The Knights of the Golden Circle was a secret order of southern sympathizers in the north at the time of the beginning of the Civil War.  The organizer was Dr. George W.L. Binkley who moved from Virginia to Ohio and organized the first "Castle" as their local branches were called, in Cincinnati in 1854.  Not long after this he took the order to the south.  It was received there with great enthusiasm.

     The order's primary purpose was to provide a force to colonize the northern part of Mexico and the became very active in Texas.  They also urged the south to suceed from the union and form the confederate states.  This, of course, was done.  Not long afterward culminating in the Civil War.  The order placed all their support behind the confederate government.

     It's membership branched out and was soon in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri as well.  The membership was largely composed of Peace Democrats who felt the Civil War was a mistake and that the federal government was leaning towards tyranny.  Dispite their beliefs, they didn't engage in any acts of treason against the federal government.

     At the end of 1863 the group was reorganized as The Order of The American Knights.  It was reorganized again in 1864 as The Order of the Sons of Liberty.  The most prominent "Copperheads" (suprmem commanders) was Clement L. Vallandigham.  Their membership had grown to about 250,000 strong.

     In this 250,000 membership there was to be found a small grouping of radicals that discouraged military enlistment, encouraged resistance of the draft and shielded military deserters.  A few more were extremists who, with the encouragement of southern money, talked of a revolt in the Old Northwest.  They thought this revolt would end the war.  But, with Union victories mounting, it became very clear that revolt would be a futile action.

     Not long after the end of the Civil War, the order became outmoded and it was dissolved.