, 1865-05-26


life thereby.
Our Informant stated that the heavy, fat men
were the first TO die-they would lie down, think
of home get into despair, grow i'll and drop off
in week or two. Their comrades would kick
them to get them up after every means had failed
but mostly in vain.
We asked one of the poor fellows why they
did not make general raid? ooh" said he,
| F'you do not know how hunger will humble q
man We did think of it once, but no body felt
able to walk five miles to say nothing of run
ming fight with Confederate soldiers who know
all The woods, roads and paths. We were too
| nearly starved"
For the WELL there was not sufhciency Of
food and all got lousy Many ofthem got holes
in taeir sides and backs and died miserable OBJ
jeet Foe the sick there was no shelter. The
7 weA sod about and kept awake during the
cold nightsSand stormy days. Only few had
/ blankets and hundreds were as naked when
they game into the world. When one died, his
clothing, if he had any, was distributed among
| friends, and his naked corpse was carried out
and thrown into trench. A number of holes
were digged inthe ground, but in rainy sea-
| son these holes were useless as they quickly
| soaked through and filled with water.
The Colonel ih, command of the post said they
! did not die fast enough He said one day to
prayer for more food that if they were fed they
would become saucy, and he meant to reduce
/ them down so one hundred men could guard
them and he did. Several went mad, and it
was no uncommon sight to see a companion
! grow delirious with starvation and desperation.
/ -~~~~~-aOb-~~~~~
About the Sons of Liberty.
/ Nearly every one has read and heard more or
less about the organizations known as "Sons of
Liberty" and "Knights of the Golden Circle 4"
G. L. Vallandigham, who it has generally been
supposed knew as much about those organiza-
tions as any other man, ,f-being placed upon the
stand in the trial Of tRe "Chicago Conspiracy
case, testified as foIl5Ns Concerning those or
ganizations:
reside in Dayton, and am now practicing
| law. was member of 9he Sons of Liberty.
1t was in Windsor, @. W., In the month Of Feb
ruary, 1864 that this my FIRST connection with
! any secret Political organizatioI took place
knew Mr.. Green and DR.. Barret, of whom men
| ton has been made, in the testimony. They
were on their way to New York to attend the
meeting of the Supreme Council of what was
as understood, the American. Knights. They
stated there were to be some material changes,
and desired I should become the chief officer Of
itF My answer was, that understood there was
0laiiS sum ~ = dulAdblOu thdb udu ulWdyo ub-
clined having any connection with it, because l
apprehended that it might have some connection
with the Southern Government or place its
members under some obligation with reference
to that government, inconsistent with the allie
glance of citizen Of the United States, and
! that would not belong to,none that directly or
indirectly looked to any sort of connection with
those who were in arms against the Federal au-
| thoTity. / expressed,my conviction that where
~ ~ ln-a lflioo ftffaai
cations, q member of the democratic party
the time had come when they were useful and
necessary, provided they were kept legitimate.
Assurrance was give me by those gentlemen that
there was nothing of the kind l apprehended in
that ORDER that new arrangement of the Or
ganizaton was to be made, and that any objec-
tionable features could be obyiated that it was
onlya political organization, having reference to
affairs inC the States that adhered to the Union,
and recognized the Federal Government and its
authority. | accordingly consented and inves-
tigated the principles, ceremonies, and obliga-
tions of the Order. No part of any of them
was read in full but pamphlets were left with
me- This was the extent to which l was a
member Of that Order.
The witness then stated the facts connected
with the change of the American Knights to the
Sons of Liberty, and said: was informed that
the ritual and form of expression, at leastof the
principles, had been changed, and also some
part of the obligation; that | had been chosen
the chief officer Of the organization. He was
never present at any meeting of council, lodge,
or other regular meeting of the Order. There
informal meeting Of the members held in
Windsor about the 18th of April Mr. McMas-
ters was present. also Dodd, Judd and others
At that meeting the entire business transactions
related to the Chicago Convention, and the con-
dition of the democratic party. 1t was agreed
that ! should write letter addressed to the dem
ocrats of the United States, defining what be-
lieved to be the duty of the democratic party in
the approaching election This was the only
meeting of the organization at which was pres
ent except an informal meeting of members du-
ring the Chicago Convention, at which presi-
ded as chairman, the question before us being
that of platform and nomination. The reason
no letter ever was written is the failure Of some
one in not sending me letter to call mine out
The objects Of the order were, first political
the advancement and success of the democratic
party especially with reference to the Presiden-
tal election; second, as an offset to the Loyal
Union league, in the protection of democrats
against violence by mObs, and the destruction
of democratic newspapers and third, the ult-
mate object depending entirely upon whether
the contingency should ever arise, Of protecting
the ballot box, in case of attempt to suppress
elections, either State or Presidential, by force
ofarms If there was any other object it was
simply that of individuals, and in dissobedence
to the known purposes of the order.
Q.-Had this order in view any such purposes
as affordng aid to the Confederate army or the
rebellion Of the Southern States2
A.-Under no circumstances whatever. On
the contrary had refused to join the preceding
organization, because suspicion in my mind
that something of that kind might have been
intended
Q.-Was the release of the Confederate priso-
ners of war any purpose contemplated by the
order?
Alt was not, and I never heard that sub |
ject alluded to at any meeting of the Order, nor
by any member of the same I never knew or
heard anything in reference to sending money
from Canada to Mr.. Dodd, for the purpose of
arms for the Order, until I saw the developments
in the trials at indianapolis never had either
knowledge, intimation, or suspicion, that Bowles
Milligan, Dodd, or any one else was concerned |
in this matter, until it was made public in the !
papers. In my speeches distinctly denounced !
every movement to resist the authorities of the
United States admonished all persons in
my Hamilton speech, that the offense was trea-
son and the penalty death. This is perhaps the
reason no intimation was given me Of this pur-
pose. On the very day said to have been fixed |
for this uprising, the 10th of August, ! left |
Dayton and went to Syracuse, N. " to address |