The following was published in the April issue of the "Searcy County Ancestor Information Exchange". It is the John F Treadwell affidavit from the John W Lay Federal pension file. JJJ County of Ada, State of Idaho: John F Treadwell being first duly sworn according to law upon oath deposes and says: I was a member of Company “E”, 2nd Arkansas Cav U S Vols. In 1861 I was living about two miles from home of John W Lay, the claimant, in Searcy County, Ark. He and his father and brothers were avowed Union men. About that time the Confederates had full control of the State and we was all hemmed in. Searcy was a strong Union county. We got up a secret organization known as a Union League and I was a member and we had it going about three weeks getting in all the Union men as fast as we could arrange for them, holding our meetings in secret out of the way places. My understanding was that some eavesdropper, an outsider and not a member, discovered it and reported it and then they commenced at the end of about three weeks after we got it started, to taking us prisoners; and shortly afterwards the authorities ordered out the militia. There was no organized militia, but the secessionists claiming to be in control claimed control over all the men and ordered every man that was subject to duty to come. They only discovered the names of a part of the members and there were a great many members of the Union League who were forced into the militia. We were kept at the county seat about three weeks and were guarded by the militia. It was mixed up of both union and confederates who lived there. There was rather more Union than secessionists in the militia but some companies from a distance came afterwards and went with us to Little Rock with a part of the militia. [Treadwell may be referring to the Pope County Volunteers under Capt John H R Scott, who rounded up the Peace Society men from north of the Buffalo River, and didn’t come to Burrowsville until the end of December.] I knew personally a large number of the members of the league who were in the militia. One was Bill Standfield and another was my brother in law, A. N. Kimbrell. They didn’t have many arms and those were given to the most active for secession. The others were compelled to stay there on duty, doing chores, bringing wood &c. Standfield was an Uncle of Lay. We were charged with treason against the confederacy. They got together trace chains from harness and chained us together in twos, the chains being around our necks and fastened by a blacksmith and we were marched to Little Rock. I had two brothers in law, both members of the League. I was chained to one of them, William Thompson, and the other one, who they did not know was a member, was one of the League, was one of the militia and helped guard us with a gun all the way to Little Rock. The name of the latter was A. N. Kimbrell and both of them and myself afterwards were Union soldiers. We had numerous conferences with those of the militia who were loyal men and with them, we were about equal to the secessionists. They were ready to make an attack to set us free when we thought best, but as we were chained together, we gave it up as hopeless. We had a conference about escaping every night when our friends were on guard. John W Lay did not go with us to Little Rock. When we reached Little Rock the Governor gave us the alternative of death or joining the rebel army. We agreed among ourselves that we would join the rebel army and all desert at the first opportunity. I deserted and for about two years I was in hiding near my home and commanded a company of loyal men in the Boston Mountains. I knew of Lay during all this time and he was always known as a Loyal Union man. These things, the calling out of the militia, and the service performed by Lay in the rebel militia, was about December, 1861. I have never before heard any one ever claim that Lay was ever disloyal or bore arms against the government. When the people were ordered out to guard us, they had either to do so or get into trouble. Much the larger part of the militia from there were loyal men. John F Treadwell. 3rd of May 1897. Hugh E McElroy, NP.