The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-18
History OF st. Adams.

by an old Resident.


st. Adams was very noted event in
the history of the town, and created
great excitement in the whole com.
munity, it seems expedient that more
extended notice of the affair should
be taken than we have here done.
1t was well known to the people iii
the border towns, that great numbers
of rebels from the Southern States
were in Canada. where they were not
only protected, but encouraged by n
considerable portion Of the people
there to persevere in their hostility to
the government of the United States.
and affording them such aid as was
hardly consistent with the relations Of
friendship which existed between the
United States and the parent govern
ment. 1t had been suggested that
these rebel refugees were hanging
around on the border, ready to make
invasions into the frontier towns. as
opportunity presented, and rob and
burn our villages. But the bulk Of
our people felt but little anxiety on
the subject An attack on St Adams
was not anticipated For several days
previous to the raid, it was observed
that strangers appeared at the hotels
in the village, dropping in one or two
at time, without having any appar-
ent business in view. But still no
suspicion was excited. But on the
18th of October, 1864, about half an
hour past three o'clock, p. m, the
whole band Of strangers, upwards Of
twenty in number, suddenly appeared
in the streets, all armed with revovers
and other weapons of war The banks
were simultaneously entered, each by
three or four men doubly armed; and
the officers in attendance were threat
ened with instan, death if they made
any resistance or disturbance. They
were required TO deliver up to them
all the money and funds in their po-
session. No resistance could be made
and the robbers were consequently
permitted to have their own way, and
rifle the banks Of all the money and
funds they could carry of. At the
Franklin County Bank. the robbers
forcibly pushed the Cashier and an
other man who happened to be pres
ent, into the vault, and locked the door
ON them, where they remained several
hours, till relieved by person who
called on business with the bank, and
had not heard of the robbery. While
a portion Of the robbers were rifilng
the banks, another portion of the gang
were engaged in Selling horses at the
livery stables, and such as were stand
ing in the streets, threatening instant
death 70 all who interfered or resisted,
or refused to obey their commands
They were all armed and able to put
their threats into execution. Pistols
were fred repeatedly in various direc-
tons in order to terrify the people,
+. j. Morrison was mortally wounded,
and died the next day. The shot was
probably not aimed at him, but at
some other person. He was a resi-
dent of Manchester, n. H, and was
here on business. Mr. c. H. Hunting
ton, for refusing to consider himself a
prisoner, was dangerously wounded
by pistol shot, but happily has re-
covered. While the robbery of the
, banks, and the seizure of the horses
was going on, others OF the band were
engaged in the endeavor to burn the
village Fire was set in several places,
but was fortunately extinguished be-
fore material damage was done. The
time occupied by these scenes of rob-
berry, plumber and murder, did not
exceed half an hour. When the rob
bers had effected their object, they
rode off in great haste with the stolen
g horses. As the citizens were taken
entirely on surprise, they were wholly
r unprepared at the moment to resist or
y pursue the robbers. But after some
: delay, number of men, as soon as
they could procure firearms and hor-
Q SEES, went in pursuit of the robbers
and overlook them after they had pas
: sed into Canada The people then
+ in the borber townships appeared to
+ be friendly to the pursuing party ana
5 assisted in arresting the band and
: forcing them to deliver up the stolen
. property. Several Of the raiders es-
capped with the booty they had obtain
ed. The others were arrested ana