Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-09-05

Escdpe-Ihe Midnight Ride-O0ri
and Bloody Ground-Indignation q
the People-Flight ofAe Rebels-7nt
l Irial-THe Retense-A Cheer-A
Dred Scott Precedent.
On Fridag last it was rumored about
town that Eugene Pardee, as Justice of the
Peace, had issued a writ for the arrest OF
three Soldiers in Fredericksburg, members
of the Millersburg Company, who had just
returned from active service in Western Viz
ginia, and who were charged with requir-
ing Robert Brown, reputed tory and Sc
cessionist, to take the oath os allegiance
Every Union man in Wooster. so far as we
could learn, seemed astonished that such a
writ had been issued, and nearly all were
inclined to distrust the truth of the report
In the evening, however, all doubts vanish
ed, fer our tall corporeal Sheriff, Joshua,
surrounded by a select posse, and all arm
ed to the teeth with whisky TASKS, pen
knives, revolvers, and six-shooters, of the
most approved patent, started for Freder-
icksburg to arrest the three boys. And be-
fore proceeding further, we may as well
briefly sketch our valiant Sheriff's posse,
which consisted, first and formost, of ex-
Sheriff er- Hospital Stewurt "a Ia pass
John Becbtel, with pistol in every pock-
ct, and pocket in every side ofevery gar
ment (even his shirt, which is now the
fashion with Secessionists), and with
countenance as fierce as the Devil himself.
Next came the late particular friend of the
Hospital Stewart, John Oberly, of Ten
nessee notoriety, armed in like manner, and
bearing the marks of having seen service
in deadly conflict. Then came one George
Ely, of nowhere notoriety, and one Joe.
Lake, Camp DeDnison warrior; and then
one Andy Trunk, Marchand's man Friday,
armed and equipped with Mafchand's poek-
ct pistol and horse and buggy; and finally
with one or two nameless individuals, and
some recruits received on the way, the
posse was complete.
After sundry skirmishes, halts, and one
or two retreats, Sheriff Joshua and bis
"aids" drew up, about midnight, in the
quiet village of Fredericksburgh. The al
arming news soon spread, and the word
went from house to house, that the Seces-
s;onists acere after the soldiers, until there
was perfect s'panic" among the old ladies
and children. But Joshua, being a valiant
man, and big officer, fearlessly sought
the soldiers named in mis- writ, and finally
arrested one, who was dispatched 10 Woos-
ter early on Saturday morning, under
charge Of an escort and "body guard
One other was found Saturday morning,
who promised 10 come with Joshua, after
be had fulfilled 40 engagement to attend
a picnic in Holmes County, to which
Joshua acceded, and the soldier, on his
word of honor, afterward came to Wooster,
where the third soldier, and alleged prin-
cipal offender, had arrived of his own ac
cord, long before the return Of the valiant
Sheriff and his armed posse. All the
Sheriffs aids land We don't mean by that
TO omit him) are reported TO have display
ed the highest degree of courage on vari-
Gus trying occasions, frequently flourisbing
their pocket pistols. The Camp DenLison
aid even admitted that he had used up
quart of ammunition in two hours. The |
ex-Sheriff ex- Hospital Stewart { la pass
in particular, the most daring
courage, AID was seen frequently 10 put
his hauds in his breeches pockets for his
pistols.
Well tie prisoners being in Wooster be-
fore the Justice, we will give their names,
for these young men ought to be remem-
bered by all good Union-loving citizens
They were: WM. ROSS, Orderly Sergeant
in the Millersburg Company, and JOHN
SMITH and OHIO KNOX, members of
the same Company. The tlial commenced,
the Prosecutor, Geo. Rex, and Ohio +. Jones
and John McSweeny appearing against the
and Captain Wiley, Lieutenant
Rlcheson, comrades of the prisoners in the
army and Jos. H Dowing, volunteering
as counsel for the defense. The Court
House was filled with excited spectators;
most of the tories and Secessionists in town
were on hand, and manifested as deep an
interest in the conviction of the soldiers, as
good, loyal citizens would naturally feel in
the conviction of jeff. Davis and his cut
lhroats.
The proof showed that the young sold
iers, one evening, had called on Robert
Brown, an old reputed tory and Secession
ist, of Salt Creek township, and requested
him to 90 with them to Justice and take
the oath of allegiance, stating that if he
did not, bad consequences might follow
that is he was becoming in very bad repnte
with his neighbors in consequence Of the
belief that he was Secessionist,
and this belief was likely to injure him in
he good opinion of his friends; and to do
away with all stories and keep himself from
being misrepresented, the boys wanted
nim to go and take the oath, and thus end
the matter. The old man got out his bug
" and took the soldier boys with him to
lhe Justice, where he took the oath, and
returned home, and thought nothing ser
iously more of the matter. But soon
noted tory, by the name of Smith, dubbed
Prot. Srnith,) late of Fredericksburg, Wis
tied the old man and pursuaded him TO
the boys for an assault. Com
munication was also held with nest Of
tories in Wooster, and influences were soon
brought to bear to gain the consent ofth e
old man for a suit to be commenced.
The defense offered to prove that Brown
had declared, before the war commenced,
that when it did begin, he would fight for
z