Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-17
Startling observation-disclosures of the
NOrthwest-BIOOdy TreateniaSs.


From the Chicago Tribune Sept. g. 1862
A short time since, NJ. Y. johnson and
David Shehan, two notorious traitors of Gale
ma, was arrested by order of the secretary of
war and sent to Fort Lafayette. At the time
they were taken to the fort there happened to
be confined in the same place a gentleman
from the city of New York, named Lewis
Ballard, who had been sent there for mere
technical violation of the order of the war
department, in proposing to obtain substitutes
for persons who should be drafted. Mr.. Bal
lard was a thoroughly loyal citizen, and man
OF good character and unquestiOned veracity.
As soon as it was acertained that his error
was committed in good faith, and without any
intention to discourage enlistments, he was
released. He was in the fort when johnson
and Shehan were sent there, and he happened
to be confined in the same room with them.
johnson supposed, as matter of course, that
every prisoner IN the fort was a genuine trail
tor. He accordingly gave vent to everything
he knew. His conversation was so extraor-
binary that Mr.. Ballard at once addressed
note to the commandant of the fort, advising
him of the dangerous character Of the man.
After Mr.. B. was released, he informed
Superintendent Kennedy Of the facts, who
deemed them of so much Importance that he
requested him to put the matter in the form
of an affidavit, which we print below. The
commandant of the fort found a paper on
Johnson's person, showing him to be a Knight
of the Golden Circle, in full communion with
the brotherhood in Dixie. Both johnson and
Shehan refused to take the oath of allegiance
Mr.. Ballard took oath in substance that
during temporary confinement at fort La
fayette, extending from the LIST to the Sd day
of Sept, current, he was placed in a case
ment of the fort, with other prisoners; that
he lodged, and associated necessarily with the
other persons confined there; that during his
stay he participated in conversation with
many of the said persons; and that he was a
nearer to much conversation between differ
ent persons, there, in which he did not par
tcipate. That on the I'd of September, Mad
ison Y. johnson of Galena, Illinois, and
another person named Sheehan, or something
like that name, also from Galena, arrived at
the fort as prisoners. They at once avowed
their sympathy with the violent secession
prisoners who were there before. Johnson
was the most outspoken; he conversed freely
on the subjects connected with present diff
culties; avowed himself in faro1 Of the con-
StitutiOn of the southern confederacy IN pref
erence to the constitution Of the United States
That he pGS opposed to q continuance of the
Union as ii lraS That the war ought not to
be continued In thus expressing himself he
assumed to understand thoroughly the objects
and aims Of the leaders of the rebellion; and
of the designs of their sympathizers in the
loyal states.
He said that the NORTHWESTERN STATES
WERE TO BE INVADED, THE SOUTHERN CONSTR
TUITION TO BE PROCLAIMED, and the free navi-
CATION of the Mississippi proffered. That on
this being done, the people, lcho acere organ
ized and prepared for it, WOULD RISE, cut
loose from the Yankees, and, if necessary to
put down opposition, THE WHOLE NORTH
WOULD RUN WITH RIVERS OF BLOOD. While
he gave utterance to the foregoing words, he
accompanied them by illusions to organiza-
tons being in existence to carry out the plan.
He also stated that when he was arrested,
large numbers from the surrounding country
called on him and offered a rescue; but that
he advised them to leave the whole matter to
him; that the time had not yet arrived for
them to act, but that it would surely come.