USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922, Vol II > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
17 For a long list of these crimes, see Mss. by Ray Reynolds, "Resistance to the Draft in Indiana." The Indianapolis Sentinel, Journal, Madison Courier, New Albany Ledger and other papers of the state gave endless details. Terrell's Reports, I, 228, has a good account. Fletcher Freeman, Sullivan county ; J. Frank Stevens, in Rush county ; Ell McCarty, in Daviess county, enroll- ing officers, were shot from ambush by unknown assassins. The report of Gen. Henry Jordan on the activities of the Knights in Crawford county shows the customary deeds of these criminals. Terrell's Reports, I, 290.
779
GOLDEN CIRCLE
preceding the Civil war. Chivalry was to be its uniting sentiment; and Knights of the Golden Circle was its name, although it was known by a half dozen other quixotic names.18 There seem to have been members of it in Indiana and even Mexico before the war. An intricate organization of "Castles," "Outer" and "Inner Temples," "Knights of the Iron Hand," "Knights of the True Faith," "Knights of the Columbian Star" and others with equally fantastic names had been partially perfected. It contemplated the conquest of Mexico and perhaps the division of the United States. Such a medieval fancy, it is evident now, could never have been car- ried out in the nineteenth century, but the rise of the Civil war brought it into unmerited prominence. In the election of 1860 these knights supported Breck- inridge. From correspondence it seems quite a number of Indiana men belonged to "Castles" in Kentucky, and that perhaps 500 members belonged to "Castles" on the north side of the Ohio in Indi- ana and Illinois.
These men were, of course, violently opposed to the war, especially after the war involved the de- struction of slavery. How far this society accounts for the opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation in Indiana can not be ascertained.
18 The following explanation is given by P. C. Wright, who organized it in Indlana: "In examining the papers of General Gaines, he came across what purported to be a secret organiza- tion that existed during the Revolutionary war. He told me that General Lee was president of the association, as appeared from the papers; that Madison, Jefferson, and, I believe, Wash- ington, had belonged to it; that It had exerted a very powerful agency in maintaining the contest during the war, and establish- ing our present form of government; that he thought he would establish a similar order." Treason Trials at Indianapolis, 98.
780
HISTORY OF INDIANA
During 1861 and the early part of 1862 the knights were not active. It seemed at that time the South would be speedily conquered. However, with the returning power of the South toward the close of 1862 the "Circles" seem to have become active. It was at this time the historic order in the northwest sprang up. In 1863 it became threatening and in 1864 it was so active that the government was com- pelled to take it in charge. In Missouri under Gen. Sterling Price it became the "Southern League" or "Corps de Belgique." In New York, Ohio and else- where it was known as the "Order of American Knights." In Indiana the lodges were called "Sons of Liberty," "Order of American Knights," "Stars," "Peace Organizations" and by various other titles.
Everywhere the organizations were similar. In the numerous rituals confiscated by United States officers there were "Supreme Councils," "Grand Councils," and "County Parent Temples" above the individual lodges.19 Its pompous ritual is of little interest historically except that part which trained a military force and bound it to the lodge with treasonable vows. P. C. Wright, of New York, New Orleans and St. Louis, was first supreme com- mander. After he was arrested his place was filled by C. L. Vallandigham of Ohio. Robert Holloway, of Illinois, was deputy supreme commander and suc- ceeded Vallandigham when the latter was expelled from the United States.
In Indiana the grand commander of the state was Harrison H. Dodd, of Indianapolis; deputy grand commander was Horace Heffren, editor of the Salem Democrat, member of the General Assembly and a
19 These rituals are given in Treason Trials, 295, seq.
781
GOLDEN CIRCLE
prominent Democratic politician; William M. Harri- son was grand secretary; the major generals of the order were Col. W. A. Bowles, of French Lick, for- merly colonel of the Second Indiana in the Mexican war; John C. Walker, of LaPorte, L. P. Milligan, of Huntington county, and Andrew Humphreys, of Greene county. These men, except Heffren, were elected at the state council, held at Indianapolis in November, 1863. Dr. James S. Athon, secretary of state, Joseph Ristine, state auditor, J. J. Bingham, editor of the Sentinel, M. C. Kerr of New Albany, and D. W. Voorhees, of Terre Haute, were among the influential members.
As noted above the order became active in Indi- ana in 1863, especially before the victories of Gettys- burg and Vicksburg. There were perhaps 50,000 members then, though it is doubtful if many of these were aware of the treasonable nature of the order. In March, 1863, Gen. Henry B. Carrington was placed in charge of the military district of which Indiana was a part. He was well acquainted with the situation and had been assigned to the station largely to please Governor Morton. He at once be- gan to ferret out the activities of the order.
The serio-comic incident known as the battle of Pogue's Run doubtless aroused the state and federal authorities to action on the matter. On the 20th of May, 1863, Seymour, Vallandigham, Hendricks, McDonald and others were billed to address a mon- ster mass meeting of Democrats on the state house lawn at Indianapolis. Governor Morton, as well as Gen. Milo Hascall, in charge of the district, had de- tailed information of the plan of the meeting. Gen- eral Hascall prepared for the meeting by arming and drilling irregular troops then at the capital. These, under command of Col. John Coburn, were stationed at advantageous points of the city with
782
HISTORY OF INDIANA
instructions for any emergency. The mass meeting was widely advertised, special trains were arranged from many parts of the state and nothing had been left undone to insure a crowd. However, the leaders had misgivings about the program. Governor Sey- mour, of New York, and Congressman Samuel S. Cox, of Ohio, felt more comfortable at home and remained there. George H. Pendleton, an Ohio con- gressman, could not be located, although some thought him in Indianapolis at the time. Vallandig- ham, also a congressman from Ohio, having been jailed by a federal marshal, was excusable in his absence. This left the burden of the oratory on Daniel Voorhees, then a congressman from Indiana, and Thomas A. Hendricks, United States senator from Indiana. The former had drawn a discourag- ing picture of the political situation in the opening remarks,20 resolutions had been prepared, and Hen- dricks was speaking when a squad of blue-coated soldiers with bayonets fixed and rifles cocked, ap- proached the speaker's stand from the Circle. Whether it was a preconcerted scheme or not, a dozen or so cavalrymen came up Tennessee street at a gallop. The crowd broke up in angry disorder. The soldiers were ordered back by Col. John Coburn and the whole affair passed by without a collision. After the meeting adjourned there was considerable disorder on the streets. Vociferous knights to the number of forty were haled to police headquarters and relieved of their pistols. Others who condemned Lincoln and Morton too loudly were manhandled by
20 Foulke's Life of Morton, 274. "Confusion and disorder darken the sky; the very earth is laden with the sorrow of our people; the voice of woe comes up from every portion of our distracted country; the angel of death has spread his wings on the blast, and there has been no sacred blood sprinkled upon the door-posts of our homes to stay the hand of the destroyer."
783
GOLDEN CIRCLE
the soldiers who mingled with the crowd in spite of orders to remain away.
As the evening trains were loading and slowly pulling out of the Indianapolis union station there was an increasing amount of revolver firing. As the Indiana Central for the peaceful city of Richmond came to New Jersey street it was confronted by a cannon and came to a stop. A policeman collected about 200 revolvers from the passengers. The Cin- cinnati and Peru trains were likewise held up and searched. In all about 1,000 revolvers were taken. Many of the courageous gentlemen, as soon as they saw what was going on, generously handed their pis- tols to the women, on one of whom were found seven. The Cincinnati train was stopped along the banks of Pogue's Run into which a few scores of revolvers were flung by their alarmed owners, thus giving rise to the title, "Battle of Pogue's Run." The Lafay- ette and Terre Haute trains left somewhat earlier and it was the fusillades from these that caused the trouble to their friends on the other trains. It was said that at least 500 shots were fired from the Terre Haute train at the Soldiers' home in the west part of Indianapolis. Thanks to the coolness and coward- ice of the actors no one was hurt during the whole day.
Little can be said of the courtesy or good sense of those who planned the meeting or of those who stood between the ragged battle flags of the Seventh and Thirteenth regiments and denounced them and their country. The Seventh had fought at Chancel- lorsville two weeks before and was to fight at Gettys- burg six weeks later, while the Thirteenth was down on the South Carolina coast trying to close Charles- ton harbor.21
21 Both the Indianapolis Journal and Sentinel, May 21, 1863,
784
HISTORY OF INDIANA
Felix Stidger, a facile Kentuckian, had been de- tailed by General Carrington to keep the government posted on the activities of the Knights of the Golden Circle. He became a leading knight, secured not only all the secrets of the officers of the Circle, but the rituals, constitutions and proceedings of the order both in Kentucky and Indiana and then disclosed them to General Carrington and Governor Morton.
The resuscitation of the order in Indiana seems to have been due to the efforts of either Col. W. A.
give detailed accounts of this affair. "The military commander had taken alarm, or had thought that some precautionary means were necessary, and early in the morning the troops at the various camps were placed on duty .. A regiment of infantry in full marching order was posted in the Governor's Circle, and two pieces of artillery were placed to sweep the streets leading to it. A twelve-pounder was placed opposite the headquarters, so as to rake Virginia avenue, and a company of soldiers stacked arms at the point where that thoroughfare debouches into Washington street. Another company stacked arms at the junction south of Delaware and Washington streets. It is needless to say that no person was suffered to pass these points without speclal permis- sion. A section of a battery, with an infantry support, was placed at the new Arsenal east of the city, and two guns were placed ranging on the speakers' stand at the State House, sup- ported by a squadron of cavalry, concealed by the buildings." Sentinel, May 21.
"Considering the numbers present upon the occasion-and it was without doubt the largest political convention ever assem- bled in the capital-a more orderly, quiet and peaceable body of men never met together. They were the solid men of Indiana; and they assembled for no other purpose than to consult upon the perilous condition of the country. Of course, in so large an assemblage, it was to be expected that there would be some indis- creet men, but none who were 'desperadoes armed for any sort of mischief they could find to do,' as the Journal maliciously charges. We never saw so large a body of men together who made greater effort to avoid giving any offense to their political opponents; and there would have been no disturbance worthy of note, if it had not been for outside Interruptions."-Sentinel, May 23.
785
GOLDEN CIRCLE
Bowles or H. H. Dodd. Either at their solicitation or on his own account P. C. Wright, supreme com- mander, came to Indiana in August, 1863. At Terre Haute, August 27, a grand council of the state was organized by Wright. Delana R. Eccles, H. H. Dodd, Dr. Bowles, David T. Yeakle, John G. Davis, William M. Harrison and others were initiated, taking the three degrees. On the tenth of the following month the grand council met at Indianapolis, in their own hall. Dodd presided but Wright initiated the new members.
This council divided the state into four military districts corresponding to the four quarters of the state. Over each district was to be a major general who was empowered to select his brigadiers and colonels. Each county, in general, was to maintain a regiment and each township a company. The mili- tary members of the order were to go into regular training while the other members were merely to arm themselves. At the grand council meeting, Feb- ruary 16 and 17, 1864, held in Indianapolis, details of this military scheme were completed.
Delegates to the meetings of the supreme coun- cils to be held at New York were chosen by the Indi- ana council. John G. Davis, a former congressman from Indiana, and D. R. Eccles were chosen for the Chicago meeting to be held in September, 1863. Perhaps Dodd and Bowles represented the state at the New York meeting. It was at these national meetings that the plan was prepared to overturn the state governments of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, release the confederate prisoners at Co- lumbus, Indianapolis, Chicago and Rock Island, seize the governments and launch the famous Northwest- ern confederacy in close alliance and sympathy with its sister of the south.
786
HISTORY OF INDIANA
At the first meeting of the grand council of Indi- ana a system of state organizations was perfected. Each county was to have a "temple" presided over by the grand seignor, a member of the state "grand council," who was to organize at least one subordi- nate lodge in each township. The county members as a rule were not acquainted with the state organi- zation and its military program. The great majority of the county members took only what was known as the "vestibule" oath or "neophyte lesson." These were not knights and never became so unless "found worthy.''22 At the meeting, September 10, about thirty counties were represented, situated in all parts of the state. At the last meeting of the grand council, held at Indianapolis, June 14, 1864, there were forty-five counties organized with a military force variously estimated from 15,000 to 20,000.23
As soon as the supreme council had developed the scheme for a Northwestern confederacy Grand Commander Dodd began to organize Indiana for revolt. A large part of the details of this fell to Dr. Bowles as senior major general. A report on arms
22 The following clauses are from this oath: "That I will never speak of, nor intimate any purpose or purposes of this order, whether contemplated or determined, to any one except to a brother of this order, whom I know to be such. * That I will never pronounce the name of this order in the hearing of any man, woman or child, except to a brother of this order, whom I know to be such. * * I will, at all times, if needs be, take up arms in the cause of all the oppressed-in my country, first of all-against any Monarch, Prince, Potentate, Power or Government usurped, which may be found in arms, and waging war against a people or peoples who are endeavoring to establish or have inaugurated, a government for themselves of their own free choice, in accordance with, and founded upon, the eternal principles of Truth !" Treason Trials, 299.
23 Grand Secretary William M. Harrison gave 18,000 as his estimate. Treason Trials, 87. This did not include vestibule members.
787
GOLDEN CIRCLE
was called for and made by the counties. How many arms this report showed does not appear but from an inspection of shipping bills, General Carrington estimated that during the two months, February and March, 1864, near 30,000 guns and revolvers were brought into the state. J. B. Wilson, of Salem, ad- jutant general of the organization, is credited with saying that $500,000 had been appropriated to the state for the purchase of arms. John C. Walker, who spent a great deal of his time in the east, and who was a major general of the order, seems to have been active in procuring arms. As fast as secured, arms, variously disguised as "hardware," "pick axes," "Sunday school books," "nails," or "house- hold goods," were shipped into the state, those to Indianapolis going to J. J. Parson, and stored in Dodd's printing office.
How far the Golden Circle controlled events, or how far it merely took advantage of opportunities can not be told with certainty, but in the beginning of 1864 Jefferson Davis appointed peace commis- sioners to meet with agents of the United States in Canada. At this time the details of the Northwest- ern revolution were discussed and agreed upon. At about the same time Dr. Bowles had sent agents, one to Gen. Sterling Price in Missouri, the other, to Richmond to urge invasions of Missouri and Ken- tucky respectively. Communications with Kentucky bushwhackers were intimated in the evidence given at the trials to the effect that some 3,000 of these would quietly cross the Ohio, one by one, and terror- ize southern Indiana, especially during the approach- ing election.
A Dutch chemist was busily experimenting with all kinds of explosives and a certain "Greek fire" by which some steamers on the river had been burned and which seemed to open up great possi-
788
HISTORY OF INDIANA
bilities of further destruction.2 Dr. Bowles had pre- pared, or was about to prepare, a regiment or some companies armed as the Mexicans were at Buena Vista with deadly lances provided with hooks to cut bridle reins with.25 The first date agreed upon for the uprising seems to have been July 20, 1864, but it was soon ascertained that that date was too early and August 16 was substituted.
The order was composed entirely of Democrats and nearly all its activities were concealed under the cloak of that organization. The lodges were popu- larly referred to by the members as Democratic reading rooms. In the famous fiasco at Chicago, August 29-31, most of the participants from Indiana
24 Treason Trials, 33. "Their occupation on Sunday, during the time they were here, was down in the basement of a building, testing their Greek fire. They had a chemist there whom Bowies said he had known for some time, and that now they had nearly brought this Greek fire to perfection," p. 138. "For the purpose of destroying government property. The Greek fire, he said, had been improved, and was much better than that used before. It was to be so arranged that a person could take a vloi, walk along a building, and throw it down, and it could be so prepared in regard to its strength as to take fire after three or four, or more hours; and neither vinegar, water nor molasses would put it out. I was told by Bocking, when in prison, how it was made; he said it was bi-suiphate of carbon and phosphorus."
25 Treason Trials, 128: "The first I knew of it was from Dr. Wilson telling me that Bowles had made an arrangement to have nine companies of infantry, one of lancers, and one section of artillery, to comprise each regiment in this order. The lancera were to be armed with lances, of what length I do not know, but there was to be a hook, somewhat after the fashion of a sickle; the lance to punch with, and a sickle to cut the horse's bridle; there was to be a thrust and a cut, a thrust for the man, and a cut for the horses' bridles; he thought the enemy would become confused and distracted, and if a charge was made upon them when they had no means of controlling the horses, they would be easily mashed up."
789
GOLDEN CIRCLE
were delegates to the convention.20 Grand Com- mander Dodd and his secret committee of thirteen now sought out J. J. Bingham, state chairman of the Democratic party and editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, as a member of the grand council of the Sons of Liberty and proposed that a mass meeting of Democrats be called for Indianapolis for that date, August 16.27 When Bingham refused to do this Dodd asked that he use his influence with W. H. Talbot of the Democratic congressional commit- tee to have him call a meeting. From his conduct it seems Dodd had sent out the order for the revolu- tion on that date, for he next sought out Judge David E. McDonald in order to enlist his influence.
While this matter was agitating the leaders of the party at Indianapolis, Michael C. Kerr, of New Albany, arrived, considerably excited over the situa- tion. He reported great concern among the people of Washington, Harrison and Floyd counties over some impending calamity.28 On August 17 and 20
26 Treason Trials, 125: "Q. Of what political faith were the majority of the men comprising that organization? A. They were all Democrats. Q. State whether any other class of men were admitted, or was it a sine qua non that a man must be a Democrat? A. I do not think any one would have got in unless he professed to be a Democrat." P. 316. "Let me speak plain- our political affinity ia unquestionably with the Democratic party, and if that organization goes boldly to the work, standing firmly upon its time-honored principles, maintaining unsullied its integ- rity, it is safe to presume that it will receive the moral and phys- Ical support of this wide extended association."
27 "I asked 'how is this revolution to take place, and nobody know anything about it?' As to the way in which it was to be done here, and at Louisville, he made a suggestion to me, as I was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, which was that I should call a mass meeting of the Democracy on the 16th of August." Treason Trials, 101.
28 "As I walked down Washington street I saw a gentleman coming up rapidly, and I stopped him: 'Halloo! Kerr, what has
790
HISTORY OF INDIANA
shipments of arms and ammunition were intercepted by the authorities at Indianapolis and on the last of August, Dodd was placed in jail by order of Gen. . A. P. Hovey, then in command of the federal dis- trict. A court martial was instituted and on Sep- tember 22, the trial began. As a special favor Dodd had been imprisoned in a room of the postoffice build- ing from which, just before daylight on the morning of October 7, he escaped. Both political parties at least were glad of his escape.
J. J. Bingham, of Indianapolis, W. A. Bowles, of French Lick, Andrew Humphreys, of Bloomfield, Horace Heffren of Salem, Lambden P. Milligan of Huntington and Stephen Horsey of Shoals had been arrested in the meantime. The trial of these men was continued after the flight of Dodd, though there was perhaps no intention of serious punishment after his flight. Four of the conspirators, Bingham, Wilson, Heffren and Humphreys, were permitted to turn state's evidence. It was the principal purpose, it seems, on the part of General Hovey and Governor Morton to convince the public of the infamy of the society and in this they succeeded. Bowles, Milligan and Horsey were sentenced to death and Humphreys sentenced to life imprisonment. At the intercession of the governor, President Johnson pardoned them, though the governor found it quite as hard to obtain their pardon as it had been their conviction. The
brought you here?' I said. He seemed very much excited. ‘Do you know anything?' he said; and I said, 'Do you know any- thing?' 'Yes,' he replied. 'What Is it?' said I. He then said, "The devil's to pay in our section of the State; the people of Washington, Harrison and Floyd countles and that neighborhood had got the idea that a revolution was impending; the farmers were frightened, and were selling their hay in the fields and their wheat in the stacks, and all the property that could be was being converted into greenbacks.'" Treason Trials, 101.
791
GOLDEN CIRCLE
supreme court later held that the court martial was without jurisdiction, but its verdict had long before accomplished its purpose in exposing the traitors.
This closed the career of the famous order. Nothing can be said in favor of it. As a declaration of principles it was fifty years too late; as an eco- nomic organization it was brute force against right, the highwayman's creed on which slavery and feud- alism had been tried and failed.29 Its politics was a system based on revolution, decentralization and final anarchy. It inculcated no system of morality, although its pompous ritual contained a great many high-sounding phrases intended to mislead the thoughtless. One of its purposes was to end a civil war by means of insurrection. Specifically, it en- couraged desertion from the army, both directly and indirectly, tampering with courts and public officers to accomplish this purpose. It offered every pos- sible opposition to enlistment from the plea of the pacifist to the assassination of draft officers. It
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.