Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-13
The sons OF Liberty.

gives the testimony OF Felix q, Stridger,
a detective officer, before military com
mission at Indianapolis on the 9th nit,
relative 10 the character and designs ol
the secret order called The Sons OF
Liberty From the statements OF Mr..
Stridger it appears that he Joined the
order for the purpose of learning Its OBJ,
iects and so far gained the confidence OF |
the members as To be made one of It's |
officers, being Secretary of the Grand |
Council for the State of Kentucky, The |
organization Is a military one, and per-
sons cannot be admitted to its meetings |
without a pass. word Mr.. Stridger tes-
titled that the murder of u man named |
Coffin, u government detective, was dis
cussed and determined on by the organ
ization, and several plans were formed
for accomplishing the purpose, but they
miscarried. The order was designed TO
resist the government by force of arms.
They expected definite time 10 be set
for a 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 re-
leased and armed with arms seiZed irom
the arsenals. The number of the Order
of the Sons of Liberty was calculated TO
be 10000 TO 10000 in Indiana, Illinois
was counted ON as having considera-
bic number and Missouri was believed TO
be almost unanimous. Ohio was not
much counted ON. The date of rising
was not definitely fixed, as the co'opera-
| ton of rebel armies was necessary. AT
one time it was agreed that the outbreak
| should occur between the Sd and 18th
| OF August, and should be finally deter
mined by Vallandigham, the Supreme
Commander of the order. It,was intend
ed to carry portion of the States into
the Confederacy. At Il meeting OF the
Grand Council of Illinois il was resolv-
ed that, if Kentucky considered it advi-
sable to resist the enlistment OF the ne
groes, the members of the order Wonld
prevent the Illinois regiments from be-
ing sent out Of the State by the Govern
ment to enforce it,
The order was first designated Ameri-
can Knights. The commands Of the chiefs
of the order were paramount 70 all 9th
er laws or orders and were to be obeyed
in opposition to any civil laws or orders
of the government The order extended
| over inc StdleS u ouIO, AAlA
nois, Wisconsin. Missouri Delaware,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and
kentucky Two of its Enembers-a DR..
Bowles and r. G. Booking were engaged
in contriving incendiary shells and
hand grenades. Want of arms is the
only reason assigned for the failure &c
inaugnrate a revolt.
VIM. Clayton, who joined the order in
July, 1863, in good faith, testities that the
lodge in Warren County, Indiana, to
which he belonged was assessed $500 fol
arms and the amount collected The
testimony of this witness was interest
ing and explicit, and we quote as fol
: lows:
&" The arms were to come from Nassau
to Canada and were to be brought to tht
Canada line by the rebel authorities
but the order was to pay the cost o.
transportation from Nassau to the Cana
| da line 1t was understood in the ordei
: that the signal for the uprising would
be given by the supreme commander, Z
=. l.. Vallandigham. There were lieuten
ants and captains, or colonies in the or
der, and a major-general for each con
gressional district. The penalty for oil
i. vulging the secrets of the order wa
death. Since the exposure OF the orde
in st. Louis and especially Of this case
: the order was disposed to be quiet ant
do little. The present invasion OF Mis-
souri, was made known to the order II
J his locality by one OF Quantrells men
: who said that Price would be in Nilsson
ri by October |, and stay there till aftel
: the election, and as much longer as h'
, could The order in Illinois made M
effort to assist him if he came in. Tit
lote exposures had stopped their opera
/ tions. Their temples met but had qui
, drilling. The American Knights were
, organized in Illinois by p c. Wright O
Mississippi or Louisiana, who came tt
. Springfield, Illinois, to mass democrat
} ic convention, June IL, 1863) and or
gained lodges, and instituted genera
council, which appointed two officers fol
each county, to organize county temples
Wright is editor Of the New York News
now.