I haven't read the book. I'll check it out.I don't want to point a stick. I have been unable to find unaccounted for specie.That is not to say small sums weren't raised.The O.R. has mentions it.Some private citizens raised large sums such as Lucy Pickins.If the Knights truely wanted to help the Confederacy they should of backed their words then.Not hord it to be used latter.I have also studied southern currency. Most worthless when issued then 900% inflation by the end of the war.Much of this because it was unbacked by specie.Confederacy didn't have it. You know the war was more complicated then just one thing.
One of those things documented concerning finance Stidger had a large sum of money (cash)from Toronto to by arms.Federals intercepted Justice Bullitt a Knights leader.He was to meet Stidger at Louisville.There was millions missing from the Bank of New Orleans when Federals occupied in Apr.1862. I believe it was taken to Mexico.It is not a knew idea to destroy foe by destroying the finanial system needed to support it.Federals were on this.Spying not a new science.I still haven't located my reference.
One of the primary things in joining the Knights was you had to be native(born here) and couldn't be Catholic or Irish. The sheriff was not Italian.I have been unable to find out his religion.The surname would indicate he of southern Ireland descent which is predominately Catholic.I'm not sayin there wasn't a desenter in the crowd, I grew up witnessing desenters(said to be communist infaltraters)men like you or me with strong conviction, obviously there was a riot,more likely a Son of Liberty or Peace Democrat then a Knight of the Golden Circle which had peaked in 1860 being unable to invade Mexico. Financially was on the downward spiral changing names several times in Mo.the Order of American Knights (OAKs)formed.I see you have interest in Bill Anderson.Don't rule out Freemasons.