New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-14
THE FATHER OF MISS SWEET.
SERVICES WHICH FRIENDS OF COMMISSIONED
BLACK ARE TRYING 70 BELIrrLE.

SERVICES WHICH FRIENDS OF COMMISSIONER
BLACK ARE TRYING 70 BELIrrLE.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Some of Commits
soner Blacks friends trying to phlliate his offence
against this Democratic Civil Service Reform Admins
raon IN OF Miss Sweet by attempt to cast
reproach upon memory OF her father They assert that
he was "a purely political apponce and not distin-
gushed for service in the Union Army" and
that the only distinction he won In the military
service was " Ia leading mob OF political rufisns In
Chicago toward the end OF the war" Nobody knows
better than Goueral Black how false and unjust these
cowardly aspersons upon the memory OF "a man whose
military record will not suffer by comparison with his
own and yet he has not fit to contradict them,
even II he be not responsible for tho currency given 70
them by his friends and apologists
At tho battle of Perryville General Sweet,
who had already won his spurs and
coloners commission by hard work
and gallant service the field, disabled for life by
rebel bullet which crashed through his shoulder and
shattered his right TO the elbow Although inca
pacated by wounds for active service he did not throw
up his commission some other officers did.
In May 1864, Colonel Sweet was assigned to the CON-
mand OF Camp Douglas, Chicago In which were confined
some 1000 prisoners majority of whom were captured
rebels The remainder, some hundreds in number, werc
Buttsrnuts" the disoyal Copperhead imocrats Of
Illinois and Indiana called, who had been arrested
and Imprisoned for acts OF dsloyaty. At that time
Jacob Thompson, whose memory has 50 recently peen
honOred BY an Official order issued oy Secretary Lamar,
was at Toronto Canada laying plans for the release Oh
the imprisoned rebels and Buttcrnuts" IN Camp Doug
las and other prisons, and Tor the saczing
and burning OF Chicago and other Northern cities
and the assassination OF prominent Unlonists.
Colonel Sweet had been in command only short tme
before he discovered the conspiracy. Thompson at
Toronto, with $250.00O in gold lodged In Montreai
hank was the life aud soul OF the conspiracy. Among
his agents In Chicago Colonel Vincent Marmidukes
a brother OF the present Governor OF Missouri Colonel
Gronfe John Morgans chief OF stan aud Cap Hines,
who planned Morgans escape from the Ohio Peni'en-
tiary They were to have command of thousand rebels
and Butternuts" collected IN Canada and Illinois, ana
sent to Chicago sngy small squads This force was
TO be reinforced after the Jail delivery had taken place.
Inv the released prisoners for whom had been pro-
vlded, and Ivy the nve thousand armeI mem .n voas
OF the society Of the Him. disioyA p 0"p
nerhead Democratic organization In Cnicago com.
manded by " Brgadier-General" Charles Walsh,
Copperhead leader In that city. The at emps Was W
have been made on July t. the day on when Tue Dono-
cratic National Convention was 10 assemoic ~ 0neso, @
but as the meeting OF the convention was
eli August 20. the plans OF the consprv%oss % al Th
lied accordingly. Colonel Sweet had nut Deeh iue' iuo
military force guarding the prisoners had been
strongly reinforced aud every preesus,oh eaken
against an attack Wheh Med win I desnsra,e Demo-
cratic armed and ready FOR deeds OF ason
robbery and assassnaton but their leaders apprised
of ,he fact that the plot had been discovered and
taken 10 prevent its success, concluded that
dseetion was better part Of vaor and reluctantly
mander could be taken unawares He did not relax nis
vigilance, but the force under his command WAS 90
weakened by drafts upon for active service sha on
Of tho Invalid Corps TO guard about prisoners and
hold In check 00O0 Copperheads bound togetner WIN
Meanwhile Js.oS THOMPSON and his agents had noe
been idle. Arms aud ammunition had been pou8ns an
large quantities and stored N the houses OF repei syn