The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-04-08
The Copperhead Uprising il I,iinoiv
CHARLESTON, ILL.,, March 90.

Il
shocking in its details, that has cvei
occurred in our part Of the state.
Early in the morning, squads of Cop.
perhcads came in town from various
directions, and, rs the sequel will
show, armed and determined upon
summary vengeance upon our sol.
diers. During the day, premonitions
Of the coming trouble were too cvi.
dent. Some Of the soldiers, about to
return to their regiments, were some.
what excited by liquor, and conse
Iquently rather boisterous, but not
belligerant--were more disposed foi
fun than fight. About four o'clock,
n soldier, Oliver Sallee, stepped ur
to Nelson Wells, who has been re
garded as the leader of the Copper
heads in this county, and placing his
hand, good naturedly, against him,
Iplayfully asked him If there were any
butternuts in town? Wells replied,
ayes, am one !" and drawing his
revolver, shot at Sallec, but missed
him. III an instant Sallcc was shot
from another direction, and fell, but
raising himself up, he fired ut Wells,
the ball taking effect in his vitals -
He (Wells) went as far rs Chambers
d. McCrory's store, and passing in,
fell dead.
The copperheads were gathered be-
hind Judge Edwards office, loading
their firearms, 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 advantage over the soldiers, who
were not expecting such an attack,
and were, for the most part, unarmed.
Those who were armed would hardly
know at whom to fire until they were
fired upon. The copperheads were
seen to hurry to their wagons, hitch
ed ut the square, and gather there
from several guns, which were con-
cealcd 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. +.
Dukes, the ball striking rib on his
left side and glancing off. Dukes
was then seen to fire Mt Col Mitchell,
and afterwards declared that he had
killed him. Colonel Mitchell rccciv
eel several shots through his cloths,
one hit his watch and glanced of,
producing only slight flesh wound
upon his abdomen. The watch thus,
providentially, saved his life. DR..
York, surgeon of the 54th Illinois
while passing through the Court
House. was approached by some one
from behind, who took deliberate ann
and shot him dead-the pis'ol being
held so close to him that the powder
burned ms coat! SO far rs we could
learn, d.. York was not actively en-
gagged in the atlray, save in his pro-
fcssional capacity rs surgeon, and in
trying to restore order A soldier,
Alfred Swim, of Company G., 54th
Illinois was shot and taken to Drs
Allen e. Van Meters office, where he
soon died. Mr.. Swim lived some
where near Casey, in Clark county,
where he leaves wife and three
children. He is spoken of by all as
having been an excellent soldier and
n good citizen. WIN. G. Hart, depu-
ty Provost Marshal, was shot in sew
eral places-in the head and vitals--
his wounds are probably mortal. -
James Goodrich, Company c, 54th
Illinois, received shocking wound 4;
being shot in the bowels. His wound
we fear, will prove mortal.
Unarmed as our boys were, Colonel
Mitchell soon rallied all he could, cit
izens and soldiers, and improvising
such arms rs could be had, gathered
ut the Southwest corner of the square
ms the copperIieads rctrcated down
the street running East therefrom.
Dispatches were sent to Matoon for
soldiers, and three hundred were soon
on the way. The coppcrhcads halted
somewhere near Mrs. Dickson's and
remained for some time, then turned
and went off. Beyond j. O'IIair's res
idcnce they gathered together, con
suited for q time, then moved OFF in u
northerly direction, cutting the tcle-
graph wire as they went-unfortun
ately before a dispatch could be sent
to DIR. York's family, at Paris, giving
notice of his assassination.
About five o'clock the re- inforce.
ments from Mattoon arrived, and
while in the Court House yard, Mr..
John Cooper, from salisbury, was
captured and brought in as prison
er, by Mr.. w. III. Noe and a soldier; /;
Mr.. Cooper had taken an active part
in the affray; when in front of Jcn-
kins' store he attempted to escape,
and when commanded to halt refused
to do so, whereupon Mr.. Noe fired
over Cs head, who, in return fired 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,
producing serious, ond probably
mortal wound. Mr.. Cooper was shot
through the neck and shoulder
When the copperheads were halted
near Mrs. Dickson's, he 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