Year: 1864


Special Correspondents Of the Cincinnati Gaas,te


COLUMBUS, O., Feb. %.


The city has been full Of rumors to-
day concerning the riot At Lancaster
most Of which have grown to alarming
proportions. TIE facts in the affsir are
as follows: The 17th Ohio, Col. Durbir
Ward, were assembling at Lancaster pFiOl
to rendezvOusing ct Camp Dennison. Oi
course 0lds' New Church movement
could not go unheeded, and the patri-
otism of the boys stirred up the venom
Of the 0oppsrheads. Of the latter class
were fasher and son by the name Of
See, who kept . drinking saloon. AT
an early hour Saturday evening the
father armed himself with q revolver
and, took his seat by q window. About
nine o'clock some of the soldiers
being IN there drinking, one Of them by
the name Of Little, Put his hand on the
shoulder of young See and said {:
George, l understand you have become
q cOppeFhesd." This was followed BY
some ill-natuFed reply, and young See
turning upon Little, the latter pushed
him away with bis arm. Thereupon the
elder See drew bis revolver and shot the
soldier through the heart. As his COM
rades rushed forward to catch the body
Of the murdered Little, the old villain
fired at them and mortally wounded one
of them. This soldier has since died
This then was the set that fred the SOL
diers, and they armed themselves with
the rspidiiy Of lightning and threatened
the destruction Of the town. They first
sought to burn the saloon where their
comrades were shot, but Colonel Ward
appealed to them SO earnestly IS 20
change their purpose. But while he was
speaking some Of the men entered the
building and completely gutted it, pour
ing the liquor in the streets. The ex-
citement among the citizens WAS intense,
and a collision between them and
the soldiers was only prevented
by the untiring efforts Of Colonel
Ward and General Ewing, who happened
to be present. The Mayor of the place
zealOusly dogged the steps Of the former,
but he made no effort to arrest the mur-
derer and his son, and get them safely in
Jail All TIE civil officers seemed to care
nothing for she crime committed. The
soldiers made q vigorous search for the
Sees, and about two o'clock Sunday morn
ing their efforts were partly rewarded IS
they found young See just as be was es
Gaping from the town, and arrested him
They offered him no violence until they
reached the market house, when they as
saulted him and beat him nearly to
death. Colonel Ward hearing of this,
threw himself among the infuristed men
at the peril Of bis life, and rescued the
victim and got him 70 = physioian'e
house, where everything possible vas
done for him. But be was injured 90
badly that 1t ia quite likely be is dead
ere this At . later hour the soldiers
hearing be was not dead, surrounded the
house with tho intention of dragging
him forth and hanging him, but were
by Colonel Ward. Word com
ing that Berne tOWnsbip-the banner
Copperhead tOWnship-had armed and
were coming to drive out the soldiers,
the latter armed themselves mere
thoroughly aud took possession Of the
Court House which they barricaded. Bat
Berne township did not venture, and thus
was further bloOdshed prevented.


General Ewing desired another regi-
msnt to be sent there, bat tho Governor
did not favor it, nor did It prove neces-
sary. Too much credit cannot DO given
Col. Ward for ais brave and discreet
conduct. He has returned 70 this city.


a transcript Of the facts elected at the
examination before the Coroner will be
received here to-day, which I will for
ward you. The regiment have selected
q half dozen good fellows who are in pur-
suit Of old See.