MissouriKGC
Jr. Member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 20
- 73
- Primary Interest:
- Cache Hunting
Hello Treasurenet,
My family has been involved in the Knights of the Golden Circle since at least the 1850's, and very little records were kept of the history of our organization. I am here to provide knowledge that has been passed down through my family, that may be difficult to find on the internet.
The K.G.C. was founded in the 1830's by George Bickley and five others (who's names are lost to History) in southern Ohio, in support of South Carolina's secession movement. The original intent was for the Southern US (all areas below the Mason-Dixon line, including the southern parts of midwestern and western states) to form an independent country, conquer Mexico, central America, and the Carribean, and form a "cotton empire" surrounding Havana.
Throughout the 1840's and 50's, the K.G.C. got members elected to state-level government positions throughout the South and even in parts of the north, and pushed secession as a possibility. Most K.G.C. members were Democrats, although a small number were moderate Whigs. Contrary to popular belief, President Franklin Pierce (D-NH) was NOT a member, although President James Buchanan (D-PA) was.
In 1860, the K.G.C. formed an army and planned to invade Mexico, but the War for Southern Independence broke out and the members instead enlisted in the Confederate army. By that point, the main goal of the organization had evolved from establishing a "cotton empire" to merely gaining independence for the Southern states. President Jefferson Davis and many in government positions of the Confederate States were members, as were General Nathan Bedford Forrest and a handful of other Confederate officers. Alexander Stephens, a former Whig and friend of Abraham Lincoln, was likely only made Vice President of the Democrat-dominated Confederacy because of his membership in the K.G.C.
At the end of the war, the K.G.C. ordered the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson, and Seward. The goal was to decapitate the Yankee government, in order to create enough confusion and distraction in the north for the Confederacy to re-organize and continue the war. The plan backfired after only Lincoln was successfully assassinated, which allowed for the Radical Republican congress to take control in the North, pass the 14th and 15th amendments, and institute a strict reconstruction policy. Booth, Surratt, and the rest of the conspirators as well as those who aided in their attempted escape, were K.G.C. members (With the exception of Mary Surratt, as women were not granted membership at that time).
Following the war, General Nathan Bedford Forrest organized the first era Ku Klux Klan as a militant arm of the K.G.C. to drive carpetbaggers and Republicans out of the South, with a plan to overthrow the military governments put in place over most of the South, in order to make a second war a possibility. The Klan quickly turned to racial violence, as most Southern Republicans were newly-freed slaves, and was officially disbanded in 1869, although some branches continued to operate until it was outlawed in 1872. K.G.C. members refused to take the reconstruction oath and lived out their lives unable to vote.
During the reconstruction era and lasting well into the early 1900's, the K.G.C. robbed carpetbagger-owned businesses, railroad cars, and and banks in order to finance a second war for Southern Independence. The most notorious of these robbers were the James-Younger gang. This is the source of the K.G.C. treasures that can be found throughout the South and West. Most K.G.C. activity during this time occurred in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, the three ex-Confederate states that were not put under military rule. Kansas, Arkansas, West Virginia, Maryland, Nebraska, the Indian Territory, Texas, and California also saw a lot of robbings by the K.G.C., and Castles (branches) were organized throughout these states, as well as a few in the deep south. The K.G.C. had a lot of influence in the Missouri state government throughout the 1870's and 1880's, at least two governors during this time were members, as well as a number of state legislators. K.G.C. members were also elected to the state legislature of Arkansas.
Sometime in the early 1880's, the K.G.C. founded the Order of American Knights (O.A.K.) as a less secretive branch organization, secretly governed by the K.G.C.
In 1915, O.A.K. member William J. Simmons founded the Second era Ku Klux Klan. This is where the history gets murky, as very few records were kept. The K.G.C. was not disbanded in 1916, as many online sources state.
In 1922, the K.G.C. and O.A.K. merged with the KKK, and remained as KKK branches until the late 1960's. In 1968, the K.G.C. became an independent organization, although it remained affiliated with the KKK. When David Duke founded the fourth era (sometimes incorrectly referred to as the third era) Ku Klux Klan in 1975, the K.G.C. severed ties with the newly "Nazified" organization, and established itself as a Southern Nationalist group, similar to the modern League of the South. The names of important officials in the K.G.C. are kept secret. The organization is headed by an Imperal Commander, the leader for each state or region is called a Grand Commander, and the leader of each Castle (local branch) is called a Captain. There are branches in 49 of the 50 states, although most of them are in the South and lower Midwest.
In 1997, the K.G.C. renewed ties with certain KKK groups, and re-established itself as a "Pro-Southern, Pro-White" group. a sister organization in Europe called the Knights of Thule (K.O.T.) was founded to promote nationalism and "pro-white" causes, and has branches in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Italy. Today, the K.G.C. works with the K.O.T, the KKK, and the LoS. One KKK group (which shall remain unnamed) is a branch of the K.G.C. and closely models the first-era (pre-racist) KKK. Other political activism organizations (which shall also remain unnamed) also have ties to the K.G.C. The ultimate goal of the K.G.C. is southern independence. We currently have state legislators (who shall remain unnamed) serving in Arkansas and Mississippi. The K.G.C. makes political endorsements for various offices, partakes in political activism, and runs candidates for state-level office throughout the South. Currently, we do not rob carpetbagger-owned businesses or partake in any illegal activity, but we do seek to uncover the treasures that were hidden during the reconstruction era.
From what our researchers have gathered, most of the treasures were hidden in caves or buried in wooden areas, mostly throughout the Ozark region and the central part of Missouri. Symbols can be found carved into cave walls and trees, prominent ones include the initials of members who buried them (J.J. for Jesse James, etc.), the letters "K.G.C", and crude Confederate flags (a box with an "X" in it, or a star in the middle). It is estimated that as much as $5,000,000 face value was hidden, much of it in gold coins and larger silver (dollars and halves), as well as yankee paper money. It was buried in jars, metal cans, and small wooden boxes with markings. The Saddle Ridge hoard, found in California, was probably K.G.C. treasure. Stashes of Confederate money were also hidden, likely with the hope that the South would rise again and it would be legal tender.
Thus far I have found one small hoard, containing an 1877S double eagle, an 1863 Confederate $5 bill, 2 Seated liberty quarters (one with a letter "F" counterstamped into it), a seated liberty half-dollar, 3 morgan dollars (the latest being dated 1880), a very worn 2 cent coin, and a few Indian head pennies. It was in a deteriorated metal can, near a rock with a crude Confederate flag scratched into it in Southwestern Missouri. (I had permission to search on the property, this is important for those of you who seek to find K.G.C. treasures.)
Good luck to all, and Deo Vindice.
My family has been involved in the Knights of the Golden Circle since at least the 1850's, and very little records were kept of the history of our organization. I am here to provide knowledge that has been passed down through my family, that may be difficult to find on the internet.
The K.G.C. was founded in the 1830's by George Bickley and five others (who's names are lost to History) in southern Ohio, in support of South Carolina's secession movement. The original intent was for the Southern US (all areas below the Mason-Dixon line, including the southern parts of midwestern and western states) to form an independent country, conquer Mexico, central America, and the Carribean, and form a "cotton empire" surrounding Havana.
Throughout the 1840's and 50's, the K.G.C. got members elected to state-level government positions throughout the South and even in parts of the north, and pushed secession as a possibility. Most K.G.C. members were Democrats, although a small number were moderate Whigs. Contrary to popular belief, President Franklin Pierce (D-NH) was NOT a member, although President James Buchanan (D-PA) was.
In 1860, the K.G.C. formed an army and planned to invade Mexico, but the War for Southern Independence broke out and the members instead enlisted in the Confederate army. By that point, the main goal of the organization had evolved from establishing a "cotton empire" to merely gaining independence for the Southern states. President Jefferson Davis and many in government positions of the Confederate States were members, as were General Nathan Bedford Forrest and a handful of other Confederate officers. Alexander Stephens, a former Whig and friend of Abraham Lincoln, was likely only made Vice President of the Democrat-dominated Confederacy because of his membership in the K.G.C.
At the end of the war, the K.G.C. ordered the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson, and Seward. The goal was to decapitate the Yankee government, in order to create enough confusion and distraction in the north for the Confederacy to re-organize and continue the war. The plan backfired after only Lincoln was successfully assassinated, which allowed for the Radical Republican congress to take control in the North, pass the 14th and 15th amendments, and institute a strict reconstruction policy. Booth, Surratt, and the rest of the conspirators as well as those who aided in their attempted escape, were K.G.C. members (With the exception of Mary Surratt, as women were not granted membership at that time).
Following the war, General Nathan Bedford Forrest organized the first era Ku Klux Klan as a militant arm of the K.G.C. to drive carpetbaggers and Republicans out of the South, with a plan to overthrow the military governments put in place over most of the South, in order to make a second war a possibility. The Klan quickly turned to racial violence, as most Southern Republicans were newly-freed slaves, and was officially disbanded in 1869, although some branches continued to operate until it was outlawed in 1872. K.G.C. members refused to take the reconstruction oath and lived out their lives unable to vote.
During the reconstruction era and lasting well into the early 1900's, the K.G.C. robbed carpetbagger-owned businesses, railroad cars, and and banks in order to finance a second war for Southern Independence. The most notorious of these robbers were the James-Younger gang. This is the source of the K.G.C. treasures that can be found throughout the South and West. Most K.G.C. activity during this time occurred in Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, the three ex-Confederate states that were not put under military rule. Kansas, Arkansas, West Virginia, Maryland, Nebraska, the Indian Territory, Texas, and California also saw a lot of robbings by the K.G.C., and Castles (branches) were organized throughout these states, as well as a few in the deep south. The K.G.C. had a lot of influence in the Missouri state government throughout the 1870's and 1880's, at least two governors during this time were members, as well as a number of state legislators. K.G.C. members were also elected to the state legislature of Arkansas.
Sometime in the early 1880's, the K.G.C. founded the Order of American Knights (O.A.K.) as a less secretive branch organization, secretly governed by the K.G.C.
In 1915, O.A.K. member William J. Simmons founded the Second era Ku Klux Klan. This is where the history gets murky, as very few records were kept. The K.G.C. was not disbanded in 1916, as many online sources state.
In 1922, the K.G.C. and O.A.K. merged with the KKK, and remained as KKK branches until the late 1960's. In 1968, the K.G.C. became an independent organization, although it remained affiliated with the KKK. When David Duke founded the fourth era (sometimes incorrectly referred to as the third era) Ku Klux Klan in 1975, the K.G.C. severed ties with the newly "Nazified" organization, and established itself as a Southern Nationalist group, similar to the modern League of the South. The names of important officials in the K.G.C. are kept secret. The organization is headed by an Imperal Commander, the leader for each state or region is called a Grand Commander, and the leader of each Castle (local branch) is called a Captain. There are branches in 49 of the 50 states, although most of them are in the South and lower Midwest.
In 1997, the K.G.C. renewed ties with certain KKK groups, and re-established itself as a "Pro-Southern, Pro-White" group. a sister organization in Europe called the Knights of Thule (K.O.T.) was founded to promote nationalism and "pro-white" causes, and has branches in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Italy. Today, the K.G.C. works with the K.O.T, the KKK, and the LoS. One KKK group (which shall remain unnamed) is a branch of the K.G.C. and closely models the first-era (pre-racist) KKK. Other political activism organizations (which shall also remain unnamed) also have ties to the K.G.C. The ultimate goal of the K.G.C. is southern independence. We currently have state legislators (who shall remain unnamed) serving in Arkansas and Mississippi. The K.G.C. makes political endorsements for various offices, partakes in political activism, and runs candidates for state-level office throughout the South. Currently, we do not rob carpetbagger-owned businesses or partake in any illegal activity, but we do seek to uncover the treasures that were hidden during the reconstruction era.
From what our researchers have gathered, most of the treasures were hidden in caves or buried in wooden areas, mostly throughout the Ozark region and the central part of Missouri. Symbols can be found carved into cave walls and trees, prominent ones include the initials of members who buried them (J.J. for Jesse James, etc.), the letters "K.G.C", and crude Confederate flags (a box with an "X" in it, or a star in the middle). It is estimated that as much as $5,000,000 face value was hidden, much of it in gold coins and larger silver (dollars and halves), as well as yankee paper money. It was buried in jars, metal cans, and small wooden boxes with markings. The Saddle Ridge hoard, found in California, was probably K.G.C. treasure. Stashes of Confederate money were also hidden, likely with the hope that the South would rise again and it would be legal tender.
Thus far I have found one small hoard, containing an 1877S double eagle, an 1863 Confederate $5 bill, 2 Seated liberty quarters (one with a letter "F" counterstamped into it), a seated liberty half-dollar, 3 morgan dollars (the latest being dated 1880), a very worn 2 cent coin, and a few Indian head pennies. It was in a deteriorated metal can, near a rock with a crude Confederate flag scratched into it in Southwestern Missouri. (I had permission to search on the property, this is important for those of you who seek to find K.G.C. treasures.)
Good luck to all, and Deo Vindice.
