The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-10-04
Sworn ani subscribed before me the
18th of February, 1867.
JESSE COLEMAN.
laEAI Proihonotary.

sworn anu SuDdCflDei DcIOro me tne
25th of February, 1867.
JESSE COLEMAN.
SEAL Proihonotary.
ith. NIAGEE's AFFiDAvIT.
Upon this single thread hangs the as
scrtion that Buckalcw was member of
the ak. q. G." Knights Of the Golden
Circle" What Ia his statement? That
he found in small blank book the
Constitution, Bylaws aud Minutes of
"the Knights Of the Golden Circlc''
with the cnamc of Charles II. Buckalew
V. P." attached IL is n little singular
that so important document was not
produced at the Court Martial, and has
since been lost or stolen in mysterious
manner; and further, that the posses.
sion of this valuable secret has been
locked In the breast of Magco for eight
long years. But, besides, the absurdity
of basing charge upon such a fllmsy
pretext, We respectfully suggest why
was not the fact proven by Ed. Nc
Henry aud other Government Witness
es upon the Court Martial who were
members of the alleged X. g. @? With
this evidence in their possession why
did the Government arrest poor limo.
cent men and let Senator Buckalew go?
The charges arc now made for the first
time and as we have shown by the evil
dence itself, does not directly nor indi.
rectly implicate Mr.. Buckalew, who
so far from discouraging the war was
constantly voting for men and money
for its vigorous prosecution. 1t is foil y
to presume that he would vote for
measures to suppress the rebellion in
the South, and foment or countenance
ore at home, which would inevitably
ruin himself and those engaged in it.
1t is utterly false that cheers were
given in front Of his house for JEFF
Davis, the Southern Confederacy aud
| Charley Buckalew." No man of respon.
sibility asserts it. We dispose OF all
these ISLANDERS by appending the aliida-
Wit of Capt. Silvers the Deputy Pro-
vost Marshal who was cognizant of all
the facts:
sg1TT SG4TTT or or rFSSsYhyASrA cokUMnIA s. s,
Personally appeared be.
| fore me,a Notary Public in and for said
County. Capt. William Silvcrs who be.
ing by me first duly sworn, deposes
and says that he has carefully read
lengthy article in the Philadelphia
Erening Bulletin of Saturday, Sept. 2lst
inst. about Mr.. Buckalew and the so.
called Fishing Creek Confederacy" to-.
gether with the affidavit of Col. Charles
Stewart making charge against said
Charles r. Buckalew which are so false
that l think it a duty as citizen and
a neighbor to correct them, not for any
political result, but in justice to Mr..
Buckalew, and with the assurance that
know more about the draft troubles
in this County than either the editor of
the Bulletin, or Col. Charles Stewart
who was in the county but few days.
| Deponent further says that after he
was disabled and honorably discharged
| from the army he was appointed
by Gov. "A. G. Curtin Draft Commits.
sioner for Columbia county, aud was
subsequently appointed Deputy Provost
Marshal of the 18th District which
Office he held until the close of the war,
and therefore thinks he had better op.
pOrtunity of knowing the affairs of this
County during the war than the Editor
ter asserts that, he had received orders
faom Gen. Couch to proceed to Fishing
Creek Columbia county and "to kill,
capture or drive these men out of the
County" this is materially different
from the orders given deponent as
Deputy Provost Marshal, by either Gen.
Couch or Major r. l, Dodge, Provost
Marshal of the State, both of whom
were here. DepOnent's orders from both
was to be firm with the men charged
with desertion, but to use no violence
unless under compulsion. The state.
ment of Col. Stewart is false also,in stat
ing that Mr.. Buckalew addressed the
"Rantz Meeting" on Sunday August
14tn, 1864. / was informed of an intend
ed meeting the Saturday night previous
and proceeded through the woods to
watch the movement, but Mr.. Buckalew
neither addressed the meeting, nor was
he at any time present. At the trial of
the.arrested,me at Harrisburg nor since
until this campaign was he accused of
being there, and if he had been, he
would have been arrested with the rest.
COl. OteWart SldleS dnOtller 1atSenOOu
when he says, that he detailed Lieut..
Magee to arrest Mr.. Buckalew, that the
latter absented himself, and that Magee
could not arrest him. l could have ar
rested Mr.. Buckalew at any time had
received orders SO to do either at his
home or whilst Congress was in session,
further assert Col. Stewart while here
arrested alleged deserters and received
money from them giving them written
discharges, but that the men were sub.
sequently held to service and that /
wrote to him asking his authority for so
doing; he replied by stating that "the
government wanted "money and not
men," whereupon l report the facts to
the Provost Marshal and he was imme.
diately relieved from his command.
l furthermore swear that in all my
searches through Columbia & Sullivan
Counties / never found the least trace
| of earthworks or Notifications, nor did
have any knowledge of Artillery to
resist the draft or u. S. troops.
WILLIAM SILVER.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this Both day of September 1872.
WILLIAM PEACOCK,