The Ku Klux Klan

In Short

This book is a dual-purpose artifact: it provides a brief, anecdotal history of the 19th-century Ku Klux Klan and reproduces the organization’s "Revised and Amended Prescript," a document detailing its internal hierarchy, recruitment oaths, and rituals. Written from the viewpoint of a dedicated Southern partisan, the text frames the Klan as a necessary, noble response to the chaos of Reconstruction. It has remained a historical touchstone because it bridges the gap between folklore and the formal, bureaucratic reality of the secret order’s administrative structure.

The Story

The narrative begins with a stark portrayal of the American South immediately following the Civil War, describing a period of "utter disorder" and "reign of terror." To the author, this environment of lawlessness necessitated a clandestine defense. The organization is introduced not as a political movement, but as a "grand and noble order" born from the restless spirits of young men in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1866. Initially a purely social club, it is described as having quickly evolved into a powerful, shadow government designed to exert control over the region.

The text details the rise of the Klan’s influence and the appointment of Nathan Bedford Forrest as Grand Wizard of the "Invisible Empire." The author emphasizes that the organization preferred psychological warfare over physical violence, utilizing superstition, elaborate disguises, and muffled horses to terrify their targets into submission without firing a shot. The narrative recounts various "clever devices" used to intimidate freedmen and carpetbaggers, framing these encounters as effective, bloodless strategies. The author contends that the Klan’s shadowy, omnipresent nature was its greatest strength, as "it was only the guilty who feared them."

The story then pivots from historical recollection to the preservation of primary evidence. The author credits a former "Grand Cyclops" from California for providing access to the Klan’s original, guarded "Prescript." This transition sets the stage for the book’s central archival contribution: the verbatim inclusion of the organization's secret rituals, membership interrogatories, and administrative hierarchy. The author treats these documents as sacred, describing them as "treasures whose price was far above rubies."

The arc concludes with the dissolution of the order. The author claims that once civil order was restored and the "better elements of society" felt secure, the Grand Wizard ordered the Invisible Empire to disband. The narrative maintains that the Klan performed a vital, protective function that saved the South from total collapse. It laments the later years of the 19th century, when "unscrupulous outsiders" co-opted the name of the Klan to commit crimes, unfairly tarnishing the reputation of the original organization. Ultimately, the book serves as a monument to the 550,000 men the author believes deserve the gratitude of the Southland for their role in ending the era of Reconstruction.

How It Unfolds

The necessity of the Order The narrative establishes the post-Civil War South as a chaotic, lawless void that required an extra-legal force to maintain order. It posits that the Klan was a heaven-sent protector for a populace facing total social and political disintegration.

The growth of the Empire The account describes the transition from a small social club in Pulaski to a massive, disciplined organization led by a military commander. It details how the Klan utilized the superstitious nature of the period to create an image of ghostly, unstoppable power.

The mechanics of intimidation The author provides specific, anecdotal examples of the Klan’s psychological tactics, such as the use of "hell fire" and feigned supernatural encounters. These stories are presented as evidence of the Klan’s ingenuity in maintaining control without resorting to overt violence.

The preservation of the Prescript The narrative shifts to the author’s personal connection with a former officer, who allows the reproduction of the secret governing constitution. This transition highlights the lengths to which members went to keep their oaths and artifacts hidden from the federal government.

The final disbandment The book concludes with the formal dissolution of the Invisible Empire by its leadership once its objectives were met. It explicitly frames the end of the organization as a successful, orderly retirement, rather than a defeat.

The People

The book focuses on figures who embody the leadership and ideology of the Klan. Nathan Bedford Forrest stands as the central heroic figure; the author characterizes him as a man of "charmed life" and unmatched military strategy, whose leadership transformed a disorganized collection of local dens into a structured, effective Empire. His primary role is to provide the "master hand" necessary to guide the order during its most critical period.

Captain H. W. Head serves as the crucial bridge between the past and the present for the reader. As a former Grand Cyclops, he acts as the primary source of the book’s institutional legitimacy. His reluctance to display his original uniform and his fear of breaking his secret oath highlight the profound, long-lasting grip the organization held on its members' personal codes of honor.

The author, Annie Cooper Burton, positions herself as a historian and defender of the Confederate legacy. Her primary motivation is to correct the historical record and ensure the "stigma" associated with the Klan is removed. She stands against the "uninformed masses" who she believes have misunderstood the organization’s purpose. Through her father, Captain James C. Cooper, she provides a personal, familial connection to the order, framing the Klan as a respectable, if secretive, service performed by men of good character and standing within their communities.

In Its Own Voice

The author describes the Klan's rapid expansion and influence in the South:

"The great Ku Klux Klan sprang up like a mushroom, a Southern organization formed in a time when no other power in the world could have saved the suffering South from the utter disorder which prevailed during the awful period following the War between the States."

The author explains the recruitment philosophy and the specific questions used to vet potential members:

"Are you in favor of a white man's Government in this country? . . . Are you in favor of maintaining the Constitutional rights of the South?"

The author describes the formal process of ending the organization once its perceived mission was complete:

"The Invisible Empire has accomplished the purpose for which it was organized. Civil law now affords ample protection to life, liberty and property; robbery and lawlessness are no longer unrebuked."

What It's Really About

The central theme of the book is the justification of extra-legal violence as a legitimate response to political upheaval. It frames the Klan’s activities as a struggle for "self-preservation" and the protection of the traditional social order against external interference. The book is an argument for the supremacy of local, white-controlled authority during the Reconstruction era. Underlying the narrative is a deep-seated fear of change and a belief that the "better elements of society" have an inherent right to act outside the law to restore a desired status quo. The book treats the constitution and laws of the Klan with the same reverence usually reserved for state or national charters, suggesting that the organization represented a more authentic governing authority than the post-war government of the United States.

Why Read It Today

This book is a challenging, uncomfortable, and highly revealing artifact of 1916. It will appeal to readers interested in how historical narratives are constructed, defended, and preserved by those who hold a minority or revisionist view of the past. To read it is to confront an unvarnished, unapologetic defense of white supremacy and vigilantism written in the early 20th century. The prose is earnest and direct, though it is heavily saturated with the period's racial attitudes and a complete lack of empathy for the populations targeted by the Klan.

Readers should be prepared for the inclusion of the "Prescript," which is a long, dry, and bureaucratic document. While the narrative sections are short and anecdotal, the bulk of the book is the detailed, repetitive internal code of the organization, complete with Latin headers and complex hierarchies. It is not an easy or enjoyable read in the conventional sense; rather, it is a visceral glimpse into the mindset of a Southern society still grappling with the fallout of the Civil War. It stays with you not for its literary beauty, but for the shocking clarity with which it articulates a worldview that continues to echo in the darker corners of American history.