Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-09-25
MUSCATINE IOWA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER

N1 w
AN EXPOSE OF THE "ORDER O.
THE STAR"
The Passwords, Grips and Signs of. th
| Order. a3 81.
ITS OBJECTS TO RESIST THE DRAF
| AND TO ENCOURAGE DESERTIOl
FROM THE ARMY.
Prominent Democrats at the Hea,
of the TreasOnable Or.
SanlxatiOn.
We find in the Sigourney News, of tn
10th, . complete crpose of the treasonabl
organization long known to exist in tina
county, with ramificalions in adjoining coun
ties. 1t was this organization which embold
ened the desperate, Talley, to his outspokel
treason and unprovoked attack upon Uniol
men 1t was this organization which en-
abled the sympathizers with rebellion t.
array themselves in formidable hostility ant
breath threatenings of slaughter agains
Union men after Talley had met the fat.
which his treason and wicked temerity de-
served. 1t is this organization, which pro
poses now to cannonize Talley and insult the
loyal sentiment of the people praising and
eulogizing his reasonable acts as virtues
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 Tuttlc as Governor Of
Iowa.
But we give the article as we find it in the
Neacs, and ask for its indubitable statements
the candid consideration of every man hav-
ing the good o: his country at heart:
The following affidavit was made by
II. B. 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 orlered out by his
Captain and refused to serve. The s'Order
of the Star" claimed that his oath bound him
to obey all commands of the officers, and on
his refusal they were about to infict upon
him the punishment fer desertiop, when he,
for his personal safety, and to get beyond
their reach and vengeance, went to D.ven-
port and enlisted in the Sth Iowa cavalry. On
his way he renamed atIowa City long enough
to make and swear to the following:
AFFIDAVIT OF H. B. ROGERS.
Iowa CRY, Aug. 5th, 1868.
On or about the last of April, 1868, l was
initiated into what was called the ''Ordcr of
the Star" Jeremiah Suitcr asked me to be-
come member of Benevolent Institution"
He took me to an untenanted house in Sc.
eluded place in the North east part Of Keokuk
county. There were fifteen or twenty per-
sons present, among whom were Wesley
Funk, Dolph Faucet, w. NJ. Butterfield. Je-
rome Chandler, John Chandler, B. Breeden,
Thomas Powell, John Welch, James McKin-
ney, Samuel Knight, Pat McCann, Thomas
McCann, Thomas Starkweather, and other
names not recollected At the first meeting
they swore me to be true to the United
States and the State of Iowa, and to use all
the Constitutional means in my power to re-
store peace and harmony TO this distracted
to use all the means in my power
South, under penalty of death.
We were required to wear a five pointed
star, Of any material to hang the same in
our house, or put it on our gate post. This
was about all that was administered at the
first meeting. The sign of recognition was
to draw the right hand over the forehead and
right eye and mouth, with the little finger
touching the nose, then dropping right hand
smartly to the right side. The answer was
a similar sign with the left hand, with the
little finger passing over The nose. The alarm
at the door, on entering the Lodge. was CIV
en- to sentinel who commands you to halt,
and says "who comes there ?" The answer
is "a straggler." You come to the second
sentinel, and place your right hand on
his right shoulder, and say, "Hurri-
cane" Then you approach the third
guard and placing your left hand on his left
shoulder, say, ''Violent winds" Then
the officer presiding approaches, cfers his
hand, you gve him the grip; he asks you
.wbat is that ?" Reply "a grip" He asks
His reply ':give it to me-" My reply, Il did
not so receive it, neither can l so impart ii"
He then asks, 'how shall we arrive at the
sense of it ?" Answer, 81 vii! letter or syl-
liable it with you" He asks, ''can you spell?''
Answer, "a little" His reply, spell and be-
GIN" reply mo it is with you, you begin. y
His reply mo it is with you, you begin"
proceed by saying A, he says L, I sey P, he
says s. Then l commence with s, he says P,
I say L, he says A, then pronounce the pass
word, "SpIa,' which is Hips reversed.
This ends the examination in the first de-
gree. .a
In the second degree l was reqpired to
swear that would not enlist in the United
States Army; am not to kill an enemy, but
take prisoners those that are placed in my
power, or to surrender myself prisoner when
it is more expedient, not to excite suspicion.
was instructed, that in the action of loading
my gun, was to stand with the ramrod in
my hand, look anxiously towards the enemy.
If they recognize me they will raise their
let it drop smartly by their right
side, which was to answer in the same
way, except using my left hand On re-
treat we are to trail our guns in our left
hands instead of the right, as is the custom
I was required to connect myself in compa
ny composed of ten men, one OF which is
elected Captain, which are to act in compa-
MES, or IN larger forces, as they may be di
rected by our superior officers. We art
sworn to resist the draft by every means II
our power. We were to encourage deser'
tons, and assist deserters in making their
escape would state that I objected t
agreeing to resist the draft or encourage de
sertion. They Immediately drew revolver.
and bowie knives, and threatened to kill m,
unless l would agree that the obligation
ssoea Gs wbpS struck ws en Of
by the name of Glen Coffman. After which
L yielded and quieted down. cursed tn
abelitionists, and wore a copperhead breast
pin to allay their suspicious. This occurred
three weeks ago last Saturday night. at Mr.
Coffman's, in Liberty township, Keokul