Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-04-13
TnE COLES CouNTy RIOT.
A Full Account or Its GPIgIn-Progress
and COueIusiOn--The COpPerlieads Sup
presSed-Quiet Restored.
r., IL. fh,-ra-t. gftra- T,-,,.t., DI.;v Tsr3ar

A Fun Account or Its oPIgIn-Progress
and COuelusiOn-The COpPerheads sup
| presSed-Quiet Restored.
From the Charleston (Coles County Plrin Dealer
4 Extra
CHARLESTON, March 81, lS64.
This afternoon a dreadful affair took
place in our town-the most shocking II
It's details that hss ever occurred ia ON
part of the State. Early in the morning
squads Of CoppeThesds came in town, from
various directions, and, as the sequel will
show, armed and determined upon sum
mary vengeance upon our soldiers During
the day, premonitions Of the coming troub
lie were too evident. Some of the soldiers
about 10 return 10 their regiments, were
somewhat excited by liquor, and conse-
\ quentiy rather boisterous, but nol beliig-
lerent-were more disposed for fun than
fight. About O'Clock a soldier, Oliver
Ssllee, stepped up to Nelson Wells, who
has been regarded as the leader Of the
ICopperheads in this county, and placing
his hand good-naturedly against him,
playfully asked him if there we're any
iCopperheads in town? Wells replied.
'Yes God d-n you, l am Oner and draw
ing his revolver shot at Sailee. but missed
him. In an instant Sallee was shot from
another direction, and fell. but raising
himself Up, he fred at Wells. the bali
taking effect in his yitais. He Wells went
as far as Chambers i McCrory's store, and
passing in, fell dead, The Copperheads
were gathered behind Judge Edwards Of
fee, loading their FIRE arms. and then
would step out and fire from the corner
at the soldiers Unfortunately, with guns
and revolvers OF course, having come
! fully prepared they had vastly the advan-
| tage over the soldiers, who We're not ex-
pecting such an attack, and were, for the
most part unarmed. Those who we're
armed would hardly know at whom TO fire
until they were fred upon. The Copper
heads were seen 10 hurry 10 their wagons,
hitched at the square, and gather there
from several guns, which were 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 rib on
his left side and glanced off. Dukes was
then seen to fire at Colonel Mitchell, and
afterwards declared that ne 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 abnomen.-
The watch thus, proyidentially, saved his
life. DR.. York, surgeon of the 54th Hi
nois, while passing through the Court
House, was approached by some one from
behind, who took deliberate aim, and
shot him dead-the pistol being held so
close to him that the powder burned his
coat! So far as We can learn, DIR. York
was not actively engaged in the affray,
save in his professional capacity as Sur
geon, and in trying to restore order. A
soldier, Alfred Swim. of company G, j4th
Illinois. was shot. and taken 70 Drs. Al
len & 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 an excellent sol
der and good citizen. VIM. G. Hart,
Deputy Provost Marshal, was shot in sew
eral places, in the head and vitals; his
wounds are probably mortal. James Good
rich, company c, 54th Illinois, received q
shocking wound; being shot in the bowels,
his wound, we fear, will prove mortal.
About FIVE o'clock the reinforcements
from Mattoon arrived; and while in the
Court House yard, Mr.. John Cooper, from
Salisbury, was captured, and brought in
as prisoner by Mr.. W. A. Noe and sol
der. Mr.. c. had taken an active part in
the afray. When in front of Jenkins
store he attempted 10 escape. and when
commanded to halt refused to do so;
whereupon Mr.. Noe fred 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 serious, and probably mortal
wound. Mr.. Cooper was shot through the
neck and shoulder. When the Copper
heads were halted near Mrs Dickson's lie
was heard to say that as they now had no
leader, he was ready TO lead them back
and kill the id 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.
Unarmed as our boys were, Colonel
Mitchell soon rallied all he could, and inn
provising such arms as could be had,
gathered at the southwest corner of the
Square, as the pperheads retreated down
the street running east therefrom. Dis
patches were sent 10 Mattoon for soldiers,
and three hundred were soon on the way.
The Copperheads halted somew here near
Mrs Dicsson's and remained for some
time, then turned and went off. Beyond
J. II. O'Hair's residence they gathered TO-
gether, consulted for time, snd then
moved off IN northeasterly direction,
cutting the telegraph wire as they went
unfortunately before dispatch could be-
sent TO DR.. York's family, at Paris. giving
notice Of his assassination.
How many there were of the Copper
heads we do not know, nor can we esti-
mate the number, save by the size of the
squads that retreated in several directions.
We think there may have been from 100
to $50 all mounted. Who their leaders
were we do not know, precisely. J. II.
O'Hair, sheriff of this county was seen to
fire three times st the soldiers. John Fra
zier, while sitting on his horse, was seen
to deliberately fire five times at them,
and then leave Others of less promi-
nence were equally wsrlike.
Immediately after the soldiers arrived
squads mounted upon all the horses that
could be found, were started
out in every direction in pursuit-Colonel
Brooks in charge of one, Lieutenant Hor-
ner another, etc. Up TO this writing, nine
in the evening, some twelve prisoners
have been captured, and the pursuit still
kept up after more.