THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE Founded December 3, 1940 Volume LXXV, Number 4 Chicago, Illinois November 2014

Steve Towne on Detecting Deserters and Disloyalty: U.S. Army Intelligence Operations in the Midwest during the Civil War by Bruce Allardice 735th REGULAR Steve Towne At the beginning of the Civil War MEETING the Midwest. Army commanders in state governors in Ohio, Indiana, those states created detective bureaus H H H H H and Illinois cooperated with federal in order to collect intelligence on law enforcement officials in various armed secret organizations aimed Friday, November 14th attempts to investigate reports of at impeding the Union war effort. secret groups and individuals who Army detectives who successfully H H H H H opposed the Union war effort. infiltrated these groups helped to foil Holiday Inn Mart Plaza Beginning in 1862, army commanders plots to raise insurrection and release 350 north orleans street took it upon themselves to initiate Confederate POWs—most notoriously, Cocktails at 5:30 p.m. investigation of antiwar sentiment the “Chicago Conspiracy” to free the Camp Douglas Prisoners. As a result Dinner at 6:30 p.m. in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. By 1863, several of of his research, $49 - Members/Non-members the commanders Towne argues that had established Copperheads and intelligence Call by other subversive factions were not Entrée: Baked operations staffed Wednesday by hired civilian Nov. 12 merely fringe groups, Turkey or Baked detectives and by but truly dangerous soldiers detailed from provocateurs, whose Orange Roughy their units. These threat to Northern agents chased down deserters and internal security was more real than draft dodgers, maintained surveillance imagined. on suspected persons and groups, and Stephen E. Towne is an archivist at investigated organized resistance to Please Note: Indiana University-Purdue University Make your reservations by Wednesday, November the draft. By 1864, these agents had Indianapolis (IUPUI). He has written 12, by emailing dinnerreservations@chicagocwrt. infiltrated secret organizations that, org, or calling 630 460-1865 with the names of your extensively on the Civil War in the party and choice of entrée. sometimes working in collaboration Midwest, including articles in Civil If a cancellation becomes necessary after dinner with Confederate rebels, aimed to reservations have been made, please email us at War History, Journal of Illinois History, [email protected] and/or call us at subvert the war effort. Indiana Magazine of History, Journalism 630-460-1865. History, Ohio Valley History We are offering the option of choosing not to have On November 14th Stephen E. , and others. dinner and coming only for the address at 7:15 p.m., Towne has edited two volumes and is for a charge of $10 per person. Towne, will examine how, during the the author of Surveillance and Spies in Parking at the Holiday Inn is $12 with a validated Civil War, the U.S Army responded parking sticker. to growing threats to its integrity the Civil War: Exposing Confederate arising from desertion, draft dodging, Conspiracies in America’s Heartland and armed resistance to the draft in to be published in December, 2014 by Ohio University Press. 2 The Civil War Round Table THE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE Battle of Westport Update By Daniel L. Smith (October 2014 Civil War News - Preservation Column)

Nearly 40 efforts solely with an all-volunteer years ago, staff. Founded December 3, 1940 a dedicated group from the 1039 Hinswood membership of the Civil War In 2008 the Fund opened the visitor center and museum on Darien, Illinois 60561 Round Table of Kansas City Phone: 630-460-1865 the battlefield in , the formed the Monnett Battle of www.chicagocwrt.org nation’s second largest municipal Westport Fund, a non-profit The only requirement for membership in organization, for the purpose of park. The vista from the museum’s east veranda stretches across the The Civil War Round Table is a genuine creating a 32-mile self-guided auto interest in the Civil War and its era. For Blue River valley and the site of tour of the immense battlefield information, address Membership Com- constituting the Battle of Westport the engagements at Byram’s Ford mittee, 1039 Hinswood, Darien, Illinois of Oct. 21-23, 1864. on Oct. 22 and 23, 1864. 60561, or [email protected]. The Battle of Westport involved …The Fund’s preservation efforts over 32,000 troops on the outskirts have focused on the Byram’s Franklin. At both Westport and of the village of Westport lying Ford site at the crossing of the Franklin, comparable restoration on the turbulent border between Blue River and adjacent Meadow programs have begun to reverse and Kansas. area over which 16,000 troops the encroachment of the urban clashed on Oct. 22 and 23, 1864. landscape upon Hallowed Westport was the largest battle Although the site was marred by an Ground. fought west of the Mississippi industrial park development, the River, stretching for seven miles Fund commenced preservation The Saving initiative received the from east to west and five miles in 1983 by acquiring the Byram’s enthusiastic endorsement of the from north to south. It marked Ford crossing, which was placed Kansas City Park Commissioners. the climax to a decade of war on the National Register of Further support and endorsement beginning with the Kansas- Historic Places. of the initiative came from Paul Nebraska Act in 1854. Hawke, Chief of the American The Fund in 1995 transferred Battlefield Protection Program; Designated as CWSAC (Civil this tract and others containing Hon. Kay Barnes, former mayor of War Sites Advisory Commission) more than 100 acres to the Kansas City, Mo.; and Jonathan #MO027, Westport is one of only Kansas City Parks Department M. Kemper, CEO of Commerce two battles in the state of Missouri for management as the Big Blue Bank and past chairman and designated by the National Park Battlefield Park. Today a mile- trustee of the National Trust for Service as a Class “A” battle long corridor along the Byram’s Historic Preservation. because of it decisive effect upon Ford Road across the battlefield, the outcome of the war in the containing more than 200 acres, Fund Chairman Daniel L. Smith Trans-Mississippi. is now in the public domain. and Director Shirley Christian, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author Today, the Westport battlefield is In 2006 the Fund launched its and historian, co-chair the located entirely within the urban “Saving Kansas City’s Battlefield” Saving Kansas City’s Battlefield confines of Kansas City. It is as if initiative, providing for the acquisition effort. A video the City of Philadelphia had been removal of all of structures from depicting the project is at www. placed on top of the Gettysburg the 70 acres constituting the battleofwestport.org/Video.htm. battlefield. area known as the Meadow and remediating the landscape to its Contributions to these funding Through the years, the Fund’s 1864 appearance. Today 60 acres efforts may be made online by role has evolved from the original of the Meadow is protected. going to the website at www. auto tour in 1977 to encompass battleofwestport.org. an organization that functions Saving Kansas City’s Battlefield is essentially as a state historic the most challenging battlefield In the words of the late Jerry battlefield. Uniquely, it conducts preservation effort in the nation Russell, “we who study, must its programs and preservation except for perhaps the Battle of strive to save!” 3 The Civil War Round Table Society Buys Rare 1860 New York Wide Awakes Banner By Bill Bleyer (October 2014 Civil War News ) MATTITUCK, N.Y. — A furled with whale oil lamps that would fundraising to acquire the artifact silk banner discovered in the attic be used in nighttime parades,” even though they weren’t sure of a Long Island store has given Fleming said. what it was “because we could the Southold Historic Society “In addition, groups would carry see the outline of letters on the a link to the 1860 election of aloft mounted banners – either silk background underneath the and the Civil preprinted or those made locally pieces of fabric that were attached War that resulted. – that stated their support for the to it.” The extremely rare artifact, Republican ticket.” … He recalled, “As we began to acquired from a local antiques The Mattituck 55.5-by-44-inch carefully look at it, we realized dealer, was initially used by blue silk banner with wool fringe it was an original Wide Awake Mattituck members of the Wide was attached at the top to a banner that had been converted Awakes, a paramilitary campaign mahogany support rod designed to a Welcome Home banner at organization affiliated with the to be used with an attached red the end of the war.” Republican Party and known cord to be hung from a vertical The historical society banner was for its torchlight parades with pole in parades. sent to the Textile Conservation banners supporting candidates. “We know from local newspapers Workshop in upstate South The Mattituck banner was that on the day before the election Salem, N.Y., for analysis and repurposed at the end of the war of 1860, the Wide Awake groups future conservation. The experts of the North Fork marched in in 1865 to honor local soldiers there removed the overlying returning from the conflict. a torchlight parade through muslin panels to reveal the The historical society, which Southold in support of Lincoln,” outlines of the original glued-on purchased the artifact for several Fleming said. The articles note paper lettering. thousand dollars, is trying to that the Mattituck club marched raise $14,500 to have it conserved in that parade, “and obviously They read: “LINCOLN & and framed for display. … that banner was there.” … HAMLIN – MATTITUCK – The muslin Welcome Home The historical society acquisition WIDE AWAKE – CLUB.” panels sewn over the original of the banner was prompted The paper letters apparently were banner make the artifact doubly when Fleming visited a local peeled off when the banner was uncommon. “Welcome Home antiques dealer who said he had reused. … banners from the end of the something they would probably Donations may be made to the Civil War are also very rare – and be interested in. Southold Historical Society, P.O. none are known to survive from “He pulled out this banner and Box 1, Southold, NY 11971 or at Suffolk County other than this it had these two pieces of fabric www.southoldhistoricalsociety. example,” Fleming said. on it that said ‘Welcome Home’ org During the 1860 campaign which and ‘Union Forever,’ so I knew was contested by four parties, the immediately that it was probably New York Herald estimated that Civil War,” said Fleming. there were more than 400,000 The rolled-up banner, found when members of Wide Awake groups the dealer cleared out the attic across the country who were of an old store in Peconic, “was trained and wearing uniforms probably placed there right after to support Lincoln and running it was used at the end of the war mate of Maine. and nobody ever thought about it “Members of these groups dressed again,” Fleming said. “The silk is Conservator Mary Kaldany from the Textile in military-style uniforms, often in remarkable condition. It is not Conservation Workshop in South Salem, N.Y., with cloak and cap, and carried brittle or falling apart.” examines the Mattituck Wide Awake Banner belonging to the Southold Historical Society. six-foot-long torches mounted Fleming immediately began (Textile Conservation Workshop) 4 The Civil War Round Table Grapeshot Schimmelfennig Boutique

Sixty plus years of audio recordings of CWRT lectures by distinguished histori- Bulletin ans are available and can be purchased Board in CD format. For pricing and a lec- ture list, please contact Hal Ardell at [email protected] or phone him at (773) 774-6781. Future Meetings Each meeting features a book raffle, with Regular meetings are held at the The Kenosha Civil War Museum proceeds going to battlefield preserva- Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 North is hosting a series of special events. tion. There is also a silent auction for Orleans Street, the second Friday of On Thursday, Oct. 30th, Harold books donated by Ralph Newman and each month, unless otherwise indicated. Holzer will speak on his new others, again with proceeds benefiting book, “Lincoln and the Power of battlefield preservation. Dec. 12: Jim Ogden, Nevins-Freeman the Press.” On Nov. 11th Dr. Dan Address Monroe will present “Slavery and More Upcoming Civil War Events Jan. 9, 2015: John Horn on “George the Constitution in Antebellum Barnard and the 12th Virginia Illinois.” And on Nov. 14th, their Nov. 3rd, Oak Lawn Public Library: Infantry David Kellar on “Camp Douglas” lunchbox series will feature Allen H H H H H Bucholz on “The Ozaukee County Feb. 1: Leslie Goddard on “Gone With Nov. 7th, Northern Illinois CWRT: the Wind and the Construction of Civil War Draft Riot of 1862.” Tom DeFranco on “36th Illinois Civil War Memory” ” For more information, visit their H H H H H March 13: Thomas Huntington on website at http://www.kenosha.org/ Nov. 11th, McHenry County wp-civilwar/events/ “Searching for George Gordon CWRT: Charlie Banks on “Raids Meade” on the B&O” April 10: Michael Burlingame on “The On Nov. 7th Rob Girardi will Nov. 13th, Lake County CWRT: Assassination of President Abraham present “General Impressions of the Shannon Mumm and her husband Lincoln” on “The Devastation of War” Civil War” to the Military Miniature Society of Illinois. On Nov. 8th he May 8: Eric Leonard on “Cartel, Code Nov. 13th, Milwaukee CWRT: Steve and Consequences at Andersonville” will speak on “The Soldiers View” Towne, “Detecting Deserters and to the DuPage County Historical Disloyalty: U.S. Army Intelligence June 12: Garry Adelman on “4D Civil Society. Operations in the Midwest during War Photography Extravaganza” the Civil War” Nov. 18th, Lincoln-Davis CWRT: On Sunday, November 9th, Harry Bulkeley on “U.S. Grant” Virual Book Signing starting at 11 a.m., Rosehill Cemetery (located at 5800 North Nov. 20th, South Suburban CWRT: November 1st at 12:00 noon (CST) Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago) Ray Glick on “Horses in the Civil the Abraham Lincoln bookshop will War” will host its annual Veterans Day welcome Harold Holzer to the pro- Memorial to the American Soldier. Nov. 21st, Salt Creek CWRT: Jerry gram. Harold will be discussing his The Michigan Engineers will have Allen on “Carter Van Vleck, new book, Lincoln and the Power of a tribute to its recently deceased Colonel 78th Illinois Infantry” the Press. Harold will also be at the member, Sgt. Major Jerry Feinstein, Club of Chicago on the organizer of the event for the October 31st. On November 13th at last 25 years. There will be re- 6:00pm (CST) Richard Brookhiser enactors representing all periods in and Jules Whitcover will be discuss- American military history. ing Brookhiser’s new book, Founders Know of any upcoming talks, events, or publi- Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln and cations? All members are welcome to contrib- Whitcover’s new book, The Ameri- Check the Announcements ute items to the newsletter. Contact the editor section of the CWRT’s website for at [email protected] or (630) 297-8046. can Vice Presidency. additional coming events. 150 Years Ago - November 1864

Nov. 4th-5th Confederate raiders under wreak havoc on Union supply depots at Johnsonville, TN. Forrrest’s men capture two Union gunboats and use the captured vessels to sweep the Tennessee River.

Nov. 8th President Lincoln wins re-election by a large margin, defeating the Democratic party candidate, General George McClellan. Lincoln and his running mate, Unionist Democrat Andrew Johnson, win 55% of the vote. In the Electoral College, Lincoln wins 212-21.

Democratic Party Poster 1864 Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 9, 1864

Nov. 10th General William T. Sherman starts his “March to the Sea” He re-enters on Nov. 14th and starts from there on Nov. 16th.

Nov. 22nd Battle of Griswoldville, GA. A force of Georgia attacks a brigade of Sherman’s army and is repulsed with heavy casualties.

Nov. 28th Battle of Buckhead Creek, GA. engagement during Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Nov. 29th The Spring Hill, TN affair and battle. ’s Confederate army gets in the rear of ’s retreating , but for reasons unclear to this day, fails to block the Union retreat.

Nov. 30th Battle of Franklin, TN. Hood’s headlong attack on Schofield’s entrenched army fails. The Confederates lose heavily, including 6 generals killed or captured. Schofield’s army withdraws to Nashville.

The CWRT in the Past 73 Years Ago (Nov. 1941)—Stanley F. Horn spoke on “The Army of the Tennessee” 50 Years Ago (Nov. 1964)—Lloyd D. Miller spoke on “The Battle of Franklin” 25 Years Ago (Nov. 1989)—Herbert Schiller spoke on “The Bermuda Hundred Campaign” 10 Years Ago (Nov. 2004)—Dorothy Kelly spoke on “The Failure of Longstreet’s East Tennessee Campaign” Camp Douglas Marker Ceremony

On October 20th the Illinois State Historical Society and the Camp Douglas Restoration Foundation conducted a ceremony dedicating a Historical Marker for the Camp Douglas POW camp in Chicago. Speakers included Dr. Nancy Jackson of Prologue, Inc., Dave Keller of the Camp Douglas Foundation, and Russell Lewis of the Chicago History Museum. The marker is located at 3232 S. King Drive. A few photos of the event (courtesy Leslie Goddard) follow:

David Kellar Russell Lewis

Unveiling of the marker Re-enactors

October 2014 Meeting By Mark Matranga

Mak Badley peseted to the ‘oud Tale o Joseph Hooke, O. O. Hoad, ad the Atlata Capaig of 1, at its th Regular Meeting. Bradley compared and contrasted the characters, achievements, and leadership styles of these two disparate personalities who had commanded i the Easte Theate hee fightig fo defeat as the o. Both were transferred west in the fall of 1863, where each played a prominent role in the battles for Chattanooga and in the .

General Oliver O. Howard General

Both were West Point graduates with combat experience, Hooker in the Second Seminole and Mexican Wars, Howard in the Third Seminole War, where he experienced a religious rebirth. Hooker eaed the soiuet Fightig Joe Hooke leading a division in the Peninsula Campaign, and was wounded at Antietam in command of the I Corps. Howard lost his right arm after being severely wounded at Fair Oaks in May 1862 on the Peninsula. He returned to the army in 1863 to command a division i hat as o Hookes ay. Despite eig eilessly itial of his superiors, Bradley credits Hooker for rebuilding the Army of the Potomac after the fiascos at Fedeiksug ad the Mud Mah. He estoed morale with a liberal furlough policy and amnesty to deserters and bolstered espirit de corps by CHICAGO CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE OCTOBER 2014 introducing the corps badge; a simple organizing device became a symbol for which men were willing to die. He reorganized federal cavalry, bringing it up to par with the previously superior southern mounted arm. Neither man distinguished himself in the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg campaigns, but after Chickamauga in September, 1863, the administration moved the corps of Howard and Slocum from the Army of the Potomac, over 25,000 men with wagons, horses, artillery, and equipment, under the command of Hooker in what Bradley tes the ost ipessie ail tasfe of the a. Hookes victory at Lookout Mountain and his move through Rossville Gap contributed to union success at Chattanooga, despite his repulse y Cleues diisio i the ea guad action at Ringgold Gap. In the Atlanta Campaign, Hooker and Howard commanded the new 20th Corps (the former XI and XII Corps) and the 4th Corps in the Army of the Cumberland, respectively. Hookes divisions rescued the luckless Howard at Resaca just as his force was being swept from the field by Hood. At New Hope Church, Hooker attacked Hood suffering considerable loss. Leading a task foe at Piketts Mill, hee Sherman directed an assault, Hoads order to Hazen became The Cie at Piketts Mill, but showed that Hoad as a tea player. Hooker met Cleburne again, with no success, on the Pine Mountain line. With Johnston retreating to Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman decided on a flank move. Upon being assaulted at Kols Fa, Hookes atilley iflited sustatial asualties o Hoods command, causing Sherman to order a disastrous frontal assault on Kennesa hih iluded Hoads ops. With this repulse, Sherman mounted another flanking movement which maneuvered Johnston into the defenses of Atlanta. Hood replaced Johnston and embarked on a series of assaults, including the Battle of Atlanta where General MacPherson was killed. “hea hose the tatale Hoad to eplae hi over Logan, an excellent but political general, and Hooker, who outranked Howard but who had made himself unwelcome. With this, Hooker resigned, to be seen next leading Liols funeral. Howard commanded of the Army of the Tennessee in the March to the Sea and Caolias Capaig ad as peset at Johsos surrender. While Hooker resigned from the army in 1868. Hoads aee otiued: head of the Feedas Bueau, co-founder of Howard University, and Indian fighter. He retired in 1894. Badley oluded y efletig o oad i the este theate, hee Hookes ad Hoads suess as ased piaily o the fat that the south ould ot loe Lee. For Howads pat, Badley opied that he was best fit for army command; corps command remained the highest position of tactical responsibility during the civil war, and Howard was wanting in that skill - itess Piketts Mill. Fo Badley, it as better that the Shermans, Schofields, and Howards exercised army command and left the fighting to generals like Logan and Jacob Cox.