Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-07-02
OUTRAGE UPON A CITIZEN
OF WOOSTER
He Is Assaulted, Abused and kidnapped
by Soldiers Aboiitionists Cheer them
for the Disgraccful Act.

We have the utmost respect and admi-
ration for soldiers, when they conduct
themselves according to the honored rep
utation Of the noble profession ofarms. -
But when they cease to be the protectors
Of the helpless, and disgrace the true blue
uniform OF the American soldier by be-
coming rufIians and ravishers OF the sa
cred rights Of citizens, they are no longer
worthy Of the name they bear, and re-
ceivc, as they merit the contempt of all
who admire the brave and true men who
maintain our cause and uphold our flag.
This debasemcnt of their calling was
exhibited by some soldiers last Thursday
afternoon in an outrage upon the perton,
family and property of our fellow citizen,
Martin Limp. The facts, as near as we
can learn them, are these: An extra train
came 10 Wooster in the afternoon of Thurs
day, having on board about 900 soldiers,
from different regiments, who had been
East as guards to rebel prisoners, and
were on their return to- Camp Chase, Co.
lumbus, where they belong. A majority
of them were evidently intoxicated
Shortly after arriving at the depot, some
Of them make inquiry for Mr.. Ethan A.
Brown, of Edinburg, whom they wanted
to kill, having been told he was a "Cop-
perhead," information given them, doubt
less, by some malignant Aboltionists at
the depot, for the base purpose OF having
blood shed in our streets, they being too
cowardly themselves to inaugurate per-
sonal quarrel with Mr. Brown. Fortu-
nately for somebody he was not in town.
a squad Of the soldiers then proceeded to
the grocery Of Mr.. Limp. near the depot,
and asked for drinks on Vallandigham' s
account, which were freely given them,
the Governors credit being good with the
Democratic proprietor. They civilly re.
tired, and Mr.. Limp apprchcnding
trouble from the noisy crowd at the cars,
closed and locked his doors. A large
number-probably fifty-soon besegcd
the premises, fercely demanding admit
tance, which was denied them. They then
assailed the doors and windows with mus
kets and stones, breaking them in, and
knocking down Mr.. Harrington, who had
entreatcd them to desist from the assault,
and charged into the grocery, when en-.
sued scene of riot rarely witnessed. Mr..
Limp disputed their passage. lie was
fired at several times, as the bullets in the
walls bear witness. In the encounter he
knocked two OF his assailants down, but
had to give way before superior numbers,
and retreated into the family part of the
house, where he was pursued by the sol :
dicrs with cries of "kll him!" "kill him!'
An officer, whose name is unknown to
us or fame, waving his sword to encour-
age the men in their bloody purpose
While Mr.. Limp for while evaded them,
they turned their violence upon his fami.
ly, insulting his wife, abusing the help.
less woman and children until their
shrieks echoed over the neighborhood. -
After some search they discovered Mr..
Limp, who was caught after making
strenuous resistance, in which he was SO
verely bayoneted in tho hand, and the
clothes literally torn off his back. With
boots and yells, they then dragged him
by the hair, goaded along by bayonets, to
the depot, and thrust him, all bloody from
wounds, hatless and coatless, aboard the
} cars, which moved off with tho almost
insensible victim, amid the cheers of the
drunken rowdies calling themselves FOL
diers.
1t is qualification to state that many
OF the soldiers condemned the action of
their comrades and took no part in the
outrage. But few citizens were present,
tho business part OF Wooster being dis
tant from the scene. A portion of those
who were witnesses, approved Of the af.
fair.
Mr.. Evans Parker, tho plow. maker,
and Mr.. Leyburn, the gas-man, we arc
informed by authority not to be denied
swung their hats in approving cheers when
Mr.. Limp was thrown on the cars; and
Mr.. Thomas Stibbs, the factory man. de-
clared that he should have been killed.
The conductor, named Loveioy, is said to
have delayed the train purposely, and
otherwise melted the men to acts of vic.
lence. He has since, we understand, been
discharged from tho road.
All this transpired in a short time, and
upon becoming generally known, but toe
late for good, the excitement up town was
intense, The prominent Abolitionsts gen
orally, at fist, applauded the act, because
the victim was a Democrat, but soon
found public sentiment was against them,
and became Every sorry it had happen
ed"
Mr.. Limp was taken to Columbus, a
distance of ITO miles. While on the cars,
as he himself related to us, he was offered
every indignity. AS he lay helpless and
and scarcely sensiblo, bayonets were plac.
cd at his breast, and threats mado of i'm
placement. Tho officer spoken of before,
struck him in the face. and Conductor
Lovejoy.cursed him for being a Vallandig.
ham man, saying with oaths. that death
was too good for him. Tho engineer,
and many of the soldiers. however, spoke
kindly to him, and did all they could
for him under the circumstance.
AT Columbus. his captors lot him go,
but some of the soldiers, sympathizing
with him, took Mr.. Limp to the Provost
Marshal of Columbus. and gave evidence
against the riotors. The Martial had his
wounds dressed. gavo him coat and
free pass to wooster, where he arrived
safely last Saturday morning. He is Sc
vetoly injured in the back, arm and hand.
The only oifenses that can be charged
to MIR. Limp is that he is a Democrat,
and had the humanity two weeks apo to