Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-05-03
VOL. XXXVI.-WHOLE NO. 1896

| cShhC obc. n. J., Ma
son ana myself, left Clearfeld town one
morning, with tho intention of arres,ip q
Them or their employer. The deserters
we could not find, but On his own nc.
acknowledgement arrested Mr. Jacob Reed
as having had them employed. 1 then
Knew nothing about the man or his poli.
tics, nor did care. All wished TO do
was to break up the nest of those bad
men, adams and Mckee. | took Mr.
Reed to Pittsburg and handed him over
to the District Attorney. About the first
word The Attorney asked me was, 'Is this
man copperhead ?" l said since arrest.
ing him-he tells me he is Republican,
lie replied by saying, "this is not the
KIND OF men we are after. We want an
cut spoken Copperhead, one that is oppo-
sed to the draf.," or words to this effect
lie then asked Mr.. Reed if he knew apv
such man. Reed said he did, and upon
us making oath against Mr., Geo. Sloss rs
lhe KIND OF man wanted, and his having
done the same thing that Reed was ares.
ted for, he, (Reedl was permitted % re.
turn home.
When found. that no. d, nn} D.r,ooro,s
were 70 ~, prosecuted made no more ar.
.-''s. The fact is do not know of one
d, "ell-authenticated case of Democrat
secreting, harboring or employing deser-
ters, or non-rerorting drafted men," You
yourself know it was currently reported
and believed at Clearfeld town that Ellis
Irwin, Republican, harbored and en-
ployed Oscar Shirley, deserter, and JOS
eph Lsnsberry, a non-reporting drafted
man. And the only tme-not repeatedly
was " fired upon" was BY Lansberry.
whom had just found in the employ of
Republican. Again. 1t is true that
told the Colonel that my "efFor,s must
prove fruitless'-in the arrest of deserters
-" unless sustained by military force."
The Colonel fails to tell his readers vhen
| asked for this force" It was immedi.
ateIy after was appointed Deputy Pro
vost Marshal. told him then that there|
were few deser,ers in Clearfield, that the
county covered very large scope OF coun-
try, was sparsely settled, ana that TWO VI
three deserters could keep me running af-
ter them oil summer. Soon alter this be
wrote to me that Major Myers had writ
ten 10 him from Harrisburg that Thomas
Adams, James Mckee, Alex. Mcdonald
and others, all deserters, were in Clear
field county, armed and ready to resist
the officers of the Government, and that
he should send "a military force" to
have them arrested. "But," continues
the Colonel, 81 do not wish to 20 th;.. for
fear they i. e. deserters, will ru. ont Of tho
county. Surely the.e coaId have beep
n harm in rpnnisg them out of the
county.l "ere not these men left as a
nucleus for disaffected persons to gather
roundg There must have been some ul-
terror motive. | believe if lie had sent
me at that time half dozen soldiers TO ar
rest deserters, not peacedjle citizens, that the
numbers of eeserters from other coun-
Ties IN the State would never have been
here. AS to my hagiug asked for a mil
tary force" 10 enforce the draft deny
in toto. On the contrary, was strongly
urged and ads ised by A. G. Finney and II.
B. Swoope, Esqs.; to not attempt to serve
the notices in Knox township, but witlout
reporting 10 Col. Campbell, to 60 to Gov. Cur
tin and ask him for troops to assist me-
1t was not after that asked advice of
fhese gertlemen and seldom took IL when
given gratutously. Hence the charges"
against me at Brookville. | had no fears
of the people of Knox township, and the
notices we're served quietly and without
the troops,
Feeling conscious that I have done no
wrong to the people of Clearfeld county,
am, sir, respectfully,