[7], That same year, Asbury Harpending and California members of the Knights of the Golden Circle in San Francisco outfitted the schooner J. M. Chapman as a Confederate privateer in San Francisco Bay, with the object of raiding commerce on the Pacific Coast and capturing gold shipments to the East Coast. Discover more about Copperhead opposition to Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. presidential election of 1864, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Knights-of-the-Golden-Circle, Texas State Historical Association - Handbook of Texas - Knights of the Golden Circle. Within a couple of years, Bickley claimed to have recruited a Texas army of 16,000 men at least on paper. It was to prepare the way for annexation of a Randolph W. Farmer, The Knights of the Golden Circle in Texas: How a Secret Society Shaped a State (Las Vegas, Nevada: Vita Histria, 2022). The Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) was a secret society founded in 1854 by American George W. L. Bickley, the objective of which was to create a new country, known as the Golden Circle (Spanish: Crculo Dorado), where slavery would be legal. During the American Civil War, some Southern sympathizers in the Union or Northern states, such as Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, were accused of belonging to the Knights of the Golden Circle, and in some cases, such as that of Lambdin P. Milligan, they were imprisoned for their activities. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. During his lifetime, Boston-born Pike was an author, educator, lawyer, Confederate brigadier general, newspaper editor, poet, and a Thirty-third Degree Mason. Bickley, who served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army before being arrested as a spy in Indiana in July 1863 and held until October 1865, died in August 1867. WebKnights of the Golden Circle, a semi-military secret society that was active in the Midwestern states during the American Civil War. By The Numbers: Golden Knights Use Team Effort to Beat Jets Donald S. Frazier, Blood & Treasure: Confederate Empire in the Southwest (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1996). did not become active until 18591860 when he undertook an organizing campaign across the southern states. The Cavalry commander J.E.B. As you may know, I created a Yahoo group 3 years ago this month whose job has been to investigate the controversial life and death of Bloody Bill Anderson of Quantrill's Raiders and also to discuss and analyze all available information about the Knights of the Golden Circle. Subscribe for as little as $4 I find some of my best information about the KGC from old online newspaper articles. Sam Houston, who reportedly became an initiate. Handbook of Texas Online, Golden Knights The purpose of the Knights mission was to capture a virtual monopoly on the worlds supply of tobacco and sugar and perhaps cotton, all extremely lucrative crops in the mid-1800s. The Golden Knights became the first team to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The KGC held numerous peace meetings. In the novel Queen of the Northern Mines (2011),[17] the KGC plots to seize a gold shipment from Nevada County, California, on its way to San Francisco. Receiving reports of the activities of the Order of American Knights (a new name for the alleged order) in Missouri and Illinois, U.S. Pres. Want to Buy a couple of defunct CTX 3030 batteries. The aftermath of WWI eventually led to WWII, and this led to the Cold War, which makes the Black Hand one of the most strangely influential forces of the twentieth century. A Confederate Empire: The Knights of the Golden Circle Membership levels were initially first and second degree, but in the 1750s this was expanded to create the third degree which caused a split in the group. Joseph Holt, United States Judge Advocate General, submitted a report in October 1864 that warned Secretary of War Edwin Stanton about the danger of this plot, which he attributed at times to the K.G.C. Once Texas seceded in March 1861, individual Knights participated in the actions that displaced the authority of the United States in Texas, leading some Unionists such as James P. Newcomb to emphasize the role of the organization in destroying the Union. For example, the military division comprised the Foreign Guard, those men who wished to participate in the wild, glorious and thrilling adventures of a campaign in Mexico and the Home Guard, men who would support military efforts from home. Reports of K.G.C. The Knights of the Golden Circle emerged in 1858 when a secret society formed by a Cincinnati businessman merged with the pro-expansionist Order of the Lone Star, which already had 15,000 members. They were known for their extreme discretion in minimizing civilian casualties, as well as their penchant for using stealth to intimidate their targets. George W. L. Bickley, a Virginia-born doctor, editor, and adventurer, was one of the founders of the K.G.C. It was concentrated in the Deep South, on large plantations devoted to the commodity crops of cotton and sugar cane, but it was the basis of agricultural and other labor throughout the southern states. Newspaper editors across the lower South generally reacted favorably to his message, and Texas proved notably strong in its support. Many people believe that the Illuminati is still operating and managing the main actions of the governments of the world. WebThe Knights of the Golden Circle was reorganized in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 4, 1854, by five men, whose names have been lost to history, when Virginia-born Gen. George W. L. Not content to simply safeguard the institution where it was already practiced, they insisted on spreading slavery even further, guaranteeing that itand the white supremacy upon which it restedwould endure. It formed as an offshoot from Narodna Adbrona, a group that sought to unite all of the Slavic people of Europe under one country. A successor organization, the Sons of Liberty, was alleged to have taken its place. In some cases you must be recommended three times before you can join. The Effect is the death of President Lincoln, whose profile portrait at right is framed by swags of black drapery. When a person reaches the third degree, they are called a Master Mason. Knights of the Golden Circle: Secret Empire, - The History List [6], Hounded by creditors, Bickley left Cincinnati in the late 1850s and traveled through the East and South, promoting an armed expedition to Mexico. The convention confirmed Bickley as leader and published a lengthy address to the people of the southern states that remains the most reliable statement of the K.G.C.s organization and goals. lodges, what they called Castles, in several states. Go behind closed doors as we examine the 10 most Elite secret societies in history. to continue reading. Warren Getler and Bob Brewer, Rebel Gold: One Mans Quest to Crack the Code Behind the Secret Treasure of the Confederacy (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004). Everything old is new again such as conspiracies, clandestine groups, bogus political rhetoric, power grabs and violence. The KGC and their potential involvement with President Lincoln's assassination are discussed in an episode of the History Channel series America Unearthed. The order of the Golden Dawn was created by Dr. William Robert Woodman, William Wynn Westcott, and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. During the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign, scam artists in south-central Pennsylvania sold Pennsylvania Dutch farmers $1 paper tickets purported to be from the Knights of the Golden Circle. Even before that, the K.G.C. The Golden Knights rank 11th in total goals against, allowing 2.7 goals per game (225 total) in NHL action. This doesnt mean that they dont still have some bizarre practices. Bickley responded by calling a general convention of the K.G.C., which met in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 711, 1860. The leaders were sentenced to death or imprisonment by military commissions, but the sentences were suspended, and in 1866 the convictions were overturned by a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. This protects the group from people finding out how to gain admission under false pretenses. Copperheads Fernando Wood, former Democratic mayor of New York City, and Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio were reputed to be the chief officers. Here is a cemetery list of many members of the Knights of the Golden Circle. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Even though there were some known Freemasons in the membership, it was not considered to be endorsed by Masonry. These investigators also allege that many famed characters from the Civil War era, including John Wilkes Booth and Jesse James, belonged to and acted under the influence of the Knights. You have to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. ET, To Have and Have Another: The Life and Times (and Cocktails) of Ernest Hemingway, Byrdcliffe: An American Arts and Crafts Colony, The Cuban Missile Crisis: Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger. Other conspiracy stories claim the Knights stole millions in U.S. Army payrolls and gold, buried across Texas. These clubs were inspired by the philosophies of John C. Calhoun (17821850). The KGC's proposal grew out of previous unsuccessful proposals to annex Cuba (Ostend Manifesto), parts of Central America (Filibuster War), and all of Mexico (All of Mexico Movement). Maybe the last Castle of Knights of the Golden Circle old school. [1]:102104 The Secretary of War, John Floyd and of Treasury, Howell Cobb, were members of the circle, in addition to Vice President John Breckenridge. Loyalist Leaders of the Democratic Party opposed to Abraham Lincoln's administration denounced the draft and other wartime measures, such as the arrest of seditious persons and the president's temporary suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE. In the spring of 1860, a small group of K.G.C. http://knightsofthegoldencircle.webs.com/. convention held in 1860 state that the organization "originated at Lexington, Kentucky, on the fourth day of July 1854, by five gentlemen who came together on a call made by Gen. George Bickley". Pro-Union supporters and anti-secessionists claimed that the Knights used pressure and threats to keep voters from the November polls and a referendum on secession in February 1861. The society uses masonic inspired rituals to this day. The signs and handshakes often differ from one jurisdiction to another and are often changed or updated. Bickley created, on paper at least, an army of 16,000 men. Various clandestine actions were undertaken to accomplish this, including a plan in 1861 to intercept Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore and kidnap him before he could take the Oath of Office (which Allen Pinkerton scuttled). As he promoted his organization, Bickley focused on the annexation of Mexico as an essential first step. Some supported slavery and others were worried about the power of the federal government. Other members included Jefferson Davis, Bedford Forrest, and William Quantrill (leader of the Confederate guerilla outfit Quantrill's Raiders, with whom James rode). Alternative Title: Order of American Knights. Knights of the Golden Circle, a semi-military secret society that was active in the Midwestern states during the American Civil War. In 1859 George Bickley, a freebooter and adventurer, launched a fraternal order which proposed the establishment of military colonies of Americans in Mexico. Below are all the Halls that are listed on our lists. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. By 1860, one-fourth of Bell Countys population of 4,000 was enslaved. (Texas): W.H. They often paid with Confederate currency or with drafts on the Confederate government. Looks like I found the right place. LSU Press :: Books - Knights of the Golden Circle The Texas KGC supported President of the United States James Buchanan's policy of, and draft treaty for, protecting routes for U.S commerce across Mexico, which also failed to be approved by the U.S. just in case someone is interested in research. no problemlet me know when you have finished reading these.. Hi gldhntr. It is considered by many to be a forerunner of the Ordo Templi Orientis and a majority of modern Occult groups. Knights of the Golden Circle Masons also wear stylized clothing based upon the clothing worn by stone masons from the middle ages. The group was made up of Shia Muslims who broke off from a bigger sect and banded together in order to establish a utopian Shiite state. In either case, the goal was to increase the power of the Southern slave-holding upper class to such a degree that it could never be dislodged.[3]. In a post-Civil War hearing, a U.S. senator condemned the Knights messaging as so absolutely and infamously false that he did not know how to choose language to denounce it as such.. WebThe Knights of the Golden Circle had been organized in the late 1850s and were said to be dedicated to preserving the slave states and to establishing a new slave empire in Mexico. Knights In the mid-19th century, some Bell County men as well as many other Texans were caught up in the Knights of the Golden Circle, a secretive group endeavoring to establish its own slave-holding empire in the U.S. South and Mexico, West Indies and parts of Central America. The order and its alleged influence sparked the formation of Union League clubs to carry on counterpropaganda. In an angry letter to Seward, Pierce denied that he knew anything about the KGC, and demanded that his letter be made public. Because of its secrecy, the Knights full membership list can never be verified. WebCategory:Knights of the Golden Circle members Tools Help Pages in category "Knights of the Golden Circle members" The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total. This program is over. As such, the group makes much less of an attempt to be secretive today than it did in the past. did not have the strength attributed to it in such reports. Furthermore, it has been alleged in the History Channel program 'America Unearthed,' (episode 'Lincoln's Secret Assassins') that the James-Younger Gang was the principal source of funds for a second U.S. Civil War that never occurred. Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. Following the Mexican-American War of 1846, the group's original goal was to provide a force to colonize the northern part of Mexico and the West Indies. In the summer of 1863, Congress authorized a military draft, which the administration soon put into operation. This entry belongs to the following Handbook Special Projects: We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. As far-fetched as the Knights theories were, many followers, including those in Bell County, were sucked into the rhetoric and promises of their wealth and control. SMALL LIST OF KNIGHTS of the GOLDEN CIRCLE RESEARCH I went first to our group's extensive Links section and looked through the following list for James Hall. Famed occultist and all-around eccentric Aleister Crowley composed much of the groups lore, including a manifesto called the Mysteria Mystica Maxima, and he later became its head. During the Civil War, leaders of the K.G.C. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. In 1864, it became the Order of the Sons of Liberty, with the Ohio politician Clement L. Vallandigham, most prominent of the Copperheads, as its supreme commander. Many of the smaller caches have been moved to larger, combined caches, and as a result, many of the legends will end up leading to an empty hole. Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org. Many religions frown upon membership of the Masons, and the Roman Catholic Church forbids Catholics to join under pain of excommunication. addthis_url = location.href; WebThe Knights of the Golden Circle was a mysterious southern-based society that set out in 1859 to establish a slave empire in Mexico. Nevertheless, in spite of the fraternitys official disclaimers, some Masons, non-Masons, and even anti-Masons insist that certain Masonic rites or degrees originally had direct Templar influence. TSHA | Knights of the Golden Circle - Handbook of Texas In the years prior to the American Civil War, the rise of support for abolition of slavery was one of several divisive issues in the United States. The 10 Most Elite Secret Societies In History - Elite Daily In an outbreak of mob justice that became known as the Texas Troubles, alarmed Texans formed committees to search for and punish blacks and Unionist whites whom the Knights demonized. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=755868, function webURL() { Armstrong Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [5] Other KGC members followed Brig. Robert Barnwell Rhett, who has been called "the father of secession", said a few days after Lincoln's election: We will expand, as our growth and civilization shall demandover Mexicoover the isles of the seaover the far-off Southern tropicsuntil we shall establish a great Confederation of Republicsthe greatest, freest and most useful the world has ever seen. List of many KGC members - Knights of the Golden Circle This group is now known as the Bavarian Illuminati. Every penny counts! The original objective of the KGC was to annex a "golden circle" of territories in Mexico (which would be divided into 25 slave states), Central America, northern South America, and Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean for inclusion in the United States as slave states. George W. L. Bickley, a doctor, editor, and adventurer who lived in Cincinnati, founded the association, organizing the first castle, or local branch, in Cincinnati in 1854. It is one of the oldest student secret societies in the United States. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/knights-of-the-golden-circle. Converts came from all strata of Bell County society: prominent Belton physician, Salado planter, judges, powerful county politicians and prosperous merchants. Members meet every Thursday and Sunday of each week in a building they call the Tomb. No famous members, but attendees have included Ben Bernanke, the royal families of Spain and the Netherlands, World Bank officials, and representatives from major corporations The Bilderberg Group is not a secret society per se, but it does operate under a similar veil of mystery, which has made it the subject of countless conspiracy theories and criticisms. Many Texas newspapers, including the Bell County Democrat, heartily supported Bickley and the Knights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_the_Golden_Circle, The Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) were a pro-slavery secret society in the mid-nineteenth-century United States. European colonialism and dependence on slavery had declined more rapidly in some countries than others. [3][citation needed] As volunteers continued to join McCulloch the following day, the U.S. Army Gen. David E. Twiggs decided to surrender the arsenal peacefully to the secessionists. Victory by the Union in the Civil War destroyed the cause for which the K.G.C. In order to become a member of this group, you must already be a Christian Master Mason. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Secret society in the mid-19th-century US, Plans to seize Lincoln and inaugurate Breckinridge as president. developed a second plan for invading Mexico later in 1860, but it proved abortive as attention turned to the presidential election and the secession movement that followed immediately across the lower South. 3 coppers, Silver Trade Broach fragment and First Wax Seal Matrix. No famous members, but attendees have included Ben Bernanke, the royal families of Spain and the Netherlands, World Bank officials, and representatives from major The new charges, said Lincoln on receiving Hays report, were as puerile as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Treason trials against members of the Sons of Liberty in Indianapolis on the eve of the election of 1864 furnished campaign material for the Republicans.