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
_Witness continued_.--My jurisdiction extends to the limits of the posts
north at Madison, Wisconsin, southwest to Rock Island, south, or almost
south, to Springfield, and east to Detroit, Michigan. The Commandant
has jurisdiction over everything pertaining to military affairs in the
jurisdiction, over the command of all troops, and for the protection of
the property of the Government and of the people. Chicago is one of the
first military depots of supplies in the country. There are ten
depots in charge of a Colonel, and Chicago is one of them. The Depot
Quartermaster at that time was Colonel Potter. From the commencement to
the latter end of August, the number of troops under my command, fit for
duty, was from 800 to 900. Towards the end of August, I was reinforced
by about 1,200 men, consisting of four companies of one hundred days'
men, and the 196th Pennsylvania Regiment, which numbered 750 men, also
one hundred days' men; these remained with me sixty or seventy days. I
telegraphed for these reinforcements. There were between 8,000 and 9,000
prisoners in camp up to November. On the 6th of November, the morning
report shows 796 men, rank and file, fit for duty. There were always on
duty in Chicago about sixty men acting as provost guard; this left
736 men in camp to do guard duty. The sixty men in the city performed
service in looking after deserters, guarding property, &c. The depot for
supplies is in the city, and is in charge of the depot quartermaster.
Troops were used for doing camp duty, and guarding prisoners of war, and
forwarding deserters to various camps. The entire guard in Camp Douglas
was about 500 men, 250 on duty at a time, and 250 off. These were
changed every other day. The camp is within the city limits, and is
about three miles from the Court House.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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