Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-02
rhe Charleston Affair !! !!
A DREADFUL FIGHT BETWEEN
COPPERHEADs AND SOL
DIEHs.
seven Persons Fxtiled---Eight severe
~ Wounded
MAJOR YORK KILLED.

[From the Charissioa Pisiaassisr.l
CaARLEsrox, March 2s, 9PM
This afternoon dreadful affair took
place in our town, the most shocking in
its details, that has ever occurred in our
part Of the State Early in the morning
squads OF Copperheads came in town
from various directions, and, as the se-
quel will show, armed and determined
upon summary vengeance upon cur sol.
diers Daring the day premonitious of
the coming trouble were too evidena
Some Of the soldiers, about to re-
turn TO their regiments, sere some
what excited BY liquor, and consequently
rather boisterous, but not belligerent--
were more disposed for fun than fight.
About o. clock, soldier, Oliver Sallee,
stepped up to Nelson Wells, who has
been regarded as the leader Of the Cop
parheads in ihis county, and placing his
hand good-naturedly against him, play
fully asked him If there we're any Butter
nuts in town2 Wells replid, Yes,
Cd d--n you, | am onel' and drawing
bis revolver shot at Saslee, but missed
him In an instant Sallee, was shot from
another direction, and fell, but raising
himself mp, be fired at Wells, the ball
taking effect in his vitals He (Wellsl
went as far as Chambers L McCFory >
store, and passing 10, fell dead.
The Copperheads were gathered be
hind Judge Edward Office, loading their
firearms, aud then would step out aud
fire FROM the corner at the soldiers indis-
criminal y, with guns and revolyers.
OF course having come fully prepared,
+ thev had vastly the advantage over the
/ soldiers, who were not expecting such an
attack, and were, for most part, unarm-
/ ed. Those who we're armed mid hard
/ ly know at whom to fire until ey were
/ fired upon. The copperhes we're
/ seen to hurry 10 their wagons, hA he'd at
the Square. and gather therefrom yeral
guns, which Eers concealed and the
/ straw. They were freely Esad and ith
/ terrible effect. Thomas Je6sies va pc
next TO fall. receiving an ugly wounsin
/ the neck. Vim. Gilman was shot By b. i.
Dukes. the ball striking q rib on his lell
side and glanced OF. Dukes was then
seen to Ere at Colonel Mitchell, and
/ afterwards declared that he had killed
him. Colonel NJ. received several shots
through his cloths. one hit his watch and
glanced off, producing only a slight flesh
wound upon his abdomen. The watef
thus, providentially, saved his life. DIR
York. Surgeon ef the 54th Illinois, while
passing through the Court House, wa;
approached by some one from behind
who took deliberate aim and shot hin
dead-the pistol being held so close tC
him that the powder burned his coat
So faT as we can learn, DIR. York wa
not actively engaged in the aaray, say'
in his professional capacity as Surgeon
and in trying to restore order. 4 sol
DIR. Alfred Swim, Co g. 54th Illinois
was shot. and taken..to Drs. Allen s Var
Meter office, where he sood died. Mr.
S. lived somewhere near Casy's, ssClarl
county, where be leaves wife and threl
children. He ia spoken of by all a
having beea "a excellent soldier and /
GOOD citizen VIM. G. Hart, Depatj
Provost Marshal, was shot in severa
places--in the head and vitals; hi
wounds are probably mortal. jane
Goodrich. Co. c, 54th Illinois, receives
shocking wound; beng shot IN tn
bowels, his wound, we fear, will prov,
mortal. - %s-
Unarmed as our boys were, Col
Mitchell soon rallied all he could, citi
sens and soldiers, and improyising suel
arms as could be had, gathered at IN
southwest corner Of the Square, IS to
Copperheads retreated down the stree
running therefrom. Dispatches wer
sent to Mattoon for soldiers, and 50
were soon on the way. The Copper
heads halted somewhere near Mrs. Dlck
sons aud remained for some time, thel
turned and went OF Beyond J. .