circulated that he intended joining the Confederate Army with from eight hundred to a thousand men, whom he was then arming and equipping; and that a Confederate flag had been raised in his yard. Knowing that these reports were promulgated by his enemies, for the gratification of malice, Mr. Reader deemed them of too flimsy a nature to demand attention, and passed them by unnoticed. At no time were there over fifty men in arms for drill, parade, or any other purpose; while the Stars and Stripes were floating from a staff erected on his premises, and had been for months previously. He frequently attended, and spoke at the war meetings, and at one of them opposed the enlisting of boys of such tender years as to be unable to bear the fatigue incident to a soldier's life, and as only calculated to impede the army, and fill the hospitals. This, together with his oft-expressed desire for the closing of the fratricidal war by compromise, was quickly construed into opposition to the enlistment of volunteers; although in the course of the same remarks he had expressed sympathy and encouragement for the troops then in the field.

We have given a somewhat extended synopsis of Mr. Reader's political actions, which, together with the fact, that he afterward received no trial, when in the hands of the Govern ment, will enable the impartial reader to judge of the cause of his arrest, which took place before sunrise on the morning of August 12, 1862.

He was called from his chamber, and afterward enticed from his house, on pretence of meeting a young captain of volunteers, to whom he had promised assistance in recruiting troops. Having no idea of arrest, he went out to meet him, and was immediately surrounded by a body of armed men, and arrested without a warrant or other legal authority, by the United States Deputy Marshal, who simply said, "You are my prisoner, sir, and must accompany me to Springfield, by order of the United States Marshal.”

Being undressed at the time, he was permitted, under guard, to enter his house and put on the first old coat and

hat that he could lay his hands on, and these, together with a pair of shoes, formed his attire. He was then hurried away, without being allowed time to comfort his weeping family. Fearful of a rescue from his indignant friends, when they should hear of his arrest, his captors removed him swiftly away to Carlinville, and thence conveyed him to "Camp Butler," near Springfield, on the Sangamon River. Arriving there, he was placed in a filthy barrack, and neither permitted to have communication with his family or friends, nor to receive any money or clothing from them. A gentleman who was acquainted with him, while on a visit to the camp, to see a friend, met him clandestinely and communicated his situation to his family, who, thereupon, sent him money and some necessary articles of clothing, which were committed to the care of an officer, and never after heard of. The commandant of the post said, upon application being made to him for their restoration, "that he would make no inquiry concerning them," which assertion was carried out literally, as they were never recovered.

While confined at "Camp Butler," a petition, praying for his release from custody on taking the oath of allegiance to the United States, and signed by over a hundred of his friends and neighbors, was presented to Governor Yates, who refused to take cognizance of the case, averring that it was a matter appertaining to the General Government.

The prisoner, after remaining a fortnight at "Camp Butler," was then, together with nine other political prisoners from the southern part of the State, removed to Washington under heavy guard, with threats of being handcuffed in case an attempt at escape was made.

Arriving in that city, he, with some state prisoners from Virginia, was confined in the "Old Capitol," receiving an assurance, that he would be granted a trial at some future day.

Prohibited from receiving any letters, or holding any communication with his family, he suffered much mental anguish. At this juncture his friends, of both political parties, entered

into a bail-bond of fifty thousand dollars, which was transmitted to Washington, where it lay for a short time, no notice having been taken of it, until after the defeat of General Pope, and the reinstating of General McClellan in command of the Army of the Potomac

Mr. Reader was then called to the Judge Advocate's office, and required to sign the bond, when he was released, after being incarcerated for eight weeks. Being without means, he was furnished with a pass to Springfield, Illinois. Arriv

ing there, and feeling keenly the injustice of his own imprisonment, and being satisfied of the innocence of his fellowprisoners, he made an appeal, in their behalf, to Major-General John A. McClernand, from whom he elicited the response that, "Such men as yourself, and Judge Allen, deserve to be hung, and you will be, too, soon, if you are not careful." Being extremely sensitive, he was discouraged and disheartened; and feeling that "scorn's slow, unmoving finger" pointed toward him, he returned to the bosom of his family, and there, in quiet and seclusion, sought a balm for his wounded spirit; steadfastly refusing to take any part in politics, although earnestly solicited to do so by his numerous friends.

In 1867, he was attacked with inflammatory rheumatism and scrofula, diseases from which he had previously suffered, but which had evidently been aggravated by his confinement. He started for Texas for the benefit of his health, which had, upon a previous occasion, been much improved by that climate. As he was getting ready to return home, he was seized with a severe attack of typhoid pneumonia, and soon found a grave, "a stranger in a strange land." He had neither friends nor relatives near him, to minister to his com. fort, mitigate his sufferings, or proffer him the solace of re ligion.

"Earth serenely now may give her calm

To whom she gave her anguish."