The Washington herald., 1906-11-04
RAN DOWN WAR PLOT
Notable Service of Col. Aver
in Middle West.
SAVED CHICAGO FROM ATTACK
story of the Man Who Ferreted Out
the Leaders OF the Golden Circle,
and Their Plans for the Formation
of Northwestern COnfederacy.
Thousands in the Conspiracy.

/ from the Detroit Free Press
Passing his declining days in North
Vile. Mich, is Col. l. Winslow Aver, the
man who thwarted the great Chicago con
( spiracy plot In the year 1854 His gal
/ lantry unquesuonably saved that city
from pillage, fire, and the sword. FoI
many years Col. Aver, now seventy-nine
pettioned the War Department. and later
! Congress, for his relief, but has been
I bitterly disappointed.
When the war broke out. l. Winsl0w
Aver was living in Kentucky. The disloyaI
organization known as the knights OF
I the Golden Circle" was laying seditious
plans to stir interest among neutral OF
reasonably inclined Northerners, open
the Northern prisons in which rebel troops
were incarcerated, distribute arms and
ammunition. sack and burn towns, and
spread a reign OF terror and devastation,
looking toward a Northern ConfederaCy.
Part of this plan, touching the release
OF 1890 Confederate troops imprisoned
at Chicago. and also the liberation OF
rebel prisoners on Johnsons Island, Lake
Erie, soon became known 20 Or. Aver.
As he delved into the work of Knights
Of the Golden Circle, DR.. Aver could
scarcely believe the dastardly revela-
lions. It seemed TO him incredible that
such depths of disloyalty could exist in
his dearly beloved country. Among the
reckless deeds he traced 70 members was
the burning of United States transports,
with Greek fire, on the Mississippi at
Louisville; assassinating Union soldiers
on furlough. burning Of soldiers houses,
and other acts Of violence.
officers Investigate Plots.
In 1858 Mai. Gen S. P. Heintzelman was
in charge Of the Department Of Ohio, in
GLIDING Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan
Kentucky and Missouri. BY his order
Brig. Gen. H. B. Darlington was as
signed to the duty OF investigating trea-
sonable plots. now rapidly multiplying in
the North and West. Dr.. Aver. know
ing Of these seditiOus plans, felt inspired
to do all in his power to break up the
Knights of the Golden Circle and afiiliat-
ed bodies. In the summer of 1868 Car
rington arrested BOwles. DOdd, Heffren.
and other Indiana leaders Four of
these men were found guilty OF treason,
and Sentenced to death on the gallows
Darlington followed up his work by seiz-
ing the books and papers of the order,
exposing the names of the members in
Indiana, running traitors down, uncover
ing arms and supplies. and destroying
the rolls and rituals All these facts were
reported to Secretary Stanton by Judge
Advocate General Holt, October S. 1851.
Ayers services to the government fol-
lowed Carrington's work. Col Aver,
studying events closely, did not share
the sanguine report that the reasonable
societies were broken up. He determined
to risk his private fortune, if need be,
70 serve his country
He learned that the great draft riots IN
New York City. July. 1853. were melted
BY members Of the seditious order,
American Knights" The vigilance Of
tie United States officers made it neces-
sary for the conspirators to leave New
YORK. The plan was to open headquar-
ters at Chicago and begin plotting 10
form the Northwestern Confederacy. In
diana was to be its leading State. Chi
cago the capital
The legislature of Indiana was largely
disloyal. both branches included. Senator