The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-12
STORY OF THB REBELLION
The Man who Organized the
DisIoyal Men Of the North
REClTEs A THRILLING STORY
About tho Coppcrhcnds-An Organ.
ization OF Nearly Seventy Thous.
ind Men Ready to Cooperate
with tho Confederate Army.

DiRMlNGnAM, Ala, May 1.-THE maj
who acted as the special emissary OF th'
Confederate Government to the Copper
head organizations throughout the Nortl
and who delivered commissions and OBJ
tanned maps and plans Of iortihcations
still lives, after once having been con
demned and sentenced to be shot, max
Ing his escape from dungeon through
the connivance OF Catholic preist and
a beautiful young lady, whoo mado love
to the guards. 40
A correspondent obtained IN interview
with the celebrated rebel spy, Maj. W.
O. Gormou, who describes the scenes
with minuteness OF detail that will
cause his experiences, now published
Tor the first Il me, to 50 down to history
as an important feature OF the war, and
will present the facts concerning the
Copperhead organization in clearer
light than has ever yet been done.
In the Northern States were large
body of men regularly enlisted in the
Confederate army, regularly drilled,
and under oath to divulee all possible
information to the Confederate Govern.
ment at Richmond. 1t was an organiz.
ed army OF spies, and they sent mos,
valuable information aud collected large
sums OF money for tho Confederate
Government. illinois led the list OF en-.
rolled Confedcratcs with sc, 900 men, In.
diana ID. 900, Ohio 1000, Pennsylvania
5000 and Missouri l2,000-an army OF
$1,000 men. constantly kept ready for
marching orders in case the Confeder.
ate troops in the field should ever cross
the Ohio river, and march through Hin.
ois, Indiana and Ohio.
COMMANDED DY A SENATOR.
1t was a secret organization, aud none
knew lis strength excep! its officers and
the authorities at Richmond. This large
army was commanded by United
States Senator, who remained in Wash
ington during the war, and several
prominent men ranked as high rs major
general, with regular commissions from
the Federal Government.
Major Germans story is one Of the
most thrilling ever written, and was
illustrated by letters, papers and minute
details, which co.roborate every state
ment made. The story can best be told
in the Majors own words. ...
l was born in Ireland, but raised in
the State OF Michigan until l was nearly
grown, then going to Memphis, where I
was educated by General Shelby, and
placed in the United States engineer
corps, going to Utah with General
Albert Sydney Johnston in 1856. Re.
turning South, 1 enlisted in the Conied-
crate service, being placed in command
OF company OF sharpshooters.
After the retreat at Perryvillc, in 1862,
lreceived | orders to report to General
Forrest for picket duty on the Cumber-
land river, between Sparta and Galla,in.
l there received orders toreport to GEN
eral Forrest at Murireesboro, which I
did. General Forrest wished me to un-
dertake commission entirely foreign to
the duties OF u soldier, being trip to St
Louis Oh private business for my com.
mander. I went to st. Louis aud return.
ed just prior to the battle OF Stone river,
in which l participated with my
battalion.