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THAT

INVASION OF COLUMBIA COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA.

'HAT the more distant reader may the better understand the matter recorded in the following pages, a short de scription of the place and people is necessary.

The locality is the valley of the Fishing Creek, which, for romantic scenery, beautiful landscape, purity of its waters, health of its climate, and the richness of its soil, is not sur passed by any of the many valleys that abound in Central Pennsylvania. It is situated in Columbia County, and derives its name from the stream that passes through its entire length. Fishing Creek rises in the North Mountain, and, after passing through the county from north to south, empties into the Susquehanna a short distance below Bloomsburg.

The farms of the valley lie on both sides of this beautiful stream; while the valley itself is bounded, on either side, by high ridges. Along the northern part of the valley lie four townships-Sugar-Loaf, Benton, Fishing Creek, and Jackson. These townships, being the principal grounds of operation during the invasion, demand this further notice: Sugar-Loaf lies north along the mountain, and is bounded. on the east by the line of Luzerne County; Benton lie south of Sugar-Loaf; Fishing Creek, south of Benton; and Jackson, west of Sugar-Loaf and Benton.

The people are mostly farmers, with merchants, mechanics, etc. necessary in a rural district. They are a hard-working, industrious people, and instead of waiting for the crumbs that fall from some lordly table, they carefully nurse the earth, and she rewards them bountifully for their labor. They are hospitable and kind; and the weary and needy arc never turned from their doors empty. They contribute cheerfully and liberally for the support of their schools, their poor

Like their own mountains

their roads and their churches.

and the limpid streams that flow through them, they are free and independent.

On Saturday evening, August 13, 1864, the quiet village of Bloomsburg, the county seat of Columbia County, was suddenly disturbed by the appearance on its streets of eight cavalrymen and forty infantry, with two pieces of artillery. The town was instantly in a state of great excitement. The exultation of the Abolitionists was most intense. Their eyes sparkled with delight, their loyal tongues were untied, and threats against Demerats and Democratic printing-offices, with statements that troops were to scour the country, were in the mouths of loyal-leaguers and their followers. And a fierce desire, on the part of some of them, to inaugurate a reign of riot and bloodshed, was painfully apparent.

On Tuesday morning following, Major-General Couch, commanding the Department of the Susquehanna, (which included Columbia County,) with two hundred and fifty more troops, made his headquarters in Bloomsburg. On the night of the 13th of August, a report reached Stillwater that it was their purpose to arrest the people, and to burn and destroy as they went. On consultation, it was concluded to call a meeting the next day, to consider the situation and determine what should be done. Accordingly, runners were sent out in every direction, and on Sunday a large number of persons collected at the barn of John Rantz, in Benton township. The most of the men were armed, and some of them advised opposition; but better counsel prevailing, it was concluded to remain quiet, unless the troops commenced aggression; in that case, they resolved to defend themselves as best they could. The non-reporting men who had been drafted, formed themselves into squads, and sought refuge in different places, to await the result of the coming of the soldiers.

On Sunday morning, August 21, the troops at Bloomsburg struck their tents, and took up the line of march for the seat of the "Fishing Creek Rebellion." Toward evening, they reached the point where the main road crosses the

creek at Stucker's Bottom. Here they encamped for the night, and on Monday the inhabitants were greeted with the novel spectacle of armed men marching in hostile array through their hitherto quiet valley. Yet, the array was not very terrible in appearance, though there were infantry, cavalry, and artillery, five hundred strong. Unmolested, they continued their march to Appleman's Bottom, near Benton, where they encamped. On the following Sunday, their number was increased to a thousand men. The citizens of the

valley now enjoyed the sight (many of them for the first time) of a military camp. Here, the people flocked to hear the fife and drum, and to witness the manœuvres of dress parade. The morning reveille awoke the sleeping echoes of the surrounding hills, and the bugle enlivened the evening with its stirring notes. Trains of baggage-wagons, moving up and down the creek-road every day, and squads of men in uniform, either on foot or on horse, travg in aiì direc tions, presented to the ear and eye of the people, so unaccustomed to such things, scenes that kept them continually in a state of pleasant excitement. So harmless did the soldiers appear, and so peaceful were the intentions of the people, that a mutual acquaintance and friendship sprang up between them; and the former enjoyed the kindness of the latter, in the form of baskets well filled with the most substantial provisions. Though the Republicans knew of the raiding party, and had stated, in a few instances, the object of its coming, yet, having been in the neighborhood some time without making any demonstration that led to distrust, the people were lulled into security. It is true, that some had got an inkling of what was going on, and left their homes and remained in the woods all night, only to run into the snare that was laid for them as they returned to their homes in the morning.

Some time during the night of the 30th of August, a number of squads were detailed, and each one placed under its appointed leader. The utmost secrecy was enjoined, aud instructions given them to halt and retain any person they

met on the road, to surround each house, and guard it until daylight, and then to arrest every mar. and well-grown boy that should be found. These squads took different direc tions; one portion of them taking the main road down the creek, dividing off at each cross-road, until they reached nearly every house as far down as Stillwater, a distance of four miles. Another portion proceeded up the main road, and so dividing off at each cross-road, as before, until they extended their guards into Sugar-Loaf and Jackson. Another squad advanced as far as Cambria and Columbus, near the line, in Luzerne County. Such was the secrecy of their movements, that the people knew not of their coming until they found themselves surrounded. As many of these houses ie off from the main roads, and some of them in obscure places, the question arises, How did the soldiers know where to go? or who piloted them to their destinations?

Let the Republicans of Benton hang their heads with shame, whenever these questions are asked; for each one of them knows best to what house he led the way, and well knew, also, the object of the search. In some instances, relatives were reported by relatives; thus fulfilling the Scripture for prophecy, as well as history, often repeats itself— "A man's enemies shall be those of his own household."

But the night of fearful apprehension to the inhabitants of these mountain homes was drawing to a close. The gray light of the morning began to creep along the eastern hills, and day dawned to witness one of the most shameful and illegal nilitary exploits ever performed by men calling themselves guardians of American liberty. What a libel upon the name of freedom! What a prostitution of military power! And what a fearful demonstration of the danger of an army guided by political opinions, and pushed forward by the force of party spirit! At the approach of day, the opening of each door was demanded, and every man, found about the premises, was ordered to "fall in," without time, in many instances, to prepare for decency or comfort. They were al' marched to the Benton Church. Among the number col

ected, there were a few whose names were not on the "roll of Lonor." These were dismissed, while the remainder (fortyfour in number) were hurried off without food, save what little was brought to them hastily by their friends. It was a sad spectacle, indeed, to the few who were left behind, to see this mournful procession as it passed along. Here were the aged, whose locks were whitened by the frosts of threescore years, some of them tottering on their feet through illness. Here, also, were the able-bodied and the young, the rich and the poor, and those who held high places in life, all huddled together, surrounded by bayonets, and hurried forward, like cattle to the slaughter-pen, or slaves to the galleys. And this, in that beautifully secluded valley, where the rippling waters dance to the music of freedom, and where the murmur of the gentle breeze seemed to rebuke the spirit of the tyrant. And this, too, in the United States of Americathe boasted home of the oppressed of all the earth - a nation of the freest people on the globe, whose star-spangled banner is a respected passport to every harbor in the world, and a pledge of protection to every child at home.

But on move the tyrant's minions, driving forward their victims to their filthy destination. Greatly to the disappointment of the prisoners, instead of stopping at Bloomsburg, they were hurried to the cars, and conveyed to Philadelphia, and thence, on the afternoon of the same day, to Fort Mifflin.

One thing, observable on this march, was the unnecessary cruelty practised toward them. Some of them were arrested and taken from their homes without breakfast, and all of them were conveyed the whole distance to Philadelphia, and kept until the next day, before any food was furnished them. In addition to this, they were marched and countermarched through the streets of the city, up one street and down another, footsore, hungry, some of them sick, and all worn out, until old men wept like children, and young men cursed the perpetrators of so foul a wrong.

Fort Mifflin is located on the Delaware River, six miles

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