Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-05-03
Captaiu John :. Mckiernan.


of this gentleman, which will be found
upon our first page. This letter was bro't
out by the correspondence between II. B.
Swoope and Captain Campbell, which We
published in February last. Had Captain
Nick. remained silent under the allega-
tions and inSnuations therein, the people
would have doubted our sincerity when
we spoke Of him as a "patriotic, high
minded gentleman" Ii was not only his
own character as man and an officer,
that was assailed, but his silence would
have been understood as 'admlting the
truth Of all that Capt. Campbell had said
Gegogstory 10 the good name of the citi-
zens Of fClearteld, among whom he resides,
and to whom he is extensively known,
and, excepting few Of the Abolition
leaders who failed 90 control his official
actions TO suit the:g partisan ends, uni
yersally respected. This letter is tri-
umphant vindication Of both.
But we place an especial value on this
letter for its deinitiye settlement of tho
question, who brought, or who cau6sd to b
brought, tho soldiers 10 his covnyP aud in be-
half of the Democracy we thank him fct
Il. The Jac06m organ of this plsce has
frequently asserted that the Democrats
were &lo0a to blame, and that certain gen
lemen, which it desiguated as leaders,
were alone responsible. Capt, McKier-
nan shows that he was urged to bring sol.
'diers here, and names the nlen who ur sed
him. This, we believe, was in 1868. 1t is
true, he had applied to his superior for
assistance, such as military force would
be; butit was for a legitimate purpose,
and not to "acrest citizens" But his re-
questwas not granted for the pitiful, if
not spitefui, reason, thac a military force
would only chase the deserters into some
other county or district, and thus Clsarfsa
would escape The Odim Of "harboring DESERT
rS! In that case the responsibility"
couId not have been cast upon those "dis-
tinguished leaders" of TIE Democratic
party, and hence the eoldiers were not
sent.
We have frequently admitted that in
ono sense the Democrats were TO blame
fer the soldiers coming here that, instead
of increasing, had they permitted their ma
jority 10 have been decreased, there would
have been no history OF a "War in Clear
AZ
field, to lBBp}ts io Our #" m6sjjoiiiy in
1868 was largely in excess of any former
year; and in 1864 it was largely increased
over that OF 1868. If, then, Messrs. Fin
rey, Swoope & Co., thought soldiers were
needed in 1868, to explain their over
whelming defeat, how much more forcible
must have been their reasoning IN that
direction in 1864, VIXEN the soldiers were
actually senti They had discovered that
Capt. McKieruan could not be used for
partisan purposes. But in 1864 he resign
ed, and Immediately the soldiers CAME
Capt. Campbell, failing TO come and zee
for himself, trusted 10 his agents, and was
too ready 10 believe the false and exlrava-
CANT stories carried TO him about ammu-
milton, forts, notifications, breastworks,
&C., and, perhaps, was perfectly honest
in the belief that there was real cause for
4 military force here.
The unGSctunate affair at the house Of
Adams, in Knox township, is pointed out
as proof THAI soldiers were required. But
it stands alone. With the exception of
The rescue case on the Jefferson county
line land scores of similar cases occurred
all over the North not solitary instance
Of resistance was met with anywhere.
And what wss that case2 A number Of
men were at "frolc" at Adams house.
Adams had voted as a Republican in 1860
and had volunteered as Republican at
tho beginning of the war as also had
Mccullough and Mckee, his comrades.-
Not shot was fred, nor the slightest at
tempt at resistance made, by any man at
Adams'. except by Adams himself; and
he had frequently declared that he believ-
ed death would be his certain fate, if cap
;ured, and that therefore he would not be
taken alive. Hence this affair stands SOL
itary and alone, the only justification of the
conduct Of Capt. Campbell. The same
men were in the county in 1868, and il
was for their arrest then that Capt. Mex.
asked for the assistance which Capt. Camp
bell refused.
This is but a single chapter in the his
tory of the monstrous utrages committed
upcu the people Of Clearfeld county and
having thus established the important
fact as to who caused the soldiers 10 be
sent here, IS occasion requires, wo will
hereafter show the purpose of their COM
ing, and their achievements while here.
The aggregate yield o. oil per day in all
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