The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-02-15
| A, Exclusively at night, Nilh but two c4.

A. Yes, sir the one | attended in the
day time was meeting Of tho Grand Coun.
ell the othor was an informal meeting.
Q. State when that Grand Council met.
A. On the Goth of January, 1864.
2. How long was said Council in session
at that time
A. Some three or four days.
Q. Who presided at aud over the delib.
erations Of tho Councili
A. Tie Commander of tho Third Degree |
Of the State of Missouri
Q. Ia there Commander Of the Third |
Degree Westf
A. Yes. sir he is second in cotnmaad, |
and the Commander Of tho Third Degree
East ia frat in command.
Q. Did you before your arrest, OF do you
now, hold any official position in this sc.
cret organization
A. Yea sir.
O. What is that po>itioni
A. Secretary of both the Second and the
Third Degrees.
O. Under whose immediate instruction as
Secretary Of tho Second and Third Degrees
did you act in Councilf
A. Under the respective Commander of
those Degrees.
Q. State the number and names Of all the
Degrees of this Order.
A. There are Ave. First, Second, Third,
Fourth or Grand, as il lie called, and Fifth
or Supreme.
Q, What is meant by Grand, and what
by Supreme Degreesf
A. The Grand or Fourth Degree is the
Council or highest degree Of the State. The
Supreme or Fifth is the highest of the
United States.
Q. How many Of these Degrees hOvo you
takenf
A. First, Second, Third and Fourth or
Grand Council. --
The witness then testi6ed regarding the
modes of initiation. and explained the grips,
signs and passwords of the Order.
ORIGIN OF THE ORDER.
@. What is the origin Of the Order of Amer
ican Knights
A. have heard that IL originated in the
State of Louisiana, in 1863, also that it ex.
tends back to the Revolution Of l7T6, hav-
ing had prccarious existence up 20 the
present rebellion.
O. What il the relation between this Or
der aud the so-called Confederate Govern.
msnt
AIDING THE ooNFEDERATE GOVERNMENT.
A. At the time joined understood that
it's object was to aid and assist the Confeder.
ate Government and to restore the Union.
as il was prior to the rebellion.
Q.NIn what particular was aid and assist
ancc to be given to the Confederate Gov.
ment?
A. In any and all ways, and at any and
all times.
Q. Do you know of any aid and assis.
tance having been rendered by this Our-
der during your connection with it i'll the
manner above spoken of?
A. | know that arms and ammunition
have been purchased by members Of this
| Order to send to other members in the
country where they could not be had.
| Q. Do you know anything about advices
in reference to this Order having been sent
to the rebel army?
A. OF my own knowledge do not but
have, through members, heard that con-
slant communication was kept up. between
st. Louis and the rebel army.
THE CONTEMPLATED RISING. I
Q. When was the revolutionary move,
ment contemplated by this Order TO have
taken place
A. At the advent of Mr.. vallandigham
into the United States from exile.
Q, When were the members Of this Or
der first instructed to arm aud prepare for
this movement
A. In the summer or fall of 1853.
Q, In what manner was the Confederate
army to cooperate with this Order
| A. This Order was to hold itself in readi
ness to act with the Confederate army upon
its advent into the State.
Z. Who was to have command of the
men composing this Order il Missouri on
that eventf
A. The Grand Commander OF the State OF
Missouri.
@. What disposition was to have beer
made Of the officer commanding this de
partment In that eventf
A, Treated as a common enortiy.
| @. This Order is made up exclusively o
dislOyal persons, il it not
A. Yes, sir All Democrats who are de
sirous OF securing the independence of tn
Confederate States, with view of restor
ing the Union as it was.
Q. What is the number of this order II
the State of Missouri
A. From forty to sixty thousand.
The witness then identified various cap
tured pamphlets and documents, with Ger
tain muster rolls, as official papers Of the
Order, and also gave testimony regarding
the general purchase of arms for ths Order
aud the parties implicated in the matter.
+ax oRo1sIzArIoN.
Q. Who first organized the Order o
American Knights in the State of Missouri
A. p. O. Wright, of New York.
Q. Have you any knowledge Of one VIA
NJ. Douglass
A. know the man have met him fou
or FIVE times.
Q Do you know il he has ever been au
thorized by said Order to establish Temple
in Missouri
A. or my own knowledge do not know
but my Impression, formed by remarks o
members, lead me TO believe he was.
Q. Was Douglass active in organizing
Temples in Missouri FJE ElI H.iE
A. think he was, very.
@. Was lie not On very intimate and con
fdential terms with Charles i. Hunt, o
Wisconsin
A. Yes sir, more so than with any othel
person of this city
Q. Was there Secret Police made up o
meml e-s of the Order whose duty it was L
ascertain the names of United States Detec
tiyes, and if possible to battle their efforti
in apprehendng rebels and members 0
said Orders
A. OF my own knowledge can't say
but ! heard through members that there
was to be snoh police organized, but tC
be known only 10 the officers OF said Order
AssksslNAfiok.
@, Was the secret assassination Of any
United States officer soldier, or Govern
ment employees proposed by any member
or members of said Order?
A. heard it discussed in council, and
recommended.
n ct,ta chat tbia OrdAr contemnlated II