OT: Needing Help With Historical Docs. 1868 President Andrew Johnson - Blair Knights

[Michael B]

I cannot decipher the signature, but the initials are A.G.B. It is not Ambrose G. Bierce as his signature was very lineal.

The Blair Knights and Seymour Knights probably refer to Horatio Seymour, Democratic nominee for President in 1868 and his vice-presidential running mate Francis P. Blair, Jr. Blair's father was a member of Lincoln's cabinet and he was a Union General and former Senator. After the war he changed parties from Republican to Democrat as he opposed the Reconstruction policies of the federal government and President Johnson. In the first letter, Mr. Hays refers to the two groups as military organizations. They may have been organized under the umbrella of the first version of the Klu Klux Klan. The first Klan was not terribly organized as many of the people claiming to be members would not agree to the Prescript or dogma. I will not get into the whole history, but there was strong enforcement and prosecution against the groups and it was found that 'members' of the early Klan included Blacks, Republicans, bootleggers, common criminals and a slew of other people. Prior to the 1868 election there was a lot of intimidation of Republican voters in the South to prevent them from partipating in the presidential election. U.S. Grant was still elected.

In summary, these groups referred to were probably Caucasian ex-Confederate soldiers who wanted to restore the rights and franchise of those who supported the CSA. After the original Klan was pretty much disbanded in 1874 other groups like the White League and Red Shirts appeared. These were more paramilitary than the original Klan.

I hope this helps. For background info I formerly collected and dealt in Civil War signatures and documents. A few of the dealers still know me by the finds that I made in the 1990's including a large group of documents signed by Bernard Bee and an 1848 Mexican War letter written by Richard B. Garnett. Bee was a Confederate General killed at First Manassas and is credited with giving 'Stonewall' Jackson his nickname. Garnett was a Confederate General killed at Gettysburg during Pickett's Charge.

Cheers,

Michael