, and in +the mean time having stirred up and excited a formidable conspiracy in +the North, particularly in the North-West, having in view the subversion +of the government, and the securing of material aid and assistance +to the rebels, and those rebel prisoners being released through the +instrumentality of the rebels from Canada and those of the Northern +sympathizers who could be induced to join in the expeditions for +that purpose, the conspiracy was to culminate all over the North--but +principally in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and New York, +and effect the release of the prisoners of war confined in the various +prisons in those States. The prisoners at all these places being +released, were to form a nucleus around which all the dissatisfied +people of the Northern States could rally, and endeavor to maintain +themselves and their cause here in the North, and by rallying in +formidable numbers, to cause the withdrawal of so many troops from the +field in front, to establish peace at home, that it would materially +change the whole character of the war, and remove the seat of war +from the cotton States to the Northern States--Kentucky, Tennessee and +Missouri. Upon the withdrawal of the troops in any considerable numbers +from the front, was to follow the advance of the rebel armies into +Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. + +Sterling Price would never have invaded the State of Missouri in the +fall of 1864, had it not been to give all the aid and assistance the +rebellion could afford, to the conspiracy just then ready to break +loose, and this explains the position that Hood occupied for nearly two +months in Northern Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. He would never have +placed himself in such a position, had it not been deemed absolutely +necessary by the Richmond Government, that his army should be placed +where upon the breaking out of the conspiracy he could exercise a great +influence over its prospects of success. To further the objects and +views just stated, Jacob Thompson, of Miss., formerly Secretary of the +Interior under Buchanan's administration, was made a secret agent for +the Rebel Government in the Canadas, and two hundred and fifty or three +hundred thousand dollars in specie, or its equivalent, was placed in his +hands by the Rebel Government, for the purpose of arming and equipping +any expedition he might place on foot from British America, for +the injury of the inland or ocean commerce of the United States, or +harrassing its Northern borders, and particularly for the release of the +Rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas and Johnston Island, and from +the beginning of Mr. Thompson's services in Canada, we may date all +the regularly organized and officered expeditions from British America +against the United States. Chief of all these expeditions were the two +attempts, during last year, to release the prisoners of war at Camp +Douglas, near Chicago, Ill., and the two different attempts to capture +the steamer "Michigan" (a United States vessel of war stationed on Lake +Erie, carrying eighteen guns), and release the prisoners on Johnston's +Island. All four of these expeditions failed totally in the objects for +which they were organized, mainly by some friendly parties having put +the military authorities on their guard soon enough to enable them +to defeat the attempts, and in some instances to capture the parties +concerned in them. + +To aid Mr. Thompson in his nefarious efforts in Canada, several officers +of various ranks were detailed from the Rebel army, by the Richmond +government, most prominent among these were Col. St. Leger Grenfell, +an Englishman of great military experience and daring, and Capt. T.H. +Hines, a young officer, who having been one of Gen. John A. Morgan's +pets, was recommended by him for the position he held in Canada, but +who was possessed of no more than ordinary military talents or genius, +unless his shrewdness in getting other and better persons involved in +difficulty, and condemned either to prison or death, and getting himself +out, evidenced military prowess. In connection with these men, were a +great many citizens, of both the United States and the South, who while +they were not authorized to act in any way by the Rebel government, yet +showed their zeal in the cause of the rebellion, by aiding and advising +with Mr. Thompson, and advising and exhorting all the rebel soldiers +in Canada, and the refugees from the Northern States, to take an active +part in the different schemes there on foot, to harass the northern +border of the United States. The most prominent of this class were +George N. Sanders, C.C. Clay, formerly Representative in the United +States Congress from Alabama, Col. Steele and Daniel Hibber. There was +still another secret agent of the rebels on special duty in Canada, +viz., Judge Holcombe of Virginia, who was sent there for the purpose of +secretly establishing agencies for the returning of rebel soldiers, who +desired to go South. However much Mr. Holcombe's mission removed +him from military matters, he nevertheless approved of the different +expeditions which were then being organized, and did more perhaps, than +any one else, to cause the irritation now existing between the Canadians +and the citizens of the United States. His policy in establishing +agencies in Canada, was to get some prominent and influential citizens +of the country who sympathized with his government, to act as agents +to furnish rebel soldiers who had escaped to Canada, and who desired to +return South, with all the necessary clothing, rations and money, &c., +to enable them to go to Montreal or Quebec, where there were regularly +established rebel agencies, who upon the arrival of such soldiers +so furnished with money, for all the money so advanced, with perhaps +interest, was returned. In this way Mr. Holcombe enlisted, besides the +feelings, the interests of a great many prominent business men, whose +means had been advanced to rebels, and all along the Grand Trunk +and Great Western railway, in all the principal towns and cities, +he succeeded in establishing such agencies, which although at first +intended only for those who were rebel soldiers, finally became nothing +more than recruiting rendezvous for the rebel army, which all the +skedadlers, refugees from the Northern and Border States who wished +to join the Southern army, were received, fed, clothed and quietly +transported to the South. Upon the departure of Mr. Holcombe south, +his business was turned over to C.C. Clay, who after that acted in this +capacity. It was during Holcombe's stay in Canada, that the speculative +brain of George N. Sanders, first originated the great humbug of +the Niagara Falls peace conference, at which there was but one rebel +official, and he was not authorized to act in any such capacity. But +the speculative Sanders, having lived like Barnum nearly his whole life, +upon humbugs, made his last and greatest effort to humbug the American +people, into the belief that the Southern people really desired peace, +and that he Clay and Holcombe, although not regularly authorized by +the Rebel government, still could speak for and influence the Southern +people. While in reality the whole conference was nothing on the part of +Sanders & Co., but the last act of a desperate political gamester, who +ventured his all upon one last throw of dice, to win or lose it all. If +Sanders, Holcombe, Clay and others, could have made the people of the +North believe the South really desired peace, and that the only obstacle +in the way was the obstinacy of the General Government, which did not +desire it, but wished to annihilate the Southern people, they could have +materially affected the then coming Presidential election in the North, +and perhaps elected a Democratic president, who would have added to the +disasters then affecting the country--general and complete ruin. The +election of such a man as Gen. McClellan, at such a time, and professing +such principles as actuated the Democratic party at that time, would +have insured to the South her independence, rather than further war +and a dismemberment of the Union. All this these parties professing +to represent Southern opinion well knew, and had they been successful, +would have reaped a rich political reward. Having endeavored to give a +correct outline of the characters of the rebel leaders in Canada, and +the different spheres in which they acted, it is now necessary to give +some idea of the different classes of individuals who were led by +such men, and prompted by them to undertake the many hair-brained +expeditions, which they first plotted and started. These persons +are rightfully and very expressively divided into four different and +distinct classes: 1st. The Rebels. 2d. The skedadlers. 3d. Refugees. +4th. Bounty jumpers and escaped criminals. The term rebel is applied +only to persons who have been or are connected with the rebel army, and +they again are subdivided into two classes; first, those rebels who have +gone to Canada as a means of escape to the South; and, secondly, those +who, having been accustomed to easy and luxurious living in times of +peace, and having become thoroughly disgusted with service in the army, +where they were subjected to strict military discipline, sought +in Canada an asylum from compulsory service of both parties. 2d. +Skedadlers, as they are called, are those persons who having been +drafted, or seeing a possibility of it, in the United States army, had +fled to Canada to avoid the service. This class consisted mostly of fast +young men, having either their own or the pockets of their parents +well lined, and accustomed to live without labor of any kind, were not +disposed to take a part on either side which would subject them to the +inconveniences, hardships or privations of a soldier's life; and partly +of persons who, while they sympathized with the rebellion, still did not +care to make their precious bodies targets for the sake of upholding the +principles which they professed to entertain. 3d. Refugees, or persons +who, for the sake of expressing their opinions and feelings against the +government, without fear of imprisonment, had removed to Canada where +they could vent their spleen and malice against all things connected +with the United States, and vaunt their pernicious principles under +the protection of the outstretched paw of the British lion. 4th. Bounty +jumpers and criminals who could not be pursued and brought back to this +country for punishment under the existing extradition treaty between the +United States and Canada. This last class exceeds by far all the others +in point of numbers, and the low degree of infamy to which they are +reduced--rebels, skedadlers, refugees and bounty jumpers, with a mixture +of escaped criminals, forming an almost indescribable mass of +people, from all nations, all climes, and of almost every imaginable +description, and chiefly distinguished for being more frequently found +in the bar-rooms, billiard saloons, gambling halls, &c. + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS OF WAR AT CAMP DOUGLAS--THE +CHARACTER IN WHICH THEY CAME--UNDER THE LEAD OF CAPT. HINES--THE REASONS +WHY THEY FAILED TO EFFECT THEIR OBJECT--REBEL OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS +DRILLING COPPERHEADS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA. + +It is the writer's intention to speak first of two expeditions to +Chicago, for the release of the prisoners confined there. The first of +these took place during the Chicago Democratic Convention, when it was +hoped that the rebels from Canada and their sympathizers from Missouri, +Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, who came armed to assist them in their +projects, would be enabled to go quietly into the city without fear of +detection, in the vast crowds who were then assembling there, from all +parts of the United States, and under the guise of friendly visitors, +were to be ready at a moment's notice whenever their leaders called upon +them to spring out before the people in their true light, and effect +the release of those rebels confined at Camp Douglas. As early as the +twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of August last, at the request of Jacob +Thompson, secretly and quietly circulated all through the Canadas, Nova +Scotia and New Brunswick, all the Rebels, Skedadlers, Refugees, and +others who could be relied upon to take part in the expedition, began to +assemble in Toronto, Canada West, at the different hotels and boarding +houses; of these, at that time, it was generally reported that there +were about three hundred; but so far as positive evidence goes, out +of this number only about seventy-five men were induced to join this +expedition and go to Chicago. At Toronto the objects of the expedition +were made known to nearly all of them, and arms furnished them--_arms +manufactured in New York city and shipped to Canada for that express +purpose_. The details of the affair were only known to a few of the +leaders, who maintained the strictest silence upon the subject, and +enjoined upon the men the most implicit obedience to their orders, +pledging themselves for their safety and the feasibility of their plans. +On the nights of the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth of +August, these men began to leave Toronto, by all the different routes +leading to Chicago, in squads of from two to ten, and began to arrive +at the Richmond House in that city, as early as the Saturday before the +Convention. They were all pledged to fight to the last, and never under +any circumstances surrender, as their lives would be forfeited, if +caught. The whole expedition was under the charge of Capt. Thomas H. +Hines, who had a commission as Major-General in the Rebel army, to take +effect and date from the release of the rebel prisoners of war at Rock +Island or Camp Douglas. Hines is the person who is said to have effected +the escape of General John H. Morgan himself, and others from the +penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, and although it is not generally known +in the North or South how Morgan escaped, and there not being one word +of truth in his report, he has enjoyed for a long time the reputation of +having been the author of it, and of being a desperate shrewd character. +The real facts in the case were (and it does not do the service of the +United States much credit to mention them,) that General John H. Morgan +"_was bribed out_." It was absolutely necessary however for General +Morgan to make some report of his escape to the public, that would +hoodwink the United States Government and save the officers, whom his +friends in the North had bribed to let him out, from punishment by +the authorities, and therefore a very romantic tale was made up, and +Morgan's pet _Capt. Hines_, was made the hero of it; and it was the +object of the rebel government in sending Hines to Canada to give an air +of truth to this romantic tale, to secure the United States officials +who have failed in their duty to their country. Hines was assisted in +his efforts by Col. St. Leger Grenfel an English adventurer of great +military experience, personal bravery and daring, who has had a romantic +connection with nearly every important war in America, Europe, Asia and +Africa for the past thirty years, and served in the Southern army with +the rank of Col., as Adjt.-Gen. to Morgan, and afterwards on General +Bragg's staff; but who pretended to have resigned his commission in the +rebel army and was living quietly in Canada; also by one Capt. Castleman +of Morgan's command, from Kentucky, who acted as Quartermaster of the +party, and about seventy-five, rank and file, (nearly all of whom were +officers) of the rebel army from Canada. These men were to be met here +in Chicago by parties from nearly all the middle, western and border +States, who came armed like themselves and for the same purpose. Of +those citizens who came to Chicago, armed and ready like the rebels, +there were over a thousand persons organized and officered, camped in +this city, just waiting for the command, and there were in the vast +throng then assembled in Chicago five or six thousand, who, while they +would not attach themselves to any organization, and were afraid to risk +the first attempt, yet if the first attempt had been successful +they would have joined the others in their work of devastation and +destruction. The above is most too low an estimate of the number of +these malcontents who did not join any military organization, but would +have eventually joined if it had been successful; for rebel officers +have been heard to say in Canada, after the Convention was over, that if +they could have "_started the thing right,_" they would have had an army +of twenty-five thousand in a week. With such a force, or even a force +of ten thousand, in possession of the city of Chicago, almost every city +and large town where there were many Democrats, and where the Sons of +Liberty, the Illinois Societies, Illini, &c., had full sway in Missouri, +Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, were to raise the insurrectionary +cry, and endeavor to bring all peace men and Democrats under their +banners. They were also to endeavor to maintain themselves in their +respective neighborhoods, districts, States, etc., were to seize upon +all the railroads and public buildings, and in the event they were not +strong enough to hold all the country, they were to rally around the +liberated rebels and their friends at Chicago, Camp Chase, Camp Morton, +and other places, after destroying all the public works, railroads, +etc., that would be of any service to the Government, in following them +up, or baulking their movements. In the meantime, however, the military +authorities in Chicago had not been idle, and the rebels and their +abettors looked with dismay upon every fresh arrival of troops and +artillery, as it was reported in their headquarters by spies, who had +the temerity to go to the observatory just opposite the camp, from +which they could see almost all over it, and send up hourly reports of +everything taking place inside. + +[Illustration: JAMES A. WILKINSON, Past Grand Seignior of the Chicago +Temple of the Sons of Liberty, and one of those who brought the +"Butternuts" to Chicago "to vote and to fight."] + +They not only had their spies, one might almost say, in Camp Douglas, +but in the telegraph offices, and were in or so near Post Headquarters, +that they were able to chronicle nearly every event of any importance to +them, that transpired, in any of those places. + +On the third day of the Convention, it was announced from rebel +headquarters at the Richmond House, that the expedition was a failure, +that owing to the precautions taken by the military authorities, and the +non-arrival of a thousand or two of other Copperheads, who had promised +to be in Chicago, ready to assist in the undertaking, and owing to the +want of sufficient discipline and organization among the Copperheads, +who were on hand, that an attempt at that time upon the garrison of +Camp Douglas would involve the destruction of the lives of too many +prisoners, and perhaps the killing and capturing of all those who made +the attempt to release them. As soon as it was generally known among the +rebels that they had failed in attaining the objects for which they +came to Chicago, Col. Grenfell and Capt. Castleman made their appearance +among them, and stated that it had been generally agreed upon that all +who were willing should go to Southern Illinois and Indiana, to drill +and organize the Copperheads for the coming struggle, which they thought +would take place very soon, or in other words, as soon as Gen. Lee +should have Gen. Grant's army in full retreat towards Washington city, +or should have inflicted some other almost irreparable disaster upon the +Union arms, which event both they and the Copperheads with them, were +not only wishing to take place, but confidently expecting every day; +that they with Hines and others were going home with some delegates +to the Convention, where they could live quietly and work to a great +advantage. On the fourth day of the Convention, the men and officers +were paid various sums from twenty to one hundred dollars, and it +was left to their option whether they would go to Southern Illinois, +Indiana, or return to Canada. Some fifteen or twenty went to Canada, and +about fifty went to Southern Illinois and Indiana. Thus ended the first +attempt to release the rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. It was +certainly a bold movement, both on the part of the rebels, who exposed +themselves to such great risk of suffering a disgraceful and ignominious +death, and the citizens who aided them in their nefarious designs. +But it seemed that an angel of an all-seeing Providence stretched its +protecting wings over the fair city, which was doomed by the rebels +and their friends at the North first to see and feel the demoralizing +influence of an insurrectionary force. What expression, or what degree +of contempt is most appropriate for the citizens connected with these +rebel efforts;--persons owing a true and faithful allegiance to the +Government, yet aiding and abetting its public enemies, persons who +while professing a common fealty with their fellow citizens, would +welcome to their homes incendiaries, and incite them to murder and +plunder those very fellow citizens, and compel them to suffer all the +horrors of a cruel warfare! No epithets that human ingenuity could +heap upon them would be too harsh, or too undeserved, no contempt too +humiliating for a people so devoid of honesty and all the qualities +essential to render them prosperous and happy. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +SECOND ATTEMPT--HINES IN COMMAND AGAIN--COPPERHEADS AGAIN TO BE THE MAIN +FORCES TO BE RELIED UPON--REBEL GENERALS TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE RELEASED +PRISONERS AND THE INSURRECTIONARY FORCES--THE DAY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL +ELECTION APPOINTED AS THE ONE MOST PROPER FOR THE UPRISING--THE CAPTURE +OF SOME OF THE REBEL LEADERS AND THEIR SYMPATHIZING FRIENDS. + +At the time the rebel officers and soldiers left Chicago, after the +Convention, none of them had any idea of ever coming back again, except +Capt. Hines and a few of the leaders who consulted with him. He was +shrewd enough to see that any effort at that time would be fruitless, +and determined, so far as possible, to have all the Copperheads +who would assist him in any second affair of the kind, drilled and +organized, and men able to render effective assistance. It was for +this purpose that he, with his comrades, went to Southern Illinois and +Indiana with cavalry and infantry tactics and all the appliances for +instructing others in military matters. The conspirators having failed +at Chicago during the convention to make their starting point, having +failed to make the great bonfire, which was to be the signal for +thousands of others not quite so large, to burn up brightly from almost +every hill-top in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, it +was necessary for their leaders to meet again, and determine upon a +new programme. It appears that they did meet again, and again the +starting-point of the whole conspiracy was the release of the rebel +prisoners of war at Chicago, and from facts brought to light by the +evidence before the great military commission held in Cincinnati, Ohio, +the plan of operations was nearly the same as that of the first. The +prisoners being released at Chicago, those at Johnston's Island, +Camp Morton, Camp Chase and other places were to be released by their +friends, and then all were to be immediately placed under the command of +rebel generals sent here for the purpose of heading the rebellion, when +it once broke out. This may seem like fiction to some; the idea of rebel +generals being here in the North for the purpose of aiding and taking +the lead of the conspirators; but it is nevertheless true, as disclosed +by one of the prisoners taken at Chicago; and it also appears that +these generals had several states partitioned off into districts and +departments, of which, each department commander was to have exclusive +control. + +The new programme having been adopted, all that was necessary was to fix +upon the day. The day must be one upon which more than the usual number +of visitors would be in the city, in order that their coming and staying +would not be noticed, and it seemed they selected the day of election, +as the one most suitable for their purposes; and if possible a day when +the military and civil authorities would be most likely to be caught +off their guard. For several days before the 8th of November last, their +spies had been coming into the city, in order to get suitable quarters +for the men when they arrived, and in parts of the city where they would +be least liable to suspicion. In the efforts to secure suitable boarding +houses for these incendiaries, various citizens of Chicago took an +active part, and even went to the depots to receive them, and escort +them into the bosom of the city they were so soon to attempt to destroy. +It was not until the Saturday just before the election, that Gen. Sweet +had positive information of the _rebels_ being in the city, and received +full information of the details of their plans, and began to take +measures quietly to capture them. This he did at once, and at the same +time had every preparation made to repel any attack upon the garrison of +Camp Douglas; and he succeeded admirably, following up his information +with such energy, that before daylight of the Monday morning following, +he had captured enough of the rebel leaders (and their friends in such +connexion as to leave no doubt of their guilt,) to make every disloyal +man quake in his boots. The captures of the military and police were +not confined alone to the conspirators, and in addition to them were +captured immense military stores of all kinds, boxes of guns already +shotted, cart loads of army pistols loaded and ready for the bloody work +expected of them, holsters, pistol belts, cartridges by the cart load, +and enough munitions of war to have started an arsenal of moderate size. +These arms were not taken from the rebels, but found in the houses +of citizens of Chicago, who can produce witnesses upon the stand (of +pretended loyalty and standing, some of them being office-holders under +the Government,) to swear that they themselves are, and have always been +loyal and true to their allegiance. In the house of Charles Walsh, +most of these arms were taken, and also there were captured two rebel +soldiers, Captain George Cantrill and Charles Travis Daniels, who were +shortly after identified; and Cantrill partly confessed his views, and +his complicity with the Copperheads. This man Cantrill had been one +of those who had come to Chicago during the Convention, for the same +purpose, and averred that then and at the election, the Copperheads had +offered and held out to them every inducement to get them here. That had +it not been for them he would never have come here. It may be well +here to publish a little incident, showing fully the kindred feelings +existing between the conspirators and the inmates of Camp Douglas. It +was a well known fact, that there were several thousand of John Morgan's +desperadoes confined in this prison, and the Copperhead conspirators, to +show their refinement of feeling, their accommodating dispositions, and +their attention to the worst of these men, had purchased for their use +exclusively, the finest cavalry carbines then made in the United States, +and had them stored in the immediate neighborhood of the prison, when +upon being released they could at once begin to revel in a carnival of +blood. Happy, happy for the people of Chicago, having passed through one +of the most critical periods of their existence, without knowing that +they were threatened with any disaster, ignorant that there was a mine +beneath their feet, just ready to be sprung at any moment, with their +own fellow citizens pulling at the spring, willing to involve them in +general and complete ruin--willing to subject them to the ravages of +such bloodthirsty villains as the inmates of Camp Douglas. The people of +Chicago never can appreciate, to its fullest extent, the danger through +which they have passed, for several reasons. First, because they were +ignorant of it at the time, and the conspirators had and have now at +their command, a bitter partizan press in their interests, and entirely +subservient to their views, whose interests it is to prevent these facts +from becoming generally believed, and when they are presented to the +public with the naked truth, to hiss at and cry them down as emanating +from the brains of lunatics, or a conspiracy of detectives to ruin the +reputation of innocent and guiltless persons. Secondly, because they +never experienced the horrors which must necessarily have followed had +the conspirators been successful. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE REBELS TO CAPTURE UNITED STATES STEAMER MICHIGAN +CARRYING EIGHTEEN GUNS--MODUS OPERANDI--WHY THEY FAILED, &c., +&c.--UNITED STATES COMMERCE UPON THE LAKES TO BE DESTROYED--NORTHERN +CITIES TO BE LAID UNDER CONTRIBUTION, &c. + +Canada, occupying the geographical position and belonging to another +nation as it does, has been ever since this war broke out, the +rendezvous of thousands upon thousands of the vagabond and criminal +population of the United States, together with the rebels and refugees, +until its population far exceeds what it had in 1860; almost every +business occupation is crowded to such an extent that it is almost +impossible to obtain employment of any kind, many persons being obliged +to keep from starving by begging, for their food, and the clothes they +wear upon their backs. Some of this refugee population have means, +others are supplied by their friends and families at home; but by +far the greater number are without any occupation or visible means of +support, habitue of the gambling hells, drinking saloons, &c., in favor +of any crime or villainy to supply their depleted purses, and furnish +them with the means of living at ease and idleness. Under such +circumstances and among such a class of population, is it anything +strange, that the robbery of banks, the pillaging of the inhabitants of +the Northern border, that raids with all the necessary plundering and +so forth, found plenty of advocates and supporters, and when the time +arrived to carry them into execution, plenty of desperadoes, fit tools +for such infamous projects. The great difficulty in Canada was not in +getting enough of these men to participate in matters of this kind; but +to prevent too many of them from knowing of them, so that there would +be a smaller number among whom to divide the spoils and plunder thus +obtained, so that the chief difficulty lay in getting together just +enough of the most desperate characters to carry out an expedition. +During the Chicago Democratic Convention the efforts of the rebels +were not confined alone to Camp Douglas; but simultaneously with their +efforts in Chicago, they were to make an attempt to capture the United +States Steamer Michigan, carrying eighteen guns, stationed on Lake Erie, +the steamer permitted by the treaty between the United States and +Great Britain, for the better protection of rebel prisoners confined at +Johnston's Island. + +The prisoners of war at Chicago, Illinois, being released, and the great +conspiracy in the North once fairly inaugurated, the capture of the +steamer Michigan was to be one of the combined movements that were to +startle the country, and aid the conspiracy in overturning the authority +of the United States Government, With the "Michigan" in their hands, +the conspirators would have a powerful auxilliary in their pernicious +designs upon the country, and be able to render effective aid to the +Southern Rebellion; ruining the commercial status of the United States +on the great lakes, and effectually closing all the ports on their +borders, and in addition to this, their laying all the large towns and +cities on the northern portion under contributions, and exacting from +them enormous sums of money, through fear of bombardment. The plan of +the conspirators to get possession of the Michigan was by bribery and by +surprise. Mr. Thompson, in his efforts to seize the vessel, secured the +services of a man named Cole, of Sandusky City, who, whilom, had been +a citizen of Virginia, but who still retained his sympathies for the +rebellion, and took an active part in aiding it whenever he had an +opportunity, and a woman, said to have been his paramour, who carried +dispatches backwards and forwards between the parties. This man Cole +seems to have been the most wiley conspirator of them all, and played +his infamous part of the plot with the most adroit shrewdness; and the +defeat of the whole scheme was not owing to any blunder of his, but +rather the blunder of those who employed and furnished him with the +means. Having been well supplied with money by Mr. Thompson, and no +limit put to his expenses, he began his work with a will. He seems to +have begun by getting generally well acquainted with the officers of +the vessel, by feasting them, and now and then lending them money, or +accommodating them in some other way, until he had won the confidence +of all those in command of the steamer, as well as those in charge +of Johnston's Island. After a time, he found out those who were most +vulnerable on the money question, and those whom he did not dare to +approach upon the subject. Of the latter class, there is one mentioned +in particular by the rebels, whose suspicions they did not care to +arouse, and which they made every attempt to lull. This was an officer +named Eddy, from Massachusetts. Of the former class, whom they bribed, +the rebels mentioned particularly the chief engineer, who, they said, +had agreed, for twenty thousand dollars in gold, to get the machinery +out of order, and otherwise aid in the vessel's capture, and one or two +others. + +[Illustration: BRIG. GEN. CHARLES WALSH, + +A citizen of Chicago, he was at one time the Democratic candidate for +Sheriff of Cook County, in which is the city of Chicago, during the +earliest part of the war he was very active in helping to raise what +was called the Irish brigade. He afterwards became a bitter democratic +partizan and was connected with the Sons of Liberty. Just before and +during the Convention be received into his family several rebel soldiers +who were there during the day and night time, making cartridges for the +expected release of the rebel prisoners of war at Camp Douglas. He was +arrested in his own house on the morning of the 7th of November, as was +also his son, and two Rebel soldiers and taken to Camp Douglas. In his +house and on his premises were an immense numbers of guns of several +kinds and also immense military stores, consisting of powder, buckshot, +cartridges, with two or three cast braces of army revolvers, all these +guns and pistols were loaded and ready with the exception of being +capped. Charles Walsh is of Irish extraction and about forty years of +age, and a fine looking man. He is generous, impulsive, rather easily +influenced, agreeable in conversation, and except in the character he +assumed as an enemy to his country was possessed of qualities which +would win for him many friends. There are as bad men, in our opinion, as +Mr. Charles Walsh, to day at liberty and talking treason in our midst.] + +Of the remainder of the officers of the Michigan, they thought their +well-known Democratic faith and sympathy with the rebellion, would +prevent them from seeing or knowing _too much_, until too late to avoid +the disaster. Of these last, the conspirators did not seem to entertain +the least fear, some of them being Southern men by birth, and at most, +but passive in their fidelity to the government. The men of the vessel +who were loyal, were also tampered with, and the rebels in Canada looked +for assistance from them, and claimed that some of their own men from +Canada had enlisted on board of her for the purpose of aiding to capture +her. Of these rebels, however, there were but few. As the writer +has stated before, the attempt on the steamer Michigan was to be +simultaneous with that at Chicago, Ill., and while the rebels and their +friends were assembling in Chicago, they were also gathering in Sandusky +City, for the capture of the Michigan. The exact number of conspirators +in Sandusky, at that time, is not known to the writer, nor the details +of their plans; but let it suffice to say, _that they were there, armed +and ready_. When the time of action arrived, however, the engineer and +his accomplices were no where to be found, and after waiting for nearly +two days, the rebel portion of the conspirators, with the exception of +Capt. Beall, returned to Canada. On their return, they said that the +persons whom they had bribed were afraid to toe the mark--that is, were +afraid to carry out their infamous and hazardous part of the contract. +The rebels were in great fear, lest something had happened that would +put an end forever to their hopes, in regard to the steamer, but in a +few days after this, the non-appearance of the engineer and friends, +were duly explained, and the alarm caused by it quieted, and another +time set for the attempt; the sequel will show how _much_ they intended, +and how much they ventured to effect their aims. It is a well known fact +that the rebels while in Sandusky city, were feasted and toasted in +the houses of some of the prominent citizens and business men, +and encouraged in every way by them. The day being set once more, +preparations were again made to capture the vessel, and this time +occurred what was called the _Lake Erie Piracy_, nearly everything +connected with which was so disgraceful to the United States service, +that although the government hastened to remove all the reprehensible +officers, and retain those who deserved well of their country, yet seems +to have endeavored to keep some of the facts connected with it, from +being made public. About one week before the time set for the second +attempt arrived, Capt. Beall returned from Sandusky to Windsor, Canada +West, and announced that all was ready for the capture, and immediately +telegraphed to Jacob Thompson, who was then at the Queen's Hotel, in +Toronto, who at once answered that he would come to Windsor that night, +and desired not to be recognized. That evening he arrived at Windsor, +and without apparently being known got into a carriage waiting, and was +taken to the residence of a Col. Steele, about a mile below Windsor, +where he was expected. During this week all the men who were to +participate in the affair were notified, and this time the services +of some of the men who had been to Chicago during the Convention, were +called into requisition. The officers of the rebel army could be seen +running about, here and there, to the different boarding houses +where the men were stopping, carrying ominous looking carpet bags, +distributing from them pistols, ammunition and other things, deemed +necessary for the undertaking, which was to be made on the night of the +following Monday. Most active in these efforts to incite these men to +deeds of desperation, were Col. Steele and Jake Thompson--or when he +used his assumed name, Col. Carson. The plans of the pirates were as +follows, and the writer gives them just as he heard them from the lips +of two of the rebel officers who participated in the affair, commanding +detachments on board of the "Philo Parsons." Part of the men, amounting +in all to about seventy-five, were to go from Canada to Sandusky city by +rail, another party were to cross the river at Detroit early on Monday +morning, and take passage on the steamer "Philo Parsons" for Sandusky, +another portion were to take passage on her from Sandwich, Canada, about +two miles below Detroit, and still another party of them, consisting of +about fifteen (with eight or ten citizens who knew nothing of what was +contemplated), on Sunday morning were to charter a small steamer called +the "Scotia," plying between Windsor and Detroit, ostensibly for the +purpose of taking a pleasure ride to Malden, Canada, about twenty miles +below Detroit, and near the entrance of the river into the lake, when +they were also on Monday to take passage for the same place on the +Parsons. At Kelley's Island, one of the points at which the boat touched +in her daily trips, they were to receive a messenger from Cole, letting +them know, that up to that time everything was going on smoothly in +Sandusky; upon receiving this information, all the different portions +of the gang were to unite and seize the steamer, before she reached the +next landing, at which she generally stopped. The engineers and pilots +were to be forced, by threats of instant death if they refused, to still +occupy their respective places; the passengers were to be put off at +some out of the way place, where it would be impossible for them to give +any information to the authorities, and after dark they were to run down +into Sandusky bay, where they would see certain signals, made by those +conspirators on the shore, when they would land, take on board all those +who had come by rail from Detroit, and some Copperheads from Cincinnati, +Ohio, and other places, and at once would immediately turn the prow of +the Parson for the steamer Michigan. Cole was to give a champagne supper +on board the Michigan that evening, to the officers, and was to be there +himself with a party of rebels, who had also become well acquainted with +the officers, and was invited at the request of Cole, to join in the +festivities of the occasion. It was intended for the Philo Parsons to +reach hailing distance of the Michigan about eleven or twelve o'clock +that night, in order that by this time as many of the crew as possible, +through the champagne, would be incapable of rendering any resistance, +when the Parsons was hailed by the watch on board the steamer, and Cole +and his associates were at once to take possession of a gun, which would +sweep the whole decks, to prevent that portion of the crew who were +not rendered incapable of it by drink, from attempting any effectual +resistance to the conspirators boarding her from the Parsons. Once in +possession of this vessel of war, the prisoners on the island were to +be immediately released, landed at Sandusky, when the Sons of Liberty, +Illini and other secret societies were to seize the opportunity of +rising up, and asserting their peculiar doctrines, under the protection +of this powerful man of war. The same course was to be pursued at +Cleveland and other places, along the lake coast, where their secret +societies were in full blast, the conspirators exacting an enormous +tribute of the loyal portion of these communities to save their property +from the dangers of bombardment. This expected tribute of ten millions +of dollars, (to be divided equally among them,) from the border cities, +was the greatest inducement held out by the rebel leaders before leaving +Canada, to their desperadoes, in order to excite their cupidity and +zeal, and inflame their minds to such a pitch, that they would render a +strict obedience to their officers, and hesitate at no act of violence. +These were the plans of the conspirators, and although they may seem +almost ideal and improbable, yet are very possible even to the most +minute details, when one will take time to stop and consider the great +chances of success the pirates had in having a portion of the crew +bribed, and their prospects of having the remainder too excited by +liquor, to make any effectual opposition--the surprise, the chaos and +confusion of the crew at finding those whom they supposed their friends, +as well as their own comrades and fellow-soldiers, fighting them hand to +hand. Under such circumstances as these, it is very easy to conceive of +the capture of a vessel by a band of desperadoes, who would hesitate at +no act of bloodshed or villainy to accomplish their objects. In addition +to this, they were rendered more desperate, if such a thing could be, +by the certainty that if they failed and were captured, a speedy and +disgraceful death awaited them. The Michigan being captured, it is also +easy to conceive that all the other portions of their plans could have +been carried out, perhaps to a greater extent than already mentioned, +that contributions could have been levied and exacted from the people, +and especially that the Sons of Liberty and other secret societies would +joyously seize such an opportunity as the protection of this man-of-war +afforded them, to throw off the mantle of secrecy and darkness from +their hell-born principles, and parade them to the view of the public +in all their hideousness. We will now follow up the plans of the +conspirators, and mention the facts as they occurred. On Sunday the --th +of September, just preceding the attempt, although it was a rainy +and very disagreeable day, in accordance with orders, the Scotia was +chartered and conveyed her part of the pirates, together with some arms +to Maiden, C.W. It is due to the citizens who were with the pirates, to +say here, that they had no idea that the piracy was contemplated, and +thought that it was only a fishing excursion, which at that time was a +very common occurrence with the Southeners at Windsor. That evening when +the Scotia returned, they alleged that it was so unpleasant that they +would wait until the next day before going back to Windsor, in this way +lulling everything like suspicion in the minds of those who had only +been invited to go with them, the more effectually to conceal the real +objects of the pirates. On Monday, on the arrival of the Steamer +_Philo Parsons_ at Malden, those who had taken passage from Detroit and +Sandwich, were seen in very conspicuous places on the decks, by those on +the wharf, who immediately boarded her in the capacity of passengers. It +was not the intention of the pirates to seize the vessel until nearly +to Sandusky, and in the event they received no messenger from _Cole_, +at Kelley's Island, they were not to take possession of her at all, but +continue in their characters as passengers to Sandusky, and there learn +the cause of his failure to communicate with them. But as subsequent +events will show, they were compelled to change their whole plan of +operations. Shortly after the vessel left Malden, the frequency with +which all of these men patronized the bar of the boat, attracted the +suspicions of some of the passengers, as well as the officers, one of +whom, from some remarks let fall by one of the men, thought they were a +suspicious set, and said that as soon as the boat arrived at Sandusky, +he would have them arrested and taken care of. Some of the pirates +happened to hear this remark, and as soon as it was generally known, +created the greatest consternation among them, and upon arriving at +Kelley's Island and not receiving the messenger promised by _Cole_, +they were in a very unenviable position. To go to Sandusky they would +be arrested; the only course they could take to save their own lives +and liberty, was that which they eventually adopted. Capt. Beall, after +hearing this report, quickly determined to seize the vessel, which was +accordingly done, to the great terror of the passengers and crew. One +or two of the crew who refused to obey the orders given by the pirates, +were severely wounded. Finding that there was only wood enough on board +to last for a short time, she was run to Put-in-bay to get a supply, and +it was at this landing that they seized the Island Queen, which happened +to be there also, for the same purpose. This vessel, after removing her +valuables, was immediately scuttled and left floating with the current +in a sinking condition. After dark that night, the pirates ran down +into Sandusky Bay, but failing to see the signals agreed upon, and after +waiting a short time, again returned to the open lake, convinced by this +time that something had happened to their friends in Sandusky. Capt. +Beall then seeing that something had happened which would prevent them +from capturing the Michigan, announced his determination to cruise on +the lake as long as possible, burning and destroying all he could, +and endeavored to induce his men to go with him; but they were already +scared, and begun to fear the consequences of their act, and insisted +upon going back to Canada. This is what Capt. Beall himself told Mr. +Thompson on his return to Canada, that "if it had not been for these +mutinous scoundrels, I could have run that boat on these lakes for two +weeks, burning and destroying all the vessels we met with, before the +Yankees could have made us take to land." The owners of shipping upon +the great lakes, can now if they never could before, appreciate fully +the danger to their vessels at that time. The day before the rebels left +Windsor, C.W., the United States authorities had been notified of the +expedition, and fully placed upon their guard, and if the plans of +Lieut. Col. Hill, the efficient commander of the post at Detroit could +have been followed, he would have captured the whole gang. However, he +telegraphed to Sandusky, and had Cole arrested while he was sitting at +the table, taking dinner with the officers on board the Michigan. This +effectually prevented Cole from communicating with the conspirators. + +Col. Hill's plans were to let the pirates take the _Parsons_, and then +before they had time to do any damage, have the Michigan meet them on +their way to Sandusky and capture them all together, and thus relieve +the Government from any farther trouble with this most desperate band +of incendiaries. Col. Hill telegraphed to the commander of the Michigan, +requesting him to do this, and it is generally understood that the +reason why he did not do it was that the machinery of the vessel was out +of order, thus showing how well those who had been bribed had done their +duty. In addition to these attempts to capture the steamer Michigan, was +the celebrated St. Albans raid, which among others, was one of the +rebel modes of carrying the war into Africa and harrassing the northern +border. + +This raid, which has become so famous in the history of this war, was +first started by a Texan, named _Bracey_, belonging to one of the rebel +Texan regiments. This man, for four or five years before the war, had +been going to one of the schools or colleges (according to his own +account of himself,) in St. Albans, and was well acquainted, both with +the city and country, in the immediate neighborhood. He gave all the +information he could, and offered to return there to get more, which +he, with one or two rebel soldiers did, and obtained all the necessary +information that would, in any way, aid them in their criminal designs. +Upon their report, on their return to Canada, the fitting out the +expedition immediately began--the money, arms, etc., being furnished by +the rebel agents in Montreal or Quebec. Of the details of this affair, +as carried out, the people have been fully advised by the newspapers, +and, to all intents and purposes, the raid has been a success, or +has operated in this manner by the winding and twisting course of the +Canadian law courts, which seem to be actuated by no fixed principles, +but wavering between the fear of the public opinion of the American +people, and their desire to aid the rebels in overturning the +government--and had it not been for the sudden turn the war has taken +in the last six months, the people along the northern border would have +been subjected to numerous other and similar raids. The St. Albans raid +was only a part of one grand scheme of the rebels, for the past two +years, to inaugurate a new mode of warfare, entirely beyond the pale of +that waged by civilized nations, and a relic of the more barbarous ages. +This new mode of warfare, or incendiarism, as it is generally called, +was first started by the rebel government, after the fall of Memphis, +Tenn., for the purpose of destroying vessels, loaded with government +property, and cut off the communications of the armies in the lower +countries, with their depots of supplies; with this end in view, +companies of men were regularly enlisted for the purpose, and after +a time, the sympathies and the aid rendered the rebellion by certain +classes of the people at the North, justified them in extending its +pernicious effects further North. Companies were enlisted and sent +through the lines, with orders to burn public buildings, army stores, +and supplies, wherever they could find them. Thus far, secret agents of +the rebels were scattered all over the North, in small squads, wherever +there was a prospect of doing injury to the government; and it is to +the efforts of these men, that the country is indebted for the wholesale +destruction of steamboat and other property at St. Louis, Cairo, and +other places on the western rivers. These men performing the incendiary +acts frequently upon information furnished them by their sympathizing +friends. The public are already well aware of the manner in which some +of these acts of incendiarism terminated, most especially the attempt of +Capt. Kennedy and others, holding commissions in the rebel service, to +burn New York city. If ever a man deserved his fate, this man Kennedy +certainly did, and the public, having been saved, unscathed, can never +fully appreciate the enormity of his crime. One, knowing the facts of +these men being in the North for this purpose, can readily appreciate +the punishment awarded them; but upon reviewing all the facts in +the case, will as readily say that they are now less guilty than the +citizens of the North, who aided them in their designs, by furnishing +them information and associating with them, and even receiving them into +their families, while they were yet public enemies, and in arms against +the country. + + + + +CHAP. XIV. + + +SABBATH EVENING IN INVINCIBLE CLUB HALL---A SCENE NEVER TO BE +FORGOTTEN--PLANS REHEARSED--ARMS INSPECTED--REPORT OF THE BRIG.-GEN. OF +THE SONS OF LIBERTY--REVOLUTION AND BLOODSHED WITHIN THE NEXT THIRTY-SIX +HOURS--DISTRIBUTION OF FIREARMS UPON OUR STREETS. + +The evening of the 3d of November, 1864, found a large representation of +the Sons of Liberty in their lodge room in Chicago, for as the time drew +near for the Presidential election--the period fixed for the carnival +of crime--the members of the organization realized the importance of the +utmost vigilance--lest their plans should be discovered--and of the most +entire concurrence with their leaders, and concert of action in obeying +the commands that might be given. At this meeting, the Brigadier-General +of the Order was present, as were also Captains and Lieutenants of the +Invincible Club, and a more exciting meeting had rarely ever been held +in the Temple. Speakers were vehement and earnest, and their theme was +the proposed uprising. As had ever been their policy, certain important +facts were withheld from the fledglings in treason, who had not yet +tried their wings, but there was no discord, no dissention, and all +exhibited enthusiasm and confidence. Brig.-Gen. Walsh called a meeting +of the Order, to be held in the hall of the Invincible Club, on Sunday +evening November 6th, the hour being fixed for eight o'clock. All +were exhorted to be "on hand," as the Brig.-General had an important +communication to make. Friday and Saturday an immense number of pistols, +and much ammunition were sold, and many were given away in quarters, +where it was certain material aid might be expected, when the time +should arrive for the inauguration of revolution. To the few of us +having the interests of the country at heart, who were cognisant of +the acts, preparations and intentions of the Order, it will readily be +believed the days were tedious, and the nights sleepless. So well had +the principal secrets of the Order--the details of the uprising---been +kept from the lower degree of the "Sons," that but few of the members +had a definite idea of the infamous part they were expected to perform, +and it was to communicate enough information to secure harmony among the +men, and that concert of action which promised the most complete success +of the terrible scheme of villainy before them, that the meeting was +called for Sabbath evening. It will be seen by the report of Gen. +Sweet's testimony, before the military commission, to what peril the +city was exposed. With but a handful of men to garrison the post, +without the ability to obtain adequate reinforcements, with ten thousand +veteran rebels in a camp, so incomplete in its structure, with the +certainty that our secret enemies were upon the railroads already, and +seeking positions in the post-office, in telegraph offices, if, as there +was good reason to apprehend, the telegraph stations were not already +under their control, that by Judge Morris' official report to the +Temple, two full regiments of Sons of Liberty, all well armed and +disciplined, were ready at an hour's notice, and that a third regiment +was almost complete, the knowledge also that the entire body +of Copperheads in the State, and in the northwest, would rise +simultaneously with the traitors in our city, with good reason to +believe it impossible to safely communicate with the head of the State +military department--in this most unenviable position, to know that the +fatal moment was fast coming, when the infernal machinery was to be set +in motion, and to make arrangements to avert the catastrophe so quietly +as not to arrest attention, or excite the alarm of the leaders of the +plot, which would have instantly been executed, had it become apparent +that the movements of these traitors were watched; these considerations +and the discharge of the fearful responsibilities resting upon the only +parties who could then hope to avert the danger, occupied the mind and +hands of the commandant of the post, and employed the utmost vigilance +of the writer and able assistants. Every few hours orderlies and special +couriers were despatched to the headquarters of the camp, with such +reports as could be obtained. We have read Eastern tales of travelers, +when accident had discovered them in closest proximity to the deadly +cobra de capello, the breathless horror with which they contemplated its +motions, and saw it slowly coiling itself upon their limbs, or upon a +table at their bedsides, and knowing that a single motion on the part +of the imperilled person would be but to invite certain death, the +vigilance and eager solicitude, the distressing anxiety with which they +regarded the movements and intent of the venomous creature, but never +till a full realization of our position in regard to this organized +band of traitors, did we ever experience sensations akin to those of +the unfortunate traveler; and when the loathsome reptile had got into +a position where it was safe to attempt its destruction, and when +this attempt was successful, no greater relief or deeper emotions +of gratitude could have been felt by him--a moment before exposed to +instant and terrible death--than were experienced by us when the danger +had been averted. + +Sunday evening came. Our citizens worshiping in the churches, or in +peaceful repose in their own residences, little knew of the imminent +peril to which they were exposed, or of the gathering of their fellow +citizens in the Invincible Club Hall to arrange the details which, if +successful, would bring ruin, desolation and death to thousands of our +unsuspecting people. Up the entrance to the hall, cautiously crept the +members of the order, peering behind them, and advancing one by one, +or in groups of two or three, till they reached the hall. The door was +guarded by a sentinel, so that intrusion was out of the question. At +nine o'clock, the assemblage was called to order by Obadiah Jackson, +Jr., Esq., the Grand Seignior. Patrick Dooley, Secretary, was in his +place on the right of the Grand Seignior. The meeting was large, and +a more desperate looking collection of men have rarely assembled in a +convention in our city. Such desecration of the evening of the Sabbath +has never before been witnessed here. After the opening of the meeting, +one of the members took early occasion to remark substantially, that it +must have been noticed by all present, as well as himself, that the city +was full of strangers, and that he had noticed many of them were dressed +in butternut clothes, and had good reason to believe that they were +Abolitionists in disguise; that it was advisable to watch them, it being +his confident opinion that they had come to the city for the purpose of +fraudulently voting the Abolition ticket; and the speaker was proceeding +in this strain, much to the amusement of the members of the higher +degree, to whom the men in butternut clothes were no strangers. The +speaker had scarcely taken his seat, when James A. Wilkinson, Past Grand +Seignior, rose and stated that the suspicious looking persons were "our +friends," and that he himself had brought a company of sixty of them to +the city, and that they were entitled to every attention, as they would +do good service for "us," and stated that he was going back for more. +The strangers who were the subject of discussion, were from the counties +in the Southern part of the State, and all bore the same general +appearance of vagabonds, cut-throats, felons, bounty-jumpers and +deserters. They had all seemed to appear simultaneously in our city, +unheralded even to the "Sons," and their advent was as much a subject of +remark, as would have been a shower of toads and tadpoles. They did not +take up their quarters at respectable hotels and private houses, but +sneaked away stealthily to the lowest dens of vice, and resorts of +criminals unwhipped of justice. They came to help perform infamous work, +and had a part of the price of their guilt upon their persons, or had +already invested it for the poorest quality of intoxicating liquors. +They had been collected together from the various country towns in the +Southern part of the State, where they had been in training under the +command of rebel officers, and many of them were the same parties who +had come to Chicago at the time of the Democratic National Convention, +hopeful and confident of the uprising, and who had been so wofully +disappointed, and turned their backs so reluctantly upon our banks and +stores, from which they had intended to glut their avarice, and amply +remunerate themselves with the property of our citizens. Nothing on +earth is more positively certain than, had the work not been arrested +at the moment it was, these devils would have pillaged every bank and +rifled every storehouse in Chicago; and it is equally certain that +beyond Colonel Sweet and the writer, with his assistant, Robert +Alexander, none knew of the intricate deadly plot in detail, although +Major-General Hooker, Brig.-Gen. Paine, Governor Yates, Hon. I.N. +Arnold, and William Rand, Esq., of the _Tribune_ had been informed by +the writer of the general intent of the organization. But to return to +the secret convention at the hall. The explanation of J.A. Wilkinson not +being satisfactory to Mr. Hull, some curt remarks were banded between +the speakers, which Obadiah Jackson, Jr., Esq., the Grand Seignior could +not well control, Brig.-Gen. Charlie Walsh rose to his feet and said +unhesitatingly, that he had by his own order "brought these men here +_to vote and to fight_," and he added, "by God they will vote early and +often, and they will fight." Gen. Walsh desired that all the "brethren" +would extend the hospitalities of the city to the visitors, for they +were "our friends." While this discussion was going on, there was a +Confederate officer in the hall, and within ten feet of Walsh. The +joy upon the announcement by Walsh, found expression in a rude and +boisterous manner. It having been definitely settled that the wretches +who had been the subject of discussion were good for any number of +votes, and fully prepared to take part in the attack, so soon to startle +our city; the convention proceeded to ascertain who among its members +were unarmed, and to supply such delinquents forthwith. The members +generally exhibited revolvers of various patterns, but upon inspection +by the officers, preference was expressed for the pattern like those +which were subsequently found in the house of Walsh, by the officers, +at the time of his arrest. There were several who had not the approved +pattern, and such persons were instructed to apply next morning at the +store of James Geary, corner of Wells and Madison streets, and they +would be supplied, but upon consultation it was remarked by Geary, that +as he was already suspected he feared it would hardly be expedient for +Walsh to send arms to him for distribution, and it was agreed by J.H. +Hubbard, the treasurer of the Invincible Club, that he would receive +possession of the revolvers, and give them to all who might apply, and +such persons were to call at the door of the Invincible Club hall, at 9 +o'clock the next morning, when they would be supplied. It was arranged +that a guard of not less than fifty or one hundred men, all well armed, +should remain all day on Tuesday, (election day,) at the polls in each +ward, making not _less_ than one full regiment in the aggregate, thus +detailed for special "service." + +To distinguish friends and members at a time when trouble should break +out, was a subject now raised for debate, and it was finally agreed that +the members should wear McClellan badges upon the left breast, attached +by _red and white_ ribbons. It was understood that orderlies were to be +constantly reporting from each ward at the headquarters of Gen. Walsh, +and thus a regular line of communication would be kept up, which in case +of trouble, would be greatly to the advantage of these ruffians. They +were all advised to deposit their vote with one hand, and present their +revolver with the other. It was confidently asserted by individuals, +but with how much truth we know not, that an Invincible Club from +Philadelphia, would also be present and help do the voting, but as no +Philadelphia Roughs were reported in the city, the help expected +from Philadelphia probably did not arrive. The most violent secession +speeches were made by Duncan, who was then connected with the Mercantile +agency in McCormick's block, Walsh, Wilkinson, and many others. + +The meeting adjourned at a late hour, and many of the leaders, prominent +among whom was James Geary, proceeded to a secure retreat, and then in +the quiet hours of Sunday night, gave away a great number of revolvers +of the same style and pattern with those subsequently seized by the +authorities. + + + + +CHAP. XV. + + +ARRESTS--GREAT EXCITEMENT--GENERAL CONSTERNATION OF THE COPPERHEADS--NEW +VICTORIES IN THE FIELD--DEATH-BLOW OF JEFF. DAVIS' SECRET ORGANIZATION +AND HOPES IN THE NORTH--FINDING OF ARMS--THE EFFECT ALL THROUGHOUT THE +NORTH-WEST. + +Before the morning of Monday, November 7th dawned, a dispatch, embracing +the most important features of the Sunday night meeting, had been +prepared by the writer, and forwarded to the commandant of Camp Douglas, +who, during the night, arrested Judge Morris, Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, +and others, and a large number of "butternuts," who had been the subject +of discussion at the Sunday night meeting, and these prisoners were +safely lodged in Camp Douglas. The news of the arrests, and the charges +upon which they were made, caused intense excitement among all classes, +loyal men rejoicing for the promptness and wisdom of the measure, while +the Copperheads howled fearfully, and denounced it as a fresh evidence +of "Lincoln's tyranny." As the facts became generally known, there +was an unanimous expression of approval on the part of all good, loyal +citizens. The consternation of the Copperheads was truly great; they +felt that, notwithstanding their many precautions for secrecy, the eye +of the government had been upon them in their most secret places, and +this consternation was not by any means relieved when they read in the +morning papers an extract of Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh's speech before +the order in the Invincible Club hall. They felt certain that they were +watched, and that they were under careful espionage, and the effect was +precisely what we had expected and desired. It was telegraphed in every +direction, that the government bad a complete knowledge of their designs +and proceedings, and such a tremor and quaking with fear the Copperheads +had not previously exhibited. It completely deranged their designs, +and caused an utter abandonment of the plot, for the leaders in Chicago +having been arrested, no one knew how soon his turn would come, and +it is a general and well-established fact, that however sanguinary and +fiendish a rabble may prove when attacking their victims by surprise, +the mass of such beings lose their brute courage when discovering, to a +certainty, that the details of their strategy are known, and the party +upon whom an assault is contemplated is prepared, and will repel the +attack with that fury, vigor, desperation and perseverance that will +surely carry death to many of the assailants. They lack zeal, because +they know their cause is a bad one, just as one honest man will put +three rogues to flight. It was telegraphed that the heads of the +government were fully advised of the conspiracy, and that officers +were freely visiting all the more important temples in the North-West, +mingling in the "business" of these meetings, and apprising the military +leaders of every move which had been made, which was being made, and +which was contemplated. Suspicion was aroused, and so general did this +distrust soon become, that no one was willing to trust his neck in a +halter, and any one of his associates having possession of the other +end. Suddenly a most wonderful reform was apparent, as rats disappear +from view after a few have been captured. Those who were at Invincible +Club hall, and made secession speeches, declared they were all drunk, +or were not in earnest, and other equally flimsy excuses;--these are the +apologies members made to each other, presuming they were addressing +the party who had surrendered them to the government. It was amusing +to notice their trepidation. They were variously affected. Capt. P.D. +Parks, of the Invincible Club, really cried, like a whipped schoolboy, +from fear; many ran away with all possible speed. Doolittle, the man of +valor, who was to lead a party against Camp Douglas, was the first to +run away, and from certain "surface indications," we rather think he is +running yet. James A. Wilkinson, the valorous Past Grand Seignior, has +gone to look after Doolittle; Silver has gone to Canada; Strawn has +turned a summerset into the Republican party; S. Corning Judd helped +to convict the prisoners in Cincinnati, although called by the defense; +Amos Green, the Major-General of the Order in Illinois, has quietly +subsided, and is no longer belligerent; Vallandigham gives the Order the +cold-shoulder, and affects pious horror upon the recital of its aims and +purposes--and, indeed, the whole organization, as formidable as it was +in numbers, was soon in the most terrible condition, and died in great +agony. The complications of the disease of which the order came to its +death, would puzzle the most profound pathologist. It might, perhaps, be +set down as a disease of the heart, induced by corrupt morals, with the +following complications: Softening of the brain from the study of State +sovereignty; extreme nervous debility from the reproach of a guilty +conscience; injury to the spine by suddenness of fall; weakness of the +limbs from bad whiskey, and impurity of the blood from contamination. +The child of secession is dead--as dead as the cause of the Southern +Confederacy! Jeff. Davis' pet institution was decently buried within the +enclosure of Camp Douglas. There being no provision or service in the +ritual for this occasion, we may only exclaim, as we look upon his last +resting-place, "_Requiescat in pace._" + +The arrest of General Walsh and others, and the discovery of a great +number of revolvers, etc., all loaded and ready for use, and the rather +unpleasant discovery that the Brigadier-General had actually employed a +Government detective to go to his house and give instructions in making +cartridges, were _rather_ mortifying to the order, and when it appeared +that the Chairman of the Vigilance Committee, whose province was to take +the balance of the arms, which we learned were in Walsh's barn, and with +all possible haste remove them to a place of safety, and the Chairman +(who makes this record for the edification of his constituents), deemed +the safest place he could find the retired locality of Camp Douglas, and +if the inquisitive eyes of Gen. Sweet, and his grasping propensities, +should take possession of all the valuable carbines, Enfield rifles, +muskets and revolvers, let them moderate their wrath, and find +consolation in the thought that in their last hour it will be a pleasant +reflection that all those bristling warlike implements fell into the +hands of men who will not put them to base uses. + +When it was announced, with all confidence, that beneath the hay +in Charley Walsh's barn was a large number of firearms that must be +speedily removed, a new idea of the value of ladies' hoops burst upon +the world (not "The Wide-Wide World,") but the few who were present when +James L. Rock, one of the editors of the Chicago _Times_ announced +that his wife (and Mr. Rock ought to know), and some other ladies could +quickly remove these weapons by concealing them under their hoops, +Colonel Sweet, with his usual gallantry, spared the ladies the +inconvenience and trouble, and removed them quite as well and as +quickly. + +After the first arrests, other followed, but after a time many of these +worthies were liberated, not because of their innocence; and they may +now one and all consider themselves on their good behavior. + +After the first arrests, the hall of the "Temple" in Chicago was +deserted. It was not thought to be exactly _safe_, and meetings were +held occasionally wherever they could find a place of safety, where it +was morally certain Gen. Sweet would not know of their gatherings or of +their business, and where it would be a dead secret forever; and they +one and all swore that whoever had exposed them to the Government +_should die by assassination_. This was their fixed purpose, and when +suspicion fastened upon Hull, no less than three persons _volunteered_ +to do the deed, those men were Lewis C. Morrison, old Felton, the +Outside Guardian, and, by his own confession, detective of the order, +and James L. Rock, one of the editors o the Chicago _Times_. + +Two of these "gentlemen" visited the office of the writer of this book +during the progress of the trial, and used the following language. "If +it be _true_, (he having inferred from Alexander's testimony that the +writer had been in the interest of the General Government), a thousand +times you had better be Charley Walsh than Dr. Ayer." + +A project was considered to rally the order and carry out the original +programme, but as well might an attempt have been made to infuse life +into a body that had been buried a fortnight. A messenger who went to +Lewiston, Ill., to "see what the order would do about it," were coolly +told by their Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, Esq., that "they +wouldn't do a thing." This unsatisfactory report proved two things--that +S. Corning Judd, Grand Commander, and candidate for Lieut. Governor of +Illinois, (who might have got the election, if the "ballot and +bullet" butternut machinery had only proved available), considered the +institution as "gone up," and 2d--that he was ungrateful to a people who +had at least made him their nominee. Gentlemen who, by request, visited +the different sections of the State and of the Northwest, all reported +that immediately after it was known that the Government knew their +secrets as well as they did themselves, they tacitly agreed not to +regard themselves as a "secret" organization in future, and we have the +best of reasons to believe the entire order is so completely uprooted +that it can never again spring up to curse the land. Home traitors have +been taught, and it is well if they profit by the lesson, they +cannot form any society or order based upon treason, that can for any +considerable time continue "secret." Its purposes will transpire, for +the all-seeing eye of Him who reads the hearts of men, and will not +suffer "a sparrow to fall to the ground without his notice," that +God who hath decreed that this nation shall be re-united, shall be +prosperous, free, happy, and truly great, will not suffer traitors to be +successful, but will give them into the hands of those who reverence +His mighty and terrible name; and their cunning shall be a reproach, and +their machinations shall be known of all men, and they shall blush with +burning shame that they were ever false to their country. + +[Illustration: JUDGE BUCKNER S. MORRIS + +A prominent lawyer and citizen of Chicago, a bitter and strong advocate +of Democratic faith and the peculiar notions of the Sons of Liberty. +He was arrested at the same time with Walsh in his own house. He was +a strong Southern man in his feelings and openly sympathized with +the rebellion, and so strong were his sympathies that he frequently +furnished escaped rebel prisoners of war with clothing, food, and money, +and otherwise aided them in escaping from the country. B.S. Morris +was at one time judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and was +a candidate for Governor of the State of Illinois. He was born in +Kentucky, and is about sixty years of age. Out side of his treason, +Judge Morris was generally regarded as possessing many noble qualities +of heart.] + + + + +CHAP. XVI + + +TESTIMONY OF GEN. B.J. SWEET--LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE +McCLELLAN CLUBS IN CHICAGO. + +The services of Brig.-Gen. B.J. Sweet, in relation to the Northwestern +Conspiracy, have already been briefly mentioned, and the reader will +perhaps find the report of that officer's testimony full of interest. +After the communications by the writer to Gen. Sweet (then Colonel) +in command of Camp Douglas, which were made by request of Gen. Paine, +dispatches were regularly forwarded to that officer, who never failed to +receive them with gratification. The service was one of extreme danger, +difficulty and delicacy, requiring the most careful attention, unceasing +vigilance, and only the consciousness of discharging an important and +imperative duty to the country, and the confident belief that invaluable +aid might thus be rendered, could have induced the writer to enter upon +and pursue a line of service, a thousand times more distasteful and +perilous than active service upon the field. + +The recognition of the writer's services by Brig.-Gen. Paine, and +subsequently by Maj. Gen. Hooker, in commendatory letters, will ever be +remembered, showing as it did, a grateful appreciation by those gallant +officers, of services of which, from their character, the public could +have no knowledge for the time being. + +The following is the testimony of Gen. Sweet, as substantially given +before the military commission in Cincinnati: + +EVIDENCE OF COLONEL SWEET. + +My name is Benjamin J. Sweet; I am and was, during the months of +September, October, and November of last year, Colonel of the 8th +Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps; I was also, and still am, Commandant +of the Post of Chicago, including Camp Douglas. The post I command +extended, I suppose to the limits of the surrounding posts. + +_The Judge Advocate_.--What are the geographical limits of the command +of the Post of Chicago. + +Mr. Asay objected to the question, as involving a matter of law and not +of evidence, but his objection was overruled by the Court. + +_Witness continued_.--My jurisdiction extends to the limits of the posts +north at Madison, Wisconsin, southwest to Rock Island, south, or almost +south, to Springfield, and east to Detroit, Michigan. The Commandant +has jurisdiction over everything pertaining to military affairs in the +jurisdiction, over the command of all troops, and for the protection of +the property of the Government and of the people. Chicago is one of the +first military depots of supplies in the country. There are ten +depots in charge of a Colonel, and Chicago is one of them. The Depot +Quartermaster at that time was Colonel Potter. From the commencement to +the latter end of August, the number of troops under my command, fit for +duty, was from 800 to 900. Towards the end of August, I was reinforced +by about 1,200 men, consisting of four companies of one hundred days' +men, and the 196th Pennsylvania Regiment, which numbered 750 men, also +one hundred days' men; these remained with me sixty or seventy days. I +telegraphed for these reinforcements. There were between 8,000 and 9,000 +prisoners in camp up to November. On the 6th of November, the morning +report shows 796 men, rank and file, fit for duty. There were always on +duty in Chicago about sixty men acting as provost guard; this left +736 men in camp to do guard duty. The sixty men in the city performed +service in looking after deserters, guarding property, &c. The depot for +supplies is in the city, and is in charge of the depot quartermaster. +Troops were used for doing camp duty, and guarding prisoners of war, and +forwarding deserters to various camps. The entire guard in Camp Douglas +was about 500 men, 250 on duty at a time, and 250 off. These were +changed every other day. The camp is within the city limits, and is +about three miles from the Court House. + +The conveniences to reach the camp are by way of street cars. There were +buildings on the north side of the camp; on the opposite side of the +street, also on the east side, there was a hotel and other dwellings. +Walsh's house was about one-fourth of a mile from the camp, with +three or four houses between Walsh's house and the camp. My duties are +two-fold; I have to report to Gen. Cook, at Springfield, commanding in +the State, and to Gen. Hooker, at Department headquarters. In relation +to prisoners of war, I am under the instructions of the Commissary +General of prisoners at Washington. These prisoners were arrested at my +order. Messrs. Walsh, Cantrill and Daniels were arrested by Lieut. Col. +Skinner and a detachment of troops, at Walsh's house. Grenfel and the +witness Shanks were arrested at the Richmond House, and Mr. Marmaduke +was arrested at the residence of Dr. Edwards, No. 70 Adams street. +Judge Morris was arrested by Mr. Keefe and members of the police. +These arrests were made on the 6th of November. They were arrested upon +information which led me to believe that there was on foot a conspiracy +to release the prisoners, and get up a revolution in Indiana and +Illinois. I regarded the emergency as immediate, and therefore acted +promptly. I dared not trust the telegraph and the railroad, for I +understood that the Sons of Liberty had men employed upon them. There +were one hundred and fifty men arrested in all. They were principally +from the South and Central Illinois, and had lately arrived in Chicago. +These were mainly from Fayette and Christian counties, Illinois. These +were arrested in grog-shops, boarding-houses, under the pavements, and +in every part of the city. All of these men were arrested from their +appearance and description, and by their looks were taken to be +vagabonds. There were but few of them armed. They asserted that they +came to Chicago to see the city. Some of them stated that they belonged +to the Sons of Liberty, and some from the Southern army; about one tenth +came from the Southern army. These bushwhackers were arrested partly by +the city police, partly by citizens, and some by soldiers. + +I have heard of such an organization as Klingmen's men. Most of them +coming from Christain and Fayette counties. It was chiefly made up of +deserters from the Federal army and those who ran away from the draft, +and was intended to resist the draft and all the operations of the +Provost Marshal and the General government in the prosecution of the +war. I succeeded in capturing the Captain and Lieutenant, and the +principal men of the organization. It was not an organization under the +United States or State law. I received all of these men up to the 8th of +November, and all being strangers, I took them in. + +I do not know the exact size of Camp Douglas, but believed it comprises +from 60 to 70 acres of land. The prisoners square proper, covers about +20 acres. In November last it was enclosed by a board fence 12 feet in +height and made of lumber an inch and a quarter in thickness. The +boards were placed endways and were nailed from the inside. The outside +sentinels were stationed on a parapet about three feet from the top +of the fence on the outside. The camp was more easily assailable from +without and less defensible than if the attack was made from inside. + +The Judge Advocate here exhibited to the witness a plan of the camp +found on the person of one of the conspirators. + +_Colonel Sweet_.--The map is very roughly drawn and is a little out of +proportion in detail, but is a correct drawing of the camp as it was in +August and September of last year. The outlines are precisely the same. +As shown on the map there were then 40 barracks in the prison square. +This number is now increased. The Guard-house and small tents on the +west side of the camp are also moved now. The barracks marked "Yankee +Barracks" is the correct position of the barracks occupied by the +garrison in Garrison Square. The building marked "Douglas House" on the +South side of the camp is, I suppose the Douglas University. It is a +magnificent building and is located about eighteen or twenty rods from +the camp fence, and overlooks the entire camp. One hundred men, or even +fifty men, stationed in that building, would command Camp Douglas, +and almost make it untenable to any force. During the session of the +Democratic Convention, and until the danger was over, I stationed two +companies near that building. I had in my charge a prisoner named John +T. Shanks at that time; he was there when I assumed the command of the +camp, on the second of May, 1864. He was a clerk in the office for the +commissary of prisoners. He applied to me to take the oath of allegiance +during the summer. His application went through me to the Commissary +General of Prisoners with my approval. I never approved these +applications unless I was fully convinced that the applicant was +desirous of becoming a loyal citizen. The application was not granted, +but I made it the basis of communication to Commissary General that +Shanks desired to serve the United States, and to take the oath. In this +camp there were some men who were more largely entrusted than others. +Shanks was a paroled prisoner, having the freedom of Garrison Square +during the day time. There were others there in the same condition--a +man named Grey, and clerks in the medical department. Shanks was allowed +to go to the city two or three times in company with an officer. The +prisoners are never permitted to have any funds. I gave Shanks a dollar. + +Shanks never used a nomme de plume that I am aware of. The prisoners +were not allowed to have any money, nor did they possess any unless they +obtained it secretly. Shanks, however, had, I believe, one dollar, +which I gave him. When a prisoner is brought to camp he is thoroughly +searched, and any money taken from him is placed in bands of the +Prisoner's Accountant, to be drawn, if required, in provisions from the +sutler. Letters are all opened, and any money they contain similarly +applied. I sent Shanks to the house of Judge Morris on the 3rd of +November, because five men had just escaped from the camp, and I traced +them, I believe, to that house. I asked Shanks if he would not like to +do the government a service. He replied that he would, when I told him +that I wanted him to go to the house of Morris and represent that he had +violated his parole and escaped, and if possible must be secreted with +the other prisoners. I then sent for Keefe, and the two went to the city +in a buggy. I followed on the street cars, and went to my office, No +90 Washington street, where I had told Shanks to report if he could not +find the prisoners. After I had been there a short time, Shanks came to +me and gave me $30, which he said Mrs. Morris had given to him, with the +exception of one dollar. I do not think he had any money when he went to +her house. + +I know Maurice Langhorne. He introduced himself to me on the 5th of +November, by showing me a letter from Secretary Seward to Secretary +Stanton, recommending that he be allowed to take the oath of allegiance. +He gave me some information regarding the plot, but I did not know +whether or not to take him into my confidence. At a subsequent meeting, +the next day, however, at the Tremont House, I determined that he was an +honest, reliable man, and one who could be trusted. He has been of +great value to me, and his information was ever correct. On the 12th of +November, after the first arrests were made, I first offered to employ +him. I asked him to identify all who he remembered having seen in +Canada, in connection with the conspirators, and arrest them. He +personally arrested the witness, John Maughan, at the Tremont House. He +gave me information of the ammunition in Walsh's house, and subsequent +facts proved that his information was perfectly correct. I gave him the +fictitious name of Johnson. He never acted as a detective, but simply +aided in arresting men he had known before. Shanks worked for the +Government ever since I knew him. Up to the 12th of November, he +received no pay, and after that got $100 a month as his salary. I +believe, however, that I previously gave him one month's salary, to +purchase some citizen's clothing. Of the arms seized at Walsh's house I +have the shot guns at camp. The pistols were entrusted to Col. Hough to +arm a citizens' patrol, and he has not returned them. I do not know the +exact number of arms we captured. There were about 354 revolvers and 200 +double barreled guns found in his house, and thirty cavalry carbines +in his barn in the city; the latter weapons were not loaded, but those +found in his dwelling were. There were also from 14,000 to 15,000 rounds +of cartridges, and some roughly made buckshot cartridges, the number of +which I do not remember. We also obtained some arms from other persons +arrested, I mean the bushwhackers. I do not think that any arms were +found on any of the prisoners at the bar, except, possibly, Grenfell. + +It will be interesting to the citizens of Chicago, if not in other +localities, to peruse the following report from a newspaper, which +has perhaps done more than any other in the United States, to aid and +promote the interests and cause of the rebels--a paper, the baneful +influence of which Gen. Burnside well knew, and would have crushed out; +but the editor of that print was suffered to proceed on his dirty and +devilish work, and most industrious has he been. The most loathsome +reptiles, as we see in the economy of nature, have their uses; "the +toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head;" the +spider, cunning and fierce, is not without his uses; the wily serpent +has his office, the viper was not made in vain, and as the mighty plan +of the Great Creator of the Universe is above the comprehension of man, +we may wonder at, but never understand why beings in the guise of men, +were ever formed, who know no patriotism, no gratitude, none of the +nobler attributes of man, and whose mission seems but destruction to his +race, and deadly enmity to his country. The Times, who in these days of +victory and triumph of Union arms, would "steal the livery of heaven to +serve the devil in," and prate of its devotion to the Union, furnishes +us some information it were well for good citizens to know, and which we +will presume is (unlike most statements in that concern) reliable. + +THE LIST OF McCLELLAN ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. + +We extract the following from the Chicago Times of October 20, 1864. It +will do to keep for reference. The comments which preface the list are +from the pen of the editor of that delectable print. The only comment we +need make is, that almost every man whose name is upon the list, was a +member of the Chicago Temple of the Sons of Liberty, in good and regular +standing with the order: + +"There is at present a thoroughly organized and efficient McClellan +club in nearly every ward in the city. The good that has resulted to the +democratic party from these organizations is more than can be readily +imagined. They have done much to stimulate men to an interest in the +issues of the day which never would have been felt but for the exertions +of the clubs. In those wards where these organizations have not already +been formed, meetings are appointed to take place this week for the +purpose of forming them, and by the next Sabbath there will be one in +every ward in the city. Ordinarily the clubs meet once a week, but they +convene oftener for special purposes. There are always speakers ready to +address these meetings, being local candidates, speakers residing in the +wards where the meetings are held, or speakers from abroad. Below will +be found a list of the McClellan clubs now in effect, together with the +names of their officers:" + +FIRST WARD. + +President, Chas. W. Patten; Vice-Presd'nt, P.D. Parks; Secretary, J.O. +More; Executive Committee, George S. Kimberly, William Y. Daniels, Dr. +J.A. Hahn, Augustus Banyon, Andrew Schall. + +SECOND WARD. + +President, William Baragwanatle; Vice-Presidents, Anton Berg, Dr. +E.W. Edwards, Samuel Duncan; Secretary, James Rattray; Treasurer, F.E. +Barber; Executive Committee, F.E. Barber, James Rattray, C.C. Strawn, J. +Schlossman, P.M. Donelan, H.L. Stewart, F. Cahill, Thos. Tilley, William +Hull. + +THIRD WARD. + +President, Geo. A. Meech; Vice-President, Stephen A. Barrett; Secretary, +Benjamin F. Smith; Treasurer, John Dalton; Executive Committee, Joshua +L. Marsh, John Schank, James McGrath. + +FOURTH WARD. + +President, A.A. Campbell; Vice-President, M.L. Kuth; Treasurer, Thomas +Horless; Secretary, L.W. Binz; Executive Committee, J.H. Ferrell, Mark +Kimball, Charles Walsh. + +FIFTH WARD. + +President, Mark Sheridan; First Vice-President, M.C. Quinn; Second +Vice-President, Jas. Brennan; Secretary, Christopher Dennis; Assistant +Secretary, James Fox; Treasurer, John Reid; Executive Committee, +Constantine Kanu, John Keyes, John Myers, L.J. Prout, John Lyons, +Michael McDermott, Michael Finucan, Thomas Barry. + +SEVENTH WARD. + +President, E. Gilmore; First Vice-President, D.W. Quirk; Second +Vice-President, Gotthard Schaaff; Secretary, M.A. Donahue; Treasurer, +Joseph Sherwin; Executive Committee, John Comisky, J.K. Boland, P. +Caraher, T. Tully, and T.E. Courtney. + +NINTH WARD. + +President, S.S. Elson; Vice-President, R. O'Malley; Secretary, A.S. +Morrison; Treasurer, P. Moran; Executive Committee, E.F. Runnison, P.S. +Hade, Michael Gerrity. + +TENTH WARD. + +President, Hiram M. Chase; Vice-President, H.N. Hahn; Secretary, A.L. +Amberg; Treasurer, T.T. Gurney; Executive Committee, D.W. Manchester, M. +McCurdy, Joseph Hogan. + +FOURTEENTH WARD. + +President, Joseph Kuhn; Vice-President, P. Stech; Treasurer, John +Schierer; Secretary, J.B. Winkelman; Executive Committee, B. Docter, +Fred. Licht, N. Gerten. + + +The _Times_ adds: + +"The above list gives all the names that have ever been published. +In some of the wards there are two clubs, and yet the permanent +organization of either has never been given. In some other wards they +have no permanent organization, but elect officers at each weekly +meeting. In the other wards clubs will be formed within a few days. +It should be borne in mind that the above clubs are independent of the +Invincible Club, which is not a mere ward organization, but represents +the whole city." + + + + +CHAP. XVII. + + +PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES--THE CONSUMMATION +OF THE INFERNAL PLOT--DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND DEADLY ASSAULT UPON +SECRETARY SEWARD--RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE. + +During the autumn of 1864, at a meeting of the Sons of Liberty, in +Chicago, a proposition was introduced which contemplated the raising of +a fund of fifty thousand dollars, which was to be expended in payment +of the services of some person who would undertake to assassinate the +President of the United States. This was an informal proceeding, the +meeting having just adjourned, but it was discussed by several of the +leading members, who declared that the "extermination of tyrants was +obedience to God." + +What say you, citizens of Chicago, concerning the band of traitors +in your midst, who meditate and discuss such crimes as make the soul +sicken, and the face blanch with horror; would not any honest man +deliver this department of Jeff Davis' most efficient allies into the +hands of the United States Government, by any means Heaven might place +in his power? If there is a man so fastidious of propriety, so mindful +of selfish considerations, that he would not, then, in our opinion, +that man is a coward, a traitor, an imbecile too weak to punish, and +deserving the scorn and contumely of his countrymen, for all coming +time. This proposition was the next day reported in a dispatch to Col. +Sweet, and is now on file in his office. It may be that the persons +who discussed the proposition, would not themselves have undertaken +the accomplishment of the deed, but the animus of the party was thus +rendered apparent, and the proposition was gravely considered and +discussed. This occurred soon after an interview, by the writer, with +Maj. Gen. Hooker, at the Tremont House, in Chicago, in October. It had +been often said that in case Lincoln was elected, he should never be +inaugurated, implying that his life would be terminated before that +event. Some of the very parties who made these threats, have since been +prisoners in Camp Douglas, but are now at large. On the night of the +14th of April, 1865, assassins, who were, doubtless, members of the Sons +of Liberty, in accordance with the same spirit in which that Order came +into existence, and was conducted from first to last, consummated their +hellish designs by shooting President Lincoln, and stabbing Secretary +Seward. The nation now mourns the loss of the noble martyr of freedom, +the truest heart, the most devoted patriot, the sincere advocate of +republican institutions, and the friend of the people. In every city, +town, and village, and hamlet of the land, is sincere mourning; deepest +grief swells the hearts and dim the eyes of all who have hearts to +feel, and fountains of tears, for the greatest bereavement that has +ever befallen our nation. The emblems of mourning, the solemn tolling of +bells, the universal gloom which overshadows our land, all impress upon +our hearts the terrible affliction that has come upon us, and while we +would bow reverently before Him who doeth all things well, and whose +wise purpose in this chastening of our already sorrowing people may not +now be apparent, we cannot repress the just indignation of our +souls that moves us to the enactment of that stern justice which is +uncompromising, and which cries to Heaven for vengeance, which nerves +our hearts and hands to deeds, the generous, noble, President of the +nation, now silent in the tomb, would have softened or averted. Villains +have slain the man whose heart was large enough to take into his +affections and paternal love, the whole country,--the man who knew no +North, no South, no East, no West, but whose devotion to the best good +of the people, was the ruling motive of a life so full of honors and +usefulness. The North had no friend like Lincoln! The South had no +friend like Lincoln! And, as our noble armies now march onward to +victory, and crush out beneath their iron heel, the last vestige of +treason, the memory of Lincoln will prove a watch-word of magic power; +soldiers will remember the entreaties, the offers of pardon, the +paternal affection of the noble Lincoln, and the base ingratitude of +the demon who consigned him to the tomb; they who have commended his +magnanimity, his humanity, his hopefulness, his reluctance to deal out +stern justice, which required hard blows--such of our fellow-citizens +will now, with holy indignation, rise in their might, and sweep from the +land those whose treason is heard, and whose bloody hand is uplifted, +aye, and those who devise their hellish schemes in secret chambers and +hiding places in our own cities and towns. "Remember Lincoln," will be +the battle-cry of our boys as they encounter armed treason in the field, +and "Remember Lincoln," should be the watchword of friends of freedom at +home, when hesitating in clemency, to strike down Copperheads who seek +to embarrass the government, and hope for, prophecy and delight in its +reverses upon the field of contest. Remember Lincoln and Seward ye men +who would now compromise by any and all sacrifices, with a people who +have sought to destroy our country, and have stricken down the pride of +our nation, the noblest of our land, and the champion of liberty. The +Chicago Board of Trade assembled upon the morning of the 15th of April, +and adopted the following resolutions: + +_Resolved_, That this Board has heard with mingled sentiments of grief +and horror of the foul assassination, by accursed traitors, of Abraham +Lincoln, President of the United States. + +_Resolved_, That we mourn in the deepest sorrow his loss as a national +calamity. His persevering and devoted patriotism through the dark days +of the Republic; his wisdom alike in the hour of trial and triumph, have +embalmed his memory in the hearts of his countrymen, and encircled his +fame with a glory which time can never tarnish. + +_Resolved_, That in this infernal act we see but another instance of +the demoniac hate of the slave power, arrested by the strong arm of the +government, under the heaven inspired leadership of Abraham Lincoln, in +its career of treason, murder and despotism; and we are admonished +anew to insist upon no compromise with the infamy, and upon the condign +punishment by the mailed hand of power, and the strong arm of the law, +of treason and its abettors, wherever found. + +_Resolved_, That in our capacity of business men and citizens, we vow +eternal hate to the treachery and treason of the rebellion, which, +in addition to its before unnumbered crimes, has added the cowardly +assassination of Abraham Lincoln in the vain hope of destroying this +Republic. + +_Resolved_, That in deep humiliation, we bow before the God of battles +and of Nations, and, in this hour of our grand triumph and overwhelming +sorrow, we reverently consign to His all-guiding wisdom the destiny of +this Republic, and pray Him still to have it in His holy keeping. + +_Resolved_, That the members of this Board, who have, from the war's +beginning, felt it their duty, as it has been their privilege and their +pride, to stand by the nation and its President and all its constituted +leaders, loyally aiding and encouraging, as they could, the Cabinet +and the Army in the gigantic struggle of the past four years, do now +solemnly, unitedly, in the presence of Almighty God, and in humble +reliance on the Divine help, pledge our full, unreserved, and trusting +support to the Government of these United States, and to the men who now +constitutionally succeed to the authority and powers, now laid down by +the great and good man, who has fallen a precious and holy sacrifice on +the altar of his country. And the members of this Board, in making this +solemn pledge, do the same, not for themselves only, but in behalf +of the loyal and patriotic people of the North-west, who have freely +offered their first-born, and best beloved for their country's +existence, security and honor. + +_Resolved_, That the members of this Board express their profound and +respectful sympathy with the bereaved family of the deceased, and +with the associates of the departed in the Cabinet, as well as all the +members of the national councils, in the tragic and deplorable events in +which they share so largely. + + + + +CHAP. XVIII. + + +HYPOCRISY OF COPPERHEAD NEWSPAPERS--COMPLICITY WITH ASSASSINATION--THE +LEADERS AND THEIR VICTIMS. + +During the month of February, by Executive clemency, a number of +Copperheads were released from confinement in Washington, where they had +been placed as a measure of public safety. The _Times_ published, and +other Copperhead papers echoed the following. That paper now, in a very +pious spirit, piteously urges, and the prints of like character also +echo it, that "there should be no more party strife," "no more rancor," +that it has not stabbed the President since he was shot, and the office +is now draped with deep mourning. Aminadab Sleek is going to them as a +comforter, and as tears mitigate woe, he bears with him an onion. The +_Times_ says: + +"We submit that this fact should damn this Administration, not only for +all time, but, if there be justice hereafter, to all eternity. There is +not a single civilized government in existence to-day, against which +can be charged a similar display of tyranny. With the title of being +the freest government of modern ages, we have shown ourselves to be one +whose disregard of right and whose outrageous assumptions of power are +only paralleled in the reign of despots. + +The liberty of fifty men may seem a small affair; but the matter has +not so much reference to the magnitude of the offence as it has to the +principle which underlies it. The moment Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Seward, or +any other man, dares to deprive one person of his liberty without due +process of law, that moment has the government been changed from one of +the people to an autocracy--a tyranny. If any man to-day is free in +this country, it is not because he is a good citizen, surrounded by the +protection of the laws, but simply because Seward or Lincoln has not +chosen to order his incarceration. + +The epitaph of posterity upon this people is easily anticipated. It will +be--died 24,000,000 of whites, who lost their liberties and lives in an +attempt to give a fictitious freedom to 4,000,000 negroes." + +_"Sic semper tyrannis!"_ exclaims Booth, who has read the above article, +and the mission of the _Times_ is accomplished, and it now wants "no +more party rancor." + + +"Out of my sight thou serpent! That name best Befits thee with him +leagu'd, thyself as false!" + + +The palpable HYPOCRISY of rebel sympathizers, can now only excite +contempt. Who that read the evidence of Clement L. Vallandigham, before +the military commission in Cincinnati, gave him credit for sincerity +when he said substantially had he supposed there was a plot against the +Government, he would have been the first to oppose or expose it. +Have the people forgotten Mr. Vallandigham's record? Have his Dayton +neighbors forgotten his cry of "Ocoon," the cry of distress of the Order +to which he belonged, and which was to summon Sons of Liberty to +his rescue, when arrested by the Government? Have they forgotten +Vallandigham's visit to Fulton county, Illinois, during the autumn of +1864, and its consequences? This county was the stamping ground of the +leaders of the treasonable organization, which has been dissected, and +whose head and heart are now in a state of decomposition. In that county +Assistant Provost Marshal Phelps was shot, there too enrolling officer +Criss was shot; in that county is Lewiston, where resides S. Corning +Judd, Esq., the Grand Commander of the Sons of Liberty in the State of +Illinois. C.L. Vallandigham was the Supreme Commander of the Order +in the United States. This Order inaugurated the new warfare at the +instance of the Southern rebel leaders--inaugurated assassination. This +order began with Provost Marshals and enrolling officers, and ended--if +indeed the loyal people _will_ it to have ended--with the assassination +of the best, the wisest, the most deeply loved President since the +immortal Washington. It is the education of Copperhead prints, and +Copperhead secret societies that has fitted the instruments of death, +and our indulgence which has fostered them. + +Vallandigham's party had been defeated, his greatness had departed, and +to wheel into line and "keep step to the music of the Union," was not +for him, and as Milton's creation once exclaimed, so might he have +uttered: + + +"And in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in hell; + Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. + But wherefore let me then our faithful friends, + The associates and co-partners of our loss, + Lie thus astonished on the oblivion pool, + And call them not to share with us their part + In this unhappy mansion; or once more + With rallied arms to try what may be yet + Regained in heaven, or what more lost in hell." + + +And so Clement L. Vallandigham became Supreme Commander of the Sons of +Liberty. + +Who is S. Corning Judd, who testifies before the Commission that _"the +organization_ (Sons of Liberty) _was being used in Indiana and Missouri +for improper purposes"?_ Who is he that says the organization in Chicago +"was looked upon by many of the leaders with great distrust; many of +those connected with the order in Chicago were radical, extreme men, and +understood to be men of little standing or character"? that one of the +delegates from Missouri stated his belief that the order in that State +was in favor of "giving aid and comfort to the Confederates"? When Judd +made these statements upon the stand, all loyal papers, with one accord, +declared that the evidence fully warranted the arrests, in the manner +and at the time they were made. No fair-minded man _then_ could come to +any other conclusion. Who, we ask, is S. Corning Judd? Stump-speakers, +last fall, would have said that he was the "Democratic" candidate for +Lieutenant Governor--and so he was. The Gubernatorial ticket bore +the name of James C. Robinson for Governor, and S. Corning Judd for +Lieutenant Governor--the former a man who, in Congress, voted against +"fighting, crushing, and destroying" the rebellion. Both Robinson and +Judd were Sons of Liberty, and to them Copperheads fondly turned, and +had they carried the State, anarchy and bloodshed would have been the +consequence; and, indeed, in the expressed opinion of Judge Morris, "had +they carried the State, he cared not who might be President, for they +would possess the reins of the General Government." S. Corning Judd +sought to serve his own ends by controlling the Sons of Liberty, and +failing in this, he gave the cold-shoulder to his Brig.-General (Walsh), +when, in consequence of executing the edicts of the order, he found +himself a close prisoner for the horrid doctrine of secession; _he_ must +be tried and convicted, but the Grand Commander, S. Corning Judd, and +the Supreme Commander, C.L. Vallandigham, and the Past Grand Commander, +or Major-General, Amos Green, each, severally appear upon the stand +against him, and they permitted to go scott free. O, cursed doctrine of +secession! + + + "So stretch'd out huge in length the arch-fiend lay, + Chain'd on the burning lake; nor ever thence + Had risen or heaved his head, but that the will + And high permission of All-ruling Heaven + Left him at large to his own dark designs; + That with reiterated crimes he might + Heap on himself damnation, while he sought + Evil to others." + + +If Vallandigham, if Judd, if Green, if Barrett, and if the many equally +guilty persons released from custody go unpunished, then "Justice, thou +art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason." Not that we +would contradict Judd in the least in aught that he has said against the +Chicago temple, but we would tell him that we know the Chicago temple, +so far from taking the lead in radicalism, was behind the order in +Peoria, in Bloomington, in Dubuque, in St. Louis, Louisville, and many +other places. Give the devil his due. In some places the boldness +of Copperheadism induced prominent members of the Sons of Liberty to +approach members of Congress, with their base proposals to enter the +order. + + + + +CHAP. XIX. + + +EXTINCTION OF SLAVERY--NO CONCILIATION WITH TRAITORS--DOWN WITH +COPPERHEADS AT HOME. + +In a publication of this character, it will not be expected we should +review either the causes which led to the great rebellion, with its +hydra heads and its sad consequences; but in closing, and especially +in view of the terrible tragedy which has plunged a nation in deepest +grief, we cannot refrain from saying, that the last most diabolical deed +was not the act of individual madness, of personal hate and passion, it +was the culmination of the hatred by the slave power of the principle +of liberty, and the champion of freedom. It was not because the assassin +felt in his heart a hatred of Abraham Lincoln, but because he, and the +people at whose instigation he acted, hated the apostle of liberty, and +the instrument in the hand of God for the accomplishment of a great and +mighty work. Although it was the purpose of this band of murderers +to assassinate the President and the whole Cabinet, it was not from +personal malice against them as men, but the enemy sought by the +destruction of the exponents of a free government, to give new life +to the expiring representation of the slave power. So antagonistic was +freedom to slavery that it was impossible to permanently embody the +representatives of these principles with a republican government, which +should be perfect in its formation, wise and just in its action, the +hope of the liberty loving people throughout the world, and the pride +and glory of American citizens. Every year since the adoption of the +old Constitution, have discordant elements cropped out, and incidents +transpired, which demonstrated to every rational mind, that as time +rolled on, the accumulation of combustible elements would ultimately +explode, and shake the civilized world to its center. + +The facts that Northern teachers, Northern clergymen, Northern +mercantile agents, Northern men upon business or pleasure, travelling +at the South, and unwilling to stultify themselves, or become passive +approvers and admirers of the "peculiar institution," were treated with +all possible indignities, and might count themselves fortunate if they +escaped with their lives. So complete was the universal devotion to +slavery in all sections of the South, and so baneful its effects upon +the people, that all other considerations were made subservient to this. +For slavery, friends were alienated, hatred established, so bitter in +its extent that only death could appease it. It demoralized the entire +people; it found its way with all its horrid moral deformities, into +the very capitol; it caused the murderous assault of Brooks upon Charles +Sumner in the Senate, and the many altercations and bitter harangues +which have from time to time disgraced our National Congress; it was its +cropping out that caused the fearless and noble President Andy Johnson, +to threaten to hang Jeff. Davis--and which he may yet be called upon to +perform;--it was slavery that devised the doctrine of secession; that +has led to the deadly conflict upon hundreds of battle fields, and has +spilled the best blood of our nation, and caused mourning and gloom all +over the face of our once happy land. What wonder then, that the noble +Lincoln, who, in the sincerity of his heart, and in the dictates of +superior wisdom, who, seeing and appreciating the encroachments and +horrors of slavery, not only to the people in bondage, but to the +citizens of our country in every section--who wonders that Lincoln, +whose name is immortal, especially for his extirpation of this curse, +should be singled out by the demon of slavery, and assigned by Davis, +his prophet, for a violent death. Thank God, the cancer is extirpated +so thoroughly, that its fibres of death can never again form to threaten +destruction to our land. True, the operation has been most painful, and +no anesthetic agent has been employed; the suffering has been fearful, +and the country has, to its extremities, trembled with anguish; but it +is over now. + +The assassination of the President was the will of Jeff. Davis, +whispered in the temples of the Sons of Liberty or American Knights, +into the ears of those of the members of the Orders, who had made the +most proficiency in their teachings, and these beings, true to their +_oaths_, went forth upon their mission of blood. + +The following "gems," from the debates in the Democratic National +Convention, will be read with interest now and in future time: + +S.S. Cox, said: + +"He had attempted in his own city, a few weeks since, to show, in a +very quiet way, that ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD DELUGED THE COUNTRY WITH BLOOD, +created a debt of four thousand million of dollars, sacrificed two +millions of human lives, and filled the land with grief and mourning." + +A pious man, who had listened attentively to his remarks, sang out +"G----d d----n him." + +"For less offenses than Mr. Lincoln had been guilty of, the English +people had chopped off the head of the first Charles. IN HIS OPINION, +LINCOLN AND DAVIS OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT TO THE SAME BLOCK TOGETHER." + +C. Chauncey Burr, editor of several Copperhead New York journals, said: + +"And it was a wonder that they had a Cabinet and men who carried out +the infamous orders of the gorilla tyrant that usurped the Presidential +chair." + +Capt. Koontz, of Pittsburg, an ardent McClellan leader, said: + +"If Democrats catch Lincoln's bloody spies among them, they must cut +their d----d throats, that's all. [Applause.] It is the duty of every +American to vote for a peace candidate." + +Baker, of Michigan, said: + +"Let us hurl that usurper from power. Never till that day comes when the +usurper and his victim meet at the judgment seat, can he be punished for +his wrongs, for his conspiracy against American liberty." + +Benjamin Allen, of New York, said: + +"The people will soon rise, AND IF THEY CANNOT PUT LINCOLN OUT OF POWER +BY THE BALLOT THEY WILL BY THE BULLET." [Loud cheers.] Mr. Stambaugh, a +delegate from Ohio, said: + +"That, if he was called upon to elect between the freedom of the nigger +and disunion and separation, he should choose the latter." (Cheers.) + +"They might search hell over and they could not find a worse President +than Abraham Lincoln." + +Hon. Mr. Trainor, of Ohio, said: + +"He would urge the people to be freemen, and HURL ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND +HIS MINIONS FROM POWER." + +Henry Clay Dean, said: + +"In the presence of the face of Camp Douglas and all the satraps of +Lincoln, that the American people were ruled by felons. Lincoln had +never turned a dishonest man out of office, or kept an honest man in. +[A voice--'What have you to say of Jeff. Davis?] I have nothing to say +about him. LINCOLN IS ENGAGED IN A CONTROVERSY WITH HIM, AND I NEVER +INTERFERE BETWEEN BLACK DOGS." + +"He blushed that such a felon should occupy the highest place in the +gift of the people. PERJURY AND LARCENY WERE WRITTEN OVER HIM AS OFTEN +AS WAS 'ONE DOLLAR' ON THE ONE DOLLAR BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE OF +INDIANA. (Cries of the 'old villain.') The Democracy were for peace." + +W.W. O'Brien, of Peoria, also threatened "to try him as Charles the +first was tried, as a tyrant and a traitor, and if they found him guilty +to hang him." + +The essential unity of Copperheadism with assassination, appears in the +following remarks of Koontz, of Pennsylvania: + +"Shall more wives be made widows, and more children fatherless, and +greater hate be stirred up between children of the same glorious +constitution? IF NOT WE MUST PUT OUR FOOT UPON THE TYRANT'S NECK, and +destroy it, The Democratic government must be raised to power, and +Lincoln with his Cabinet of rogues, thieves and spies, be driven to +destruction. What shall we do with him? [A voice--"Send him here, and +I'll make a coffin for him, d----n him."]" + +As we review the events which have transpired during this war, we are +strikingly impressed with the magnanimity, the forbearance, the humanity +of the loyal States in their relations to the rebels in arms, and we +are also impressed with the great lack of the exhibition of these +qualities--the most ennobling in national character--on the part of the +so-called Southern Confederacy. From the hour of firing upon Fort Sumter +to the present moment, the war has not been waged by the rebels as if +in defense of the great principles of truth and justice, but with the +malignity, the cruelty and barbarity which would, in many instances, put +to blush the savages upon our western borders. In our dealing with them, +the honor, integrity, fidelity and dignity of the nation have never been +forgotten; and the policy of the noble President, laid low by the hand +of the assassin, was never to give blows when words would answer,--never +to exact by force what might be attained by reasoning,--and never, under +any circumstances, to forget those qualities which make a nation truly +great, the first and chief of which is charity. How has our enemy failed +to appreciate this? The manner in which the warfare has been waged by +the South will be mentioned by historians as cruel, dishonorable and +disgraceful to people of a Christian nation. Failing of success upon +the field, we find the Davis Government countenancing guerrilla warfare, +burning bridges, murdering unarmed citizens, and desolating the homes +of unoffending people, and committing piracy upon the high seas. Still +failing of success and losing ground daily, but driven to desperation +by the apparent hopelessness of their cause, they sink to the depth of +infamy by establishing among us secret orders, the aim of which is to +educate men of base passions to deeds of dark dishonor and unmeasured +infamy; men who receiving such instruction will concoct schemes for the +burning of cities, for the liberation of their prisoners; and, lastly, +they have sunk so low in the mire of dishonor, impelled by savage +ferocity and hate, that it would appear folly, if not downright +criminality to longer deal with them on the principles of liberality +and gentleness, which has marked our conduct hitherto. It was our +generosity, our mildness, our spirit of conciliation that moved the +hand of the demon who slew the country's truest friend. Let it be so no +longer! Let rebels feel that we are terribly in earnest. Let heavy blows +be struck, and struck without delay, and let there be no exhibition of +concession or conciliation, till the enemy sue for peace upon the terms +the country proclaims. As well make Copperheads Christians or honest +men, as to attempt by gentleness longer to subdue rebels, whose weapons +are firebrands and assassins' daggers. It is futile; try it no longer. +Said the great French advocate of justice, when he was charged with +being sanguinary, because he so frequently punished murder with death, +"You tell me that it is bloody work, and sinful in the sight of Heaven +to execute men; so it is, and I am disposed to desist, and I will, the +moment men stop the crime of murder." So will we show clemency, when our +enemy has laid down his arms, and not before. + +Another measure by our people would be attended with salutary +results--the extermination of Copperheadism at home. Who helped to +form secret societies of Sons of Liberty and kindred organizations, so +industriously and so efficiently as editors of Copperhead publications. +It is in these orders that assassins are trained, and prepared for their +fiendish mission. Henceforth let the people--the loyal people of the +most glorious country on which the sun shines--swear by the memory of +our much loved and deeply lamented President, that henceforth no paper +shall print, no man shall utter sentiments of treason, under the penalty +of incurring that summary punishment, the righteous indignation of a +sorrowing, long suffering people may inflict. If the people resolve to +endure the curse of home treason no longer, and let Copperheads know +that they can no longer co-operate with Jeff. Davis in any part of +our land, we shall never again be called upon to aid in suppressing or +exposing a North-Western Conspiracy, or any plot against our country, in +any section of our land. + + + + +CHAP. XX. + + +TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO CONSPIRATORS--THE WITNESSES AND THE TESTIMONY. + +When our troops entered Richmond, among other rebel documents found was +a bill, offered in secret session of the rebel House of Representatives, +January 30th, 1865, establishing a Secret Service Bureau, for the +employment of secret agents, "either in the Confederate States, or +within the enemy's lines, or in any foreign country," and authorizing +the chief officer "to organize such a system _for the application of new +means of warfare approved_, and of secret service agencies, as may tend +best to secure the objects of the establishment of the bureau." + +The trial, conviction, sentence, and execution of Capt. Beall, for +piracy on the lakes, and of Kennedy, for incendiarism in New York, are +still fresh in the recollection of our readers. That these men were +acting under instructions from the bureau of secret service of Jeff. +Davis, no rational person can doubt. These acts were but incidents in +the grand conspiracy at the North; the guilty parties, who suffered +death, were but the instruments of others, and the members of the secret +organizations, who were cognizant of these acts and purposes, though yet +unwhipped of justice, are more guilty, in the sight of Heaven, than +the wretches who undertook the execution of the hellish design, and for +which they suffered ignominious death. + +After the discovery of the purposes and acts of the leaders of the Sons +of Liberty in Illinois, in co-operation with rebels, and the arrests +detailed in a former chapter, a Military Commission was convened in +Cincinnati for the trial of the prisoners, Morris, Walsh, Grenfell, +Anderson, Daniels, Cantril, Marmaduke and Semmes, upon a charge of +conspiring to sack and burn Chicago, and to liberate the prisoners in +Camp Douglas. + +The Commission consisted of the following named officers: + +C.D. Murray, Colonel 89th Indiana Volunteers, President Commission. +Ben. Spooner, Colonel 83d Indiana Volunteers. N.C. Macrae, Major United +States Army. P. Vous Radowitz, Lieutenant-Colonel United States Army. +S.P. Lee, Major 6th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. M.N. Wiswell, +Colonel Veteran Reserve Corps. B.P. DeHart, Colonel 128th Indiana +Volunteers. S.H. Lathrop, Lieutenant-Colonel, A.I.G. Albert Heath, +Lieutenant-Colonel 100th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. + +CONFESSION OF MRS. MORRIS, B.S., AND HER SENTENCE. + +CINCINNATI, Feb. 13. + +The following is Mrs. Morris' confession: + +McLEAN BARRACKS, CINCINNATI, Feb. 5, 1865. + +To Maj.-Gen. J. Hooker, Commanding Northern Department, Cincinnati, O.: + +General--I was arrested in Chicago, on the 11th day of December, by the +United States authorities, charged with assisting rebel prisoners to +escape, and relieving them with money and clothing; also, with holding +correspondence with the enemy. I desire to state the facts of the case, +to confess the truth, and to ask such clemency at your hands as may be +consistent with your duty as an officer of the government. I was born +and reared in Kentucky. My home was in the South till within the last +ten years, my connections and friends all being there. I had sympathy +with them, though I was as much opposed to the secession movement as +any one could be. Having a large acquaintance in Kentucky, I was charged +with the distribution of a great deal of clothing and money among the +prisoners in Camp Douglas, Chicago, sent to them by their friends, and +which was done under the supervision of the proper officers of the camp. +This I continued to do up to the time of my arrest, and in this way +I made the acquaintance, and was understood to be the friend of the +prisoners in camp. + +In the early part of last winter, an escaped prisoner named John +Harrington, came to me and asked for assistance. He stated that he was +going to Canada for the purpose of completing his education. I gave him +money to the amount I believe of $20. Some time in the summer of the +past year, a rebel prisoner named Charles Swager, a young man who had +escaped from the cars while being conveyed to Rock Island, came to me +for assistance. I gave him a coat, a pair of boots, and some money, to +the amount I believe, of $15. There were two or three others that I had +reason to believe were escaped prisoners, whose names I do not know. +These I assisted with money, and to one of them I gave some clothing. +There were some others to whom I gave money and clothing, that I did not +at the time know were rebel prisoners, but who afterwards I had reason +to believe were such. + +I received letters from Capt. J. B, Castleman of the rebel army, and +sent him verbal messages in return. He called at my house, and remained +for a little while. Capt. Hines, also of the Confederate army, called +and ate at my house once during last summer. + +I beg to be released from my present imprisonment, and promise that, if +my prayer is granted, I will henceforth conduct myself as a truly loyal +woman, without in any way interfering with the government or aiding its +enemies. + +Witness my hand and seal, this 5th day of February, 1805. MARY B. +MORRIS. + +The following is Gen. Hooker's order relative to Mrs. Morris: + + +HEADQUARTERS NORTHERN DEPARTMENT, + + CINCINNATI, O., Feb. 10, 1865. + + +[_Extract._] + +Mrs. Mary B. Morris, now in confinement at McLean barracks, in the city +of Cincinnati, O., charged with giving aid and comfort to the enemy, +assisting rebel prisoners to escape, and other disloyal practices, will, +on or before Monday the 13th inst., be sent south of our military lines, +under guard, into the so-called Southern Confederacy. Her sympathy with +those in rebellion can there find its natural expression, and a more +appropriate theatre of action. It is but just to our government and +laws, that the shield of its power should not be thrown over those +who are inimical to it, and are giving active aid and sympathy to +its enemies. The claim to protection by the government implies the +reciprocity of fealty. + +Mrs. Mary B. Morris, who was ordered sent out of our lines by paragraph +1 of this order, in consideration of her professions and promises, is +permitted to remain on the premises of her father, Edward M. Blackburne, +at Spring Station, Woodford county, Ky., on consideration that she +complies with the promises accompanying her confession, filed at these +headquarters, Feb. 5th, 1865. If such promises are not complied with, +the first paragraph of the order to be in full force. + +By command of Maj.-Gen. HOOKER. + +(Signed) C.H. POTTER, Assistant Adjutant-General. + +The trial of the prisoner Cantril was deferred, owing to serious +illness. During the progress of the trial, Anderson committed suicide, +and Daniels escaped. [It will be remembered that H.H. Dodd, convicted +of treason in Indianapolis, some months ago, and sentenced to suffer +the death penalty, also escaped. Neither Daniels or Dodd have been +recaptured.] The evidence before the Military Commission elicited most +of the important facts embraced in this narrative, and therefore need +not be reviewed. + +In regard to several of the witnesses before the Military Commission, a +few remarks may not be uninteresting. It has been observed by the reader +who has carefully perused the foregoing statement, that there were +two distinct elements which made up the great conspiracy, viz: The +Copperheads, or Sons of Liberty, and Knights of the Golden Circle, and +the rebel emissaries both in the Northern States and in Canada. The +discovery of the designs, purposes and intents of the former, was made +by the writer of this work, who was aided by Robert Alexander. With such +aid as we were able to control, we obtained and imparted the information +which resulted in the total defeat of the devilish intent of our secret +enemies--the Copperheads; the purposes, movements, ends and aims of +the _Rebels in Canada_, were reported by Maurice Langhorn, aid by +two others. The parties in charge of observing and defeating the two +distinct elements, were utter strangers, and had never met or had any +communication whatever. + +In regard to the writer, it need only be said, that when it was +announced to Hon. I.N. Arnold, M.C., Governor Yates, and Brig.-Gen. +Paine, that there was a formidable conspiracy against the General +Government, embracing many thousand persons in its league, and that its +purpose was the subversion of our Government in aid of the rebellion, +that their plots were rapidly maturing, and the most alarming +consequences might be apprehended, if timely precautions were not +observed, all of these gentlemen gave to the matter their earnest and +careful attention. It was not the purpose of the writer to proceed with +further investigations, except by advice and direction, as it was a +work for which he felt wholly unqualified, from his tastes, disposition, +professional, and social position, but the arguments of Gen. Paine, +which, at this time and place, it is unnecessary to state, but which it +is believed neither party will soon forget, decided the matter, and +the task was undertaken, and with what success it was attended, let the +history of the proceedings in Cincinnati determine. For more than six +months, the work was prosecuted with unceasing vigilance, regardless +of all other considerations, and although, when he was called to the +witness stand, he could not shield himself from the malignant abuse of +counsel, by stating _that he had been acting under a commission received +from his Government_, yet he then felt morally certain, and that +confidence _yet remains unshaken_, that when his true relations to the +Government and country, are finally known, his motives, his acts, and +his services, will be duly appreciated. He has not been mistaken. +The contemptible falsehood of the party who stated that the writer's +services had been compensated, or that a claim for compensation had been +made, is hereby hurled back into his teeth. Not a dollar, not a dime, +has been received, not even for _actual expenses incurred_, and _no +claim_ whatever has been made--no consideration whatever has been +proffered. The service was the result of a deep conviction of duty, a +feeling that no citizen should withhold personal sacrifice, even of life +and reputation, if the interest of his country demands it. We knew the +condition upon which we stepped aside from the agreeable and peaceful +avocations of life, and entered upon the task so distasteful, so +repulsive, and for a time so thankless. We had reason to know that +the shafts of fiendish calumny would assail, that friendship would be +broken, _that envy and jealousy would ply their innuendoes_, that the +Copperhead elements of a fraternity, claiming one of the offenders in +its ranks, would assail with bitterness and awaken poignant grief, but +no regret, that we should have the hatred of Copperheads, as long as +that genus (thank Heaven, short-lived), existed in our land, and be +regarded with distrust by those negative persons, who would be for the +Union, had they any independence of character; we knew all this would +follow, if the assassin's bullet or dagger did not execute the sworn +purpose of the Order, but with an abiding faith in the justice of +Heaven, with an approving conscience, and our earnest heartfelt prayer +for our loved country in her dark hours, we took our course, and our +only regret is, that we had not sooner entered upon the work, and +thereby frustrated plans which have contributed to our national +suffering; for who shall say how many have been its victims, how many +homes has it made desolate, how many hearts has it broken, and how many +graves now enclose misguided men, and misguided youths, who, educated +in its fallacies, lured by its snake-like influence, arrayed themselves +against their country, and fell victims to their fanaticism! + +We have heard the cry of our Union soldiers at the front, to protect the +helpless in the rear, and we have tried to comply. We have given our +own near and dear kindred to the bullet and the sword, a sacrifice to +freedom, and staunched the life-blood of a dearly loved brother, upon +the field of Antietam, and as we wiped away the dew of death, gathering +upon his brow, we pledged our life--our all--to the cause of the Union; +and if better service might be rendered in vanquishing the secret foe at +home, than meeting the more honorable enemy upon the field of battle, +we were ready for the work. Had it not been for the potent influence +of Copperheads at the North, the counsel, the sympathy, the comfort +extended to the rebels, the rebellion would have been put down long ago. +Entertaining such views, we shall, under any and all circumstances, and +at all times, be a bitter opponent of Copperheadism wherever found, and +regard it as legitimate warfare to arrest the assassin of our country, +wherever and whenever we can. If the disaffected find comfort in this, +let them make the most of it. + +ROBERT ALEXANDER.--This gentleman, who is well known to the citizens of +Chicago, has held several positions of responsibility and trust, and +has ever been a consistent, earnest, devoted advocate of the Union. So +intensely Republican in sentiment is he, that the attempt to introduce +him into the Sons of Liberty, called forth such opposition that it +was thought we should fail in the attempt, and he finally, was only +admitted, after he and his sponsor (the writer) had been told, in plain +words, accompanied with an oath, that if he proved false to them, _both +should die_. For months he bore the opprobrium of a Copperhead, and +suffered extreme annoyances in sustaining the role it was his duty +to assume. Conscientious, earnest, persevering, patient, with keen +perception, and a remarkable power of reading human character, with the +experience of an excellent police officer, Mr. Alexander brought to his +post of duty high qualifications, and was a valuable, ready and willing +assistant. It should be remarked that Mr. Alexander had been informed in +May, 1864, that he had been appointed First-Lieutenant in the 53d U.S. +Infantry, and supposed he was in the service of the U.S. Government at +the time of joining this great undertaking, but the information, though +coming from a high source, proved incorrect, and this is one additional +reason why the writer made choice of Mr. Alexander. While we know that +loyal men will appreciate Mr. Alexander's valuable services, we have yet +to learn that he has, thus far, experienced any other satisfaction than +the approval of his own heart, and the sincere gratitude of the writer, +for his hazardous undertaking, and the able manner in which he performed +his duty. + +MAURICE LANGHORN, one of the principal government witnesses, was born in +Pittsburgh, Penn., and reared in Marysville, Ky. He is a lawyer, and a +man of ability. Like many other Kentuckians who were in the South at +the time the rebellion broke out, Mr. Langhorn committed himself to the +doctrine of secession. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in a Louisiana +regiment of heavy artillery. He was subsequently recommended for +Colonelcy in the rebel army, but failed to get the appointment. In 1861 +he went to Bowling Green, Ky., where he enlisted as a private in the +9th Kentucky Infantry, Col. Thomas H. Hunt, of Louisville, and was +transferred to the artillery. He mounted the guns on the fortifications +around Bowling Green, and seems to have given great satisfaction. He ran +as candidate for representative to the rebel congress from Kentucky, but +before the result of the canvass was known, was captured and held eight +months as a prisoner of war. Mr. Langhorn subsequently took the oath of +allegiance to the United States, and was of great service in reporting +the movements and designs of the rebel emissaries in Canada to Col. +Sweet. The information Mr. Langhorn gave of those men was reliable, and +upon it certain arrests were made. Mr. Langhorn is now a loyal citizen, +in its broadest and best sense. Mr. Langhorn is a young man not over +twenty-five years of age, of quick, nervous temperament, kind and +generous impulses, a man of strong feelings, warm friendship, bitter +animosities, and whatever he undertakes, he executes with a will. Of +Mr. Langhorn it may be truly said, that while he was a rebel, he was an +earnest, active foe, but a true soldier, having a high regard for honor +and integrity, loving the State in which he was reared, and ever +jealous of her honor and fair name. Mr. Langhorn was a rebel from +principle--because he felt that the South was right--but when convinced +of his error, he made haste to repair it, and when he had once taken the +oath of allegiance, he went to work with all his might to aid the cause +of the Union. To Mr. Langhorn is due all the honor of frustrating the +designs of the _rebels from Canada_; and Col. Sweet being advised by +Mr. Langhorn of _this_ portion of the plot, and by the writer of the +_Copperheads' movements and intents_, the Colonel had the best possible +opportunity of acquiring important knowledge, and regulating his conduct +in accordance therewith. Mr. Langhorn is a true friend of the Union, +an admirer of our lamented President, and has rendered the citizens of +Chicago a service which should ever be held in grateful remembrance. + +MR. SHANKS--Once a Rebel officer of distinction, but now a loyal man, +consistent in conduct, and of very great assistance to the Government, +in ferreting out Rebel officers and Rebel sympathisers, has the +confidence and respect of those who know him. He is a young man of +signal ability, and if he continues to serve the country as faithfully +as he has in the present case, will yet attain distinction. + +CHRISTOPHER C. STRAWN--Was a valuable witness. He is a young man who +has taken an active part with the Democrats, and is well informed of the +incomings and outgoings, and the eccentricities and peccadilloes of the +managers in Chicago, although the _Post_ says, that "before his arrest +he was not worthy of notice, and after his arrest still less so." We +think the _Post_ man a little severe on Strawn, who has done all he +could to have the guilty Copperhead readers of that paper brought +to justice. Mr. Strawn, has bade his brethren, the Copperheads, an +affectionate and, we trust, final adieu. + +JOHN MAUGHAN, an Englishman, born in Berkshire county, and about 22 +years of age. His family moved to Toronto, Canada West. He was always +in Canada regarded as a young man, with fine business qualities and +promise. For three years just before his connection with the rebels, and +their Northern conspirators, he occupied a very responsible position as +a clerk and teller, in one of the branches of the bank of Upper Canada, +and was in every way worthy the confidence reposed in him. During the +spring and summer of 1864, he however became acquainted with rebel +soldiers in Canada, earnestly espoused their cause, and left his +position to go with them to the Southern army. They, however, instead +of going South, went to Chicago, where he became acquainted with the +conspirators, and also gained their confidence, and on account of being +an Englishman, and having his papers with him, and being able to +travel without fear of detection, he was used by them to carry their +correspondence and other communications, which were of too dangerous +a character to trust to the mails. This man was truly a dangerous +character. No one, except those who employed him, knew him, or the +character in which he was acting, and he was able, frequently, to render +the conspirators immense service in their desperate schemes. He was +captured in Chicago in November, and finally agreed to turn State's +evidence, when he saw that unless he did, his own life was forfeited. +After this agreement, he was treated with great leniency by the +Government, but upon being placed upon the witness stand, his old +sympathies and prejudices returned, and it is believed he distinctly +perjured himself, acting through the whole trial with bad faith toward +the Government which had treated him so generously. + +THOS.E. COURTNEY--A Son of Liberty, and a leading Democrat of Chicago, +called a witness for _defence_, testified, among other things, as +follows: + +"_I was on a Committee of the Democratic party to receive, at the Alton +Depot, some bogus voters that were to be imported into Chicago to vote +at the Presidential election_; they were part and parcel of the tribe +that came from Egypt, and I was one of the _Committee appointed to +escort them to their boarding houses_." + +OBADIAH JACKSON, JR., ESQ., Grand Seignior of the Temple, who had been +arrested and sent to Camp Douglas, and while there had written and +signed a "statement," was called for the defence, but it neither helped +him or the defendants. + +COL.B. M. ANDERSON--Was born, reared, and educated in Kentucky. He was +a young man of education, ability, and fine personal appearance, and +had he not been a rebel would have been an accomplished gentleman. He +possessed many fine points of character, and was, in our opinion, a much +better man than any of the Northern Copperheads who have been arrested. +He had been in the Nicaraugua expedition, under the fillibuster, Walker. +Col. Anderson was the dupe of others. He committed suicide at the +barracks in Cincinnati, during the progress of the trial. He leaves a +wife and many friends to mourn his death. His history is a sad one. In +any other position than a rebel, he would have been a most useful member +of society. He was not of the material of which the Sons of Liberty was +made up, but aside from that deadly fanaticism which ruined him, he won +warm friends wherever he went. Nature did everything for him, but the +accursed doctrine of Calhoun, consigned him to a suicide's grave, "after +life's fitful fever" of war upon the land of his birth. + +CHARLES TRAVIS DANIELS--One of the prisoners, is a native of Harrison +County, Ky. A lawyer by profession, about 26 years of age and very +prepossessing in appearance. He is somewhat remarkable for a rather +strange and singular expression of his eyes. Belonged to John H. +Morgan's command, but never served in any other capacity than as an +enlisted man. He was captured with Morgan during his raid in Ohio, and +confined in Camp Douglas, from which he escaped; was captured at Charles +Walsh's house, on the 7th of November, and escaped again from the +military authorities in Cincinnati, Ohio, while being tried by the +Commission. He has not been recaptured, but has been found guilty by the +Commission. + +CAPT. GEORGE CANTRILL--Is a native of Scott County, Ky. Is about the +same age as Daniels. There is nothing remarkable in connection with him, +and of no more than ordinary intelligence. He also belonged to Morgan's +command, in which he served as Company commander; was in Morgan's last +raid in Kentucky, and at his defeat at Cynthiana escaped to Canada. He +was with the other rebels at Chicago during the Convention, and went +with them to Southern Illinois for the purpose of drilling Copperheads. +He was captured in the house of Charles Walsh, on the morning of the 7th +of November last. On account of severe sickness he was not tried with +the other conspirators. + +RICHARD T. SEMMES--One of the prisoners, tried, convicted, and +sentenced, for being one of the Chicago Conspirators, is a young +man--not over 23 or 24 years of age, a Marylander by birth, and a lawyer +by profession. He is a relation of the pirate Semmes (unfortunate +in name,) said to be a nephew. He graduated at Yale College with +distinction, and his prospects in Chicago were flattering till he +connected himself with the Sons of Liberty, and listened to the +teachings of older and "wiser" men. + +Of the witnesses for the defence we have nothing to say, further +than most of them were Sons of Liberty. Some of them so far perjured +themselves, that now a common lie to them is considered as good as the +truth, if not a little better. It is said of Judge H.L. Burnet, that he +remarked, had he known what witnesses the defence would have introduced, +he would not have called any witnesses for the _Government_--they would +have been superfluous. Rather severe, and we will hope he did not say +it. + +Space will not admit of a review of the evidence, and this will be +unnecessary for all who will read the sketch of the Judge Advocate's +argument. + + + + +CHAP XXI. + + +ARGUMENT OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE IN THE CONSPIRACY CASES--CONVICTION OF +THE PRISONERS. + +The evidence in the case before the military commission at Cincinnati, +having closed, the counsel who represented the prisoners made their +addresses--they cannot be called arguments--and the court adjourned to +Tuesday, April 18. As lawyers who have no valid defence, observe it as +a policy to attack the Government witnesses with great fury, so Messrs. +Hervey and Wilson, true to the ethics of their profession, made a +grand assault upon the principal witnesses. Counsellor Hervey, in his +harangue, used the following language, which illustrates the line of +"argument" for defence: + +"Some two hundred years ago," said the learned counsel, "there was a man +in England who swore away the lives of his fellow citizens by wholesale. +His name was Dr. Titus Oates--the man who got up what was called the +Popish plot, and by perjury and villainy, consigned many an innocent +head to the scaffold. He was assisted by a man who has, as no other +judge has, disgraced the ermine--Jeffries, who drank himself to death in +the tower, when his co-worker in iniquities and evil deeds with dreadful +and condign punishment followed him. The effort of nature to produce so +great a monster was so terrible that it required a resting spell of two +hundred years before she could produce another such monster in the shape +of Dr. I. Winslow Ayer." + +We forgive him, for he was obliged to seem to do or say something to +earn his "fee." There being no arguments for defence, but only such +pathetic appeals as only a lawyer, without the least hope, would make, +feeling that his clients would expect _something_, we need not take our +space to report their remarks. + +On Tuesday April 18, Judge Advocate Burnet made his closing argument for +the Government. It was truly a master-piece, complete in every part. It +was such an effort as might have been expected, of one who has, +during this long tedious trial, shown himself a gentleman, a profound +counsellor, a true patriot and an advocate of justice, whose only aim +has been to elicit truth, and be the better enabled to serve the true +interests of the country. We would gladly present every argument and +address he has made, during the trial, but space will not admit, and +we therefore invite careful attention to the following sketch of his +address: + +The Judge Advocate, in referring to the accused, said: + +There are two sides to this case; two sides for the manifestation of +sympathy. While here is an old, white-haired man before you, whose every +thing is at stake; while here is a father, a generous, open-hearted, +and impulsive man, whose all is at stake; and here is a soldier, who has +fought in every clime, and who has taken up his sword to destroy life +in every cause, whose everything is also at stake, yet there is, on the +other side, your Government at stake. If these men be guilty, justice to +the nation demands of you this day that you should convict them, and +you must not waver. In the consideration of this case, you must bring to +your aid a power, that may be a little more than is ordinarily given +to human nature. You must, for the time, sink all hatred, malice, even +human sympathy; and rise, God-like, to determine the truth and adjust +the punishment. + +That these accused would enter upon the commission of so heinous a +crime, I can scarcely permit myself to believe. They have made a strong +appeal to your sympathies. Each counsel has advocated the cause of his +client with an earnestness and an eloquence that does him honor; I shall +always respect them, and bear them in kindly recollection. + +But there seems to have been something, during these four years of the +nation's trial, that has appeared to paralyze the native instincts of +the American heart. This phantom, this siren of secession, with her +enticing song, seems to have lulled to sleep the better part of human +nature. At the sound of her voice, and the flash of her eye, men have +sprung to arms, to grapple with the life of the nation, because it +was free! They have followed, at the beck of the siren, over desolated +homes; they have trampled over the dead corpses of murdered brothers, +and innocent women and children. They have blackened the land with +desolation, and made it the abode of moaning and woe. She has blinded, +while she has demoralized them. Old men, forgetting their white hairs, +have joined in the conspiracy at the beck of this phantom, who has taken +out of the human heart its heaven-born instincts, to plant there those +of vengeance, and the thirst for blood. + +My tongue falters as I look over this country and see bereaved widows +and orphans, the white-haired patriots that mourn for the first-born, +that shall ne'er greet them, and those who sit at the desolate hearth, +with hands upraised, waiting for the knock that will be but the +death-knell of all their hopes; and think that the phantom of secession +has caused all this! + +Men who were kind fathers, kind husbands and noble patriots, have +forgotten it all in a day, and have become traitors, and inculcated +doctrines that have, by the hands of fiends, stricken down that +patriotic and noble leader of the human race. There is something in it +which no man can comprehend. The doctrines which they inculcate harden +the heart, and nerve the arm to crime, enabling them to commit robbery, +arson and murder, for all is in her category; and as they commit those +crimes, the appeal to God for the justness of their cause. That is what +has deceived these men; it is this accursed phantom of secession that +has blinded their eyes; that has cooled their hearts and filled them +with vengeance. It is this that has changed and perverted the human +instincts, that should have ruled in their breasts. + +Of this man Walsh, I have simply this to say: The evidence is as you +have seen it. I have briefly sketched it; I will not dwell upon much +that ought to be said; I can not. The testimony is voluminous, filling +2,000 or 2,500 pages. I have had but a few days to scan through it; I +have given you only the leading points, and you must judge. I would not +say one word that would take from this family their father; but if this +man was guilty of this crime, or has aided and abetted this conspiracy, +you have but one duty to perform. You must know no man, be influenced by +no bias, betray no sympathy, but must be firm in the performance of your +stern duty. There are thirty millions of suffering people in this land, +and against these, one man's life, if guilty, weighs little in the scale +of justice. We have, unhappily, in the history of this war, frequently +seen sympathy manifested for criminals, rebels and traitors--those who +have brought this great injustice upon the true and the loyal. It is not +mercy to acquit those guilty of cruelty to a people who are struggling +for their very existence; it would be cruelty to our brave soldiers, and +to those who have been left widows and orphans. + +As to Judge Morris--for his white hair and old age, I have only respect. +For all that is worthy in him as a citizen, I do him reverence; but if +this white-haired old man has engaged in a conspiracy against my nation +and my country, I turn to the other side, and see white-haired patriots +who mourn in sadness because such as he have done these evil deeds,--and +I remember Justice! + +As to this man Grenfel, I confess I have no sympathy with him; no +sympathy for the foreigner who lands in our country when this nation is +engaged in the struggle for human right and human liberty, and who takes +part in the quarrel against us, and arrays himself on the side of those +who are trying to establish tyranny and slavery. I have no sympathy for +the man whose sword is unsheathed for hire and not for principle; for +whom slavery and despotism have more charms than freedom and liberty. +The motive of such a one does not rise even to the dignity of vengeance. +As has been said by his counsel, his sword has gleamed in every sun, +and has been employed on the side of almost every nationality, and after +this he engages in our struggle, and, as testified to by Colonel Moore, +desires to raise the black flag against our prisoners; and after men +have yielded as prisoners of war, he rides up to one, and stabs him, +coward like, in the back. + +But he is not true to the cause he espouses. When in Washington he went +to the Secretary of War and betrays the very people with whom he had +been fighting; tells all he knows of the strength, position and designs +of the Confederates. He said he proposed to leave immediately for +England, but he breaks his faith, proceeds to Canada, and is found among +the conspirators, and is now here, charged with these crimes to-day. +There is no throb of my heart that beats in unison with such conduct as +this. He was a fit instrument to be used in this enterprise. What to +him would be the wail of women and little ones? What to him would be the +pleadings of old men and unarmed citizens? + +The delivery of Judge Burnett's argument occupied three and a half +hours, after which the Commission adjourned to meet at four o'clock +P.M., to deliberate on the findings and sentence. They accordingly met +at the hour appointed, and, after mature deliberation, finally recorded +their verdict. + +General Hooker issued General Orders No. 30, April 22, in which he +promulgates the finding of the military commission which, for three +months past, has been engaged in the trial of the alleged Chicago +conspirators. The commission have acquitted Buckner S. Morris and +Vincent Marmaduke, and they are to be discharged upon their taking the +oath of allegiance. They find Charles Walsh and Richard T. Semmes guilty +of all the charges and specifications, and sentence the former to five +years' imprisonment at hard labor from the 7th of November last, and the +latter to three years' imprisonment at hard labor from the same date, at +such place as the commanding general may direct. Gen. Hooker has named +the State penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio. + +Cantrill's trial has been continued; Anderson committed suicide, and +Charles Travis Daniels escaped. The commission found a verdict against +Daniels, but it has not yet been promulgated. The findings against G. +St. Leger Grenfell have not yet been announced officially; but it +is death, at such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall designate. The +commission has been dissolved. + +The Chicago _Tribune_, in speaking of the sentence, says: + +The trial of the Chicago conspirators has ended, the sentences have been +pronounced and approved, and the court has adjourned. Buckner S. Morris +and Vincent Marmaduke are acquitted and Charles Walsh and Richard T. +Semmes were found guilty of the entire charges and specifications, to +wit: of conspiracy for the relief of the prisoners at Camp Douglas, and +of conspiring to "lay waste and destroy" the city of Chicago. Walsh is +sentenced to imprisonment for five years from November 7th, 1864, and +Semmes to imprisonment at hard labor for three years from the date +of sentence. The findings against G. St. Leger Grenfell have not been +officially promulgated, but it is stated that he is found guilty +and sentenced to death, at such time and place as Gen. Hooker shall +designate. The penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio, is designated as the +place of confinement of Walsh and Semmes. The trial has been long, +mainly by reason of the course pursued by the defense, whose aim +has been to protract it, so as to tire out the perseverance of the +prosecution and the patience of the court and people. The court have +performed their arduous duties with great ability and fairness. The +result will doubtless be satisfactory to the people. It is proved that +this great crime was in all its naked deformity and depravity actually +committed. It follows that the Copperhead statement, published in the +rebel organ in this city, charging that the entire plot and arrest +of these Copperhead traitors and assassins were invented by the Union +Republicans of Chicago as an electioneering trick, was the subterfuge of +conscious guilt trying to cover up its tracks and to rub out the stains +of its own attempted crimes. The same organ now impugns the "competency" +of the Court. It may consider itself fortunate that it has not had an +opportunity to argue the question of jurisdiction on its own behalf +before a similar tribunal. Its opposition to such courts originates in a +feeling of uneasiness about its own safety. For + +"Thief ne'er felt the halter draw With good opinion of the law." + + + +REV. DR. TIFFANY UPON COPPERHEADS. + +At a public meeting held in Chicago, after the announcement of the +assassination, Rev. Dr. Tiffany, in an able and eloquent address said: + +"God alone is great. At rare intervals he sends us a man beyond the +limit of our measure. Our attention has been directed to the excellences +of the character which belonged to our late President, and to the spirit +of the system which gave strength to the blow of the assassin. A more +terrible topic is now to be discussed--our relation to that spirit--our +responsibility for that blow. + +We have been accustomed to say, "slavery is sectional, and freedom +national," let those who elect slavery take the results of slavery to +themselves; let them suffer, if their choice brings suffering; but as +for us, we wash our hands in innocency, and hold ourselves guiltless of +blood." And so we have been going on ever since the outbreak of slavery +in the form of armed rebellion. "They are the guilty parties, let them +suffer." But has all this been right? Have we had no responsibility? +Is no guilt ours? We may not have owned slaves, but we may have made +a common cause with men owners--may have brought condemnation upon +ourselves by our tolerance, by our compromises. + +Sad and almost disgraceful is the record which exhibits our complicity +with this sin. We began by making free States wait at the door of the +Union until slavery had a counterpoise, or balance adjusted in the form +of slave State, to preserve the balance against freedom in the National +Senate. We compromised the territories west of the Mississippi, by +tolerating slaves there, and as one demand after another was made it was +granted, till we even allowed slave rule in free States, by submitting +to the Fugitive Slave law--these things could not have been done without +our votes. When they threatened and blustered we fawned and cringed, +until they knew and avowed their belief that the crack of a slave whip +would bring the north to its knees. All they asked we granted, more than +they demanded we offered. We held out our wrists for manacles. When we +elected the great good man, who embodied our idea of nationality and +freedom; and even after official announcement had been made of the +position slavery occupied in their proposed nationalism, we guarded +their slaves, and kept them secure to labor for the support of the +masters who were fighting against us. When these slaves, acting on an +intuition of freedom, came fleeing to us, we sent them back to chains +and bondage. In all this we showed our complicity with the sin which +struck the blow which killed our good President. + +And after the slaughter of thousands in battle, and the death of as many +more in hospitals, of fever, starvation and wounds, still was our hatred +of the sin which caused them not deep enough. We talked of amnesty and +non-humiliation, and God has permitted the sad cup to come to each lip +in bitterness. Each one mourns to-day as if personally bereaved. The +blackness of darkness is in our homes, and the whole nation mourns +its first-born--its first-loved. May not--does not--a measure of +responsibility rest upon us for this last sad event? Have we not been +tolerant of the treason which has wrought this crime? Have we not been +apologists for infamy under the name of different political opinions? +Have we not spared when we should have punished--been merciful when +mercy was but cruelty? We seem to have believed that because there were +more serpents away from our homes, the few left here had no venom. We +felt secure because the loyalists were more numerous than the traitors. +But of the few who were here, and tolerated here, some plotted the +escape of rebel prisoners, some the burning of our city, some the +conflagration of New York, and some the murder of the Cabinet, while +one has killed the good President. Had they all been driven out, or put +under strict surveillance, there would have been none of these things +from them. We have lost our President by tolerating traitors in our +streets. + +Who was the assassin of the President? Not an armed rebel, clothed with +belligerent rights; not a political refugee, who had skulked into our +lines for rapine and for plunder; but the citizen of a free State, who +could visit and send his cards to the Vice-President with a flippant +familiarity, which his aristocratic slave-holding associates presume +to use,--a man allowed to go about the streets of Washington, breathing +treason and blaspheming God, without rebuke. He could command attention +from proprietors of houses and saloons, from owners of blooded stock, +from men who were called loyal, and the toleration of this killed our +good President. + +He was a wretch, of whom a press said, but yesterday, that he was +sincere in thinking he should rid the earth of a tyrant, by slaying the +President, this sincerity must place him on a level with John Brown. +[Hisses and cries of _The Times_.] This was said yesterday, and read +by thousands, and I know of no steps taken to prevent the utterance +of similar insult and outrage to-morrow. For this tolerance we are +responsible, and tolerance like this killed the good President. When +a far-seeing military commandant ordered the suppression of published +treason, there were men in high places, and men all over the land, who +outraged the loyal masses by interfering to prevent the execution of +that order, on the ground of disturbing the freedom of the press; but +when our ministers went into Richmond they were muzzled, and the +result has been that treason has been littered, the good man called an +_imbecile_--the generous man a _tyrant_--the restraint of traitors has +been referred to as, _usurpation_ of power, and prisons have been called +_Bastiles_. All this has been, and we have tolerated it. This has given +aid and comfort to treason in the South, and traitors in the North, and +this has killed the good President. + +The measure of our responsibility is the amount of our connivance at +these things. No man is free from guilt who has winked at this wrong, +who has interfered to prevent the punishment of wrong-doers, who has +apologies for treason, who has not done all in his power to rebuke, +denounce and punish the foes of the nation, at home and abroad. We +stand, to-day, as though in the presence of the nation's dead, and here, +on the tomb of our chieftain, let us swear eternal enmity to treason +and to traitors. Nor let us, when the assassin shall be arrested and +punished--oh! let us not then think we have done our duty. I had rather +the profane wretch who has done this deed were never taken, than that +his execution should relieve our minds from one thought of our personal +responsibility. No; rather let the wretch be a fugitive and vagabond, +with the mark of Cain upon him. Let none slay him, for we ourselves are +not guiltless. And as he flies from men, with hate in his eyes and hell +in his heart, let every home be an asylum from which he shall be barred, +and every honest, loyal heart a sanctuary where no thought of complicity +with him, or sympathy for him may enter. Let us bow before God to-day in +humble penitence; let us ask of Him forgiveness--Father forgive us, for +we knew not what we did--that His hand be stayed, and the measure of our +responsibility be canceled." + + +In this connection, we may with propriety, introduce the following +extract from President Johnson's recent speech to the Indiana +delegation: + +"We are living at a time when the public mind had almost become +oblivious of what treason is. The time has arrived, my countrymen, when +the American people should be educated and taught what crime is, and +that treason is crime, and the highest crime known to the law and the +Constitution. Yes, treason against a State, treason against all the +States, treason against the Government of the United States, is the +highest crime that can be committed, and those engaged in it should +suffer all the penalties. It is not promulgating anything that I have +not heretofore said, to say that traitors must be made odious; that +treason must be made odious; that traitors must be punished and +imprisoned. [Applause.] They must not only be punished, but their social +power must be destroyed. If not, they will still maintain an ascendency, +and may again become numerous and powerful; for, in the words of a +former senator of the United States, when traitors become numerous +enough, treason becomes respectable. And I say that, after making +treason odious, every Union man and the Government, should be +remunerated out of the pockets of those who have inflicted the great +suffering upon the country. [Applause.] But do not understand me as +saying this in a spirit of anger; for, if I understand my own heart, the +reverse is the case; and, while I say that the penalties of the law, +in a stern and inflexible manner, should be executed upon conscious, +intelligent, and influential traitors,--the leaders who have deceived +thousands upon thousands of laboring men, who have been drawn into +the rebellion; and while I say, as to leaders, punishment, I also say +leniency, conciliation, and amnesty, to the thousands whom they have +misled and deceived, and, in relation to this, as I have remarked, I +might have adopted your speech as my own." + + * * * * * + +THE LIST OF PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE "SONS OF LIBERTY" IN ILLINOIS. + +List of names of prominent members of the "Sons of Liberty" in the +several counties of the State of Illinois, as reported by Col. J.B. +Sweet. + + Names. County. + James W. Singleton ............................................Adams. + Thomas P. Bond................................................. Bond. + Harry Wilton....................................................Bond. + Thos. Hunter....................................................Bond. + Martin Brooks..................................................Brown. + C.H. Atwood....................................................Brown. + Fred Rearick ...................................................Cass. + Allen J. Hill...................................................Cass. + David Epler.....................................................Cass. + James A. Dick...................................................Cass. + Samuel Christey.................................................Cass. + T.J. Clark................................................Champaigne. + James Morrow .............................................Champaigne. + H.M. Vandeveer.............................................Christian. + J.H. Clark.................................................Christian. + S.S. Whitehed..................................................Clark. + H.H. Peyton....................................................Clark. + Phillip Dougherty..............................................Clark. + A.M. Christian..................................................Clay. + Stephen B. Moore...............................................Coles. + Dr. Wickersham .................................................Cook. + G.S. Kimberly...................................................Cook. + S. Corning Judd...............................................Fulton. + Charles Sweeny ...............................................Fulton. + L. Walker...................................................Hamilton. + M. Couchman..................................................Hancock. + M.M. Morrow..................................................Hancock. + J.M. Finch...................................................Hancock. + Dennis Smith.................................................Hancock. + J.S. Rainsdell.............................................Henderson. + A. Johnson.................................................Henderson. + Ira R. Wills...................................................Henry. + Chas. Durham...................................................Henry. + Morrison Francis...............................................Henry. + J.B. Carpenter.................................................Henry. + J. Osborn....................................................Jackson. + G.W. Jeffries.................................................Jasper. + G.H. Varnell...............................................Jefferson. + Wm. Dodds..................................................Jefferson. + J.M. Pace..................................................Jefferson. + James Sample..................................................Jersey. + O.W. Powell...................................................Jersey. + M.Y. Johnson...............................................Jo Davies. + David Shean................................................Jo Davies. + M. Simmons.................................................Jo Davies. + Louis Shisler..............................................Jo Davies. + Thomas McKee................................................... Knox. + J.F. Worrell..................................................McLean. + E.D. Wright...................................................Menard. + Edward Lanning ...............................................Menard. + Robert Halloway ..............................................Mercer. + Robert Davis..............................................Montgomery. + Thomas Grey...............................................Montgomery. + W.J. Latham...................................................Morgan. + J.O. S. Hays..................................................Morgan. + J.W. McMillen.................................................Morgan. + D. Patterson ...............................................Moultrie. + Dr. Kellar..................................................Moultrie. + G.D. Read ......................................................Ogle. + W.W. O'Brien..................................................Peoria. + Peter Sweat...................................................Peoria. + Jacob Gale....................................................Peoria. + P.W. Dunne....................................................Peoria. + John Fuller...................................................Peoria. + John Francis..................................................Peoria. + C.H. Wright.................................................. Peoria. + John Oug......................................................Putnam. + M. Richardson.................................................Shelby. + M. Shallenberger...............................................Stark. + J.B. Smith.................................................Stevenson. + J.L. Carr.................................................Vermillion. + John Donlar...............................................Vermillion. + Wm. S. Moore...............................................Christian. + B.S. Morris.....................................................Cook. + W.C. Wilson.................................................Crawford. + L.W. Onell..................................................Crawford. + Dickins ..................................................Cumberland. + J.C. Armstrong ...............................................Dewitt. + C.H. Palmer...................................................Dewitt. + B.T. Williams................................................Douglas. + Amos Green.....................................................Edgar. + R.M. Bishop....................................................Edgar. + W.D. Latshaw.................................................Edwards. + Levi Eckels..................................................Fayette. + Dr. Bassett..................................................Fayette. + T. Greathouse................................................Fayette. + Chas. T. Smith...............................................Fayette. + N. Simmons......................................................Ford. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Great North-Western Conspiracy In +All Its Startling Details, by I. 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