Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-04-07
THE LATE DISTURBANCE IN ILLINOIS.

The Illinois troubles appear to be at an end. The re
port Saturday last that all was quiet" At that
time the prisoners arrested had been to Springfield
the State capital and further trouble apprehended
The affair seems, though very serious and most lamen.
table tragedy, greatly misrepresented in political
point of view. 1t merely local quarrel between
some soldiers and citizens Of Coles county. The follow
ing account of IL s from correspondent of the Chicago
Times: s.t tE# s3Igs .s "a "a IA s7 IL
NATION, Gil MARCH 81 1863.
Great efforts being made to give the recent troubles
which they are entitled and to this end the widest
and Hrossest missatements ndustrous
circulated and teegrapbed all the country From
visit to Charleston this afternoon and conversation with
many who participated 10 witnesses OF the unfor
aay have been enabled to arrive at the correct
facts in the case.
For some time past there have been ARRAYS at Charles
ton and in different parts Of Celes county between the
citizens and the soldiers, which liquor contributed quite
much not more than politics.. Some citizens from
OHar retemert had been quite roughly handled by the
soldiers, several of whom it reported, two
occasions assisted each other in beating citizens The
people of this neRhborhood became much incensed and
determined upon revenge which they designed n6ctDg by
the same means they claimed the soldiers had resorted to-
that is in superior numbers. E.s .saaH
| Last Monday the commencement OF the spring
term of court In Coles county day which msny citi
accustomed to visit the county seat Hon. John
r. Eden The Democratic member Of Congress from this
district also advertsed to address his constituents
The two events would necessarily bring large number
people together that day, and Mr. Edens promised ad
dress made The assembage largely Democratic. The peo
pie Of oHars settlement were aware Of the advantage
they would have that day. above all others aray
with the soldiers They believed all the Democrats pre-
sent would participate and give the soldiers sound drub
biug They conceived that Interference would be
made with Mr. Eden when he attempted to speak and ac
cordngy about thirty Of hem prepared themselves for the
defensive offensive, circumstances should require
Some of them had pistols and others had guns concealed
| iu their wagons under The straw.
Mr.. Eden arrived about two o'clock. He quickly saw
that both soldiers and citizens had been drinking quite
freely they were using utemperate language and labor
inQ under quite degree of excitement and that speech
would necessarily result disturbance. He accordingly
revoked his appointment The excitement not to be
aayed and the leading Democrats Of the county induced
of the people to return TO their homes aud over
two.thrds of those who out to hear Mr. Eden le
town before three o'clock, aud hopes were enter
tanned of preventing any disturbance lsg
About four o'clock, however, soldier named divers So
him. asked If there were any copperheads in the county
said he could whip copPerhesd in the county &c.
finally asked Wells he was scopperhead1 Wells replied
in the Affirmative Salee put his hand Wells shoulder
who stepped back and said, IL you lay your hands
will shoot you" Salee said he would |" shoot back
minute after, it is said, Wells fred his pistol whether
at Salee not not known Revolvers were drawn al
once and used with terrible effect, also the sho
guns with which the people from OHairs neghborhoot
| were provided Some Of the soldiers armed wit
revolvers and had their muskets where they 500
got hold of them
In two or three minutes Major York surgeon Of th
Fftyfourth Illinois, and Alfred Swain, James Goodrich
and VIM. @. Hart Of the stme regiment, and Nelso
Wells, were mortally wounded and have since died. Co
Mitchell, Oliver Seee John Near, VIM. Decker, Georg
Ross j Brooks, soldiers, wounded were als
VIM. Gilman John Trimble, and Sanford Noyes, Reput
licans aud Geo j. Collins, John w. Herndon, Democrats
The from O'Hsirs settlement then left towr
About half an hour afterwards prisoner named job
Cooper attempted TO escape by running into the store
John jenkins, very estimabe citizen and Republican
A voley was fired which killed both Cooper and JeI
kins making the total number of killed seven, and
wounded eleven Col Mitchell telegraphed to Mattoor
and two hundred and fifty Of his regiment came up
Charleston, and squads sent out and many person
arre sted. John X. Eden left town the afa
commenced, which, with other Democrats, he had bee
endeavoring to prevent.