Localities |
CCLHP: Deposition of James Ratliff
State of Illinois
Coles County
James Ratliff, on his oath says, I was in Charleston in said County, on Monday March 28th 1864. arrived in town about 1 o’clock P.M. of said day, saw some men collected in the west [art of the Court Yard and heard John M. Eastin and D.J. Van Doren advising men to go home as there was danger of trouble. I think this was not far from Two o’clock. I came into town with Mr. Robert Craig. I rode out of town with John Tailer. I got into his wagon near the second house from the corner where the county road turns North from Main Street running east in Charleston. When I got in said wagon there was but two men in it. One was Mr. Tailer. My impression is that the other man was Hank. I think the firing was al over with before I reached the wagon. When we got out as far as James Bruce’s residence, I saw B.F. Drakes and Alex. Rodgers go to Bruce’s house and it was said in the crowd that they were going for horses. I remarked to them that, that would never do. They came out without any horses. Were behind the wagon that I was in. I have drilled with some men on the prairie North East of Town 8 miles. I met the some about three times. There was some forty men that drilled at the time I was there. The company was drilled by a man called “Powder Horn” John Frazirr was there also John OHair, Sr & Jr. Bf. Tolen, Jesse OHair, Hent OHair and many others. I had a pistol with me at the time I was in Charleston on said 28th ult. It was brought to me by Elsbury Hanks. It was as I then understood purchased of C. Pinatel in Charleston a little less than one year since. I left home that evening after the riot and went to Mr. Craigs in Edgar Co. hearing that I was unsafe at home but returned on this 4th April 1864 should have some back sooner but was persuaded not to.
James Ratliff (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this April 4th 1864 W.A. Whittemore, N.P.
