Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-25
A Strange Chapter i'm the History Of
the War

The letter of Jacob Thompson TO j. P. Ben
Jamin, secretary Of state Of the southern con-
iederscy, found among the confederate archives
which have recently been sold to this govern
meDt and alluded to in yesterdays STAR, Is
published day. 1t bears date, Toronto, C..
w, December Sd, 1865. and the endorsement in
j. p. Benjamin's hand writing, 4" Received 18th
February, 1865, j. P. b" In bis letter Thomp-
sen says he had no difficulty in obtaining all
the necessary information in regard to the or
ganizstion known as the Z" Sons OF Liberty"
which organization was essentially military,
having its commanders of divisions, brigades,
regiments, &c, and whose object was to secure
the independence of the confederacy. In June,
1e6I, he says, " The belief was entertained and
freely expressed that by a bold, vigorous and
concerted movement the three great north
western states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
could be seized and held. This being done,
the states OF Kentucky and Missouri could
easily be lifted from their PROSTATE
condition and placed on their feet, and
this in sixty days would end the war;
The 18th of August was fixed upon for a gem
eral uprising throughout the north and west
but just previous, says Thompson, ga large lot
OF arms were purchased and sent to Indianap-
oils, which was discovered, and some CT the
leading men were charged with the design to
arm the members Of the order for reasonable
purposes. Treschery showed itself at Louis
vile. Judge Bullitt and DIR. Kalfus were
rested and sent to Memphis" This project, 1t
seems, would have been carried out had 1t not
been for Mr.. Mcdonald, democratic candidate
for governor OF Indiana, who believed Ii would
mar his prospects for election, and threatened
to expose the plot il the leaders did not desst.
Soon after the " Sons" became demoralized by
the surveillance exercised by the government,
1;ala HI
Thompson next tells the story of the attempt
made to capture the United States steamer
Michigan and the reasons of its failure, and
tells how the Island Queen was sunk near
Johnson's island. The capture of the Michigan
was to be followed by shot through the officers
quarters at JOhnsOn's island as a signal for the
release of the confederate prisoners. Thompson
next gave his attention to the federal currency,
and ''uTged the people of the north to convert
their paper into gold and Withdraw it from the
market" This policy he thinks was adopted to
q certain extent, as gold continued to appre-
ciate until it reached 90. Subsequently Thomp-
son advanced Mr.. Minor Major ST. 900 to de-
stroy steamboats, on the Mississippi, sand soon
afterward several boats were burned at 81.
Louis, involving an immense loss of property to
the enemy" Money was also advanced to ga
Mr.. Churchill, of Cincinnati, to organize a corps
Tor the purpose of incendiarism in that city,"
and, adds Thompson, " 1 consider him true
man, and although as yet he has effected but
little, am in constant expectation OF hearing
of effective work in that quarter" Further en-
Thompson says Lieut. Colonel Martin, G. s. A,
"was allowed TO organize a corps TO burn New
York city; most daring attempt has been made
to fire that city, but their reliance on the Greek
fire has proved a misfortune. 1t cannot be
depended on as an agent in such work." He
says the Presidential election or 1864 so demon
allied the leaders of the Sons of Liberty that
a new organization, STYLED the "Order of the
STAR" became necessary, its objects being the
same those of the I" Sons" In closing his
letter, Thompson says he had spent about
S100,0G OF the 81, zoo, 600 placed in his hands.