Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-15
Confederate Authorities TO Furnish Arms

1
secret disloyal and reasonable association
began at Indianapolis on the 9th ult., before
the military commission, Gen. CoLGRovE
President. The following is some of the ties
tmony:
Felix G. Stidger testified that DIR. Bowles
gave him the first information respecting the
order of the Sons of Liberty. He was sent
by Capt S. L. Jones, Provost Marshal to
learn the particulars of the organization, and
had another interview with Bowles about
the 26th of January, 1864 was regularly in
itiated iuto the order of the Sons of Liberty.
This was about the 9Th or 9th of June; was
instructed in the third degree by Mr. Harrison,
the Secretary of the Grand Council of this
State first met Dodd in the Office of Mr..
Bingham editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel ;
had a letter of introduction to DOdd from
Judge Bulllitt. The letter was produced in
Court. The conversation witness had with
Dodd related to Mr.. Coffin, United States
detective who was to be assassinated. Dodd
said that such men would have to be disposed
of The persons connected in this matter at
that time were Mr.. DOdd, III irrison, DR.. Bow
less, Milligan, DR.. Humphrey and j. Cat
ling. There were number of others whose
| names the witness could not remember. Per-
sons were not admitted to the meeting of the
order of the Sons of Liberty without pass
| word witness was at the time Secretary OF
Grand Council for the State of Kentucky
was appointed by the chief officer of the
State, DIR. Bullitt, and still holds the position
if such an office exists. The Sons of Liberty
was military organization. 1t was III this
organization that Collins murder was dis
cussed, and it was decided emphatically that
it should be done, There was to be meet
fla Of Mr. Vol
landigham's return, at which Coffin was ex-
pected to be present. At the meeting re-
ierred to, Dodd called called on those who
would go with him to murder Coffin. Only
one man responded-McBride, from Evans
vile, Ind.-who thought he knew Coffin. He
could not join Dodd. The witness, Bowles,
Dodd and Milligan, went to Hamilton, but
Coffin could not be found. There we're
two meetings on the day referred to. At the
evening meeting they discussed the military
organization of the Sons of Liberty. A num-
Der of speeches we're made, all full of the
oppression and tyranny of the Government,
and that it was to be restored by force of
arms. They expected definite time to be
set for general uprising, in which they were
| to seize the United States Arsenals in Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois. The rebel prisoners in
the States were to be released and armed
with arms seized from the arsenals. The
number in the Order of the Sons of Liberty
was calculated To be 10000 to $4,000 in Indi-
| ana. Illinois was counted on as having a
considerable number, and Missouri was be-
| lieved to be almost unanimous. Ohio was not
much counted on. Bowles told the witness
that he had his command organized into COM
panies and regiments. Saw Bowles at Louis
| Vile He was there experimenting with X.
| G. Booking in the manufacture of hand gren-
AIDES and Greek fire, which were to be used
in destroying Government property. Bowles
said that the Greek fire had been used for
the destruction of the Government warehouse
at Louisville and of the Government steam
ers. The programme of the meeting of tho
| Order in Chicago in July was given by the
witness, who said Dodd had told him that Chi
! cagoans had agreed to seize the camps and
| deDots of prisoners in Ohio, Indiana and Hi
| nois; seize the arsenals in those States; arm
the rebel prisoners released, and also mem
bers Of the Order and unite at Louisville. e.
The uprising was to be general in those States
and in Missouri, and as much of Kentucky
as possible. The date was not fixed def
nitely, as they were governed in regard to
awaiting for the rebel armies to cooperate
with them At conference with Bowles,
Milligan and Walker, it was determined
TO 90 ahead on the 18th or 18th of August,
and carry out the plan agreed upon, and
eventually unite at Louisville. At the Chi
cago meeting of the order, there were pres
ent Judge Bullitt DIR. Bowles, Pichard Barrett
of St. Louis, Dodd and John @. Walker
They agreed that the uprising was to take
place from the Sd to the 18th of August, as
should finally be determined by Vallandig-
ham, the Supreme Commander of the order,
whom they were sworn to obey. Dodd was
Grand Commander, and Walker, Bowles,
Milligan and HUMPHREYS Major Generals for
Indiana. Bullitt had attempted to commune
cate with Colonel Jesse and rebel Colonel
Siphert on parole in Kentucky, was initiated
into the order, and attempted to get permits
sion to 60 to Canada, from whence he de-
signed going to Mexico and into the Confede-
racy. At Chicago they agreed that the
order was to meet openly in the mass
Democratic meetings, and on the day OF the
uprising, August 9th, were to have a mass
meeting at Indianapolis, and carry out their
programme-the design of the movement
was to carry a portion of the States into the
Confederacy. Bowles talked privately about
| a Northwestern Confederacy.
The constitution, rituals, &C., OF the order
were exhibited to the witness, and identified
| as the genuine work of the order; also the
roll of members of the order in Indianapolis,
found in Dodd's office, which had been shown
/
tary. Without concluding the examination
of Mr.. Stidger, the Court adjourned.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 2s.
Felix G.. Stidger, witness for the govern
ment, continued his testimony. Saw Mr..
Harrison at Dodd's. He complained that the
order was dilatory in their uprising against
the government; believed that they had not
arms enough to be of service; Dodd said il
they did not openly resist he'd be id if he
would live under the present administration.
This was about the last Friday in July. Har-
rison was Grand Secretary of the State of In
diana In respect to the contemplated as.
sassination of Coffin, he said they expected
to find him at Hamilton, at the Vallandigham
meeting; pick a quarrel with him, if posi-
BILE, and shoot him.
The roll of the Parent Temple of Marion
county, Ind, was here shown to the witness
when he was asked to designate the names Of
such members as he knew belonged to the
order of the Sons of Liberty. He named w
~ Harrison, H. III. Dodd, Joseph Ristine and
Dr. Atbon. A letter was written to Dodd
Bowles and Ristine, signed Dick, supposed
to be written by Dick Bright, warning then
against Coffin, saying that he was United
States detective, and reported everything
they did Wilson met other persons in the
Grand Council from other parts of the coun
try: an old gentleman by the name of 0tey
. DR.. Lemmers. a Judge Borden from Aller
county. Mr.. Everett of Vanderburg county
Mr.. Leech of the Burnt District, Union coun
ty, Mr. Myers of Laporte county, and Mr.. A
d. Koga Of New Amsterdam. The witness
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