The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31
OAsTLEMAN'S ESCAPE.
How Senator Hendricks Interceded for
Southern COuspirator.

southern COuSplcaCOrs
Philadelphia Press,
Colonel John II. Gardener who was major of
Rushs Lancers Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry dur
ing the war and is now in this city, read story
In the Press some months ago that stirred up
bitter memories of the civil war This story
was an account of the arrest and trial of Major
John b. Castlemau, of the confederate army, on
charge of treason at Indianapolis in 1868
The reason remember Casteman so dis
tlnctly, said the Colonel yesterday, to a Press
reporter, lis because / was, at the time of his
arrest, in command at Indianapolis, and he. was
committed to my charge for safe excepting. If
you step this way a minute I'll show you the or
der for his discharge, pasted in my scrap book.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF INDIANA,
INDIANAPOLIS, June 26, 1865.
'Colonel-You will deliver John b. Castleman, a
prisoner in your charge. to Judge Breckenridge, who
will bring him to this Office when he will be released
upon taking his parole of honor to leave the United
States of America never to return.
by direction of
"Brevet Maior-genersl A. P. HovEY
~. w. WALKER,
~ Major and Assistant Adjutantgeneral.
''LieutenantcolOnel Gardener"
'"This Castleman was a nephew of John c.
Brecklnridge, of Ke ntucky, and the Judge
Breckenridge to whom he3was delivered was some
relation of the family Casteman was
cerned in the plot to deliver the confederate
prisoners at Camps Morton, Chase and Douglas
and Johnsons Island. Morgan, the raider, was
coming up through Kentucky for the purpose
of assisting the conspirators, but that move, D."
added the veteran, with a grim SMILE was
failure.
"Castleman was in my charge long time.
he was wonderfully tall, handsome dashing
fellow. He got off with a nominal sentence of
exile that was never enforced, and to-day am
told, he Is III business in Louisville, his old
home.
"a part of this precious scheme was the
establishment of Northwestern Confederacy
This was to be accomplished by copperheads and
southern symathizers in western New York,
Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois. They
banded themselves together TO form secret
society The o. S. L., or Order of the Sons of
Liberty. Some of these precious sons, as it
appeared on their trial, hoped, among other
means of reviving the sinking fortunes of the
confederacy, to kidnap Governor Morton, and if
he refused to assist them in furthering their de-
signs he was to be made away with. This little
prank was to be played by committee of ten,
carefully selected for the purpose among those
who had the most sand
1.-The best laid plans of mice and men, you
know the rest. Somebody turned States evil
dence, and the hospitable gates of the military
prison in my charge soon opened to accommo-
date three Of the gentlemen most prominently
concerned in this little game Here is the re-
ceipt L received for them from the warden of
the Ohio penitentiary:
"0FFIcE OF THE OHIO PENITENTIARY. !
June g. 1868. 5
Received of Iieutenant-colonel J. H. Gardener
commanding post Indianapolis, the following named
persons, with copies of General Orders. No 27. No
81 and No. 80, towit; William A. Bowles Lambdin
z. Milligan and Stephen Horsey,
JOHN A. PRENTICE, Warden.
''These men were then under sentence of
death, but were afterwards reprieved. l have a
little story to tell in connection with their es-
cape from justly incurred penalty.
ut was generally supposed at the time
that their escape from death was due to
the personal intercession of Senator Thomas
A. Hendricks. of Indiana. Certain it is that the
Senator came to me and demanded an interview
with them. I refused. Mr.. Hendricks became
very angry and tried to stand on his dignity as
United States senator. OF course knew my
duty and remained firm, but finally told him to
get al order from General Hovey, in command
of the department. and it should be as he de-
sired.
"Mr. Hendricks went away and not long
afterwards returned with the order He de
sired to speak in private to the prisoners, but
this l would not allow. As said before, these
men, who desired to stab their country in the
back, escaped the gallows. They were men of
birth and education and well off financially.
Bowles was doctor, and Milligan lawyer
Horsey, think, was merchant They were
part Of the gang who were to seize Governor
Morton and hold him as a hostage. Those were
hard times, tell you, My duty in indianapolis
keeping down these 'sympathizers' was harder
on me than the rack ami wear Of four years
campaigning in the saddle