From: http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa/browse.monographs/waro.html

From The War of the Rebellion Records simple search for "Knights of
the Golden Circle". This document proves that the KGC organization
included many thousands of members who were concentrated all across
the United States.

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"OFFICE OF ASSISTANT PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL
Springfield, Ill., April 18, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that information of the
disturbances in Charleston, Coles County, Ill., on the 28th of March
last reached me on the afternoon of the same day..."
"...On the appointed day the court convened. Sheriff O'Hair was
present attending to his official duties; the court-house square was
thronged with people, including notorious secessionists from the
adjoining county of Edgar, whose sheriff is brother to the sheriff
of Coles County. Mingling with the crowd, and unarmed with one or
two exceptions, were some 12 or 15 soldiers of the Fifty-fourth, who
were residents of Charleston and vicinity quietly conversing with
their acquaintances while waiting for the train for Mattoon.
Presently, without any cause of provocation, a desperado named Wells
fired upon and mortally wounded a soldier. Sheriff O'Hair instantly
rushed from the court-room, marshaled the insurgents, put himself at
their head, and directed all their subsequent movements. Every man
of the assailants was found to be armed. Pistols were drawn and
fired in all directions. When these had been discharged they rushed
to wagons near by and brought forth guns and ammunition, which had
been lain concealed beneath the straw, &c. In one minute, as
Colonel Mitchell reports, 100 shots were fired and nearly every
soldier was either killed or wounded, although scattered about over
the whole square; every blue coat or brass button, without
distinction, became a target for the assassins.
I think all this admits of but one solution, a deliberate plot on
the part of the leaders to murder the soldiers of the United
States. This view is confirmed by several witnesses, who swear that
the purpose of 'cleaning out' the soldiers and Union men on that day
had been avowed by the ringleaders several days before, and
preparations had been extensively made to execute the threat; and I
am satisfied that but for the timely action of Colonel Mitchell in
ordering up his regiment from Mattoon, and the prompt measures
subsequently taken to check the progress of the insurgents and
thwart their designs, it would have proved the beginning of an
extensive and dangerous emeute in that part of the State.
I have direct personal knowledge that some at least of the gang were
members of a treasonable secret society, kindred in its character
and objects with that known as the 'K.G.C.,' or Knights of the
Golden Circle, and I have little doubt that the outbreak was planned
and executed in great part by and through that organization. There
is also reason to apprehend that through the same agency and
extensive and formidable conspiracy is being formed against the
Government, and that it is only awaiting a fitting opportunity for
development. It is therefore not so much on account of the intrinsic
importance of these disturbances, desperate and bloody as they were,
as from a sense of their revelation of and bearing upon future and
more daring machinations against the Government, that I am desirous
that these prisoners and the leaders, should they hereafter be
taken, may be tried and (if found guilty) punished by the military
authorities. I fear it would be useless to turn them over for trial
by the civil tribunals, whether State or Federal, to whose
jurisdiction they would belong. Prompt and rigorous dealing by
military law could not fail to be of salutory and lasting effect.
It is scarcely necessary to observe that many of the insurgents were
without doubt merely the dupes of others and were inveigled into the
scheme without apprehending or approving the real purpose of the
chief conspirators. It is proper to add that the opinion of the
origin, character, and purpose of the insurrection, herein
expressed, is concurred in by every loyal man of the counties
concerned with whom I have conversed.
Herewith I have the honor to transmit the report of Col. G.M.
Mitchell, Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES OAKES,
Lieutenant-Colonel Fourth U.S. Cavalry,
Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal-General, Illinois."

***

~Jay~