Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-07-15
Treason III ACKNOWLEDGEMENT he adism
in La Fayette and Grant Counties.
From the Grant County Herald I


From the Grant County Herald
The following account of raid into
Georgei own, town of Sfpelser, ia this
county. is from the Platteville Witness, The
facts reported by Messrs. Gilmore and
Abel of said town. The raid took place
on Saturday of week before last. The
pretense was TO hold Democratic meet
ing at that place, but the design probably
was to tnt Mr.. George E. Cabains, ana
severely handle him for dismlssing couple
OF Benton Iris hman for disloyal conduct,
such as hurrahiDg tor jeff. Davis and the
Oonfederacy while at work tor him:
Ii appears that it had been previously
whispered around among the sympathlZers
IN Georgetown and vicinity, that a Dem
ocratic meeting would be held there on
Saturday, at which the Murphya aud Others
would speak. Dennis Murphy and has
son, A. Q. Marphy, are the reputed lead
eTs OF the Lafayette Copperheads. The
meeting was kept profound secret from
the Union men, the first they knew Oh IL
being the entrance into town, about two
O'Clock on Saturday, OF some thirty~tive or
fcrty armed Bentonites, in two horse wag-
ons. These proceeded to the place of
meeting, where they were harapgued .or
One of them. the young Murphy We think,
commenced by saying they intended TO
oppose the draft and tue present Admins
traJlon, and the way to do il was TO or
ganize-that was the object OF the meet
ing. Dennis Murphy said he had i've
thousand men armed and organized TO re-
rist the draft.
Another man by name of Selkirk said
they deted the whole State OF Wisconsin
10 take the town OF Benton, Shullsburg,
or New DIggiDgs. They had enough force
TO take all the Union men that came TO do
IL and put them where they wanted them,
and they wouldn't get back shve. The
elder Murphy proposed hurrahs for jeff.
Davis and the downtall OF the Govern
ment, and Others cheered for Lee and the
Southern CUntederacy. After the speak
ing Was over, and the crowd had become
sufficiently stirred up Toy The sedluouo
speeches of their leaders, they marched
through the village, drawing knives aud
pistols, firing the latter off III the air, hur-
raining for everything treasonabie, and
insulting Union men with the clearly APP
parent attention OF bringing on q coils
sion. There were only four or five UAlon
men IN the village, and some OF these, APP
pretending trouble, Immediately went tor
reintOrcements and arms. u hlle they
were gone, the Copperheads dared any
man to hurrah Tor the Union, swearing
they would let day light through whoever
did so. We understand THAT a young man,
son OF Joseph Brandon, In defiance OF his
threats, not only harrahed for the Union,
but told one of the leaders, SelkIrk, that
he was a Do son OF a b, and it
he wanted anything out of him, To wade
"A y NAfEirk said L-.-p
off among his crowd. Aoout this time,
the Bentonites getting wind, that large
number OF Union men were coming to the
rescue, wisely concluded to leave, and
went off with considerable more haste and
less noise than when they came IL, NUT
tering threats 10 come back In Two weeks
with relntOTcements and burn the town.
This was about three O'Clock. BY five
O'Clock there were at least one hundred
and twenty five Union men in the village,
armed and ready for u fight. IJ was we'll
the Copperusads lett when they did, or,
excited as the Union men were, we do not
believe a mothers son OF them would
have escaped without something to remind
nIn that IL Is unsafe to insult and threaten
loyal men. A wagon was sent to Platte
vile Tor powder and shot, and, had they
been wanted, q hundred armed men could
have been had from this place in half an
hour.
There was 6 tremendous excitement in
GeUrg5towu ali the evening. Several men
accused OF joining in with the Benton
crowd were knocked down. What few
Copperheads there were had TO keep very
quiet indeed. 80 high ran the patriotic
enthusiasm, that u hundred and forty
names were immediately enrolled for a
militia company. The excitement has
sOmew what suOslaed now, but If the rebels
ever come again, they will find the Georg
tOwners iuIy prepared 10 meet them.
This "invasIOn," ridiculous and foolish
as II was, may yet teach Us a lesson. 1t
should warn Us 10 De on our guard, pre-
pared tor any emergency. We know the
| Copperhead5 are ready. organized and
armed, and some of them mean and des-
peraJe enough for any undertaking. Let
Us also organize, and show the grey backs
that there are determined Union men
enough in our midst to crush into powder
al opposition TO the Government at home.
\ stitch III TINS saves nine"