The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-29


commission iDqnire into the faots- Wit
nesses testified that their neighbors had
been driven from home. houses had been
burned the lives of Union men threatened,
soldiers shot. and that bands Of men had
been seen drilling aud passing through the
country fully armed. The agency OF the
Knights In these proceedings was clearly
shown.
All through the State. wherever this
feeling of dIsaffection existed. it was
attributed TO the Knights of the Golden
Circle. Thus. when. on May 2. 1858. m the
county of Wayne. one hundred men gall
Hoped through the town of Centreville,,
shouting for JEFF Davis. and telegram
was sent TO Morton that armed Butternuts
were parading the streets. public rnmor st
once connected this with the knights of
the Golden Circle. General Haseall sent
on a detachment. and sixteen were ar
rested. A number of the leaders were COM
PEELED 10 mount platform used for the
pump. In frone of the old courthouse az
Centreville. and then and there To take an
oath of allegiance wholly unknown TO the
statutes which was improvised and adj
ministered by Lewis ID. Stubs. Justice OF
the peace. who had come over from Rich-
mond for the purpose.
ENHANCING THE ORDER.
In the fall of 1868 the Knights Of the
Golden Circle ceased 10 be known by that
name and were merged into the more ex-
tensive order of the American Knights and
from the ritual prepared by Harrison Ii.
Dodd, grand commander for Indiana, 10
given by Mr.. FouIke. The new body was
now greatly enlarged. Ii had an extensive
mem bership in Ohio. Kentucky. Illinois
and Missouri, and In the summer of 1854 10
was claimed by Vallandigham that in Indi.
ana 1t had no less than 10000 members.
The figures given by the grand secretary
for Indiana are not so large. He testified
that. In September. reports from forty-ive
counties showed membership of 5000.
Dodd WAS grand commander for the State.
and DIR. w. A. Bowles. Lambdin
p. Milllgan. Andrew humphreys and
one 1eakle were major generals" com.
manding the four districts into which the
State divided for military purposes.
In June John 4. Walker was elected In
Yeakle's place. and Horace Heffren 10 man
who had DISTINGUISHED himself at the out.
break of the war by violent secession har-
argues in the Legislature. and who had
afterwards recanted, and been appointed
by Morton to @ military command, but had
resigned. and returned to his original seces-
mander of the State. Judge Bullitt. of the
Kentucky Court of Appeals. was grand
commander of that State. aud Felix
Stidger. who turned out to be
| elected grand secretary for Kentucky.
| Some of the belligerent schemes of the or
| der were fantastic. DIR. Bowles proposed
TO have nine companies of infantry. enc
| tillery to comprise each regiment Tns
| l8ncers were to have q hook Ito punch
WITH" and "a sickle to cut the horses
| brides" so that the enemy would become
| confused, and If q charge were made when
| they had no way of getting their horses
| out, they would be easily mashed up."
The clumsy character of the organization
| and it's utter lack of efficiency were shown
| In many ways. In May. 1864. Bowles talked
| confidentialiy with Stidger. man whom
| he had never seen before. in regard TO the
| secrets of the order. without testing him
| to see III be belonged to it. Hef-
cago TO q meeting of the Grand
| Council. and Green fell into the hands OF
| detectives. who secured Heffren's proxy,
| and Green never got TO the Council ct all.
| the order had been invaded. 1t was as
| certained that one Coffin, who had been in
| the confidence of the leaders. was aRent
| of Governor Morton. and q detective. and
at meeting of the State Council on June
| Ii. at Indianapolis. 1t was decided that
| Coffin should be killed. On the following
| day there was to be a meeting at Day ton.
| o., to be addressed by Vailsndig ham. 10
was learned that Coffin would be present.
Dodd asked what mem bers would volunteer
| 10 go with him and put Coffin ont OF the
| way, but most of the members did not know
| Coffin. Mcbride. of Evansville. knew him,
but was so situated that he couid not go on
this trihinR errsnd. Bowles and
Dodd went. but Coffin was not
| to be found. He had been
| advised of his danger by Stidger. who was
present at the conference. and who was,
| apparently. as eager as any for his re.
moval." One of the purposes of the Sons
of Liberty was the destruction of govern
ment property. One Booking. of Cincin-
| called green fire. He showed liz to
| Bowles and others. and s2O0 was given TO
him to serve his necessities. Bowles, with
Bullitt. Dodd and one or two others. spent
one Sunday In Indianapolis experimenting
| with this invention. There was hand
| grenade and q machine with q clock for
setting boats and governments buildings
on fire. Nothing would put it out"
| as well as two boats, had been destroyer
by it, and that the confederate govern
ment would pay 10 per cent for property
| thus destroyed.
THE ORDERS GREATEST WORK.
| The most important work set for itself
/ by the order was conspiracy with con-
federste authorities for a general uprising
| for the purpose OF seizing federal srsen ais.
releasing confederate prisoners. overthrow
| ing the State government and organizing
u Northwestern Confederacy. This project
| was helped by jacob L. Thompson, OF
| Kentucky. then in Canada, and by VAL
| landiRhsm. of Ohio. until Aug. l6 A
| council was held at Chicago and state
ment made of the situation. Money had
L ~
| master on the Red river. and they could
| have the use OF il. Ohio would be cared tor
| by Vallandigha Dodd had met Commits
| sloner Thompson at the Clifton House. Ma
! CARA He would send conrIers 10 the major
| generals of the several districts In In
diana. and they were TO send messengers
| into the various counties. and the coun-
| ties were TO notify the townships The
| forces of southern Indiana were 60 mect
| near New Albany. under Bowles; those OF
| Illinois at Rock Island, Springfield, and
Chicago, and. having seized the arsenals
| at these places. they were TO march on ST
| Louis. In Indiana, the main body Was TO be
concentrated at Indianapolis. and the cap
| ture of the State capital was left to the
| special care of Dodd. political meetip G
would he called at that place. The mem.
| bers would come In wagons. with arms
! socreted the straw. When O certain
signal was given. they were TO seize their
| arms and march on Camp Morton. releaee
| the prisoners and capture the guards. The
prisoners were to be armed. and th guards
held prisoners. detail was then to be
sent TO take care OF the Governor" and
they were TO seize the railroad to effer SON.
| willie, and use the cars TO TT nsport the
| prisoners and arms.
| Dodd returned TO Indianapolis and COM
munica ted this plot to his trusted frieBda
He suggested that j. j. Bingham. chair.
man of the Democratic State committee.
should call a mass meeting at Indianapolis
on the 10Th. but Bingham refused. Mat
ters were then brought TO the KNOWLEDGE
of the Hon. Joseph r. Mcdonald. Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor. who at