Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-10-20
DourMal ann 5tatcsman
WILMINGTON, DEL,
Tuesday Morning, October 20, 1858.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

A hlDNArpING CAsE.-Ihe Onion Of Friday
says On last Sunday morning IA case occurred
in Nanticoke Hundred Of this County, which is
sufficient to arouse the noble masses Of the State
to true sense Of what may be expected from
the Copperhead party.
A man by the name of william Fleetwood Jr.,
was drafted and upon examination proved to be
physicaliy sound, and necessarily was obliged to
pny the commutati0n fee (S3OO) or furnish a
substitute. He considered stealing Il white boy
and offering him as Il substitute us sufficient to
clear him Of the draft Therefore, he, William
FLEETWOOD Jr, in company with Henry Hudson,
proceeded to the house Of Nathaniel Messiok
and in the absence Of Messck, carried off Joshua
Swain, son OF keeph L. Swain, aud an inden-
tured apprentice to Messick. The wife of Mr.
Messick persisted against the meu doing this
deed, but upon being threatened she found her
self unable to resist them The boy finding
what the iutention Of the men was, naturally re-
monstrated against going with them, but by
overp0werng means he was forced to submit,
and then taken by the two lawless miscreants to
the residence Of Henry Hudson, from thence
conveyed to Coyerdale'- Cross Roads by William
Fleetwood, ST.. and from there to Dover By Ed
ward Ford, and there took the train for Smyrna,
at which place they arrived on Monday morning.
On viz. Messicks return home, short time
after the circumstance had occurred aud learn
ing what had been done, Immediately proceeded
to Georgetown AMI made Information to Detec
tive Ewing Messick and Ewing proceeded by
private conveyance to Smyrna, at which place
they arrived some two hours in advance of Ford,
Fleetwood and the boy When the train arrived
at SMYRNA the party proceeded to n hotel where
they found Deteci.v' N'i~ ,1 ---
When Fleetwood sau d. f.-. t.r. .4-i,i
ately passed out Of the hotel .i.ougu the gar
den and stabing into an alley, evidently with the
IA pfr rrus inn hia buf Etuiu
the impulse of the moment, proceeded in another
direction to the alley whcrcupon ne made the ar
rest, und conveyed Fleetwood to the Head Quar-
ters Of the Provost Marshal, where he was
placed under guaid for hearing. AT nine
O'Clock Provost Wilmer heard the case, and held
Fleetweed to the service for three years, and
dismissed the boy, whcreupon Detective Ewing,
together with Alessice aud the boy proceeded to
their respective homes.
The DELAWARE REGIMESTs.-Dr Houston in
letter written to his brother Judge Houston.
dated near Culpepper, Va, Oct. 7th, 1868 says
BY direction OF the Government a circular was
distributed among us II few days since, inviting
the regiments which now have less than one year
to serve, to re-enlist for three years, the new
term to commence from the date of re enlisting,
and the evidence Of lie old term to be released
and cancelled. The iuduoement offered for this
is bounty Of S102 per man, payable by certain
installments, "A furlough for thirty days and to
be sent home to recruit and organize-the Off
GERS to retain their rank according tU their pres
ent commissions The Second Delaware aud Fifty
third Pennsylvania, are the only regiments in
this Brigade that are embraced Ia the offer con-
tained in the order, aud the latter, Col Brooke's
regiment, wall fe-enlst to Il mau, but the Second
Delaware has not YET consulted. or only so small
u number Of them hat we did not think it worth
while to take down their names. But as the
paymaster had arrived and commenced paying
them Of just at the time when their attention
was called to the order, they were so much en-
crossed with the matter Of the green bucks, they
had no time to think Of anything else; SO we
are going to try It agau, and | am requested to
address thu men uu tine subject aud to induce
them if We car, TO Usseat TO the terms. They
are all willing TO ie-enhri but for the sake OF
change, which perhaps is natural under all the
circumstances, or under mn Impression that the
service would be less abOIuus aud disagreable,
they prefer to 60 iuto the cavalry, or the artle-
ry, to remaining ia the Infantry. All the officers
Of the regiment will re-tnlsi, and OF course
shall, a an example to others; aud there is Il
universal wish expressed by them that you could
be here to adittss the regiment, as they think it
would have good and decided effect and settle
the difficulty; but as you have SO recently been
with us, other aad official duties must soon en-
gage your attention, suppose it would hardly
be possible Tor you now to come down.
Ii the men should finally agree 10 re-enlst in
this regiment as | hope they may, | think it
probable We shall be sent t0 Delaware in short
time and may remain their during Ibe winter, as
actiVe operations will be sus enieI IN the field
presume during that season ia this quarter.
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