The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-26

We find in the Sigourney Meas, of the
18th, complete expose of the reasonable
organization long known to exist in that
county, with ramifications in adjoining
counties. 1t was this organization which
emboldened the desperate, Talley, to his
outspoken treason and unprovoked attack
upon Union men, 1t was this organization
which enabled the sympathizers with re-
bellion to array themselves in formid-
able hostility against the Union after Tai
ley had met the fate which his treason and
wicked temerity deserved. 1t is this or
ganization which proposes to cannonize
Talley and insult the loyal sentiment of the
people by praising and eulogizing his trea-
sonable acts as worthy of imitation. 1t is
this organization which, encouraged by
such men as Mahony and Thayer, is using
its subtle machinery to secure the election
OF futile. ..a
But we give the article as we find it in
the News, and ask for its indubitable state
ments the candid consideration of every
man having the good of his country al
heart.
"The following affidavit was made by H
r. Rogers, who resides in Washington
county, adjoining Liberty township in this
| county. After the death Of Talley, when
| the Copperheads were organizing the army
Of the Skunk, Rogers was ordered out by
his Captain and refused to serve. The
"Order of the Start claimed that his oath
bound him to obey all commands Of the
officers, and on his refusal they were about
to inflict upon him the punishment for de-
sertion, when he, for his personal safety
and to get beyond their reach and ven
geance, went to Davenport and enlisted il
the Sth Iowa Cavalry. On his way he re-
manned at Iowa City long enough to make
and swear to the following:
AFFIDAVIT OF H. B. RODGERS.
Iowa CITY, Aug. 9th 1868.
On or about the last of April, 1868, l was
initiated into what was called the 'Ordel
of the STAR jeremiah Suffer asked me t.
become member of a benevolent Insti
tvtion.' He took me to an untenanteC
house in a secluded place in the north -eas
part of keokuk county. There were IF
teen or twenty persons present, among
whom We're Wesley Funk, Dolph Faucet
| w. M. Buttertield. Jerome Chandler, Johr
Chandler, Il. Breeder, Thomas Powell
John WEIGH, James Mckinney. Samue
knight, Pat McCann, Thos. staTkweather
and other names not recollected. At tn,
first meeting they swore me to be true t.
the United States and to the State of Iowa
and to use all the Constitutional means il
my power to restore peace and harmony Il
this distracted country; to use all the
means in my power to put down disunior
parties, both North and South, under pen
atty of death.
We were required to wear a five pointed
star, of any material; to hang the same il
our house. or put it on our gate post. This
was about all that was administereda at frs
meeting. The sign of recognition was tt
draw the right hand over the forehead anC
right eye and mouth, with the little finger
touching the nose, then dropping right
hand smartly to the right side. The an
swer was similar sign with the left hand
with the little finger passing over the nose.
The alarm at the door, on entering the
Lodge, was given to a sentinel who COM
manded you to halt, and says "who comes
there?" The answer is ga straggler.' You
come to the second sentinel, and place your
right hand ON his right shoulder, and say
Hurricane" Then you approach the
third guard and placing your left hand on
his left shoulder, say, ''Violent winds. !"