It was created directly out of the scottish rite of freemasonry and linked to the highest circles of american freemasons. Dukes late mother, betty dorsett duke, produced three books. Author uncovers lehigh valley links to secret society. Apr 05, 2017 the knights of the golden circle was founded as a paramilitary organization in the 1850s. The knights of the golden circle kgc was a precivil war, prosouthern secret society founded in ohio in 1854 by george w. Study copperhead opposition to abraham lincoln during the u. Beauregard 18181893, a member of the knights of the golden circle, was ordered to attack fort sumter, south carolina, the american civil war had begun. Rothschilds, judah benjamin, and the knights of the golden. The whole scheme may be unreal, and the knights of the golden circle as little disposed to fulfill their promises as masons are to preserve the obligation of christian brotherhood. Jesse james and lost treasures of the knights of the. The knights were a militant, oathbound secret society dedicated to promoting southern rights, including slavery, and extending american hegemony over the golden circle region, keehn said. Keehns study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the knights of the golden circle, a secret southern society that initially sought to establish a slaveholding empire in the golden circle region of. This secret society was born in 1854, when george washington lafayette bickley decided to gather men to an extended version of the southern cause. Pi rory is drawn into a case of children who are going missing at an alarming rate, leaving the local sheriff unable to explain or solve the mysterious disappearances.
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. The largest knights of the golden circle treasure ever. Knights of the golden circle the origin, objects, and. David keehn talks about the secret society known as the knights of the golden circle that sought to establish a slave empire spanning the southern united states, mexico, cuba, and the west indies. The first book the mysterious and secret order of the knights of the golden circle. Knights gold tells the story of how two boys in 1934 baltimore unearthed a pot filled with 5,000 gold coins. Backed by thousands of armed paramilitary knights of the golden circle, texas forced governor and freemason sam houston to secede in february, 1861. The coins were the property of the knights of the golden circle, a proconfederate secret society.
Rothschilds, judah benjamin, and the knights of the golden circle. The nook book ebook of the jesse james and the lost templar treasure. The original objective of the kgc was to annex a golden circle of territories in mexico, central america, confederate states of america and the caribbean as slave states. The lehigh valley stories get just a mention in keehns book, knights of the golden circle. Based on years of exhaustive and meticulous research, david c. The knights of the golden circle was founded as a paramilitary organization in the 1850s. The knights of the golden circle emerged around 1858 when a secret society formed by a cincinnati businessman merged with the proexpansionist order of the lone star, which already had 15,000 members. But new and startling evidence now links the coins to the knights of the golden circle, a confederate secret society determined to put an end to the lincoln presidency. Specifically, he claims that the kgc used extrapolitical pressure to advance secession in texas. Knights of the golden circle the origin, objects, and secret work.
Secret diaries, coded maps, and the knights of the golden circle by daniel j. I invite you to check out my auction list for hardtofind books and national geographic magazines at the lowest prices on the internet. He was a master at lying and he set out to convince others, that his secret society, with the help of the southern border states could conquer mexico, central america and cuba. This third book in the series regarding the knights of the golden circle contains new information obtained after the author returned to an old farm in eastern kansas recently, where he discovered many kgc treasure signs that lead to a big hole where part of the treasure had been dug up some years ago, apparently by the sentinel who had. Keenes work is the best examination of the origins and activities of the knights of the golden circle to date, and will likely remain a required text on the subject. Online books by this author are available see also whats at wikipedia, your library, or elsewhere narrower term. Secret empire, southern secession, civil war conflicting worlds.
Jesse james and john wilkes booth were allegedly members. It was not difficult to uncover the provenance of daniel j. The knights of the golden circle kgc was a secret society formed in 1854 by sympathizers of southern causes, dedicated to supporting proslavery policies and promoting the conquest of mexico. Profits from the sale of these items help fund my continued research into bloody bill anderson and the knights of the golden circle. The knights of the golden circle, according to most authorities, ceased its operations in 1916 for two primary reasons. It was created directly out of the scottish rite of freemasonry and. Keehns study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the knights of the golden circle, a secret southern society that initially sought to establish a slave. A clandestine organization with oaths and secret handshakes, it was bitterly opposed to the presidency of abraham lincoln. Bickley, a virginian, who soon moved the kgc to the south. Was there a group in berks county that sympathized with the confederacy during the civil war. Keehn uses in his book, knights of the golden circle. Dukes exploration and dedication to research all things jesse james.
The knights of the golden circle emerged in 1858 when a secret society formed by a cincinnati businessman merged with the proexpansionist order of the lone star, which already had 15,000 members. Despite the unconvincing arguments mentioned above, knights of the golden circle remains a valuable contribution to the field of civil war studies. Dec 29, 2012 the knights of the golden circle was a texasbased secret society. Jesse james and lost treasures of the knights of the golden circle volume 4 roush ph. They named themselves for their plan to create a golden circle of slavekeeping territory and then contrarily named themselves for a group of men who were committed to the cause of freedom. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. I researched the owners of the treasure house from the time of the burial of the gold coins. Keehns study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the knights of the golden circle, a secret southern society that initially sought to establish a slaveholding empire in the golden circle. Centering on havana, this empire would be some 2,400 miles in diameterhence the name. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Knights of the golden circle by eugene lloyd macrae. May 22, 2009 the knights of the golden circle 1863 washington newspaper recounts outrages rebels inflicted on york countians i have been fascinated by the june 1863 shenanigans of several new york con artists here in york county, pennsylvania.
Copperheads, butternuts, sons of liberty, knights of the golden circle. The eventual goal of the plan was the annexation of all. Ghost hunters have long known that if you want to find a haunted location just look around any civil war battlefield. The mysterious and secret order of the knights of the golden circle volume 1 roush ph. Its members were mostly men from the american south who supported the political ideals of the confederacy. The united states had entered world war i, and by that time most of the old knights of the golden circle had died. This is an incredible story about the little known and secret order of the knights of the golden circle during the civil war period, their plans to start another war, and the huge treasures they left behind. The knights of the golden circle kgc was a secret society in the mid19thcentury united states. A clandestine organization with oaths and secret handshakes, it was bitterly opposed to the presidency. In civil war studies, there are books that rehash old, familiar narratives and books that use groundbreaking research to present something new. This book is such an odd combination of essential facts overlooked and completely new essential facts introduced that all i can say about it for sure is that theres a lot to the story of the knights of the golden circle and more will have to be learned. In 1859 george bickley, a freebooter and adventurer, launched a fraternal order which proposed the establishment of military colonies of americans in mexico. May 04, 2011 the knights of the golden circle did little to change history, unlike their namesakes, but they did leave behind a mysterious legacy of famous members and buried treasure.
Keehn argues that the secret fraternal order the knights of the golden circle kgc played a much more significant role in the coming of the civil war than historians have previously acknowledged. Author uncovers lehigh valley links to secret society knights of the golden circle kathy lauerwilliams, of the morning call a secret civil warera society whose members included lincoln assassin. The mysterious and secret order of the knights of the golden circle volume 1. Knights of the golden circle the online books page. Jesse james and the lost templar treasure paperback secret diaries, coded maps, and the knights of the golden circle.
The barn was once owned by ibachs greatgreatgrandfather, gabriel filbert, the reputed no. Author uncovers lehigh valley links to secret society knights. The following year, the knights began publishing their own newspaper and established their headquarters in washington, d. The knights of the golden circle was a secret society started by george bickley. C an authentic exposition of the origin, objects, and secret work of the organization known as the knights of the golden circle 1862 page images at hathitrust see also whats at your library, or elsewhere. The historical mysteries surrounding the american civil war are actually fairly numerous. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, out of print treasures. Secret empire, southern based on years of exhaustive and meticulous research, david c. Jesse james and lost treasures of the knights of the golden circle volume 4. Those are hardly the words of an author certain of the truth of his thesis, but these are indeed the words david c.
May 19, 2017 the golden circle immediately absorbed the masonic operatives in young america and became the military preorganization of the confederacy. The books we recommend for an accurate historical account of the kgc. Based on years of exhaustive and meticulous research, d. The mysterious and secret order of the knights of the. However, new evidence has recently surfaced which points directly to a secret confederate society known as the knights of the golden circle k. These materials, as well as the card file indexes listed below, are available for use in the indiana state library. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Knights of the golden circle the handbook of texas. Berks was home to confederacy advocates knights of the. Knights of the golden circle 20 works search for books with subject knights of the golden circle. Freemasonrys connection with the knights of the golden circle. The knights of the golden circle, also known as the order of the sons of liberty, were are. Keehns study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the knights of the golden circle, a secret southern society that initially sought to establish a slaveholding empire in the golden circle region of mexico, the caribbean, and central america.
Bickley after meeting with other members of the 3rd degree. Knights of the golden circle an authentic exposition of the k. The amazing but true story of how two baltimore boys in 1934 unearthed 5,000 gold coins hidden by a secret confederate organization known as the knights of the golden circle. The final section of the book discusses the possibility of kgc. These men traveled to york, set up headquarters there presumably in a local hotel, and then canvassed the county to sell worthless certificates tickets from the knights of the golden circle, a secret proconfederate organization with alleged ties to the copperhead or peace movement. Knights of the golden circle news newspapers books scholar jstor august 20.
The following materials may be of use when researching the copperheads, butternuts, sons of liberty, and knights of the golden circle in indiana. Highly secretive, it employed a variety of signs, grips and passwords to identify members, who swore oaths and pledged allegiance to the groups leaders. Knights of the golden circle the handbook of texas online. The largest knights of the golden circle treasure ever found. Pi rory is drawn into a case of children who are going missing at an alarming rate, leaving the local sheriff unable to. Knights of the golden circle the origin, objects, and secret work knights of the golden circle on.
As abolitionism in the united states increased after the dred scott decision of 1857, the members proposed a separate. In fact, the knights of the golden circle were far more radical than the average supporters of the confederacy at the time. This book is about the secret society group of confederate supporters known as the knights of the golden circle and their relationship to the outlaw jesse james. Keehns history of the knights of the golden circle kgc belongs to the latter group. Secret diaries, coded maps, and the knights of the golden circle. Secret empire, southern secession, civil war by david c. Knights of the golden circle the house of broono blog. Their objective was to create a confederation of slaveholding states in parts of mexico and the west indies, extending slavery. Mattison a mariner owned the house on eden st from 18511865. Jesse james and john wilkes booth were allegedly members of a. Knights of the golden circle, a semimilitary secret society that was active in the midwestern states during the american civil war.