UNION LEAGUE OF AMERICA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cristy Thompson A secret political and patriotic order which had its origin early in the late Civil War for the avowed purpose of sustaining the cause of the Union and counteracting the machinations of the secret organizations designed to promote the success of the Rebellion. The first regular Council of the order was organized at Pekin, Tazewell County, June 25, 1862 consisting of eleven members as follows: John W. Glasgow Dr. D. A. Cheever Hart Montgomery Maj. Richard N. Cullom (father of Senator Cullom) Alexander Small Rev. J. W. M. Vernon George H. Harlow (afterward Secretary of State0 Charles Turner Col. Jonathan Merriam Henry Pratt L. F. Garrett One of the number was a Union refugee from Tennessee who dictated the first oath from memory as administered to members of a somewhat similar order which had been organized among the Unionists of his own State. It solemnly pledged the taker: (1) to preserve inviolate the secrets and business of the order. (2) to support maintain protect and defend the civil liberties of the Union of these United States against all enemies either domestic or foreign at all times and under all circumstances even, if necessary, to the sacrifice of life. (3) to aid in electing only true Union men to offices of trust in the town, county, State and General Government. (4) to assist protect and defend any member of the order who might be in peril from his connection with the order. (5) to obey all laws rules or regulations of any Council to which the taker of the oath might be attached. The oath was taken upon the Bible the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States. The taker pledging his sacred honor to its fulfillment. A special reason for the organization existed in the activity about this time of the "Knights of the Golden Circle" a disloyal organization which had been introduced from the South, and which afterwards took the name in the North of "American Knights" and Sons of Liberty." Three months later the organization had extended to a number of other counties of the State and on the 25 of September following the first State Council met at Bloomington, twelve counties being represented and a State organization was effected. At this meeting the following general officers were chosen: Grand President - Judge Mark Bangs of Marshall County (now Chicago) Grand Vice-President - Prof. Daniel Wilkin , of McLean Grand Secretary - George H. Harlow of Tazewell Grand Treasurer - H. S. Austin of Peoria Grand Marshal - J. R. Gorin of Macon Grand Herald - A. Gould, of Henry Grand Sentinel - John E. Rosette of Sangamon. An Executive Committee was also appointed consisting of : Joseph Medill of "The Chicago Tribune" Dr. A. J. McFarland of Morgan County J. K. Warren of Macon Rev. J. C. Rybolt of La Salle The President Judge Bangs Enoch Emery of Peoria John E. Rosette Under the direction of this Committee with Mr. Medill as its Chairman the constitution and by-laws were thoroughly revised and a new ritual adopted which materially changed the phraseology and removed some of the crudities of the original obligation as well as increased the beauty and impressiveness of the initiatory ceremonies. New signs grips and pass-words were also adopted which were finally accepted by the various organizations of the order throughout the Union which by this time included many soldiers in the army as well as civilians. The second Grand (or State ) Council was held at Springfield January 14, 1863 with only seven counties represented. The limited representation was discouraging but the members took heart from the inspiring words of Governor Yates, addressed to a committee of the order who waited upon him. At a special session of the Executive Committee held at Peoria, six days later a vigorous campaign was mapped out, under which agents were sent into nearly every county in the State. In October 1862, the strength of the order in Illinois was estimated at three to five thousand. A few months later, the number of enrolled members had increased to 50,000 so rapid had been the growth of the Order. On March 25, 1863 a Grand Council met in Chicago 404 Councils in Illinois being represented with a number from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. At this meeting a organization for a National Grand Council which was carried out at Cleveland Ohio on the 20th of May following the constitution ritual and with slight modifications. The revised obligation taken upon the Bible, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States bound members of the League to "support protect and defend the Government of the United States and the flag thereof, against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and to "bear true faith and allegiance to the same" to "defend the State against invasion or insurrection " to support only "true and reliable men" for offices of trust and profit to protect and defend secrets of the order. The address to new members was a model of impressiveness and a powerful appeal to their patriotism. The organization extended rapidly not only throughout the Northwest but in the South also especially in the army. In 1864 the number of Councils in Illinois was estimated at 1,300, with a membership of 175,000. It is estimated that the total membership throughout the Union was 2,000,000. The influence of the silent but zealous and effective operations of the organization was shown not only in the stimulus given to enlistments and support of the war policy of the Government, but in the raising of supplies for the sick and wounded soldiers in the field. With in a few weeks before the fall of Vicksburg over $25,000 in cash besides large quantities of stores, were sent to Col. John Williams (then in charge of the Sanitary Bureau at Springfield) as the direct result of appeals made through circulars sent out by the officers of the "League." Large contributions of money and supplies also reached the sick and wounded in hospital through the medium of the Sanitary Commission in Chicago. Zealous efforts were made by the opposition to get at the secrets of the order and in one case a complete copy of the ritual was published by one of their organs, but the effect was so far the reverse of what was anticipated that this line of attack was not continued. During the stormy session of the Legislature in 1863 the League is said to have rendered effective service in protecting Governor Yates from threatened assassination. It continued its silent but effective operations until the complete overthrow of the rebellion, when it ceased to exist as a political organization. Back ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cristy Thompson