The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling DetailsAyer, I. Winslow
History
The Great North-Western Conspiracy in All Its Startling Details
Ayer, I. Winslow
Knights of the Golden Circle; Northwestern Conspiracy, 1864
We have already shown that the three degrees in the Sons of Liberty had
each their specific province. The lower strata composed of the rough
material from which the Grand Council was made up by selections or
choice of the brighter and more shining lights,--persons whose political
views were up to the standard of treason, whose qualifications of
intellect, shrewdness, cunning, caution, promptness, and firmness of
purpose fully met the requirements of this degree of the order. The
Supreme Council was composed of the Supreme Commanders--the ruling
spirits of the order. This council was the body, therefore, from which
all important measures must emanate, and the secrecy of their movements,
even from the order below them, except such business as was regularly
transmitted, was quite equal to that of the lower order, from the rest
of the world. Such being the nature and character of this royal degree,
and the fact that an uprising had been determined upon, it will be
seen how essential it was to the Government of the United States, to be
advised of their plans, and the old adage that "where there is a will
there is a way," was not a fallacy in the present case. On or about
the 20th of July, 1863, agreeably to a private notice which had been
extended to the Supreme Council, a meeting of that body was convened
at the Richmond House, Chicago. During that day, as well as on the day
preceding, members of that organization arrived in the city, and among
the notables present on that occasion was Col. Barrett, who was a
Major-General of the Sons of Liberty, in command of the District of
Illinois, but who on the present occasion appeared in another character
of no less moment, that of representative of the Confederate States
Government, and charged with certain important instructions. Among the
members present were Captain Majors, from Canada; Brig.-Gen. Charles
Walsh, of Chicago; Judge Bullitt, of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, who
acted as Chairman; Dr. Bowles, Mr. Swan, Mr. Williams, Mr. Green,
Mr. Piper, Mr. Holloway, H.H. Dodd and James B. Wilson, Auditor of
Washington County, Indiana. The last named person and Mr. Green were
present as members of Dr. Bowles' staff. After considerable discussion
upon minor matters, Major-General Barrett, (commonly called Colonel
Barrett, who had served the Rebel Government with some distinction, and
was a first class rebel), made a formal proposition to unite Illinois,
Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana with the Confederate States,
through the agency of the Sons of Liberty, and as to the other States,
their relations would be an after consideration. The enterprise, he
stated, would be attended with no little expense, and would necessarily
involve extreme caution, prudence and firmness. He added, that the
Southern Confederacy had placed in his hands the snug little sum of two
millions of dollars, which had been captured from a Federal paymaster
on the Red River, in Arkansas, to be applied in furtherance of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account