HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 7
OPPOSITION TO THE CONTINUANCE OF THE WAR
During the latter part of the war a strong sentiment in opposition to its continuance was developed in the county. This sentiment came from the best classes of people, was conscientious, earnest, and was due to the close relations with the South, whence such people had come. Many residents of the county had been born and raised in the South, were familiar with her customs and laws, respected her institutions, and had a warmer love for her interests, naturally so, than for those of the North. It is then no wonder that they should show warmer interests for Southern people than for Northern people. This state of affairs led during the latter part of the war to the opposition mentioned. The conspiracy whose avowed object was the separation of the Northwestern States from the Union, if not actual assistance to the South, took a strong hold on Orange County, principally through the influence of one of the most prominent, intelligent and magnetic of the resident Southern sympathizers. This able man, Dr. William A Bowles, who had often represented the county in the State Legislature, became, it is said, a Major-General in the secret order of the Sons of Liberty or Knights of the Golden Circle, in which organization he wielded a powerful influence. In 1864 he, with other leaders in different parts of the State, was arrested and taken to Indianapolis and was there tried for certain public acts and was sentenced to death. The sentence was approved, the day of execution fixed and preparations were made to carry the sentence into effect, when, through the earnest solicitations of Gov. Morton and other prominent men, the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus. After a time he was pardoned and sent home.
SOLDIERS’ AND LADIES’ SOCIETIES
No definite statement can be made concerning the amount of relief furnished by ladies’ or soldiers’ aid societies. That several societies of this kind were organized in the county is certain, as is also the fact that supplies of bandages, lints, clothing, dried fruits, provisions, etc., were sent to the hospitals and to the camps of the home boys. The facts in detail cannot be given, however, as no record was kept. Such a society was organized at Paoli and another at Orleans, and likely several were organized in the country at populous localities.