"Camp Douglas 1864 Conspiracy" Topic

"On November 8 1864, a serious plot named as "The Chicago Conspiracy" was devised by Southern sympathizers to assault and subsequently free some 8,000 Confederate prisoners of war incarcerated at the Union "Camp Douglas" prisoner of war camp in Chicago. Then, following this sudden stroke, they would quickly march on Rock Island, Springfield and Alton Union prisoner of war camps also based in the state of Illinois where there were a further 16,500 Confederate prisoners of war. Alongside 4,000 Confederate sympathizers from the Sons Of Liberty organisation based in Chicago who would initially liberate them, this would create a new Confederate army of approximately 25,000 mainly veteran soldiers. This army would then go on to capture Chicago and then attack the rear of the Union armies operating mainly in the South. It was planned they would also go on to seize the organised Northern Governments of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois and create a Northwestern Confederacy. Currently, many historians are still arguing over whether the plot was actually real, feasible or perhaps an elaborate hoax which was unduly exaggerated and exploited so that certain Federal Officers would benefit. Whatever, this is the story of this infamous plot.

The Confederate Government had long harboured the creation of a Northwestern Confederacy and initial arrangements were already in place, prior to the plot, with a base of operations set up in Canada to achieve this. In the spring of 1864, Confederate agents were sent to plan escape attempts and attacks in the North. Three Confederate Peace Commissioners namely Jacob Thomas, C.C Clay and J.P Halcomb had already been sent by Richmond to Canada. Here they held numerous conferences and meetings with Southern sympathizers and organisations particularly Clement Vallandigham of Indiana and Charles Walsh of Chicago. With full knowledge of the plot, they oversaw the overall movement and entrusted the whole conspiracy to Captain Thomas. H. Hines (who had been second in command of General John Morgan`s famous raid North of the Ohio River) and Colonel St. Leger. Grenfell (an Englishman). Both had been sent by the Confederate Secret Service and they were to organise and plan the whole military operation. They worked both diligently and with great zeal. They were to encourage and recruit with both argument and money and particularly invigorate the timorous Sons of Liberty. They also contacted the Knights of the Golden Circle. Both these groups were at the forefront of pro southern resistance in Chicago against the Lincoln Administration…"

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Armand

I have read that there was to be a "terror" component to the conspiracy; vessels were to be seized to assist in the Camp Douglas attack and to act of "commerce raiders" on the Great Lakes. One vessel had been seized. Similar to the failed attempt to burn New York, there were apparently plans to attack and burn the major American cities on the Lakes. I had a letter (lost during a move) written by a Union soldier to his family in Buffalo, asking if everyone was alright, after reading about the scheme in the papers. The 1864 report of the Navy Department, as provided to Congress in the President's annual report, called for the building/acquisition of vessels to protect the Great Lakes.

Thanks!

Armand

"Conspiracy"? Or "Operation"? The article isn't clear on who the driving force was. If it was an effort by agents of the Confederate Army or Government who planned on enlisting locals to help them carry it out then Operation would be the better term.

Agree…

Armand