Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-04-05

Jefferson county. / am employed a GGv-
ernment Detective. Mr. Miller called upon
me about midnight, on the l4th December
last. TO accompany him to arrest some de-
serters, IN Henderson township, Jefferson
county. About daylight ON the morning of
the 10Th, We arrested John Hamm at his
residence We took him with us and went
on until we came TO Stump creek. Here we
separated. Miller went UP the creek. with
Hamm, TO get two other deserters, | went
on by myself. | got Mr. Anthony to show
me where John FrantZ was working, with
some other men, and arrested him | re-
turned with him to the house of j James An
thony A brother of Frantz went along.
Another man whom | did not know, went
part OF the way, but stopped at house
near Anthony's. found Miller there with
John Hamm. We stopped there got some
thing to eat and fed our horses. 1t was now
about 10 clock We started to return to
Brookville with the prisoners We had not
gone very far until we noticed party of
men coming towards us-some of them in
sled, and one on horse back. There were
some a short distance ahead of the sled, on
foot Those in the sled were coming very
fast, and making good deal of noise. We
reined in our horses, and went little slow
er, the prisoners walking little ahead of us.
The party came within about 100 yards of
us before | discovered they were armed
One man jumped out of the sled, and fell
in the snow, 1t was going so rapidly Then
others began to get out, with guns in their
hands, and Others rose up in the sled |
think | saw one or two who sat still, raise
their guns to their shoulders. As they ap-
preached us they We're making a most hid
eous noise-a iiargon Of Dutch and English
profanity. impossible to understand. When
they got within 40 or 80 yards of US, Hamm
and FrantZ broke and run ovel to them
They called on them TO do so. The whole
party then advanced towards us. We
thought it time to retreat, and did so as fast
as possible. They followed us pretty closely
for perhaps 60 or so rods, when they stop
ped. They did not shoot. We stopped and
looked back to see the position of affairs
They were havlngqulte rejoicing over their
triumph, throwing up their hats, cheering, &c.
They called tc us to come back, calling us
at the same time very bad names We did
not think 1t prudent to accept their invita-
ton, as they considerably outnumbered us
and had longer guns than we had-ours be-
ing only pocket pistols, one of which would
not 60 off. We gave up the attempt to az
rest the men, and left Henderson township
the same day.
Cross E.canataed-I think all the men in
the sled were armed, but am not positive
Some Of the men who were walking were
armed, but not all. Did they not seem
more merry than angry cannot say that
they did. Their invitations to come back,
were not jockular, but Threatening When
we first saw the party, those on foot were in
advance of the sled, but it passed them as
1t came towards US. They could have shot us
HENRY AURANT, sw0ru.-I live in Brady
township, and am farmer. | know all OF
the men on trial About the middle of
December last, | was hauling timber in the
woods, and George ROusher came to me and
told me that the hlarShaiS had arrested John
Hamm and John FrantZ, and that it was my
duty to go along and help to rescue them.
My brother and Andy Weaver were with
me in the woods. In about 10 or Is min
utes after Rousher told US, crowd of men
came aioI the road. | did not intend to go
until L saw this party on the road They
stopped and talked with us and wanted us
TO 60. They said they had sent out for 9th
erS to go along. Rousher said he would go
up TO Adam knarr S and get some whiskey
50 We would have something to drink. We
then took my horses and went up TO Adam
knarrs. Henry Yoas said we could hitch
int, his sled, which was at Troutville, at the
Biacksmith-sho We hitched up, and [
stood. around with the intention of not go
ing. The crowd soon got mad and started
off, and then | concluded | would not be
called coward, so | went also. When we
overlook the party they got on the sled
W hen We got within about half mile of
where the Marshas were, we met Godfrey
Zimmerman, and he told us we must hurry,
that they were in the road ahead of us, with
the two prisoners. We then went on
When we got within about 100 yards of them
John Hamm and John Frantz Joined our
party, and the Marshals left as fast as they
could Then our party threw up their hats
and cheered, and called for the Marshals to
come back
Henry Yoas and George RCusher were in
the sled. Benjamin Boyer was on horse
back. Charles Keller was also with the
pa ty. Most of the party had guns [
think it was about the middle of the fore
noon. There was house pretty near the
place.
Question. What was the object of the
party going armed in the sled?
Answer. intention was to take
John Hamm and John Frantz away from
the Marshas
Question-Were you member of the
organization called ''The Democratic Cas-
tie ?''
Answer i was member Henry Yoas
was also. am not sure about the rest, but
think they were Yoas belonged to the
Brady township Castle. Samuel Miles was
President. Gainor Bloom OF ganized it. He
instructed us that it was our duty to rescue
drafted men from the Marshals He told
us the object of the organization was to keep
our men at home and not let them 90 to the
army. We knew that Hamm and Frantz
were drafted, and that they were arrested
for not reporting. | think they were both