Litchfield enquirer., 1861-06-27
GOSHEN.


 TIE WAR IN GOSHEN! FULL AND INTERESTING
 PARTICULARS. A SECESSION FLAG TORN DOWN
 AND DEMOLISHED.
 Mr. Editor :-The campaign has opened in Goshen and the first victory is for the Union.
 In Nnr.kr tsuznsn, al the house Of Andrew Pal ner, a secession flag has been occasionally lung to the breeze, and on Sunday last, it was noised abroad that this sign of Treason would continue to float and that it would be defended if neces- sary. And this on our loyal hills Immediately after church in the afternoon, an informal meet ing of citizens was held, and a committee of five of our prominent citizens appointed to wait on Mr. Palmer and request the withdrawal of the base insigna of Rebellion. His remarks to the committee were neither those of g gentleman nor a patriot, accompanied with the declaration that this, his adopted standard should float and be and that he would shoot loyal citizen a member of the committee, "as quick as he would black shake.
 This report was returned to our waiting peo- pie, and it was immediately resolved that this banner should come dosen, peacably if possible, in blood if necessary. It was known that there were few desperate, despicable fellows whose sympathies were with treason, who would prob ably aid him if necessary.
 About 2 o'clock on Monday afternoon, crowd of several hundred assembled on the green in the village Many were armed with such weap- ons as Q quiet country town affords, in all some 70 guns. The greatest zeal and enthusiasm was manifested. That Goshen, who had sent her sons to the war, and who from time immemorial has given her votes for Freedom, should have her name and her fame tarnished by the pres ence of the ensign of Treason, the base insignia of Slavery, was thought repugnant to our loy- al hearts.
 At 8 o'clock we started, band of mors than l50 men; with our feld-piece, our cannon, which never before was drawn out except for holiday shooting. To-day it might speak the almost forgotten dialect of 1775. A short distance be- low the premises, the band halted, and formed in order under Capt. Gaylord, the armed citizens first then the cannon, loaded with ball and ready, then the unarmed citizens. MT. Palmer, his sons and several men were at work by the house. He was told that we came with no hostility to- wards any individual, but that traitors flag could not wave in Goshen, and that his must be surrendered. The rebel ensign had been taken place He was called on to produce the flag, which he refused to do, and added the cool in suits of a rebel. The company was drawn up in rank along the street in front the cannon brought to bear on the house and five picked men order cd to arrest Andrew Palmer. scufae instant ly ensued, but lasted only few minutes. The " Rebels" were captured, and only one shot fired which took effect in the leg of one of Palmers men, making only slight wound. The red rag was torn from it's Haunting position, and the de. mand renewed to produce the secession flag These aiders and abetters of treason" were now given most distinctly to understand that they would be shot unless that flag was forth coming immediately. It was soon produced from pasture half mile distant, and was re' ceived with hisses and trampled in the dust The stars and stripes were nailed to the honss and most vigorously cheered, while the cannon boomed forth it's deep loyal tones in honor of the | e flag of the free and the home of the brave. ' The company returned to the village, rejoiced that . nest of traitors was broken up and reb el standard captured, as we'll as several prison CTS taken. At meeting in the Town Hall in the evening, Palmer and his men signed paper solemnly agreeing never to raise again a seces- sion flag, but to uphold and defend the " stars l turned home, wiser, if not better men,
 Aside from our citizens, there were quite 2 number present from adjoining towns, among them Sheriff Peck of Litch6sld, and Messrs