HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 
 
erman, J. Stephenson, Webster Lindley, Reu- 
ben Coldren and B. Sutherland were among the 
number that reported. I think the number wanted 
was five. Two took French leave ; the rest re- 
ported, and were given time to fill the quota 
with volunteers, which they found no trouble 
in doing, though they had to pay well for them. 
Your humble servant being the last on the 
list, the quota was full long before reaching 
his name, and he was therefore exempted 
for one year. After giving about $50 to help 
out the ones enrolled, he returned home to re- 
flect upon the sincerity of certain persons who 
had always opposed raising bounty by town 
tax, declaring that a draft was the only fair way 
of filling the quota of towns, but when drafted, 
whined and cried over their hard fate. This 
was the last and only draft levied on our town. 
In spite of a strong opposition on the part of a 
few, a liberal bounty was voted and the quota 
of the town promptly filled. 
I remained a conservative, supporting the 
war as a necessity of the times and the Union, 
at all hazards, except the curtailment of liberty; 
voting bounties with the majority of our citi" 
zens, to soldiers ; support to soldiers' families 
soldiers' relief fund, to alleviate suffering from 
the vicissitudes of war, and supply the wants 
of the suffering in camp, fields or hospital. 
The report of battles brought more pain than 
joy, though the victory for the Union had its 
mead of safisfaction. The wavering and fluctu- 
ating of the public mind had little influence; 
it was too often upon a pinacle of glory and 
triumph, and then down deep in the slough of 
despair. My faith in the ultimate result of 
victory  for  the  Union  never   left  me, 
though the time dragged heavily, and ter- 
ribly lengthened, until hopes seemed almost 
against fate. The time came, that memo- 
rable  day  in 1865, reaching  our isolated 
town without telegraph, steam  propeller or 
railroads, as the winds of Heaven sweep o'er 
the face of the earth, bringing life and joy on 
4s wings. Thus came the news from one voice, 
 
to be re-echoed by another, and then another, 
until joy filled the breasts of all-even the few 
whose whole sympathy seemed with the south. 
The glorious old flag was honored always and 
at all times by our patriotic citizens, and the 
glory of its victory crowned with peace and 
heralded by fraternal solicitude. 
I have written this much of the history of the 
war time to insure the proud record of the fra- 
ternity, and the strong ties of neighborly friend- 
ship that bound our citizens together and pre- 
vented the alienation and estrangement of 
friends and neighbors during the terribly ex- 
citing period of war. Though many were of 
of southern birth and education, with strong 
sympathy and fillially bound to our combatants 
south; as one who stood between the two ex- 
tremes of Garrisonians and the followers of 
Breckinridge, I give testimony that all joined 
in the work of carrying on the War for the 
Union, and in the course of events developed 
patriotism and loyalty in every citizen of our 
town, even to protecting our citizens from mob- 
violence without resorting to violent means, 
arid without distinction of party or place of 
birth, or difference of opinion. 
Now, that the passions of individuals are 
buried by the charity we must have for all, let 
passionate words be buried in the oblivion of 
time. Their acts alone can tell the true im- 
pulse of their natures. 
Truly may we believe the free institutions of 
our fathers must and always will be preserved, 
where such men as were leaders actively en- 
gaged in moulding public opinion in the town 
of Sylvester in those times that tried men's 
souls. 
MATTERS OF INTEREST. 
The first celebration of the 4th of July, was 
held at Justus Sutherland's in 1847.  Reuben 
Stevens beat the drum with Daniel Wessel 
and N. Heinstret.   In raising the liberty pole 
which was spliced and put up through a tree, it 
broke, and was cut off and spliced, and the flag 
then unfurled from  it.  An oration was deliv- 
ered by a man from near Monticello. 
 
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