TRAITOR KNIGHTS--ORGANIZATION OF REBEL SYMPATHIZERS IN
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS--SIGNS AND SECRETS--GEN. ANDERSON'S
TOUR OF INVESTIGATION --THE GOLDEN CIRCLE.
“O, Conspiracy, shame'st
Thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When folks are most free? O then, by day,
Where will thou find a cavern dark enough
To mask thy monstrous visage?
Seek none, conspiracy.”
--Shakespeare
“Several days elapsed before Gen. Anderson felt that he could undertake
the journey contemplated. Finally he concluded that he would make the
effort. He thought it best for him to pass into Illinois first, as he
would not be known in that State. After arranging his matters and
leaving word for Jackson to remain at my house, (on his return from
Washington, should he succeed in obtaining the desired appointment,)
until he returned from his tour of investigation, he started.
“The first stopping place of the General was at Colestown, in Charles
County. There he remained several days, and found the most bitter
feeling existing between the political parties. He passed very easily
among the anti-war people for a Southerner and rebel. He made the
acquaintance of one Maj. Cornell, who was home on leave of absence. The
General, finding him a very intelligent and apparently an honorable,
high-minded gentleman, explained to him that he was not a rebel, but on
a mission for the Government. This made him all right with the loyal
element, that could be privately communicated with and trusted.
“He had noticed a gentleman, rather fine-looking, with the movements and
general appearance of a Southerner. He managed to get a good look in his
face, and recognized him as Mr. Jas. Walters, of Arkansas. He spoke to
him. The recognition was mutual; the General invited him to his room,
and there the knowledge of the Golden Circle was at once manifested.
Neither disclosed at first anything about himself, but finally the
General told Walters that he was up here North for his health, and
to spy out the situation and report the same. They soon became very
confidential, and Walters unbosomed himself to the General. He told him
that he was traveling under the guise of a real-estate agent, selecting
land for some large and wealthy firm, but in reality he was organizing
the Knights of the Golden Circle; that he had organized, some ten miles
southeast of the town, a lodge of sixty members. He gave all the names.
In Colestown he had another lodge, seventy strong, with Col. O. B.
Dickens as Chief of the Order for that Congressional district.
“During that evening he showed the General his lists and gave him the
names of men to go to in Vernon County, Jeffersonville, Fayetteville,
Franklin, Perryville, Fultonville and many other places in the state.
“Chicago being the main headquarters, he directed him (if he should go
there) to Morrison Buckner, John Walls, N. Judy Cornington, C. H. Eagle,
and many other prominent men who belonged to the organization and were
in direct communication with Windsor, Canada, where a portion of the
main directors and managers were stationed, and from whence they were
sending out organizers for the West. Walters told him that Indianapolis,
Ind., was one of the 'Head Centers,' and that Dodgers, Bowlens,
Millington, Dorsing and Byron were the Chiefs, with several so-called
Agitators, and that Mr. Strider was Supreme Counsel; that the
organization was spreading rapidly; that in Ohio, at Dayburg, was the
Head Center; that along the great river there were very many lodges and
quite a number of members, but that it had not been so long at work in
Ohio as in Illinois and Indiana. Also, that the Supreme Commander lived
in Dayburg, O.; his name was given as Valamburg; that in Kentucky and
Missouri nearly all the people were joining the order and sending men
as fast as they could to the rebel army, and at the proper time,
when things were ripe for the people to rise, one of the most popular
officers in the rebel army, who lived in Missouri, would be sent there
with enough troops to protect himself until the Knights could join him.
“He went on to say that Col. Burnett, of St. Louis, was Supreme
Commander for Missouri, and Marmalade was Chief Agitator; John Morganson
was Supreme Commander in Kentucky; that he was gathering men from there
all the time; that he was not only Supreme Commander of Kentucky, but
appointed to make excursions and raids into Ohio and Indiana, whenever
the organization should be considered strong enough to protect him.
This, he said, was considered one of the measures to be resorted to in
order to frighten the property-holders of the North, and thereby drive
them into a peace-policy; that if the North could be once thoroughly
alarmed about the safety of their property, the anti-war party would
then carry an election, and that would secure the recognition of the
Southern Confederacy; that a perfect understanding of this kind existed
with the leaders of the Confederacy and the leaders of the anti-war
party North. He told the General that this organization was first
started in New York city by a man by the name of McMasterson and some
gentlemen from Richmond, who had passed through the lines and gone there
for this purpose; that there were at that time 100,000 Knights in the
State of New York; 80,000 in Ohio; 75,000 in Indiana, and 50,000 in
Illinois.
“He said it was thought that it would require about one year yet to get
the organization perfected and in good working order; that they had to
work very cautiously, and would have considerable trouble getting the
right kind of arms into their hands. There was no trouble, he said, in
having them all armed with pistols; 'for,' said Walters, 'these Yankees
are so fond of money that you can buy arms anywhere, if on hand. You can
get them made at some of the private arsenals, if you could assure them
against discovery. The intention, however, is to get all things ready by
the time of the next Presidential election, and if we do not whip them
before that time we will resort to such methods as will insure the
election of one of our friends, or one who believes that we can never be
subjugated.'
[Illustration: Drinking to the success of Treason 118]
“The General responded to what he had said, and remarked that it
did seem that if those plans could be carried out that success must
certainly follow.
“'Yes,' said Walters; 'we must not and cannot fail. I tell you,
when these money-loving Yanks see their towns and cities threatened,
prisoners turned loose, maddened by confinement, and commence applying
the torch, you will hear peace! peace! for God's sake, give us peace!
This will be the cry, sir! Mind what I say!'
“Col. Walters by this time had disclosed the fact that he was a colonel
in the rebel army; he had pulled at his flask frequently, and was
growing quite eloquent. Gen. Anderson could not drink, and his looks
gave him a good excuse for not doing so. Finally Walters said:
“'Anderson, how did you get here, anyhow? The last time I saw you was at
Vicksburg, four years ago, attending court.'
“'Well,' said the General, 'I might have asked you the same question.'
“'Now, don't play Yankee on me in answering my question by asking me
another.'
“'Well, said the General, 'I was in Kentucky, and when I crossed the
river no one asked me any questions. I looked so ill and emaciated that
they thought I told them the truth when I said I wanted a change of
climate--and then, I am also playing the Union role, you know.'
“'Is it not very curious,' said Walters; 'I have traveled all over this
country, and no one has asked me a question as to where I came from or
what I am doing. In our country we would both have been in prison or
hung before this as spies. Don't you think so?'
“'We would have been in great danger,' said the General
“'Danger! Thunder!' said Walters; 'we would have pulled hemp before
this.'
“It was then getting quite late, and the General began to excuse himself
on account of his health, and they finally spoke of meeting again
sometime, and bade each other good night. The General retired after
arranging to leave on the train in the morning for Chicago. Leaving
Coles-town at an early hour, he arrived in Chicago that evening and
put up at the Richmond House. In the course of the next day, by proper
management, he got acquainted with Walls, Morrison Buckner and Mr.
Eagle. This hotel seemed to be the common meeting-place for this class
of men. The subject of the war was discussed very freely by all of
them. They seemed to be very much exasperated about the course of the
Administration, denouncing its acts as revolutionary, arbitrary and
unconstitutional. Eagle seemed to be rather a good-natured fellow--dealt
measurably in jokes, as I took it. He said that he did not owe
allegiance to any country, as he understood it; that his father was
French, his mother was German, and he was born on English waters under
the Italian flag; and that he should claim protection from all until his
nativity could be settled.
“The General said he rather took a liking to him. He finally explained
to the General, however, that he was from the South, but left there
because his health was not good enough to go into the Confederate
army, and he knew if he staid he would have been compelled to do so. In
Chicago there was no danger of having to go into either army; that a
man could stay and help the rebels more than if he we were South, and if
they wanted him in the army he could hire some fool to go and get shot
in his place for a hundred dollars. He said that there was another
advantage--that the people went so fast that they forgot which side you
were on in a month, and that you did not have to live there always to
become a citizen. You could go to Congress after you had been there a
week, if you only knew how to handle the 'boys.'
“'The General said that he was really amused at the fellow, but very
soon the Grand Head Center of the State came in and he was introduced to
Mr. N. Judy Cornington.
“'The General gave him the sign, which was at once recognized, and the
wink went round that the General was a brother. They conversed freely
about the condition of the country; the ultimate result of the war;
what must be done to bring about peace; how the Administration must be
changed and peaceful commercial relations established with the South,
and the Southern Confederacy recognized. To all this the General
responded:
“'Yes; but suppose these things that you mention do not bring about the
result. What then?'
“'What then?' you ask, 'We will then resort to any and every means, no
matter what, for success. We are now in the same condition as the rebels
South. Should they fail we will have to go South, or forever be under
the ban of treason. You do not suppose that these people who support the
Union will ever trust any of us or any of our party again, should our
friends South fail, do you?'
“'Well, what of it?' asked Mr. Buckner. 'I do not now, nor do I expect
hereafter to ask these people for anything. I am actuated by principle
purely, without reference to the future. Let the future take care of
itself.'
“'Yes, that is well enough, Mr. Buckner,' said Corning-ton, 'as a
sentiment just now; but some day we will feel differently, and our
people, who are now taking desperate chances, will want to have
something to say. You do not suppose that all these brave men who are
now in the rebel army, and their friends North, are going to allow these
Abolitionists to run this Government, even if we should not succeed.'
“'Do you think that these people North will care (after this thing is
over) anything about who shall be in power,' said Mr. Eagle. 'I tell
you, Mr. Cornington, that they will soon forget all about it. You show
them where the least taxes are and the most money to be made, and they
will throw patriotism to the dogs. Why, if the rebellion fails, I expect
to see Jeff. Davis' Cabinet, or part of them, running this Government,
with him behind them directing things. Yes, sir; no matter what occurs,
we only have to let these people go on making money, and we will look
after the politics. They will not take time to do it.'
“'Why, gentlemen, I expect to run the politics of this State yet. I
intend to make money now, and when the thing blows over I will then have
leisure. I do not care for the amount of money these Northern men want.
When we Southern men get enough to have a small income to live on, we
turn our attention to politics; and there is no trouble to run things if
you only attend to it. These rich fellows think all you have to do is to
have plenty of money, and if you want anything done in politics, buy
it. There is where they make their great mistake. You must work the
boys--give them a show along with you. The people all have their
ambitions--some great, some not so great, but all want a show. There are
some men here in this city who think they can buy the whole State. But
they are mistaken; when they try it they will discover their error. They
will find the fellows that play politics play the game well,' and so
rattled on this man Eagle. The General said that when he got started he
was like a wound-up clock--you either had to let it run down or smash
it.
“'Well,' said Cornington, 'Eagle, you seem to take rather a rosy view of
things. I do not look at matters quite in the same light that you do. I
want to see success assured; then matters may assume the shape you say.
But I fear if we fail the result will be otherwise.'
“Said Eagle: 'I tell you, sir, that no matter what happens, the brains
and courage and aggressiveness of the Southern people will control this
country, Union or no Union, and you will see it yet, if we live. But
that belief must not prevent us from doing our duty manfully. We must
hang together and terrify the Northern people.'
“'Yes,' said Cornington, 'as was said by one of our fathers in the
Revolution, “we must hang together, or we will hang separately.”' This
caused Eagle to laugh.
“'Oh I' said he, 'those old fellows were frightened into success, and
you must know that to alarm the North about their money and property
being in danger is the only road to success. You can't scare them about
their lives. Our people are mistaken on that point. They care much less
for their lives than for their “oil.”'
“The General, after getting all the information he could as to
the extent of the organization, their designs and intended future
operations, which corresponded with what he had learned from Walters,
promised to see them again, and left that night for Dayburg, Ohio.
On arriving there he tried every way to obtain an interview with the
Supreme Commander of the Golden Circle of the United States, but
in vain. His attempts were all thwarted in one way or another.
The Commander (Valamburg) must have had some fears in reference to
strangers.
“For three days the General tried to get a chance to see him, but
could not. He met, however, three men,--Pat Burke, Tim Collins and John
Stetson,--with whom he formed a slight acquaintance, and, on giving them
the signs and passwords of the Circle, was taken into their confidence.
They took him riding into the country and showed him several large barns
where they were in the habit of holding their meetings, and gave
him full information as to their prospects in reference to future
operations. The three men were Agitators or, in other words, Organizers.
“John Stetson had been in Dayburg about three months; was a Colonel
in the rebel army; had been a prisoner at Camp Chase, but in some
mysterious way was permitted to escape by putting on different clothes
from his own, which in some manner were smuggled in to him. He had
shaven off his whiskers and made a close crop of his hair, and was so
changed in his appearance that no one would have suspected that he was
the same man. He was known in prison, and so entered on the records,
as Col. Jacob Reed, 13th Ky. (Confederate) infantry. This man Stetson,
alias 'Reed,' was very communicative; told the General that if they did
not succeed in working up sufficient feeling in the Northern States to
change the course of the Administration that they would have to
resort to other and more severe methods--such as raiding in the North,
destroying property, burning cities, etc.; that the Confederacy must
be successful; that they were now in for it, and there must be no
faltering; that there must be no sickly sentiment about the means to
be adopted hereafter; that fire and flood and desolation were perfectly
legitimate if necessity should ever demand the use of different means
from the present. He said that they could raid from Kentucky and
Missouri; that New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago had been
agreed upon as the cities for destruction, if the time should ever
come for such action; that their friends in those cities could make
themselves whole from the wreck--at least, all that they particularly
cared for; so far as the property-holders who pretended to be their
friends were concerned, they did not care for them,--that they would not
help them any, and only wanted to fill their pockets out of the general
misfortunes of the Southern people.
“After the General had traveled around considerably with these men as
their friend and guest, he wished them success and health, bade them
a hearty good-bye, and left for Indianapolis to see the Governor, not
wishing to try experiments there, where he had been in camp so long.
When he arrived and had time to visit the Executive, he found
him greatly perplexed at what he had ascertained about the secret
treasonable organization in the State of Indiana. He asked the General
a great many questions about his recovery, his promotion, etc., and
finally said:
“'I want you to help keep up the reputation of our State in the army.'
“Gen. Anderson replied:
“'I hope, Governor, you will never have any cause for complaint in that
direction.'
“'No,' said the Governor; 'I hope I shall not! But,' said he, 'it begins
to look as though we might have trouble at home. These Golden Circles
are bound to give us trouble, and I fear very soon,'
“'Yes,' said the General, 'they are getting pretty numerous, and very
bold and exasperating at the same time. How many do you suppose there
are in this State, Governor?
“'I suppose there must be twenty or thirty thousand-enough for a pretty
good army. If they had any bold man to lead them, they could release our
prisoners here and destroy our city.'
“Seeing that the Governor exhibited some alarm, the General was afraid
to tell him then how many there actually were in the State. But very
soon his Adjutant-General came in, and in conversation raised the
figures to some forty or fifty thousand. The Governor looked surprised,
and the General thought that he might then disclose the facts as
to numbers, and told the Governor that he had found out means of
ascertaining, and that their claim for Indiana was 75,000. This seemed
to startle him. He at once asked his Adjutant-General how many regiments
there were now in camp near the city, and was informed that there were
four, with a great many recruits in the camp of instruction. He made
many inquiries of the General as to how he obtained his information.
Gen. Anderson told him that he had obtained it in various ways; that
some of his friends had joined the organization and, not believing in
it, had posted him, under the seal of confidence.
“'Do you believe them?' inquired the Governor.
“'I most certainly do,' responded the General.
“The General then gave him the names of Strider, Bowen, Bowlens,
Millington, Dorsing and Byron as the leaders--Organizers, Agitators,
Commanders, etc.--for the State of Indiana. The Governor was surprised
at hearing some of the names, and said he had no doubt of Strider being
at the bottom of it, but that he would not be caught; that when the
trying time should come, if ever, he would turn up as counsel, and
in that way would get out of it, and thereby seal the mouths of the
criminals.
“He advised the Governor to keep a watch on some of these men, and he
would soon discover them; that they had not been long enough at this
thing to understand the necessary precaution. None had yet been caught
and punished, and they were not looking to the serious consequences to
themselves should they be exposed.
“He also asked the Governor to apprise the President of the United
States of the condition of these matters in the State, but at the same
time not to mention his name as the source of information. He bade
the Governor good-by and left for Camp Chase, Ohio, having, while in
Indianapolis, determined to return to Ohio and investigate the prisoners
at Camp Chase. When he arrived there, having no authority, he could not
converse with the prisoners alone; but, becoming acquainted with the
Colonel commanding the Camp, and explaining in confidence who he was
and his mission, he was allowed free access to the camp and to the
prisoners. He soon picked out a young man from Virginia--his appearance
would indicate his age to be about eighteen years. He told the General
that he lived in the extreme south-western part of what is now old
Virginia. His name was Ridenbergen. He said to the General that he had
no cause to fight against the United States, but that he was in now and
proposed to fight it out. The General having played the Southern dodge
and sympathy with the rebellion in such a way as to satisfy him, and
also having given the sign of the Circle, which this young Virginian
seemed to well understand, there was no longer any necessity for
withholding anything in reference to their condition, expectations of
succor, release, etc. He told the General that John Stetson, alias Col.
Jacob Reed, of Dayburg, had been there frequently; that only a few of
them recognized him; of course no one 'peached,' as they knew he was
working for their benefit.
“He said our commander of the prison was not very observing; that quite
a number had escaped, and nothing was known or said about it; that
others answered for them, reported them sick, or gave some other excuse
which was always taken; that Stetson had brought in the rituals of
the Golden Circle, and that all of them who were intelligent enough to
understand it, were posted, and that some of the guards belonged and
were constantly making the signs to the Confederate officers inside.
He had no doubt that sooner or later they would be released. He had the
same idea about how they would ultimately succeed. This idea pervaded
the minds of all with whom he had spoken on the subject. Many leading
men in Ohio were in accord with all that they contemplated with
reference to their release and the future success of the Confederacy.
“He also said that the party in Ohio who were in sympathy with the
rebellion were quite outspoken, and were under the lead of a very able
and bold man. The General inquired of whom he had reference, and he said
Valamburg, of Dayburg.
“'Yes,' the General responded, 'I have heard of him frequently; but is
he a military man?'
“'No,' replied Ridenbergen; 'but we have them in the State in many
places, from the Confederate army, just waiting the sound of the
bugle. But the fears I have are as to the time. It takes so long to get
everything ready--our people have to move so cautiously.'
“'Have you heard that we are organizing for raids from Canada at some
future time?'
“'Oh, yes; that is understood. Many of our best and brightest men are
over there, at different points, preparing for it; but that is to be
done only when we must strike in Northern cities for the purpose of
terrifying the Northern property-holders; we must strike then where the
greatest amount of wealth is concentrated.'
“The General then said to him:
“'Mr. Ridenbergen, you are a young man. I hope to hear good things of
you in the future,' and bade him good-bye.
“The General arrived at Allentown the next day. After the family
greetings, kisses from his wife and little daughter, and a 'How ar' you,
Marsa Tom?' from Ham and a 'Bress de good Laud, heah you is agin!' from
Aunt Martha were over, the General related his trip to me in minute
detail, and told me that matters were much worse than he had any
suspicion of prior to his investigations. In speaking of those he had
seen, and his many talks with members of the Knights of the Golden
Circle, his utter contempt for them, and especially for many leading
men who claimed to be loyal to the Union, but did not like the
unconstitutional manner of prosecuting the war, he remarked:
“'There was but one of all of them that I have seen for whom I have any
sympathy or respect, and he is the young Virginian, Mr. Ridenbergen.
I rather liked the frankness of this young man. I am satisfied that
at heart he is not a rebel, but is young, and, after engaging in the
rebellion, will go as far as any one to make it a successful cause.'
“Just then Jackson came from the train and entered the house.
“'My! how well you are looking, Gen. Anderson, compared with your
appearance when I left. You must have been to some water-cure or have
used some kind of elixir of life,' was his first greeting.
“'No, sir,' replied the General; 'I have been marching, and it has
brought me out wonderfully.'
“'Yes, it has. Well, Jennie, I saw David, Dr. James and Henry. They are
all well and “spilin'” for a fight. David thinks that his brigade can
thrash the whole rebel army.'
“Little Jennie rushed to her Uncle Jackson, saying:
“'Did you see my good papa?'
“'Yes, dear, I saw him, and he sent you a thousand kisses and asked all
about you.'
“Turning away, he said, 'Poor David, his heart is broken over the loss
of his little Sarah.'
“Gen. Anderson said, 'Sit down, and tell us all about your visit. Were
you successful?'
“'Oh, yes; I am a full-fledged Captain in the 18th U. S. Inf.,
and assigned, by order of the Secretary of War, as Aide-de-camp to
Brig.-Gen. Thomas Anderson, the hero.'
“'Stop, stop,' said the General; 'you must not commence that too soon.
The taffy part must be left off if you are to be on my staff.'
“'My dear,' said his wife, 'he can say that about you to me; for it's
the truth. Capt. Jackson, I will not get mad at you for speaking in a
complimentary manner about my husband.'
“'Hereafter I will repeat all the good things which I may have to say
about him to you; but you will tell him, and then he will get mad at
me.'
“'No, he will not be mad; don't you know what peculiar animals men are?'
“'Well, yes; they are rather peculiar,' said Jackson. 'They like
compliments when not deserving; but when deserving they then dislike
them. Is that not about the way with most men? I notice women are
somewhat differently constituted? Are they not?'
“'Yes, indeed; they always like compliments. Do they not, my dear?'
addressing her husband.
“'I have usually found it so,' replied the General. His wife ran into
the house, and laughingly said:
“'Well, I guess Tom has been trying his compliments on some one else.
Has he not, aunty?' addressing Aunt Martha.
“'God lub you' sole, chile, dese men, you can't tell nuffin 'bout dem,
sho'; but Massa Tom be all rite, I 'spect; I knows him; no fear 'bout
him; de good Laud spar' him for good work, sho'.'
“I asked the General to write out a full statement of all he had
reported to me. He did so that night, and the following day I mailed it
to the President with a private note accompanying.
“During the day Jackson entertained us with his visit to Washington, to
the army, and the pleasant time he passed in camp with his brothers. He
said that there was something wrong in that army; that the machinery did
not seem to work very smoothly, but that never having been a soldier,
perhaps he could not form a correct opinion. The sequel told the tale,
however.”
“Well, Uncle Daniel, this Golden Circle discovery was most
extraordinary,” said Dr. Adams.
“Yes. It grew into greater proportions later on, however.”
“I feel an interest in knowing what became of that young Virginian whom
Gen. Anderson met at Camp Chase; his name I forget, but have it written
down.”
“Yes; you mean Mr. Ridenbergen?”
“Yes.”
“I have learned that he went through the war on the rebel side unharmed,
after the war married in Pennsylvania, and is now one of the most
prominent men in Virginia. He espoused the advanced policy of the men
who saved the Union, and is now one of the leading opponents of the
unreconstructed in that State.”
Uncle Daniel becoming very weak and exhausted, by an agreement with us,
the continuance of his story was postponed until another time.