Newport Chartists Vol.4, p.47

Description

Page 1:
[top right hand margin:-] 47

[top margin:-]Newport 18th Dec[embe]r 1839

James Hodge of Woodfield n[ea]r Blackwood
in the parish of Moneythusloyne in the
Co[unt]y of Monmouthshire Collier I met John
Frost at the Coach and Horses Blackwood
on the Sunday before the Riots about 7 or
something after I saw a Man whom I have
before spoken of with a dark coat speaking
to Mr Frost in the parlour by the Parlour door
there were several persons by the Parlour door
there were several persons with Frost at the
time I went direct into the Room to Mr
Frost to ask him what we were going to do
I asked him if we were going to attack
the workhouse at Newport
because said if you are I know something
about that we shall all be cut to pieces
like mince I have been on board of a man
of war and know what shooting is and
we shall be cut up like mince for they
will be shooting before us and behind
us and out of the windows He said we are going to do no such
thing as to attack strong Building
for Men's lives are precious There will
not be a shot fired We are only going
to Newport to shew what strength we
have got to Government and the Charter will be
gained before this Month. I saw
a man with a glazed Hat in the parlour
at the Coach & Horses who said he came
from Newport and had been talking to the Soldiers and that the Soldiers were
in the Poor House at Newport & were all
Chartists He asked me and all the others if we wanted ammunition & said
Frost in the Room
then went out of the House

[in left hand margin against the above paragraph:- ask Harris ]

Page 2:
into the road where the mob were collected
the man with a glazed hat also came out
and ordered the mob to stop every person
that did pass and he sung out Brothers
it is time for us to be off for Enemies
are lying in all directions we ought
to be down these two hours. Then the
mob were consulting about scouring
Blackwood before they started They were
armed & it was very wet and dark. I saw
their group go up towards Blackwood 20 or 30 yards
: . There was
then a bit of a stagnation and some were for
going back and some going on a Man came
ordered us to fall in 3 deep I
D - d him & told him to mind his
own business and he went off He
returned presently with
a handkerchief & Bag and said I
will be powder monkey now. Then Frost when the mob
was squabbling Frost ran to the head of
the mob and ordered us to the right and
they all turned round and he ordered
them to follow him to the Cfen and
that he should meet Zephaniah Williams
there with about 5000 men and Jones
from Pontypool with about 2000 more
We proceeded towards the Greyhound
some took different Roads I was
informed that Frost went thro' Abercarne
I did not go that way I went by Risca

Page 3:
It was not only the Tram Road that were covered
but all the roads go which way you would you
would meet someone. When we came to
Risca by the two Publics there was a great
stop there & I believe there was drinking at
Duffields. Then the next thing I noticed when
we got down by Cross Public there was a
Man coming back with a Candle & Lantern
on a Horse and ordering us to come on
but the greater part of us was thinking
of staying the man said down below Mr Frost is waiting
with a large quantity of men. some of the
mob made answer and said what
the Devil are we wanted there for a parcel
of naked armed men we have got no
arms. He made answer there is plenty
of Bayonets guns and ammunition there
and I do not know what he said whether it
was part or half of the Soldiers was
gone to Pontypool from Newport this
was the same person whom I saw at
Blackwood & said he would be the
Powder Monkey there I asked if any

[in left hand margin against the above:- q ]

body in the mob did know who that fellow
was, some made answer and said
that he was a Deserter and that he
was the person who was going
to guide the men into Newport with
Frost then there were Pikes and
guns in the rear who forced us

Page 4:
on to the Welsh Oak I should suppose
it must be 12 or 1 Oclock tho' I cannot
say when we came there the guns
were ordered in front to be proved
and let off I was then very wet
and the guns were let off for an
hour or more I then retreated back
behind again. I then saw an old man
come to his fellows with a Glazed Hat
with a drab Coat & a red Cravat who
came down from Blackwood with
the mob and tapped him on the shoulder
and said it was better for the people
to draw back to the Hills and not
to be mistaken for the people at Newport
would fire upon them and that they
were armed in all directions and
that the Barracks and Church yard
were fortified with Soldiers and the
Westgate Inn: The man with the glazed
Hat said it was all d - d lies &
would not believe it and that
it was but a flea bite altogether
that we had to do. The people at this
time said Frost was gone up to the
Cefn. He delayed a long time there
was a Carriage on the Road at the Welsh
Oak I asked whose carriage it was
& the people saw they thought it was
Mr Homfray & W Phillips were in it

James Hodge [Written vertically across text]