, 1863-01-26
THE 100th ILLINOIS \ sE31"
MENT.
a DIsL0YAL PLOT DETECTh D.
The Regiment Disaruaed ana:
Under Arrest.

The Regiment Disar11ed ann
Under Arrest.
: Our readers have heard strange stories
about mutiny in the l09th Illinois regimenti
Of It's being disarmed md officers and men
placed under arrest, after first being deprived
Of their arms. Yesterday We published Gen.
Grants order disarming the regiment and pla-
cling the men under arrest for disloya1ty and
reasonable Indications, except company E,
which remained eteadfast and true to the lng.
The Lieutenant Colonel, it is reported, desert
I'd and went ovcr to the rebels some time be-
fore the regiment WIS arrested
We learn the following additional particu-
lars Of this deeply diEgraceful affair from al
officer Of an Illinois regiment at Holly Springs,
Mrs. dated Jan. Sd. The interruption Of the
mills caused the late arrival Of tic letter. Il.
says:
Ton will doubtless hear from other sources
Of the disgraccful and disloyal behavior Of one
Of our Illinois regiments. We Illinois SOL
diers feel mortified and chagrined beyond cx-
preston, that my soldiers from the glorious
and its flag In the face Of the rebel enemy.
But 50 it Is there is ut least one black sheep
In the flock. But the plot was discovered in
time to nip it before it Was carried into exc"
cution.
The l09th regiment was raised, if mis-
take moi, in Williamson and johnson counties,
and was believed to be full Of Knights Of the
Golden Circle. 1t WIS notoriously pro-slave-
ry-:l1 except one company, made of Kepnb-
| licans and War Democrats. Ayague suspi-
cion pcrrndcd the minds Of many officers and
soldiers Of other regiments, that the l09th
tlat it vas not " sound corn;'' still, for a
| time, there Vas nothing remarkably bad in
their behavior. The most suspicious circun1-
| stance, was the fraternity and popularity OF
] tho officers and men with the secesh natives
| women rs well rs men: It did not escape
| much Of their time IN swearing at the Aboll'
tionists, catching and returning contrabauds
| Of rebels that came within our lines, and
talking about "the constitutional rights o1
tour Southern brethren, tlmt were being yio'
"1ated By the Lincoln government" When
sign that they are half rebels themselves, ant
care little for the preservation Of the Union
Things went along in this way until 1t wa:
discovered that one or more Of the officer
and a number Of the men had deserted to tht
rebels, taking their arms along with them
extent the regiment was rotten, and. he wa:
shortly furnished with the desired infornla
lion. A few days ago Lieutenant of the fa
nous eth Kansas cavalry: who is: about a
sharp as they make 'em,'' dressed up in tn
garb Of rebel officer, and went into tn
from Holly Springs, and "Played off" OIL til
butternut =" natives that he was a captai
in the rebel army out on scont, and 70
other purposes: Tic quickly gained the conf
dence of rebel fani1y-thodgh the old M,
Of the house was reticcnt ut first, he was soo
| 41ef ffn f7nnfafr all rfr1,f
the goosc,' and sworc by Jcn Davis. VIII:
the old fellow unburdcned his soul aud mad
the following revelations: The 109th ":
t then stationed at Waterford, eight mile
south Of Holly Springs. The officers and me
had told the natives that they wc1e 1 tired l.:
i staics st to ret their independence
II that they desired to be taken prisoners, an
e would surrender at the first opportunity
that they. entered the army because tht
o thought they could best serve their scces
= friends by joining the army, and, when Il
time come, desert aud take their arms wi
them. They assured the natives that III
were all true Southern men except Compa
:. E, which was nndc up or black Kepub
regiment, with the exception Of said col
J 1,auy, had concerted measures with the secc
le citizens Of Pontotoc county to attack tho
4 some morning. 50 as TO give them an oppt
tuuity to surrender with all their arms nj
le munitions. The old fellow said that i ba.
4 Of sixty Of the ncighbors had already orga
y, ized for the purpose, and the attack, v
le speedily be made, and the post surrendert
rs | Ii was expected that Company Z would sht
fight, hut it wns arranged to rush upon tn
W suddenly. and before they would have time
is fill into line.
The Lieutenant could hardly credit the 6
70 ry told him by the old eecesh and bis wife
Mt daughters 1t seemed to the officer har
Il. credible that this eoM9d al be true; but
~ making tests to verify it, he received the sa
l,c INK in different neighborhoods, within
~ cult Of half days ride;
ng Ono Of thu planters told some Of our n
lio recently that Captain Of the 109th l1ltt
had offered 500 to any man Who could o'
him two companies Of .gucr1llas, TO Mt
Co. K, which contained sixty id Al
rcu tioniste, but they could easily be oycrpoW<
-. and taken prisoners!
sit This and other information vas laid be
bv ! Gen. Grant. The result was tho issuing
"a the following order:
hu HEADQUARTERS 13ru ARMY CoEPs
AL TErARTAENT or TUE TExNKssEE
Ho11T srRlN0e, Mics. Dec 81, 1852.
'ay SPECIAL onpEns No. 5s..It having been all
our teers r M hss shown Indications Of dieloyatty,
hot many mc1nbere Of the regiment having volnnt
,,,, hunted up citizens In the ncighboraooa of
- / camp 10 OEufTEHlfl anu OD&%aaA 70
''c tic regiment VIII be disasmcd by the comm
led cr Of the brigade to which the regiment IT, te
of 1arily attached and the arns and au1munlts.
oa The regiment turned over to the Ordnance Ol
GUS | Lieut. Carter, to be disposed Of as may here
| be ordered. w
ade Officers and men will be confined within
,ora | limits until otherwise ordered.
le'e The conduct Of company E. OF said rcEi'
lne ! being III honorable contrntt to the balance Q
=, regiment is exempt from the elect Of the
the order and will be placed on duty with the TT
.or+ | 10 which said regiment is attached.
'est' lsy command or Maj. Gen: q. S. Grant.
for JossH A. RAwL1S
Assistant Adjntant Gene
The regiment is now placed where it G
OF 10 harm, and its arms arc saved from i
raf1e into the hands Of the enemy.
rccol}ect Of hearing reports that
tney this regiment left J0nesboro to join the
ryan that many Of the men cheercd for JcH.
and The Southern Confederacy as the
"a moved Off The feeling Of disgust and
e1- among the loyal regiments Is Intense, q
fila | the soldiers were allowed to lolda conr'
tial on these recrcants, If found guilty
that charges, they would order out every
1ycr- NAN to be shot, and send the others t
-, penitentiary during the continuance
olo war. Yours truly,