Show the theory that the ku klux were confederate ghosts was readily accepted by the negroes I 1 gerie generally rally as being entirely reasonable and credible and when the klansmen klansman Klans men started to making moonlight visits of a regulatory nature they took their cue from this says mr horn for instance the leader of the klans men after calling the negro out of his cabin would complain that he was thirsty and ask the black man to bring him a bucket of water usually he would bring the bucket and a gourd dipper thereupon the ghostly figure would throw the gourd aside and raising the bucket to his lips drain it to the last drop the negro know of course that the klansman had a funnel inside his mask and from its end a rubber tube ran down to an oilcloth bag under h his is flowing robe having drunk the white robed figure would smack his lips appreciatively and exclaim my but good the first drink ive had since I 1 was killed at the battle of shiloh and you get mighty thirsty down there in hell A standard jake this became the favorite and standard joke of the ku klux everywhere during those early days it was almost the hallmark of a ku klux raid none genuine without it declares mr horn but it was not the only stunt which the klansmen klansman Klans men tried to frighten the superstitious negroes sometimes the leader would put a false head made of a gourd with a mask attached on top of his head and wear his robe up over this false head during the interview he would thrust the masked gourd at the negro saying here hold my head a morne moment fit the terror which this request inspired is easily imagined sometimes he would ask the negro to shake hands with him and when the black man reached out he would be met with a hand made of wood and painted white so that it looked exactly like that of a skeleton during one such visit in mississippi the negro was asked have yo you u got a mattock upon replying that he had he was told by the ghostly visitor well come alon along with me to the g grave rave 11 wit jle 1 THE is AT f M A tf t faw A K aa jl avei st isearl ost heed 1 mcf A rare ku hu klux broadside warning printed and posted in tuscaloosa ala yard my headstone is so close to my head I 1 cant rest good in my grave I 1 want you to help me move it it is particularly interesting to observe the frequency with which the unsung and anonymous but prolific poets of the reconstruction st era were moved to lyrical composition in connection with the rise and fall of the ku klux observes mr horn he then cites the case of a carpetbag preacher named reverend A W cummings who became tax assessor and collector in spartanburg S C when president grant sent federal troops to spartanburg in 1871 to suppress the klan the local newspaper named the spartan printed the following impious gibe at reverend cummings which it called A reverend Gentle gentleman evening prayer now I 1 lay me down to sleep I 1 pray thee grant my body keep just let the soldiers round me stand and drive away the ku klux band that I 1 may have one night of rest with consciousness ot of safety blessed and though my iny conscience sting no more I 1 think I 1 may make out to snore A grateful song I 1 then will raise rat se thy soldiers and thy grace t to 0 praise amen when gen george meade the victor of gettysburg was placed in command of one of the military districts in the south he issued a general order calling for the suppression of the ku klux klan and forbidding the newspapers to print anything furthering the ku klux cause thereupon some unknown poet printed in the augusta ga register and chronicle the following GENERAL ORDER NO let every ku klux Ki klansman ansman heed the general order of general meade his highness has received a fright and can not sleep by day or night he s ss cs s in every southern man A member of the ku klux klan and every time a rams horn toots poor fellow trembles in his boots oh darl d arl oh dearl how they annoy him hence henc his orders to destroy em so let every klansman heed the ilie general order of general meade and all observe this general rule signed and sealed by meade |