The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-01-25


nature was being perpetrated. " ,cI
Your committee suspended all ecllec-
tions under the assessment until the pleas.
ure OF the proper authorities could be
known. Your committee feel gratifed |
that this elimination act Of injustice was
arrested in its inception. The enormous
amounts levied must have bankrupted
the community and desolated the dis.
trict. Upon tho county Of McCracken
alone 800, ,000'were assessed. -aS'''7'F
" "BANIsHMENT or CITIZENS"
Your committee inquired carefully in.
to the expatriation OF citizens by Gener.
al Paine, and feel compelled to condemn
his course. There may have been, and
doubtless were, cses Of merited purish-
menI but the great majority of those ex-
lied were persons whose propriety and
loyalty of conduct were proved to your
committee.
Attention is particularly asked to the
affidavit of Lieutenant Sinclair, postmas.
ter at Columbus, KY, in connection with
this point, which distinctly cgrtiGes the
loyalty of every person, except one, ban.
ished by General Paine from that vicini-
ty. Your committee recommend that all
General Pines orders of exile be re.
voked, and the parties be permitted 10
return to their homes. General Mere
dith comedies with US in this view. 1t
will be impossible to repair the injuries
to the property of persons banished by
General Paine Plumber and wanton de-
s'ructioa of the property followed close
upon their removal.
Your committee found that store.
houses of exied persons we're rented, os.
tenslbly for the benefit OF the Govern.
ment, but could procure no account of
the funds accruiug therefrom. One
store house was in the possession of Bol.
linger, and your committee at once eject
ed him.
'!ExEcuTIoNs."
ltappears singular that no account Of
the number of persons executed by Gen.
eral Paine, their names, crimes ard sen
tences, can be obtained. Your commit
tee inquired Of every witness, and insti.
iuted extra official researches, bu. with
out satisfactory results.
LieutenaEtJ j. johnson, A. A. A. G. Of
General Paine's staff, Lieutenant Church,
OF General Paine's staff. and Major Il.
Bartling, Provost Marshal and lex oficio)
IN charge Of prisoners, swore that they
knew nothing Of the matter, except from
hearsay. The information ELECTED by
your committee vas vague and uncertain,
and fixed the number of persons who had
suffered death at all numbers between
five and .orty.threc.
The order book Of General Paine gave
no clue to the matter, nor did the records
Of the guard.house.
At Mayfeld seven men were shot by
Colonel McCbensey, l34th Illinois Vol
unteers, of whose guilt or innocence your
committee have no means of judging
Upon this topic the most brutal aud pn
dgnihed jests and threats were repeat
edly indulgcd, The current rumors are
doubtless grossly exaggerated, but, in
tho absence OF any proof, your committee
forbear commenting.
'fMPREssMENT OF CITIZENS"
General Paine directed the construction
Of defensive works ut Muyfeld, Graves
County, Ky. Of the unskillfulness ox-
hibited in the selection of the site it is
not our province to speak ; but the wan
ton and cruel destruction of u thriving
village was calculated to arouse our stron.
gest feelings of indignation.
The entire works have been abandoned
by Brigadier General Mcrd'h us unfit for
military use. In the construction of tn ,
works, resort was had to u levy of civil
ians. A mass of atfidaviIs, receipts, and
ether proofs, are herewith transmitted,
establishing the disgraceiul fact thai Grip.
Piles, sick and iu6rm old men, were fore.
cd to do hard manual labor, unless they
I purchased immunity by paying money ,c
the Post Ccmmandant. The price from
release varied from IS 10 $500, with the
wealth of the parties nor was the exemp
tion (apou payment) confined to these
physically disabled. The fact was un.
bashingly made public that any one, by
bribery, could obtain release. This wa,
time when the farmers. to save theil
tobacco crup, were glad at any price tt
procure their exemption. 1t is true that
the active and immediate agent in tbii
oppression aud extortion was Colonel Nc
Chesney, l34th Illinois Volunteers; bul
your committee call attention to the fac,
that Mayfeld was but twenty-five miles
from General Paine's headquarters, wa:
his nearest military post, and was connec
ted by railway with Paducah. That {
matter Of such public notdriety should
have been Unknown to General Paine Il
possible, but, your committee think, hard
Improbable,
Your committee have but briefly allu
. ded to facts that will appear more fully il
: the PAPERS that will accompany this re.
port. They beg leave to particularize tn,
parties who, in their Judgment, are culp
3 able, and name gf.iys 1857 ''s .ra
> LIST. Hon. liucion Anderson, membe
, Of Congress A reference t" the state
t ment of this person, madc before you
committee, under oath, and numbers,
} l20, will clearly show his completely will
; Major Bartling, Provost Marshal. y
I'd John 7. BOlliuger. The nature o
this mans connection with Brigade
Ganhral paina Ia nlao.l. n-l.L.. \. AZ