, 1864-04-04
TIE, COLES COUNTY AFFRAY.
HOW 1T ORIGINATED.
4 PGECoNCERTrD SCHEME BY TIE
C0PPERHEADSs


ESSEX HOUSE,,
NATION, Coles Co., Ill, April !, 1sat- {
have just returned from Charleston, whera
the great riot took plnce on Monday last, BY
which eight persons we're kllled-all Of whom,
With the exception Of two, were good Union
men.- Charleston Is the county seat Of Coles
county, situated On the Terre Haute and Al
ton Railroad; twelve miles east Of NATION.
I. 1t Is, to use the Vernacular hero, "a right
smart Place, and contains about 2, 600 inhab-
itants. 1tboasts several stores, saloons, q large
public ball and the Court House The last
Is situate on an open: square, IN the highest
part OF the town, and 1t WIS In the Court
House yard where the fray first commenced.
The Court House is a large brick building,
the front part Of which il tive etor!es high,
fronting towards the North On the East and
west sides OF the square, abouttwo rods from
the Court House,is small brick building
used as lawyers Offices; while Immediately
opposite these arc tho entrances to the court
room.
On Monday morning last, numerous squads
OF the copperheads came riding into town,
armed with revolvers, while along with them
camc several wagons, in which, as the sequel
shows, arms were concealed. There were
two reasons for the outpouring Of the cops
the opening Of the County Court, and the
announcement that John R. Eden, u: G.,
Would address his secesh constituents. There
were q few Of the Fifty-foarth illinois
where the regiment was ordered
to rendezvous, but were una1med, save about
half O dozen, who had reyolvcIB. About OF
10 O'Clock that morning, one VIM. q. Hart,
formerly acting Provost Marshal, had difR-
Guilty with Coppcrhead.; in which the: latter,
story e: lis brethren, and they seeing that
the soldiers were very few and una1med, de-
ternIned after consultation, to clean them out.
1n order to do this one Nelson Wells,
o big huEly tsbutternuf' was commissioned
to set the ball rolling. Acting under this Or
der, he went-stalkiag around like Paddy at
tread on Ills coat tail II the mean time the
court had been opened by Judge Constable,
and John o. Halr, the Sheriff OF Coles county,
was attending to the duties Of his Office.
Hon. ~ John r. Eden, however, anticipating
what Wns coming and not wishing to ,crlmi-
oration, but quietly started 81 On foot about.
halfpast ten . accompanied By one Schoacld,
q leading Cofpcrhead and member of the
K. G. Cs. It is inserted by some that he
has gone to Washington, and will not show
himself here for some time
About 3 o'clock IN the afternoon, Oliver
Sullee, Of the 5ith Illinois, went up to Wells
and tapped him on the shoulder, at the
same time nsking him II there were
any copperhcads about Wells replied,
eyes. DIN sou. 1am one" and drawing
reverbcrations Of this shot had hardly cceas.:
ed, when the Copperheads commenced firing
Unfortunately among the soldiers and citi-
zena. Colonel l1itchelt, of the 54th Ill, was
in the county clerks Office at the time. and
3Ttsdatsy 1t Mss so;ns Fushed ~ ont III. to Learn
Of dozens Of pistols at him, and although bis
clothes were ri0dlcd with bullets, he ESCAPED
miraeulors1y, having only. received two very
slight flesh wounds. Major York, sur
geon Of the regiment, was In the drug store
opposite the west side Of the Court House,
and hearing the shots, ran across the street.
before several shots were fred. One scoun-
drcl, wEo turns out to be Green Hanks,
constable In Paris, and deputy sheriff
under o'Hair, stepped up behind
the doctor, and placing the muzzle Of re-
volvcr to his back, fred The unfortunate
the meantime Judge Constable. had adjourn
ed the Court, and cleared out OF town, while
Sheriff O'Hair abandoned Ills shrieyalty, and
took up his position as one OF tho leaders Of
the insurgents. They then ran to their wag-
ons, taking ont their guns and retreltfns be-
hind The emall brick building in the court
yard. Herc they fired whenever they saw
rushed to their homes, And hastily arnllng
themselves, returned to the Tray. Tue rebels,
then rushing over the fences, mounted their
horses which had been tied there, and retreat
ed about eight or ten rods from the court |
house. Here they made q momentarY halt,
hut again took to their heels, when \
tie citizens charged on them. At !
this. charge, one John Cooper, a big, |
loud monthed Copperhead, was captured |
and brought back. He attempted to escape |
by running into jenkins store, when the |
soldiers fred, killing him instantly, as also |
John jenkins, Who WAS closing the shop |
door 10 keep Cooper out. This was tho last |
shot fired. The rebels again retzcated in
struggling manner to UHair's residence, |
about quarter Of Il mile from tbs Court !
House. Here O'Halr aud John Frazer. 4
well to do farmer living about eight miles
north OF Char1estop, attempted to fallgstheir |
eowardly brethren hut failed. John 0'IIaIr
Then took an axe, and with the rebels. turned
North, crossing the railroad track. Here the
worthy sheriff cnt down a, telegraph pole |
md severed the wire, but not bsfora = dis.
patch had been sent to. Mxttoon for
he soldiers. The rebels then retreated pcll
nell out Of town, and when the soldiers
:ame up from Mattoon, there-was not cop
oerhead to be seen, save the dead ones, and
hey werc OF no particular ucruunt. AZ I
lnve sent you the names OF the killed and
wounded BY telegraph, need not repent
hem here. Whcnever~a a copperllead fell
bis companions carried him Off to
he wagons. and drove out oftown. Consc..
luent1y am unable TO give the number Of
heir wounded MAC,