CCLHP: Deposition of William Clapp
State of Illinois
Coles County
William Clapp on his oath says I live some Seven miles North East from Charleston. On Sunday evening or Monday morning of the 28th of March 1864, some one came to me and requested me to come to Town on Monday. Said that John R. Eden was to make a speech – do not now recollect who this was. And I think it was about 8 oclock on Monday Wash Reardon stopped at my house and requested me to go to town with him saying he wanted every body or a great many to come to town, don’t recollect the exact words he used. There was another man with him whom I did not know. I told him I could not go as I had no business there and did not go to town that day.
About dusk I was at Jackson Clarks (who lives near where I do) when John Ray came there and told us that there had been a big fight in Town between the Soldiers and the Democrats (I think this was the expression he used) he said they (the soldiers) were following them. I then went down to my house (which stands on the main road) just as I got there Alex Rodgers and one other man came along. Rodgers told me to take my gun and go with them, and said the Soldiers were coming on following up and killing every one they came to, he had a gun with him at the time. There was a great number of men passed on in the same direction all going North, all armed with guns &c. The next man that I know of this crowd was Calvin Rice, who was on horseback and a man on behind him Rice has a gun with him at the time – Several of these men that came along said the Soldiers were following up and killing both the guilty and the innocent and told me to “get out of here immediately or I would killed.” I was frightened and put the saddle on my horse and took my gun and went with the crowd, there was B.F. Dukes, E.F. Tolan, Wash Tolan, Jackson Clark, John Ray and Robt. McLain. I was a little behind them when I started, and when I overtook them I asked what they were going to do. They said they were going to dodge around and keep out of the way, until the excitement was abated. The party was numbered while at the shop and it was 84 or 94, I cannot now say which John H. OHair and B.F. Williams did most of the talking and managing of the men and matters and seemed to say what should be done. B.F. Williams made a little speech. The question was asked if we were taking up arms against the Government. OHair and Williams said not against the government but against a Mob. The men were formed in line to hear Williams speech and then was the time they were numbered. They broke up soon after the speaking and were ordered to meet at Donakys point by Seven Oclock next morning (Tuesday) this order was made by OHair & Williams both, John Frazier also had something to say but don’t recollect the drift of his remark. These speeches were to the effect that it was the Democrats that were in danger that no man was safe who bore the name of Democrat, &c &c.
I went across to the point got there about sunrise next morning. Henry Stephens was with me most of the time during the night, he said he was in the Court House at the time the firing commenced but run across to Owen’corner. The crowd collected at the point in the morning to the number of about 30. Many of the most prominent ones were gone by 11 Oclock, A.M. I did not know when or where I was told that John H. OHair left at 11 OClock Monday night and I have not seen him since but heard on Thirsday that he was at a house on Big Creek in Edgar County, sick. Most of the men that I had understood were in the fray at Charleston were gone before I left the point. I did not know where they were gone before I left the point. I did no know where they were gone but understood that they had gone South. While at the point Bryant Thornhill wanted to raise the citizens far and near and return to Charleston and “clean out the place” or take the place but he was over ruled by the majority of the men and I understood that he swore the Democratic party had all turned Traitors against him &c and he left saying he was going to his brothers who lived in Douglas County and I have not seen him since. The party that I left the point with were mostly citizens living about in that vicinity our number was about 20. We went to a place called cross roads in the Rich woods we got there at 12 Oclock Tuesday night.
We found there John Frazier, Hunt OHair Jesse OHair Wash Toland, B.F. Toland, Alexander Rodgers and many others to the number of about 12 or 15, besides the company were were with. This company most of them kept together but some of the prominent ones such as John Frazier & Toland separated out and went in different direction and met on Dolson Prairie some 5 miles South of Matinsville in Clark County. We saw soldiers at different times some of the crowd were for taking them prisoners but the majority opposed it. Some were for stealing horses and pressing guns &c but the majority overruled this also. It was OHair’s Dukes and Rodgers that were in favor of pressing horses and guns and Frank Williams and John Shields were opposed to it. Williams and Shields both left the point in the Company that I went in, and were also in the company that I was in below Martinsville. I remained in this neighborhood until Friday evening then went to a little Prairie called moonshine.
On Saturday Morning we got word from Charleston that the men were not engaged in the fray were in no danger and for them o come home and go to work The most of our company started for home Frank Williams left saying he was going to Marhsall. I arrived at home on Monday morning, while we were on our from Dolson to Moonshine Prairie we met a young man or boy which was said to be a brother of Alexander Rodgers. I should think him to be about 14 or 18 years old he was of small size, Slender made and fair complexion. I heard him called John and supposed that to be his name. He told us that they had arrested 36 up in Morgan & Hickory, saying they were arresting every Democrat they could get hold of and sending them off and that there was not a Democrat left upon the Prairie & c.
I do not know what became of him. Think he did not come back. Did not come in the company in which I did.
William Clapp (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this April 6th 1864
W.A. Whittemore N.P.
