Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-11-11
AisceiIaqecps.
Correspondence Of the Indiana Journal.
The Bell war--Adventures of the Troons

Ed. JoCRSaL: About year ago. it will
he remembered by your readers. a gen
tleman by tho name of ID. w. Bell was
forcibly taken from Indiana. on suspicion
OF assisting slaves to escape from bondage,
by band of kentuckians from Branden-
burg. snd. together with his son, Charles
Il Bell. lodged in the jailbf that town.
The people of this county were very much
excited about it at the time, and several
large parties were formed for the purpose
of rescuing Mr.. Bell and his son. But
from some cause or other all these expedi-
tions failed In the meantime two older
sons of Mr.. Dell returned home from Cal
ifornia. Major Horace Bell, previously to
leaving California. had served in Nicara-
qua under General Walker. and had the
reputation of a gentleman of courage, en-
ergy and daring. He and his brother,
John Bell, determined to liberate their
father and brother. Accordingly, in broad
daylight. without any assistance, they
crossed the river, went up through the town
to the Jail, demanded the keys. which were
refused, forced the doors, anil brcaght the
prisoners In safety to Indiana. This oc-
cured a few months ago. The Kentuck-
ians. of course felt very deeply the rebuke
thus given to their boastcl chivalry-
Their modification could only be soothed
by the apprehension of the actors in their
heroic exploit. Their dignity was hurt
The cansc of slavery demanded reparation.
A reward Of fifteen hundred dollars was
offered for Major Bell, or two thousand
dollars for both the offenders.
The Bells remained in this county On
S Saturday last, during the progress of tho
Floyd County Fair, Major Bell was set
upon in New Albany by four policemen
from Louisville. without any process from
this State. and hurried to the ferry boat,
which was in waiting. Nearly all the
men in town were on the Fair Ground,
thus preventing any assistance to Mr.. Bell.
Mr. Bradley. one of the City Council. ran
down to the boat, and forbade the officer
going over. Bell was taken, however, to
Portland, and thence toI.ouisville, whence,
carly on Sunday morning, he was taken
by the officers to Drandenburg and lodged
in jail.
The excitement consequent on this
proceeding was very intense. Large in
dignation meetings were held in New Al
bany and Corydon on Saturday night and
Sunday. The citizens were addressed by
Judge Otto. Judge Porter and others. A
determination was evinced on all hands to
rescue Mr.. Bell. if possible. If In llama
suffered this additional wrong to 60 unre-
dressed. the citizens of orr State, living
along the Kentucky border, we're no lon
ger safe. The excitement was SO great In
New Albany that it was difficult to get an
expedition properly organized with the
proper kind of men. On monday evening.
however. party OF seventy FIVE men. we'll
armed, headed by /. p. Smith of that city,
left for the scene of action on board the
steam ferry boat, Adelaide.
The scene presented on beard the AIDE
laide deies description. Here were pis-
tolls, bowic-knIves, muskets, double and
single barrel shot guns-in fact, every des-
cription of weapons tina. could be imagin-
ed For miles below New Albany the
men on board kept firing at intervals, and
1t was with difficulty that they could be
restrained by the officers. Inside of the
cabin some were loading, some picking
fiints, others fixing caps, and scrcwing up
locks Bayonets AMI old swords were
branishe,l about, to the imminent peril of
those who came TO near. A few had
wooded mp" before they came aboard,
and were in fine glcc. But as general
thing the company were remarkably civil,
considering the time and the OCCASION
There was no liquor on board, and what
MAS brought on in TASKS was promptly des-
troyed by the officers
A company from Corydon was to meet
the New Albany BOYS at the Tobacco
Landing. two miles from this place, and
about five from Brandenbu'g. On leaving
New Albany the shouts ..werc loud and
long drawn out" \ deafening shout came
npfrom the thousands on the Shore As they
approached Brandenburg all was quiet on
board. As the Adelai,le rounded to at
Tobacco Landing no bell was rung, and
not word was spoken. No signal FIRE
blazed on the shore, anil complete silence
yeigned. a pistol shot was fired on boart
and Immediately answered from the shore
Then, one after another, dark looking fig
ures hurried down the shore, till the part,
on DOaiu was lDtItdStu ny duOut ioit
men, all were well armed and equipped
i could not help thinking how much th
scene resembled the meeting of the con
federates in marauding party.
Along the Kentucky shore, bar put
out nearly the whole way from Branden
burg to the Tobacco Landing, renderin
embarkation on that side almost imposs
ible. Accordingly at about 2 o'clock, y
NJ. the party were landed upon the OF
posite side, and started for BrandenbuS
on foot. A fat bottom extends the who
distance, varying from one mile to a quar-
ter Of mile in width, backed by a lon
range Of broken hills, on which Brander
burg is built, at : point where the Obi
cuts away this bottom, and sweeps
close to their sides. Across this bottol
our band commenced their march, no
wading through wide fields of grass an
wee,ls, cut up with numerous TRANSFERS
gullics, and occasional morasses, the
vending their way along creek bottom
snd fording water-courses. Avery lang
able occurrence happened on the way
they had no guide who knew the rou
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