Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-12-10
One Of Governor Hovey's Acts.

The Indianapolis Journal thus de-
scribes General Hovey's great work
in breaking up the Indiana conspiracy
during the war: Governor Morton
was extremely anxious that the con-
spiracies which were in progress in
1862 and 1868 should be detected
and the leaders punished. The state
was honeycombed with Knights of the
Golden Circle, night-riders, and cop
perhead intriguers. Many prominent
men were suspected of furnishing en-
couragement to the South and leading
an organized rebellion against the
Federal government.
General Hovey was assigned to this
work. He distributed spies through
out the state to pry into the affairs
of the Sons of Liberty and other
organizations intended to embarrass,
if not disrupt, the Union. There were
several headquarters for the conspira-
tors in different parts of the state.
Indianapolis was frequently visited by
these leaders, and there were con-
stantly at Terre Haute and Evans
vile commanding officers of the Sons
of Liberty, Knights of the Golden
Circle. and other kindred organizations.
Upon information furnished by the
Hons. Michael c. Kerr and Joseph E.
Mcdonald, friendly and loyal Demo-
Gratis General Hovey detected a rebel
officer in the Bates House, and broke
up a headquarters of the conspira-
tors in the Masonic Hall at Indianap-
oils. A large number of them were
placed under arrest. The work finally
led TO the arrest, upon the charge of
treason, of Dr. Bowles, Lambin P.
Milligan, Wager, Andrew Humphreys,
Senator Heffron, Hosea, and other
men quite as well known. These were
the chief conspirators. General Hovey
made report to Secretary Stanton
of the arrest and proof of the charges
against the prisoners. The secretary
issued an order to the general to try
such prisoners, and to proceed in every
move under the military law.
Indiana was ablaze with excitement
during the trial of these conspirators.
Hovey prosecuted the men with great
vigor and success. No time was lost,
and the gallows was prepared to hang
them. General Hovey intended to
s'swing off, the whole lot at one time,
and as he was about to execute the
sentence he received a telegram from
President Lincoln, who had approved
the sentences, committing the punish
ment to life imprisonment. General
Hovey was directed to take the pris-
oners to Columbus, Ohio, and deliver
them to The warden OF the penitentiary.
This he did.
Dnring the early part OF the prosecu-
tion General Hovey could have prof
tied to the extent of S5OO,OOO had
he been willing to accept bribe for
the REIMBURSEMENT OF the energy he
was expending to secure conviction.
Soon after the delivery of the prison
ers at Columbus came the news of the
fall of Richmond, the surrender at
Appamattox, and the final close of
the war.
General Hovey's life was for months
held in the balance after he brought to
Justice the Bowles-Milligan gang OF
conspIrators. Their friends were con-
stantly on his track, Threatening his
life, and proving menace. To any
other than a man OF iron will, indom-
liable courage, and long experience
amid excitement and the din OF battle,
the threats of the copperheads in the
state for several months after the
close of the war would have proven too
much. Bat he proceeded with bis
duties OF life with seeming indifference,
and braved down all the Vaccinations
of his disloyal enemies