Below is just some of many messages between Confederate officials on the investigation and successful infiltration of a secret society based in Southwestern Virginia and surrounding states called the "Order of Heroes of America". What I do not have is the conclusion to the story...what happend to the society and what did the Confederate Government do? What I found interesting is the naming of complete Confederate Regiments that belonged to this order.

________________________

HEADQUARTERS,
Wilmington, July 28, 1864.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War, Richmond:

SIR: I have at length ascertained that at least two-thirds of the conscripts employed at the State saltworks are members of the treasonable organization styled “Heroes of America.” Their mode of communicating with the enemy is also ascertained. I am now waiting only to detect some of them in overt acts. I have many times called attention on suspicion to this nest of traitors in my lines, and to the factthat these men, several hundred ill number, were thus relieved from military duty to perform what can be done by slave labor. I now speak from the facts. The order of Heroes of America musters very strongly in Randolph County, from which most of these salt makers come, and they have associated with them large numbers of armed deserters. My information from Randolph County is that if arrests are made they will rebel. They are instructed if spoken to on politics to advocate the election of Vance to disarm suspicion. This organization should be put down. At any rate, the establishment in my lines and only six miles from the city ought to be broken up or entirely reorganized. If necessary to the State, and I have no doubt they are, let the proper number of brave and loyal soldiers of North Carolina be detailed on the work, or trustworthy militia of the State, and then, instead of proving, as now, dangerous, it will add to my defense and coast guard. There is no difficulty and but little difference of opinion in this matter between myself and Governor Vance and Ii am satisfied everything will be placed on a proper footing as soon as the election is over.

Very respectfully,
W. H. C. WHITING,
Major- General.

-------------------------

DUBLIN, VA., September 20, 1864.
Hon. J. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War:

SIR: As the car was about leaving this point yesterday I wrote to you a hurried note stating that my plans with reference to the society known as the “Heroes of America” had been successful. The detectives, with the aid I furnished them, have passed as members of this order and are obtaining important information. We have a large list of traitors. Within ten miles of this place we find three justices of the peace arid one Methodist minister attached to the society. While in Montgomery County, among others, we have discovered the name of the sheriff recently elected. I have also reliable information that a prominent lawyer, once a candidate for lieutenant-governor of the State of Virginia, is a leading member of the treasonable order. I have but two detectives from Richmond and two obtained here. I need more at once. The adjoining counties are full of these people, and three or four men work in such a mass too slowly. I wish before any arrests are made to obtain testimony against the leaders in four or five counties. I am told there are 800 members of the order in Montgomery County alone.

The Governor of this State, having been informed of the existence of a secret society for treasonable purposes in Floyd County, is taking steps to break it up. I fear his plans and mine may conflict. Would it not be well to have him informed of the measures the Government has adopted? I have efficient aid from General Echols.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

HENRY J. LEORY,
C.S. Commissioner.

----------------------------

"RICHMOND, November 8, 1864.
Hon. J. A: SEDDON,
Secretary of War Confederate States of America:

SIR: I deem it my duty to call your attention to the condition of things in Southwestern Virginia,.. Earnest efforts have of late been made to enlist the soldiers into the order, and it is known that these efforts have been successful to a certain extent. Information has been communicated lately which leads to the belief that a considerable number of the ord’er are now in the Army of the Valley of Virginia, and that some of the soldiers in the army of General Hood, from Virginia, are also members. As a consequence of this a company of Virginia soldiers in this latter army who were on picket are said lately to have gone over to the enemy in a body....This order has spread itself into East Tennessee and North Carolina. I make this communication, briefly and hurriedly, with the hope that I may have an opportunity of going more into details soon in a personal interview, but if I do not I desire to impress upon the authorities the knowledge of the serious and alarming condition of things of which I have spoken and the absolute necessity of the use of the most decisive measures in relation thereto. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. ECHOLS,
Brigadier- General.

---------------------------

Part of one of the several reports from Confederate agents that infiltrated the "Order of Heroes"

"McGill then gave him the sign. He smiled. Mr. McGill remarked, “It is gloomy times.” He said, “Yes, very gloomy.” I answered yes, but we were looking for better. He then asked what we were looking for. I answered, “A red and white cord.” He asked, “Why a cord?” I replied, “Because it is safe for us and our families.” He then asked us to the house. We went in, sat down, talked about the order and the war; spoke of the order and how it had spread in the Army. We spoke of the Fifty-fourth Virginia Regiment and said most of the men belonged to the order. lie told us that most all of the Twenty-second had been initiated iii the order and that a great many of them had deserted, which he said was a good thing,"

_________________________
David Upton