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Page: of 627
14 JANUARY 19, 1865 NEVADA GAZETTE
which it would not be proper to make public at this time, and stated some facts which were startling and
convincing.
The raidsters were in the first place to assault the jail, with the ostensible purpose of taking out
the Dodges—the alleged murderers of Hammock—for the purpose of lynching them; and, when the
attention of our citizens had been diverted to that point, another party was to fire and plunder the town,
and assassinate certain obnoxious individuals. The scheme was a plausible one, from the fact that many
of our citizens knew that a strong feeling existed against the Dodges among the people of Allison Ranch,
and that threats had been made to hang them by a mob. The threats which had been made by wellknown rebels against Nevada and its citizens, and the knowledge of the existence of secret traitorous
organizations at Grass Valley and Allison Ranch, whose members are bound by oath to overthrow the
Union National and State Governments by force, also gave color to the story. Accordingly due precautions
were taken. Guards were placed in the Courthouse and jail and the streets as well as the roads in the
outskirts of the town were patroled by armed squads of the Nevada Light Guard.
The night passed away quietly. It was observed, however, that one of the persons named by the
informant as one of the leaders of the raid, entered Beckman’s saloon, opposite the Light Guard Armory,
at about eight o’clock in the evening, and remained until the saloon closed at midnight, walking uneasily
about, and occasionally going to the door and looking out. After the saloon closed he paced about the
streets in that vicinity for some time. He could not have known that he was suspected, because his name
had only been mentioned in privacy. Those not in the secret who observed him thought his conduct very
singular and remarked it. Why he was not arrested by some of the patrol while he was loitering about the
street, we do not know.
At about daybreak in the morning the guard at the Courthouse went home, satisfied that there was no
further danger at the time. Soon after they left Under-Sheriff [J. B.] Squire, who sleeps in a room between
the Sheriff’s office and the jail, got up, and taking the key of the back door of the Courthouse with him
went down stairs and unlocked the door, supposing that some of the workmen who are still employed
there would want to enter soon. On looking out, however, he saw that the time was earlier than he had
supposed, so he locked the door again, leaving the key in the lock, and returned to bed. A few minutes
afterward some of the prisoners in the jail heard a breaking of glass, and after a short interval of silence
heard someone run violently through the hall from the front to the rear. They yelled, and the Under-Sheriff
again descending found the back door open and the glass broken. He also found the front door unlocked
and the key taken away. The key of the front door was found a short distance outside of the back door.
A man was also seen making speedy tracks over the hill in the rear of the Courthouse, but at too great a
distance to identify him or attempt to overtake him. Whether the fellow intended to admit a force into the
Courthouse at that time, or to secure the key of the front door for use on a future occasion, is a question
for conjecture. A small force, once having got admission to the inside of the Courthouse, could easily
overpower the Under-Sheriff, and taking possession of his keys, liberate the prisoners, and do whatever
else they pleased, before a posse of citizens could be aroused, collected and brought to the rescue.
It may be that our citizens exaggerated the extent of the danger threatened on Tuesday night; but that
mischief of some kind was intended there is not a shadow of doubt. We have long believed that fear alone
has prevented a rebel outbreak in this State long ere this; and we have repeatedly urged upon our citizens
to neglect no suitable measures of precaution against such a contingency. We repeat the warning now, and
trust that Union organizations, thoroughly alert and prepared, will be everywhere maintained, thorough
and unbroken. [See explanation of mystery in January 22 Gazette.]
GAVE BAIL.—Josiah Dodge, charged with being accessory to the murder of M. P. Hammock, gave
satisfactory bail yesterday, and was discharged.
FROM THE NEVADA COUNTY VOLUNTEERS.—We are permitted to make the following