Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-06-07
THE STRUGGLE IN RHODE ISLAND-A
CONNECTED HISTORY.

We have been favored by friend in Providence,
who was an actor well as witness OF the ldte
fearful encounter, with the following succlnct ana
connected narrative of the entire collision, from the
arrival of Dorr from this City down to the utter dis
persion of his followers. Although it embodlcs few
facts absolutely new, it still throws additional hight
on the whole affair, and cannot fail TO be perused
with interest. 1t is follows:
TO tie Editor Of tie ". Y. Tribune:
SIR:-As the events IN Rhode Island tor few
DAYS past may be interesting to of your rea-
ders, take the liberty OF sending you the following
account
1t was reported in Providence on Sunday last that
Dorr had returned to Stonlngton, CT and would en-
ter the City the next day. About forty or nifty
armed men of his party having chartered an extra
train of cars, went to meet hun IN order to protect
him from arrest until he should arrive IN ProVl-
dence. 1t was a necessary act OF prudence as they
supposed, and perhaps truly, for the strength OF the
faction lay in the Northern part OF the State only,
the Southern was ged at the desperate mea-
sares to which the party had at last resorted. lie
came safely, and was received at the depot on Mon
day morning by party of his friends who, num-
bering about three hundred armed men and about
a thousand unarmed, escorted him through our
principal streets to his quarters. 1t has, through
the whole, been the wise policy OF our Government
to avoid if possible the elfusion of blood. lie was
therefore suffered to pass unmolested. When he
arrived at his quarters he delivered the Proclama-
tlon which has gone the rounds OF the newspapers,
dcfying both the power of our State, and the whole
force of the General Government, and declaring
his intention push his designs to the last extrem-
ity, and if necessary, fight and die himself in the
He then dismissed the greater part OF his
escort, ordering them to remain under arms ana at
the fling of signal guns, to repair Immediately to
his quarters and await orders.
During the day and ight of Monday he remain
ed inactive, prisoner in his own house, with pis
tolls and sword constantly upon his person, and
armed men on guard
On Tuesday at noon IA report was spread that the
authorities intended to arrest Dorr that afternoon
HIS signal guns were Immediately fired, and his
soldiers pouring in from the city and country, sur
rounded his quarters, about three hundred strong
The rumor was probably spread by Dorr himself
who tired of inaction and knowing that lorce
scarcely equal to half his in the city rea
dy to oppose him, he anxious to make himself
master OF the Military stores OF the State, before
the Southern Counties could be called out against
him. No had he collected his men, than
with ellrontery scarcely paralelcd IN history, he
ordered fifty of them to march into the heart OF the
city and seize two cannons which were the proper
ty of an Independent Company, who were dsat-
fected with the authorities, but had not joined Dorr
The band obcyed his orders, seized the guns, and
dragged them to his quarters before the eyes OF our
citizens, some of whom armed, and anxious
foreorders to reake them. Governor King did not
issue the order because they claimed as prl-
vate property, and he unwilling to spill blood
ON question OF Simple tncit, reSCrNnS IL uHtl
contest should come upon the main Questlon-re-
belon or good order.
Dorr gave his commands that the guns should be
loaded, and his men stand ready for immediate &C
ton-his intention to begin his operations that
night by an attack on the State Arsenal lntorma-
ton was Immediately carried to the quarters OF the
Governor, who issued proclamation, calling upon
the citizens TO repair to the Arsenal and arm them
selves. The call was Immediately responded TO,
and the street leading to the Arsenal was lined with
men gong and returning with loaded muSkets and
fixed bayonets They took them to their homes,
that they might be ready for action at the first
alarm. 1t was a solemn sight to who had ne
yer known what was, to men whom We
had been IN the habit OF meeting Tor years, thus
armed to defend their homes And when we thot
again that all this was brought upon us through the
unprincpcd ambition of one man. and that his de-
parture mis- h prevent all blood shed, it seemed al
most right to eXecrate the wretch who ready
to drink the best blood of his fellow citizens, inclu
ding, it might be, that of his own father and broth
er rather than desst from his desperate cause.
AT two o'clock on Wednesday morning
the tocsin sounded the alarm. The insur-
gents had broken up their cncampment,
and were in full march for the Arsenal.
with Dorr at their hcad.--It was defended
by three City Companies, the Marine Ar
tIlery and Cadets, reinforced by citizens,
who were stationed within the building, and
the Light Infantry, who were posted out
side, in all about one hundred and fifty men
with cannon charged with grape and can
lister. Dorr marched his troops upon the
plain, drew them up in order, and planted
his cannon. lie sent flag Of truce, de-
manding possession. Col. Leonard Bloc
get, who was in command, asked, "lor
whom, and in whose name 2" The an
swer was, 'For Governor Dorr,' in the
name Of Col. WhccIer' He said that he
knew no such men, and that il they auak
ed the Arsenal it would be defended. When
the flag returned, Dorr gave orders to fire
but his gun flashed three times Ii is said
that there was disaiiGction in his ranks,
and some Of his men had dampencd the
powder. Whatever was the cause, the
hand Of God was in it. One discharge
would have moved down ranks Of the
best young blood Of our city, but Dorr
would have never survived il. 1t is ru
incurred that Ten marksmen lay concealed
with their pieces pointed at him, ready to
shoot him down, so soon as gun was dis
charged. Finding that it was useless to
attempt the attack then, and perhaps suS-
pecting the disatfcction, he ordered his
troops to return 10 head quarters, clear out
their guns, and prepare for action after
breakfast
Early in the morning the Mayor issued a
call TO the citizens TO go to one Of the alarm
posts. armed. He was promptly obcyed,
by number Of the most distinguished of our
citizens-old and young--among them was
one old veteran Of eighty, who was so
eager to carry his musket again. that the
most earnest persuasion was necessary TO
induce him 10 lay it down. The troops
were drawn up in order at about nine O.
clock, and having been joined by about two
hundred who were collected at a moments
warning from the Southern counties, it is