The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-02

sent who were on duty with the Regimen
ut the time Of the difficulty, with one ex
ception, and If the captured officers hat
2 been present they would not have beer
. less unanimous.
ALoNzo III. PARKER,
Capt. and Act. Adjt.
CeppeFheaA Rebellion fl ll1nto1s
j We cut the following account Of the Cop
J lperhead Rebellion in Coles County, I'LL
from Chicago proper.
NATION, Coles, Co., ILL.,, March q, 1884.
j Yesterday about 6Oor 100 Copperheads
the most desperate characters in this and
n few adjoining counties, assembled q
Charleston, where the Circuit Court was IN
session. A few officers and soldiers ofthe
54th Illinois veterans were there on fur
Tough.
A little after o'clock p. m, while Court
was quietly in session, Q man named Mel
son Wells suddenly fred on . soldier in
the court yard. As though this was . pre-
concerted signal, the Copperheads in the
Court House and yard opened general
dre on Union men and soldiers with revolt
wagon where they had gums concealed, and
firing with these a. fast - they could get
them.
The few soldiers present being take en-
tirely by surprise. fought manfully with
their pistols, and soon the dead and wOun.
ed were scattered around the public square.
The soldiers and Union citizens ran for
guns as soon possible, but as they returned
the rebels were in full retreat, the whole
affair thus far having occupied but short
time.
Col. Mitchell, Of the 54th Illinois, was
without his revolver when it commenced.
While attempting to take pistol from
mum, he was shot by another man, the ball
striking his heavy gold watch and inflict-
ing slight wound. Another man put
pistol to his back and would have killed
him had 1t not snapped. Still another man
was just about firing fatal shot al him,
when q soldier knocked him down with a
brickbat. The Colenel was shot at dozen
times or more. Maj. Shubal York, Surgeon
Of the 54th, was shot dead while calamity
defending himself.
Within an hour from the beginning Of the
affair, Lieut.. Col. Chapman, with a portion
Of the 54th-about $50 men-arrived from
Nation, twenty-three miles distant, and
squads were sent out after the retreating
COpperheads. About thirty five Of the raj
ders were arrested during the evening and
night, and are now here under guard.
They cut the telegraph east Of Charleston
as they retreated. They met a soldier
Levi Freisner, Co. c. 5th-whom they took
prisoner at the command Of John 8. O. Hair,
Sheriff Of Coles county, who was at their
head.
The soldier was retaken at daylight this
morning, and six rebels who were guard
ing him were captured. The following il
list Of killed and wounded as far ms
known:
KILLED.
Major 8. York, Surgeon. 54th.
James Goodrich, c, 54th.
A. Swain, g. 54.th
~. Hart cod III
John Jennings, Union citizen.
WOUNDED.
Colonel Mitchell, 54th.
Oliver Sales, C. 54th.
4 private unknown, G, 54th.
- Decker, G, 5Ath.
Geo. Ross, G, 54th.
William Gilman, citizen.
thomas Jefries, citizen.
COPPERHEAD KILLED.
Nelson Wells, who began the ARRAY.
John Cooper.
E. Wrinkles was wounded, and several
other wounded Copperheads were hauled
of in wagons by their friends.
Col. McHenry Brooks, who is authorized
to raise new regiment, took part in the
hight, and was quite active in following up
and arresting the rebels in their hiding
places last night.
All was quiet in Charleston during the
night. 1t Is now known that the rebels
camped to the number of 100. several miles
east Of that town.
STILL LATER. |,
-Four hundred men of the 18th Illinois
leave Charleston tonight to attack the re. |,
bells, who are said to be 300 strong, under
command Of Sheriff John s. O'Hair, in
1t Golliday's Mills, ten miles east
IF Charleston.
A portion OF the 54th is here to protect
Mattoon, Il being threatened from Shelby
Ind MOultrie counties.
Two companies Of the Invalid Corps. en- U
quite for Springfield, were stopped ~
N al the roads. TIt
IDAHO Coin MINrS- mars r..- 4