Captain: I have the honor to respectfully report in relation to the origin, progress and result up to the present time of the late rebel raid for the purpose of releasing the prisoners of war at
Camp Douglas, taking possession of the city of
Chicago, creating an insurrection in and overrunning the States of
Illinois and
Indiana in aid of the
Southern rebellion.
That
Jacob Thompson, of
Mississippi,
Secretary of the Interior during the administration of
Mr. Buchanan, went to
Windsor, Canada, some time in May or June last, under the assumed name of
Captain Carson, and having been supplied
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by the rebel government with large sums of money for the purpose, commenced operations to organize in
Canada an expedition to release rebel prisoners of war at different camps in the North-west, and aid the “Sons of Liberty” with money and arms, to raise an insurrection, especially in the States of
Illinois and
Indiana, against the
Government of the
United States.
About the twenty-fifth day of August last an expedition was organized at
Toronto, Canada, under the immediate direction of
Captain Hines, formerly of
Morgan's command, composed of one hundred and fifty to two hundred escaped prisoners and rebel soldiers, accompanied by
Colonel G. St. Leger Grenfell, at one time
Morgan's
Chief of Staff and afterward
Inspector-General on the staff of
General Bragg;
Colonel Vincent Marmaduke, of
Missouri;
Colonel Ben. Anderson, of
Kentucky;
Captains Castleman and
Cantrell, formerly of
Morgan's command, and other rebel officers.
This force was armed with pistols at
Toronto, divided, and its members, in citizen's dress, came to
Chicago, by different routes, in the same trains which brought the thronging thousands who assembled on the twenty-ninth of August to attend the Chicago Convention, and which made it difficult to detect their presence.
It was to have been assisted by large numbers of “Sons of Liberty” and other guerrillas, who came armed to that convention, gathered from
Kentucky,
Missouri,
Indiana and
Illinois, and were to be under the immediate command of
Brigadier-General Charles Walsh, of the “Sons of Liberty.”
The presence of these officers and men for that purpose was suspected by the
Government, and reinforcements were made to the garrison at
Camp Douglas, which thwarted the expedition, and its members dispersed, some of the rebel officers and soldiers to
Canada, others to
Kentucky, and yet others to
Southern Indiana and
Illinois, and the “Sons of Liberty” and guerrillas to their respective homes, to await a signal for the general uprising which, it was determined, should soon take place in the States of
Illinois and
Indiana against the
Government.
About the first of November another expedition of like character was organized in
Canada, to be commanded by
Captain Hines, and composed of the same elements as that which had failed at the time of the Chicago Convention.
It was determined that the attempt should be made about the period of the Presidential election, and the night of that day was finally designated as the time when the plot should be executed.
During the canvass which preceded the election, the “Sons of Liberty,” a secret organization, within, and beyond all doubt, unknown to the better portion and majority of, the Democratic party, had caused it to be widely proclaimed and believed, that there was an intention on the part of the
Government, and great danger that such intention would be carried into effect, to interfere by military force at the polls; against the Democratic party, as an excuse under which to arm themselves, as individuals, and had also obtained and concealed at different places in this city, arms and ammunition for themselves and the rebel prisoners of war, when they should be released.
On the evening of the fifth day of November, it was reported that a large number of persons of suspicious character had arrived in the city from
Fayette and Christian counties, in
Illinois, and that more were coming.
On Sunday, the sixth day of November, late in the afternoon, it became evident that the city was filling up with suspicious characters, some of whom were prisoners of war, and soldiers of the rebel army; that
Captain Hines,
Colonel Grenfell, and
Colonel Marmaduke were here to lead, and that
Brigadier-General Walsh, of the “Sons of Liberty,” had ordered large numbers of members of that order from the southern portion of
Illinois, to cooperate with them.
Adopting measures which proved effective to detect the presence and identify the persons of the officers and leaders, and ascertain their plans, it was manifest that they had the means of gathering a force considerably larger than the little garrison, then guarding between eight and nine thousand prisoners of war at
Camp Douglas, and that, taking advantage of the excitement and the large number of persons who would ordinarily fill the streets on election night, they intended to make a night attack on and surprise this camp, release and arm the prisoners of war, cut the telegraph wires, burn the railway depots, seize the banks and stores containing arms and ammunition, take possession of the city, and commence a campaign for the release of other prisoners of war in the States of
Illinois and
Indiana, thus organizing an army to effect and give success to the general uprising so long contemplated by the “Sons of Liberty.”
The whole number of troops for duty at
Camp Douglas on that day were as follows:
to guard eight thousand three hundred and fifty-two prisoners of war confined in the garrison square at this camp, by a fence constructed of inch-boards, twelve feet high.
The election was to take place on Tuesday, the eighth, two days thereafter.
By deferring action till the night of Monday,
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the seventh instant, probably all the officers and leaders, and many more of the men and arms, of the expedition, might have been captured, and more home rebels exposed; but such delay would have protracted the necessary movements and attending excitement, into the very day of the Presidential election.
The great interests involved would scarcely justify taking the inevitable risks of postponement.
Sending a despatch, dated half-past 8 o'clock P. M., November six, by messenger over the railroad, to
Brigadier-General John Cook, commanding the
District of
Illinois, a copy of which, numbered
one, is annexed to, and made a part of this report, the following arrests were made during the night.
Colonel G. St. Ledger Grenfell, and
J. T. Shanks, an escaped prisoner of war, at the
Richmond House;
Colonel Vincent Marmaduke, at the house of
Doctor E. W. Edwards, No.
seventy Adams street;
Brigadier-General Charles Walsh, of the “Sons of Liberty;”
Captain Cantrell, of
Morgan's command ; and Charles Traverse, rank unknown, probably an officer under an assumed name, at the house of
General Walsh;
Judge Buckner S. Morris, treasurer of “Sons of Liberty,” at his house, number six Washington street; also capturing at the same time in Walsh's house, about thirty rods from
Camp Douglas, arms and ammunition, as per annexed schedule, numbered
two. The shot guns were all loaded with cartridges, composed of from nine to twelve largest sized buckshot, and capped.
The revolvers, (
Joslyn's patent ten inch barrel,) also loaded and capped.
Reported to
Brigadier-General John Cook, commanding District of
Illinois, and
Colonel William Hoffman,
Commissary-General of Prisoners ,by telegraphic despatch, dated
Camp Douglas, November seven, at four o'clock A. M., a copy of which is hereto annexed, numbered
three, made a part of this report.
On the morning of Monday, the seventh inst.,
Colonel John L. Hancock, commanding militia, by order from
Governor Yates, reported to me, and
Colonel R. M. Hough rapidly organized a mounted force of about two hundred and fifty men, which was armed with the revolvers captured, (from
Walsh reported,) and were assigned to duty as patrols in the city of
Chicago, remaining on duty till the morning of the ninth.
Captain Bjerg,
Military Provost Marshal,
Captain William James,
Provost Marshal First District of
Illinois, the police of the city, and various detachments of this garrison, under different officers, arrested during the day and night of the seventh instant, one hundred and six bushwhackers, guerrillas, and rebel soldiers; among them many of the notorious “
Clingman gang,” of
Fayette and Christian counties, in this State, with their
Captain,
Sears, and
Lieutenant Garland, all of whom are now in custody at
Camp Douglas.
On the eleventh of November forty-seven double-barrelled shot guns, thirty
Allen's patent breech-loading carbines, and one
Enfield rifle were seized at
Walsh's barn, in the city of
Chicago.
Finding from investigation that the Sons of Liberty in this city continued to meet and plot, on the night of Sunday, the third of November,
Patrick Dooley, secretary of the temple in this city, was arrested, and such papers as had not been destroyed, some of them valuable, as showing the intents and purposes of the organization, seized.
On the night of Monday, November fourteenth, the following named persons, members of the “Sons of Liberty,” were arrested, viz:
Obediah Jackson, “Grand Senior,”
Charles W. Patten, “Member of State council,”
Mr. Fenton, “
Tyler” or door-keeper,
James Geary, a dangerous member,
Richard T. Semmes, nephew to pirate
Semmes,
Dr. E. W. Edwards, who harbored
Colonel Marmaduke, all of whom remain in custody.
On the fifteenth instant a young Englishman, from
Canada, under British protection-papers, named Mongham, was arrested, who proves to be a messenger between
Jacob Thompson,
Captain Hines,
Brigadier-General Walsh, and the guerrillas of
Colonel Jesse, of
Kentucky.
An examination of many of the persons so arrested, show, beyond all doubt, that the “Sons of Liberty” is a treasonable, widely-extended, and powerful organization, touching into almost, if not all, the counties of this State; that it is an organization of two branches, one civil, the other military, the members of the civil being on probation for the military branch; that important secrets in relation to military plans, and the location of the depots for arms, were carefully guarded from persons of civil membership, though even they well knew that the organization had such depots, and was animated with a spirit of intense hostility to the government; that many of its leaders must have known of the intended attack on this camp and city, and that some of them have actually been in consultation face to face with men whom they knew to be rebel officers, conspiring to produce a revolution in the North-west.
A schedule is hereto attached numbered
four, which is believed to contain the names of some of the leading and most dangerous men belonging to this organization in the several counties of the
State of Illinois.
I respectfully recommend that the officers of the rebel army, and as many of the “Sons of Liberty” and guerrillas above mentioned, as the interests of the
Government may require, be tried before a military commission and punished.
I cannot close this report without expressing my conviction that the gratitude of the country is due to the Eighth regiment Veteran Reserve Corps,
Lieutenant-Colonel L. C. Skinner commanding; the Fifteenth regiment Veteran Reserve Corps,
Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Flood commanding; and the Twenty-fourth Ohio battery,
Lieutenant James W. Gamble commanding,
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which comprised the small garrison at
Camp Douglas, during two weeks of severe, and almost unexampled duty.
A garrison overworked for months, its officers and enlisted men met the demand for added and wearing duty, necessary to hold harmless the great interests committed to their care, with a cheerful alacrity and steady zeal, deserving the warmest commendations.
Captain John Nelson, and so much of the police of this city as were detailed to act with him, and report to me, executed orders and performed duty with rare fidelity and energy.
Colonel R. M. Hough and the mounted patrol under his command, deserve great credit for promptitude in organization, and duty efficiently performed.
I have the honor to be,
Captain,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
[No. 1.]
Headquarters Post,
camp Douglas, Tremont House, half-past 8 o'clock, P. M.,
Chicago, Illinois, November 6, 1864.
Brigadier-General John Cook,
Springfield, Ill.:
General: I send this despatch by a messenger for two reasons.
First.
I am not entirely sure of the telegraph, and the messenger will arrive about as soon as would a telegram.
Second.
Though pressed for time, I can explain more fully our circumstances here, and what I propose to do. The city is filling up with suspicious characters, some of whom we know to be escaped prisoners, and others who were here from
Canada during the Chicago Convention, plotting to release the prisoners of war at
Camp Douglas.
I have every reason to believe that
Colonel Marmaduke of the rebel army is in the city under an assumed name, and also
Captain Hines of
Morgan's command, also
Colonel G. St. Leger Grenfell, formerly
Morgan's
Adjutant-General, as well as other officers of the rebel army.
My force is, as you know, too weak and much overworked, only eight hundred men, all told, to guard between eight and nine thousand prisoners. I am certainly not justified in waiting to take risks, and mean to arrest these officers, if possible before morning.
The head gone, we can manage the body.
In order to make these arrests perfect, I must also arrest two or three prominent citizens, who are connected with these officers, of which the proof is ample.
These arrests may cause much excitement; I ought to have more force here at once.
It seems to me as unwise as it is unsafe to leave a central location like
Chicago, with an unarmed rebel army near it, insecurely guarded, especially in times of doubt like these.
I have made repeated representations on this subject, and I am well assured that they have been seconded both at District and Department Headquarters.
May I ask that you will again represent our necessities, and urge by telegraph that we be reinforced at once.
I regret that I am not able to consult with you on my proposed action, before acting, without letting an opportunity pass which may never again occur, and which so passing would leave us open to much danger.
It may happen that this action will be delayed till to-morrow night, but probably it will not. I shall telegraph in the morning if anything is done.
If I do not telegraph, please give your views for my guidance to this messenger.
I fear the telegraph might notify the parties interested.
I have the honor to be, General,
Very respectfully,
P. S.--I have no time to copy this despatch.
Please send me copy for record.
B. J. S.
[No. 2.]
[No. 3.]
（No. 4.)
List of names of prominent members of the “Sons of Liberty” in the several counties of the
.
