The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-04-19
Hf. COIeman'i Statement.

by Mr.. Coleman at The hands of Abraham
Ii ncoln's military saIraps; AID exhibits, TOO,
the small and insignificant manner the ad.
miuistraton party have of shrking out
of paying their honest debts arising from
damages done private property by the
quauering of troops lhereon.l
am sixty eight years OF age was born
in Northampton county and have resided in
Columbia county forty years own farm
OF nlneiy-sx acres whereon | reside, in
Fishingcreek township.
served for three months as Volunteer,
in the service of the United States, near III e
close of the oil 1912.
| was unlawfuliy arrested a; my home on
The morning oil 3lsr. of August 1864 by
order of Colonel Stewart in command of
troops then occupying this county, and
whose own subsequent military arrest fo r
swindlng is notorious Five soldiers cam e
TO my house in the night, at two or three
O'Clock, remained around or near, il for
some lime and we're admitted near daylight
on pretence of looking for deserers. |
gave my assent that the house should be
searched after daylight should come. When
that came they asked for breakfast and
while il was preparing Col Stewart came
along with dozen or fifteen soldiers and
several citizen prisoners | was ordered by
him 10 come into the ranks and go along up
to Benton Church, as was also my boy,
! Isaac E. Roat. He refused to wait for Us 10
eat breakia saying that we could be back
home again in an hour or an hour and &
half. was taken 18th The other ARRESTED
men TO Benton Church and kept there until
eleven O'Clock. The boy Roat was then
discharged. We Che prisoners) were then
marched TO Bioomsburg and taken by way
! Of Nortau mberland aud Harrisburg to Phil.
adelphia where we arrived next day. Had
nothing 10 cal during all this time except
some ealables at Benton Church brought in
by the neigh bors. We were not allowed 10
gel food on the way
Col Stewart promised me al the church
that might stop al home on the way down
Tor some clothes, bul l. was not permitted
TO stop by my guards, although We passed
the door oi my house. | was indiferentIy
clothed al the time and had no change of
clothes with me.
lernoon OF Sept 1st, and there placed in
confinement in Bomb proof No. g. Nearly
SEVEN weeks afterwards | was released
along with John Yorks and Elias McHsnry,
on parole, to appear when called for by the
military authorities, and an oath of allesi-
auce was exacisd. No charges agains: me
were ever announced, nor any trial or bear
ing given me; nor was I ever furnished
with any direct Information as 10 the causes
( OF arrest or the reasons for my discharge
| | was driven from home as if had been
beast; thrust into sA unhealthy and delest
able prison and kept there nearly Two
months as il had been one OF the vilest
OF criminals, and then turned loose without
explanation or redress. And as 10 the con-
ditOns upon whick was to regain The en-
joyment of my fresdom---of which | had
been deprived without law and against JUS
tice-l was subjected TO the indigniiy OF II
extra judicial and unau lhoriZsd oath, and 10
parole or engage neni 10 hold mJ self ready
10 respond TO any call, lawful or not, made
by military power
Nesntime-during my mprisonmenl-a
military camp was established upon my
farm ard depredations committed upon my
property, for which 10 compensation has
been made, and my house was turned into
officers quarters, free of charge, and my
family subjected TO official domination |
returned home Just seven weeks after the
date OF my arrest 10 find my fences swept
of, crops destroy ed, trees ent down, barn
cleaned out, meadows converted into parade
grounds. and various articles of personal
property Appropriated or destroyed. The
main particulars of injury are stated in my
correspondence with Cen Couch
shor; time alter my second letter TO
Gen. Couch, dated November 2Sih, re-
ceived verbal notice from Assisian, Quar-
ternasier Wood by my son Samuel, that
should meet him ST Oranaeville TO CHOOSE
men 10 appraise my damages that he
would choose m an and | choose one, and
the two choose third. Afterwards, re-
ceived written notice from him on :he
same subject
suppose these notices and the project
OF selecting new appraisers, were in pur-
suance of sons order OF direction from
General Couch consequent upon ny letters
10 him. ! went 10 Oran2eviIle and met the
Quartermaster al Stewards store. He asked
me if had got a man TO appraise The
Camp Damages. | told him no. but knew
where coald get one He asked me who
i: was, and told him William Hume. He
said, "lhen must choose man." | added,
"and the two choose a lhiTd!' He said,
''very we'll" He further said he would let
me know when the time was TO be, aRd we