^^^. '*-.-* o C * /%, V , •^ X ^ / ,, , -< - - -N ■-<=o^ : " - >. v^^ ^•^ ^^.^ \ ^o°<. c^ •^ '^ • 0- N. v^^ * ■; « ■<^-% ., , ^0' -O ■^ c,'^ ^ V 'K- ,-^^ ■ 0' , -' .•^ -/. ■'^^> ,^\^'' ,/ s^ -^ ii^ -r , .-^^ v>\ -.>,^^ -V ^■' o '■ ■xx^^ 'V- cP' .^^ v^^ ^^. vOo .0- >V^' ' .A '^ '> N 'Ok ^Oo. OO 0- ,0 c ^^ V .vV VO^^' -^r y -^ A -^^ ^^ ■^.0^ '>!%, 4^ .o< GREAT TREASON PLOT m THE NORTH DURING THE WAR. Most Dangerous, Perfidious, Extensive and Start- ling* Plot ever Devised I IMMINENT HIDDEN PERILS OF THE REPUBLIC. /stounding Developments Never BefoFe Published. ILXJTJSTI^^T:E1D. By COIv. I. WINSIvOW AYKR, The Preserver of the City of Chicago; The Daring Officer of Secret Service, U. S., by whom the Formid- able Conspiracy was Broken Up. The Only Man Living who can give all the Thrilling Facts Concerning that Perilous Service. Including His Memorable Address Delivered in Central Music Hall, Chi- cago, to Assembled Thousands, by request of Many Posts, G. A. R., and by Citizens generally. Lieut. Governor Smith, of Illinois, Presiding. The Distinguished Services of COL. Ayer fully Recognized by the Highest Civic and Military Authorities of the Nation. Published by f< U. S. PuBiiiSHiNQ Co., Chicago, Ill,i [By SubscriptiqQ only— Price, $1.50,; \- Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1895, By I. WINSLOW AVER, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. All rights reserved. Printed by Eaton County Republican, Charlotte, Mich. PREFACE. Bv repeated requests of Posts of the Grand Army of the RepubHc, and of other patriotic citizens through- out the Union, the eloquent and memorable address of Col. I. Wi4islow Aycr is now presented to the general public, as a hitherto unwritten chapter of startling rev- elations, an entirely new link in the war history of our country, which cannot fail to deeply interest every American citizen who may carefully peruse it. Not only is the subject matter of the address given, but very many additional new, startling and intensely interesting facts have been introduced — most important information, not elsewhere accessible to the general public — in order to convey a connected, complete, com- prehensive and authentic history of the diabolical, unprecedented and extensive Treason Plot. From the work, lessons of gravest importance may be gleaned — matters well deserving the most thought- ful consideration, of all citizens, as relating to the exi- gencies of the present hour, as well as of years gone by. Col. Ayer is the oxxy man who can from personal knowledge, as an oiiicer and eye-witness, portray the terrible plot in all its; details. It is doubtless generally iv THE GREAT TREASON PLOT known that through his invaluable, and ^Derilous services, the City of Chicago was saved from pillage and destruc- tion, and the military authorities in Camp Douglas and prominent loyal citizens of Chicago were saved from inevitable slaughter. By his noble patriotism, courage, vigilance and tact, and the expenditure of his private fortune, the great Conspiracy, in all its enormity, was effectually and fully broken up. The hydra-headed conspiracy, so terrible in its designs, so wide-spread in extent, had been crushed out In its incipiency, so was it confidently believed by the military authorities, but only to quickly reaj^pear under another guise, more deadly in design and more formidable in power, than before. By Col. Ayer's investigation, zeal and heroism, the work was carried to a successful and final close. Arrests of the most dangerous leaders of the conspira- tors were made owXy forty -eight hours before the time fixed for the general uprising of the sworn, secret ene- mies of the Union! Immense quantities of munitions of war, and arms of all kinds wei^e seized in the Con- spirators' places of concealment. The North had promptly responded to the last call for " three hundred thousand more" for the front, when half a million of leagued, oath-bound and armed Con- spirators but waited the order to march to the support of the fast falling cause, to aid in the overthrow of the Union and the downfall of American liberty! As we wonder at and admire the daring of Col. Ayer, it may almost seem that he had a " charmed life" DURING THE WAR. v for no less than three known, desperate ancrdetermined attempts were made to assassinate him, but their bullets and their infernal machines were utterly powerless to swerve him in the least from his purpose to serve his Countr}^ It has been said of him by a distinguished General, that " he fought single handed, and defeated a mighty army of the secret foes of our country." From Major General Joseph Hooker, Command- ing THE Northern Department. Headquarters Northern Department: Chicago, May 3, 1S65. Col. I. WiNSLow Ayer, », Dear Sir: I have the pleasure as it is my duty to express to 3'ou in behalf of myself and our country, my sincere thanks for the very great service you have rendered the Gov- ernment. It was you who first a^Dprised the authorities of the existence of the formidable plots, which but for your timely discovery would have been attended with great disaster to the general government, and would have resulted in the destruction of Chicago. It is not easy to calculate the evils which would have resulted in the culmination of the plots of our secret enemy. Your dispatches were of immense importance to the Govern- ment. I cheerfully acknowledge your promptness in furnishing reports to the Brig. General commanding the District of Illinois, and the commandant of the Post at Chicago, and your co-operation w^ith that ofiicer in viii THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Two million dollars captured from the Union Army disbursed for the purchase of arms and munitions of war, in the States voted out of the Union. Names of prominent leaders present. Whisky, Treason, and Gunpowder. Character of the members of the Convention. Inside views of the Temples of Treason. A night scene in the Cartridge factory of the Con- spirators. Treasonable Orders with as many aliases as a State's Prison convict. Plot to release simultaneously all prisoners of war in Northern Prisons. Strongest Centers of the Conspiracy in the several States. Conspirators as Clerks of Provost Marshals, Tele- graph Operators, Trusted Officials, and employes upon all Railways in Chicago and certain other cities. Also as volunteer members of Union Armies, the better to steal horses, arms, and have the benefit of military drill. Their Plot for breaking up Union Military Compa- nies. Conduct of disloyal Judges in Indiana. Conspirators in Union Armies ordered to turn their arms a^-ainst their fellow soldiers, instead of the enemy. DURING THE WAR. ix Attempts to burn New York. Execution of Capt. Kennedy, the incendiaiy. The treasonable Order organized to resist Drafts in the Western States, in New York and elsewhere. Draft Riot in New York — bin-ning of the Colored Orphan Asylum — Three Days' Reign of Terror. An Atrocious Plot between Conspirators and Guer- rilla bands. Preparation of Greek Fire for the destruction of Union property. Cold blooded Assassination of Union vSoldiers and Citizens in Charleston, Illinois, and other places in Illi- nois and Indiana. A proposed general armed uprising of Conspirators by co-operation with and support of the Public enemy. Proposed attack upon Chicago, with steam tugs mounted with cannon. A similar course to be taken in Missouri. Treason Trials in Indiana. Greek Fire Shells, Hand Grenades, Rockets and Infernal Machines made in Indianapolis. Why the pro^DOsed Revolution in Indiana failed. Deeds and designs of Indiana Conspirators. Indiana to have been a " Second South Carolina." Three leading Conspirators in Indiana sentenced to the gallows. Supposed final suppression of ihie terrible plot. X THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Popular feeling of security fully restored. " Knights of the Golden Circle " had ceased to exist as an organization;*' American Knights" had also been crushed out — no apparent cause for further alarm. Address of "Grand Commander" H. H. Dodd of Indiana. The Conspirators moie active, virulent and danger- ous than ever before. Change of name to " Sons of Liberty." Change of base to Chicago— Unsuspected by authorities or people. Three degrees of the Order S. O. L. Extraordinary precautions against exposure. Whole regiments of armed and drilled conspirators in Chicago, and 140,000 members, armed, drilled and ready, in Illinois, to say nothing of other vStates. Complete Plot to simultaneously liberate all prison- ers of war — nearly forty thousand — in Northern pris- ons, beginning with the destruction of Chicago and slaughter of every otiicer and soldier in Camp Douglas. But five hundred Union soldiers, the guard of thir- teen thousand prisoners, including Morgan's men. No protection nor defense for the city of Chicago. Details of the Carnival of Death. The Black Flag! Slaughter of Union Soldiers and Citizens. Horrors of the first French Revolution to be re-en- acted in Chicago. DURING THE WAR. xi Preparing dispatches for Washington. Plot to assassinate Gov. Morton of Indiana — Bloody work for the " Committee of Ten." Time fixed for the general uprising. The People of Chicago apprehend no danger from a secret foe. Brisk trade in firearms and knives. The Conspirators fully armed and thoroughly drilled. Conspirators come to Chicago by thousands. The dawn of August 2S, 1S64. The Order harangued by a Judge, inciting murder. Bloodthirsty mobs in the streets of Chicago. Fifty thousand dollars for inciting the assassination of President Lincoln. Tlie murderous purpose known in Washington six months prior to the perpetration of the deed. Doomed cities in the North. The ballot, bullet, and "butternut" machiner}^ John Morgan and his men. Mary Ann Pitman, as the daring "Lieut. Rawley " of Forest's Command. Piracy on Lake Erie. Attempt to capture the U. S. War .Steamer, " Mich- igan," guarding Johnson's Island. Thrilling details of the plot. Banquet given on board the "Michigan'' by a lead- ing Conspirator. xii THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Tribute to be levied on all Lake Cities. Timely notice to the authorities. The Conspirator arrested at the table. Seizure of the steamers, " Philo Parsons" and " Island Queen " l)y the Pirates. Execution of Capt. Beal, Commander of the expedi- tion. A rebel officer and leading Conspirator heading a torch light procession in Chicago, in which were three regiments " Sons of Liberty." Why the uprising did not then occur. Date again fixed for the general uprising. The treasonable Order all ov^er the North, in concert of action. Concealment of boxes of fire arms and ammunition in every ward in the city of Chicago. Arms and various weapons stored near Windsor, Canada. An invading force of rufiians from Canada, in Chi- cago, to share in the slaughter of loyal people, and plun- der of the banks. Visit of Reconnaissance to Camp Douglas by the " Brig. Gen." of the Order. Definite designs for the liberation of all prisoners of war in Northern Posts. Rescue of a boy Captain of a rebel company, recruited in Chicago. DURING THE WAR. xiii Last session of the Council of Conspirators in Chicago. Sabbath evening, Nov. 6, 1864, in " Invincible Club Hall.'' A scene never to be forgotten. Revolution to be begun \n\\.\\\^ forty -eight hours. Gathering of a horde of Conspirators in the heart of the city. Desperadoes who had visited the city in August. Ruin, destruction and death seemingly inevitable. Distribution of loaded fire arms on the streets of Chi- cago, to the ruffians of the Order. Red and white ribbon, the distinguishing badge of the Conspirators. Fires to be kindled in various parts of the city, to cover the attack upon the Camp. The thirteen thousand prisoners in Camp apprised of the design by rockets, and by the "Woman who car- ried the mail." The time for action had arrived. Night calls of Union Soldiers upon the Conspirators. An exciting scene. Arrest of the leading spirits of the Order. Ruffians, murderers, and high toned scoundrels.- Many *' taken up tenderly, lifted with care." Seizui-e of munitions of war, boxes of loaded guns and cartloads of revolvers — weapons enough to stock an arsenal. A telegram of consternation to Conspirators in all places. xiv THE GREAT TREASON PLOT. The treasonable Orders fully, effectually and finally broken up. All haste for Canada. A grimly humorous side. Several known attempts to assassinate Col. Ayer. Partisan rancor in the North during the war. Treason in Public debates. Buildings made notable by assassins. Cowardice and hypocrisy of the leaders. Arrest, Trial, Sentence, Exile and Return of " Supreme Commander," Clement L. Vallandigham. Lessons for thinking people. Official report of the Judge Advocate General U. S. The Great Treason Plot in the North, largely the work of foreigners. St. Albans Raid. Assassination in this Country and in Europe. Brilliant Paragraphs of Patriotic Sentiment. The Race Problem in this Country. Are the Americans true to themselves ? The Golden Age of America. The Grand Army of the Republic. The Lieut. General of U. S. Sketch of the distinguished services of Gen. Franz Sigel. Tribute to the Nation's honored dead. Woman's Relief Corps. DURING THE WAR. xv Sons and Daughters of Veterns. The fatal Nineteenth of September. The Chickamauga National Mihtary Park. "Fighting Joe." Sketch of the mihtary record of Major General Joseph Hooker. Strength and Losses of the Union Army during the war. The Subject of the Services of Col. I. VVinslow Ayer, before United States Congress. DURING THE WAR. xvii ILLUSTRATIONS Portrait of the Author. Depot of Prisoners of War, Johnson's Island, Ohio. Chicago Conspirators before the Military Commis- sion. Portrait of Col. G. St. Leger Grenfell, hero of the Black Flag. Portrait of "Brig. Gen." Charles Walsh, Command- ing the Conspirators in Chicago. Portrait of Judge Buckner S. Morris, Grand Seignior of mini Temple, Chicago. Portrait of the Woman who carried the Mail to and from the prisoners of war in Camp Douglas. Portrait of Horace Heffren, Deputy Grand Com- mander of Conspirators, in Indiana, arraigned for treason. Andrew Humphreys "Colonel" of Conspirators in Indiana, arraigned for treason. Col. William A. Bowles ) Convicted of Treason Col. Lambdin P. Milligan I and Sentenced to the Col. Stephen Horsey ) gallows. xviii THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Full length picture of "Grand Commander" H. H. Dodd in his "grand" slack-rope performance. ["As the hour for daring deeds had come," the "Grand Com- mander" had not time to sit for his picture, and it was taken a la spider on the run.] Lieut. Rawley (a woman) of Forest's Command. Lieut. General John M. Schofield, U. S. Army (with sketch.) Gen. H. L. Burnett, Judge Advocate, Department of the Ohio and Northern Department, who tried the assassins of President Lincoln and the leading con- spirators. Maj. General Franz Sigel (with sketch). Thos. G. Lawler, Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R. Portrait of Gov. Morton, Indiana. Portrait of Gov. Yates, Illinois. Portrait of Gov. Blair, Micliigan. Old Camp Morton near Indianapolis. Old Camp Douglas near Chicago. Ford's Theater where President Lincoln was shot. House where President Lincoln died. The Old Surratt House where Booth's Assassination Plot was devised. The Old Seward Mansion where Secretary Seward was stabbed by the Conspirator "Payne," and where Hon. J. G. Blaine died. Portrait of Emma R. Wallace, Nat. President, Woman's Relief Corps. DURING THE WAR. xix Portrait of Jennie Bross, Nat. Secretary Woman's of tiie Relief Corps. Mrs. Sarah C. Mink, Past Nat. President, W. R. C. Old Military Camp and Prison at Rock Island, Ills. Portrait of Major General Joseph Hooker. Portrait of Col. B. J. Sweet, Commander of Camp Camp Chase near Columbus, Ohio. Infernal Machines, Shells, for Greek fire, etc. EXPLANATION OF THE LATTER. A— An ordinary traveling satchel, open; shows an alarm clock without bell; set at a a given time; on starting into motion it springs the lock of a gun which explodes a cap upon a tube charged with gun powder; this fires a train connected with a vial of Greek fire, and ignites tow saturated with turpentine. B B B— Conical shell, unscrewed B— A case containing powder with nipple at top for cap. D C— Screws into D; the space between being filled with Greelf fire. C and D— Form an internal shell loosely fitting the conical shell B. Striking a hard object, the blow explodes the cap of O. E-A spherical shell or hand grenade. F and G— The same unscrewed. H— An interior shell with nine nipples for caps, loosely fitting, leaving space for concussion. H unscrews in the center to hold K, a small vial of Greek fire, the space between filled with powder. Drop- ping the shell, even a few inches above the lloor, never fails to ex- plode a cap. The cord attached to the shell E enables a person to throw it a great distance. To ALL Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Woman's Reliep^ Corps, and To all who in any wise responded to the call of our Country by services, material aid, or by sympathy, in the dark days of the rebellion and a patriotic people throughout our glorious union, this scrap of war history is affectionately dedicated by the author. Our Country Forever, Fraternally Yours, I. WiNSLOw Ayer. THE AUTHOR. ^^ THE GREAT TREASON PLOT CHAPTER I. Secret Treasonable Orders— "Knights of the Golden Circle"— A more dangerous Order— The Serpent casts his Skin— The old enemy UNDER A NEW NAME-«SoNS OF LiBERTY "— ItS DEGREES, "Temple," "Grand Council," and "Supreme Council "—Material of which the Order was composed— A large Army of Con- spirators-Half million oath-bound trait- ors, armed with guns, rifles, revolvers I.ANCES AND GrEEK-FIRE-ThE ORGANIZATION COMPLETELY OFFICERED AND THOROUGHLY DRILLED— Strength of the Order and names OF THE LEADERS IN DIFFERENT StATES— ThE " Supreme Commander " of the Order in the United States-Clement L. Vallandigham arraigned FOR TREASON, CONVICTED AND SENT BEYOND OUR MILITARY LINES— HiS COOL RECEP TioN IN "Dixie "—His residence and "court" DURING THE WAR. 23 IN Canada— What would have occurred had HE BEEN ARRESTED UPON HIS RETURN TO OhIO— Concealed arms near Windsor-^Munitions OF WAR and Infernal machines made in Indianapolis— A scheme to steal horses, arms AND EQUIPMENTS BY ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY. ; For three decades the bright verdure of Sprhig, the l)eaiiteous flowers of Summer, the somber shades of Autumn and the ice gems of Winter have come and gone since the war closed,— since a grateful and patri- otic people all over the land, sang together anthems of joy and thanksgiving for the return of peace. The great conflict to the people of the present day, save to The actors in the thrilling drama, is but the memory of an oft told tale. In the years since gone by, " Time's effacing fingers " have obliterated the traces of warfare in the land. Golden gram now waves, and laughing flowerets bloom in fields once reddened with the life-blood of the brave. Sectional differences are happily settled for all time, and a brotherhood of patriotic men all over our broad domain join in their devotion for our glorious country- one and indivisible forever. Of the brave foemen who met us upon the open field of battle, to arbitrate differences by the last recourse to which men can appeal, the historic page presents the record of their valor as well as of the glorious triumphs of the Union arms; but the history of that eventful per- iod will not be complete till the thrilling records of the Secret Service shall have place upon its pages. As an ofiicer of our country during the darkest days of the 24 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Republic, I am thoroughly conversant, by personal experience and observation, with the stirring events of the times, and will give an unwritten chapter of our nation's history, — of startling revelations concerning the great conspiracy in the North during the war — the greatest, most perfidious and fiendish plot ever recorded in the annals of nations. Had our brave soldiers known when at the front all the facts relating to the miscreants and assassins who killed their comrades and menaced their wives and children, who lurked in our Northern cities and villages, seeking to ruin the Countrj', to paralyze our army, it would have blanched the faces of those men and start- led them with horror. To|have proclaimed to the pub- lic that a scheme had been concocted by our secret ene- mies, of so formidable a character, so insidious and deadly in its operations, so complete in its details, and so extensive in its scope, as that of which I shall speak, — that it had found favor and support in nearly all the cities and large villages of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and sections of New York, Ohio, Iowa and certain other states — that scarcely a village in some of the states was exempt from its corruption, — that it included in its ranks as great a number of traitors, in the aggregate, as the number of men in the armies of Grant and Sherman, and that all who were so leagued recog- nized one common cause — the destruction of our coun- try, the defeat and humiliation of our arms and the tri- umph of rebellion, it would have been deemed a delu- sion by the majority of the people, had not the develop- ments before the military tribunals of the land estab- lished the facts beyond the shadow of a doubt. DURING THE WAR. 25 Had not the conspirators been foiled at an opportune moment, their designs would have been executed in every particular, and in view of the then existing- con- ditions, it is scarcely possible to overestimate the disas- trous consequences to the cause of the Union. Not only will the public be astounded by the facts I shall present, but will realize, as never before, the imminent peril of the country and the greatness and importance of the services rendered by the nation's defenders. In the early years of the w;n-, it became evident to the people that secret treasonable organizations of a most dangerous character were in existence; their fruits were easily recognized. Our soldiers in the army were often importuned b}- letters to desert their posts and to betray their flag; soldiers visiting their homes upon fur- loughs were in several known instances murdered; dwellings of Union soldiers' families werebuinedby incendiaries; drafts of the Goveinment were resisted and Congressmen were approached with treasonable propos- als. But these are comparatively minor offences which these men are known to have perpetrated; my indict- ment will include more heinous crimes. Why not let by-gones be forgotten? The [)arties arraigned will lose votes and ofbce and caste by such reminiscences. They will not kill anv more Presidents, nor any more Union soldiers, perhaps! I am glad to believe that, and will assume my army comrades and all my countrymen will be also. The lapse of lime does not change guilt to innocence; it does not change mur- der into innocent pastime, nor treason into patriotism! Civilization can iind no a[)ology for such guilt and depravity. 26 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT What branch of the Military service is it that trains men to stab and shoot and kill in secret, their fellow citizens and neighbors, — to pillage and bum their homes? I know no name for this other than assassination, brig- andage, incendiarism! These are not, nev^er were and never will be recognized as legitimate warfare by any civilized race, and least of all by Americans. Such crimes are and ever will be held in abhorrence by all good people throughout the world. While I would not incite animosity towards individuals, I would not seek to make respectable that which all good people everywhere hold in abhorrence; nor would I condone blackest guilt because of formidable numbers of the guilty. There are many, and some in high places, who perfer to let by-gones be forgotten; so there are better men, though felons in the States' prisons who prefer the same thing. It is from truthful history of the past, that nations as well as individuals may glean lessons of wis- doni for the future. Paris in 1789 was not more disturbed by plots against the Government, than was New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis and certain other cities of the Union in 1862-3-4 ^^y Secret treasonable organizations. A brief sketch of the origin and purposes of the "Orders " will be essential for a complete understanding of the startling details to be presented. Prior to the breaking out of the rebellion in 1S61, secret organizations, the most effective agencies in the conspiracy against the Union, had not been introduced to any great extent into the non-slaveholding States, and DURING THE WAR. 27 perhaps had no existence north of the compromise line of 1S20 known as Mason and Dixon's Hne, but south of this line, they had long been standing institutions in every city and populous district. On the 17th of April, 1861, the report of the gun fired upon Fort Sumpter was heard by every member of these secret conclaves in the South, and was the signal for the opening of every "temple" of the order " K. G. C." in the land. Knowing the potency and efficacy of such agencies at the South, the plan of secretl}' organizing traitors in the northern States was determined upon as early as 1S63. With these views, shrewd and sagacious men estab- lished themselves in that year, in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and certain other States, and put the machinery in motion. The order of " Knights of the Golden Circle," an old southern institution, started on its mission northward, and the work was vigorously begun in the border States. This plan was a success. It gradually spread, until it was firmly rooted in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, New York and parts of other States, and this within a few months of its introduction in the North. The Order was well adapted for the purpose for which it was organized — the inculcation of treason. Men of every station in life, united with the Order, and soon it could boast of its membership as including legis- lators, judges even of the higher courts, doctors, law- yers, merchants and indeed men from every avocation. While the leaders were cunning, many of them of high intellect and liberal education, the " rank and file " was composed of different material. It not being necessary 28 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT by the tenets of the Order, that the latter should think at all, brains were at a disconnt, — muscle only was re- quired—beings who would fall into line at the word of command, and follow on to any undertaking, however desjDerate and criminal, without a thought concerning the character of the object to be attained — beings who could be led or driven wherever and whenever it might suit the purpose or designs of their masters. Men from the lowest walks of life were preferred, as material for tlie order. In the primary organization social distinction was waived by the leaders, and the lowest wretch in the order was placed upon a level with judges, merchants and politicians, — wnthin the hall of meeting, — thus offering inducements potent enough to make the lodge room a place of interest and attraction to the lower strata of the organization. So thrived and flourished the "Knights of the Golden Circle" in the North. The least of its evils was the destruction by Greek Fire of United States transports on the Ohio — notably the steamer " Taylor " at Louisville, and steam- ers laden with Government stores, on the Mississippi, etc. Being insufficient in {)owers of evil to fullv exe- cute the base purposes of the leaders, the organization was short lived in the north, but not so the elements of which it was composed. The suspicion of the Govern- ment had been aroused by the movements of the order, but the change of its name and the most careful pre- cautions upon the part of the leaders, cjuleted such dis- trust. The order of " American Kni^rhts " was at once organized, and members of the " K. G. C." were inducted; in other words the serpent had cast its skin DURING THE WAR. 29 but was the same old serpent still. The old order with its new name adopted an entirely new feature — one of Military character, retaining still its incendiary powers and purposes. By the formation of degrees in the new Order, the leaders were able to give to each candidate in quest of its hidden mysteries^ a comfortable and genial sphere in which he could qualify himself for higher honors! By this ingenious plan, he would soon be competent to advance into full fellowship with its most diabolical designs! A glance at this organization, will show the shrewdness of the master spirits of evil in the formation of the order. It was composed of three degrees, viz: First, The Temple; Second, the Grand Council; and the Third, Supreme Council. The Temple degree, in some respects, resembled a County organization, and had a similar relation to the Grand Council, that the County does to the State. No person could become a member of the Grand Council who had not first been inducted into the Temple and elected to the "Grand Council." This body bore a sim- ilar relation to the " Supreme Council" that a State bears to the General Government. Sessions of the Grand Council were held almost every month during the years 1863-4. No considerable battle was fought that was not made an occasion for the assembling: of this Council, and no political event of any importance transpired that did not receive the deliberation of this de facto legislative body. The "Supreme Council," or third and highest degree, was formed after the pattern of the general Govern- 30 THE GKEAT TREASON PLOT ment at Washington. The strength and significance of the Order was its Military character. The constitution of the Supreme Council provided that the Supreme Commander — the chief officer of that body^, should be Commander-in-chief of all the military forces of the Order in the several States when called into actual service. Subordinate to the Grand Commander in a State, were the Maj. Generals, each of whom com- manded his separate district. In Indiana there were four Maj. Generals. In Illi- nois, where the organization of the Order was consid- ered most complete, the members in each Congressional district composed a Brigade; the members in each County constituted a Regiment; and those in each township formed a Company. In Indiana each Com- pany was divided into squads — each with its Chief — an arrangement to facilitate the guerrilla mode of warfare. How complete was the design for effecting rebellion and revolution in the North! The whole machinery of a (xovernment de facto^ in disguise though it was, — with all its branches, both civil and military, in active operation for many months in our Northern cities, and almost within sight of the national capitol! Early in the Spring of 1864, was made a partial expose of the " American Knights " in St. Louis, Mo. The public were startled by the disclosures in the news journals of the day, and the Order in all places was in dismay and trepidation, but the apprehensions of the conspirators were quickly quieted by the information from the Supreme Council that the Order would hence- forth be known by another name, and that such radical DURING THE WAR. 31 changes would be made as to defy recognition, to defeat further investigation by the authorities, and to enable the Order to do more effectual execution of its designs. The people in the meantime rejoiced in the belief that the agency of evil had been finally and fully extirpated. An extra session of the Supreme Council " Ameri- can Knights" was forthwith convened in New York, and fully attended. That body revised its ritual, changed the signs, passwords and grips for others, and called the organization thus remodeled " Sons of Lib- erty." It will be seen that the treasonable order had as many aliases as a State's prison convict, and for pre- cisely the same reason. The candidate for the order thus remodeled swore — I quote from their revised ritual — " ever to take up arms in the cause of the oppressed, in their own coun- try 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 choice, inaugurated a Government for them- selves, in accordance with and founded upon the eternal principles of truth." In fact the latter was the same order as the " Ameri- can Knights " differing in name, and if possible more virulent and dangerous than the former. From the " Knights of the Golden Circle" sprang the "-Knights of Honor," from whom sprang the " American Knights;" from the " American Knights " sprang the "Sons of Liberty." The paternal ancestor of all was the Devd! There is nothing like being able to trace one's pedigree! 32 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT The Order was composed of many classes of persons: — Educated scoundrels, political gamesters, ambitious, unscrupulous adventurers utterly devoid of patriotism ; anarchists, ignorant, inhuman wretches in whom not even Darwin could regard the evolution as complete from brutes to men — chiefly the outcasts of Europe; weak, passive men — dupes of the evil and designing; impulsive men schooled in error, who would go to any extreme in the name of liberty; and men opposed to the Union, with too high a regard for personal safety and comfort to peril either upon the field of battle. The first Supreme Commander of the Order, prior to its last change of name, was P. C. Wright of New York, who, in May 1S64, was arrested and confined in Fort Lafayette. His successor in office was C. L. Vallandigham, who was also arrested in May, 1S64, by order of Gen. Burnside and sent beyond the Union lines. He was lionized in Canada till he chose to return to Ohio. Rob't Halloway of Illinois is reported b}' Judge x\dvocate General Holt to have acted as Lieut. General or "Deputy Supreme Commander" during the absence of Vallandigham from the country. The Grand Commander in Indiana was H. H. Dodd, who was tried in Indianapolis for conspiracy, and es- caped from prison before the trial was finished. Since that time he has been Mayor of Fond-du-lac, Wis., and at present is an express agent in that city. The Grand Commander in Illinois was S. C. Judd, at one time can- didate for the office of Lieut. Governor of Illinois, and later Postmaster of Chicago. In Missouri, the chief officers were C. L. Hunt, Grand Commander; G. B DURING THE WAR. 33 Smith, Grand Secretary; C. E. Dunn, Deputy Grand Commander, all three of whom were arrested, and all made confessions. In Kentucky, Judge Bullitt of the Court of Appeals was Grand Commander. The greater number of the chief and subordinate officers of the Order, as well as the principal members in the several states" are known to the Government. The Supreme Council of conspirators held a session in New York, Feb. 22nd, 1S64, and called a special session in Chicago for August 27th of the same year. Of the special ses- sion we shall speak again. The treasonable Order comprised a very large army of well armed and thoroughly drilled men — in readi- ness at any and all times for forcible resistance to the Union arms — a most formidable force against the life of the Government. The Temples and Councils of the Order were numerously scattered throughout the States of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky and to a less extent in Michigan, Iowa, New York, Pennsyl- vania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Tennessee. In Indiana, the Order was most strongly centered at Indianapolis and Vincennes; in Illinois, at Chicago, Springfield and Quincy, — the Temples in the latter place having been founded by the notorious guerrilla chief, Jackman; in Ohio, at Cincinnati, Dayton and Hamilton — the "South Carolina" of the North; in Mis- souri, at St. Louis; in Kentucky, Louisville; in Michi- gan, at Detroit, whence communication with Vallan- digham during his banishment, or rather his residence, at Windsor, was freely had by the leaders, by letters and interviews. 34 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT At the annual meeting of the " Supreme Council " in New Yorls: city, February 22, 1S64, it was officially reported that the membership of the Order was between eight hundred thousand and a fnilllon^ but Val- landigham, at his Dayton, Ohio, home, placed the ai'i7ied and drilled mcfnbershi'p at half a million! The force of the Order in Indiana was stated to be 125,000; in Illinois, 140,000; Ohio, 108,000; in Ken- tucky, 70,000; in Missouri, 40,000, and in Michigan and New York, 20,000 each. Guerrillas were gladly received as members of the Order. It was not till the Summer of 1863 that the conspirators began to organ- ize as an armed body, and from that date it was rapidly placed upon a military basis and prepared for a revolu- tionary movement. In Ohio and Illinois the members of the Order were especially well armed with carbines, revolvers, etc. In Indiana, in March, 1864, there were in possession of the Order, six thousand muskets and sixty thousand revolvers, besides private arms. Gen. Carrington estimated that in February and March, 1864, thirty thousand guns and revolvers were brouglit into the State, and this is corroborated by invoices found by the authorities. So great was the demand for fire arms, that the dealers could not promptly fully sup- ply them. Had Vallandigham been arrested on his return to Ohio, the Order would have been supplied with arms from a point in Canada, near Windsor, where they were stored and ready for use. A statement was made by Grand Commander Hunt, of Missouri, before his arrest, that shells and all kinds DURING THE WAR. 35 of munitions of war, as well as infernal machines, were manufactured for the Order at Indianapolis, and the later discovery, in Cincinnati, of hand-grenades, conical shells and rockets, made for the " Sons," verifies his statements. At the time of issue of the general order in Missouri, requiring the enrollment of all citizens, it was proposed by the conspirators in St. Louis to raise companies in the militia, to obtain as many Government arms and equipments as possible; it was proposed that all the members should enroll themselves in the militia, thus obtaining possession of United States arms, and having the advantage of drill and military instruction. THE GREAT TREASON I'LOT CHAPTJ'.R II. Signs, Lettkhs and Battle signals — WnoLit COMPANIES OF THE UnION AKMV BROKEN VI' I4\ TRAITORS — Disloyal judges seek to embar- rass THE Government — Desertion encoub AGED — Draft Riots in New York— Reign oi TeKROR — BuiiNIN(i OF THE Coi.OllliD ( ill I'll A \ Asylum — Teiuiirle loss oi- lu f — Howlinc,, rlood-thirsty mor enrolling officers sir) l — Draft records destroyed — Drafted Con- spikators to shoot their fellow soldiers AlltOCIOUS PLOT OF CONSPIHATOUS AND Gl'EH- RiLLAs — Assassination of soldiers and citi ZENS — Plot for a general uprising of rui Order of ConspiratorSj where yf;r existixi — Co-operation upon In extensive scale, DURING THE WAR. 37 WITH THE Southern forces — Startling de- tails — Telegraphs to be cut, Railroads torn UP, Capture of Officers, seizure of arsenals. Simultaneous Release of all Prisoners of WAR from Northern Camps and Prisons — Attack to be made upon Chicago by Steam- tugs MOUNTED with CANNONS ExPECTED AD- VANCE OF Lee upon Washington — Slaughter of Union Soldiers by Conspirators in Charleston, Illinois — Design for a North- western Confederacy — Reverses of Union arms occasions for great rejoicing by the Order — A Military Commission arraigns Conspirators in Indiana — Three leaders of THE Order sentenced to the gallows. Their system of signs of warning and danger, battle- signals, etc., was complete and always heeded. Their letters were in cypher and in ordinary writing, the real meaning being the reverse of the expression; this was shown by a circle with a line across it^, at the close of the letter. The meetings of the Order m country places were generally held at night, in secluded localities, the approaches being carefully guarded by a line of senti nels or pickets, who could only be passed by means of a countersign. Through the schemes of the Conspirators in Indiana, whole companies in the Union army were broken up, — a large detachment of a battery company, for instance, 38 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT upon one occasion deserting to the enemy with 'two of their guns. 'J'he camps were imbued with a spirit of discontent and dissatisfaction with the- service. The Adjutant General of Indiana set forth in his report, that the number of deserters and absentees returned to the army through the post of Indianapohs alone, in the month of December, 1862, was two thousand six hun- dred. Then disloyal judges discharged deserters upon writs of Jiabeas co7"pus. One of such writs being re- fused by an officer, the Chief Justice of the State at- tached the officer for contempt, declaring that "the streets of Indianapolis might run with blood, but that he would enforce his authority against the President's order." At another time, United States officers who had arrested deserters in Illinois, were themselves ar- rested for kidnapi^ing, and held for trial, while the dis- loyal judge discharged the deserters, acknowledging them to l)e sucli. Soldiers were urged by the Order to desert, and as- sured of protection, and also urged to bring with them their arms, and if mounted their horses. Details sent to arrest them were forcibly resisted, \yhere arrests were effected, our troops were openly attacked and fired upon, on their return. Such attacks occurred in Morgan and Rush Counties, Indiana, and are espec- ially referred to by Gen. Carrington. In 1S62 the "Knights of the Golden Circle," organ- ized to resist the draft in the city of New York, and in the Western States, and in some places greatly em- barrassed the Government. While the "K. G. C." were neither regularly armed, nor drilled in the use of DURING THE WAR. 39 arms, their mode of assailing Union men was by pri- vate weapons, and gatherings of street mobs incited to deeds of violence by harrangues of the leaders, till, as an exiimple of their fiendish work, it will doubtless be remembered that a draft of 300,000 men had been or- dered, but the proceeding was so interrupted in the cit}^ of New York, by an infuriated mob, that drafting there was effectually prevented, and for three entire days and nights the city was in possession of a howling and murderous mob. A reign of terror prevailed. Neither the city authorities, nor the military called into service were able for three days to quell the riot. Officers were shot dead upon the street, in the discharge of their duties, and as the mob swelled in numbers, and with fury surged along, bent only upon deeds of vio- lence, they attacked and burned the coloi-ed orphan asylum, causing the death of many human beings as well as the destruction of property. Not till more than a hundred of the rioters had been shot by the mil- itary force called upon, was the riot finally quelled and order restored. In certain other cities the work of drafting was pre- vented, and the records destroyed, and so great the em- barrassment of the Government, that but fifty thous- and men in all were drafted, though three hundred thousand men had been called. In 1862 and early in 1S63 a number of enrolling officers were shot in Indiana and Illinois. In Black- ford County, Ind., an attack was made upon the Court House and the books connected with the draft were destroyed. In Indiana two hundred persons were in- 40 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT dieted for conspiraey against the Government, and sixty of them were convicted. Among members of the treasonable order in Indiana, as w^ell as in lUinois and in other States, w^ere men high in authority, members of the legislatures — occa- sionally a Senator and Representative, and also mem- bers of Congress, Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys, Jailors and Postmaters. Where members of the Order were forced into the army by the draft, they were counselled by their fellow conspirators, if desertion were not practicable, and they were obliged to go to the field, to turn their arms against their fellow sol- diers, rather than the enemy. Col. vSanderson, Provost Marshal General of the De- partment of Missouri, reported the dej^artment filled with rebel spies, all of whom belonged to the Order. An atrocious plan of concert between members of the Order in Indiana and certain guerrilla bands of Kentucky was agreed upon and executed in the Spring of 1864. Some 2,500 or 3,000 guerrillas were thrown into the border counties, and assumed the character of refugees seeking employment. Being armed, they were secretly to destroy Government property wherever practicable, and subsequently to control the elections by force, prevent enlistments and aid deserters. Shortly before the arrest of W. A. Bowles, the senior of Major Generals of the Order in Indiana, he had been engaged in the preparation of " Greek Fire," to be used for the destruction of public property. The cold-blooded assassination of Union citizens and soldiers was included in their devilish scheme of opera- DURING THE WAR. 41 tions. G. B. Smith, Grand Secretary of the Order in Missouri, stated in his confession that " the secret assas- sination of United States officers, soldiers and Govern- ment employes, had been discussed in the Councils of the Order, and recommended." At a large meeting of the Order in St. Louis, Missouri, in June, 1S64, it wa^ proposed to form a secret police of members for the purpose of patroling the streets of that city at night and killing every detective and soldier w^ho could be readily disposed of. The proposal w^as finally rejected, not be- cause of its fiendish character, — no voice being raised against its criminality, but because it was deemed premature! The Order entertained a grand plan of a general armed uprising, and its co-o^Dcration on an extended scale, with the Southern forces. This pUn was two- fold, — first, of a rising of the Order in Missouri, aided by a strong detachment from Illinois, and co-operation with a rebel army under Price; second, of a similar ris- ing in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and co-operation with a force under Breckenridge, Buckner, Morgan or some other commander, who was to invade the latter States. Acting upon this plan, the Conspirators were, first of all, to cut the railroads and telegraphs, so that mtelli- gence of the movement might not be sent abroad, and that the transportation of Federal troops might be de- layed ; then to seize upon the arsenals at Indianapolis, Columbus, Springfield, Louisville and Frankfort, and supply such of their number as were without arms; to kill or make prisoners of department, district and post 42 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT commanders, nnd release the rebel prisoners from northern prisons, and then unite with the Southern army at Louisville, or some other point in Kentucky. It was also proposed that an attack should be made upon Chicago, by means of steam -tugs, mounted with can- non. A similar course was to be taken in Missouri. This scheme had long occupied the minds of the Order. A rising was planned to occur in the Spring of 1864, simultaneously with an expected advance of the army .of Lee upon Washington, but the plans of the enemy hav- ing been anticipated by the movements of the Union Generals, the rising of the Conspirators was necessarily postponed. As a forcible illustration of the utter malignity and depravity which characterized the conspirators, may be recalled the wholesale assassination of Union soldiers by the Order, at Charleston, Illinois, in March, 1864. This concerted murderous assault upon a scattered body of men, mostly unarmed, was evidently designed for the purpose of destroying as many lives of Union soldiers as possible. In relation further to the specific purposes of the Or- der must be mentioned the design for establishing a " Northwestern Confederacy." Hating New England and jealous of her influence and resources, and claiming that the interests of the West and South, naturally connected as they are through the Mississippi Valley, are identical, and actu- ated, further, by an intenselv revolutionary spirit, as well as an unbridled and unprincipled ambition, they made the establishment of a " Northwestern Confeder- DURING THE WAR. 43 acy" in alliance with the South, the o^rand aim of their plotting and conspiring. With this object in view, they gloated over every reverse of the armies of the Union, and desired that the rebellion would be protracted until the resources of the Government should be exhausted, its strength paralyzed, its currency hopelessly depre- ciated, and confidence everywhere destroyed; then from the anarchy, which, under their scheme was to ensue, the new Confederacy was to arise, which was either to unite itself with the South, or to form therewith, a close and permanent alliance. Such the character, purposes and aims of the treason- able Order. In verification of what I have stated, I cite the sworn evidence of Gen. Burnside, Gen. Carrington, Judge Advocate General Holt, Col. Sanderson, Provost Marshal General of the department of Missouri, Gen. Rosecrans, Gen. Hove}' and Gen. Burbridge; also o^ officers of the highest rank in the treasonable Order, who made confessions, — among whom was State Sen- ator H. Heffren, who, for four years was a member of the Senate of Indiana, and when on trial for conspiracy against the Government, turned State's evidence. In Indianapolis, Indiana, September, 1864, there were conducted trials for treason, disclosing the plans for establishing a Northwestern Confederac}^, develop- ing the origin, history and purposes of the treasonable Orders, presenting the Greek Fire shells. Hand grenades, rockets and infernal machines, etc., of the Conspiracy. The prisoners so tried were the Grand Commander and other chief officers of the Order, "American Knights,'' in Indiana, viz: Harrison H. 44 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Docld, William A. Bowles, L. P. Milligan, Stephen Horsey, Andrew Humphreys and H. Heffren. Dodd escaped from prison during the trial. He had been confined in an upper room in the Post Office building but by aid of outside parties, he effected his escape and was not recaptured. Bowles, Milligan and Horsey were convicted and sentenced to the gallows; Heffren testified against his comrades in crime. Andrew Hum- phreys was not sentenced. CONSPIRATORS BEFORE THE MILITARY COMMISSION. 46 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT CHAPTER III. Secession Convention in Chicago — The *' Supreme Council" — Notables Present — Confederate Representatives take an im- portant PART — Details of the Revolution- ary Plot — "The best laid plans of mice AND MEN AFT GANG AGLEE " — A TeMPLE "Sons of Liberty " open for business — Ini- tiation of members — Inside view of a Temple — The members — Indiana to lead the VAN in establishing A NORTHWESTERN CON- FEDERACY — Supposed complete abandonment of the Plot — Change of base of the Con- spirators from Indianapolis to Chicago— DURING THE WAR. 47 Moke active, virulent and dangerous than EVER before No SUSPICION OF DANGER FROM A SECRET FOE BY AUTHORITIES OR PEOPLE. On July 20, 1S64, a iT^eeting of the Supreme Council " Sons of Liberty," the latest name of the Order of banded conspirators, was held in Chicago. Among nota- bles present was a Maj. General of the Order, Col. Bar- rett, who had officiated as Grand Commander and held the position of Chief of Staff to the Supreme Comman- der of "American Knights," but who, on this occasion, appeared as Representative of the Confederate Govern- ment! There were also present Judge Bullitt, of the Court of Appeals, Kentucky, many military men and other notables, two of whom were later tried for trea- son, convicted and sentenced to the gallows. The Major General of the Order, who now appeared as Representative of the " Confederacy," made a formal proposition to unite Illi^iois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri with the " Southern Confederacy " through the agency of the Order. He stated that the Confederacy had authorized him to place at the dis- posal of the Order the sum of Two million dollars^ — which had been captured from the Union army — to be used by the Order in preparing for an uprising against the Union (jovernment; that it would be distributed among the Grand Commanders in the several ^States, to be expended for arms and ammunition. The measure proposed was unanimously adopted, and so far as it was possible for this infamous body of traitors to unite the five States — Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, 48 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Missouri and Kentucky — with the " vSouthern Confed- eiacy," it was done. It was understood that Price and Buckner were to l)e the co-operative forces at the time of the uprising. It was further arranged that the lUinois forces of the Order were to Hberate the rebel prisoners in that State, and to concentrate at St. Louis, Mo., to co-operate with Pri<^e's forces. The details of the Revolutionary Plot were fully, enthusiastically discussed, and unanimously accepted. Arrangements were made to release the prisoners of war in all Northern' camps, and the army of veterans and conspirators were to unite with the Southern arm}'. But "the best laid plans of mice and men, aft gang aglee," and later we shall find the order of exercises materially changed. The Supreme Coun- cil, at that session, also made some suggestions and passed resolutions concerning the date of August 27th ensuing. A quarter of a century ago, a person in passing down vSouth Clark Street, Chicago, might notice upon the right, a large building of peculiar construction, bearing the name "Invincible Club Hall." It was here the Temples of the "American Knights," or, as later called, the "Sons of Liberty," held their secret sessions, going stealthily up the stairs, singly or m groups of two or three, to avoid observation, and when inside the hall they were guarded by an outside sentinel, whose office it w^as to apprise them of danger, and to guard against its approach to the temple. But when the "American Knights" became "Sons of Liberty," "the Temple of the Illini" removed from Clark Street to DURING THE WAR. 49 the large building upon the corner of Randolph and Dearborn Streets, known as "McCormick's Block." Every Thursday evening prior to the 8th of Novem- ber, 1S64, the windows of the hall, in the fifth story, gave evidence that 'the apartment was occupied, but further than this evidence, was not for the observer, unless perchance he was a member of the Order. Clambering up the long flights of stairs that led to the hall, on a Thursday evening, the party in quest of dis- covery would be not a little surprised at the class of men he would notice upon the march upward. He would involuntarily button his pockets, and keep as far distant from his fellow travellers as possible, for a more God-forsaken looking class of wretches never before entered a respectable building, and it is a matter of 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 of being discovered and recognized, not in the least conscience-stricken, per- haps, for his intentions. You would scarcely be will- ing to believe that he was the presiding genius of the room in the upper regions, and bound to dispense light and ivisdojii to the motley crowd, who would 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. Now comes a lawyer of some distinction, and here a Justice of the Peace, who wears a look of wisdom, and upon his face you may read that he is cer- 50 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT tain that " the despot Lincohi " and " Lincoln's hire- hn^s " and " Lincoln's bastiles " are all going together beneath the wheels of the triumphal car drawn by the opposition. But we need not try to find any great number of fine loo^king men in close proximity to the hall. Arriving on the fifth floor, and proceeding to a door, your friends casting furtive glances around and behind them, disap- pear by the door, and are lost to view; the room is as vacant as a last year's robin's nest; there is a door and a closed aperture, this and nothing more. Advancing to the door, and giving three raps, the slide, which covers the aperture, is moved aside and a face appears at the orifice. Whisper the word '* Peace," or " Peo- ria," or whatever the monthly password may be, and the door is opened, and we find ourselves within the vestibule of the temple, surrounded by a group going through the preliminary exercises of initiation. We see the candidate and sponsors, with hands up- lifted, and listen to the reading from the ritual by an official, who is giving the new-comer his first dose of State's sovereignty and secession. This is so mystified and clouded with high sounding »words that the poor devil nods every time the reader stops for breath, and this part of the ceremony is concluded; and the candi- date, — respectable for the good clothes which he wears upon this occasion, as a rarity, — follows his conductor to another door, and is coming rapidly into good fel- lowship with men of high judicial standing. Again they knock, and are challenged by an inside guardian, who lectures the rosy-faced "Son," who hav- DURING THE WAR. ftl ing nodded sufficiently, is conducted to the "Ancient Brother in the West," so that the So?i^ 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 in the cereniony,as the leaders do all the thinking, unless perchance the ignorant wretches find themselves in prison, when they begin thinking for themselves. On the North side of the room is another platform and desk, where a "guardian" sits and addresses the candidate, who is supposed to have lost 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 doubt whether he was ever in such a labyrinth of words, as he has just heard from the Ancient Brother, who, having administered his dose, has required the poor candidate to make oath to all matters for which he has nodded, and to invoke upon his head the direst curses should he ever betray the secrets of the Order, and has been informed that if he should, in any way or manner, communicate to the outside world any secret of the Order, he will surely, sooner or later, meet a shameful death, prior to which he shall suffer all sorts of penalties! The new Brother, now happy in the thought that he has taken himself in out of the d?'aft^ advances to the center of the hall, and turning his back upon the Ancient Brother, stands fac- ing the Grand Signior, whom he salutes by applying the palm of his right hand to his lips, then, turning the hand to his signiorship, and bringing his left hand across his breast, which salutation being returned, the 52 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT So7t appears in the East, rcHectini^ his effulgence all around ! The Grand vSij^nlor explains the ceremony, giving the new Brother another dose of secession, about as much as the poor fellow can carry, then gives the sign of distress, — by raising the right hand and crying Ocoon three times, which he says is made up of the name Calhoun — a name mentioned with great reverence. Thus closes the initiation of a vSon of Liberty. This organization, as a body, in Chicago, and every- where else, was the gathering together to be wielded against the Government, of all the bitter and hostde elements in the Northern vStates. It was truly but a " whited sepulcher." To the world, it exhit)ited nothing of its inner corruption, but concealed its acts, character and purposes, — its very name, its very exist- ence; ])ut within, it was filled with dead men's bones and all manner of corruption. (3ver the doors of its temples shoidd have been inscribed the maxim that the Romans used for their own city, in the days of the Inquisition, — " He who would live holily, depart from Rome. All things are allowed here, except to be upright." All things were allowed in these Temples, except to be loyal, true, faithful to the mother who had cherished and nourished them, — that mother, our beloved country! The greater part of the Hvo viillion fund was ex- pended for arms and munitions of war. A thousand dollars of it, however, that was placed in the hands of the " wrong man," was used to pay bounties to Union soldiers! DURING THE WAR. 5 3 Bowles, of Indiana, made arrangements for arming with lances and revolvers some four thousand men. This " Major General," so full of malignity was a white haired old man whose appearance would have awakened pitv that he was so corrupt, so degraded, but as I looked over this wide-spread and once beautiful and peaceful land and saw patriots with whitened locks, and millions of defenceless women and little children, with out- stretched hands appealing to Almighty God for pro- tection from the treason that would plot and the traitors who v/ould destroy, — from the rebels, who, with fire and sword, w^ould bring desolation upon all our fair land, and cause a wail of anguish and bereavement to ascend from every home, — what man, with a spark of patriot- ism, would not feel a broader duty, a broader sympathy with the suffering that the villain and such as he had caused, and that he and such as he would cause, if per- mitted to move forward in'^this w^ork of treason, destruc- tion, desolation and death! The conspiracy and revolution, to have been inaugu- rated in Indiana, failed simply because the hand of tae Government was at its throat, and the strong military arm of the Government had fastened upon it, its mailed hand had grappled it, and its giant-like grip was all the more determined, in that its dragon-like foe w^as both subtle and strong. It was the intent of the " Order " to make Indiana a " Second South Carolina," to lead the van in establishing a " Northwestern Confederacy!" It was but again laying down an abominable plot of re- bellion, to be consummated in the Northern States, as it had been in the Southern: to blacken and desolate this 54 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT beautiful land of ours, as it had blackened theirs; to send up from every heart the wail of desolation and death that had followed in the wake of the phantom of seces- sion. These leaders were intelligent and influential, hence most dangerous. They went bawling about the countiy with inflaming speech and mock patriotism, arraigning the authorities as usurpers, tyrants and despots, poison- ing the public heart against those in authority, — clam- oring for peace, in the face of embattled armies, — fan- ning the embers of discord and revolt, kindling by incendiary appeals the fires of insurrection and revolu- tion, and finally identifying themselves with the cause of rebels and traitors, and lending themselves in thought and deed, by night and day, in seciet and in public, giv- ing aid and, comfort to the public enemy against their own Government! This is conspiracy and treason; it has all the disloyal lineaments of treasonable deformity, and neither eloquence nor art, nor painting nor poetry can change it; its office is discord, war and misery. Of such was the character of every prisoner tried and con- victed by the Military Comniission in Indianapolis. With the confessions of some of the leaders, and the conviction of the prisoners; with the expose and the captui'e of arms, etc., it was confidently believed, both by the authorities and the people, that the treasonable orders had been fully and finally broken up, and that the great moral cancer had at last been effectually ex- tirpated; and when the Commission closed its labors and its session, the members and people rejoiced in the supposed complete overthrow of the terrible plot, and DURING THE WAR. 65 all were fully confident that clanger from a secret enemy could never again exist in the land. But there could be no greater error, for, notwithstanding the gen- eral feeling of safety and security, at that very moment the conspirators were more active, more virulent and more vengeful than ever before; and with the change of base from Indianapolis to Chicago, the deadly work went on, and more rapidly the order increased in num- bers, as will be seen by the thrilling details to be pre- sented. The Indiana pro rata of the two millions fund had been expended for arms and munitions of war, and these had been seized upon arrival by the orders of Governor Morton, to the great chagrin and numerous dire threats upon the part of the conspirators. 56 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT CHAPTER IV. Deeds and designs of Indiana Conspirators as disclosed and corroborated ry the pro- ceedings before the military commission Harrison H. Dodd, William A. Bowles, L. P. MlLLKiAN, STIiPHEN HoRSEY, HoRACE Heffren AND Andrew Humphreys tried on CHARGE oi' Treason — Experiments with Greek Fire isy R. C. Booking, in a secret meeting of conspirators destruction by Grmek Fire of U. S. transporis and steam- ers AT THE WHARF IN LoUISVILLE AND further down the oliio— "just the thing wanted" — Many boxes of fire arms and AMMUNITK)N BOUGHT IN NeW YoRK, MAitKED "JEWELRY," SHIIM'ICD TO I N Dl A N A I'OL I S, AND DURING THE WAR. 57 SEIZED BY THE AUTHORITIES ASSESSMENTS OF THE Order for arms — From whence these WERE to come. The following details of the deeds and designs of the Indiana Conspirators are of special interest, and are fully corroborated by sworn evidence before the Mili- tary Commission, convened at Indianapolis in the Autumn of 1864, for the trial of several of the leaders of the Order ''American Knights." The first person placed upon trial was Harrison H. Dodd of Indiana., who was charged with conspiring with members of "American Knights" having a civil and military organization, the design and purpose of the Order being to overturn the Government of the United States. It was charged that the prisoner, H. H. Dodd, did conspire with William A. Bowles, J. F. Bullitt, L. P. Milligan, D. F. Yeakle, Andrew Humphreys and John C. Walker, severally holding military positions and rank in the secret treasonable order "American Knights," to seize by force the United States and State arsenals at Indianapolis, Ind., Columbus, O., and to release the prisoners of war in Northern prisons. It was further charged that Dodd, acting as "Grand Commander" of Indiana, so styled, did communicate with the enemies of tlie United States with intent that they should invade Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. He was charged with inciting insurrec- tion and holding the office of "Grand Commander" or "Commander-in-Chief" of all Military forces for Indiana in the Order American Knights, of appointing 58 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Major Generals of the Order, and that he did recognize the "Supreme Commander" as Commander-in-Chief of all Military forces of the Order in the United vStates; he was also charged with preventing enlistments in the arnaies of the United States, etc. Felix G. Stidger, U. S. detective, testified that Dr. (xatling, the inventor of the gun with revolving rifle barrels, mounted on wheels and known as the "Gatling Gun," was a member of the Order. He testified also that Bowles was in Louisville, Ky., in June, 1S64, superintending the Greek Fire arrangement, which was invented by R. C. Bockmg, a German or Belgian of Cincinnati, a Captain of Artillery U. S. Volunteers. The Order was to use this Greek Fire for destroying Government property. Both Dodd and Bowles told Stidger that the Order "American Knights" was formed for opposing the United States Government in every possible way by force of arms, and expected to co-operate with the rebel forces. At Louisville Bowles was present at the experiments with the Greek Fire, and Bocking explained the hand grenades and machine for destroying boats and Government buildings, saying that it will set these on fire at a given time, something on the principle of a clock, and wound up for the time designated, when it will surely fire the boat or building in which it may be left. The machine, put into a box or trunk, might be left without exciting suspicion. Bowles told Stidger that two boats, laden with Gov- ernment stores, were destroyed at a wharf in Louisville by Greek Fire, and that there had been fires before caused by Greek Fire, operated by the Order. Stidger DURING THE WAR. 59 testified that he received from Dodd the whole pro- g^ramme of the uprising of the Order, and of the plot to seize United States and State arsenals, the liberation of prisoners of war, and concentration of members of the Order. Witness testified that Judge Bullitt went to the session of the Conspirators' vSupreme Council, July 20th, in Chicago, and added — "Dodd had been to New York, and on the day of his return I learned from him that the programme concerning the uprising had all been decided upon. He told me to engage twenty or thirty good runners, who would notify the Order, and have them ready when Judge Bullitt got back. I saw Bullitt on the train. He told me the programme was all arranged. He gave me the nam.es of W. R. Thomas, Jailor at Louisville, and other persons to send to him, and to them he would impart the programme. Before seeing them, Judge Bullitt was arrested and sent to Fort Lafayette. . Dodd told me the plan agreed upon in Chicago; and said they were to seize Camp Morton, Camp Chase, Camp Douglas, and the depot of prisoners at Johnson's Island, to seize the arsenals in Indianapolis, Springfield and Chicago, and arm the released prisoners of war with the w^eapons seized, also arm the members of the Order, and organize them for the 15th or 16th of August, the day fixed upon for the uprising. Each commander was to concentrate his forces in Louisville, and they were to have the co-oper- ation of Colonel Syphert and Col. Jessee of the South- ern army, who were then to capture Louisville, Jeffer- sonville and New Albany. The meeting or the Supreme Council was called for the first of July but was postponed 60 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT owing to the postponement of the National Democratic convention. Dodd was "Grand Commander" of the Order in Indiana. Bowles was a "Major General" commanding one of the districts of the State. David T. Yeakle held the same rank as Bowles, bnt was super- seded by Walker; so that Walker and Milligan held the same rank as Bowles. Judge Bullitt was Grand Commander of the Order in Kentucky. The council meeting at Chicago was composed of Grand Command- ers and Major Generals. Stidger was informed by Piper of Springfield, whom he met in the Grand Council of Kentucky, and who was on the staff of Val- landigham, the Supreme Commander, that the time fixed for the general uprising in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky was the 3d or 17th of August — the date to be positively fixed by Vallandigham. His orders were to be obeyed above the orders of any other ofiicer." Stidger, the witness, examined the roll of names of the Order of Indiana for the purpose of pointing out those whom he recognized, and singled out the names of W. M. Harrison, "Grand Secretary," and Joseph Ristine, auditor of the State. He also identified State Senator "Hon." Horace Heffren, as Deputy Grand Commander of the State. He had formerly been Lt. Colonel of an Indiana regiment. He informed Stidger that the Order was for the purpose of co-operating with the rebels. Piper told the witness that James A. Barrett, formerly of St. Louis, later of Chicago, was Chief of Staff to Vallandigham, and that Capt. Hines of tlie Confederate army, also on Vallandigham's staff DEPOT OF PRISONEUb UF WAK. JuUNSO^S ISLAND. SANDUSKY BAY. 62 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT — had charge of releasing prisoners of war on John- son' Ishmd; that James A. Barrett had a communica- tion from VaUandigham and Bowles, giving him charge of releasing the prisoners at Rock Island. Hines w^as then in Canada waiting for the time to come to begin his work at Johnson's Island; later Hines was captured wnth Morgan. Stidger, the witness further testified — "On the zgth or 30th of June, I saw, at the Louisville Hotel, in Bocking's room, a shell, about the size of a 33 pounder, of conical shape. The butt of the shell, being unscrewed, showed an interior shell which contained an iron case for the charge of powder. Bocking explained it: "The space between the inner- most case and the inner shell w^as to be filled with Greek Fire. The space between the inner and outer shell was to give room for it to move, so as to explode the percussion cap, on its being thrown or striking upon any object. This w\as to be used for destroying Goveinment property — for the use of these conspira- tors, who said it was just the thing they wanted. I also saw a spherical shell, which, unscrewed in the center, showed a smaller spherical shell inside. Bock- ing explained the working of it: The inner shell was to be filled with powder, and a cap placed on each of the nine nipples, to be seen on its surface; and round a glass vial, which this inner shell contained, was placed the powder. The glass vial contained the Greek Fire. On being thrown and striking on any object, it would explode, ignite and set on fire whatever it touched. It was designed to be used by the hand, and required very careful handling to prevent exploding, as it would do from the slisfhtest blow. DURING THE WAR. 63 I was told by Dr. Bowles that the Greek Fire had been used for the destruction of Government property ; that two boats had been destroyed at Louisville, and a number of boats down the river, by the same means, in April and May. Bockino^ explained the manner in which the Greek fire could be used outside of the shells. It might be kept in a thin glass vial, and when one wanted to destroy an object, all he had to do was to throw the vial against it, by which the liquid would be scattered about, and it would set on fire anything it touched. It might be made to ignite instantly, or some time after it was scattered." The commands of the chiefs of the Order were to be above the commands of all others, and above all laws of the United States, in fact supreme. It was resolved by the Conspirators to assassinate U. S. detec- tive Coffin, and Stidger was sent from Louisville to give Dodd and Bowles the opinion of Judge (Grand Commander) Bullitt, which was that it was necessary for the interests of the Order, that Coffin should be put out of the way. Dr. Gatling was present at the Grand Council when the discussion occurred concerning the assassination of Coffin. The witness further testified that Piper professed to have official orders of military character from Vallandigham, and that Vallandigham had knowledge of the insurrectionary movement and sanctioned it, had supreme control of it, and the day of the uprising was at his discretion; and that he approved the action of the Supreme Council held in Chicago. Joseph Kirkpatrick, of Park Place, New York, dealer in fire arms, testified that he sold 290 pistols to fi4 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT "L. llanis," and contiacted to sell liiin 2,500 revolvers and 135,000 pistol cartridges; Ihat later he saw these arms at the arsenal near Indianapolis; in the same boxes in which they were packed in New York, and marked "J.J. Parsons, Indianapolis, Indiana. Harris marked them himself, in the j^resence of Kirkpatrick, paid for the arms, and gave the impression that the weapons were to be shipped to the California market. William Clayton, of Warren County, Illinois, testi- fied that assessments were made upon the Order for the purchase of arms, which were to come from Nassau to Canada and thence to the Order. He corroborated the former evidence that all commands affecting the Order were to proceed from C. L. Vallandigham, "Supreme Commander." The next highest officer in command, according to the witness, was Robert Holloway of Mercer County, Illinois. Wesley Tranter of Martin County, Indiana, formerly a soldier of the 17th Indiana Volunteers, who was with Sherman's army, testified that he joined the Order of the "Circle of Honor," ["American Knights" under another name] at the sohcitation of Stephen Horsey of Martin County; that they swore to support the cause of the Confederacy "north or south, at all hazards," and that if they "revealed the secrets of the order, they were to have their hearts torn out, and bodies cut into pieces," etc. It was said in the Order, that "H. H. Dodd was to be Governor |of the State, in place of Morton, who was to be put out of the way." The witness added, "It was said we must have our old rifles and shot guns fixed up as best we could, and CAMP MORTON NEAR INDIANAPOLIS. IND. 66 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT that we would have revolvers shipped to us. Two boxes of revolvers came, marked as "jewelry" so I was told by Stephen Horsey. The Indianians w^ere to seize Indianapolis and the arsenal, and distribute the arms to members of the Order. At the same meeting, it was said Morton was to be put out of the way, that he had but a short time to live after the visit to the arsenal. I left the Order because its principles did not suit me. It was recognized as " Knights of the Golden Circle." Dr. Bowles was to be our General, to lead us South, but I was not alarmed at the prospect of serving under Bowles. I knew he w^ould run if there was danger, as he did in Mexico, and that we would be safe. The witness withdrew from the Order and disclosed its designs to Capt. Henley, by whom the statement was sent to Gen. Carrington. The prisoner Harrison H. Dodd, escaped from prison, at this stage of his trial, and was never recaptured. The following extract from the report of Col. A. J. Warner, Commander of the Post Indianapolis, to Capt. A. C. Kemper A. A. G., gives all the particulars known of the escape of H. H. Dodd, on the morning of Octo- ber 7th, 1864: "Harrison H. Dodd, who was on trial in this city before the Military Commission, on a charge of treason and conspiracy, made his escape from the room occupied by him in the third story of the Postoffice building, a few minutes before 4 o'clock this morning. He es- caped through the w^indow, opening on Pennsylvania street, by means of a rope, attached to an iron rod, which was held fast between his bed and the iron win- dow-shutter. DURING THE WAR. 67 A ball of twine hud been conveyed to him by some of his friends who had been permitted to visit him, by means of which, he had drawn up to his window a large rope, furnished bv some persons outside.^ who assisted in his escape. There was no guard on the out- side of the building, and the attempt was not detected, until the prisoner had reached the ground and escaped. The street lamps near by had been previously darkened, to conceal the movement. When Mr. Dodd petitioned Brevet Major General Hovey, Commander of the District, to be allowed to occupy a room in the PostofMce building, instead of be- ing closely confined in the Military prison, he gave his parole of honor that he would make no attempt to escape. His brother, also, pledged his word, and stated he would risk all he was worth, that H. H. Dodd would not try to escape, if this privilege were granted. Meas- ures, therefore, that would have been taken to prevent escape by placing guards on the outside as well as with- in the building, were not under the circumstances re- sorted to in this case." H. H. DODD HEARD FROM. The following letter from H. H. Dodd was received nearly two months after his escape: Windsor, C. W., Nov. 23, 1S64. Editors of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Gentlemen : "In your issues of yesterday, in an editorial article, I notice the following language: " By the way, it w^ould be instructive to learn where the money came from with 68 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT which Mr. Dodd's pistols were purchased; and further- more how Mr. Dodd — crowded as Indiana is with spies and secret poHcemen, every one of whom knew him, or had his portrait in possession — contrived to escape to Canada, with his pockets full of the effigies of the President and Secretary of the Treasury." The only force and effect of which is to convey the idea that I have been dieting in the interest of the Administration party, and have been paid for my ser- vices, and allowed to escape through their instrumen- tality. This unfounded assault upon my character, orig- inated with some irresponsible correspondent of the Chicago Thnes^ at Indianapolis, and which has since been made the basis of editorial comment in the Seiiti- ficl and Enquire}'^ and thus, intentionally or otherwise, you are giving crerlence and publicity to the " com- pliclty vjith JSIorton^'' dodge, gotten up by a coterie of " Sons," who have seen fit to take the benefit of the " baby act." I certainly ha\e no objection to 3-our whipping your abolition contemporaries, or to your censuring and con- demning the men in power, or their measures; but I must enter my solemn protest against the use of my sore back as a medium to do the one or the other. Neither do I complain of comments upon my public or private acts, political principles, combinations or associa- tions, as against abolitionism, terrorism, despotism, usurpation, oppression and military dictation; nor upon any sins of commission or omission in this direction. I am ready to hear " charges and specifications," of at- tempted assassinations, of estimates upon my ability, DURING THE WAR. 69 intentions or purposes, and this sort of thing; make me out an enemy to society from either weakness or ambi- tion ; call me a revolutionist, or what not, I am willing to leave to time to prove that " the worst enc?7iy to the peace oj ma7zki?id is he who renders a revolution neces- sary!'^ But to charge me with being a '-^ spy and in- former^'' that I would become a decoy to lure unsuspect- ing associates into the boiling cauldron of "crime, hat- red and malice," all for the "effigies of the President and Secretary of the Treasury," is to charge me with a heinous crime against mankind, that I cannot permit to be laid at my door — and I may not remain silent, when the editor of the Enqiiirer^ from personal knowledge knows me incapable of playing such a role. Do you wish sincerely to know m regard to the pistols? You will recollect that a gentleman in New York claimed them as his individual property, and by reference to. my card, published on the 5th day of Sep- tember last, you will find further explanation as to my connection with said pistols. It was not then considered e\'en a crime by Democratic journals to buy and sell, or to keep and bear arms. The amount involved was not so large as to raise the inquiry — " Where the money came from .'^" My escape was no great exploit; not sufficiently so, at least, to raise the question of "How was it contrived?" A little affair of this sort could be managed as well as the purchase of a few hundred pistols, without the intervention of the Government or any of its agents. You do me a great injustice when you speak of me as some notorious criminal, personally known to all thief- 70 THE GliBAT TREASON PLOT catchers, and whose picture every detective in the country carried about with liim The fact that I have safely arrived in a country where the "majesty of the law" is respected, full)' proves the contrary; for how lould I pass tlirough a perfect forest of detectives, secret policemen, spies, soldiers in uniform, soldiers in citizens' dress — in female attire, dressed as hod carriers, as peddlers, as white washers, teamsters, wood-choppers, spread all through the county of Marion and adjoining counties, swarming in the cities of Indianapolis, Cincm- nati, Cloxeland, Toledo and Detroit, and upon ever}^ railway train; yet simply because I was unknown to them, and because they did not have my picture in their pockets, I passed through them all unnoticed. It is no longer necessary to attack my honor, to proN'e the Democratic "leaders'' in no way connected with ihe "Dodd Conspiracy." They are no more responsible for my acts, than I am for theirs, and I am pei-fectly willing that the acts of some of them, in this case, should be the standard, if the rest of them will assent. But the simple object of this note, however, was to have 3^ou give my denial to the charge of "complicity with Morton." This is all I ask, so that the Demo- cratic masses can see it over my own signature. I care not who avers it. I am satisfied to risk the question of veracity. If you are incredulous, just inquire of Major Burnett, General Ilovey or Colonel Warner, and me- thinks the energetic replies will be entirely satisfactory. It may be that 1 committed an error in abandoning the "Commission." Be that as it ma}', I regret exceedingly DURING THE WAR. 71 to have made any plea, either to the jurisdiction or to the indictment, or to have, in any manner, recognized the tribunal. The charge that I violated a parole is, like all the rest, utterly false. I was in solitary confine- ment every moment from the time of my arrest until the escape. Respectfully Yours, etc. H. H. DoDD." HON. O. P. MORTON, WAR GOVERNOR OF INDIANA. DURING THE WAR. 7, CHAPTER V. Balepui. Influence of Political wSecret Soci- eties — A Government Detective — Trial of other leading conspirators — Vallandigham's Return to Ohio — The halter a preamble TO A platform — Lincoln's Spies — The rkvoi.i- tionary scheme. Mr. M. M. Ray, the able counsel for H. H. Dodd, in his aro^ument in reply to the Judge Advocate's mo- tion that the Commission proceed to the finding and sentence of the escaped prisoner, made use of the fol- lowing language: — "In approaching the evidence of the case, we arc al- most subdued and awed into silence, by considering tlie perilous precipice on which society in the Northwest so 74 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT lately hungr, if the testimony in the plenitude of its de- tails, or even in its general scope, is to be believed. We do not feel called upon, as counsel for the defendant, to apologize for these or any other secret political organi- zations, and especially in revolutionary times like these. But we do feel called upon as a mark of respect to this court, and in the interest of a common country, to place on record our unqualified reprobation of all secret poli- tical orders, by whatever name or party afiiliation, as, at best, but pestilential hotbeds for the most incendiary political heresies, leading to the worst fruits of Jacobin- ism. It is in vain for the purest and wisest patriot to offer words of truth and patriotism to the people, if they conflict w^ith the decrees of a secret, irresponsible, bloody tribunal. Through the machinery of secret or- ganizations, the worthless and irresponsible place-hunt- ers come to the top, get the popular ear, and have more weight and influence in directing the popular mind, than all the lessons of history or the appeals of our most learned, independent, unselfish and trusted public men. Who then that has had the sagacity to detect the baleful influence of secret societies in the whole political atmosphere for two years past, can find any apology or palliation for them ? We offer none." Gen. Burnett, Judge Advocate of the Commission, in his powerful, logical and eloquent argument, thus re- ferred to F. G. Stidger, the witness: " I wish to say one word with respect to the testimony of the witness Stidger. No member of this Commission, and I think I may say that no person sat in this hall who did not DURING THE WAR. 75 believe that the witness testified to the truih. True, he- was a Government detective, but such a work can ])e engaged in and accompHshed with a good intent nnd purpose. It is a species of strategy fully justilicd l)y the circumstances of the case, and is not unlike that to which our commanding Generals in the field often re- sort, in their efforts to deceive the enemv. They send false messages, write and forward false missives, on purpose to mislead them. They employ every means in their power to induce them to believe in and relv upon a certain state of things the opposite of that which really exists. Stidger engaged in the woi'k of reveal- inof the desio-ns of this treasonable or^ arc arrested in the States by the effort as well of the legis- lators as the executive, then will our lives and fortunes follow where our honors will have gone before. I am willing to do whatever the cause of the North- west may require, or its true friends may think proper, but I am as well convinced that upon mature reHcction they will not ask me to obtrude myself upon the pub- lic, nor will they ask me to be McDonald's contingent. I have great confidence in your good hard man scrisc^ and cool judgment, hence I find it difhcult to disregard your advice in the matter, and before giving to the world my position on the question, I wish to see you personally. Yours truly, L. P. ISIlLLUiAN. N. B. My last was confidential; this is more so, because I have given vent to feelings that are purely private. L. P. Millkjan;' The following letter, written by the witness Harrison as Grand Secretary, to a Secretary of a County Tern pie was admitted as evidence: > "Indianapoi-is, Aug. 20, 1864. Mr. H. I. Stewart, Boundary, Ind. Dear Sir: Yours under date 17th inst. is at hand. Any infor- mation that you may desire can be had by sending an accredited person here. Written communications arc played out, 2ls all letters are opened and read by Lin . coin's spies and hirelings during their transmission through the mails. Yours truly, H. 82 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Grand Secretary Harrison testified : " I received information from Harrison H. Dodd that there was a design in progress or in contemplation for the release of the prisoners of war confined at this point, at Chi- cago and at Rock Island, Ills. That plan had not been fully decided on; but if decided on, he was to have charge of the release of the prisoners at this point. He desired to have a Democratic mass meeting called about the 1 6th of August, and used his influence to induce the Democratic State Central Committee to call that meet- ing. If they did so, he intended to send out circulars to the members of the Order in the various counties, auth- orizing the members to come up to that meeting armed. If the meeting had been held at that time, there would have been an uprising. He stated this on Friday evening of July 29th, the same evening that the yournal bulletin announced an expose of the Order for the next morning. This was after the Chicago meeting. I understood him that the whole plot had been arranged at Chicago. He stated that the released prisoners were to aid in the uprising here, and that success meant revolution to take place in Indiana. The uprising was to take place by the aid of the rebel prisoners, who were to be released through his instrumentality, and that of the persons who came in to the meeting to be held here on the i6th, they were to overturn the State government. He said if the thing was decided on, he was to surprise the camp and seize the arsenal, and, in the confusion and excitement of the moment, effect the success of the plan. He thought he could do this with about one hundred and fifty men. DURING THE WAR. ^3 The witness gave an exposition of the si iins 1 I-. ('■'})> passwords, etc. The members were instructed that the acorn was the universal emblem of the order, repre- senting strength, growth and durability. The Grand Secretary continued — "From what Dodd communicated to me, 1 was impressed that the revolu- tionary scheme included Illinois, as well as Indiana, and if circumstances favored, the whole organization was to participate in it. Dodd was to take charge of the liber- ation of prisoners at Camp Morton, near Indianapolis. The Military Bill adopted in the Council referred to, was introduced in pursuance of injunctions of P. C. Wright, at that time Supreme Commander. The Mil- itary bill was in Dodd's hand-writing. I saw Humph- reys at the meeting of the Council June 14th. It con- vened in the Marion County Temple, in the fourth story of Dodd's building. Wesley Tranter, a witness for the Government, testi- fied — "I saw Stephen Horsey at a meeting of the Order— was initiated by him. I was at a meeting of "Knights of the Golden Circle" where something was said about putting Morton out of the way. A man who signed himself "M. D." was to pay Governor Morton a visit about the 26th or 27th of March and he was to live but a short time afterguard . There was to be a raid on this place by the members of the Order about the 6th of April; we were to arm ourselves and beready; we wereto take this place and release the prisoners; we were to go at the "blue coats." It was said that when we made the raid on this place, the Order in IlHnois were to make a raid on Springfield, and 84 THE GREA.T TREASON PLOT thoSe in Missouri on St. Louis. Washington was to be attacked, and Forrest was to make a dash into Ken- tucky. In case Governor Morton was assassinated, H. H.Dodd was to succeed him, according to what was said at the meeting. Joseph J. Bingham, a witness for the Government, testified as follows: — ^"Am editor of the Daily ami Weekly Iiidiaua State Sentuicl\ I joined the "Ameri- can Knights" in October, 1S63, in the Military Hall on Washington street; the hall was leased by the Demo- cratic Club of this citv, and it is my impression it was under their control at the time. I joined the order at the solicitation of Dodd, who said it was political but not partizan, and was to sympathize with the principles of the Democratic party. Dodd informed me that he had appointed me a delegate to the State Council, which was to meet in November, 1863. I attended, and took what they called a Council degree. Dodd presided and Harrison was Secretary. I saw there Mr. Ristine and Mr. Milligan the accused. About the znd or 3rd of August Mr. Dodd said to me that it had been determined, at a meeting or Council, and that arrange- ments had been made to release the prisoners on John- son's Island; at Camp Chace, near Columbus, Ohio; at Camp Morton and also at Camp Douglas, and that the prisoners at Camp Douglas were then to go over and release those at Rock Island. At the same time, there was to be an uprising at Louisville, at which the Gov- ernment stores, etc., were to be seized. I looked at the man in astonishment. I thought it was a wild dream; I could not believe it possible. I studied a moment SONS OF LIBERTY ARISE! THE GRAND COMMANDKK CcMIN.. Ih'WN 86 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT and said — "Mr. Dodd, do you know what you are going to undertake? Do you know the position of military affairs here at this post? Do you think you can accomplish this scheme with any number of un- armed and undisciplined men you can bring here? He said I was the only person he had communicated this to in the city. I asked — "how is this revolution to take place and nobody know anything about it?" Witness then testified to a meeting on the street with Michael C. Kerr who said, "the devil's to pay in our section of the State; and people of Washington, Har- rison and Flovd counties and that neighborhood had got the idea that a revolution was impending. The lai mers were frightened and were selling their hay in the fields and their wheat in the stacks, and all the property that could be, was being converted into green- backs." He then told me just what Dodd had before told me. He went over the whole scheme. I went with him to Mr. McDonald's and Kerr told the same story he had told me. Kerr told me that Gov. Morton was to be captured or taken prisoner, and that Dr. Athon was to be Provisional Governor, and this was part of the scheme. Wc went to Dr. Athon's house after 12 o'clock and called him up and told him what Kerr had said. The next day we went to McDonald's office, where many persons were assembled, and to them Mr. Kerr told the story; and the meeting came to the conclusion that the matter must be stopped right then. After a while Dodd and John C. Walker came in. This meet- ing occurred on Friday, August 5th. Mr. Kerr made DURING THE WAR. 87 a speech, saying that he came up to put a stop to the thing, and that it was our duty to stop it; and I coin- cided. Col. Walker and Dodd did not acknowledge at that interview, that any such scheme was entertained. Both made earnest speeches and used these arguments — " that the Government could not be restored again under the old state of things without a forcible revolu- tion; that an appeal to the ballot box was all folly; that the people were prepared for revolution ; that they would not submit to the draft; and that it was better to diiect the revolution, than to have the revolution direct us. They assured us that we need have no further appre- hensions about the matter, and we rested content with that. I was satisfied that the authorities knew as much of the matter as I did. The signal of the uprising at Louisville was to be the notice of a barbecue to take place in the neighborhood of Louisville. It was under- stood that the uprising was to take place on the diiy announced for the barbecue. Mr. Kerr informed us, in the interview with McDonald, that Judge Bullitt had that day or the day previous been arrested." " We had then called the Democratic State Central Com- mittee to meet on the 17th of August," continued the witness; " I regard this matter as most important in its effect upon the Democratic party, and that was a reason why I did not wish to say anything about it, for if this thing had been made public, it would injure us in the coming election ; the charge would be made that the Democratic party was a revolutionary party, and we would have been saddled with the sins of these men. 88 THE GREATiTREASON PLOT Col. Walker was present at the State Central Com- mittee meeting, and assured the Committee that nothing of the kind should take place. I met Col. Walker on the street; he said he was going to the Bates house to meet gentlemen by appointment— -I understood him to say they were rebel officers; who were on their way to Chicago to take charge of the rebel prisoners when released from Camp Douglas; that it was necessary he should see them and tell them the whole scheme was stopped. He met me afterward, and said he had seen them, and they had gone on and stopped all operations at that time, for the release of the prisoners." The wit- ness added — " Dodd desired me to call a mass meeting of the Democracy, and under cover of that meeting he could accomplish his ends by revolution." WILLIAM A. BOWLES, COLONEL OF INDIANA CONSPIRATORS. 90 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT CHAPTER VI. A Government Detective tells his story — H. H. DoDD wishes to go ahead — Order for THOUSANDS OF LANCES A NEW WAY OF NUMBER- ING — Capture of arms. Felix G. Stidger, of Mattoon, Illinois, of the 15th Kentucky, in the army corps of Gen. Thomas, was called as a witness and testified: — Dr. Bowles gave me the name of a Mr. Holloway, and said he was the only man in Illinois that he could put his finger on with re- liability. He said the forces of Indiana would concen- trate in Kentucky, and make that state their battle ground; that the forces in Illinois would concentrate in St. Louis, and co-operate with the forces in Missouri; that Illinois would furnish 50,000 men, Missouri 30,000 and Price was to invade the State with 20,000 men; with the 100,000 men they were to hold and perma- nently occupy that state, and the troops of Indiana and Ohio concentrate at Louisville. I learned from him DURING THE WAR. 91 that this organization was to act in conjunction with the rebel forces. On my way to Dr. Bowles, I stopped at Salem to see Heffren; he said he and Dodd would call a meeting of the organization between the 13th and 1 6th of June; and that the Order in the State was about complete; that it numbered between 75,000 and 80,000 men. About the 2nd of August, Dodd gave me the pro- gramme, and impressed upon me the importance of se- crecy. He said a meeting would be held in Indianapo- lis on the 15th or i6th of August, and that his men would be instructed to come armed; that they were go- ing to work to release the prisoners here and seize the arsenal here, at Springfield and Chicago, Illinois, and Columbus, Ohio, on the same day, and to release the prisoners at Johnson's Island, and Camp Chace, Ohio, Camp Douglas and Rock Island, Illinois, then proceed to Louisville, and take possession of the arsenal there, and at Frankfort, Kentucky, and, with the rebel prison- ers armed, they would go to work. Their difference at Chicago was whether they should wait until the rebel forces should be sent into Eastern Kentucky to co-operate with them, or to make their uprising at once, and co-operate with the rebel forces when Davis could send them. Dodd's idea was to go ahead on the T5th or 1 6th of August. I do not know why the in- surrection was put off. There was communication be- tween this Order and the guerrillas in Kentucky. Bowles said he would consent to the uprising on the 15th or 1 6th of August, as Dodd had said, provided Col. Syphert, Col. Jesse and Walker Taylor would as- 92 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT sist in the capture of Louisville, until the forces (Sons of Liberty) of the State could get there. Dr. Bowles asked me if 1 could have three or four thousand lances made. He wanted that number, and thought they could be made in Kentucky, without sus- picion. He wanted three or four thousand men armed with lances and revolvers, as he could make them of great service. Bowles told me that he had spent $2,000 for the Order, and would spend all he had, if neces- sary. He told me he cared nothing about the election; he was satisfied Lincoln would be elected, and he wanted the time spent in perfecting the organization and getting ready for the uprising. Bocking is a for- eigner. Bowles and others were present when Bock- ing explained his Greek fire. The murder of Coffin was discussed in open Council. Bowles participated in it. There was not a dissenting voice with respect to the murder of Coffin at that, or any other time. 1 sent warning to Coffin of their purpose to assassinate him." "The Order had a means of ascertaining the number of arms possessed by the members, by having returns made by the County Temples, under the guise of a sub- scription list for certain Democratic papers. For in- stance, a person pretending to subscribe for the Cincin- nati Enquirer^ meant that he had a revolver; for the Chicago Times^ that he had a shotgun; for the Louis- ville Democrat^ that he had a rifle; and under the head of Miscellaneous would be indicated the amount of am- munition he had on hand. Thus the matter was kept a secret from those who were not acquainted with the plan." DURING THE WAR. 93 Col. A. J. Warner, Colonel of the 17th V. R. C. and Commander of the Post at Indianapolis, testified — "about the 20th of i\ugiist, I received information that a lot of arms had been shipped secretly to this place. I ordered the Provost Marshal of the Post to seize the arms, and arrest the parties connected with the transac- tion. From the time I first heard of the shipment, to the time the Provost Marshal reached the depot with wagons, etc., the arms had been removed to the old ''' SentincV^ building. That night twenty-six boxes of arms and ammunition were taken. The boxes were shipped to "J. J. Parsons," and on the way-bill were marked " stationery." On some of them were marks indicating that they were Sunday School books or tracts. Twenty-four boxes contained fixed ammuni- tion for large sized revolvers; the balance contained large revolvers — self-cocking and the largest I have ever seen. The arms and ammunition were deposited in the United States Arsenal. There were between 350 and 400 revolvers. On Sunday morning, I made a thorough search, and found, secreted in the room oc- cupied by H. H. Dodd, under books, etc., six more boxes— in all 32 boxes. The six boxes contained arms and ammunition, like those taken Saturday night, a stamping-press, and two bushels or more of rituals, etc.; also a roll of the city members, etc. The following letter was found in the office of Dodd: Windsor, Canada W., May 12, 1864. Dear Sir: Am waiting to hear from you at Day- ton as to time of the District Convention. No announcement yet. Will give you notice immediately. 94 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT 1^^ Send for your friend here to return at once, and work at home. Nothing to do here. So, also, says our mutual friend. Be ready for Dayton meeting. Grant has been worsted by Lee, and no mistake. It is Grant who has fallen back six or eight miles, and not L. who has advanced from west to east. L; is not, and never has been, facing northward, but eastward. Truly, C. L. V. Sherman, too, has been brought to a dead stand, first having been driven back." DURING THE WAR. 95 CHAPTER VII. Ex-State Senator Heffren as State's evi- dence — The "Committee of Ten" to assassi- nate Gov. Morton — Threats to assassinate THE witness — Went down to Hezekiah's and took a drink. Col. Horace Heffren, Salem, Washington County, Indiana, one of the accused, was released from arrest; proceedings against him were withdrawn, and he was called as a witness; but his evidence disclosed few new facts of importance or interest. He related certain information he had received from Dr. Wilson corrobor- ative of former evidence in relation to the seizure of camps and arsenals, and the assassination of Morton. He testified that Dr. James B. Wilson was Adj. Gen. on Bowles' staff, Garrett W. Logan of Salem, Monroe 96 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT township, Washington County, Indiana, was Quarter- master. Dr. Wilson told the witness that Bowles had arranged to have nine companies of infantry, one of lancers, and one section of artillery to comprise each regiment of the Order. The lancers were- to be armed with lances having a hook somewhat like a sickle, — the lance to thrust with, and the sickle to cut the horse's bridle — a thrust for the man, and a cut for the horse's bridle. By this appliance the enemy would become confused and if a charge were made upon them, they could not control their horses, and would fall easy vic- tims. He explained the secret Cypher used by the Order by saying — it would be first understood what book one would write from; the writer would make the date, and place beneath it in parenthesis, the number of the page, and the figure at the left of the line would donate the line on which the writer began; thus, if it was 15, it would signify the 15th line from the top; the number of the page would be on the right in parenthesis, — the number of the line on the left. If the writer could not find the letter wanted, on that page, a line was left blank, and another number was made to donate the page to which reference is made, etc. William P. Green of Salem, Indiana, started to go to the meeting of the Supreme Council in Chicago in July 1S64, in lieu of the witness who was a delegate by virtue of his ofiice of Deputy Grand Commander; but the substitute did not get into the Council. Witness did not learn the names of the men comprising the " Committee of Ten" who were to take care of Gov. Morton; the " Ten " were to be selected by the " Committee of Thirteen," DURING THE WAR. 97 and were only known to the Grand Council and to the " Committee of Thirteen;" the " Committee of Ten " were to hold Gov. Morton as a hostage for prisoners taken or to make way with him in some way to the witness unknown. The property of members of the Order was to be saved in case of invasion by the Southern forces, by display of a flag upon the property; the flag was to be white, with a red ribbon along the flag w^here attached to the staff, down each side of the staff and a few inches below, making red, white and red. The raid was expected the i6th of August; one reason of its failure to occur was because the army of the confederacy did not come up through Cumberland Gap, as it was under- stood would be done. The witness added. Dr. Wilson said Dr. Bowles' man had gone to see Price, and another had gone to Richmond, to arrange for troops to come through Cumberland Gap, but these men failed to return in time. The direct tax upon the members ostensibly for establishing a 'university,' or 'news- paper,' was really for the purchase of arms and ammu- nition. The witness stated that since he had been called to the stand as a witness, he had not staid at home for a night, as threats had been made by the Order to hang him. When witness was in prison, Horsey told him and Humphreys where he hid his buckshot, caps and powder; " some of it was hid in a manger, under the horse's feed; the caps were hid in a barrel and other portions were hid in a stable, and upon the plates in the corncrib; a man-carried off much of it and the powder was hid in 98 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT barrels in his house. Four hundred pounds of lead was hid in different places, some of it left with one man, and another man helped to pack some of the powder across the river. The quantity of ammunition hid included four hundred pounds of lead, several thousand musket caps, and some six or seven kegs of powder. Both the witness Heffren and Humphreys wished Horsey taken from their cell as they did not wish to associate with him, and so wrote Colonel Warner. Witness testified that by urgent request, after Dodd was arrested, he wrote Humphreys, Milligan, John C. Walker and Mr. Vallandigham. Mr. Milligan and Humphreys replied; the former was sick; in answer to a question the witness replied, " he did not say anything in his reply about the salvation of God; I did not think it was near any of us at that time." [It appeared from the evidence that a long time before this letter writing, Heffren had resolved to have nothing to do with the Order, and that he and Mr. Binghani had resolved to "let^the thing grind itself out;" and Heffren had said toJMalott and Moss''"the whole'concern was a humbug and not worth a damn ;" one of them said " Let's go and take a drink on that," and they went down to Heze- kiah's and " took a drink," and agreed to have no more to do with the Order."] "Last Spring," continued the witness Heffren, "com- ing to Indianapolis, Humphreys and I met at the Greencastle Junction, and had a talk about the Order and its organization, and Mr. Humphreys said it would not do; he said he was for his country, right or wrong. DURING THE WAR. 99 and for the Constitution as it was, and would have nothing to do with the Order. He advised me to quit it, and I said I had quit it and would have nothing more to do with the Order. I told him about Moss and Malott on the 17th of February, and Humphreys said he was glad of it. Humphreys said it would not do to resist the law. He said they had used his name with- out his knowledge or consent. The witness, in answer to a question, replied — *if we could not gain a North- western Confederacy, we were to join our fortunes with the South.' I first knew of the ' Committee of Thir- teen' when we were initiated, — twelve beside myself, which was emblematical of the thirteen original states, and of the thirteen stars on the flag. The ' Committee of Thirteen ' belongs exclusively to the Grand Council of the State. I did not say the committee appointed ten murderers^ but were to select ten men 'to take care of Gov. Morton and hold him as a hostage, or, failing in that, to 'take care of him,' by which I understand if they could not use him they might take him out and kill him. "1 did believe these men would do this to Gov. Morton, — I had good reasons for believing it. I was told by Mr. Dodd and by Dr. Wilson that Vice President Stephens had gone to Nassau; that arms and ammunition had been shipped there for the Southern States, from England, but could not pass the blockade, and he went to make arrangements with commissioners from the north to have them shipped to Canada and thence distributed through the north, for the use of this Order. They were to come to Chicago through Can- ada. I was told by Becking when in priori that Gv^ek 100 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT fire was made of bi-suiphate of carbon and phosphorus and would even burn under water. Harrison Connell of Martin County, Indiana, testified that by request of Stephen Horsey, he went with him down the raih'oad and found some ammunition, put it in a sack and carried it home; there was a keg of powder, a package of lead and a package of caps; he put it all in his barn, in the granary and covered it with oats. Elisha Lowgill, of Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, who was Provost Marshal of the Seventh dis- trict, testified that June 4th, 1863, he saw Humphreys at the head of about four hundred armed men. Some of them swore they would kill any man who attempted to enroll Cass township. The enrolling officer was Fletcher Freeman; he was shot and killed while in the discharge of his duty, ten days after the meeting of June 4th. Dr. James B. Wilson of Salem, Washington County, Indiana, called as a witness, testified concerning the meeting of the Supreme Council in Chicago — chiefly facts that have already been stated. It was expected that Vallandigham and also Amos Green of Illinois would both be present, but as Vallandigham did not at first come, a messenger was sent to him. Witness thought either Green or Holloway was sent to Vallan- digham. It was understood that at the time of the general uprising, Dodd was to be leader in Indiana, and Vallan- digham in Ohio. Among the persons present at the meeting of the Supreme Council, was Mr. Barrett, Dr. Bowles, Mr. Williams and Judge Bullitt, Mr. Piper, DURING THE WAR. 101 Capt. Majors, and Mr. Semmes and Brig. Gen. Charles Walsh, both of Chicago, Mr. Hollo way and Mr. Green. The uprising was to take place by the command of Mr. Dodd; he was to send out couriers to the different commanders of the several districts of the State, and they were to send out couriers into the respective counties, and in like manner into the townships. The general signal for the uprising was to be the appearance of guerrillas or troops in the vicinity of St. Louis and Louisville. The i6th was the day fixed. The forces of Southern Indiana were to rendezvous some eight miles from New Albany, under Bowles; the forces in Illinois at Rock Island, Springfield and Chi- cago. At the time of the uprising in Indiana, they would proceed to Camp Morton; the fences and buildings of the Camp would be fired ; the released prisoners would participate in the affair and the Federal soldiers could be overcome. The released prisoners were to be armed with the soldiers' arms, and the soldiers were to be held as prisoners of war. While this work was going on, a detail was to be sent to take care of the Governor; the arsenals were to be seized and the arms distributed among- the conspirators. They were then to seize the railroad to Jeffersonville, then to proceed to New Albany and aid in the capture of Louisville. The scheme was known to all members in Washington County and in other counties. The witness believed, and with reason, that there was a session of the Supreme Council in Chicago to w^hich the delegates were not all admitted. There were probably two 102 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT hundred persons present at the session of the Supreme Council. Witness testified that the first meeting was held on Sunday evening, the second on Mon- day, Mr. Vallandigham presiding. He presented a phitform substantially the same as that adopted at the Chicago Democratic Convention. The meeting of the organization in Chicago, at which Col. Barrett made his proposition for an uprising, was on the 2oth of July; the second meeting was on the 29th of August. Barrett, who was present at the meeting at which Vallandigham presided, made no objection to the proceedings on that occasion. Dodd was present at the July meeting. Mr. Green of Illinois made a speech at the meeting. VV. S. Bush, reporter of the Cincinnati Gazette^ was called as a witness, and gave evidence concerning a very disloyal speech by L. P. Milligan, at a convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 13th, 1864. The report appeared in full in the Gazette^ August i6th. Mr. Milligan was in favor of stopping hostilities and allowing the South the terms she asked — to be let alone. The draft was expected on the 5th of September, 1864. The name of the chairman of the Committee on Reso- lutions was O'Rourke. Milligan said among other things concerning the war, "while the Government had called ovX two million seven hiindred thousand men ^ we were not able to make any headway, but the rebels were holding their own." vSeveral witnesses, called by the accused, testified to the good moral character of Mr. Humphreys, and regarded him as a law abiding citizen, and that he had DURING THE WAR, 108 not understood the treasonable character of the Order until he had become connected with it, and then he repudiated the matter and practically withdrew from it. The trial closed the first week in December, 1864. Gen. Burnett, the Judge Advocate, said in his eloquent and able closing argument — "At the time these arrests were made, this conspiracy, this intended insurrection had jLot been abandoned. As the evidence in this case and subsequent events have most clearly shown, the Order of the "American Knights" or the "Sons of Liberty'' was never juorejlourisking-^ more determined and fuore venomous than at that very time.'''' The Court found the accused, — William A. Bowles, Lambdin P. Milligan and Stephen Horsey, citizens of Indiana, guilty of all these charges, and sentenced them " to be hanged, at such time and place as the Command- ing General of the district should designate." The proceedings, findings and sentences of the Com- mission, were approved b}' the Commanders, and the President of the United States directed that they be carried into effect without delay. The Major General then issued the following order— "Head Quarters District of Indiana, Indianapolis, May 9, 1865. Col. A.J. Warner, Commanding Post, IndianapoHs, Indiana: I have just received from the Department Head- quarters, an order commanding me to carry into effect, " without delay," the sentence of the Military Commis- sion, in the cases of William A. Bowles, Lambdin P. Milligan and Stephen Horsey. The sentence of each 104 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT is death. A copy of the charges and sentence for each of said prisoners is herewith transmitted. From the language of my orders, I am compelled to fix Friday, the 19th inst. (between the hours of 12 o'clock M. and 3 o'clock P. M. ) as the most remote day within which the same can be properly obeyed. You will give the condemned every facility within your power, consistent with their safe-keeping, to settle up their worldly affairs, and prepare for the future. These are sad duties for both of us, and more trying than the field of battle, but they are stern duties, that must^^be obeyed for our country's safety and future welfare. I need not say to you to extend to the families of the con- demned any courtesy that you can, consistent with your duty as an officer. A man who has served and suffered as you have, for your country, can execute justice in mercy, though it might cost you tears of blood. With a high appreciation of your past services, I am yours truly, Alvin p. Hovey, Brev. Maj. Gen. U. S. V. Comd'g." At the close of the war criminal proceedings against all conspirators were abandoned, and sentences of the conspirators were in all cases annulled. DURING THE WAR. 105 CHAPTER VIII. Extraordinary precautions of the Order to PRESERVE Secrecy — The most thorough in- vestigation BY officers of THE GOVERNMENT — Conspirators in the Courts, ProvOst Mar- shal's OFFICE, Post Office, Police force, Tel- egraph AND Railway offices, etc. — All members required to be well armed — Ready for offensive operations — The Chi- cago Conspirators supplied with firearms BOUGHT with THEIR SHARE OF THE " TwO Million fund " — Camp Douglas, Chicago — Residence of the " Brigadier General " of THE Order, but a quarter of a mile from the Camp — Thirteen thousand prisoners of war INCLUDING Morgan's Men, confined in the Camp — Guarded by only five hundred sol- 106 -THE GREAT TREASON PLOT DiERS — Time fixed for the general uprising OF the Conspirators. With such apparent security and inaction of any ad- verse elements of evil in Indiana, we turn to Chicago, where no suspicion of hidden danger from hostile men was for a moment entertained by the authorities or by citizens, even those who had been horrified to learn that the Supreme Council of traitors had held a session in Chicago July 20th, and all loyal people of the city re- joiced that the danger had passed, and that no new cause of alarm was in the least liable to occur. So well were the treasonable organizations in Chi- cago, and all over the North, henceforth guarded, that it seemed impossible to learn their purposes, or any fact concerning them, — even that they held their meetings, and yet temples and councils were rapidly multiplying in very many cities and villages. Lists of names of police officers, detectives and other officials supposed to be inimical and dangerous to the Order, were reported at all their meetings, and the following day the names and descriptions of such officers were reported to breth- ren in other cities and villages. Not a change was made on the police force of Chicago, not an increase or decrease of Provost guard, not even a change of posi- tion of artillery in Camp Douglas, or other Northern camp, no change however minute, of interest to the traitors, but was promptly reported within their dens of treason. Their precautions to preserve secrecy were, however, unavailing. Although there were not less than five DURING THE WAR. 107 ^/wz^sand mQmhers oi the Order, "in good and regular standing" in Chicago, so thorough was the investiga- tion by officers of the Government, that not only was the name of every member of the Order there known, as well as his participation in treasonable acts and designs, but the sam.e is true of many other localities. It was the practice of the "Sons of Libert}^," so far as possible, to obtain positions upon the Police force, in the Courts, in Railway offices and Telegraph Stations, in the office of the Provost Marshal and Post office, this for obvious reasons. So well did they carry out this policy, that they were represented upon every rail- way and telegraph line in Chicago, and one of their officers was then a clerk in the office of the Provost Marshal of that city. One member of the Illini (Chi- cago) temple traveled over the North, wherever he de- sired, upon the pass of a Provost Marshal in Indiana, his business, being to organize temples of treason in the North and West. In the Chicago Temple, there were representatives of nearly every profession, but the majority of the mem- bers were low, ignorant and brutal men, — largely foreigners. It was a rule of the Order that its mem- bers should all be well armed and skilled in the use of weapons. The rapid increase in number and conscious- ness of strength, made them openly defiant. They talked treason upon the corners of the streets, and wherever opportunity offered. A Union disaster was always an occasion of great rejoicing among them. All were ready for offensive operations, and while they were bound to wait till their leaders should give the 108 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT signal for revolution, all were impatient and eager for the event. During the Summer of 1864, the Grand Seignior, as the presiding officer of the Temple was called, gave the brethren assembled the — to them — joyful intelli- gence, that the pro rata of the two million fund for Illinois had been expended for arms, and that these had been shipped for their destination, which was Chicago. These arms all arrived in due season, and were taken in charge by Charles Walsh, "Brig. General" of the Conspirators of the "Illini" and others of the Order in Chicago and all his precinct. I have described the treasonable Order, and now we find its members with deadly weapons in their hands, and will learn the fiendish purposes which they had fully resolved upon. Among other things, the first in order was to liberate simultaneously, all the prisoners of war in our Northern military prisons. At Camp Douglas, Rock Island, Johnson's Island, Camp Morton and Camp Chase, at that time — July 1864 — we held as prisoners of war nearly forty thous- and men, and it had been determined by the. conspira- tors in council that these prisoners should all be released at a certain fixed date. With this nucleus of an army, of which Illinois alone would furnish at least eighty thousand armed men, Indiana as many more, and Ohio a still greater number, such further action would be taken as might be expedient, — certainly beginning with the pillage and burning of Chicago. A glance at Camp Douglas will afford a better idea of the designs of the conspirators in relation to that Post. DURING THE WAR. 109 The geographical limits of the command of the Post of Chicago — which included Camp Douglas — extended to the limits of the Posts North at Madison, Wisconsin, Southwest to Rock Island, South to Springfield, and East to Detroit, Michigan. Chicago was one of the first military depots of supplies in the country. There were ten depots in charge of a Colonel, and Chicago was one of them. The commandant of Post Chicago had jurisdiction over everything pertaining to military affairs within the limits — over the command of all troops and for the protection of the property of the Government and of the people. There were at all times on duty in Chicago about sixty men acting as provost guards. The camp was within the city limits, nearly three miles south from the court house, comprising an area of sixty or seventy acres, — the Prisoners' Square cover- ing about twenty acres. The camp was enclosed by a board fence, twelve feet high, made of lumber an inch and a quarter in thickness. The boards were placed endwise and were nailed from the inside. The outside sentinels were stationed on a parapet, 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 were made from the inside. On one side of the camp, and but a few rods distant, stood Douglas Universit}', a magnificent building, over- looking the entire camp. One hundred, or even fifty men, stationed in that building would command Camp Douglas, and render it untenable to almost any force, as any military man who ever visited the camp will readily 110 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT admit. The residence of the " Brigadier GeneraP' of the conspirators was but a quarter of a mile distant from the camp. Col. B. J. Sweet was commandant of the Post Chi- cago during the Summer and Autumn of 1864. During the early part of August of that year, the number of troops under his command, fit for duty, was from 800 to 900. The latter part of August, upon information of the proposed uprising, given by Col. Ayer, Col. Sweet, by urgent request, was reinforced by about 1,200 men, — comprising four companies, and the 196th Penn- sylvania regiment, which numbered 750, all being hundred da3's men. They remained but 65 days, leav- ing in October. There were thlHeen thousand prison- ers in camp up to November, 1864. On the 6th of November the entire guard in camp was but Jive hundred men, of whom but 250 were on duty at a time. Among the prisoners was Morgan's command — a body of picked and desperate men. I am thus precise in stating the facts, that it may be seen how utterly inade- quate was onr force for successfully repelling an attack upon the camp by a considerable force of armed men from without, aided by the thirteen thousand prisoners within. At the meeting of the " Supreme Council " of trait- ors in Chicago in July, 1864, ^ definite time had been fixed upon for the uprising of the Order, not only in Chicago, but all over the North. It was decided that the treasonable order in Indiana should rendezvous in Indianapolis, Evansville, New Albany and Terfe Haute; that they should seize the arsenal at Indianapo- DURING THE WAR. Ill lis, and distribute the arms and ammunition among the members of the Order. They also arranged to open communication with the Confederate Generals Buckner in Kentucky and Price in Missouri, that nothing might interrupt the execution of concerted plans, which have been stated. HON. RICHARD YATES, WAR GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, DURING THE WAR. 113 CHAPTER IX. Chicago a doomed city — Proposed Carnival OF Death — Startling details — The Black Flag to be raised — The city to be laid in ASHES — Officers, soldiers and prominent LOYAL citizens OF ChICAGO TO BE SLAUGHTERED -^The Temple of the " Illini " in session every week — The Conspirators recruiting from the grog-shops and slums of the city — The citizens repose in fancied security WHILE THE fiendish PLOT IS FESTERING IN THEIR midst and a MINE AT THEIR FEET READY TO BE SPRUNG — Atrocities about to be perpe- trated — Military drill by the^Order^ — Con- spirators IN GREAT numbers COMING FROM ABROAD TO CHICAGO MAKING READY FOR THE 114 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT UPRISING — Concealed weapons — Brisk trade IN fire arms and knives — Incendiary har- angue BY THE "Grand Seignior" of the "Illini" — Leaders denounce President Lin- coln AS "THE Tyrant Abraham the First" and the soldiers as "Lincoln's hirelings" — Conspirators in their secret depots of arms, by night, inspecting their weapons, moulding bullets, making cartridges, etc. The approach of the Confederate forces toward St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky., was deemed the favor- able moment, and time fixed upon for beginning hos- tilities in the North. The Conspirators were unani- mous in the revolution that of all points to be attacked, the first should be Chicago. It was the expressed de- sign of the Conspirators to pillage and burn Chicago and possess themselves of the treasures of the banks. It was arranged that at the time of the uprising, the members and friends of the Order should wear badges of red and white, and their dwellings should display the Confederate Flag, which would msure protection to the inmates and owners. Thus were ample and definite arrangements made for the execution of the fiendish designs, and as the meeting of this, the ruling council of traitors adjourned, it was the settled purpose of its members to execute their designs at all hazards, in all their horrid details. Imagine the horrors of the sacking and destruction of that beautiful city! Those fiendish men were in ter- rible earnest; and what possible protection could the DURING THE WAR. 115 citizens, have received from the few Union troops in Camp Douglas! Col. G. St. Leger Grenfell, an Eng- lishman and a Confederate officer at the time, who was one of the most desperate, heartless, cruel monsters that could be found on all the broad earth — a man who had fought under every flag, with the ferocity of a tiger, who had betrayed his friends, and slain the helpless, — this man was in Chicago, waiting to take command of the prisoners of war when released from Camp Doug- las, and had expressed his intention to raise the black Jiag^ and ?Hurder every Union officer and soldier in the Camp and city ! To this fiend, reeking with human blood, would the fair women, the old men, the children of Chicago be compelled to plead for mercy! Sooner might they have hoped for mercy from hungry tigers or from fam ished wolves! Though we had stationed two companies of soldiers about Douglas University^ though our brave guard— five hundred in number — would have fought to the death, and fallen at their posts, what mercy had citizens to hope from the Conspirators and the released prison- ers? Think of the fearful odds! Thirteen thousand soldiers^ three full 7'egi7nents and more of szvorn and armed traitors and the many Conspirators from abroad^ who would, like vultures, have flocked to the frightful carnage — all these against^z^^ hundred men! Would to God it were not true, that this carnival of death was prepared by dwellers in our land ! Has any spectacle in Christendom, except the horrors of the French revolution of 1789, ever equalled this! And it 116 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT would have been a reality! Who knowing the facts can doubt it? That brave and gallant soldier, Maj. Gen. Hooker, in reviewing the facts declared that "had the plot not been timely disclosed to the Government — had it been executed, it were impossible to estimate the disastrous consequences to the cause of the Union." So said Governor Yates, of Illinois; so said the high- est officials of the nation. Humanity everywhere execrates the memory of the guerrilla Chief Quantrell and his band of murderers who in 1863 fell upon the peaceful city of Lawrence, Kansas, and massacred one hundred and fifty of the unarmed citizens, burned their dwellings, and perpe- trated other flagrant outrages, — a deed of diabolism, fiendish ferocity and cowardice equalled only and rare- ly by the acts of infuriated savages; but the dastardly and atrocious deed of Quantrell and his band, as blood- curdling as is, and must ever be, its recital, was to have been a thousand fold outdone, with all its horrors inten- sified in Chicago! Many times did Col. Sweet and myself sit together, till long past midnight, discussing the situation and pre- paring despatches for Washington. These were times when we daied not trust to telegraph, for our enemies were at the keyboard. Our arrangements were made with all celerity and completeness, and though our little force was wholly insufficient to successfully resist an attack such as was planned, so perfect was the dis- cipline, and so well were we aw^are of the plot and peril, that the attacking party would have met a warm reception ! DURING THE WAR. 117 During the jnonth of July, 1S64, at a meeting of the " Sons of Liberty " in Chicago, it was announced that a demand had been made upon Governor Morton of Indiana for the arms that had been seized, and if these were not forthcoming, they, the Conspirators, would compel restitution by the bullet, and that Morton would be assassmated \i he refused! This was the first time to my knowledge that assas- sination was proposed by the Order, but not the last; in this "art" the Order, later, evinced proficiency. At the same meeting it was resolved to resist the draft, and all members yet unarmed, were required to arm themselves forthwith; all who were unable to purchase fire arms would be supplied by the Order, An educational and charitable institution, truly! It was definitely settled that the uprising should occur within sixty days, anil special efforts were made to increase the membership of the Order. Snares were laid in all the grog-shops and low slums of the city, and the "catch" was great. Many were present for initiation at every meeting. It was a motley company, such as may be seen in police courts, jails, and at prize fights. It is doubtful whether half of the number could write their own names, or had ever washed themselves in their lives; but if they knew nothing of the decen- cies of life, they had the essential qualifications for the Order, — they had muscle, had brute courage, hated the Government, and would rather rifle a bank, than earn their bread, and so of course were welcomed as broth- ers, and took the oaths very willingly. 118 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT Little did the busy, bustling city know of the plans and movements on foot! There was the same activity in trade, the same hopeful spirit among Union people, the same gathering at amusements, the same busy hum of industry as ever — nothing gave evidence of the exis- tence of the terrible plot, so soon to culminate and to destroy, at a single blow , the hopes of the people, — to inaugurate a reign of terror, as fearful as any. in the history of the war, or of the world. Citizens meeting, congratulated each other upon Union victories, and upon the probable speedy close of the national strife, and at their homes discussed the terrible ravages of war, and as they knelt at the family altar, thanked God that our city and our State, and our section of the Union, had been spared the immediate horrors and desolation which ever mark the theater of warfare! Who of all in our fair city, besides the guilty wretches who were plotting the ruin and slaughter — except the officers of the Government — had even a fore- boding of the awful calamity so nearly upon them! The gunsmiths were busy, the trade in weapons of all kinds was brisk; revolvers and knives especially were articles of demand. So briskly and yet so secretly was the arming carried on, that several weeks before the Democratic National Convention assembled — Aug- ust, 1864^ — at the close of which the uprising was to occur, but few, if any, of the members of the Order had failed to supply themselves with fire-arms and knives. The officers of the organization supplied all applicants. It was indeed a sad, strange, soul-sickening spectacle to look upon — a group of the " Sons of Liberty " in DURING THE c WAR. Il9 their secure retreats, in the quiet hours of night, inspecting their muskets and revolvers, moulding hul- Icts and making cartridges, while their neighhors were c[uietly sleeping, or some with aching hearts were watch- ing at the bedside of sick or wounded soldiers who had come home perhaps to die, while venerable mothers and aged fathers were praying for their brave boys at the front, who were battling for the preservation of national life — to witness these scenes and to know th^it the mission of the Conspirators was the murder of per- sons who dared avow and evince their devotion to their country ! A month before the time fixed upon for the carnival of death, large numbers of the Order went out of the city together as they had done before, to practice rifle shooting and for military drill. In July, certain facts appeared in the journals of Chi- cago, that were damaging to the Order; the publication cast suspicion upon one of the Conspirators, as the betrayer of the secrets of the Order, and his brethren resolved to assassinate him; three members volunteered to do the deed, but upon careful investigation, the sus- pected man proved to be as virulent a Conspirator, and in all ways as great a scoundrel as any of his brethren, all of wliich was perfectly satisfactory to the Order, who then w^orked together in unity! On Saturday, August 26, 1864, in^niense numbers of persons came in haste to Chicago. They came by rail, by wagon trains, and on horse back. There came from a single county fully a thousand men, all of whom were armed. Many brought muskets concealed in 120 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT straw in their wagons. Treason upon the streets of the city was rampant, and it would not have been difficult in hearing the language of these men, to have fancied yourself in Charleston. On the evening of that day Buckner S. Morris, an ex-Judge of the Circuit Court, " Grand Seignior " of the "Sons of Liberty " — Illini Temple — who was thor- oughly conversant with the affairs of the Conspirators, stated in their council in Chicago, where he was presid- ing, that the number of armed and drilled members of the Order in the State ot Illinois at that date, was eighty thousand men; that there were as many more in Indiana, and a still greater number in Ohio; that they were all well drilled, and could be implicitly relied upon at the right time. He further stated that there were in Chi- cago two full regiments of " Sons of Liberty," well armed and drilled, and that a third was forming and nearly full. This, to them, cheering information was received with great satisfaction. He added—" The Order is strong enough in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Ken- tucky and Missouri to enable us to take the General Government into our own hands, and as the Washing- ton Government has not seen fit to execute the Consti- tution and the laws, we will bring them to Illinois and execute them ourselves! Thousands of our best men are prisoners in Camp Douglas; the meanest of those prisoners is purity itself, compared with Lmcoln's hire- lings! The tyranny of Abraham the First is fast draw- ing to a close, and those who are anxious to fight, will not have to wait long. It is our duty to make war DURING THE WAR. 121 against Lincoln's Bastiles, and open their doors to our best men who are rotting in them. All who are there incarcerated, shall be set at liberty, and once at liberty, they will send Abolitionists to hell!" You see the learned Judge, notwithstanding his pre- sumably refined nature, addressed his audience in lan- guage to which they were accustomed and could under- stand. ::if ^^mMim. ,:^^mM ROCK ISLAND BARRACKS, ILLINOIS. DURING THE WAR. 123 CHAPTER X. Dawn of August zSth — A hundred thousand STRANGERS IN CHICAGO MaNY OF THEM WERE Conspirators — "Hon/' Jacob Thompson in Can- ada — A Canadian p:xpedition to Chicago — Col. G. St. Leger Grenfell and Capt. Thomas H. HiNES as Commanders — Camp Douglas rein- forced — "Brig. General" of the Conspirators VISITS THE Camp — The "Woman who carried THE mail" full OF "BUSINESS" GeN. PrICE and Gen. Buckner out of time — Why the UPRISING WAS postponed A LARGE TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION IN Chicago led by a Rebel offi- cer! Thousands of Conspirators in line. August 28th dawned upon at least a hundred thou- 124 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT ^a;2^ strangers in Chicago, but there was no difficulty in discriminating between gentlemen of the Convention and the ruffians of the Order, — the many who the night before, having no shelter, imbibed freely of whiskey, and laid themselves down to rest in the gutters, much to the consternation of the m3a'iads of rats, which at that period infested the streets. These sleepers now arose, and shaking themselves, like other brutes, their toilet was complete. Of all the shaggy-haired, red- faced, blear-eyed, blasphemous wretches who ever con- gregated at the gallows at Newgate to enjoy the spec- tacle of the hanging of a fellow being, the " Sons of Liberty " were still lower, if possible. The Order had purchased carbines, pistols, guns and rifles, and had stored in Chicago sufficient for arming several thousand men! These weapons had been brought at various times, and were deposited in several different places in the city which the "Sons" confidently believed were known only to themselves, — to their Committee on Arms, but by some means one of my men was put on that committee which divided the secret, as it were! From time to time, one or more boxes of arms were placed in trust with the faithful of the Order, in the different wards of the city. It must not be supposed that our observations were confined to Chicago: — Peoria, Springfield, Blooming- ton, Dubuque, Sandusky, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and the large cities of Indiana and many other places in this country and in Canada received our attention. It is necessary to introduce some of the people who DURING THE WAR. 125 presented themselves in Chicago on the memorable 28th of August, 1864. They came from Canada. The Union armies being continually pressed forward step by step toward the heart of the Confederacy, together with a desire upon the part of the Southern authorities, to show to the people of the North what invasion meant, to make them feel and see the destruc- tion and desolation following an army of invasion, determined the Richmond government, in 1863, to send its agents to the Canadas, well supplied with money, to endeavor to incite discord and to intensify the dis- satisfaction already existing in certain circles with the Government, to such an extent that it could be made available for their own uses, advantages and purposes. Knowing that thousands of their soldiers were held as prisoners at Johnson's Island and Camp Douglas, near Chicago, but little more than twelve hours travel from Canada, it became a great object of their govern- ment to release the prisoners of war, and in the mean- time, having incited a most formidable conspiracy in the North and Northwest for the subversion of the Union, and for securing material aid and assistance, the rebel prisoners being released through the instrumen- tality of the Northern and Canadian sympathizers, the conspiracy was to extend all over the North, chiefly over Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and New York, and effect the release of all prisoners of war held in those States. The ruling idea in Canada at first was that the prisoners upon being released were to form a nucleus about which ail the dissatisfied people of the Northern States would rally and maintain their cause 126 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT in the North, and by rallying in formidable numbers to cause the withdrawal of so many troops from the front to establish peace at home, that it would materially change the character of the conflict, as well as the theater of war from the Southern to the Northern States. Upon the withdrawal of the Union forces in any considerable numbers from the front, was to follow the advance of the rebel armies into Kentucky, Tennes- see and Missouri. Sterling Price would not, perhaps, have invaded the State of Missouri in the Autumn of 1864, ^'^^^ ^^ ^"^^^ been to give all possible aid and assistance to the con- spiracy, just then ready to culminate; and this doubtless explains the position that Hood occupied for nearly two months in Northern Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. He, no doubt, assumed the position because it was deemed absolutely necessary by the Richmond Govern- ment that his army should be placed where, upon the breaking out of the conspiracy, he would be enabled to exercise great influence and full co-operation for its success. To further the designs of which we have spoken, Jacob Thompson of Mississippi, formerly Secretary of the Interior, under Buchanan's administration, was made a secret agent for the Confederate government, in the Canadas, and the sum of a quarter of a million dollars was placed in his hands for the purpose of arm- ing any expedition he might place on foot from British America, for injury of the inland or ocean commerce of the United States, or harrassing Northern borders, and especially for the release of the prisoners of war at DURING THE WAR. 127 Camp Douglas and Johnson's Island; and from the beginning of Mr. Thompson's services in Canada, we may date all the organized expeditions from British America against the United States. Chief of all these expeditions were two attempts, in the year 1864, to release the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, and two attempts to capture the steamer " Michigan " — the United States vessel of war of iS guns, stationed on Lake Erie, and release the prisoners of war on John- son's Island, — expeditions to which further reference will be made. To aid Mr. Thompson in Canada, several officers w'ere detailed from the Southern armiy, prominent among whom were Col. St. Leger Grenfell, an English- man of whom I have spoken, and Capt. T. H. Hines, a young officer commended by Gen. John A. Morgan, as possessing military talents, of a high order. In co-operation with these men, were a great many citizens of both the Northern and Southern States, who, while they w^ere not authorized to act in any manner, yet evinced their zeal in the course of rebellion, by aiding Mr. Thompson, and encouraging refugees from the Northern States to take an active part in schemes to harrass the Northern borders of the United States. The most prominent among this class were George N* Sanders, C. C. Clay, formerly Member of United States Congress from Alabama, Col. Steele, and a secret agent on special duty in Canada — ^Judge Holcombe of Virginia, who was sent there for the purpose of se- cretly establishing agencies for the returning of soldiers who wished to go South. However Mr. Holcomb's 128 THE GREA.T TREASON PLOT mission removed him from military matters, he never- theless approved of the different expeditions which were then being organized, and did more perhaps than any one else to cause the " unpleasantness," existing between the citizens of the United States and of Canada. Mr. Holcombe enlisted besides the feelings, the interests of many prominent business men. Upon the departure of Mr. Holcombe to the South, his business was entrusted to C. C. Clay. During Holcombe's stay in Canada, the speculative brain of George N. Sanders originated the idea of the "Niagara Falls Peace Conference," at which there was but one Southern official, and he was not authorized to act in the matter. But the speculative Sanders endeavored to establish the popular belief that the South desired peace, and that they. Clay and Holcombe, although not authorized Commissioners, still could represent the Southern people. The "conference " was but a game for rich reward, and the humbug was too apparent for success. Having briefly outlined the character and polity of the leaders, a few words will be pertinent concerning the persons led by such men. Recruiting was extensively carried on in Canada, the persons enlisting, for purposes hostile to the Union, being chiefly " Skedadlers " — a word coined at that period — refugees, bounty jumpers and escaped criminals. The "Skedadlers" were those persons who had been drafted, or were afraid they might be, and so had made all possible haste over the Canadian border! Many of them came bravely back when the war was over — per- DURING THE W AR. 129 haps to put in claims for pensions and back pay! Refugees were opposed to the Union on general prin- ciples, and went to Canada, where they could give expression to their hatred of the Union, under the pro- tection of the British lion. The last class, a numerous one, consisted of bounty-jumpers, and escaped criminals, who could not be pursued and brought back, under the extradition treaty. These were some of the persons who came to Chicago, to share in the slaughter and in the profits the banks might yield when "worked " by them. On the night of August 26th, these men, to the num- ber perhaps of two hundred, left Toronto for Chicago, arriving soon after. They were armed with weapons sent from New York, expressly for the purpose. It was hoped that the expedition, and their sympathizers from the several States, who came armed to assist in the plot, would be enabled to enter the city without detection, with the vast throngs who were then assem- bling there from all parts of the United States, and under the guise of friendly visitors, were to be ready at a moment's notice when called upon, to spring out before the people in their true light, and effect the release of the prisoners of war in Camp Douglas. The expedition was under the command of Capt. Thomas H. Hines of Gen. J. A. Morgan's corps, assisted by Col. St. Leger Grenfell, who had served in the Confederate army as Adj. Gen. to Morgan, and afterwards on Gen. Bragg's staff, but who pretended to have resigned his commission in the Southern army, and to be living quietly in Canada; also by Capt. Castleman of Morgan's command. 130 THE GREAT. TREASON PLOT This expedition was to be met in Chicago by parties from nearly all the middle, western and border States, armed and having the same purpose. Of those citizens who came to Chicago armed and ready, there were more than a thousand persons, organized and officered, dispersed in the city, but waiting for the command, and there were also assembled in the city, fully six thousand " Sons of Liberty," who had come from different places, and who were ready to co-operate with the Expedition from Canada. The military authorities at the Camp were not idle. At this time, we were re-inforced by about twelve hundred men, as already stated. Infantry and artillery were in the most creditable condition. The Conspira- tors looked with dismay upon every new arrival of troops at Camp, as it was reported in their headquarters by spies who had the temerity to go to the observ- atory overlooking the Camp, from which they could see everything within it. During the Summer, the Brio-. General of the Order had made a visit to the Camp to inspect its condition, which w^as doubtless as well known to the Conspirators, as to the officers in command. The time fixed upon for the uprising of the great army of Conspirators came, but the event did not occur; not from lack of harmonious action on the part of the sworn traitors, but General Price failed to make his appearance in the vicinity of St. Louis, or Gen. Buckner about Louisville. Of course the " Sons of Liberty " who had come to Chicao-o with the belief that the uprising would occur DURING THE WAR. 131 just as designed, and that they would reap a g^olden harvest from the banks and mercantile palaces, looked with an evil eye upon the property of the citizens, and hoped to the last that spme lucky incident might occur which wodld provoke an outbreak, and afford them opportunity for pillage, but they were doomed to dis- appointment, and with surly looks and threats of ven- geance, they left the city, resolved at an early date to draw their pay, principal and interest, from the banks and other depositories of wealth. As soon as It was generally known to the conspirators that the event had been postponed for a time, Col. Grenfell and Capt. Castleman made their appearance among them, and stated that all who were willing should go to Southern Illinois and Indiana to organize and drill the enemies of the Union, for the event soon to occur, and that he — Grenfell and Capt. Hines would remain in Chicago and vicinity, and work to great advantage. The men and officers from Canada were severally paid various sums of money, and fifty of them went to Southern Illinois and Indiana, and the others returned to Canada. The evening before the departure of the would-be murderers, a very large torchlight procession illuminated the streets of Chicago, in which were the officers and members of the " Sons of Liberty " of the city and abroad, and at ij:s head was the Major General of the Order — the Grand Military Commander of the State, and Chief of the Staff of Supreme Commander of the Order in the United States! At that moment, that man had a program which, had an intimation been re- 132 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT ceived from Buckner or Price, would have been of fearful import to the citizens of Chicago! This man had visited Chicago, July 20th, as the agent of the Confederacy. Indiana and Southern Illinois were well chosen fields for drill and organization of traitors. The Order in Indiana had been disturbed, and for a brief time silenced, by the conviction and death sentence of four of its leaders, as already stated, but the Military Com- mission had scarcely closed its session, than it was again in full blast, and some of its officers were initiated into the higher degree of the Order in Chicago; on one occasion a Judge from that State was admitted into full fellowship, and edified the meeting with glowing accounts of the recent rapid increase of membership in his State, since the Military Commission had "squelched" the Order! The brethren were jubilant on the occasion, and would see to it — so they declared — that no officer ever again interfered with the Order! Fulton County, Illinois, was a favorite " stamping ground " of the leaders. In that Countj' Assistant Pro- vost Marshal Phelps was shot; there, too, enrolling officer Criss was shot — both by assassins! There resided the State Grand Commander of the " Sons of Liberty." DURING THE WAR. 183 CHAPTER XL Attempt to capture the U. S. Steamer Michi- gan BY strategy and SURPRISE DETAILS OF THE Plot — Expeditions from Canada — Gath- ering OF " Sons of Liberty " in Sandusky City — The plot as corroborated by two of THE officers IN CHARGE OF THE EXPEDITIONS Piracy on Lake Erie — -Seizure of the "Philo Parsons" and "Island Queen" — Proposed RELEASE of THE PRISONERS OF WAR AT JoHNSON's Island — The designs of the Conspirators in THE EVENT OF SUCCESS IN CaPTURING THE WAR Steamer — All large lake ports to be com- pelled TO PAY tribute TeLEGRAM OF WARN- ING TO THE Commander of the " Michigan " — Banquet on board the Steamer — A leading Conspirator who gave the banquet arrested 134 THE GREAT TREASON PLOT AT THE TAI5I.E HeNCE THE P'AILURE OF MESSAGE OR SIGNAL TO THE PIRATE CREW OF THE " PaR- so.vs " — Abandonment of the plot — The LEADER HUNG FOR PiRACY. Durin