The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-01-11

]
August 18th 1864.
The second point is, membership in
secret POLITICAL. society or Club, in tho
Spring Of 1868.
First: will begin by stating what
was actually done and said by me on the
day of the Rants meeting, with some SC
count Of the proceedings at his house.
The first knew of the Rants meeting
was on the day it was held. saw per-
soEs going by my house down there
Ramtz's house is so or 100 rods from mine.
| said to my boys that would 60 down
aud see what WAS going on. Upon start
ing l told them that if they came down
they should not bring their guns. had
noticed that some of the men passing bad
guns When l got to the Rantz barn,
Mr.: Hume was sitting in the door, and
talking with those who we're there. He
was discoursging the holding of meeting,
and urged them to leave. He asked me
my opinion before them and | told him l
thought it the best thing they could do. to
60 away. There we're about bali dos
en- conseripted men there, and about as
many othels. Il was said that soldiers
were coming up and they wers 10 destroy
she people and property of she neighbor
hood and also that the Harveyville fellow:
were coming over to burn out Joe Hess,
John Keifer aud Aaron Smith. These men
were all Citizens, and not sonscripts. No
regular meeting was organized, MIR.
Hulme went away before long, but came
back subsequently. l also went home
1 and returned a short time before dinner
| Additional persons came in, at intervals;
and finally before dinner. word came
that the jackson Township men were
coming over. About noon they came,
some l5 or 20 in number. They were
met by persons of the meeting walking out
towards them, bu: not as an organized
company. A few men were there from
FishiDgcreek township. Up to this time
nothing had been dono and no meeting
organized. / went home for dinner, and
was gone one or two hours. After dinner
vas over, Edward McHenry came up to
my house and got something to eat. |
met him at the gate coming in as l was
going out 10 the orchard. He was intexi-
Gated aud had gun on his shoulder. L
[ = hol
ryipg gun about on the Sabbath. He
said, 'I know it is" He sat his gun down
bv the gate and went into the house. |
did not say to him, lit must be SO now"
nor anything to that effect. Matthew
McHeury and Ephraim McHenry were
with me and went along into the or
chard. Nothing more passed between Ed
ward NcHenry and myself, at or near my
house.
went again 10 Rsntz's at two o'clock
or after, and remained there q couple oil
hours, until the people dispersed l sat
there and took no part iu what was done
till near the last, when l interiered in a
manner to be presently stated. A good
/ deal of conversation was carried on in re-
gard to the reports of threats made al
Harveyville, and of the various reports
in regard to danger to 'fhe inhabitants and
their property by reason of the soldiers
coming up from Bloomsbury. The threats
spoken of. it was understood, we're caused
| bv the wounding a short time before OF a
! Young man named Robison,i in night af-
FRAY; he being engaged, with others, in
pursuing Deserters or conscripts The
Citizens had no connection with that
transaction so far as know and believe,
but it was apprehended they would be held
RESPONSIBLE for it, and the threats report
/ ed were to that effect. Jesse Hartman,
it was said had reported the threats made
at Harveyville, before mentioned, with
reference 10 the burning out of particular
persons.
At some time in the afternoon some re-
marks were made in the barn by Samuel
Kline and Daniel McHenry spoke after
| wards Their remarks were brief, but
! cannot state the exact time when they we're
made.
The men from each Township stood out,
and the number was ascertained. 1t was
proposed TO form some squads who were
to be stationed at particular places to OBJ
serve what was done when the troops
came; and if they conducted themselves
peaceably they we're MOTTO be molested