Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-08-27

IN posed and carried, that they should MARI
of, right away, to Ben Wells, Of Fayct
II county, the excise officer there, anu cate
Il and try him and Reagan both togethe
N They set out accordingly, taking Reaga
il along, but when they arrived at Well
ic house, he was not there, so they set fl
X to it and burned it with all its content
c The left an am bush near the ruins, in o
t der, il they could, to seize upon Well
:, Next morning he was taken, but durin
i the night, as Reagan had escaped, an
i Wells, was very submissive with them
| they let him OF without further molcsta
= ton.
The next attack was made on Captain
, Webster, of Stoystown, the excise Office
. for Somerset county, by about ono hun
dred and fifty men from Westmorelan1
They took his commission from him, ant
, made him promise never again to act a!
/, collector of excise. An attempt was made
. by some Of the party to fire his haystacks
but it was prevented by others Of them
before any injury was done. They marched
off homewarls, taking Webster few miles
along with them, and seeing him very sub
missive, they ordered him to mount the
stump, and repeat his promise, never again
to act as collector of excise, and to hurrah
three times for Tom the Tinker, after which
they dismissed him. This Tom the Tinker
was new god added to mythology at this
time, and was supposed to pre- side over
whiskey-stils and still-houses. Whoever
hurrahed stoutly for Tom the Tinker, was
of unquestionable loyalty with the whiskey
boys; whilst those who would not we're
branded as traitors to this new deity, and
to their country.
Affairs now arrived at such a crisis that
either the Government Or the people must
submit, and for the Government to have
done SO, under the circumstances, would
have been an end of Government. Moth
ing nov could restore order, but the strong
arm Of the nation. The President called
out the militia from the eastern part Of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and
Virginia Upwards of five thousand men,
consisting of infantry, cavalry, and few
companies of artillery, promptly Obeycd
the call Of tic President The Ponnsyl-
vania and New jersey troops cane through
Somerset, and halted ir three divisions on
this side of the Chestnut Ridge. The ad-
vance division came on to where this town
now stands; tie second division remained
at Lobingier's Mills. They remained in
their encamrments for the space Of eight
days; during which time the cavalry, cou-
lueted by the excise officers, were out
the country for whiskey boys.
But chiefly all those who had taken an ac-
tive part in the late insurrectionary move
nents, had either fed, or secrctct them
selves, so that few could be found; believe
not more than one OF two. The part of
he army in this ncighborhood, then struck
heir tents and marched to the forks of
he Yoush, in Washington county, where
hey were met by the Maryland and vir-
sinia troops who had come up through
cumberland and Uniontown. Whilst
here, Il few more of the insurgents were
aiken. The precise number l do not re
member, but think about fifteen
4 proclamation was then issued calling
III all persons, a few names only excepted,
o come forward at certain time and place,
md accept Of a general amnesty for all
,ast offences. This was generally accedcd
o by those who had taken an active part
II the late illegal movements The COM
handing officers having now full assurance
hat the citizens would submit to the laws,
md no longer resist the collectors, pro-
,osed to the citizens, that, if ono or more
militia companies in each county, would
,ledgc themselves to the Government to
upport the constitution and laws, when
allied upon, they would remove the army
rom amongst them. This proposition was
lady acceded to, for the citizens were
cartily tired Of them, and tl,e officers and
aen were very anxious to return home
do not remember how many companies
ledged themselves to support the laws,
nut one OF the Wcstmorcland companies
hat did so l had the honor of command
ng myself. The army came here, to the
est of my recollection, some time in Oc-
ober, 1874, and left about the latter end
f November.
The excise officers resumed their duties,
nd met with no further opposition. The
risoncrs were taken to Philadelphia, which
Ias then tho scat of the general govern
lert, under the administration Of Presi-
cnt Washington, and there, in order to s
xposc them and mortify their feelings, {
hey were marchcd through some of the s
rincipal streets, with white papers stuck '