, 1865-08-26
C0PPERHEAD MOB IN NOR
GAN COUNTY.
A Soldiers Dinner and Celebra.
fon Broken Up.
The yFrrtele* Attempt to Pull Down
the American Flag.
Correspondence OF the State JournaLl
JACKSONVILLE Ant n 1Sf5

The NVrrtellc. Attempt to Pull Dow1
the American Flag.
Correspondence OF the State Journal
JACKSONVILLE, Aug. IL, 1865.
DINNER TO SOLDIERS AT PROVIDENCE.
frovioence Church Is located fourteen mile.
sSutaWcst tSet . Of t1aaklin, In ills county. Al
extended TO the soldiers Of The viciu{ty. Fnli3
sl1 hundred persons were present, and the at
fair promised to be most pleasant one. Rev
W. u. McElfrcsh, Of Wayerly, delivered The
reception address In 4 handsome manner, and
was listened to with interest and close atten
tion throughout Lieut.. ". D. Henry replied
for the soldiers In short speech, aboundinc
in the characteristics of true soldier, patrf
otfsm, earncstuess and manly devotion 10 tbs
cause Of freedom and Justice. The meeting
then adjourned from the beautiful grove
where The speaking had taken place, to The
church yard, where dinner was served up IN
flne style and rich profusion. No table was
set; !; but each family spread cloth upon The
sEard beneath the trees, upon which was
placed nll that could satisfy tie hmsriest and
most flstfdious palate. Your CORRESPONDENT.
with other invited guests dined with Mr.. 10.
mas Scott, tllun whom trucr man docs not
live, IS the subsequent cycrtts Of the day ut
tested. The dinner passed Of in the happlest
and to spare for every one; all were satisfied,
md an were we'll. As we were repairing to
the stand after dinner, friend warned ME
that there would be tronble In the afternoon,
as large number Of whilom X. G. C.'s were
present, armed, and under the Influence OF
liquor, which was being sold on tho ground.
The meeting was organized, and Col G. P.
Smith wns introduced to the audience, and
began to speak. He thoroughly and ably dis
clsscd the various issues involved in the re-
construction question, not advocating poll.
tics, but merely. stating facts, leaving lis
hearers to draw tleir own conclusions. Alter
he Lad disposed of rebels, he came to speak OF
those who had stayed ut home, had abused
the Government, the soldiers and the Admin
!stratlon; had attended peace meetings, and
(as some one In the crowd suEgestcd) read the
Chicago Times and State Register At this
polnt, mall ('sho Is known, bni whose name
! withhold for the presently shouted out !:
Wen, CD d-n you, isn't this free couu-
try" Yes" replied the Colonel. "Can't
a man do as he d-n pleases:'' "Yea but
lie must take the consequences"
Cries Of Put him of" Pull him down. "
were now raised against Mr, Smith, aud q rush
was made for thc stand to take him down.
But the soldiers snd Union men spraus for
ward, and instantly formed circle around
There was great deal OF pushing mud scut:
ling, ana sonle blows were struck, but no one
vas hurt. Order was somewhat restored,
and Mr. Smith finished his speech, deal.
ins blows Straight from tic shoulder
upon rebel symrathizcrs. Mr. William
Jones Of this city, who. led the singing on
singing the ssstar spansied Banncr." Saieh !,
was given with viii, and lad great effect
upon all present, as It tended to allay ali ex.
eilcmcnt and restore unity Of feeling. Licnt,
". l.. English was announced as the next
speaker; but as Col. Smith had spoken near
" two hours, he had Been compelled to re-
turn to town 10 meet an engagement. AZ
he did not appear, there was pause Of
moment or two. This was The tlnlucky point.
Taking advantage of this momentary cua.
barrassnent Of those who Ind the meeting in
charge, the Copperheads pushed man upon
the stand. His name was Ruddeu, and lie
began to attac4 those who lad spoken, and
10 dtclaim u violent and unpatIiotic stylc
aeaInst "Abolltionlsts and negro worship
ers." Some one arose and proposed that 'tnll
who did not wish to hear this Copperhead
speak had better retire." "Go, then, shout
ed the speaker, md the union men seeing tley
had lost control, began to move away. a
soldier thcn cried out in the midst OF the ex-
citc1ncnt: t'Makc him speak under the lug 70
The 1ay was attached TO long staff, wlich
the stand. AN attempt was made
to push the speaker under the
nag, when Coppelhead cried, "LEr Us
TAKE TIE FLAG DOWN y and he rushed for
ward 10 execute his threat, blt wuS knocked
down before he reached the flag, and then such
q Seine followed as never witnessed before.
Amidst screams, curses, shouts and cheers
which were Heard for miles, free fight, or
rather scramble ensued, In which each party
tried to obtain and hold possession OF the Ing.
So great was the crowd, and so closely were
the contestants Jammed together, that It was
impossible 10 use firearms, or even to strike
fair blow. This scene lasted for ten minutes,
when the Union Men rot tie l:g, md, tat
Tered us 1t wns and with stat broken III tlu
melee, they umfurlcd it from the tree. They
then began 10 retire, when the Coppcrhcats
made a rush, cleared the s,and, fnsled the 1las
round the broken stall, and guve three cheers
Tor Democracy, three Eroans for Smith, for
Abolitionists, and for something else VIC could !
not hear, md the meeting broke up, the Union |
nen to 60 home ashamed and disguised. !
while Copperheadlsm remained to rerel round /
whiskcy wagons over the Outrage they had
The soldiers and Union men did all they
rould; but they were outnumbered BY .
md 1nfurfated mob Of tEuielits n
who had come prepared Tor row, should |
anything be said against treason and Copper |
leads They belonged to the various bands |
lint have diEgraced Morgan and Green coun-
lies for the past four years, have torn up rail-
.oad tricks, halborcd desertcrs, and resisted |
he officers Of the law. All the leaders are
snown, and when the proper time comes their |
lamcs shall be published.
!