The "FISHING CREEK CONFEDERACY"
Part One
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From the "Columbia County Civil War Times, 1861-1865" written and published by the Columbia County Historical Society. I believe that was during Berwick's Bicentennial. It's an overlarge newspaper with actual articles (mostly from the "Columbia Democrat," since the area was largely Democrat and few issues of the "Columbia Republican" survived).
The Editor's Introduction to the paper says, " . . . Columbia County at this time was one of the strongest Democratic counties in the state, and there was a great deal of dissension against the Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, and his policies. Lincoln did not win the county vote in the 1860 or 1864 presidential elections."
Fishing Creek, where my Laubach's, Hess's, Cole's, and McHenry's, etc., settled, was the hotbed of dissension in Columbia County. Also, since I had Farver's in Jackson/Greenwood Twp's. areas, they may have been involved, but I've never seen mention of their names, so far. Some of these articles are very long, so I typed only excerpts from them and indicated breaks with the ellipses.
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(Historical Society editor's explanation of following article: "This letter refers to the shooting of Lieut. J. Stewart Robinson, from Fairmount Springs in Luzerne County, on July 30, 1864, in the Raven Creek area east of Benton. He was with a group of men assisting a deputy Provost Marshal to arrest some draft evaders and army deserters; he died from his wound on November 3. -- Editor." Following article from "Columbia Democrat," 20 AUG 1864.)
CORRESPONDENCE -- For the Columbia Democrat
Col. Tate: -- I avail myself of the present time to make a few brief remarks concerning a circumstance which occurred not long since. There were some eight or nine Republicans came from Harveyville, Luzerne county into our county, to arrest some fellows who were drafted and did not report. They were unsuccessful in their efforts to take them. Two or three of the invaders were wounded, one of them seriously. We have learned since they were driven away greatly disappointed that they have sworn vengeance on us and are determined to have satisfaction. We wish it distinctly understood that we seek no harm and shall commit no uncivil acts, unless driven to it. All we ask is to be let alone that we may peaceable [sic] pursue our various vocations. We would have it understood, also, that the people do not intend to suffer themselves to be dragged from their homes by force to fight for the "Abolition Slavery." Let those who inaugurated the war, for this purpose, go and fight and not hang back like cowards. They have made war on the principles upon which our Government was founded and now ask us to aid in destroying those very principles. This should not be done. The restoration to peace and union of the contending sections, or their entire destruction, depends on the coming election. If the Democrats fail to elect a man who is in favor of equal rights, who will regard the Constitution and will be governed by it and who will pursue a course calculated to bring about peace all hopes will have passed away and nothing but dark despair will hang upon us. Let us, at the approaching election, make a grand united effort to remove those in power from office who have for more than three years shown themselves to be too incompetent and dishonest to perform public duties properly and justly and if we prove successful all may yet be well.
--[SIGNED] A Democrat"
(Historical Society Editor says: "The [FOLLOWING] article reports on the deployment of soldiers into Columbia County which at the time was described by the Democrats as 'The Military Occupation of Columbia County' and by Republicans as 'The Fishing Creek Confederacy.' Capt. Charles M. Manville, the Provost Marshal for the 13th congressional district that included Columbia County, wrote to his superior on August 4, 1864, stating: 'I have the honor to report that I have received a letter from Capt. Silver Dept. Pro. Marshal of Columbia Co. and also from other reliable parties that the deserters from the draft and from the army in some portions of Columbia County are defying the authority of the Government. Arming themselves, banding together, threatening and even taking life. I therefore respectfully request that you send a sufficient military force into that county to report to Capt. Silver at Bloomsburg to arrest the deserters and put down the rioters.' In the Raven Creek area, east of Benton, on the night of July 30, Lieut. J. Stewart Robinson, who was part of a deputy Provost Marshal party seeking to arrest some deserters, was shot and later died of his wound on November 3. -- Editor." Following article from "Columbia Democrat," 24 AUG 1864.)
LINCOLN'S U.S. TROOPS IN COLUMBIA
"On Saturday evening, August, 13th, about ninety of Lincoln's United States Troops, Cavalry, and Mounted Artillery with two Cannon arrived in Bloomsburg. The next Tuesday, some two hundred and fifty more Soldiers arrived here and joined them in Camp on the 'Agricultural Fair Ground.' And on the same day Maj. Gen. N. D. Couch, also made his appearance. He returned on Wednesday to Harrisburg.
...The Soldiers remained here until early last Sunday morning, when -- in martial array, -- they marched up our Streets, some three hundred strong, to the music of the fife and drum, en route, for the expected Seat of War, up Fishingcreek. On Sunday night, they pitched their Tents in Stucker's Grove, some ten miles from here. On Monday, they marched to and encamped in Peter Appleman's Sugar Grove, near Benton. And here ends our Report up to Tuesday. All then, was 'quiet along the lines.'
...Who brought these Soldiers here, is well known; for what cause is a question; and what their mission will effect,
time alone must determine. The thing is rather funny and excites no little curiosity. We await the 'inexorable
development of events.'"
(The Historical Society editor gave this explanation of the following article. "Those citizens arrested by the military in
the northern part of Columbia County for opposing the draft were imprisoned at Fort Mifflin, south of Philadelphia on
the Delaware River. -- Editor. The following article is from "Columbia Democrat," 3 SEP 1864.)
ARRESTS EXTRAORDINARY
"On Wednesday morning last, the Soldiers of "Camp Fishingcreek," encamped near Benton, in Columbia county, arrested a large number of the citizens of that vicinity, -- say about seventy, a part of them during the day were paroled, -- and on the evening, forty-four of them were sent to Harrisburg. Dyer L. Chapin, Esq., Merchant of New Columbus, James McHenry, Esq., Merchant of Cambra, and Dr. Wm. E. Barrett, also of Cambra, Luzerne county; with Daniel McHenry, Esq., Treasurer of Columbia County, Rohr McHenry, Esq., one of our County Commissioners, Wm. Appleman, Esq., and M. Cole, Esq., of Sugarloaf township, including many other older and very respectable citizens, were among the prisoners. Of the nature of their alleged offense, we learn, they were not informed.
...We demand, in the name of common justice, that these our fellow citizens, who have been thus summarily
arrested and carried out of our county, may have an early and impartial trial."
(Historical Society editor: "The author of this article that appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a Republican newspaper, believed that a group of army deserters had fortified themselves in the mountainous areas of the northern part of Columbia County. -- Editor." Following article from "The Philadelphia Inquirer," 7 SEP 1864.)
THE COLUMBIA COUNTY INSURGENTS.
Correspondence of the Inquirer.
CAMP CADWALADER, COLUMBIA CO., PA., September 6, 1864.
"We, of the army of the 'Fishing Creek' feel surprised and exceedingly disappointed that your valuable paper has not pursued your usual course of enterprise, and had a reliable correspondent with this army. Our deeds of valor and hardships have been allowed to pass unchronicled, and our praises may go unsung. This consideration alone has induced me to play the part of correspondent. I do this knowing full well that your neglect will be at once rectified, and that we shall soon welcome one of your reporters to our camp.
...It is not generally known that certain drafted men from this and other counties of the State, and some of the lower ones of New York, have been in the mountains in the northern part of Columbia county, on the head waters of Fishing Creek, where they have openly defied both the civil and military authorities of our country. They have been led to greater lengths by the citizens of this section giving them aid and encouragement.
Matters had reached such a point that a few weeks ago a party of drafted men fired upon and severely wounded Lieut. Robinson upon his attempt to arrest them. Our government could not overlook this outrage upon one of its officers, and Gen. Couch ordered Capt. Lambert's Independent Company of mounted men, and one section of the Keystone Battery, of Philadelphia, under command of Lieut. Roberts, to Bloomsburg. The force of the insurgents proving to be much larger than supposed, we were reinforced by a battalion of infantry under command of Lieut. Col. Steward. We remained in camp at Bloomsburg for several days, when all things in readiness, we advanced to Benton, a distance of eighteen miles. Here we again encamped, and were further reinforced by a battalion of the Veteran Reserve Corps, making a command of about one thousand men.
On the 28th of August General Cadwalader arrived and assumed command. Matters remained quiet until the morning of the 31st. The last day of summer, 1864, will long be remembered in the annals of Columbia County. During the night of the 30th the forces were posted in different portions of the county, and upon the breaking of the day, which was the time appointed, about one hundred of the citizens who were implicated in the troubles were quietly arrested and brought into camp. You can imagine this created immense excitement. Crowds flocked to see their friends.
Previous to this, the insurgents had threatened that they would visit condign [sic] punishment upon us if we made any arrests. This seemed to be now forgotten. At all events, everything passed off quietly, and by one o'clock the prisoners were on their march for Bloomsburg, under the charge of Captain McCann, of the One-hundred-and-eighty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. I should state that previous to the march from Bloomsburg, Major-General Couch had issued a proclamation to the insurgents, giving them several days to lay down their arms and return to their allegiance. These terms were not complied with, and orders to proceed to extreme measures were issued.
It is almost to be regretted that we were not allowed to march against these Northern traitors immediately upon our arrival, for at this time they were located near Benton, at a place called Stillwater, and were throwing up rifle-pits to resist our advance up the valley. Had we advanced at this time we might have had a chance to administer some of the same kind of Union arguments to these scoundrels as their friends in the South have been receiving at the hands of our soldiers. But disloyalists are cowards, and so soon as the excitement of bad whisky had passed away the mass of their forces lost heart, and those men who had property to lose, who were in the ranks, suddenly became intensely loyal.
At a preliminary examination held upon the prisoners, about one-half were allowed to return to their homes, some giving security for their future behavior. This left about fifty, care being taken to retain none against whom there was not sufficient evidence to convict, as will appear on their trial.
On Friday we once more took up our line of march, and are now in the mountains. Our camp is located in a valley on the east branch of Fishing Creek. Mountains are all around us. The valley is barely wide enough for our camp, the mountains on each side rising up for over seven hundred feet.
. . . the insurgents are encamped in a gorge in the mountains, where they have entrenchments mounting two field pieces. They are said to be from three to five hundred strong, and from their location it will be extremely difficult to approach them with sufficient numbers to overcome their extremely strong position. . . . Still they are hemmed in and may be brought to bay.
...As to our future movements I cannot speak, but provided your correspondent does not reach us in time, I will try
and keep you informed."
(Society editor notes: "James McHenry was a merchant from Cambria east of Benton just across the Columbia County line in Luzerne County. He was arrested by the military when it was sent into Columbia County to suppress the opposition to the draft." Following excerpts from letter by James McHenry at Fort Mifflin, 13 SEP 1864 in "Columbia Democrat," 24 SEP 1864)
FORT MIFFLIN, SEPTEMBER 13, 1864
" . . . On the morning of the last day of August I was very unceremoniously aroused from my bed by thumping at the door of my house. Looking out in the dim twilight I saw my residence surrounded by a squad of cavalry; walking to my front door and opening it, one Capt. Lambert stepped in, inquired if my name was Jas. McHenry, and if I kept the store on the corner; being answered in the affirmative, he said Col. Stewart wanted to see me at Benton. Four of the squad remaining, the balance galloped down to New Columbis, as I afterwards learned, to bring my friend, D. L. Chapin. . . . After a good deal of whispering and erasures and significant signs forty-five of us were rapidly marched to Bloomsburg, arriving there in the evening, tired and feet sore, as nearly all marched on foot; . . . arrived at Harrisburg about 2 A.M., changed cars, arrived at Philadelphia 7 a.m. After decamping in Market Street were marched out to 5th and Buttonwood to the Provost Marshal's barracks; were taken up about five stories -- high in a filthy room, doors and windows all strongly guarded. -- were put aboard the steamer 'Ray Bold' . . . we were to be taken to Fort Mifflin . . . After thirteen days of confinement I perceive quite a change in the physical appearance of our men, especially the old men, who all their lifetime have been used to an active agricultural life.
After arriving within the Fort [FORT MIFFLIN -- PALE] it was found that there was one man more than there
were names on the roll, consequently Silas McHenry was released and sent home. (Etc.)"
(Following from "Columbia Democrat," 15 OCT 1864)
MORE MILITARY ARRESTS
"Josiah H. Furman, High Sheriff of Columbia county; and Robert C. Fruit, Clerk to the Commissioners, were on Tuesday last arrested by the military satraps [sic] and sent to prison at Harrisburg. Their offenses, we suppose, in the estimation of the loyalists, consisted in the last, that they had taken two men, (who were alleged deserters,) from the jail to Hemlock twp., to cast their votes, and were -- when arrested -- returning with them to jail. We aver, that in this, there was no violation of civil or military law.
P. S. -- Messrs. FURMAN & FRUIT, were discharged at Harrisburg, and have returned to Bloomsburg. So also,
were the three young men -- viz: D. H. Fry, of Main township, with W. H. Heller, and Dan'l Holter, of Hemlock,
who were arrested as deserters, but against neither of whom could there be anything alleged by the Government."
(Following from "Columbia Democrat," 12 NOV 1864)
LETTER Fort Mifflin Prisoners
"A letter from Fort Mifflin just received says: 'We are back to old Fort Mifflin again. The evening we came here John Rantz, was a very sick man, but is now some better. I am nearly deaf being in this damp cell and will soon be totally so, if I don't get out.
Abraham Kline is very sick with diarrhea. Joseph Vansicle, is insane -- totally lost his reason. George Harliman [sic] is so crippled with rheumatism, he can hardly get about. The cell at this time is dripping with water from the arch over us, and even the sides are all wet. The soundest man living could not remain in here without becoming injured in health, much less weakly old men as many of us are. We have done nothing to deserve such punishment.'
[SIGNED] S.K."
(Following excerpts from letter by James McHenry at Fort Mifflin, PA, 1 NOV 1864, from "Columbia Democrat," 3 DEC 1864.)
"On the morning of the above named day, it was announced at the entrance of our cell that the day of our deliverance was drawing near. With what a thrill of joy it was received; like a shock of electricity it ran through the crowd. Countenances that looked wan and pale, with anguish depicted in every feature, now brightened up . . . and, among the objects of adoration on earth, is the polar star of my affections, was the pleasing thought of again soon seeing my dear, old, mother, whose tottering frame and feeble step warned me that her departure was near at hand. That look of despair, cast upon me with all the depths of a mother's love, when dragged from her presence by the military, never will be effaced as long as reason asserts her throne, and the livid imploring look of my companion, as she sprang from her bed, half-clad, exclaiming "Oh! You will not take him; what has he done?" How vividly all this has rushed through my mind, while in this dark and lonely cell; and then, again, my innocent children, who were wrapt in the deep slumbers of early twilight. How my imagination has pictured their anguish, when they awoke, and, in their childish simplicity, would inquire where Papa was. Snatched away without even the privilege of imprinting [sic] a parting kiss, . . . . But how uncertain are all human calculations. Two weeks have elapsed, and still here.
. . . Our treatment was inhuman. When first taken and incarcerated in this cell, not a stool or bench to rest our
weary limbs on; not a cup, or knife, or fork, or plate and these few indispensable articles were purchased at
exorbitant prices, attend with vexations delays. Forty-four of us in one cell, without even a separate place to attend
to the calls of nature, it is no wonder that one of our number was soon laid in his last resting place, and many others
prostrated by disease....(etc.)"
(Historical Society editor: "William Appleman was one of the citizens arrested by the military when it was sent into the
Columbia County to suppress the opposition to the draft. He was tried before a military tribunal in Harrisburg at the
end of October on the following two charges: (1) 'Entering into, confederating and assisting in forming combinations
to resist the execution of certain provisions of an Act of Congress, approved the 3rd day of march, 1863, entitled 'an act
for enrolling and calling out the National forces &c., and the several supplements thereto.' (2) 'The commission of acts
of disloyalty against the government of the United States, and uttering disloyal statements and opinions, with the object
of defeating and weakening the power of the government, in its efforts to suppress the unlawful rebellion now existing
in the United States.' He along with other Columbia County prisoners were jailed at Fort Mifflin located south of
Philadelphia on the Delaware River. The following is an excerpt from Mr. Appleman's petition presented to the United
States Senate by Senator Buckelew on December 24, 1864. The entire petition appeared in the 'Columbia Democrat.' --
Editor." {Following from "Columbia Democrat," 7 JAN 1865.}) [THIS IS VERY LONG AND REPEATS WHAT
OTHER ARTICLES SAID, SO I'M ONLY TYPING A BIT OF IT. -- PALE]
WILLIAM APPLEMAN'S NARRATIVE
I reside in Benton township, Columbia county, Pa., and have lived there about 30 years. I am 51 years of age, and a farmer. I was arrested Sept. 1st [August 31st,] 1864, early in the morning, just at daybreak, at my house, by soldiers. -- there were ten or a dozen of them, all unknown to me. Two of my sons were arrested at the same time from their beds in the house, and another was arrested at his house near by.
[DESCRIBES ARRESTS, DETENTION AND MARCH TO BLOOMSBURG, AND ARRIVAL AT FORT MIFFLIN -- PALE]
. . . we were taken on to Fort Mifflin and put in Bomb-proof No. 3. . . . This bomb-proof is partly below the level of the river[,] is arched overhead and has thick walls of stone and brick. By stepping it I and others made its width to be 19 feet and its length 54 feet. This was the space allotted to the prisoners, 44 in number. One of the original prisoners had been discharged when we arrived at the Fort on the ground he had been arrested by mistake.
. . . A single soldier blanket was furnished to each man, but no bedding or straw. . . . The room was very damp, and at wet times the water came through the arch overhead from the earth upon it, dripping down in the part farthest from the fire. -- There was also sweating of the side walls. . . . Our prison fare was as follows: -- To each a loaf of baker's bread for the day. One slice of boiled pork or beef and a tin of coffee in the morning: one tin of bean or pea soup at dinner, and a tin of coffee at night. On three or four occasions we drew potatoes boiled in the skin instead of soup at dinner. Several times the meat was not good, and five or six times there was none furnished.
...One half a single candle was furnished at nights for the whole room, and we were obliged to procure lights at our own expense.
. . . A filth-tub was furnished us, made by sawing a barrel across the middle. Standing upright on the closed end, a stick was run across it through holes bored a little way below the top. Thus provision was made for its being carried by two men. It had no cover. . . . Two of the prisoners went out with it occasionally under guard. Always at night it was necessarily kept in our room, the door being locked. This matter was a great grievance.
The prisoners were mostly over 40 years of age, all accustomed to active employments, upon whom imprisonment bore severely. About the end of September William E. Roberts and John Yorks were taken sick with bowel complaints and were removed to the hospital near the Fort. -- Roberts died about ten days afterwards. There were other cases of sickness but of less severity, up to this time. Subsequently three or four prisoners were discharged on account of sickness -- two cases of rheumatism and one of consumption -- by order of Gen. Couch. Mr. Yorks was also discharged.
. . . [DESCRIBES HIS TRIAL -- main witness against him was an "Edward M'Henry," whom Appleman alleged was a draft dodger getting leniency for his testimony. Also called was "Hess, another witness." Appleman asked for, was promised, but did not receive the appearance of character witnesses "John J. Stiles" and "Hiram F. Everitt." Appleman's son, "Thomas Appleman," testified on behalf of his father.--PALE]
. . . I secured the payment of the fine [$500 -- PALE] in fifteen days and was released from custody on 22nd of November. I returned home on the 23rd after an imprisonment of 82 [83] days, including the whole period from the time of my arrest.
. . . When I left the Fort, John Rantz was unwell; also Geo. Hirliman, R. Willis Davis and Benjamin Colley were in the Hospital. My three sons were discharged on parole about the middle of October, along with 13 others at the Fort. They were never informed what the charges were against them. Altogether, of the prisoners originally arrested, about 22 have been discharged, beside myself, and one is dead."
-- WILLIAM APPLEMAN
Re-Typed By PALE