The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-02-10
The Tooth Illinois Regim ent---
NJ A DisloyalPl0t Detected---The
Regiment Disarnaed and Under
Arrest. 1mtA esi.perh ~ 81.

il Regiment Disarmed and Unde
Arrest. bquLAa eaiisnasib isas .la
Our readers have heard strange storie
about muliny 10 the l09th Illinois regimen
of it's being disarmed, and officers and me
placed under arrest, for first being deprive'
Of their arms Yesterday we published Gen
Grants order disarming the regiment ant
placing the men under arrest for disloyalty
and reasonable indications, except compan,
X, which remained steadfast, and true to th'
flag. The Lieutenant Colonel, it is reported
deserted and went over to the regiment SONS
time before the regiment was arrested. =
We learn the following additional particu
lars Of this deeply disgracefal affair from ar
officer of an Illinois regiment at Holly
Springs, Miss. dated Jan. Sd. The interrup
ton Of the mails caused the late arrival of the
letter. 1t says:
"You will doubtless hear from other sour
ces of the disgraceful and disloyal behavior o.
one of our Illinois regiments. We Illinois
soldiers feel mortified and chagrined beyond
expression, that any soldiers from the glor
ious Prare State should turn traitors to the
Union and its flag in the face of the rebel enc
my. But so It is; there is at least one black
sheep iu the flock. But the plot was discov
cred in time to nip it before it was carried in
TO execution. l.'
The 100 regiment was raised, il mistake
not, 10 Williamson and Johnson counties, and
was believed to DO full of Knights Of the Col
den Circle. 1t was notoriously pro-slavery =
all except one company, made up Of Republi
cons and War Democrats. A vague sus.
picion pervaded the minds Of many officers
and soldiers ofo,her regiments, that the l00ih
would not do TO "rie to" in an emergency
that j, was not "sound corn;" still for time
thero was nothing remarkably bad in thei,
behavior. Tho most suspicious circumstance,
was the fraternity and popularity of the off
GERS and men with the secesh natves--wo
men as well as men. 1t did not escape OBJ.
scrvaiion and remark that the officers spen,
much Of their time in swearing at the Abo
li,ionists, catching and returning contrabands
Of rebels that came within our lines, and talk.
ing about 1.-The constitutional rights Of oul
Southern brethren, that were being violate
by the Lincoln government" Wenever men
talk in that way, it is a sure, unfailing sign
that they are half rebels themselves, and care
but little FIR The preservation Of the Union.
Things went along in this way until it was
discovered that one or more Of the officers and
number Of the men had deserted 10 the rob
els, taking their arms along with them.-
Gen. Grant was desrous Of knowing TO what
extent the regiment WAS rotten, and he was
shortly furnished with the desired infor,na
tion. A few days ago Lieutenant Of the
fa Hth (tav.l.y uvho "a ah ,,,t M
''sharp as they make en-" dressed up in the
garb Of rebel officer, and went into the
county at night some eight or ten miles from
Holly Springs, and "played off, on the but
ternut" natives that he was Captain in the
rebel army out on scout, and for other pur
poses. Hc quickly gained the confidence OF
a rebel famiiy-though the old man of the
house was reIicent at first, he was soon con.
vinced that the Captain was 'all right on the
goose" and sworc by JEFF. Davis, when tho
old fellow unburdened his soul aud made tho
following revelations: The l09th was then
stationed at Waterford, eight miles south ol
Holly Springs. The officers aud men had
told the natives that they were tired Of tho
war, and did not want TO SEQ the South
whipped, but wished the seeded States to
get their independence; that they desired to
DC taken prisoners, and would surrender at
the frat opportunity; that they entered the
army because they thought they could bes,
serve their secesh friends BY joining the sr.
my, and, when the time come, desert and take
their arms with them. They assured the IA.
tives that they were all true Southern men
except Company X, which was made up Of
"Black Republicans" and sboltionized Dem
ocrats.' The regiment, with the exception Of
said Company, had concerted measures with
the secesh citizens. of Pontotoc county to at
tack them some morning, 30 as to give them
an opportunity to surrender, with all their
arms and munitions. The old fellow said that
a band OF sixty Of the neigtbor had already
organized for the purpose. and the "attack"
would speedily be Dade,and.the post surrender
ed. II was expected that Company X would
g ow fight, but 1t was arranged to rush upon
them suddenly, and before they would have
time to fall into line.
The Lieutenant could hardly credit the
story told hin by the secesh aud his wife and
daughters. 1t seemed 10 the officer hardly
credible that this could be true; but on max.
ing tests to verify it, he received the same in.
formation from five different families, resi- ding
in different n.ighborhoods, within circuit OF
half a days ride.
One Of the planters tod some of our men
recently that Captain Of the l09th Illinois
had offered 5000 to any man who would bring
him two companies of guerrllas, to attack
them: go they all wanted to surrender except
Co. X, which contained sixtv id Abolition.
lists, but they could be easily overpowercd and
taken prisoners! ~ d .oP aIst
This and other information was laid before
Gen. Grant. The result was the issuing OF
the following order: r.rrrrr
Headquarters 18th Army Corps, Dept Tenn,
Holly Springs, Miss. Dec. 81. 1862
SPECIAL ORDER No. 5s.-It having been
alleged that the lo9lh regiment Illinois In.
fantry volunteers has shown indications of dis.
loyalty, aud many members OF the regiment
having voluntarily hunted up citizens in
The nrighborhood Of their camp 10 surrender
and obtain paroles from, is hereby placed in
arrest. gat l- a4ge-4.r ZOO Is frt,.r
The regiment will be disarmed by the CON-
mander OF tho brigade TO which the regi.
ment is Temporarily attached and tie arms
and ammunition Of the regiment tuned
over to the Ordinance Officer, Leutenan,
Carter. to be disposed Of az may hereafter be
ordered. o.,f.
Officers and men will be confined within
camp limits until otherwise ordered.