Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-17
THE CHICAGO CONSPIRACY,
Dia bOlical Plot Discovered
ARREST OF CONSPIRATORS,
Seisure of Arms aud Ammunition.
Confessions of Charles Walsh.

The Chicago Tribune of Tuesday brings
the details of a diabolical conspiracy of rebel
emissaries and resident Copperheads to re-
lease the rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas IN
that city, to rob the banks, fire the public
buildings, seize possession of the polls on
election day, and thus carry out the threats
of rebel vengeance upon Northern cities re-
Gently made in Richmond papers We give
the material portion of its account of the af
fair:
Haupily for US, and for the country at large,
their schemes have so far failed, and those of
them who have thus far adventured into the
city are now in that very cage whence they
intended 20 release the rebel prisoners. The
plot . discovered. Col. Sweet had for sew
eral days noticed the signs of preparation
among the rebels under lis charge, and set
his detectives to work to lind out the details
In this he was so far successful as to find out
the ringleaders. kilograms were also re-
ceived by parties in Chicago-Hon. John
Wentworth and others-that the rebels were
coming here in train loads. As they did
come, they were watched in the city, their
hiding places discovered and their plans par
TALLY ferreted out. 1t was at first believed
that it was only magnifed case of that i'm
portaton of voters which the Democracy
have always been celebrated for just before
election day. But soon it became evident
that the movement had a deeper meaning
The fellows were observed proving around
the alleys and looking behind doors and shut
ters. This set our detectives on the watch,
both military and civil, and the designs were
speedily discovered which led to the arrest
early yesterday morning of the ringleaders,
nd ,1b- iv tn n of 10
rank and file.
TIE ARRESTS.
Calling to his aid the police force of the
city, Colonel B. j. Sweet, commandment of the
post, proceeded, a little after midnight, to
the important work of making the arrests.
Captain Nelson and force proceeded to the
residence of DR.. Edwards, "Peace Demo
crat" No. 70 Adams street, where was found
the rebe! Colonel Vincent Marmaduke, a
brother 0. the rebel General of that name.
He was secured. detachment of military
and police visited the Richmond House, cap
turing there the rebel Colonel G. st. Ledger
Grrnfeu, Morgan's Adjutant General, and j.
r. Shanks. an exchanged rebel prisoner who
for some time was employed il the Surgeons
Department., at Camp Douglas. Another de-
tachment proceeded to the residence of the
notorious Buckner S. Morris, formerly Jud 1e
of the Circuit Court, and later Breckenridge
candidate for Cove. lOr Of Illinois He filled
the Office of Treasurer to the Sons of Liberty
Still another detachment called on Charles
Walsh, residing near Camp Douglas, recent
candidate for Sheriff of the county, and found
there Captain Cantrell, and private named
Charles Traverse, both belonging to the rebel
service; these were arrested spies, Fur
Their search showed that Walsh was a Briga-
der General of the order of "Sons Of Lib
ertyo and in his house We're secreted three
hundred double 6a1Tecd guns, locded and capped
each La17el containing from eighteen to tua1ty-
tano baeI&bot, tire hundred nary rerOl0erS, also
loacR and capped and teoo large bores Of single
bagTpied guns. These of course were conhs-
Gated, and Walsh was numbered on the list
of prisoners. Another party also proceeded
to Walkers building, on Dearborn street, add
Joining the Matteson House, where they cap
ulred tco large 6oreS of guns, there concealed.
Tive prominent Democrats, one of them
canuldate for high Office, who have suits of
room clese at hand, though living, one Of
them in the West, and the other in the North
Division, were not arrested.
This was all done before the early grey of
the morning had heralded the approach of
day. 1t was the result of simultaneous
movement.
This was but the beginning although good
one Five O'clock saw party of police I'M
der Superintendent Turtle, leave the Central
Police Station. They visited the "Eort Don
elson House," where twenty-seven of the
coaspirators were found, sleeping six in bed
amid stencil almost Overpowering. They
all had arms in their possession. These were
captured Subsequently the police visited a
den on North Water street, where another
lot, armed to the teeth, were found and taken
good care of. Detached individuals or par
ties of two or three were picked up at inter-
walls throughout the day by the regular police
force of the city, and by the detective force
under Smith G. StOrer, which rendered eff
cient service. Others were picked up by the
Provost Guard The old Trinity Church was
made a general rendezvous for these wretch
es who were subsequently, taken to Camp
Douglas, whose occupants have thus received
an accession of fully one hundred men, in
whose bsence the citizens of Chicago cen
breathe more freely
Later in the day. Mr. Turner, of Turner &
Mitchell, the well known packers, brought in
formation that a squad of suspicious individ-
,uals-numbering some twenty-five or thirty
were hanging around the packing houses in
Bridgeport with no good intention Detec-
tives Kenny and Sherman Immediately got
horse and buggy, and started for Bridgeport,
where they pulled up in front of Prout's sa-
loon-the scene of diabolical murder few
DAYS ago Quickly aighting the officers
rushed up stairs into the room Of one Nc
Inery, who was lately discharged from the
police force, not for being a Mcclellan man,
as the secession organ said, but for incompe-
tency and habitual intemperance. Here were
dozen of the " butternuts," but they heard
the hurrying footsteps on the stairs and in
continently tumbled head over heels down
another stairway. The officers were not to
be baked. They hurried in pursuit. and in
very few moments each officer had collared
his man. The rest of the gang Immediately
drew their revolyers, but the officers, nothing
daunted, held on to their men. One of the
scoundrelS attempted to draw revolver, but
the officer grabbed it, and while doing so his
prisoner escaped. The other, not being arm
ed was hustled into the buggy, and immedi-
ately taken to the Central Station. The
alarm was at CAGE given, and some fourteen
police officers and squad of soldiers imme
diately posted after the balance of the gang
On arriving at the rendezvous, they discover
ed that the birds had flown and we're making
fast tracks across the prairie.
The captured butternut was afterwards ex-
amined, but very little could be elected from
him. He stated his name 10 be Patton that
he was a resident of Coles county. which our
readers will remember was the scene of a
bloody attack on company of unarmed sol
diers by the O'Hair gang about the goth of
March last He also stated that he came
here 10 visit some relatives of the name of
Hamilton. but couldn't find them. The vii
lain was extremely rsticent and would tell
nothing more.
Seeesh sympathizers here telegraphed theiI
Z. friends in the southern portion of the State