my. They were not even to disclose the murder of any returned soldier
or Union man, if done by any one belonging to this organization. They
were told in the instructions that men were sent into our prisons to
obligate and instruct all prisoners, so that they could make themselves
known in traveling, should they escape; also, that the organization
extended into Canada, as well as every State in the North; that men
in our army belonged to it, who would retreat in battle, or surrender
whenever they could do so; they could always make themselves known to
the rebel commanders; that the members were in every way possible
to foment jealousies and ill-feeling between the Eastern and Western
troops, and especially between the commanding Generals of the two
sections; they were to encourage the Western volunteers not to allow
themselves to be commanded by Eastern officers, and especially were
they to tickle the fancy and pride of the Eastern officers and men, by
encouraging them not to allow themselves to be subjected to the control
of the uneducated men of the West--in short, every kind and character
of argument was to be resorted to. In the event of failure, any other
means, no matter what, was to be employed to cause failure on our part
and success on theirs.

[Illustration: Knights of the Golden Circle meeting in a barn 103]

"Peter wrote down every word told us by Dent, being very careful about
the signs and passwords. This being done, we cautioned-Dent to be
extremely careful in his conversations with others, and never to speak
of this organization to any one, for fear that he might get into trouble
or suffer in some way from its members. Dent bade us good day and
left for home. We returned to the house and there read over Peter's
memorandum carefully, and studied the signs and passwords so as to fully
comprehend them. This, to us, was a serious question. Peter felt as
though there was much in this to cause our country great trouble in
addition to what was already upon us. I said to Peter that I would at
once write to the President and send him all the statements as they were
made to us by Dent, as well as suggest to him the necessity of having
this conspiracy (as it was nothing less) ferreted out at once, which I
did that day, and also suggested the arrest and trial of all that could
be found who were engaged in getting up these organizations. I soon
received a letter, not from the President, but from another, which
satisf