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Copperhead Dies by the Hands of a Loyal Man and th

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Autograph Letter Signed, "James Stark" 2p. quarto, Augusta, December 17, 1864, addressed "Gov’s Yates or Oglesby" and reads "The bearer of this Mr. M. Bostic, a truly loyal man, is in great trouble about his son Wm. N. Bostic, now in the Army. The facts in the case are about as follows, viz: During the political campaign in the fall whilst we were holding a Union meeting one evening in this town, said meeting was greatly distrubed by a few young Copperheads who seemed intent upon annoying the meeting and especially in venting their spleen upon young Bostic and a friend of his a soldier at home on furlough. After greatly disturbing and menacing them in the hall where the meeting was held, they at lenght posted themselves outside the door with clubs and when the meeting adjounred they commenced assaulting and beating young Bostic and his friend. Bostic thus abused and aggravated by their brutal treatment drew his pocketknife and inflected a severe wound upon a young man by the name of Dexter. He was immediately arrested, tried and bound over to our circuit court. The case came up at our Sept. Term of Court and was continued to the next March term his giving bond in the sum of $500 for his appearance then. Since then with the concurance of his securities he has joined the army and since then Young Dexter has died from the effects of his wound and his friends have now got out a new warrant to arrest Bostic for the crime of murder and the whole Copperhead fraternity are moving heaven and earth to secure thier object in having him brought back to this country to be tried, for the crime of murder. Knowing full well that as things stand here with the power of selecting Grand and [?] Juries they have a sure thing. If I thought it was to promote the ends of justice they were laboring I would not say a word - but I am fully satisfied that it is far more to gratify their Copperhead maliginity. Application will doubtless be made to you, if it has not already to assist them in their designs. Now I do hope in common with all loyal men here that you will use your influence with the Military Authorities to prevent this being surrendered into their power and thus prevent an unneccessary excitement in this community..." Fine. On September 18, 1858, soon-to-be President Abraham Lincoln visited Augusta, where he gave a speech and stayed at the home of Elder James Stark.

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