The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-12

victim. With such state Of society boiling
around me, l naturally felt anxious to re-
/ move my family beyond ali chance of injury.
Finally when they had for some time been
drafting troops from the city for jeff. Davis
army, foresaw the time when l would lie
called on, and determined to remove my
wife and children to the North, l. started
off with them ostensibly to 60 to another
place, and took them to Atlanta, where I
bought through tickets for them and sent
them forward, while I returned to Augusta
to close up my business.
continued in my trade there for short
time, endeavoring to convert my property
into funds which would be current in Iowa.
dared not purchase gold at the banks my
self for fear Of attracting tie attention of the
Vigilance Committee. No one was allowed
to leave the country openly. Through the
friendship ola young man named Powers,
who had been boarding with me, purchased
some current funds, perhaps 5000 or $4oo.
He was book peddler from Ohio who had
been selling work entitled "Cotton is King"
and was not suspected of fostering liberal
sentiments. 1t was through his friendship
and services mainly that escaped.
One afternoon an Orderly Sergeant came
INTO my counting room and informed me it
would be necessary in accordance with re-
cent requisition from Montgomery, for me to
enlist. saw it would not do to hesitate an
instant, and therefore manifested great readi-
ness, ard even eagerness, tojoin. ] was told
I could have my choice between infantry and
cavalry, and that must meet my comrades
that night at the Armory. | chose to join
the cavalry, and at the appointed hour was
on hand to enroll my name. I was very
jealous apparently in my wishes to fight the
Abolitionists, and by skilfully guarding my
speech led my comrades to think was the
best Secessionist of them all. The Sergeant
presented me with splendid Colts Navy
revolver which had been stolen from the U.
S. requested him to load it for me as
was not we'll posted in that sort of thing, He
did so. Those five charges are still IN the
barrels, and so help me, they shall never be
fred off until they are discharged in the
streets Of Augusta, aud one of them into the
body of the Sergeant who loaded it.
got away from the Armory and hurried
home, where found Powers making prepe-
rations to go North by the next train, which
left at half past nine that night. told him
I must get away from Augusta that night at
any cost. I asked to take my carpet bag
aboard of the train, and if did not call for
it in certain time to send to my family in
Dubuque. He said he would do so
locked my store and house, the one COM
pletely furnished from top to bottom, and
the other containing some $4,000 worth Of
goods, which I was obliged to leave behind
to fall into the hands Of the rebels.
then repaired to the depot nearly an hour
before the time for departure of the train, and
sccreted myself under the rear end Of the
rear car on cross piece which connected the
wheels. Grasping my pistolin in my hand and
resolving 10 shoot the first man who should
discover me, waited for events. Soon after
I had gained the position. the Vigilance
Committee came into the depot. They were
party of men appointed to see that no
Northern man went away on the train, and
to exercise general surveillance oyer all
suspicious characters. IF they discovered
Northern man he was taken out, whipped,
and forced to enlist. Ifthey found one who
had already enlisted it Jared worse with him.
He was whipped and otherwise maltreated,
and then usually shot, so l knew what my
fate would be if detected. As the hour for
starting drew near, my suspense was agoniz.
ing i'm the extreme. Finally little incident
occurred which probably ensured my saliva.
ton from their clutches. The committee
went through the cars after the passengers
were seated, and closely questioned and scru-
VHtLCu CtCty UIVsviuuhl. HI OuC CdI tucy
found an old man who answered to the des-
cription of a man who had been tarred and
feathered at Savannah and shipped, off. Ap-
pended to the dispatch describing him, was
this Christian injunction, "Ifyou catch him,
give him hell"
One of the rufians lifted his gray locks and
saw the tar still adhering to his brow, where
he had been unable to remove it. He fairly
yelled with delight ''Here's the old devil!--
We've got hint etc, etc. They howled
and then dragged him from the car to the
platform outside, although they did not know
Of thing he had; done amiss.
"Gentleman," said the aged man respect
fully, 81 am an old man, and know not that
I ever did any man wrong. All / ask is fol
the privilege Of getting home to my family
I beg that you will release me-"
They laughed his entrcaties to scorn, and
bore him away in the dark, screaming and
yelling like demons, doubtless to torture hin
with scourges. and perhaps to murder hin
as they have so many before him. During
all this time lay within dozen feet of som,