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
Shanks never used a nomme de plume that I am aware of. The prisoners
were not allowed to have any money, nor did they possess any unless they
obtained it secretly. Shanks, however, had, I believe, one dollar,
which I gave him. When a prisoner is brought to camp he is thoroughly
searched, and any money taken from him is placed in bands of the
Prisoner's Accountant, to be drawn, if required, in provisions from the
sutler. Letters are all opened, and any money they contain similarly
applied. I sent Shanks to the house of Judge Morris on the 3rd of
November, because five men had just escaped from the camp, and I traced
them, I believe, to that house. I asked Shanks if he would not like to
do the government a service. He replied that he would, when I told him
that I wanted him to go to the house of Morris and represent that he had
violated his parole and escaped, and if possible must be secreted with
the other prisoners. I then sent for Keefe, and the two went to the city
in a buggy. I followed on the street cars, and went to my office, No
90 Washington street, where I had told Shanks to report if he could not
find the prisoners. After I had been there a short time, Shanks came to
me and gave me $30, which he said Mrs. Morris had given to him, with the
exception of one dollar. I do not think he had any money when he went to
her house.
I know Maurice Langhorne. He introduced himself to me on the 5th of
November, by showing me a letter from Secretary Seward to Secretary
Stanton, recommending that he be allowed to take the oath of allegiance.
He gave me some information regarding the plot, but I did not know
whether or not to take him into my confidence. At a subsequent meeting,
the next day, however, at the Tremont House, I determined that he was an
honest, reliable man, and one who could be trusted. He has been of
great value to me, and his information was ever correct. On the 12th of
November, after the first arrests were made, I first offered to employ
him. I asked him to identify all who he remembered having seen in
Canada, in connection with the conspirators, and arrest them. He
personally arrested the witness, John Maughan, at the Tremont House. He
gave me information of the ammunition in Walsh's house, and subsequent
facts proved that his information was perfectly correct. I gave him the
fictitious name of Johnson. He never acted as a detective, but simply
aided in arresting men he had known before. Shanks worked for the
Government ever since I knew him. Up to the 12th of November, he
received no pay, and after that got $100 a month as his salary. I
believe, however, that I previously gave him one month's salary, to
purchase some citizen's clothing. Of the arms seized at Walsh's house I
have the shot guns at camp. The pistols were entrusted to Col. Hough to
arm a citizens' patrol, and he has not returned them. I do not know the
exact number of arms we captured. There were about 354 revolvers and 200
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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