Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-29
MOreester 4aiIp Syn.

From the Dubuque Daily Times.

Whlle on our way to McGregOr, the other
day, on the steamer Milwaukee, we made the
aeS uaflitance of one of our fellow passengers,
who had just escaped from the southern con.
federacy. Many of our citizens know him
well, as he was once in business here We
will give the narrative in his own words as
near as possible -
You see had been doing heavy whole
sale and retail provision business in the city of
Augusta, Georgia, for two years, and was get.
ting along with the inhabitants very smoothly,
until little circumstance transpired last fall
which melted the populace against me. had
taken more or less interest in political affairs
while ! lived there, and as much from policy
as anything else, adopted a southern view of
matters. | was strong Bell and Everett
man, and when the state convention was in
session | was mentioned as one of the state
electors.
As it was known that l came from Du-
buque, some of my constituents wrote to the
latter city for information as to my political
antecedents. The letter was addressed to one
of the prominent law firms of Dubuque and
for some unaccountabe reason answered in
such manner as to direct the deepest indig.
nation OF the community where lived against
me. They were informed that l was a loud.
mouthed ab0litiOnist, and s.umped the state
for Fremont. Within short time of the re-
ceipt of that letter my house was surrounded
by an infatuated mob, eager to wreak a blifd
vengeance on me. | appealed to the mayor,
who was warm personal friend of mine, for
protection. He responded by calling out the
entire police force to dispense the rabble.
Myself and son-in.law stood all that night
at the head of the first flight OF stairs, in NV
house, with firearms and axes, resolved to sell
our lives as dearly as possible, should the mis-
unit l,pn
fear, and would not leave my side, although |
entreated her to do SO. She seemed nerved
to desperation BY our common danger, and
ready to face all, and sacrifice her life, if me-
cessary, in defense Of our home.
The people were pacified at last when they
found us too resolute to be imposed on and
after a short time l was allowed to pursue
my business as usual. | satisfied them ap-
parently that did not entertain principles re.
pugnant to their peculiar views and convinced
them that the information they had received
was tissue of falsehoods; yet there ever after
lurked among them suspicion OF my loyalty
to the south. Thus we lived through the
winter, the community daily becoming more
excited and bitter against those who did not
coincide to the letter with the damnable opin.
ions that then ruled the hour
In illustration OF this | will only cite one in
stance. A party of merchants were discus
sing the impending crisis one afternoon in
store not far from mine, when one of my
neighbors made tine following remark Gen
tlemen, we must be careful and not underrate
the strength of the enemy. THAT night com
mittee called upon him and asked him if he
made such remark, when he replied, Eyes,
and do not see the harm in it. 1t is one of
the first lessons in military strategy, not to
undertake the power of the enemy" His ex-
PLANTATION availed him nothing. He was seized
and one side of his head and face shaved
clear of the hair and whiskers. Then the
newly barbered portions were daubed with
tar and feathers. He then received forty
lashes, and was given to understand that he
had twelve hours in which to make himself |
scarce.
This was not an isolated instance. Deeds |
of violence of daily occurrence, ana |
many times they resulted in the death of the |
victim. With such state of society boiling |
around me, naturally felt anxious to remove
my family beyond all chance of injury. Ri |
nally, when they had for some time been
drafting troops from the city for jeff. Davis |
army, / toresaw the time when | would be
called on, and determined to remove my wife
and children to the north. i started off with
them ostensibly TO go to another place, and
took them to Atlanta, where bought through
tickets for them and sent them forward, while
/ returned to Augusta to close up my bust
ness.
continued in my trade there for short
time, endeayoring to convert my property in
to funds which would be current in Iowa. l
dared not purchase gold at the banks my self
for fear OF attracting the attention OF the
vigilance committee, No one was allowed 10
leave the country openly. Through the
friendship of a young man named Powers,
h,1
some current funds, perhaps $500. He was a
bookseller from Ohio who had been selling a
work entitled Cotton is King" and was lot
suspected of fostering liberal sentimy mis-. 1t
was through his services and friendship main
ly that escaped.
One afternoon an orderly sergeant came into
my counting-roOm, and informed me it would
be necessary, in accordance with a recent
reQnisltion, tor me to enlist. fsaw it would
not do to hesitate an instant and therefore man
ifested great readiness and even eagerness to
join. was told | could have my choice be-
tween infantry and cavalry, and | must meet
my comrades that night at the armory. l
chose to join the cavalry, and at the appointed
hour was on hand to enroll my name. l was
very Jealous apparently in my wishes to fight
the abolitionists, and by skiIlfuy guarding
my speech led my comrades to believe was
the best seeessionist of them all, and the SER
geant presented me with a splendid Colts
navy revolver, which had been stolen from
the United States. | requested him to load it
Tor me, as was not posted on that sort OF a
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, and one Of them into
the body Of the sergeant who loaded it.
l got away from the armory and hurried
home, where found Powers making prepare
tions to go north by the next train, which left
at half past ten that night. tod him must
get away from Augusta that night at any cost.
/ asked him to take my carpet bag on board
the train, and if did not call for it at a certain
time, to send it to my family in Dubuque.
He said he would do so.
l locked up my store and house-the one
completely furnished from top TO bottom, and
the other containing $4,000 worth of goods,
which / was obliged to leave behind TO fall
into the hands of the rebels.
l then repaired to the depot nearly an hour
before the time for the departure OF the train,
and secreted myself under the rear platform
Of the rear car, on a cross piece which con
nected the wheels. Grasping my pistol in my
hand, and resolving to shoot the first man who
discovered me, waited Tor events.
Soon after had gained this position, the
vigilance committee came into the depot.
They were a party of men appointed to see
that no northern man went away on the train,
and to exercise general surveillance over all
suspicious characters. Ii they discovered
northern man he was taken out, whipped, and
forced to enlist. Ii they found one who had
enlisted already, it Jared worse Tor him. He
was whipped and otherwise maltreated, and
then usually shot, SO l knew what my fate
would be if was detected. AS the hour for
starting drew near, my suspense was agoniz-
ing in the extreme. Finally, little incident
occurred which probably insured my salvation
from their clutches. The committee went