The Washington herald., 1906-11-04

Heffren, deputy grand commander Of the
order, had power TO call out the entire
force in that state, not less than 100000
men. The State auditor and other high
/ officials also held memberships in the
American Knights" II was afterward
clearly shown that Indiana had United
States Senator pledged 10 the newly
/ planned Northwestern Confederacy.
The order becoming alarmed at the pos
sihility Of exposure had changed its name.
Thus, the Knights Of the Golden Circle
/ became american Knights" and finally
/ Sons Of Liberty" Changes were also
made in the ritual. password. location OF
/ halls, and a complete reorganization ef-
| fected. with view to profound secrecy.
/ In Chicago were three regiments of the
/ conspiratOrs well-armed and Efficient in
drill The force in Illinois vas found
/ Dy Col Aver TO be 5000 oath-bound con
4 spiratOrs, ready TO move against the
/ government, and set up the Northwestern
/ Confederaey.
| Col. Aver now came to the conclusion.
On deep investigation. that the order had
/ changed its plan from purely social 10
/ severely military aims. The supreme com
/ mander was cOmmander-in-chief Of the
/ armed Sons Of Liberty" and there were
I likewise officers Of each grade. on the
regular army plan
( Had n Military Government.
Col Aver discovered that the plotters
dad a military government. comprising
10000 Oath-bound. armed. drilled troops.
| Impressed by the peril TO the Union.
Aver disclosed these startling facts &c W.
/ H Rand, Senator Arnold, and Gov. Yates.
/ who treated the revelations lightly, think
/ ing them vagaries. but later. impressed
/ with the alarming situation. Gov. Yates
urged Col. Aver 10 break up the plot, if
| possible, and bring the conspirators 10
/ book. aver at once entered actively into
/ the secret and hazardous work Of i'm
covering the cOnspirators
The cOnspiratGTs, without knowledge of
the nets now cast about them. continued
their sedltiOus work.
In October 1864. Chicago council adopt-
ed a resolution TO reward with q gift
OF $4,000 the person who would kin Abra-
ham Lincoln The day following. this
dastardly action was known to Col. Sweet.
who in turn communicated the news TO
Washington
The next plan unearthed by Col. Aver
was the avowed intention of the conspir-
Tf. n
diana, with details Of the plot.
Events were now rapidly drifting to-
ward revolution November S, election
day. was fixed as the time for begin
ming the rebellion. Forty-eight hours
before the official date, the traitors who
led the movement met for the last time
at ''Invincible Hall" Chicago. There was
large crowd Of conspirators. and a
more bloodthirsty gathering of danger
Gus men IL would be hard to find. The
supreme commander of the order was
present. and disclosed in detail the plan
Of rebellion. On election night buildings
were to be fired in various parts of
Chicago. This wholesale arson would
engage the attention of the people
while Camp Douglas was attacked. That
plot might not be suspected, the con-
spirators were to 90 to the vicinity Of
the camp in small groups. The assault
on Camp Douglas was TO be made from
three sides at once. then the 13.e00 rebel
prisoners, all veterans. were 10 be re-
leased and the march on Chicago was to
begin. Once in the hands Of the mob.
the secret leaders of the rebellion were
10 come forth and proclaim the North
western Confederacy. At the close OF
the Invincible Club meeting revoivers
were distributed and the hiding place
Of large stores of arms and ammunition
divulged. meeting places arranged. sig
nails decided upon, and a large map OF
the rebel camp was exposed and ex-
planned that no conspirator might be
Unfamiliar with the minute details of
attack.
Thousands We're in Conspiracy.
The Chicago uprising was to be followed
by simultaneous advance BY Hood upon
Nashville, Buckner upon Louisville, and
Price upon st. Louis. Vallandigham was
to head TIE plot in Ohio, Bowles in in
diana, and Walsh in Illinois, whose forces /
were rendezvoused at Dayton. Cincinnati. /
New Albany. indianapolis. Rockland, Chi |
cago, and Springfield.
Months before the plot had been con
cocted, Jacob Thompson, supplied with