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| 187 Frostburg and the villages around. The people began to arrive early in the morning on foot, on horseback, and in carriages of all sizes, styles and conditions—many coming from as far as Cumberland—and before evening the camp was as crowded as a camp meeting. The soldiers were looked upon as public property, and were, in consequence, inspected and looked over from head to foot. Dear old ladies would stop in front of an officer's tent and discuss him and his tent with as much unconcern as if he were a statue. On all sides old residents were heard to exclaim that they had not seen so many soldiers since the war! and all agreed that their presence was the most interesting event that had happened in Alleghany County for many a day. Aside from the interest attached to the presence of the troops, Frostburg and Eckhart were gaining a very material advantage from this prolonged stay, as it was estimated that the soldiers and the State spent about $75,000 in the-neighborhood. On the 12th of June, at a time when it was thought that the mining troubles were well over, a disturbance arose at Lonaconing which called for a military guard. A working miner had been assaulted in the town by a mob and carried to his home half dead from the rough handling. The whole town was in an uproar, and a hasty call was sent to the camp for soldiers. At 3 A. M., the Third Battalion of the Fifth, under Major Coale, was marched into Frostburg, where they took a special train to Lonaconing, where they arrived just at dawn. Detachments were immediately sent to guard the approaches to the mines, and up into the town where the assault had occurred, while Major Coale held a number of his men in reserve at the railroad crossing. While a large and angry crowd collected, no demonstration was made, and the battalion returned to camp about 8 o'clock. During the excitement,-however, and before the battalion left, the organizer of the strike in George's Creek region, who was then at the Lonaconing Station, was arrested by the sheriff of Alleghany County. He was put on the |