Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-04-07
THE COLES COUNTY ARRAY.
How 1t 0riginated.-A PreconcerteI
Scheme by the Copperheads,
Correspondence ofthe Chicago Tribune. j
=; ts.4 e.s5 Essex HousK,
Mxrroy Coles Co Ill Anril (,

l. have Just returned from Charleston,
where the great riot took place on Monday
last, by which eight persons were killed
all OF whom. with the exception of two.
were good Union men. Charleston is the
county seat of Coles county,, situated or
the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad,
twelve miles east Of NATION. 1t is, to use
the vernacnlar here, ga right smart place. +"
and contains about $500 inhabitants. II
boasts several stores, saloons, q large
public hail and the Court House. The
last is situate on an open square, in the
highest part OF town, and it was in the
Court House yard where the fray first
commenced. The Court House is Q large
brick building. the front part Of which is
two stories high. fronting towards the
North. On the East and West sides Of
the square, about two rods from the Court
House, is a small brick building used as
lawyers Offices; while Immediately oppo-
site these are the entrances to the court
room. ~ H
On Monday morning last, numerous
squads ofthe copperheads came riding in
! to town, armed with revolvers, while
along With them came several wagons, in
which, as the SEQUEL shows, arms were
concealed. There were two reasons for
the outpouring of the cops-the 0rening
Of the County Court, and the announce
ment that John R.. Eden, NJ. c., would
address his secesh constituents. There
were few Of the Fifty fourth Illinois in
town, preparing to go to Nation. where
the regiment was ordered to rendezvous.
but were unarmed, save about half doz-
en-, who had revolvers. About 9 or 10 o.
clock that morning. one VIM. q. Hart,
formerly acting Provost Marshal. had q
difficulty with copperhead. in which the
latter came out second best. He went and
told bis story to his brethren. and they
seeing that the soldiers were very few and
unarmed, determined after consultation, to
clean them out. In order to do this one
Nelson Wells. big burly "butternut"
was commissioned to set the ball rolling.
Actingunder this order. he went stalking
around like Paddy at Denny brook fair,as-
king for some one to tread on his coat tail
In the mean time the court had been op-
ened by Judge Constable, and John o.
Hair, the Sheriff of Coles county, was at
tending to the duties Of his office. Hon !.
l(?) John r. Eden. however, anticipating
what was coming and not wishing to
crfminate himself. did not attempt to de-
liver his oratien. put quietly started of on
foot about half-past ten, accompanied by
one. Scho6eld, leading Copperhead and a
member of the, X. G. Cs. II is asserted
| by some that he has gone to Washington,
and will not show himself here fer some
time.
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon, Oil
yer Sallee. Of the 54th Illinois. went up to
Wells and tapped him on the shoulder. at
the same time asking him If there were
any coppeheads. about. Wells replied.
Eyes, d-n you. am one.'" and draw.
| ing his revolver, fred. This was the sig
nal; the ireyerberations of this shot had
! hardly ceased, when the Copperheads
commenced firing indiscriminately among
the soldiers and citizens. Colonel Mitch
] ell, OF the 54th Ill.,. was in the county
clerks Office at the time. and immediately
rushed out to learn what was going on,
His appearances was the signal for the
firing Of dozens OF pistols at him. and al
Though his clothes were riddled with bul.
lets. be escaped mirsculously, having only
received two very slight flesh. wounds
"A Major York, surgeon Of the regiment, was
in the drug store opposite the west side o.
J, the Court House, and hearing tho shots
ran across the street. He had hardly en-.
tered, tbs Court House door before severn