Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-04
THE COLES COUNTY BLOT.
4 Full account Of is OTigin-ProgTsss end
ConeJssion-The Coppsrhsads Suppressed
Qaaet Restored.

/ SSfsSSsosOit- 4 10 NDHPShsN%s supp S9oe~
-Qlaet Restorsa.
From the Charleston COLES County, Plain DeAl-
er, Extra.
CHARLESTON, March 81, 1854
This afternoon q dreadful affair look
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 sequel will
show, armed and determined upon summa-
~ vengeance upon our soldiers. During
the day, prsmonitions of the coming trouble
were too evident. Some Of the soldiers,
about 70 return to their regiments, were
somewhat excited by liquor, and oonse-
quently rather boisterous, but not belliger-
ent-Were more disposed for fun than
| fight. About 4 o'clock q soldier, Oliver
Ssllee, stepped up to Nelson Wells, who
has been regarded as the leader Of the
Copperhesds in this county, and placing
his hand good-nsturedly against him,
playfully asked him if there were any
Copperheads in town. Wells replied,
ayes God d-n you l am one !" and draw
ing his revolver shot at Ssllee, but missed.
him. In an instant Sallee was shot from
another direction, and fell, but raising
himself up, he fred at Wells, the ball tax
ing effect in his vitsls. he (Wells) went
as far as Chambers S McCrory's store, and
passing in, fell dead. The CoppeTheads
were gathered behind Judge Edwards Of
fee, loading their firearms, and then
would step out and FIRE from the corner ct
the soldiers indiscriminstely, with guns
and revOlvers. OF course, having come
fully prepared they had vastly the adVsn-
tsge over the soldiers, who were not ex-
peeting such an attack, and were, for the
most part uRarmed Those who were
armed would hardly know at whom to FIRE
until they were fred upon. The Copper
heads were seen to hurry to their wagons,
hitched at the square, and gather there
from several guns, which we're concealed
under the straw. They were freely used
and with terrible effect. Thomas Jeffries
was the next to fall, receiving an ugly
wound in the neck. VIM. Gilman was shot
by B. F. Dukes, the ball striking q rib on
his left side and glanced off. Dukes was
then seen to FIRE st Colonel Mitchell, and
afterwards deolsred that he had killed him.
Colonel Mitchell received several shots
through his clothes; one hit his watch and
glanced of, producing only slight flesh
wound upon his abdomen. The watch
thus, providentislly, saved his life. DR..
York, surgeon Of the 54th Illinois, while
passing through the Court House, was ap-
preached by some one from behind, who
took deliberate aim, and shot him dead
the pistol being held 80 close 10 him that
the powder burned his coat So far as we
can learn, DR.. York was not actively en-
gagged in the sffray, save in his profession
al capacity as Surgeon, and in trying to
restore order. A soldier, Alfred Swim, Of
company G, 54th Illinois, was shot, and
taken to Drs. Allen & Van Meters Office,
where he soon died. Mr.. Swim lived
somewhere near Casey, in Clark county,
where he leaves a wife and three children.
He is spoken Of by all as having been sn
excellent soldier and good citizen. VIM
G. Hart, Deputy Provost Marshal, was
shot in several places, in the head and |
vitals; his wounds are probably mortal. |
James Goodrich, company C, 54th Illinois, |
received q shocking wound being shot in |
the bowels, his wound, ne fear, will prove |
mortal.
Abeut five o'clock the reinforcements
from Nation arrived; and while in the
Court House yard, Mr.. John Cooper, from |
as q prisoner by Mr.. W. a. Noe and SOL |
der. Mr.. c. had taken sn active part in
the ARRAY. When in front Of jenkins
store he attempted TO escape, and when
commanded to halt refused TO do so
Whereupon Mr.. Noe fired over Cooper's
head, who in return fred at some of our
men, when orders were given to fire upon
him, which was done, and he fell dead at
Jenkins door. Unfortunately one Of the
balls passed through the closed door and
struck Mr.. John Jenkins in the groin, pro-
ducing a serious, and probably mortal
wound. Mr.. Cooper was shot through the
neck and shoulder. When thV- Copper
heads were halted near Mrs. Dickson's, he
was heard to say that IS they now had 40
leader, he was ready to lead them back and
kill the d-d soldiers and burn the town
or die in the attempt; and at various
places he was heard to threaten to cut out
the hearts Of the id Abolitionists," /" and
use kindred expressions.
Unsrmed as our boys were, Colonel
soon rallied all be could, aud i'm
provising such arms as could be had,
gathered at the southwest corner of the
Square, as the Copperhesds retreated down
The street running east tberefrOm. Dis
patches were sent to Msttoon. for soldiers,
and three hundred were soon on the way.
The Copperheads halted somewhere near
Mrs. Dickson's and remained for some time,
hen turned and went of. Beyond J. H.
o Hairs residence they gathered together,
consulted for time, and then moved off
IN northessterly direction, cutting the
elegrsph wire as they went-unfortunste-
y before dispatch could be eent to DR..
York's family, at Paris, giving notice of
ais assassination.
How many there were of the Copper
lesds we do not know, nor can we esti-
nate the number, save by the size of the
lquads that retrested in several directions
We think there may have been from 100 to
-5O all mounted. Who their leaders were
Ne do not know, precisely. J. II. 0Hair,
iherif Of this county was seen to FIRE three
lines at the soldiers. John Frazier, while
lifting on his horse, was seen TO deliber-
Itely fire five times at them, and then
cave. Others Of less prominence were
,qually Wsrlike,
Immediately after the soldiers arrived
quads mounted upon sll the horses that
Ould be found, we're started out in every
ut in every direction in pursuit-Colonel
Srooks in charge Of one, Lieutenant Hor-
Ter another, etc. Up to this writing, nine
q the evening, some twelve prisoners
ave been captured, and the pursuit still
ept up after more.
Daniel s. Dickinson teIegrapbed to the ,