Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-04-07

tltSUCCcSHUt tSCOfcN .IOr UWIS U tUt-
sc,s-N,mbos Of al parties Eeert Them
tier Donger observation-disclosures Lcor-
Mg-Wc RebaJiicam Iersion-- Soldier
kHled-LriSoAer.
special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.
MATTOoN Ill, March 81.
Great efforts are being made to give the !
recent troubles at Charleston, in this coun-
ty, political significance to which they are
not entitled, and to this end the widest ex-
aggcrations and grosscSt misstatemCnts are
industriously circulated ond telcgraphcd all
over the country From visit to Charles
ton this afternoon, and conversation with
many who participated in or were witness
es Of the unfortunate affray, have been en-
abled to arrive at the correct facts i'll the
case. For some time past there has been
affrays at Charleston, and in different parts
of Coles County between the citizens and
the soldiers, to which liquor contributed
as much, if not more, than politics. Some
citizens from O. OIlair's settlement had been
quite roughly handled by the soldiers, sew
cral of whom, it is reported, on one or two
occasions assisted each other in beating citi-
zens. The people Of this ncighborhood be-
came much incensed, and determined upon
revenge, which they designed inhicting by
the same means they claimed the soldiers
had resorted to, that is, III superior num-
bcrs.
Last Monday was the commencement of
the Spring Term Of Court in Coles County,
day on which many citizens are accustom
ed to visit the county seat. Hon John X.
Eden, the Democratic member OF Congress
from this district, was also advertised to ad-
dress his constituents. The two events
would necessarily bring large number of
people together on that day, and Mr..
Eden promised address make the assem-
blage largely Democratic, The people Of
O. Hair settlement were aware Of the adj
vantage they would have on that day, above
all others, in an affray with the soldiers, -
They believed all the Democrats present
would participate and give the soldiers a
sound drubbing. They conceived that some
interference would be made with Mr. Eden
when he attempted to speak, and according
| ly about thirty Of them prepared themselves
for the defensive or offensive, a. circlm-
stances should require. Some Of them had
pistols, and others had guns concealed in
their wagons under the straw. Mr.. Eden
arrived about , O'Clock. lie quickly saw
that both soldiers and citizens las been
drinking quite freely, Gas they were using
incorporate language and laborimg under
quite Il degree Of excitement aud that a
speech would necessarily result in distur-
bance He according ly revoked hisappoint-
ment. The excitement was not to be al
laycd, and the leading Democrats Of the
: county induced many Of the people to re-
turn to thes homes, and over tWo-thirls ol
those who came out to hear Mr.. Eden left
town before o clock, and some hopes were
entertained of preventing any disturbance.
About 4 clock, however a soldier nance
Oliver Salce, in passing Il citizen named Ar.
sonal Wells ran against him, asked if there
were any "Copperheads, in the county, said
he could whip any ''Copperhead in the
county, &c, &c, and finally asked Well''
if he was "Coppcrhead ?' Wells replied
in the affirmative. Salee put his hand on
''If you lay your hands on me / will shoot
you " Salee said he would ''shoot back u
minute after, it is said, Wells fired his
pistol whether at Salee or not, is not known
| Revolycrs We're drawn at once and used with
, terrible effect, as were also the shot gum
! with which tho peoplo from o Hair neigh
borhood were provided. Some Of the sol
= diers were armed with revolvers, and SOM
had their muskets where they soon cot halo
- Of them In two or three minutes Majo
y York, Surgeon of the 54th Illinois, and Al
1 fred Swain, James Goodrich, aud VIM. G
h Hart, Of the same regiment, and Nelso
G since died. Col. Mitchell, Oliver Saee
# Brooks, soldiers, were wounded, as wo'
s also William Gilman, John Triml le, am,
5 Sanford Noyes, republicans, and Geo. II
It Collins, Hcrndon, Democrats. The me
from O. Hair settlement then left town.
About half an hour afterwards Il prisonc
named John Cooper attempted to escape b
~ running into the store of John jenkins,
very cstmablc citizen and Il republican.
c vollcy war fired, which killed both Coopc
n and jenkins, making the total number {
r. killec seven, and Of wounded eleven,
Col. Mitchell telcgraphcd to Nation, an
!. 25O Of his regiment came up To Charleston
Is and squads were sent out and many pc
sons arrested
t. John r. Eden left town as soon as the Il
fray commenced, which, with other Dem,
=. Gratis, he had been cndeavoring to prevcn
~ Rumors We're prevalent that some Sc
men were congrogated at GOliday Mills,
Of miles from Charleston, Cot. Mitchell vi,
ted that place where, he was formed, Il
camp was located at Nomikcn Point som
twelve miles further and which he dcemC
- so mythical he did visit, Rumors fixed a
W icblltl NdllI hNdi W lllNi''i1 'NNNh W. NiSl
miles west of this place, but the 18th Ind
ana and 4lst Illinois visited the place Lelo
.. daylight this morning and failed to discov
III traces of there having been a camp in tn
vicinity. Rumors Of Democrats marchn
10 ON Mattoon and Charleston originated cit
ne cr in the fears of some people or circulate
by others for effect, No danger is appr
o. hended and the nth Indiana has alrca'
. left, as has also a detachment Of the q
~ Missouri, commanded by Lieutenant Galv
The 4lst Illinois will probably leave in t
morning, and, with the Withdrawal Of troo
20 the excitement will subside, fears will gra
% ually die out, and the usunl quiet be rcstc
ed.
e- Democrats and republicans dcplorc Il
a matter equally, and hold that the condu
~ of those from O. Hairs settlement was hig
" ly reprehensible.
IL Too much credit cannot be given c.
h John True, of the ed llionois, and Col
,ss NJ. Mitchell, of the 54th for the manner
ro which they h,ae acted, Both OF the
sought to allay the excitement, and ha
prevented n still greater eifuSion of bloc
IS, The 9th Illinois is under orders to rcma
IS, on duty in this vicinity,
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Times,
SpRINGFlEID, March 81.
bovn inst n,llel On tha III if1nrnnt militia