Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-05-31

The following letter of r. b. Carnahan,
Esq, United States District Attorney, will
explain itself:
PITTsBURG, MAY 18th, 1865.
DEAR SIR Since my hasty note of the
9th inst, in reference to the statement of
John s. NJ Herman, | have had an inter
view with u S. Comm'r Henry Sproul, land
am able to state fully what occurred on the
hearing before him of the case of Jacob L.
Reed My attention was called to the case
by letter, receiy ed February Sth, 1864, as
follows:
CLEARFIE.D, PA-MR. CARNAHAN:-
Sir There is a person in this county that
has been giving employment to three deser-
ters that are known to be such by every one
in the county. They are desperadoes and
90 heavily armed all the time. | have no
soldiers at my command and meet with very
little assistance from the people, or they
would have been arrestsd before this. Could
you send me a warrant for the arrest of the
employer If you can please do so at once.
The deserters names are Thos. Adams, COM
pany B 149th Regt p ", James Mckee,
company B l49th Regt 2. v, and David
NJ Cullough, lst Pa. Rifles. The employers
name is Jacob Reed, lumberman.
Respectfully your obedlent servant,
JOHN S. NJ HERMAN, Dep. Pro. Mar.
Clearfeld Co., 10th District Pa.
This letter was filed in the office of the U.
s. Commissioner, and an affidavit made Feb
ruary 10th, 1864, Son information contain
ed in the paper hereto attached. A war
rant was issued the same day. The record
of the Commissioner shows that Reed was
brought before him on the 18th Feb. 1864,
and after hearing. discharged on his own re-
cognizance. NJ kiernan's evidence before
the Commissioner went to exculpate the ac-
cused He testified that he did not know
that Reed had harbored or concealed any
deserters-that one or two of the men nam
ed in his letter might have worked for Reed
for day or two, but of this he had no per-
sonal knowledge-that he was good and
loyal man, &c. [ expressed some dlsplea-
sure that case, supported by so little evil
dence, should be reported to me for prose-
cution. NJ Herman then went ca to say
that the county was full of deserters-that
he could not arrest them for want of an arm
ed torce-that he was much abused and
threatened by former political friends, whom
he dcnOminated ''copperheads, because he
had taken Office under Republican Admin
istration, &c, &c He further stated that
he had been shot at several times while en-
deavoring to discharge his duties. | stated
to him if he could name any person or per-
sons who harbored deserters, or in any way,
forcibly.or otherwise, prevented their arrest,
he ought at once make information before
the Commissioner, and warrants would be
put into his hands, and he could summon
the whole District to his aid He made no
information, and | have no knowledge of
Mr.. Reed making complaint against George
Sloss There is no record in the Commls-
sioner's Office of any proceedings against
EanrUa SloSs haua N roaot1actYny nf hav
ing used the terms, Republican or Cop
perhead' during the hearing and conversa-
ton. NJ Herman spoke of the hostility of
the ''copperheads" to him, which was the
only alusion to party made in the converse
ton. | never saw NJ Herman before nor
since the 18th day of February 1864, and
had no interview with him other than as a.
bove stated, which was in the presence of u.
5. Commissioner Sproul and others.
X. B. CARNAHAN,
q. S. Atty, Western District of Pa.
1t will be remembered that NJ 'Kiernan
said that he had arrested Reed ''on his own
acknowledgment that he employed desert
ers, whereas he wrote for warrant to arrest
him, and when he had done it, testified that
he had no knowledge of his employing or
harboring desertersl He said that Reed was
discharged by the Diitrict Attorney, where
as he was discharged by the T. S. Commits
sioner, after hearing. He said that Reed
made an information against George Sloss,
whereas no information mas made against
Sloss at all In his letter to Col Campbell
NJ Kiernan said Reed was held in 81 900
bail, whereas he was discharged without bail
on his own recognizancel In the same let
ter he said that he NJ Herman, made in
formation against George Sloss, and expect
ed to receive warrant, whereas, as we have
seen, no information was made against Sloss
at all If such statements can be recon-
ciled, it will require more skill than any
tricky lawyer of our acquaintance is pos
sessed of, not excepting the excrutiatingly
sharp practitioners that contribute to the
column Of the traitors organ IN
Getting at the Truth.
The Z. S. steamer Suwanee was the first
of our war vessels to enter the port of Bahia,
Brazil, after Capt. Collins captured the
Florida there. She was received in very
friendly manner, and her officers were told
that at the time of the capture the Brazil
ians did not make any fuss about it, but were
melted by the resident English, who assert
ed that Brazilian neutrality had been vio-
lated, and their honor was now at stake :"
with all this and a great deal more; but