Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-30
TAE ARREST OF ROBERT ErI.or
- Incident OF War Times Branch. -
Afresh by Elliot's Death.

an account of his arrest far ,ra.,o,..,-
ana utterances as it appeared in our Lewiston
contemporary. All the older inhabi,an,. &c
augusta remember Elliot. We b.v. .,
famed from prominent gentleman in hi.
| city, full and correct narrative Of IL.
rest. II will serve to give vivid idea Of
the state OF public feeling in those DAYS of
excitement, and preserve the memory Of !.
circumstance which may be important 70
some future historian of Maine.
In the spring of 1862. Robert Ell;o, who
was then living in Freedom, raised and or.
gained company of young men and nu-.
e"ased arms for them. 1t was their avowed
purpose to resist an attempt to recruit volun-
teers for the Union army in tina, vic;n;,v A..
that time there was a company of militia a,
freedom, armed and uniformed by the State
Both companies frequently drilled in the stree,
governor Washburn, at that time chief
magistrate of the Commonw ealth. frar;no..o,
lisioh between these two bodies of men. vain
~ tried to induce the members of the m;li,.
company to surrender their arms This they
refused to do. The Governor then despatcbed
| Mr.. b. +. Morse of Augusta. to Freedom
with instructions not to return until he had
the mnskets in his possession. Mr.. Morse
| explained to the militia that Governor Wash.
burne desired them to surrender their arms
solely to prevent any collision which might
result In bloodshed. The muskets were then
given up, and brought by Mr.. Morse to Au-
gusta. After this occurrence, Elliot and his
| friends became more demonstrative and con-
tinued their street drills, openly denouncine
the Government and expressing their sympa.
tiny with the South, and their hopes that the
rebellion would succeed. This state of thing,
lasted until June. 1865, when Governor WASH
burne, after consultation with the authorities
at Washington, decided to have Mr.. Elliot ar
rested and placed where he could not harm
the Government, by his reasonable conduct.
One pleasant afternoon in the month of roses.
Charles Clark, now of Lewiston, then u. s.
Marshal for Maine, stepped off the
train at the Augusta depot. He
at once conferred with John Hatch,
then sheriff of Kennebec county, with Will
liam H. Libby, City Marshal and Deputy U.
S. Marshal, and with Col. George w. Kicker.
These gentlemen decided to leave Augusta
that evening at 10 o'clock, in quest of the
defiant and outspoken parsonage in Freedom
who longed to see the stars and bars float
over the Southland. They selected to ac-
company them Mr.. V. d. Pinkhanl, Mr.. B.
F. Morse, and Mr.. John Moore of Vassal-
boro.' The party left Augusta in two car
riages. Just as Mr.. Pinkham IVES gather
ing up the ribbons preparatory to the start.
Mr.. Hatch placed in Mr.. Morse's hands
heavy carpet bag the contents of which that
gentleman did not know at the time. They
drove to China village, arriving there about
one o'clock in the morning; had an early
breakfast, took a fresh relay of horses, and
got to Freedom Just at daybreak. The car
riages were left about half mile from FL
lots residence. The bag which had been
placed in Mr.. MOrse's hands was opened. 1t
was found to contain fourteen revolvers,
each seven-shooter fully loaded Mr..
Pinkham declined to take a revolver. saying
that he feared that he should shoot himself.
If any fighting was to be done he would
use his fists. Three of the party-Messrs.
Clark, Hatch and Pinkham-were deputed to
60 to Elliot's house and call him to the door.
They did so. Mr.. Elliot answered the sum-
MONS They informed him that he was wanted
and that he must accompany them. Seeing
that resistance was useless he readily con-
scented to go. The party then started Tor
Augusta. arriving in this city about eleven
o'clock, few minutes before the tram start
ed for Boston. Mr.. Elliot was hurrledIy
nlaced aboard, in the custody of Marshal
Clark and Deputy Marshal Libby. and car
ried to Boston and placed in For: Lafayette
It was subsequently learned that Mr.. Eiiiot
had received some information that steps
were to be taken leading to his arrest, and
that he had been in consultation with one OF
his brothers that very night making arrange
ments to leave precipitately for the Canadas'
Had the party been an hour later the proba-
h;,;t;es are that be would have made his
escape. ..e
OF course this arrest could only be ,ustined
nv the exigencies of the times. NO DOUBT II
was A wise exercise of QUESTIONABLE power
and prevented serious trouble. 1t most ens'
tually took the courage out of his little com
pany of armed men, who were g'ad 20 US
hand. Mr.. Elliot was a man of wealth anu
influence and before his arrest was pro"''
nent democratic politician; but after MS re-
lease from Imprisonment he lost his prestige,
and his sway gradually relaxed. He resided
in freedom until about year ago. when ne
moved to Massachusetts, where he JUST ''eu'
IT, Tho last he was a bitter and impiacao'e
n.r.;.an. and never forgave Mr.. Morse Vi
H. p;rkbam for their part in his arrest.
Ride with DIR. Brickee''
I wa gong DIV