The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 346

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

eracy, caused a general panic and disquietude among them. Many
of the Union men began to remove northward, and finally,
under the proclamation of President Davis extending to such
the privilege of removing beyond the limits of the Confederacy,
a great number returned to the United States.
Deprived of this great moral support, the members of the
"Order" thought best to defer active operations, and those who
remained were silent and passive, submissive to the rules of order
and obedient to the mandates of the law.
But when war, relentless war, called the gallant sons of Texas
from their happy homes and firesides and confined them to the
tented field, the worst [fears] of those who watched the move-
ments of the domestic enemy began to be realized. Many of the
members went into the army, apparently in good faith; but after-
wards, it was ascertained, they designed only to obtain an oppor-
tunity to confer with the Northern army upon subjects connected
with their organization. And through the active agency of those
hanging on the flanks and rear of the invading forces in Missouri,
many of whom were well acquainted with this country and the
members of the band, those who remained at home were kept
constantly advised as to the progress of the "Order."
Looking with ardent hope for a strong force to reach Texas
from Fort Scott through the Indian Territories, they at once
began a vigorous prosecution of their favorite enterprise. They
then began to contemplate the successful issue of their cherished
design to subvert the state government, murder the innocent and
unoffending women and children of Southern men, and destroy
all property both public and private which could not be used to
advantage in their scheme of rapine and plunder.
THE TIME OF ORGANIZATION
It has not been definitely ascertained at what exact time this
wicked combination was dignified by the name of "Order," "Or-
ganization," or "Institution," as many of their leading members
termed their association.
From the best information derived from various sources, they
must have assumed their corporate existence and perfected their

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