The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-04-06
THE ILLINOIS TROUBLES. .
Details Of the Affair.
COrresp0ndence chicago IImes'
MATTooN, ILL.,, March 3


Great efforts are being made to give the
recent troubles at Charleston, in this conn
ty, a political significance to which they are
not entitled, and to this end the widest ex
aggerations and grossest mlstatementS are
industriously circulated and telegraphed
all over the country. From visit to
Charleston this afternoon, and a conversa-
tion with many who participated in or We're
witnesses of the unfortunate atfray. | have
been enabled to arrive at the correct facts
10 the case. For some time past there has
been affrsys at Charleston and in different
parts Of Coles county between the citizens
and the soldiers, to which liquor contrihu-
ted quite as much if not more than poll
tics. Some citizens from O'Hair's settle
ment had been quite roughly handled by
the soldiers, several Of whom, it is reported,
on one or two occasions assisted each 9th
er in beating citizens. The people of this
neighborhuod became much incensed, and
determined upon revenge, which they de-
signed inficting by the same means they
claimed the soldiers had resorted 10, that
is, in superior numbers. Last Monday was
the commencement of the spring term of
court in Coles county, a day on which many
citizens are accustomed To visit the county
seat Hon. John Il. Eden, the democratic
member of Congress from this district, was
also advertised to address his cons ntuents.
The two events would necessarily bring a
large number Of people together Oh that
day, and by Mr.. Edsn's promised address
make the assemblage largely democratic.
l.,
aware of the advantage they wonld have
on that day, above all others, in an atlray
with the soldiers. They believed all the
democrats present would participate AMI
give the soldiers a sound drubbing. They
conceived that some interference would be
made with Mr., Eden when he attempted to
speak, and accordingly about thirty OF them
prepared themselves for the defensive or
offensive as circumstances should require.
Some of them had pistols, and others had
guns concealed in their wag ons under the
straw. Mr.. Eden arrived about 2 o'clock.
He quickly saw that both soldiers and cili-
zens had been drinking quite sfreely, (as
they were using incorporate language and
laboring under quite degree Of excite
ment,) and that a speech would necessarily
resultl in a disturbance. He accordingly
revoked his appointment. The excitement
was not to be allayed, and the leading dem
ocrats of the county induced many Of the
people to return to their homes. and over
two thirds OF those who came out tn hear
Mr.. Eden, left town before 3 o'clock, and
some hopes were entertained of preventing
auy disturbance About 4 o'clock, howev-
er, a soldier named Oliver Salee, in passing
a citizen named Arson Wells, ran against
him, asked if there were any copperheads
in the county, and said he could whip any
copperhead in the county, &c. &c, and fl
nally asked Wells if he was copperhead?
Wells replied in the affirmative Salee put
his hand on Wells shoulder, who stepped
back and said, eff you lay your hands on
me will shoot YOU" Salee said he would
"shoot back" A minute after, it is said,
Wells fred his pistol whether at S,lee Or
not, is not known. Revolvers were drawn
at once aud used with terrible effect, as
was also the shot guns with which the peo
pie from O'Hair's neighborhood were pre-
vided. Some of the soldiers were armed
with revolvers and some had their muske:s
where they soon got hold Of them, In two
or three minutes Major York, surgeon Of
the Fift, fourth Illinois, and Alfred Swain,
James Goodrich, and VIM. G. Hart, of the
same regiment, and Nelson Wells, were
mortally wounded and have since died. Col.
Mitchell, Oliver Salee. John Near, William
Decker, Ge, Ross, l. j. Brooks, soldiers,
were wou. ded, as were also VIM. Gilman
John Trimble, and Sanford Noyes. Repub-
licans, and George j. Collins, j. w. Hern'
don, Democrats The men from O'Hair's
settlement then left town. About haA al
hour afterwards prisoner named Johr
Cooper attempted to escape by running int
the store of John Jenkins, very estima