Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-05-17

persons. One of the prisoners vas ne
phew of E9- Governor Bigler, and raised
little excitement my putting him in jail
am pot surprised that they were liberated,
| told you when / was out there that L did
not think that deserters could be kept IN our
jail, and [ now report that | believe, should
| put others in, that they will be let out.
But | shall do my best to arrest others. Still
| find it very difficult to get near them, as
they are kept posted as to my whereabouts by
their numerous coppery friends. 1t it was
possible for me to have a force of mounted
men know [ could do my duty more eff
GENTLY Respectfully your obedient
servant, JOHN S. NJ KIERNAN.
CLEARFIELD. AUGUST 5th, 1863
Col. III. S. CAMPBELL, Pro- Marshal 9th
District Pa SIR: On Monday the 9th
| came down from home, intending to take
to Pittsburg the two deserters L haddn jail,
but when | arrived here L was very much
chagrined to find that they had been let
out. Enclosed you will find a slip from each
of our papers giving an account of the trans
action. 1t Is now reported that they (the
deserters) have gone back to the army. /
feel very much discouraged at my want of
success / do, and have done the very best
In my power, but believe that | cannot my
self arrest six deserters in as many months
In Ferguson township Mr.. Watts told me
that he thought there would be trouble in
enforcing the draft He said that.dissatis-
fed parties stole from him three shundred
pounds of lead pipe to make into bullets.
In Bradford township they have held regu
lar meetings pledging themselves to stand
by one another in resisting.
Respectfully, your obedIent ~
servant, JOHN S. NJ HERMAN
CLEARFIELD, AUGUST 11th, 1868.
Col, I'll. 5. CAMPBELL Sir | wish it
had been possible for you to have visited
this County before the draft You could
ing it here. If | had a force of mounted
men, | would not fear the worst of them,
and men or not men | Will serve the notices
Respectfully, your obedient
servant. JOHN S. NJ KIERNAN.
SMITHS MILLS, AUGUST 18th, 1863
Col, H. S. CAMPBELL SIR: | have
the honor TO report for this week the follow
ing: On Tuesday last, I went out in the
country from Clearfield some four miles and
engaged a young man to go with me five or
SIX miles further, for the purpose of arrest
ing deserter named Jerred'W eiser 1t was
dark when we arrived at the place, and we
recor noitered the house, but found it dark
or three hundred yards from this place there
was tavern where We put up for the night.
The Landlord said Weiser was not at home,
but had joined the band iii Knox township.
The next morning, to be sure he was not at
home we went at four o clock A. NJ. and
concealed ourselves in the bushes near the
house, intending to wait there until some one
would make their appearance. 1t was quite
punishment to do so, as the mosquitoes
were very troublesome. We lay there un-
til half past seven before we got sight of any
one. The woman of the house then came
to the door, and stood full five minutes look
ing upon the ground, as though she was
searching for tracks or ''signs" of some one
being there. She then went back into the
house, and half an hour later Weiser and
two others, Tone deserter, perhaps both
came around from the front part of the
house, where the wife met them, and from
their conversation we learned that they had
not slept in the house that night. They all
had rifles, and after conversing short time
one proposed that they should shoot mark.
They did so with revoivers, retaining their
rifles in their left hands, only shooting one
load out until they would reload 1t was
very evident from their actions that they
were suspicious that some one was near.
From their extreme cautiousness [ thought
it would not be prudent for us to attack
them, and so we quietly withdrew. On
Thursday again L went out, taking one man
with me for the purpose Of arresting de-
serter In Boggs township. We rode up to
near the house, saw the man we were after
in the garden, got off our horses and walk
ed leisurely towards the house, keeping our
he picked up something and went into the
house. We of course followed-went in
spoke to madame, and asked for her hus-
band. She said he was not at home, which
We Thought quite cool for August She told
US to search the house which we did most
thoroughly, but nothing could we find and
we supposed that he must have passed
through the house and struck a beeline for
the woods, which was not far off, Quite a
number Of these men hare c0ngregdted IN
Knor to,onslip and expect IF 90 there to
serre the notices l aoW get abaU.
Respectfully, your obedient
servant, JOHN S. NJ KIERNAN.
SMITHS Mills, SEPT l3, 1864.
Col. H. S. CAMPBELL, Pro- Marshal 10th
District, Pa. SIR: You win please find
enclosed a slip which l cut from one of the
Clearfield papers. The report had this much
foundation In Knox township lives John
Sloss, drafted man, that had arrested three
or four weeks ago, and he was rescued by
an armed force of men, who, firing a num-
Der of shots at the guard so intimidated
them that they (guards) left the prisoner
escape. Thomas Adams and James NJ
Kee, deserters from the l49th regiment, and
bottle desparadoes armed to resist the Gov
ernment, are in the same township. Geo.
Sloss, man that there is a Z. s. warrant
against, is also there. These men are to-
gether and determined to not be taken