The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-20
From The Peoria Transcript Sept. 16th1
Another Expose OF the X. g. C.'s---
The Rebel programme unfolded by
an Illinois Traitor.

A few weeks ago man named Bal
lard was arrested in New York, and
sent to Fort Lafayette, for the violation
of an order from the War Department,
by acting as E" substitute" agent Mr..
Ballard, it was afterwards proved, was
a thoroughly loyal man, and he was libe-
rated after detention of couple of
days During his short stay at the fort,
a couple of Illinois X. G. C.'s., NJ. Y.
johnson and David g. Sheenan, both of
Galena, were brought there, and lodged
in the same casemate with Mr. b., where
were also number of violent secesh
traitors with whom the new arrivals from
Illinois, Immediately expressed their pro-
found sympathy. Supposing Ballard to
be Zone of EN-, they did not at all dis
guise their sentiments johnson, in his
conversation, out rebeled the rebels in
the expression of his hostility to the Gov
ernment aNtF.
He freely exposed the plans of the
traitorous X G. C's, and unfolded their
designs of a rebel invasion of the North
west Mr. b. was an attentive listener to
all that passed, and on being liberated
addressed a note to the proper authori-
ties, informing them of what he had
heard. The facts were deemed import
ant enough to put in the form of an affi-
davit The commandant of the fort
found paper on Johnson's person,
showing him to be Knight of the Col
den Circle, in full communion with the
brotherhood in Dixie Both johnson
and Sheenan refused to take the oath of
allegiance.
The following is Mr. Billiards. Aft
davit:
CRY, COUNTY, AND STATE OF NEwYoRK,
S. S.-Lewis Ballard being duly sworn,
doth depose and say, that during tenn
porary confinement at Fort Lafayette,
extending from the first to the third of
September current, deponent was placed
in a casemate of the fort with other pris-
oners; that he lodged and associated nee
essarily with the other persons confined
there; that during his stay there he par
ticipated in conversation with many of
the persons; and that he was a hearer of
much conversation between different per-
sons there, in which he did not partici-
pate That on the second of September,
Madison +. johnson, of Galena, Illinois,
and another person named Sheehan, or
something like that name, also from Ga
lena, arrived at the fort prisoners. They
at once showed their sympathy with the
violent secession prisoners who were
there before johnson was the most out
spoken; he conversed freely on the sub
iects connected with the present diff
culties; avowed himself in favor of the
Constitution of the Southern Confedera-
cy in preference to the Constitution of
| the United States That he was opposed
to continuance of the Union as it wasl
/ That the war ought not be continued.
In thus expressing himself he assumed to
! understand thoroughly the objects and
7 aims of the leaders of the rebellion; and
of the designs of their sympathizers in
the loyal States. He said that the North
western States were to be invaded, the
Southern Constitution to be proclaimed,
and the free navigation of the Mississip-
pi profered. That, on this being done,
the people who were organized and pre-
pared for it, would rise, and cut loose
from the Yankees, and, if necessary to
put down opposition, the achole NORTH
ieould run tcith rieers of blood! While
he gave uttcrance to the foregoing words
he accompanied them by illusions to or
carnations being in existence to carry
out the plan. He also stated that wher
he was arrested, large numbers called OF
him and offered a rescue; but that he ad
yised them to leave the whole matter to
him; that the time had not yet arrived fol-
them to act, but that it would surely
come.
And further this, deponent saith not
LEWIS BALLARD.
Sworn to before me, this 10th of Sep
tember, 1862.
JOHN a. KENNEDY.