Knights of the Golden Circle

KIRKWOOD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 4/17/2008 at 00:12:17

THE PEOPLE OF IOWA

A general description of the activities of this organization is presented in a letter written by Governor Kirkwood to the Secretary of War in March, 1863:*

There is a very unfortunate state of affairs in our State at this time. A secret organization known as the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” is widely spread through the State, the object of which I am informed and believe is to embarrass the government in the prosecution of the war, mainly by encouraging desertions from the army, protecting deserters from arrest, discouraging enlistments, preparing the public mind for an armed resistance to a conscription, if ordered, and if possible to place the state government at the next election in the hands of men who will control it to thwart the policy of the administration in the prosecution of the war. Indeed, with the exception of advising desertions, the purposes above mentioned are openly advised and advocated by many persons in the State. . . . There is undoubtedly a feverish and excited state of the public mind, and matters must be managed here prudently and firmly or a collision may ensue. I wrote you a few days since asking you to send me some arms, and also to allow me to raise two or three regiments as a State guard. I regard these as measures both of precaution and prevention. Much that is said in regard to resistance to the laws is no doubt mere bluster; but I believe there are men engaged in this work of desperate fortunes, political and otherwise, who would have the courage to lead an outbreak, and who would rejoice in the opportunity. I think it extremely probable that there are in this and other Northern States paid agents of the Rebels who are organizing machinery and using the means to effect the purpose herein attributed to the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” and there is real danger that the efforts of these men may so operate on the minds of their honest but deluded followers in some localities as to cause a collision among our people. . . . The dismissal of those “arbitrarily arrested,” as the phrase goes, has had a bad effect in this, that it had led many to suppose that the Government had not the power to punish. I scarcely know what to advise in regard to these men who are talking treason, huzzahing for Jeff Davis, and organizing “Knights of the Golden Circle”; it would be worse than useless to arrest them, unless they can be tried, and if found guilty, punished. If arrests could be made, trials and convictions had, and punishment sharply administered, the effect would be excellent.

*Quoted in Gue’s History of Iowa.