Page images
PDF
EPUB

present confessions, more or less detailed, in regard to the Order and their connection with it. The principals of these are Hunt, Dunn, and Smith, Grand Commander, Deputy Grand Commander, and Grand Secretary of the Order in Missouri, to whose statements frequent reference has been made. These confessions, though in some degree guarded and disingenuous, have furnished to the Government much important information as to the operations of the Order, especially in Missouri, the affiliation of its leaders with Price, etc. It is to be noted that Dunn makes the statement, in common with other witnesses that, in entering the Order, he was quite ignorant of its ultimate purposes. He says: "I did not become a member understandingly; the initiatory step was taken in the dark, without reflection and without knowledge."

7. Deserters from our Army who, upon being apprehended, confessed that they had been induced and assisted to desert by members of the Order, It was, indeed, principally from these confessions that the existence of the secret treasonable organization of the K. G. C. was first discovered in Indiana, in the year 1862.

8. Writers of anonymous communications, addressed to heads of departments, or provost marshals, disclosing facts corroborative of other important statements.

9. The witnesses before the Grand Jury at Indianapolis, in 1863, when the Order was formally presented as a treasonable organization, and those whose testimony has been recently introduced upon the trial

of Dodd.

It need only be added that a most satisfactory test of the credibility and weight of much of the evidence which has been furnished is afforded by the printed testimony in regard to the character and intention of the Order, which is found in its National and State Constitutions and its Ritual. Indeed, the statements of the various witnesses are but presentations of the logical and inevitable consequences and results of the principles therein set forth.

IN CONCLUDING this Review, it remains only to state that a constant reference has been made to the elaborate Official Reports, in regard to the Order, of Brigadier-General Carrington, commanding District of Indiana, and of Colonel Sanderson, Provost Marshal General of the Department of Missouri. The great mass of the testimony upon the subject of this Conspiracy has been furnished by these officers, the latter acting under the orders of Major-General Rosecrans, and the former co-operating under the instructions of the Secretary of War, with Major-General Burbridge, commanding District of Kentucky, as well as with Governor Morton, of Indiana, who, though at one time greatly embarrassed by a Legislature strongly tainted with disloyalty, in his efforts to repress this domestic Enemy, has at last seen his State relieved from the danger of a Civil War.

But, although the Treason of the Order has been thoroughly exposed, and although its capacity for fatal mischief has, by means of the arrest of its leaders, the seizure of its arms, and the other vigorous means which have been pursued, been seriously impaired, it is still busied with its plottings against the Government, and with its perfidious designs in aid of the Southern Rebellion. It is reported to have recently adopted new signs and pass-words, and its members assert that foul means will be used to prevent the success of the Administration at the coming Election, and threaten an extended Revolt in the event of the re-election of President Lincoln.

In the presence of the Rebellion and of this Secret Order-which is but its echo and faithful ally-we cannot but be amazed at the utter and wide spread profligacy, personal and political, which these movements against the Government disclose. The guilty men engaged in them, after casting aside their allegiance, seem to have trodden under foot every sentiment of honor and every restraint of law, human and

divine. Judea produced but one Judas Iscariot, and Rome, from the sinks of her demoralization produced but one Cataline; and yet, as events prove, there has arisen together in our Land an entire brood of such Traitors, all animated by the same parricidal spirit, and all struggling with the same relentless malignity for the dismemberment of our Union. Of this extraordinary phenomenon-not paralleled, it is believed, in the World's history-there can be but one explanation, and all these blackened and fetid streams of crime may well be traced to the same common fountain. So fiercely intolerant and imperious was the temper engendered by Slavery, that when the Southern people, after having controlled the Nation's Councils for half a century, were beaten at an election, their leaders turned upon the Government with the insolent fury with which they would have drawn their revolvers on a rebellious Slave in one of their Negro-quarters; and they have continued since to prosecute their warfare, amid all the barbarisms and atrocities naturally and necessarily inspired by the infernal Institution in whose interests they are sacrificing alike themselves and their Country. Many of these Conspirators, as is well known, were fed, clothed, and educated at the expense of the nation, and were loaded with its honors. at the very moment they struck at its life with the horrible criminality of a son stabbing the bosom of his own mother while impressing kisses on his cheeks. The leaders of the Traitors in the Loyal States, who so completely fraternize with these Conspirators, and whose machinations are now unmasked, it is clearly the duty of the Administration to prosecute and punish, as it is its duty to subjugate the Rebels who are openly in arms against the Government. In the performance of this duty it is entitled to expect, and will doubtless receive, the zealous co-operation of true men everywhere, who, in crushing the truculent foe ambushed in the haunts of this Secret Order, should rival in courage and faithfulness the soldiers who are so nobly sustaining our flag on the battle-fields of the South.

Respectfully submitted,

J. HOLT,
Judge Advocate General.

A

Abercrombie, 297, 301.
Abraham, 533.

INDEX.

Adams, S. C. commissioner, 117.
Adams, John, 667, letter to Thos.
Jefferson on Missouri struggle,

[blocks in formation]

Adrian, of N. J., union resolution,
111.

Address of people of South Caro-
lina, (1860), 231, 234.
Advertiser, Mobile, 204.
African Brigade, 502.
African slavery, 576.
African slave trade, 38, 150, 152;
in the constitution, 6; advo-
cated in Charleston convention
by Gauldon of Ga., 89, 90; pro-
hibited by Congress, 10.
Alabama, 5, 7, 204, 249, 251; sena-

tors plotting, 252; secession of,
116; secedes, 121; and secession,
194; kept in the confederacy,
196, 197; secession, 254; eman-
cipation in, 460; ratifies thir-
teenth amendment, 614; pro-
portion of voters to vote, 665.
Alabama, 4th regt., 301, 311, 316.
Alatoona, 596.

Albany Evening Journal suggests
peace convention, 109.
Alburtis's battery, 310.
Alexandria, 214.
Algiers, Dey of, 163.

Alley, Jno. B., 608, 609, 611.
Allegiance, to the State doctrine of

paramount, effect of, on Alex-
ander H. Stephens, 102.
Allen, James C., votes, 554, 572, 573,
590, 608, 610, 611.

Allen, Col. James W., 315.
Allen, William J., 554, 557, 559, 573,
590, 608, 610, 611.

[611.
Allison, William B., notes 608, 609,

Alton, Ill., Elijah P. Lovejoy's
death at, 524.

Altoona, address of loyal Govern-
ors, 441, 444.
Amendments to constitution pro-

posed by Crittenden, 146, 150;
by Peace Congress, 150, 153; by
Corwin and others, 160, 169;
Corwin's passes House and Sen-
ate, 167, 169.

Ames, Oakes, votes, 608, 609, 611.
Ancona, Sydenham E., votes, 554,

572, 573, 590, 608, 610, 611.
Anderson, Major Robert, evacu-
ates Fort Moultrie, 118, 119;
letter of Feb. 28th, 1861, as to
relief of Fort Sumter, 192; re-
plies to demands for evacuation
of Fort Sumter, 197, 199; House
resolution approving his con-
duct of, 267.

Anderson, Lucian, votes 608, 609,
611.

Andrew, J. A., Gov. of Massachu-
setts, 444, 502.

Annapolis, capture of, 212.
Anthony, Col. D. R., order touch-
ing fugitive slaves, 397, 398.
Anthony, (Senator,) H. B., vote,
154, 160, 161, 552.

Anti-Lecompton Democracy, 86.
Antietam, battle of, 438, 495, 496,
520.

Appleton, Nathan, on Calhoun,
Hayne and others, 219.
Appomatox, 632; Lee's surrender
at, 634, 637.

Arkansas, 9; 249, organization
territory, of, 31; Pro-slavery
Constitution, and admission as
a State, 32; Gov. Rector, reply
to first call for troops, 207; sen-
ators plotting, 252; her seces-
sion, 116, 250; emancipation, 460;
admission, 467, 472; ratifies
thirteenth amendment, 614.
Arkwright, 8.

Arlington Heights, 214, 281, 289,
338.

Arnold, Richard, 330, 331.

Arnold, Isaac N., (Rep.,) on Owen
Lovejoy, 524. on his emancipa-
tion resolution, 554; votes, 587,
588, 608, 609, 611.
Arnold, J. M., 631.

Arnold's battery, 314, 328.
Arsenal at Charleston, seized, 119.
Arsenal at Augusta, seized, 120.
Arsenal at St. Augustine, seized,
121.

Arsenal at Baton Rouge, seized,
121.

Arsenal at Little Rock, seized, 122.
Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, seized,
211, 213.

Arsenal at Fayettevile seized, 213.
Artillery, 5th U. S., 287; Washing-
ton. 289.

Artillery, Walker's battery, 291.
Artillery, Walton's battery, 291.
Artillery, Loudon battery, 313.
Articles of War, (additional) 439,
440.

Ashley, James M., of Ohio, 590,
607, 608, 609, 610, 611.
Assistance by the North, 260.
Atlanta, Ga. 594, 596, 601.
Averell, Col. W. W.. 323, 324, 329.
Ayers, Capt. Romeyn B., 286, 287.
Ayer's battery, 312, 332.

B

Badeau, Adam, 652.

Bailey, Joseph, votes, 608, 609, 611,
Baker, E. D., (Senator,) 154, vote,

157; on attitude of Douglas
democracy, 175; reply to Wig-
fall, 129, 132, vote, 160; speech
at American Theatre, San Fran-
cisco, 1860, 355, 356; reply in
the Senate to J. C. Breckin-
ridge, 351, 355; death of, 355.
Balch, Joseph P., 311, 312.
Baldwin, John D., votes, 608, 609,
611.

Baldwin, Augustus C., votes, 554,
572, 573, 590, 608, 610, 611.
Baltimore, regular democratic
convention meets; delegates
from various States withdraw,
89; nomination of Douglas, 90;
additional resolutions adopted,

90.
Baltimore

secessionists assail
Union volunteers, 210, 211.
Baltimore convention, Rep., 592,

593.

Baltic steamship, 203.

Banks, N. P., elected Speaker, 43;
277, 501, 557.

Bank charter, Jackson veto, etc.,
62.

Bank, U. S., 115.

Bank, decision of the Supreme
Court, Jackson and re-charter
of National Bank, 79.
Banks, Governor Nath'l., repeal
of personal liberty law, 237.
Barnard, Gen. John G., 285, 495.
Barnwell R. W., S. C. commis-
sioner, 117.

Barnard, General John G., 285, 306,
313, 331.

Barry, Major William F., 318, 322,
323, 324, 331.

Barrancas, seizure of Fort, 121.
Bartow, F. S,, 300, 311, 313, 314, 315,
316, 319, 327.

Bates, Edward, Att'y-Gen'l, 187.
Baton Rouge, 501.

Battery, Cummings Point, 193.
Battery Bee, 193.

Baxter, Portus, votes, 608, 609, 611.
Bayard, James A. (Senator), vote,
154, 160, 161.

Beaufort, abandoned slaves at, 376.
Beauregard, General G. T., cor-

respondence, as to Fort Sum-
ter, between the rebel Secre-
tary of War and, 197, 199; de-
mand of, for evacuation, 197;
further correspondence with
Major Anderson, 198-199; fire
opened by, 199; special orders
at Bull Run, 292; also. 282, 289,
296, 297; plans at Bull Run,
302, 303, 305, 309, 310; modified
plan, 310, 314, 315; also, 316,
317, 319, 321, 327, 330; letter of
Jeff. Davis to, touching Bull
Run, 339, 340; reference to, 277
278, 280, 281.
Beaman, Fernando C., votes, 608,
609, 611.

Beckham, Lieut., 328, 330.
Beck, James B., (Senator,) on Lo-
gan's vindication, 269.

Bee, Bernard E., 301, 309, 311, 313,
314, 315, 316, 319, 327.
Belknap, seizure of Fort, 123.
Bell, John, 48; nominated for
Presidency, 91.

Belgium, constitution of, 547.
Benjamin, J. P. (Senator), corres-
pondence, 121; also 132, 154,
votes, 157; reply to Latham and
telegram as to compromise, 160.
Benjamin, Judah P., 351.
Benjamin, Lieut., 335.

Benton, Thomas H., on slavery
agitation, nullification, and dis-
union, 218, 219.

« PreviousContinue »