Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27
their calling, who have gained the confidence
Of leading members of the order, and in some

initiated into one or more of the degrees
The most remarkable of these is Stidger,e
formerly private soldier in our army, who,
by the use of uncommon address, though at
great personal risk, succeeded in establishing
Such intimate relations with Bowles, sBullitt,
Dodd. and other leaders Of theicrder in Indi-
ana and Kentucky, as to be appointed grand
secretary of the latter State, position most
favorable for obtaining information of the
plans of these traitors and warning the gov
eminent of their Intentions. 1t is to the rare
fidelity of this man, who has also been the
principal witness upon the trial of Dodd, that
the government has been chiefly indebted for
the exposure of the designs of the eonspira-
torsin the two states named.
2. Rebel officers and soldiers voluntarily
or involuntarily making disclosures to our
military authorities. The most valuable wit
nesses of this class are prisoners OF war, who,
actuated by laudable motives, have of their
own accord furnished a large amount OF in
formation in regard to the order, especially
as it exists in the Soath, aud of the relations
of its members with those of the northern
section. Among these: also, are soldiers at
our prison camps, who, without designing it,
have made known to our officials, by the use
of the signs &C., of the order, that they were
members. --f -.....--..r r-.-
8. Scouts employed to travel through the
interior of the border states, and also within
or in the neighborhood of the enemys lines.
The fact that some of these were left entire
ly ignorant of the existence of the order,
upon being so employed, attaches an increas-
ed value to their discoveries in regard to its
operations. .aE. .-g-.ef ...-r- -~
{ 4. Citizen prisoners, to whom, while in
confinement, disclosures were made relative
to the existence, extent and character of the
order by fellow-prisoners who were leading
members, and who, in some instances, upon
becoming intimate with the witness, initiated
him into one Of the degrees. Z. s-rao -.
5. Members of the order, who, upon full
acquaintance with its principles, have been
appalled, by its infamous designs, and have
voluntarily abandoned it, freely making
known their experience to our military au-
thorities. In this class may be placed the
female witness, Mary Ann Pitman, who,
though in arrest at the period of her disclo-
sures, was yet induced to make them for the
reason that, as she says, cat the last meeting
which attended they passed an order which
I considered as utterly atrocious and barba-
rous so told them would have nothing
more to do with them" This woman was at
tached to the command of the rebel Forest,
as an officer, under the name. of Lieutenant
Rawley;n but, because her sex afforded her
unusual facilities for crossing our lines, she
was often employed in the execution of i'm
portant commissions within our territory, and,
as member OF the order, was made extern
sively acquainted with other members both
OF the northern and southern sections Her
testimony is thus peculiarly valuable, and
being person of unusual intelligence and
force of character, her statements are sue
cnct, pointed and emphatic. They are also
especially useful as fully corroborating those
Of other witnesses regarded as most trust
worthy
6. Officers of the order of high rank, who
have been prompted to present confessions,
more or less detailed, in regard to the order
and their connection with it. The princi-
Piles of these are Hunt, Dunn and Smith,
grand commander, deputy grand commander,
and grand secretary of the order in Missouri,
to whose statements frequent reference has
been made. These confessions, though in
some degree guarded and disingenuous, have
furnished to the government much valuable
information in regard to the secret opera
lions OF the order, especially in Missouri, the
utilization of its leaders with Price, &c. 1t is
to be noted that Dunn makes the statement.
in common with other witnesses that, in en-
tering the order, he was quite ignorant of it's
true purposes. He says: 81 did not become
member Understandings; the initiatory
step was taken in the dark, without refec-
ton and without knowledge"
Z. Deserters from our army, who, upon be.
ing apprehended, confessed that they had
been induced and assisted to desert by men,
bers Of the order. It was, indeed, principal
ly from these confessions that the existence
Of the secret tire asonable of the K. G. C. was
first discovered in Indiana, in the year 1862
6. Writers of anonymous communications,
addressed to heads of departments or provost
marshals, disclosing facts corroborative of
other more important statements.
9. The witnesses before the grand Jury at
indianapolis, in 1868, when the order was
formally presented as a reasonable organiza
cation, and those whose testimony has been
introduced upon the recent trial of Dodd.
1t need only be added that most satisfac-
tory test Of the credibility and weight of
much of the evidence which has been fur
nished is afforded by the printed testimony
in regard to the character and intention of
the order, which is found in its national and
state constitutions and its ritual. Indeed,
the statements of the various witnesses are
but presentations of the logical and inevita-
BILE consequences and results of the principles
therein set forth. 20
In concluding this review, it remains only
to state that constant reference has been
madsto the elaborate official reports, in re-
gard to the order, of Brigadier General Car
rington, commanding District of Indiana, and
OF Colonel Sanderson, Provost-Marshal-Gen
eral OF the Department of Missouri. The
great mass of the testimony upon the subject
OF the secret conspiracy has been furnished
NV OBI {l,nI IL.
orders of Majof-General Roseorang, and the
former cooperating, under the instructions
of the Secretary of War, with Major General
Burbridge, commanding District of Kentucky,
as well as with Governor Morton, of Indiana,
who, though at one time greatly embarrassed
by legislature strongly tainted with disloy-
atty, In his efforts to repress the domestic
enemy, has at last seen bis state relieved from
the danger of civil war. # /,
But, although the treason of the order has
been thoroughly exposed, and although its
capacity for fatal mischief has, by means Of
the arrest OF Its leaders, the seizure of its
arms, and the other vigorous means which
have been pursued, been seriously impaired,
it is still busted with it's secret plottings
against the government, and with its perfdi-
Gus designs in aid of the southern rebellion
1t is reported to have recently issued new
signs and passwords, and it's members assert
that foul means will be used to prevent the
success Of the administration at the coming
election, and threaten an extended revolt in
the event of the reelection of President
Lincoln,
In the presence of the rebellion and this |
secret order-which is but its echo and faith |
full ally-we cannot but be amazed at the ut |
ter and widespread profigacy, personal and
political, which these movements against
the government disclose. The guilty men