The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-12
Veterans Recount Episode of 1868
1>& I>I. i->f i>f-
Man Stole Ritual of Organization
t<+ +>t 500 A>i.
Which Was to Help Confederates

SPARTANSBURG, Ind, Nov. Ia
Fifty years ago today Elliott Robert
son stole the papers from the meeting
place of the Knights of the Golden
Circle near this place and turned them
over to Governor Morton, breaking up
the band of secessionists who lived in
Greensboro township and giving many
Southern sympathizers, living in Ran
dolph county, the fright of their lives.
These facts were recounted last
evening at a gathering of a number of
G. A. r. men who had assembled to
talk over war times. Although the men
who has the papers in his possession
at present was not present at the
meeting, most of these present were
familiar with the contents, and memo
ries of war times burned brightly as
the incidents leading to the capture
were recOunted.
The Knights of the Golden Circle,
otherwise known as the Sons of Lib
erty and the Knights of the White Ca
melia was merely an adoption to the
purpose of rebellion of an organiza-
ton which existed before the war in
the South for the promotion of filibus-
tering schemes.
1t was organized in the North after
the war was started to aid the South
ern states in their fight for the esab-
lishment of the Southern COnfederacy
So strong did it become at one time in
Indiana that it numbered more than
900 members. and was for a time
the cause of general alarm to the state
The chief purpose of the organiza
ton seemed to be to induce homesick
soldiers to desert their regiments and
return to Indiana where they were
hidden away by the organization in the
Lob" a large swamp. covering at
that time a considerable portion of
Jay county.
The real purpose of the organization
was unknown to the ordinary members
Of the lodge, but it has been thought
that it was the intention to call the
members to arms in case some South
ern leader might be able to lead an
expedition into Indiana. The real idea,
according to modern war writer's, was
that at some crucial moment a wide
spread guerilla warfare was to be 1nau-
gurated and compel the removal of the
Federal armies to this side of the Ma
son and Dixie line.
The lodge which existed near this
place was formed some months after
the war started. The members held
their meetings in a little cabin built
on a dry piece of land in the middle
of a deep swamp. A clearing of half
an acre was made where the members
were accustomed to go through mill
tarv drill on Sunday afternoons, So
closely were their movements guard
ed that although many of them were
suspected of reasonable actions, no
one had any positive proof against
them.
Robertson who had been incapaci-
tated for further service, while fight
ing with the Nineteenth Indiana Vol
unteers, returned to his home near
here, to remain until he should be
again able to carry a gun.
Learning of the suspected existence
of some sort of an organization of
Southern sympathizers he determined
TO run the matter down. Accordingly
he professed himself to be tired OF
the war. opposed to the idea of COM
polling the southern states to return
10 the Union by force of arms and
other things calculated to bring the
results he wished.
Things worked out as he had plan
ned. Vouched for oy his brother-in-
law, he was duly initiated into the or
ganiZation. Soon after member Of
the lodge who had been indiscreet
in his utteranCes was shot dead in his
own barnyard
The lodge was eager TO retaIiate and
would probably have done so. but be-
fore plans could be perfected. the roll
of members, the ritual of the organf-
cation and other discriminating papers
mysteriously disappeared Robertson