J. B. Moore to Richard Yates

Confidential

Head Quarters, Provost Marshal's Office,

Ninth District,

Mt. Sterling, Ill., Oct. 3rd 1863.

Sir

From information derived from several different sources entitled, in my opinion, to credit I have become convinced that a secret cabal of immense proportions actually exists, at this time in this State, having for its object the subversion of the State government upon the first opportunity deemed favorable by its leaders.

About four months since, I induced an inteligent and trustworthy discharged trooper of my old company in the 3rd cavalry, to join these secret plotters, for the purpose of learning the object of their organization

From him I have learned many interesting facts, and among others, that they have within ten miles on either side of the Q & G RR line between the West line of Brown County and Meredosia, a regiment of one thousand men, all armed with revolvers and officered completed from Colonel to corporal.

He states that the whole organization is under the command of Gov Seymour of New York That the officers and men are enjoined and sworn to act in all cases under orders from him, through their superior officers and that the paramount object of the Cabal at this time is the election in Ohio.

At their meeting held near Versailles on Monday night last an order was issued requesting every man to hold himself in readiness to march at an hours notice and that this order must be strictly observed until the election in Ohio was past and until Valandingham if elected, had taken his place as Governor of the State at Columbus.

The object of this order (though not stated to the men) was, as he informs me to keep their forces under marching orders & ready to execute the order of Seymour secretly imparted to the Colonel of the regiment, that in case any action or [control?] of the election in Ohio should be attempted by the military, or that in the event of V's election the military or Federal authority should attempt to prevent him from exercising the duties of the office these secret forces throughout Illinois, Indiana

Ohio Pennsylvania & New York are to rise symultaneously seize the arsenals & railroads, and by these means throw a force of three hundred thousand men immediately into the State of Ohio.

My informant is in high repute with the senior officers of the regiment being their drill master, and from them he has gathered the story, whether true or not you are quite as capable of judging as I.

He says that Gov Seymour has given the assurance that the forces raised and equiped in that State are commanded by men wholly under his control and will in case of revolution in the free States act with him, if necessary, even to the total subversion of the Washington government

Your Excellency will bear in mind that while I believe the above information to be true, yet I think it would be highly inexpedient to make any expose of it at the present time, as to attempt through my informant, or others to any investigation that would give publicity to the facts above stated

Surely your Excellency cannot be ignorant of the existence of this tratorous secret cabal, indeed you are probably much better informed of its

machinery and intentions than any one man, beside, in the state and if so your information derived from all sources will enable you to judge of the degree of reliability of my informant

It is for this purpose I address you on the subject, and for the further object of advising you of what I have gathered in the premises and believe to be entitled to credit

I am Governor

very Respectfully

Your obt. Servt.

J. B. Moore

(File)

Mt. Sterling, Ill.

Oct 3,1863;

Westlake, B. F.

Capt, & Provost Marshal,

9th District Illinois.

Executive Office Dec 31, 63