Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-08
Is THERE CIVIL WAR IN ILLINOISe
The Disturbances in Coles and Edgar Coun-
flies.

Is THERE CIVIL WAR IN ILLINOIS.
The Disturbances in Coles and Edgar Coun
ties.
From the Chicago Tribune
The tools of treason in Illinois would be bes
pleased by the exaggeration of the evil deed.
they have accomplished, to the end of marrine
the loyal fame of our State, andencouraging the
rebels in the sinking Confederacy by exciting
tales ofwhat is being done in their behalf by
these Northern allies. But so small proper
ton do these scattered emeutes of traitors beal
to the hOod-tide ofLoyal sentiment in the North,
that not even the blindest follower of jeff Davis
can be long deceived. Tell him Illinois has fill
ed her quota under every call by volunteering,
and 1t viii be in vain to add that certain fellows
of the baser sort have temporarily disturbed
their home precincts by deeds of bloodshed and
violence few annoying fleas in the hide OF
the mastiff, staunchly bearing down their enc
my, would be an appropriate if not very ele-
giant figure to set forth the relative proportions
of the case.
But if they have failed, and will still fail to
create the semblance they seek, wherewith to
aid the rebellion, their guilt is none the less-
| Their deeds of murder are real. Their ferociOus
| plottings against loyalty are genuine Their
deserved penalty is none the less because they
failed to sweep across the Prairie State the red
tide of war. They have meant to accomplish
| IT, lie SCtIeS llldi nave ulSBTdCeu OOleS ana
| Edgar counties are a rebel menace against the
peace of our prosperous communities, howl of
| rebel hate and protest against the happier state
| of loyalty, cOntrasted with the dark experi-
ences of the Confederacy.
Coles and Edgar are adjoining counties in
the first tier of counties south of Springfield the
latter bordering on Indiana and recently the
scene of disturbances similar but less consider
able, than those of fresh occurrence at Charles
fn1nT ,lo L
dlnally, these events may be credited to Cen
trail Illinois.
Our dispatches, elsewhere, from Charleston
and Lattoon, set forth the events very clearly.
There are some points we are in position to ex-
plain, from thoroughly reliable sources, which
throws much lightO the matter The 54th H.
inois Regiment, now home on a furlough. was
the old command of Col. 7. NJ Harris, and re-
cruited from that immediate section In that
region Copperheads are numerous, and the doc
trInes of such sheets as the jeff Davis organ of
this city pass current Gospel Men who hate
the war and revile our armies are the prime
abettors and aiders of desertions, and neighbor-
hoods where such views prevail, are the favor
Ite haunts Of military refugees of this class
The exertions of our officers to capture deserters
has kindled the sparks of treason in these coun-
ties INTO fire that viii burn until its fuel is con-
sumed. Consumed it will be.
Both Coles and Edgar counties furnish strik-
ing proof and warning to all other counties in
the State that no local office can be safely en-
trusted to disloyal men. Two meaner tools of
the rebellion cannot be found in Illinois than
the two infamous brothers VIM, S. O'Hair
Sheriff of Edgar county, and John S. O'Hair
Sheriff of Coles county. Their father is ex-
Sheriff Mike o. Hhair of Edgar, and both are
''chips of the old block" and of the three it
may be said that it is a misfortune to the loyal
t1,,,4I /
cOnscriptiOn, which would find them ready made
to its uses, and far less dangerous to us in the
rebel service
The share of Sheriff John O'Fair of Coles !
county, in the late disturbances is set down in
our dispatches elsewhere. Both he and his |
brother are men of desperate character and he |
seems to have led in the bloody work begun and |
carried out. 1t was deliberate and murderous |
attack on the soldiers and Union citizens re-
sulting in the loss of several lives many wound
ed and the flight of the assailants. 1t is no.
ticeable in this case, as in Paris, Edgar county,
a short time since, that the assembling was not |
a chance one, that the Copperheads came arm
ed, which were arsenals in reserve and this |
with deliberate and deadly purpose
In the Edgar county disturbance the brutal |
and outrageous assaults of the COpperhead sheet |
at Paris had excited the veteran soldiers, who |
threatened to demolish it, but the apologies of |
The editor saved him and it. But the Copper
heads indignant at the success of the soldiers in
backing down the organ of treason, had deter
mined on vengeance, and as is sworn to in tes-
5imOny, the infamous Sheriff, VIM. S. O'Hair
1f Edgar county, secretly collected one hundred
armed Copperheads from Coles Clark and Ed
gar counties, impudently calling them in the
secret missiye a posse cOnlitdtuS. The gallant
soldiers had seen rebels before, and cleaning
'ut and rapid flightOfthe miscreants took place
0ne of them, named Canady, was captured, says
he Paris Beacon:
The sworn statement of Canady was taken by
notary public. He declared that Sheriff
Hair had sent for these men to come to Paris
n squads of three or four, without arms, their
rms to be brought in a wagon and secreted un-
ii occasion called for their use; that paper to
his effect was read to him, signed by VIM. S.
Hair, and witnessed by some of the best citi-
ems of Paris-among others Amos Green and,
We believe, Jonathan Mayo was mentioned in
his connection. Col. Mayo positively denies
laving signed or seen such paper Can it be
hat forgery has been committed for the purpose
# inaugurating civil war in Edgar county.
To show the design of these miscreants we
will state that Snow, the editor of the Times
anne to John Fisher, and whispering in his ear,
aid, ''you will see the biggest fight ever wit
essed in Paris in a few minutes, or words to
hat effect. He was going on to make further ,
when looking up in some surprise
e exclaimed, go, l believe | am mistaken in
he man, thought it was DIR. Ten Brook. - l
This was before any disturbance had occur
ed, and Just previous to the time that the guer-
lllas drove up their arsenal of arms.