During the agonizing days of the Civil War four secret political societies, often known as dark lantern societies, became household words throughout the North. Three of these groups--the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Order of American Knights, and the Sons of Liberty--supposedly were umbrellas for antiwar Democrats and were reportedly involved in treasonable activities. The Union League, on the other hand, was a patriotic political organization intent upon buttressing northern morale and giving support to the war ...
Read More
During the agonizing days of the Civil War four secret political societies, often known as dark lantern societies, became household words throughout the North. Three of these groups--the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Order of American Knights, and the Sons of Liberty--supposedly were umbrellas for antiwar Democrats and were reportedly involved in treasonable activities. The Union League, on the other hand, was a patriotic political organization intent upon buttressing northern morale and giving support to the war program of the Lincoln administration. The accusations and counter accusations that passed between these opposing forces helped spread fantastic rumors about their power and influence. Treason trials held in Cincinnati and Indianapolis based convictions on hearsay, while the leaders of the Order of American Knights and the Knights of the Golden Circle spent much of the war in prison without benefit of trial. Today reputable reference sources still matter-of-factly credit these societies with large memberships and evil motives.In Dark Lanterns Frank L Klemment refutes past historical theories and shows quite clearly that these societies were never much more then paper-based organizations with vague goals and little ability to carry them out. Recounting the actual histories of these organizations, he shows how they were senationalized, even fictionalized, in both Republican and Democratic newspaper and magazine expos???s. He also probes the trials arising from the supposed conspiracy to establish a separate confederacy in the Midwest and the so-called Camp Douglas conspiracy, which was intended to release the Confederate prisoners housed there. Despite the furor they generated, Klement concludes that these dark lantern societies were essentially engaged in nothing more than a war of words and that their alleged power was greatly exaggerated by political propaganda.Meticulously researched and lucidly argued, Dark Lanterns explores a controversial and puzzling aspect of the Civil war. It will be hard to dispute Klements' finding that generations of historians have swallowed whole a tale that was largely the product of myth and legend.
Read Less
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $9.94, good condition, Sold by Gulf Coast Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Memphis, TN, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by LSU Press.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $9.95, very good condition, Sold by Sequitur Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Boonsboro, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by LSU Press.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $9.96, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by LSU Press.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $10.00, very good condition, Sold by Windows Booksellers rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1984 by LSU Press.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns to cart. $13.00, like new condition, Sold by Always Superior Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Marietta, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Louisiana State University.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $14.99, good condition, Sold by Tracey's Book Shelf, LLC rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rocky Mount, NC, UNITED STATES, published 1984 by Louisiana State University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Size: 9x6x1; First edition. Book is in very good condition with no marking or highlighting. Dust jacket has some edge wear and previous owner's blindstamp is on the flyleaf. Not ex-library.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies, to cart. $15.00, like new condition, Sold by Rain Dog Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bloomington, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by LSU Press.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $15.00, very good condition, Sold by Main Street Fine Books, ABAA rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Galena, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1989 by Louisiana State University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
8vo. Stiff glossy pictorial wrappers. xiii, 263pp. Illustrations. Very good. Bit of mild edgewear; ownership signature on rear flyleaf. A tight and nice first softbound edition.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $15.00, very good condition, Sold by Carlson Turner Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Portland, ME, UNITED STATES, published 1984 by Louisiana State University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
VG/VG- 0807111740. Light general wear, a nice copy with clean, bright interior pages and solid binding. DJ has light wear to edges, otherwise in very nice condition. Uncommon.; 8vo 8"-9" tall; 263 pages; Civil war.
Add this copy of Dark Lanterns: Secret Political Societies, Conspiracies to cart. $18.75, good condition, Sold by Second Story Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockville, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1984 by Louisiana State University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Book. Octavo; VG-/G; brown spine with black and beige text; exterior to dust jacket shows slight rubbing wear; few chips to edges; sunned spine; slight foxing inside dj; cloth has slight wear; strong boards; textblock exterior edges have bought foxing; previous owner's name to fep; interior clean; illustrated; pp 263. 1347325. FP New Rockville Stock.
