CCLHP: Deposition of T.A. Hawkins
I reside in the County of Coles and State of Illinois about two miles west of Charleston My age is forty four years nearly I was in Charleston on the 28th last month. Just before the shooting commenced I saw a large Collution of people west of the Court house. Mostly in the yard. Amongst them I noticed James OHair Nelson Wells There appeared to be a good many soldiers and a good many what is called Hands & OHairs friends up from that neighborhood When I saw this I then left the Court house yard and crossed the street and stepped up into Cannon’s door. That was shut up and stood there until the firing was over I saw the smoke of the first shot but I could not tell who shot it The Shooting soon became general and I saw a man tell me was an OHair shoot at Lew Mullen three times I saw a big stout man by the name of Hank shoot at Tom Jeffries and Tom Bell I am quite well acquainted with Hank have had lawful business transactions with him and knew him Hank stood at the South West Corner of the little office west of the Court House and Jeffries had turned his back to Hank and was about ten feet south of him After Jeffries fell he attempted to get up and Hank went at him Tim got up and Hank fled around the corner of the office This was the last firing done on the West side of the Court House When Hank shot at Jeffries, he stood about sixty feet from me with his face in full view to me After the fight was over I saw Wm Hart lying in the street a soldier by the name of Swim and some other soldier lying in the Court House yard. I afterwards saw Dr. York lying dead in the south east corner of the Court House I then went to Allen & Van Meter’s office. To see who was wounded and there saw them dressing Oliver Sallies wounds and saw said Swim there dead.
T.A. Hawkins (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to
before me this 5th April 1864
M.C. McLain, M.P.
