Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-07


manage their own affairs.
A gang of hired rufians and bullies, "Plug Ug-
lies" and ether unhung worthless from Baltimore,
have been imported By the Know Nothings TO take
violent possession Of the polls, and, armed with
vovers billies and slung-shot to prevent our own
citizens from depositing their votes.
In the name Of all that is dear to US as Americans
how long is this state Of things to be tolerated
In the first precinct Of the Fourth Ward, this
morning general fight occurred, IN which several
hundred men and boys we're engaged indiscrinately.
II seems that some forty fifty Plug Ugies came
down from Baltimore this morning TO assist our cti
zens in the election ofto-day. After floating around
for some time without ehecting anything Of note,
they pitched upon the Fourth Ward first precinct as
being the most eligible scene for their operations
long line Of voters were standing in the street,
extending for some distance from the polls, and COM
posed principally Of Anti-KnOW Nothing voters
The Plugs assisted by several large squads Of
Chunkers and Rip Raps Of our own city, endeayored
to break in this line by crOWdng, out not succeeding
in this they left the of action to concert more
hostile measures.
After short time they returned largely reinforced
in numbers, and with reviewers, stones bilys brick
bats, ETC., they made concerted onslaught upon the
voters. terrible scene now ensued, in which the
entire crowd participated. Stones and pistols were
rapidly discharged, and men we're trsmpled to the
EARTH beaten, stamped on, and severely wounded
Among those injured R. B. Owens, fourth ward
commissioner who had his wrist badly shattered by
pistol ball A. KlOfer received spent ball in his
forehead which stunned him. but inflicted no seri-
Gus injury. Captain Goddard was, with several Of
fcers on the ground, aud the captain did good SER
vice with his long and heavy fines in quelling
the afray lie was severely struck several times
but got off without any serious damage
An Irishman dreadfuly mutilated that his
features were entirely undistinguishable, and his
head and shoulders were covered with blood. The
polls torn down by this imported gang of Bal
tmore Williams, the payements were streWn with
stones, clubs and other missiles
Several of the ringleaders were arrested and ia
ken to the guard-hOuse amongst others, young
man by the name Of johnson.
The buildings in the neighbOrhOod were damaged
the doors and windows being broken in on all sides
In the skirmish Mr. Geo. D. Spencer received a Sc
we're blow in the face.
An old man named Cassidy, granite cutter, re-
ceyed bullet wound over the left ear the ball for
tunately, however, glanced, and did not penetrate
the skull. He taken to the residence Of DR..
Palmer, who attended to the wound.
Mr.. Matthew Emery severely injured by a
| blow from stone. In consequence of the disturb
aness there was general closing up of stores and
| places Of business quite early in the morning.
At the first precinct Of the Fourth Ward the off
did all in their power prevent the riot placing
themselves between the bellgerents and the voters
in the line, with Captain Goddard at the head who
| demanded the peace, when they rushed on masSe,
| and with an impetuosity which nothing short of a
military force could nave WlLuSLOOQ, and although
the police fought like heroes, they were forced TO
abandon the field to the possession of these hired
| mscreants
Such an exhibition Of murderous instruments as
the party carried sufficient to cause the peace
ably disposed 10 keep far from them possible.
| One was armed Witha large blacksmith sedge;
another with horse pistol Of large dimensions; a
third carried miscellaneous assortment of revoly
! ers, bowie knives billies, an iron bar; while the
fourth carried, besides side pocket filed with
venent stones, hrckbats, &C.. large billet Of oak
wood of sufficient weight to fell an OK. These wea
pOns were thick mulberries in season. the.par-
ties brandishing them about in a menaeing manner,
to the horror of all those who were not like them
selves, participants in these disgraceful scenes.
Mayor Magruder Immediately sent the following
| communication accompanied by eertifcates to the
President, asking that company Of United States
Marines should be ordered out for the purpose Of
I maintaining the peace:
MAYORS OFFICE,
Washington, June !, 1857.
! 10 the President Of the United States:
SIR: Upon the representation of creditable eiti-
/ zens that band Of laWless persons most Of them
not residents Of this city, have attacked one Of the
polls which the annual election is now IN prog
! ress, and after manning some twenty good and
peaceable citizens, have driven the remainder from
the polls, have dispersed the commissioners OF cleo
ton, and threaten further violence any attempt
to carry the election respectfully request you
TO order out the company Of United States marines
in this city, maintain the peace thereof, the
civil authorities finding themselves unable to dc
with the means at their disposal, and there being
| other United States soldiers at your command in
this city. have instituted personal inquiry into
the matter and find that the weapons used were va
rious kinds Of firearms clubs, knives and stones,
and the facts stated in the enclosed certificate
are just and true.
W. B. MAGRAUDER, Mayor.
The President forthwith gave the requisite orders
I1BITa oh -
enough to pay a visit to the Second Ward polls,
wearing the Know Nothing ticket as a badge, and
shouting for Dixon" as a rallying cry.
In a few minutes their inevitable revolvers were
out, and some thirty or forty shots fired, in
quick succession, in the neighbOrhOod of Eleventh
street and the Avenue.
In the ARRAY, young man, residing on Thirteenth
street, between II and l. named John OUZely, was
shot in the knee About this time some of the 'sOl
id men" of the ward we're seen emerging from their
residences armed with muskes, as if the had some
notion Of going upon a cunning expedition The
Plug Uglies seemed to think the Second Ward ali
was getting insalubriOus, and they left in a body,
probably with the design OF regulating some Of
the other precincts.
Soon after the ARRAY at the Second Ward a de-
tachment Of the delectable Plug Uglies made their
appearance at the second precinct Of Fourth Ward,
and succeeded for while in driving away the voters
from the polls They we're finally driven off by the
officers Of the police in attendance, and they then
rallied under the cry of ''to the Seventh Ward l." in
which direction they proceeded.
At one o'clock, noisy crowd Of boys and men
passed up Pennsylvania avenue from the direction
Of the Fifth Ward, dragging after them small brass
gun. Where they got II we are unable TO say but it
was said they intended to use it to defend them.
selves. Immediately after two companies of the U.
S. Marines, commanded by Captain Tyler, went to
the City Hail. and reported ready for service to the
Mayor
THE BLOODY END.
Shortly after l o'clock, P. NJ, the Marines 1.-TWO
companies, 10 men in ALL arrived on the ground,
first precinct of the fourth ward under charge OF
Captain Tyler, and accompanied by Mayor Magraud-
er. The opposition had, in the meantime, procured
a brass cannon and stationed it at the Northern
market house, which they made their headquarters.
After the Mayor had addressed the crowd, stating
that the soldiers brought there solely to main
tain he public peace Of the city which had been
fagranty violated, the Marines moved upon the
market-house to take possession of the cannon,
amidst every species of taunt and opprObrium end
ing finally in the pOssessOrs Of the cannon firing ps-
tolls at marines The latter, however, moved stead
lily on seized the cannon, and then due warning
having been given, replied to the pistol shots upon
them by vOley Of ball.
The Plug Uglies then scattered, firing shots as
they did so from behind corners.
After the smoke cleared away the terrible sight
was presented Of four five persons in the agOnies
of death, and several others fearfuly wounded.
The names Of those killed and wounded, so far as
we can learn as we go to press are
Aston, grocery keeper, shot through the head,