Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-02-28
Civil War Stories


physician In NaukeSha. 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 z. c. Deas who com
manded brigade IN the battle of
Chickamauga? The major wanted TO
dc 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, machine, the only
one of its kind ia existence, compar-
atively new invention, that cut bullets
cut of cold lead at a surprisingly rapid
rate, Major Deas wanted to take that
machine south with him; he thought
Il would be prize. The bulletmaker
was guarded closely, for obvious rea-
sons. Deas also thought it might be a
help to his side 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 Selling the bullet machine and ar
senal. lie had made them believe that
the South would win aud 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 i'll the
enterprise. Through one of these the
superintendent of the works learned of
the plot but did not at first learn who
the chief plotter was. The superin-
tendent laid the matter before Mayor
Van Alstyne, and he conferred with
Hannibal Greene, a leading citizen. Re
alizing the gravity of the situation and
the Importance Of checkmating 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-
Elected moment, brought his two
hands upon his knees with great force
| and said: I'VE 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 60
South.
While Major Deas was busy stirring
up rebellion among the people of one
section of the city Rev. Father Peter
Hayermann was hurrying to a store to
| buy a large American dag 1t was
thrown 10 the breeze from the steaple
of his church, st, Mary's. few min
utes before the seiZing party came in
sight of it. AS they caught sight of
the flag the ringleaders called malt.
After a short conference one of them
said: 1T 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 en-
listments so that the Second infantry
was quickly filed. 1t reached Fortress
Monroe the oath day of May, being the
first volunteer regiment TO recruit and
organize in the State.
In 1863 there was a draft riot at
Troy 1t was looking wild ana danger
Gus. as all nobs of rioters do 1t
marched to the Daily Times office,
whose editor, John NJ Francis since
foreign minister. had spoken with vigor
against the lawless assemblagcs 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
Is went on wings with word to Father
Hayermann, who quickly seized his nag.
jumped into a carriage and was driven
TO the Times Office. Bearing the flag
aloft, he pushed through the mob He
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 togcth-
Ell and started for the residence of Mar
tin + Townsend a longtime Congress
man who had been active in fayorlng
the draft and supporting the govern
ment. Learning Of this, the priest bur
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-
lists worshiped They were determined
to have one victory-to smash some
thing. The priest reached the little
red church ahead Of them. ard with The
crucifix In one hand and the American
flag in the other he defied the mob