Reuben Stafford, son of Isaac Stafford and Susannah Laycock, married Margaret M Bush, daughter of John Bush and Ann Clagett, on February 2, 1859, in Coshocton County, Ohio.
Reuben was a farmer.
They had two children.
John B Stafford, born October, 1859
Regina "Jennie" Stafford, born July, 1861
It is understood by the Bush family that their son, John B Stafford, worked as a train conductor for a railroad in Texas. He is unaccounted for, however, in any of the Stafford estate records which confirms the family belief that he died young without issue.
Reuben's family is in the biographical sketches of Coshocton County, 1881, page 797. Reuben was employed during the Civil War as a marshall by the United States to arrest deserters, and while attempting to make an arrest was shot and killed. Reuben's father, Isaac, and brother Isaac, Jr., both served the Union in the Civil War.
1863, August 26, Office Deputy Prov. Mar. for Coshocton County, Ohio.
Capt. John A Sinnet, Provost-Marshal, Thirteenth District of Ohio:
"Dear Sir: On Sunday last I commenced the organization of a posse of citizens to assist me in capturing some drafted men (who had never reported) in Crawford Township, this county. By Monday evening following I had the party completely organized; but a heavy rain-storm caused me to delay the expedition until Tuesday evening, when I started with about twenty picked men, armed with revolvers only, some of which were of an indifferent character. I am greatly in need of arms.
The nature of the country though which we had to pass and the localities of the men we sought to arrest made it necessary, as I thought, to divide the grand posse comitatus into two divisions, one of which I took to work on the main Bedford road, intrusting the other to Major Morrison, to work on the road from Chili to Bedford.
My party searched the dwellings, barns, milk-houses, chicken-coops, etc., on Bedford road, where we suspected deserters to be secreted, but failed to find any. They were out visiting that night or hid in the woods and caves.
Major Morrison and his party were more successful. The first barn they searched disclosed two men, Lewis Wens and John Sower, who gave battle most desperately. They sprang from their hiding places and got the first fire upon our men, killing Reuben Stafford almost instantly. Our boys then went in on their muscle, killing one man outright (John Sower) and mortally wounding another (Lewis Wens).
Samuel Taylor, one of our men, was severely wounded by a pistol shot in the side. He will recover in a short time, it is thought by his physician.
Our boys fought nobly, and the conduct of the whole party throughout the entire expedition was of the most unexceptionable character, and but for the loss of Stafford and the wounding of Taylor I could be well satisfied with the expedition.
After the fight Major Morrison and party advanced to the town of Bedford to a get a wagon to carry away the dead body of Stafford. At Bedford, through representation of friendly citizens, he was led to fear the deserters and their friends in the township would congregate (now that the ball had been opened) in sufficient force to overpower his small party, which was expected about an hour before daybreak. The united party then took a vote whether to go to the battle-field and carry away the dead man (Stafford) or to return to Coshocton for re-enforcements.
I am delighted to say that the former policy was adopted, in the execution of which we found people much excited, considerably scared, and not at all exposed to fight. We arrived at Chili at about 9 a.m., where the men were breakfasted and the horses fed; after which, feeling confident that the deserters had either left the country, or so hid themselves as to make their capture almost impossible that day. I determined to return to Coshocton and await a more favorable opportunity to take them.
I think this fight will have a good effect in this county. Loyal men are fully aroused now to the importance of having the deserters captured, and the deserters and their friends will have learned that arresting parties carry guns and are not afraid to use them. I shall be after them (the deserters) soon again. They have got to come in now or leave the country."
Very truly, yours,
WM. A. JOHNSTON
Deputy Provost-Marshal for Coshocton County.
P.S.--I must have arms, or an armed party, to do my work with. W.A.J.
(First indorsement.)
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO,
Newark, Ohio, August 28 1863
Respectfully referred to Colonel Parrott for his infomation. On Monday I will report what is necessary to carry out plans to arrest the drafted men and deserters in that county. JOHN A. SINNET. Captain and Provost-Marshall
(Second indorsement.)
Office Actg. Asst. Prov. Mar. Gen. for Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, September 1, 1863
Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Provost-Marshal-General. Sower and Wens, the men killed, were drafted from Crawford Township, Coshocton County, in the fall of 1862 and never reported.
ED. A. PARROTT
Colonel First Ohio Infantry, A.A.P.M.G. for Ohio.
Wed., May 10, 1865 The Coshocton Democrat
The first account of Isaac Stafford, Jr., administrator of the estate of Reuben Stafford, deceased.
Reuben was a farmer.
They had two children.
John B Stafford, born October, 1859
Regina "Jennie" Stafford, born July, 1861
It is understood by the Bush family that their son, John B Stafford, worked as a train conductor for a railroad in Texas. He is unaccounted for, however, in any of the Stafford estate records which confirms the family belief that he died young without issue.
Reuben's family is in the biographical sketches of Coshocton County, 1881, page 797. Reuben was employed during the Civil War as a marshall by the United States to arrest deserters, and while attempting to make an arrest was shot and killed. Reuben's father, Isaac, and brother Isaac, Jr., both served the Union in the Civil War.
1863, August 26, Office Deputy Prov. Mar. for Coshocton County, Ohio.
Capt. John A Sinnet, Provost-Marshal, Thirteenth District of Ohio:
"Dear Sir: On Sunday last I commenced the organization of a posse of citizens to assist me in capturing some drafted men (who had never reported) in Crawford Township, this county. By Monday evening following I had the party completely organized; but a heavy rain-storm caused me to delay the expedition until Tuesday evening, when I started with about twenty picked men, armed with revolvers only, some of which were of an indifferent character. I am greatly in need of arms.
The nature of the country though which we had to pass and the localities of the men we sought to arrest made it necessary, as I thought, to divide the grand posse comitatus into two divisions, one of which I took to work on the main Bedford road, intrusting the other to Major Morrison, to work on the road from Chili to Bedford.
My party searched the dwellings, barns, milk-houses, chicken-coops, etc., on Bedford road, where we suspected deserters to be secreted, but failed to find any. They were out visiting that night or hid in the woods and caves.
Major Morrison and his party were more successful. The first barn they searched disclosed two men, Lewis Wens and John Sower, who gave battle most desperately. They sprang from their hiding places and got the first fire upon our men, killing Reuben Stafford almost instantly. Our boys then went in on their muscle, killing one man outright (John Sower) and mortally wounding another (Lewis Wens).
Samuel Taylor, one of our men, was severely wounded by a pistol shot in the side. He will recover in a short time, it is thought by his physician.
Our boys fought nobly, and the conduct of the whole party throughout the entire expedition was of the most unexceptionable character, and but for the loss of Stafford and the wounding of Taylor I could be well satisfied with the expedition.
After the fight Major Morrison and party advanced to the town of Bedford to a get a wagon to carry away the dead body of Stafford. At Bedford, through representation of friendly citizens, he was led to fear the deserters and their friends in the township would congregate (now that the ball had been opened) in sufficient force to overpower his small party, which was expected about an hour before daybreak. The united party then took a vote whether to go to the battle-field and carry away the dead man (Stafford) or to return to Coshocton for re-enforcements.
I am delighted to say that the former policy was adopted, in the execution of which we found people much excited, considerably scared, and not at all exposed to fight. We arrived at Chili at about 9 a.m., where the men were breakfasted and the horses fed; after which, feeling confident that the deserters had either left the country, or so hid themselves as to make their capture almost impossible that day. I determined to return to Coshocton and await a more favorable opportunity to take them.
I think this fight will have a good effect in this county. Loyal men are fully aroused now to the importance of having the deserters captured, and the deserters and their friends will have learned that arresting parties carry guns and are not afraid to use them. I shall be after them (the deserters) soon again. They have got to come in now or leave the country."
Very truly, yours,
WM. A. JOHNSTON
Deputy Provost-Marshal for Coshocton County.
P.S.--I must have arms, or an armed party, to do my work with. W.A.J.
(First indorsement.)
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO,
Newark, Ohio, August 28 1863
Respectfully referred to Colonel Parrott for his infomation. On Monday I will report what is necessary to carry out plans to arrest the drafted men and deserters in that county. JOHN A. SINNET. Captain and Provost-Marshall
(Second indorsement.)
Office Actg. Asst. Prov. Mar. Gen. for Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, September 1, 1863
Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Provost-Marshal-General. Sower and Wens, the men killed, were drafted from Crawford Township, Coshocton County, in the fall of 1862 and never reported.
ED. A. PARROTT
Colonel First Ohio Infantry, A.A.P.M.G. for Ohio.
Wed., May 10, 1865 The Coshocton Democrat
The first account of Isaac Stafford, Jr., administrator of the estate of Reuben Stafford, deceased.
Reuben Stafford, son of Isaac Stafford and Susannah Laycock, married Margaret M Bush, daughter of John Bush and Ann Clagett, on February 2, 1859, in Coshocton County, Ohio.
Reuben was a farmer.
They had two children.
John B Stafford, born October, 1859
Regina "Jennie" Stafford, born July, 1861
It is understood by the Bush family that their son, John B Stafford, worked as a train conductor for a railroad in Texas. He is unaccounted for, however, in any of the Stafford estate records which confirms the family belief that he died young without issue.
Reuben's family is in the biographical sketches of Coshocton County, 1881, page 797. Reuben was employed during the Civil War as a marshall by the United States to arrest deserters, and while attempting to make an arrest was shot and killed. Reuben's father, Isaac, and brother Isaac, Jr., both served the Union in the Civil War.
1863, August 26, Office Deputy Prov. Mar. for Coshocton County, Ohio.
Capt. John A Sinnet, Provost-Marshal, Thirteenth District of Ohio:
"Dear Sir: On Sunday last I commenced the organization of a posse of citizens to assist me in capturing some drafted men (who had never reported) in Crawford Township, this county. By Monday evening following I had the party completely organized; but a heavy rain-storm caused me to delay the expedition until Tuesday evening, when I started with about twenty picked men, armed with revolvers only, some of which were of an indifferent character. I am greatly in need of arms.
The nature of the country though which we had to pass and the localities of the men we sought to arrest made it necessary, as I thought, to divide the grand posse comitatus into two divisions, one of which I took to work on the main Bedford road, intrusting the other to Major Morrison, to work on the road from Chili to Bedford.
My party searched the dwellings, barns, milk-houses, chicken-coops, etc., on Bedford road, where we suspected deserters to be secreted, but failed to find any. They were out visiting that night or hid in the woods and caves.
Major Morrison and his party were more successful. The first barn they searched disclosed two men, Lewis Wens and John Sower, who gave battle most desperately. They sprang from their hiding places and got the first fire upon our men, killing Reuben Stafford almost instantly. Our boys then went in on their muscle, killing one man outright (John Sower) and mortally wounding another (Lewis Wens).
Samuel Taylor, one of our men, was severely wounded by a pistol shot in the side. He will recover in a short time, it is thought by his physician.
Our boys fought nobly, and the conduct of the whole party throughout the entire expedition was of the most unexceptionable character, and but for the loss of Stafford and the wounding of Taylor I could be well satisfied with the expedition.
After the fight Major Morrison and party advanced to the town of Bedford to a get a wagon to carry away the dead body of Stafford. At Bedford, through representation of friendly citizens, he was led to fear the deserters and their friends in the township would congregate (now that the ball had been opened) in sufficient force to overpower his small party, which was expected about an hour before daybreak. The united party then took a vote whether to go to the battle-field and carry away the dead man (Stafford) or to return to Coshocton for re-enforcements.
I am delighted to say that the former policy was adopted, in the execution of which we found people much excited, considerably scared, and not at all exposed to fight. We arrived at Chili at about 9 a.m., where the men were breakfasted and the horses fed; after which, feeling confident that the deserters had either left the country, or so hid themselves as to make their capture almost impossible that day. I determined to return to Coshocton and await a more favorable opportunity to take them.
I think this fight will have a good effect in this county. Loyal men are fully aroused now to the importance of having the deserters captured, and the deserters and their friends will have learned that arresting parties carry guns and are not afraid to use them. I shall be after them (the deserters) soon again. They have got to come in now or leave the country."
Very truly, yours,
WM. A. JOHNSTON
Deputy Provost-Marshal for Coshocton County.
P.S.--I must have arms, or an armed party, to do my work with. W.A.J.
(First indorsement.)
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO,
Newark, Ohio, August 28 1863
Respectfully referred to Colonel Parrott for his infomation. On Monday I will report what is necessary to carry out plans to arrest the drafted men and deserters in that county. JOHN A. SINNET. Captain and Provost-Marshall
(Second indorsement.)
Office Actg. Asst. Prov. Mar. Gen. for Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, September 1, 1863
Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Provost-Marshal-General. Sower and Wens, the men killed, were drafted from Crawford Township, Coshocton County, in the fall of 1862 and never reported.
ED. A. PARROTT
Colonel First Ohio Infantry, A.A.P.M.G. for Ohio.
Wed., May 10, 1865 The Coshocton Democrat
The first account of Isaac Stafford, Jr., administrator of the estate of Reuben Stafford, deceased.
Reuben was a farmer.
They had two children.
John B Stafford, born October, 1859
Regina "Jennie" Stafford, born July, 1861
It is understood by the Bush family that their son, John B Stafford, worked as a train conductor for a railroad in Texas. He is unaccounted for, however, in any of the Stafford estate records which confirms the family belief that he died young without issue.
Reuben's family is in the biographical sketches of Coshocton County, 1881, page 797. Reuben was employed during the Civil War as a marshall by the United States to arrest deserters, and while attempting to make an arrest was shot and killed. Reuben's father, Isaac, and brother Isaac, Jr., both served the Union in the Civil War.
1863, August 26, Office Deputy Prov. Mar. for Coshocton County, Ohio.
Capt. John A Sinnet, Provost-Marshal, Thirteenth District of Ohio:
"Dear Sir: On Sunday last I commenced the organization of a posse of citizens to assist me in capturing some drafted men (who had never reported) in Crawford Township, this county. By Monday evening following I had the party completely organized; but a heavy rain-storm caused me to delay the expedition until Tuesday evening, when I started with about twenty picked men, armed with revolvers only, some of which were of an indifferent character. I am greatly in need of arms.
The nature of the country though which we had to pass and the localities of the men we sought to arrest made it necessary, as I thought, to divide the grand posse comitatus into two divisions, one of which I took to work on the main Bedford road, intrusting the other to Major Morrison, to work on the road from Chili to Bedford.
My party searched the dwellings, barns, milk-houses, chicken-coops, etc., on Bedford road, where we suspected deserters to be secreted, but failed to find any. They were out visiting that night or hid in the woods and caves.
Major Morrison and his party were more successful. The first barn they searched disclosed two men, Lewis Wens and John Sower, who gave battle most desperately. They sprang from their hiding places and got the first fire upon our men, killing Reuben Stafford almost instantly. Our boys then went in on their muscle, killing one man outright (John Sower) and mortally wounding another (Lewis Wens).
Samuel Taylor, one of our men, was severely wounded by a pistol shot in the side. He will recover in a short time, it is thought by his physician.
Our boys fought nobly, and the conduct of the whole party throughout the entire expedition was of the most unexceptionable character, and but for the loss of Stafford and the wounding of Taylor I could be well satisfied with the expedition.
After the fight Major Morrison and party advanced to the town of Bedford to a get a wagon to carry away the dead body of Stafford. At Bedford, through representation of friendly citizens, he was led to fear the deserters and their friends in the township would congregate (now that the ball had been opened) in sufficient force to overpower his small party, which was expected about an hour before daybreak. The united party then took a vote whether to go to the battle-field and carry away the dead man (Stafford) or to return to Coshocton for re-enforcements.
I am delighted to say that the former policy was adopted, in the execution of which we found people much excited, considerably scared, and not at all exposed to fight. We arrived at Chili at about 9 a.m., where the men were breakfasted and the horses fed; after which, feeling confident that the deserters had either left the country, or so hid themselves as to make their capture almost impossible that day. I determined to return to Coshocton and await a more favorable opportunity to take them.
I think this fight will have a good effect in this county. Loyal men are fully aroused now to the importance of having the deserters captured, and the deserters and their friends will have learned that arresting parties carry guns and are not afraid to use them. I shall be after them (the deserters) soon again. They have got to come in now or leave the country."
Very truly, yours,
WM. A. JOHNSTON
Deputy Provost-Marshal for Coshocton County.
P.S.--I must have arms, or an armed party, to do my work with. W.A.J.
(First indorsement.)
HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF OHIO,
Newark, Ohio, August 28 1863
Respectfully referred to Colonel Parrott for his infomation. On Monday I will report what is necessary to carry out plans to arrest the drafted men and deserters in that county. JOHN A. SINNET. Captain and Provost-Marshall
(Second indorsement.)
Office Actg. Asst. Prov. Mar. Gen. for Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, September 1, 1863
Respectfully forwarded for the information of the Provost-Marshal-General. Sower and Wens, the men killed, were drafted from Crawford Township, Coshocton County, in the fall of 1862 and never reported.
ED. A. PARROTT
Colonel First Ohio Infantry, A.A.P.M.G. for Ohio.
Wed., May 10, 1865 The Coshocton Democrat
The first account of Isaac Stafford, Jr., administrator of the estate of Reuben Stafford, deceased.
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