Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-05
The lO9th Illinois Regiment--A Dis
loyal Plot Dctected--The Regiment
Disarined and Under Arrest.

lr'oh '"e enicas' ."sa"'1
Our readers have heard strange stories
about mutiny in the 1O9th Illinois req,
ment; .ofits being disarmed and officers and
men placed under arrest, after first being
deprived OF their arms. The Lieut.. t.-Colonel,
it is reported, deserted and went over to the
rebels, some time before the regiment was
arrested.
We learn the following additional partic-
ulars of this deeply disgraceful affair iron
an officer OF an Illinois regiment at Holly
Springs, Mississippi, dated Jan. Sd. The
interruption of the mails caused the late
arrival of the letter. 1t says:
You will doubtless, hear from other
sources Of the disGReful and disloyd be-
havior of one of ot&1llinois regiments. We
Illinois soldiers fesl rsostitied and chagriped
beyond expression, that any soldiers from
the glorious Prairie State should turn trai-
tors to the Union and its fiag, In the face
of the rebel enemy. But so it is; there Is
at least one black sheep in the flock. But
the plot was discovered in time to nip 1t
before it was carried into execution:
The l09th regiment was raised, If mis-
take not. in Williamson and johnson coun-
ties, and was believed TO be full OF knights
Of the Golden Circle. 1t was notorouslly y
pro Slavery--all except one company, made
Of Republicans and War Democrats. A
vague suspicion pervaded the minds OF many
officers and soldiers of other regiments, that
the lOgth would not do to ''tie to- in an
emergency; that it was not ''sound corn y
still, for a time, there was nothing remark
ably bad in their behavior. The most sus-
picious circumstance was the fraternity and
popularity of the officers and men with the
Secesh natives-women as well as men. 1t
did not escape observation and remark that
the officers spent much of their time in
swearing at the Abolitionists, catching and
returning contrabapds Of rebels that came
within our lines, aud s,iking about 'the
constitutional rights Of car Southern breth-
rem, that were being violated by the Lincoln
Government. Whenever men talk in that
way it is sure, unfailing sign that they
are half rebels themselves, and care but
little for tho preservation of the Union.
Things went along in this way until It was
discovered that one or more OF the officers
and a number of the men had deserted to
the rebels, taking their arms along with
them. Gen. Grant was desirous Of know
ing to what extent the regiment was rotten,
and he wat shortly furnished with the de-
sired information. A few days ago Lieu
tenant OF the famous Seventh Kansas Cav'
airy. who is about as sharp as they make
en-, " dressed up in the garb of a rebel Of
fccr. and went into the country at night
some eight or ten miles from Holly Springs
IL played off on thel 'bu.ternut natives
| tbot ba vy,. , Nantain in tha rebal army ouI
~ nv w" "p' u. ~ ~ IG,
u" scouv, anu ;or otne, PURPOSES
! qu'cAy Eaiheu .ne yvurueuoo " oe
fainiiy Though the-o eahnNo OF the mouse
| was reticent at first he was soon convinced
| IL. IL I't; - t,Jl al. ~ a.
'ha' 'i,. Odp'aih was d" hs"' VI" ~
| goose. ana SWOre Dy JeU. Davis, when tiit
| old fellow unbnrdaned his soul and made
-" ~" ~N''o~ ''i nv, -,
| the following revelations: Inc lUStn was
! then stationed at Waterford, eight miles
| Cn,,th ~ n III, Srr;nos- rTLo nIi;,ars and
Coutn oi fioiiy Dprihgs. lug oiiioe'o an"
meDthad tOld,the natives that they were tireC
! of tba ,v.r and did NOT want to SOC th,
| south whipped, but Wlshed the seceueC
| States 10 get their independsnce; that they
desned to DO taken prisoners, ana "ouit
| surrender Mt the first oDportuuity; tina
I ,bo,, ontarad tho ,rmy bocansa tbov tbougb
they could best serve their Secesh friend
by Joining the army, and, when the tim,
came, desert and take their arms with them
They assured the natives that they were al
true Southern men except Co. K, which
was made up of BLACK Republicans ant
"Abolitionized Democrats. The regiment
| Il II La.