and the case was abandoned. Previous to the serving of the writ, he endured forty-eight hours' confinement in jail. While an occupant of Fort Lafayette, his friends demanded a trial for him, but all to no purpose. His friends, who were inde fatigable in their efforts, next negotiated with the law partner of a United States Senator for his release. Whether he was instrumental in obtaining his freedom or not, Mr. Sargent is not aware; however, he was shortly after discharged, with a bill of expenses heavy enough to have liberated a dozen men. He had also requested his friends to make a demand on the Governor of his State to interfere and demand a trial. To this, they replied "that Robert Elliott, of his State, then his fellow-prisoner, had made a similar demand on the Governor, and that he had declined having anything to do with it;" thus permitting citizens of Maine to be dragged from the State and imprisoned, without a trial, or even the effort to secure one. Mr. Sargent still resides in Yarmouth, a man of undoubted integrity, and a prominent citizen,

JOSEPH K. EVANS, JOHN H. PORTER, WILLIAM EVANS, DAVID MCCARTY, JAMES KEITH, JOSEPH W. GIDEON, AND VALENTINE M. GIDEON.

DURING the night of the 14th, and the morning of the

15th of September, 1862, the following gentlemen were arrested by armed mobs disgracing the name of soldiers: Joseph K. Evans and John H. Porter, of Winterset, and Esquire David McCarty, William Evans, James Keith, Juseph W. Gideon, and Valentine M. Gideon, residing in the country. Of these we shall give separate sketches, but blend their history as prisoners.

JOSEPH K. EVANS.

J. K. Evans was born in Washington County, Indiana, ir the year 1819. His father was a native of Wales, and emi grated to the United States in 1785, served under General Harrison at "Tippecanoe," etc., and was a faithful soldier under General Jackson. Mr. Evans's mother was born in the memorable year 1776. His grandfather on his mother's side was a soldier in Daniel Morgan's celebrated rifle corps, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Afterward he served under General Greene, and was killed near Charleston, South Carolina.

Mr. Evans has resided in Iowa since 1841, and his present nome is in Madison County of that State.

His arrest was made at about two o'clock on the morning of September 15, 1862, by a company of soldiers claiming to be a part of the 23d Iowa, acting under orders from United States Marshal Hoxie, a name synonymous with imbecility and corruption. The prisoner was driven from his house at

the bayonet's point, not being allowed time to dress, hi children following him with his necessary apparel. His house was robbed, during that morning, of notes of hand to the amount of four hundred dollars, which he never recovered. His family were brutally menaced and insulted. Mr. Evans held the office of Sheriff of Madison County, for several years, with honor to himself and the party which elected him. He then retired to private life with means sufficient to support his family comfortably, by combining industry with frugality. But the robbery of his house, his imprisonment, and consequent loss of time and health, have reduced him to poverty. He is still unflinchingly Democratic; and with the proud consciousness of having suffered for his country, and the determination still to do her service, he bears the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" with fortitude. From Joseph K. Evans, we pass to his nephew,

WILLIAM EVANS.

of the personal history of this gentleman we shall be compelled to speak in more general terms. The statement made above, of the ancestry of Joseph K., will serve to some extent for William. His father, Robert A. Evans, was born in Washington County, Indiana, has always been a farmer, and is now an intelligent, influential, hale old man. Liis mother is descended from one of the oldest families of Virginia, and was a school-mate of President John Tyler. Ilis grandfather, David Shoemaker, served under General Washington, and also assisted in suppressing the Whiskey Insurrection. One of his uncles fell in the Mexican War, and another in the Indian service.

Mr. Evans was about twenty-three years of age at the time of his arrest, which took place before daylight on the morning of the 15th of September, 1862. His father's house was surrounded by a numerous mob, and his surrender demanded. Resistance was not attempted. The old gentleman, in opening the door to admit the mob, (under promise of proper treatment and speedy trial,) was severely wounded

DAVID MCCARTY — J. H. PORTER.

423

with a bayonet. And after William was in custody, he was fired at by the commander of the outlaws, the ball passing close to him, almost grazing the head of a sleeping child, and burying itself in the wall. He was then hurried to Winterset, a guard being left to prevent any of the family from escaping to give the alarm. Mr. Evans was elected to the office of Assessor while in prison.

He is a young man of uncommon natural talent and good information.

He is, however, a contented farmer, and his extreme mo lesty has thus far prevented him from seeking or accepting those honors which he so richly deserves, and which his nu icrous friends would gladly bestow upon him.

DAVID MCCARTY, Esq.

David McCarty is a native of Claiborne County, East Tennessee, and is descended from Irish ancestry. His father, Thomas McCarty, was a Captain under General Jackson, an afterward removed to Putnam County, Indiana, while it was yet a Territory. Here, David McCarty married the daughter of Captain Clift Glassbrook, and, in 1839, removed to Buchanan County, Missouri. In 1851, he went to Iowa, and settled in Madison County. Here, he filled the office of Justice of the Peace for six years. He was nominated by the Democratic party of his district for a seat in the Legislature, and although the district was largely Republican, he was defeated by but a small majority.

He was afterward elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and presided over that body during his term of office.

He was arrested before day, on the 15th of September, 1862, by a detachment of ten men, his family insulted, and he taken from his house without sufficient time to finish dressing, and hurried off to Winterset.

JOHN H. PORTER.

John H. Porter was born in Madison County, Indiana. He was arrested at his house in Winterset, about two

o'clock, or the morning of September 15, 1862. Every trunk, box, hole, and corner of the house was searched for papers. His kidnappers said some persons had sworn that Mr. Porter wa: Secretary of a Lodge of the Knights of the Golden Circle. This charge, will of course, have its proper weight with those who know that Mr. Porter cannot write his own letters. Mr. Porter is a quiet, inoffensive citizen, and takes no part in politics.

J. W. GIDEON.

He

Joseph W. Gideon is, and has always been, a farmer. .s a man of limited education, and makes very little preten tions as a politician. He was arrested at night, September 15, 1862, and immediately taken to Winterset. His kidnap pers promised him a speedy trial, and a traitor's fate.

V. M. GIDEON.

Valentine M. Gideon was arrested at the same time with his brother, J. W. Gideon, and treated in a similar manner.

JAMES KEITH.

James Keith was brutishly torn from his needy family, before daylight, on the 15th of September, 1862.

He never heard of any charge, verbal, or otherwise, except disloyalty." This shameful act of vindictiveness brought upon the head of its author the hatred of al good citizens. After the arrest of the gentlemen above named, they were dragged to Winterset, under promise of trial at that place; but for fear of rescue, they were hurriedly crammed into extra coaches, heavily ironed, (except J. K. Evans, Porter, and Keith,) and started early in the morning for Des Moines. The Marshal, Hoxie, by whose direction they were arrested, gave the guards the following order: "If a rescue is attempted, shoot the prisoners first. If any one of the prisoners attempts to escape, shoot, and shoot to kill -only halt him once." On the way to Des Moines, the officers and guard got dinner, but compelled the prisoners to remain