which the Captain promised to furnish on the following Monday, but which was never received. He had frequently demanded the rature of his offence, but failed to elicit it, and, after an incarceration of forty-three days, was informed of it by his friends, which was: "of being an officer of a secret organization to resist the draft."

The affidavit on which his arrest was ordered was made by John L. Loder, of Bradford Township, who swore that Mr. Walters had acted as chairman of a meeting at Knept's barn, held during the previous September or October, for the purpose of resisting the draft, and that he had sworn the men present to do so. To prove this a falsehood, we need only left the county on the 12th of September, returned on the 26th, remained during the court term, and on the 2d of October left for Williamsport, and did not again return to the county until after his release.

mention that he

The meeting of which Loder gave an exposition was held in July, its object being the thorough organization of the Democratic party of the township, preparatory to the special election on the 4th of August, 1864, this duty having been assigned to Mr. Walters by the Chairman of the State Central Committee for that purpose. Loder afterward came to Mr. Walters, at the "guard-house" in Harrisburg, at the time his trial was about to commence, and in the presence of Daniel Curly, informed him that he had told the Judge Advocate to destroy the affidavit, as he had been "entirely mistaken," both as to the time of the meeting and its object, and that he would not appear against Mr. Walters; and further, that he would swear that resistance to the draft or Government had never been mentioned in said meeting.

This statement was made voluntarily, as he had not spoken to Loder since his arrest. Further conversation with him convinced Mr. Walters that he (Loder) had been made to serve the wishes of S. B. Benson, who no doubt conducted the prosecution to revenge himself for an altercation, which had taken place a few months before at Philipsburg.

On the evening of the 22d of February, Mr. Walters was

Laken to the court-house, and handed a copy of the charges and specifications against him by Captain Johnson, Judge Advocate. He was then sent back to the "guard-house," after being informed that his trial should commence in the morning. The following morning, H. Bucher Swoope, Esq., called on him, with some other friends, and expressed a willingness to assist in obtaining his release. Mr. Walters told him that he was weary of his imprisonment, but would make no concessions that could in any way sacrifice his manhood or honor, to secure his liberty.

On the 27th of February, the prisoners were all removed to the guard-house connected with the cotton-factory barracks, vhich, though unfit for the confinement of human beings, was much better in every respect than the "Exchange," which had become so filthy that persons visiting their friends confined there could not, after leaving the pure air of the city, endure it more than a few minutes, without being sickened by the intolerable stench which pervaded the room.

On the 1st of March, Mr. Walters and five others from his county were marched to the Provost Marshal's office, where they were released on taking the oath of allegiance, and also an oath to report in person when requested by the officer commanding the Department. The oath of allegiance was the same as usually administered.

Thus ended fifty-four days' of imprisonment in one of the Military Bastiles, for a purely imaginary offence, to satisfy the malice of a satellite of tyranny.

His political friends used every effort to get him released or tried, but their efforts were looked upon with suspicion, and their requests treated with contempt by those having immediate charge of the Department at Harrisburg.

MAJOR JACOB WILLHELM.

HE circumstances attending the arrest of Major Will

THE

helm were of a most painful character, and it was one of the most glaring usurpations of power we have been called upon to narrate. It shows one of a thousand instances, where an unoffending man has been torn from his home and family at midnight hours, dragged by a ruthless soldiery through the intense cold of a December night, thrust into a prison-pen twelve miles distant, and afterward detained in prisons so damp as to be fit only for toads.

Jacob Willhelm was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and is, consequently, 64 years of age. He has always been an honest, hard-working man, having "eaten his bread by the sweat of his brow." He has been a firm and conscientious defender of the principles of Jefferson and Madison, opposing as firmly in 1861 the hydraheaded doctrine of secession, as he had through a long life the pernicious doctrines of centralization, miscegenation, and abolitionism, with their concomitant train of evils.

He has at different periods of his life held the offices of Captain and Major of the State Militia, and at present is Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clear field County.

He is an upright, highminded man, and commands the respect and confidence of all who know him. Opposed to coercion and the war, he nevertheless, as a law-abiding citizen, obeyed the laws and acts of Congress, and gave his time, influence, and money toward the raising of volunteers and substitutes to fill the quota of his township, and relieve it of the heartless tyranny of a conscription; having spent in all about $2,200 for commutation money, in raising volun

teers, and for his board and physician's bill during his arrest and imprisonment.

In 1862, his oldest son and son-in-law enlisted in the army and served for three years. In the same year, his township raised money by subscription to avert the draft. In the year 1864, three drafts were made. The endeavors to raise funds to fill the quota of men required, without a draft, in his township, having proved futile, a draft took place, and his second son was one of the number drawn, for whose exemption the Major paid $365.

The same son was at the time clerk for an ironmaster, named Lyon, in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, who discharged him for manfully refusing to vote for Mr. Lincoln, contrary to his convictions, saying that he did not think it safe to employ clerks who did not look to their employers' interest. His third son was paid $940 for a substitute. either drafted or in the army. he was under the required age.

drafted in the same year, and Four of his family were then One son only remained, and

Major Willhelm was arrested at midnight on the 24th of December, 1864, by a detachment of soldiers from the 16th Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, then stationed at Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. His son, having taken a drafted man to the headquarters to report, was compelled to convey the detachment of soldiers who made the arrest of his father, and threatened with imprisonment if he should refuse. When the squad came to his house, they had two of his neighbors under arrest. The posse consisted of six men, who hastily thrust him into his sled and conveyed him to headquarters, where he arrived about daylight.

Here he was confined in what had formerly been an old mill, but which was now converted into a barrack for the troops. It being Sunday, his friends endeavored to get him released on parole, or on bail, until the following day, when he was to be taken East. The officers at first refused, but at length moderated their stringent measures so far, as to grant him the freedom of the town on bail, with the condition that

he was to report at 10 o'clock A.M., on the following morning At the expiration of the allotted time, he reported himself at the headquarters, and was marched, under guard of two men, to the barracks, there to await the departure of the train for Harrisburg.

While standing before the grate in the "Spread Eagle" Hotel, he was closely questioned as to several political gatherings that had been held in his township, and, at one of which, he had acted as president. The meetings in question were held at the instigation of the Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, for the organization of the party in the township, prior to the election of October of the same year; and which the heated imagination of the "patriots had converted into resistance to the draft and subversion of the Government.

He was taken thence direct to Harrisburg. Arriving at Tyrone, he wrote to Mr. Lamberton, attorney at law, in Harrisburg, soliciting his professional services. Mr. Lamberton not being at home, Mr. D. Fleming called upon him, and subsequently assisted the former gentleman in conducting his

case.

While confined at the "Exchange Guard-house," admission was persistently refused to his friends who called upon him. Hon. Wm. A. Wallace, Senator from his county, was at first refused admission, but was subsequently admitted through the influence of Mr. Fleming. He and his fellowprisoners were offered their liberty by prominent Republi cans, if they would debase their manhood and become members of their party.

This disgraceful proposition, worthy only of the men who offered it, was manfully and indignantly refused. On the 4th of January, 1865, he, together with several others, wa transferred from the loathsome "guard-house" to Fort Mi flin, near Pluladelphia.

Arriving in that city, they were placed in the tourth story of the barrack at Fifth and Buttonwood Streets, and left during the night without food or fire, in a room in which