Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/110

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

eral Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna, arrived and conferred with leading citizens. H e was assured of the nonresistant character of the inhabitants of the affected townships, so he offered to remit the charge o f desertion i f the drafted men would report themselves before noon of the follow­ ing Saturday. H e rctumcd to H arrisburg be­ fore the time set. and the recalcitrants not naving reported Colonel Stewart proceeded with a body o f troops 10 Benton on Aug. i8th. On the 28th M ajor General Cadwalladcr arrived in Hloomsburg from Philadelphia, assumed command, and followed the first troop to Ben­ ton. On the 3 1s t about a hundred arrests were made and the prisoners brought to Ben­ ton. where a preliminary examination was made. O f the number, forty-four were dis­ patched under guard to H arnsbuig. T he sur­ rounding country was explored fo r alleged "fo r ts ” and other evidences o f resistance, but none was found. General Cadwallader re­ turned to Philadelphia and the laigcr number of the troops were withdrawn, but some re­ mained and arrests were nude from t iiw to time. The aggric%’cd parties and their friends took legal steps to release the prisoners and to test the legality of the arrests. On Oct. 17. 1864. twenty-one of the prisoners were g ra n t^ conditional release. O f these five had been previously dischaiged owing to illness and one had died in prison. On the same date the trials of the remaining twenty-three were gun before a military commis-sion at H arris­ burg. Seven were convicted and sentenced to terms ranging from six months to two years. One prisoner paid a fine o f $500, one w as pardoned by President U ncoln and five by President John.son, sc%‘eral were acquitted, and the charge against the rest w as later with­ drawn. Among the citizens o f Columbia county even at this late day there are conflicting opinions regarding these troubles, their origin and the results of the trials. One side claims that there was an organized and armed opposition to the drafts, that threats were made against the authorities, that peaceable citizens were threatened by violent sympathizers, and that the military occupation w as necessary to re­ store order and safely. 'Phe other .side claims that dishonest enrollment was made, that there w as no organized resistance, that no threats were made, military interference was unnec­ essary. that the soldiers were guilty of many outrages, that many innocent men were im­ prisoned without warrant o f law, and that the

main object w as to indmidate Democratic voters in the presidential election o f 1864. These are matters that w ill in time work out to a definite scries o f facts o f history, and the trouble will be looked upon with the same lenience with which the old veterans of the C ivil w ar now view the deplorable conflict in which they participated. COMPANIES AND BECIMENTS

Notwithstanding the draft troubles, Colum­ bia county was well represented at the front o f battle in the war. One of the first com­ panies to see service w as the "Iro n G uards,” mentioned previously. A s members of the 35th Regiment, 6ih Reserves, they were mus­ tered in Ju ly 27. 18 6 1, participated in many battles and skirmishes all through the war, and were finally mustered out Ju n e i i, 1864, at Harrisburg. T he iy8lh R ^ m e n t, drafted militia, w as re­ cruited m Columbia, .Montour, Lancaster and Luzerne counties. Companies A, H and I were from Columbia county, and F and G mostly from Montour county. T hey were mustered in Oct. to, 1862, and mustered out Ju ly 27, 1863, at Ilarri-sburg. T h ey were in several skiim islics, but no important actions. Company H, 1 1 ^ Regiment, w as from M on­ tour county and served fo r three months, be­ ing in the engagement at Falling W aters, Md., against the redoubtable "S io n e w air' Ja c k ­ son. Company C. 14th R ^ m e n t, was also from Montour county, but did not see much service, being on guard duty near Washington. On the termination of the three months' service many recnlistcd in other regiments. Company C. i6th Regiment, from Berw ick, was mustered in A pril 30, 18 6 1, fo r three months’ service, and saw much fighting in Virginia. M any of the company re-enlisted a fte r their first term ended. Company C, 193d Regiment, was from Mon­ tour county, was mustered in Ju ly 17, 1864. and mustered out Nov. 5. 1864. T hey served as guards along the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and on scout duty, but were never in any bat­ tles or skirmishes. Company A. I32d Re^m ent, from Montour county, was mustered in Aug. 15. 1862. It had a first-class w ar record, being in the bai­ lies o f South Mountain. Antietam. Fredericks­ burg and Chanccllorsvillc. and was mustered out M ay 24, 1863. Clinton W. Neal, o f Bloom sbu ^, was quartermaster of the f o ­ ment. Company E o f this regiment was com­