The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-04
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY.
ReyiyiRg the Story Of the Plot to Mberate the
Prisoners at Camp Douglas.

NJ Nhhip DOusihss
A telegram from Chicago says: "The an
nouncement Of the intended publication at
Louisville of the correspondence aud secret his
tory surrounding the operations of the knights
of the Golden Circle and the Sons of Liberty in
the Northern States during the closing months
of the great rebellion. and their efforts TO liber-
ate Confederate prisoners al Chicago and other
points IN the North, has called up thousand
recolections in the minds Of persons still living
who had part in the guarding Of Camp Doug
las, the huge stOckade here, where thousands
of rebel prisoners were kept during all the war
period succeeding the fall Of Fort DOnelson.
Many Of the men who had no small part in the
exciting incidents about Chicago and Camp
Douglas during the Autumn Of 1864 are dead
or have been lost sight of, while others do not
care TO even acknowledge that they ever knew
OF such place as Camp Douglas or heard of the
two great copperhead organizations in the
Northern States. Gen. b. j. Sweet, who COM
manded the camp at that time, is among the
dead, but his Adjutant, Capt. L. II. p. Shurley
is a quiet, hard working ieWeler on State street
Capt. Shurley was familiar with all the details
OF The steps taken TO suppress the uprising OF
the 1900 prisoners at Camp Douglas, but was
reluctant to-day TO talk about the matter.
When the camp closed said Capt. Shur-
ley, all the official documents Of the Com
mandant's Office were forwarded TO Washing
.
Department told me four years ago that the
box had never been opened. j think this
Louisville book is a catchpenny arrangement,
but IL the facts are truly presented the discus
sion that viii follow viii surely bring out the
truth, and the truth Will drag before the pub
lie in very disagreeable way the names OF
many people who are and have been extremely
prominent since those days.
ave had spies among the prisoners said The
4 Nyh IA KUar nj Ia
meetings Of the Knights Of the Golden Circle
which was back OF the movement among the
| cOpperheads TO bring about the uprising. Oul
| spies made reports 10 ms, and upon those w,
acted. We had no orders from Washington
but did what we thought best Our force n
Camp Douglas numbered only 700 men. HaC
| the prisoners once obtained the upper hanG
Chicago would have been sacked and all tn
State Of Illinois between Chicago and ST. Loui
would have been laid waste. The prisoner
had plenty of friends outside the camp. Th,
day after we arrested q. ST. Leger Grenfell
Gen. Vincent Marmaduke, and MofIam, tn
Engishman, which was two or three days be
fore the Presidential election Of 1864 we foun,
600 stands OF arms in barn not more than
quarter Of mile from the stockade. TIL
scheme was for the escaped prisoners TO sack
plumber and burn the city, taking what the
could with them and march down 10 Roc
Island. About 1000 prisoners were contiDe
there, and with these and a number held q
Alton they expected TO capture ST. Louis an
secure arms enough 10 fit out those still IN
equipped from the gun stores In the city an
intervening towns The outside plotters wer
in communication with the prisoners, for whe
the latter were finally released aud sent HON
j talked with many Of the more intelligent one
and they said that the entire number impri,
Oned In the stockade were organized into con
panies regiments and brigades, aud could hay
fallen In aud marched out like an army. Pai
of the general plot was 10 seize the iron steam
ship Merchant nj her pier here. run her acroi
10 Canada, arm her with cannon waiting their
and send her out 10 sweep the lakes and FIRE
the Confederate prisoners here. The same ide
was 10 be carried into effect by the Captain {
the boat running between Sandusky and JOIN
sons Island, with the view Of turRing loose a
the rebel prisoners held there. learned {
this at meeting OF the Cleveland Chapte
Royal Arch Masons, where total stranger cam
up and told me the details Of the plot, whic
he bad overheard q couple Of men discussing
Subsequent investigation verified the straI
gers story"
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