Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-10-15


time, and to concentrate when necessary.
A gentleman asked Heffren wis certain
LADY was sent to Salem, indiana He said
they expected trouble in Kentucky, and 1t
would be safer in Salem, Indiana, than in
Kentucky He met a man by tie name OF
Piper in Louisville, who said h. resided in
Springfield, Illinois. He was member of
the Order, and said he was ON The staff with
Vallandgham. Piper was present at the
meeting of the Grand Council IN Kentucky,
and assisted in opening the meeting. He
said that James A. Barrett, formerly of st.
Louis was their chief of Vallandgham's staff,
and that Captain Hines, of the rebel army,
had had charge of the releasing of the rebel
prisoners at Johnson's Island. Piper said he
had Communication from Vallandgham to
Bowes, giving him charge of the releasing of
the rebel prisoners at Rock Island, which was
to be done at the same time. Hines was then
in Canada waiting for the order to be given
and the time TO come. Hines was afterward
captured with John Morgan. Piper also said
that he had attended meeting OF the Grand
Council of Illinois; that they had passed a
resolution that il Kentucky considered it adj
visable to resist the enlistment of negroes,
the members of the Order would prevent the
Illinois regiments, or Loyal Leagues as they
are called by the Copperheads, from being
| sent out of the State by the Government to
| enforce it; that the resolution was unani-
mously passed by the Grand Council of Illi-
nOis.
| A conical she'll about the size of 81
FOUNDER, was here handed to the witness. He
| said he saw a similar shell to that at Book
| ing's room at the Louisville Hotel, about the
10Th or 30th of June. Bowles, Colfus, Char
ley Miller and others were there. The lower
part or butt of the shell, which being un-
screwed, showed another, inside of which was
an iron case to contain the powder. Round
this was an aperture to contain the liquid
Greek fire, and this inner shell being loose
and furnished with a percussion cap, ceused
an explosion on its striking or falling on any
object This Internal machine was intended
to be used for the destruction of Govern
ment property. A spherical hand grenade
about three inches in diameter was here pro-
duced which being unscrewed in the center,
showed an inner shell furnished with several
nipples for percussion caps. The inner shell
was to contain the powder and bullets, and
| the aperture between the inner and outer
shell the liquid Greek fire. The shell or hand
grenade on being thrown at any object would
explode Immediately when it touched any OBJ
ject. Every thing near it would be ignited.
This Internal machine was also explained to
those persons named. Bowles told the wit
ness that Greek fire had been used for the
destruction of two boats at Louisville in the
spring, and also for a number of boats down
the river in April or May. This Greek fire
on breaking, he said, would ignite instantly
or it might be made to ignite sometime after
ward.
The order known as American Knights had
been changed, as Dodd said, by Judge Bull
lit and Mr.. Colfus, to the Order of the Sons
of Liberty, and Dodd wanted me to distribute
new pamphlet or ritual of the order
throughout the State. The commands of the
chiefs of the order were paramount to all
other laws or orders, and were to be obeyed
in opposition to any civil laws or orders of
| the Government.
The cross examination was lengthy. Std
gers testimony was strengthened, many new
points against the prisoner and the order be-
ing developed. The witness had Joined the
order as detective, but was supposed to be
| bona tide member by the order. He had
been assigned this work by Provost Marshal
Jones, of Louisville. He did not give any
opinion of his own as to Coffin's assassination,
but Judge Bullitt's opinion. Dodd and others
concurred in that opinion. He never met
| Coffin in lodges. He knew him, but did not
communicate anything to him. Calling was
present at the meeting of the Order where
Collins assassination was discussed. The wit
ness was asked for description of Milligan
and Humphrey, which was quite correct.
Ia Iof5I onUv " the sl4iii0a4y OtIGIdUJer OF
the Order, he testified that he did not know,
personally, that they were armed or drilled,
but was told that at the West they were arm
ing, while from the East they expected money.
1t extended over Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consin, Missouri, Delaware, Maryland, Penn
sylvania, New York and Kentucky. Dodd
told him that he was at Chicago at the meet
| ing of July Goth, and said eve came to such
conclusions there" Their design was to con-
fine the war to Kentucky by marching their
forces there and co operating with the rebel
forces against the Government, and join
them at Louisville. 1t was a scheme in aid
of the rebellion. Dodd and Bowles were
/ confident of success. DR.. Athon counseled
caution. He was present at the meeting of
| the Grand Council, June 14th. He advised
delay until they were more thoroughly organ
| lied, and till they could see what they could
do at the polls. The counsel asked the wit
ness whether Athon did not counsel delay un-
til they knew whether the election was to be
| controlled by bayonets. Witness replied He
said they should use their military power at the
polls if the Government undertook to control
hem, and that there would be time when it
would be proper to use their military power
| against the Government, but it was best to
! wait till after the election. Athon so stated
to me at his Office. Judge Bullitt told me
| Athon gave him the same opinion. Before
that, Mike Bright, Jesse d. Bright's brother,
had given Butler the same opinion. He
thought twenty thousand men could be raised
in this State for insurrectionary movements.
Vallandigham was elected Supreme Comman-
der in New York, February 22d. The wit
ness understood from Piper that Vallandig-
ham had knowledge of this insurrectionary
movement; had given his sanction to it and
had supreme control The particular day to
rise was to be designated by him. Wilson
did not know that he knew of the action in
this State, but understood he did of the ac-
ton in Chicago. The unwritten work of the
order is its signs, &C., and its secret insurrec.
tionary designs, and armed cooperation with
| the South DR.. Bowles said he knew of a
man who would furnish arms of any kind and
quality at any time the order would designate.
The committee of thirteen appointed on
| the 14th of July were to act in the recess OF
the Grand Council, and their acts to be as le-
gal as those of the Council itself Booking
explained his Greek fire at his room in the
| Louisville Hotel Bowles said he was a mem
ber Assisting the South was discussed be-
| fore him, and he said his machine was the
very thing needed. Bowles said they had
| tested Booking and sent him to Canada, anG
made him spend his money in testing thi:
machine for the benefit of the order, and tC