Year: 1863

Ine treason OF tne IOSth 1lilnOiss


A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune
gives the following account of the treach
cry of the lO9th Illincis-which was
raised in Egypt-and of the manner in
which it was discovered:


"a vague suspicion per7aded the minds
of many officers and soldiers of other reg
iments, that the 1O9th would not do TO
tie to in az emergency; that it was not
sound corn still, for a time, there was
nothing remarkably bad in their behav-
ior. The most suspicious circumstance
was the fraternity and popularity of the
officers and men with the secesh natives
women as well as men. It did not escape
observation and remark that the officers
spent much of their time in swearing at
the Abolihonists, catching and returning
contrabands Of rebels that came within
our lines, and talking about "the eonsti-
tutional rights of our Southern brethren,
that were being violated by the Lincoln
government" Whenever men talk in that
way, it is sure, unfaiiing sign that they
are half rebels themselves, and care but
little for the preservation Of the Union.


"Thiugs went along in this way until it
was discovered that one or more of the Of
fcers and number Of the men had desert
ed to the rebels, taking their arms along
with them. General Grant was desirous
of knowing to what extent the regiment
was rotten, and he was shortly furnished
with the desired information. A few days
ago Lieutenant of the famous 7th Kansas
cavalry, who is about as sharp as they
make EN-, dressed up in the garb of
rebel office, and went into the country at
night some eight or ten miles from Holly
Springs, and splayed of on the but
ternuG natives that he was Captain in
the rebel army out on scout, and for
other purposes. He quickly gained the
confidence of a rebel family-though the
old man Of the house was retieent at first
he was soon convinced that the Captain
was fsll right on the goose and swore
by JEFF. Davis, when the old fellow unbur-
dened his soul and made the following
revelations:


1.-THE I09th was then stationed at Wa
terford, eight miles south of Holly Springs.
The officers and men had told the natives
that they were tired of the war, and did
not want to see the South whipped, but
wished the seeded States TO get their in
dependence that they desired to be taken
prisoners, and would surrender at the first
opportunity; that they entered the army
because they thought they could best serve
their secesh friends by joining the army,
and, when the time came, desert and take
their arms with them.


"They assured the natives that they were
all true Southern men except Company K,
which was made up of "black Republi-
cans and 'abolitionized Democrats
The regiment, with the exception of said
company, had concerted measures with the
secesh citizens Of Pontotoe county to attack
them some morning, so as to give them an
opportunity to surrender with all their
arms and munitions. The old fellow said
that band of sixty of the neighbors had
already organized for the purpose, and the
'attaek will speedily be made and the
post surrendered. It was expected that
Company K would show fight, but it was
arranged to rush upon them suddenly, and
before they would have time to fall into
line.


"The Lieutenant could hardly credit the
story told him by the old secesh and his
wife and daughters. 1t seemed to the Off
Ger hardly credible that this could all be
true; but on making tests to verify it, he
received the same information from five
different families, residing in different
neighborhOods, within q circuit of half a
days ride.


"One of the planters told some Of our
men recently that Captain of the lO9th
Illinois had offered $500 to any man who
could bring him two companies of guer-
rillas to attack them, as they all wanted to
surrender except Company K, which con-
tanned sixty id Abolitionists, but they
could easily be oYerpowered and taken
prisoners"


This and other information was laid be-
fore Gtneral Grant. The result was the
issuing of an order disarming the regiment
except Company K, which was assigned to
/ duty