Macomb Journal
August 16, 1861
Two [African-Americans] Loose!
On Thursday evening of last week, just before dark, two care-worn, fatigued and almost famished negroes, a man and woman, called at the house of John Phillips, living in the suburbs of the north part of the city, and asked for something to eat. The family of Mr. Phillips, being educated in the strict faith of Democracy, knew too well their duty to give the dusky couple a meal of victuals. By some means, not exactly known, but upon the supposition that a Democrat can scent a [African-American] as far as a blood hound, those two disciples of Democracy, Bob Smithers and Capt. F. D. Lipe, immediately became aware that a [African-American] was loose, and following the scent they came upon the negroes in the vicinity of the Fair Grounds. – By representing themselves as abolitionists, and the peculiar friends of the “colored folks” they won the confidence of the negroes, wormed out of them the confession that they were slaves, were man and wife, and that their master lived about five miles from Hannibal, in Missouri. Capt. Lipe eager to fulfill the obligations of the constitution and to save the Union, and to make a dollar or two for himself, departed by the first train to inform the lucky owner that his “property” was safe in Democratic hands. In the meanwhile Bob Smithers, obtaining the aid of another trusty Democrat answering to the name of Tom Fountain, procured a carriage, and under the pretence of taking the fugitives to Galesburg where they were told they would receive aid and protection, allured them into the carriage and drove off to Carthage, at which place, as we are informed, they were incarcerated in the Jail. The master obeyed the summons of Capt. Lipe, came on and took possession of his chattles, and Bob Smithers went back with him to Missouri to obtain about thirty pieces of silver as his share of the reward.
In all these proceedings there has been not the least color of legal authority. The negroes were kidnapped and imprisoned in direct violation of the laws of the State. We would call attention of those Democratic Journals, which have lately had so much to say about “illegal proceedings,” to this high-handed outrage against the laws of the land.
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To Whom it May Concern.
The undersigned members of Co. B, 16th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, believing the extreme punishment imposed upon Brown Hogue to be greater than his fault deserved, take this method of relieving our companion in arms from the unjust odium that would otherwise attach to him.
We desire to express to the friends of Hogue our decided disapprobation of the infliction of such punishment on an American soldier for a fault so trivial. We submit the following statement of the case.
On Saturday, 20th July, on our arrival here, and while the camp was unguarded, Hogue procured liquor and became intoxicated. Next morning he was found outside of the guards with his canteen filled with liquor. He was arrested, put under guard, tried by Court Martial and sentenced to have his head shaved on one side and be drummed out of camp. His fault is a common one here and elsewhere.
In no case before has an offender been punished so severely whose fault was the same. – The sentence was carried out in the presence of his companions.
Our hearts were deeply moved at the spectacle and strong sympathy was felt by all for our comrade whose only fault is a love of intoxicating liquors.
He leaves not an enemy in ranks of the 16th. As a soldier he performed his duty promptly, efficiently and willingly. As a man he is kind, generous, honorable and brave. – With regret we lose him from among us. This statement is made that injustice may not be done our comrade by the public through misapprehension of the case. With due respect for the officers who composed the Court Martial and due regard for that stern discipline so unnecessary to the efficiency of our army we protest against the infliction for faul’s trivial of punishment so galling to the pride of an American soldier who has periled his life in defense of his country’s integrity and honor.
Hudson City, Mo., July 27th, 1861.
Lieut. Abe Rowe James Jellison
J. Montgomery Elzie Arvent
H. J. Pierce Wm P. Walker
J. W. Gladman Isaac O. Slater
J. C. Rugh James McCampbell
M. J. McKinney E. K. Westfall
George W. Ray F. C. Kitch
A. S. Weed W. McMatt
D. McKinley C. W. McKinley
Henry Bailey Thomas Kipliney
James Baxter Joseph Smithers
J. W. Steele J. G. Thompson
John A. Smith J. W. Asher
Myron A. Wyrick Wm. Powers
William H. Walker H. C. Dorris
George McAllister J. W. Wooley
Henry Keenar H. C. Layton
O. F. Starr Henry Carry
Ed. Bates G. S. Parvin
Benjamin Low Geo. Wetherhold
S. S. Taylor Jas. A. Champan
W. A. Miller John A. Johnson
A. P. Robinson J. M. Dodd
H. S. Henry F. M. Senteney
Wm. H. Boyd George P. Hogue
James A. Fardy I. N. Jones
W. H. St. Clair C. B. Forrar
Noble S. Prentis F. McGinnis
Wm. S. Pile Joseph Furgensen
J. I. Dillon Lewis T. Vyvia, Co. C
W. S. Hendricks Robt. Rutherford co. A
W. B. Hummer T. H. Swartout
W. C. Green P. C. De Kolf
W. C. Markley Wm. H. Austin co. K
Simon Ritchie W. Brandle co. K
R. P. Strickler J. E. Catlett
James W. Wood J. J. Bebo co. K
J. W. Wolf E. R. Waller
Samuel Parr John Gill
James Parr W. H. Campbell
Thomas F. McGraw A. D. Hail
S. Yocum W. H. Montgomery
I. D. Thompson R. A. Buchanan
Thomas E. Brink Jeremiah Allerd
J. H. Eaves John S. Bassell
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Wanted. – I would like to buy a good cow that gives milk. I have no money just now to pay for one, but expect to have in the course of a few weeks if people keep their promises with me. Perhaps I could make a satisfactory trade with any person who would like to dispose of such a cow as I want. Call on Mr. Magie at the Journal Office, and he will tell you who I am. X.
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A Nuisance. – There are so many horses permitted by their owners to roam at large in this city that it has become a great nuisance. As soon as a team is hitched at the public square, a scouting party of about half a dozen horses immediately commence a reconnoitre of the wagon bed, and if there is much promise of plunder the main army of horses to the number of forty or less, immediately surround it. We have heard much swearing in consequence. Perhaps the owners of these horses would keep them at home if they knew how much blasphemy they had to answer for.
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Macomb Eagle
August 17, 1861
That Fight at Colchester.
To the Editor of the Macomb Eagle:
I notice an article in the Macomb Journal in relation to a fight that happened in Colchester on the 3rd of August. I wish to correct the gentleman’s statement, for he has lied. As for “a number of secessionists” going to Colchester to raise “a row,” it is a lie; as for getting whipped, it is another lie; and as to falling on a man as he was going home, and beating him so “terribly,” that is a baser lie than ever.
The truth is, some of those bloody abolitionists were going to whip Mr. Lindsey, a saloon keeper in that place, and Mr. Bennett, one of “them secessionists” (as the Journal calls all Democrats who oppose the abolitionism of the war), told “those good Union men” that they should not do it. One of them swore he could whip any man in the place; at this, Bennett told him to walk out and they would settle it. At it they went, and when Mr. B was getting too hard for his antagonist, others interfered and showed foul play. And then that savage one he talks about went in on his nerve, and he and Bennett had to contend with some eight or ten of the Journal stripe; but notwithstanding this they came out victorious, and the abolition mob retreated. This is what sticks the editor of the Journal so deep; he wants some of the Democrats whipped for opinion’s sake, but the cowardly whelp wants somebody else to do it.
I supposed the Journal was a sheet of some note and had a considerable circulation; but I was sadly mistaken. Would you believe it – here in our town, where there is a large number of republicans, I could find but one subscriber to that great and able paper, which satisfies me that it is a very small potatoe. I have lived in this neighborhood twenty-two years, and have known Colchester from its infancy. I have no doubt there have been more fights in that town than the Reverend Military Tract Society Journal has subscribers. Never did I presume that any editor would stoop so low as to tell such infamous lies about a Colchester fight. * * * All good citizens will rebuke such liars, and keep peace in the country.
I would inform the Journal that those ominous “secret meetings of the Democrats,” is another good fabrication. Democrats do and say that which they believe to be right, and they do that in daylight, openly and manly, and without the fear of any and all abolition threats. If such men as I have spoken of could fight back as hard as they can lie, they would be perfect masked batteries.
C. B. White.
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“Secessionists in McDonough County.” – The Macomb Journal is talking about secessionists holding meetings in McDonough county. These stories are got up and published for effect abroad, and to enable the Journal to say something which will be copied to other papers. The very fact that the republicans are “blowing” about such meetings or such organizations is good evidence that nothing of the kind exists or has existed. We venture to say that nothing of the kind, in opposition to the laws of the country, has been attempted in this county. – We have a republican sheriff and a republican marshal for the State, and if any man or set of men are committing “treason,” let these officers do their duty. Until facts have transpired, the Journal would perhaps serve the cause of truth by not giving credit to every idle report.
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Letter From A Volunteer. – We have received a letter from a private in Capt. Hayne’s company dated, St. Louis Arsenal, Aug. 6th. The boys are all well and satisfied so far. Our correspondent says they have plenty to eat, and that of a good quality. They had not yet received uniforms, blankets, or anything but their “grub.” Some were sleeping on the soft side of a board, others made pillows of the roots of trees; but they would get into quarters in a day or two. They are rated as “Company B, 10th Missouri regiment,” Colonel Todd commanding. The enclosure where they are contains, besides the armory, a foundry, workshops, hospital, officers’ quarters, guard house, post and telegraph offices, railroad depot, steamboat wharf, and many other buildings, mostly of brick or stone. Also plenty of pills for southern diseases (neither patented nor sugar coated). Six or seven hundred thousand men in the arsenal, drilling, working, etc., makes quite a confusion. Our correspondent will keep us posted as to the movements of this company and the regiment to which it is attached.
The Eagle and The Journal 