Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-10-26
j." The Order of American Knights"


emies of the Uuion, which have been es-
tablished in the North, in order to furnish
aid and comfort to the rebellion, to embar-
rass the United States government in the
prosecution OF the war, and, if need be, to
offer armed resistance to the execution of
its laws. The government is in full posses
sion of all the facts in reference to the ORR
gin, progress and designs of these societies,
the number of their members and the
names of the principal men engaged in
them. These societies were first developed
in the West, in 1862, and the original one
was known in certain localities as the
" Mutual Protection Society,"" the /" Circle
of Honor" or the '' Circle" or Knights
of the Mighty Host," but more widely as
the knights of the Golden Circle" 1t
was simply an inspiration of the rebellion,
being little other than an extension among
the disloyal and disaffected at the North of
the association of the latter name, which
had existed for some years at the South,
aud from which it derived all the chief
features of its organization.
In the summer aud fall of 1868, the as
sociation underwent some modification and
change of name in consequence of the ex-
posures which had been made of the OBJ
jects of the "Knights of the Golden Cir
cle." Sterling Price had instituted as its
successor in Missouri secret political as.
sociation, which he called the "Corps de
Belgique," or "Sonthern League" his
principal coadjutor being Charles l.. Hunt,
of st. Louis, then Belgian Consul at that
city, but whose erequafer was subsequently
revoked by the President on account of his
disloyal practices. The special object of
the Corps de Belgique appears to have been
to unite the rebel sympathizers of Mis-
soIri, with view to their taking up arms
and joining Price upon his proposed grand
invasion of that State. and to their recruit
ing for his army in the interim.
In the fall of 1863 c. L. Vallandigham,
P. c. Wright of New York, and others,
instituted secret order, which was en-
titled 90. A. K. "or /" Order of American
Knights" This society was originated in
rebeldom, while Vallandigham was enjoy
ing the hospitalites of JEFF Davis, and is
in full accord with the rebel leaders.
Upon the institution of this association the
Corps de Belgique" and all other secret
disloyal associations of the South and West
were affiliated with it, and it became, in
fact, the wide spread, secret, oath. bound,
disloyal society, the members of which were
pledged to each other, to aid the rebels
and to embarrass the Government of the
United States. Another change was made
in May last in consequence of the osths
and signs becoming known to the military
authorities, and it was dubbed in certain
parts Of the Union the D. S L., the "Or-
der of Sons of Liberty" Other names
were assumed by associations of the same
kind in other States, such as "The Peace
Organization" 10 Kentucky, the "Star
Organization" and in Missouri as the
" American Organization these, how
ever, being apparently names used outside
of the lodges of the order. Its members
have also been familiarly designated as
" Butternuts" by the country people of H.
linois, Indiana and Ohio, and its separate
lodges have also frequently received titles
intended for the public ear; that in Chica-
60, for instance, being termed by its MEM
bers the "Democratlc Invincible Club"
that in Louisville, the Democratic Read
ing Room" &c.
In the State of New York, and other
parts of the North, the secret political as.
sociation known as the " Nc Ctelton Min-
ute Guard" would seem to be branch of
the o. A. K, having substantially the same
objects, to be accomplished however by
means expressly suited to the localities in
which it is established. The government
of this order is vested in a supreme coun-
Gil, governed by supreme commander.
In each State there is grand council with
temples in each county. Each State is di.
vided into a number of military districts,
to the Governments cf which are "as-
signed" Major Generals, and in some of
dense populations there are ''Brigadier Gen.
erals" In Indiana the Major Generals are
four in number. In Illinois, where the
organization of the Order is considered
most perfect, the members in each Con-
gressional District compose "brigdde,"
which is commanded by "Brigadier
General" The members of each county
constitute "regiment," with ''coIonet"
in command, and those of each township
form ''compamy." A somewhat similar
system prevails in Indiana, where also each
is divided into "squads," each
with its chief, an arrangement intended
to facilitate the guerilla mode of warfare
in case ofa general outbreak or local disorder.
The "McClellan Minute Guard" as sp-
pears from circular issued by the Chief
Secretary at New York in March last, is
upon military basis similar to
that of the Order proper. 1t is composed
of companies, one for each election district,
ten of which constitute q "brigade," with
. "Bridadier General" at its head. The
whole is placed under the authority OF
chief" A strict obedience