Looking for information about the August 1863 Danville riot concerning John Payne Jr. From the information I have found, John Payne was said to have worn a butternut pin when he went to town, to support his sons who were also southern sympathizers. Two citizens gave offense to the pin and forcefully removed it from Payne's jacket, and in the process, Payne was shot. He died later from the wounds. I question the accuracy of this story. For one, Payne's sons all enlisted in the Union army: Alonzo: 5th IL Cav; William: 149th IL Inf; Able: 37 Il Inf. I have a copy of Alonzo's cw diary, and he was not a southern sympathizer. So the question remains whether John Jr worn the pin or the other participants did. Does anyone know the correct story? I cannot find any accounts in the newspapers, but did find accounts in Lottie Jones' history of Vermilion County and she contends that Payne worn the pin, but it just doesn't add up. Can anyone provide the right account?

Rhonda Kohl