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
the camp should be made the night after election, as it now became fully
apparent to all that there was not a shadow of a chance to elect either
National or State ticket by the Copperheads. Fires were to be kindled in
different parts of the city, and these were to be so numerous that they
would necessarily divert the attention of the citizens, while the attack
should be made. Near the camp is a growth of small oaks and other small
wood which offered a fine retreat or hiding place for those who would
attack the camp. The attacking party were to go singly or in groups
which might not attract attention, and when they were in readiness, they
were suddenly to spring forward and commence an assault simultaneously
on three sides of the enclosure. The risk to the invading party was not
considered large, as the whole undertaking would be but the work of a
few moments, and it was confidently believed that some communication
could previously be established with the rebels by their desperate
friends and allies upon the outside; and it is now quite certain that
some intelligence was communicated to the rebels, and well understood
by them, as not long before the election, supposed signals in the way of
rockets, blue lights, &c. were at one time exhibited by a small group of
persons, without any apparent design, which could have been distinctly
seen at camp. Mrs. Morris, who has confessed her complicity with the
rebel sympathizers, was a frequent visitor to the camp, and it was
thought that she might be very useful in conveying letters, messages,
&c. Indeed it was morally certain that there was an understanding
between the rebels inside, and the cowardly dogs on the outside of the
post. It will be remembered that fire arms for at least ten thousand men
were safely and secretly stored in Chicago, and that there was a perfect
understanding between the members of the higher degrees of the Sons
of Liberty, and the leaders of the invading party from Canada; Had the
attack been made, however good the understanding between the "Sons" and
the rebels might have been, the former would soon have found, to their
surprise and to their dismay, that their glory would suddenly have
departed, for the released rebels would instantly have obeyed the
commands of their own officers, and Northern Sons of Liberty would have
been compelled to fall into line, whether they would or not. A few
of the Sons would have received some consideration, and this would
especially have been the case with Brig.-Gen. Charles Walsh, but in
the main the "accursed democracy,"--as one rebel writing to another was
pleased to speak of the order--was to be kept in the front, or in other
words, used as circumstances might require to do the vilest offices
of this vile and devilish conspiracy. As the time of the election was
drawing near, the Sons of Liberty expressed a wish to have a man at
their head, in the place of Wilkinson, who would command respect, and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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