The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 376

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

the order of battle given, when they were to rally to themselves at a
certain signal from the Northern Army, and turn their guns upon
the rebels, and kill them or take them prisoners.
Secondly, if this plan should not be adopted, they intended to get
all things ready at a very early day and before the militia were called
out, hold meetings and set a time, and at a certain hour, march to
the places where the ammunition was deposited and demand it civilly;
if given up, all right-if not they were to take it by force of arms in
retaliation against the rebels for seizing the forts, arsenals, arms &
belongings to the United States. As soon as this was done they were
to kill off the rebel party here, as there would be but few of them left,
there being over two-thirds of the fighting male population of the
country belonging to said order, except the soldiers then absent in
the Confederate Army. He continued: "We will commence the fight
here at home, against these rebels, if the Northern Army should not
come in, and take such property as we may desire. Then, if unable
to make a stand here long enough to cooperate with the Northern
Army, we will start our families before us, and fight the rebels back
until we reach the Federal lines. We have already sent messengers to
our friends in the Federal Armies in Missouri and Kansas, to inform
them of our contemplated movements, and assure them that a large
majority of the men in this country are ready to join them, and fight
by their side for the old Union and Constitution.
["]Some of the messengers have procured passports to go to St.
Louis under the pretense of buying goods but their real object
is to bear dispatches to the Federal Army concerning the condition
of this country, and the strength of the order and its designs. We have
signs, grips and passwords to distinguish us. And when the Federal
Army comes in they will be recognized by, and they will know us as
friends to their cause.["] I then requested him to give me those signs,
grips and passwords. He replied, "I cannot do so unless you consent
to be sworn again."
I requested him to state the nature of the oath. He then read over
the obligation, which was written on a small piece of paper, and then
informed me that if I did not wish to proceed further I could then
withdraw and not be considered a member, but that the oath of
secrecy must be kept sacred & invioble [sic]. I informed him that I
had made application to him for initiation into the Order if it turned
out as it had been represented to me; and discovering that so far it
accorded with my feelings, I desired to proceed. He then administered
to me the following oath: ["]You do solemnly swear in the presence of
Almighty God, that you will use all your endeavors to reestablish the
Old Constitution and Union, and to defend and protect every member
of this Institution agt [sic] any arrest or seizure by the authorities of
this State, and stand by them to the death; and if any of the members

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