The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-03-05
Civil War Stories

ade in the Second corps, and was later
u physician in Waukesha, Wis, tells
of two interesting events that took
place in Troy.
Major Gen. John f. Wool had head
quarters in the solid manufacturing
city when the war came. On his staff
was a Virginian, Major Deas. l Won
der II he is the u. c. Deas who com
manded a brigade in the battle of
Chickamauga? The major wanted to
do a little telling business before he
went south to tender his services to
the Confederacy. Watervliet arsenal is
located at West Troy. In that arsenal
was, at that time, a machine. the only
n of its kind in existence, n compar-
atively new invention, that cut bullets
out of cold lead at a surprisingly rapid
rate. Major Deas wanted to take that
machine south with him; he thought
1t would be a prize. The bulletmaker
was guarded closely, for obvious rea-
sons. Deas also thought 1t might be a
help to his sside to bring about the de-
%struction Of the arsenal. He hit upon
the riot plan to carry his points. A
large force of men at work in a nail
and horseshoe factory at South Troy
was induced by the major to join him
in seizing the bullet machine and ar
senal. He had made them believe that
the South would win and that the
North would make no serious opposition
to secession. The rioters were to march
up to Troy, cross the river on the ferry
and capture the prize. Some of the
men in the gas works were TO aid in the
enterprise. Through one of these the
superintendent Of the works learned of
the chief plotter was. The superin-
tendent laid the matter before Mayor
Van Alstyne, and he conferred with
Hannibal Greene, a leading citizen. Re-
alizlng the gravity of the situation and
the Importance of c~heckmating the mis-
chief makers, and desiring to do so
with as little bloodshed as possible,
they decided to present the matter to a
Catholic priest who had been ~outspoken
in his devotion to the government.
Father Havermann heard the story, re-
1ected a moment, brought his two
hands upon his knees with great force
and said: 1--WE will show them that
the government is alive to the situation.
Gentlemen, leave the handling OF the
men to me. The arsenal shall not be
seized nor shall the bullet machine go
South.
While Major Deas was busy stirring
up rebellion among the people of n
section Of the city Rev. Father Peter
Havermann was h%urrying to a store to
buy a large American flag. 1t was
thrown to the breeze from the steaple
of his church, st. Mary's, a few min
utes before the seizing party came in
sight Of it. As they caught sight of
the flag the ringleaders called a malt.
After a short conference one of them
said: ct is no use; that man has mis-
led us. 1t won't do at all, boys. See
that flag; the old man is for the Union.
We had better go back to our duties"
and they did, looking shame-faced and
Inundated. Major Deas disappeared
within a few hours and has never revis-
tied Troy.
The wise course of Father Haver-
mann awakened the patriotic sentiment
Of the city, as well as drove the con-
spirator out of it, and stimulated m
listments so that the Second infantry
was quickly filled. 1t reached Fortress
Monroe the oath day of May, being the
first volunteer regiment to recruit and
organize in the State.
In 1868 there was a draft riot at
Troy. 1t was looking wild and danger
Gus, as all mobs Of rioters do. 1t
marched to the Daily Times office,
whose editor, John NJ. Francis, since a
foreign minister, had spoken with vigor
against the lawless assemDlages oppos-
ed to the draft. The leaders ordered
their Infatuated followers to tear down
the Times building. Suddenly a man
darted through the crowd, and seeming
IL went on wings with word TO Father
Havermann, who quickly seized his flag.
jumped into n carriage and was driven
to the Times Office. Bearing the flag
spoke briefly, but with great earnest
ness, eloquence and patriotism. and
then bounded to the steps of the Office
ard waved the angry mob away. 1t
needed him, but soon got itself togeth-
er and started for the residence of Mar
tin /. Townsend, q longtime Congress
man who had been active in favorlng
the draft and supporting the govern
ment. Learning Of this, the priest iur-
red to the rescue of Mr.. Townsend. his
warm personal friend, and again baked
the angry lawbreakers. The mob re-
formed and started for the little red
wooden church where the colored Bap-
fists worshiped. They were determined
to have one victory-to smash
thing. The priest reached the little
red church ahead Of them, and with the
crucifix in M hand and the American
flag In the other he defied the mob
tcld the leaders to dispense their blind,
maddened followers; that If they tore
down the church 1t would be done over
his dead body. Like all mobs. that
one was a coward when faced by q
courageous man. The thousands scat
tered-melted away in a few minutes
and thus ended the Troy draft riot.
A Story of Lincoln.
The following Lincoln story is told
by n who had it from the lips OF Rear