Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-10-17
The Street Fight at Knoxville Between
Mitchell and Fleming.

John Mitchell, the Irish patriot, and Elem
ing, the editor of the Knoxville Register,
was received by us some days since, with
the request that, as there was no Demo-
cratic paper in that city, we would give
the facts publicity through the Union aud
American, III order to correct any erroneous
statements that might go out prejudicial to
Mr.. Mitchell We have declined doing so
heretofore, not feeling authorized to give
publicity to matters of personal character,
about which there was likely to be conflict
ing statements. The Banner of yesterday
having copied from the Register Mr.. Fiem-
ing's statement of the facts, we have no
further hesitancy in giving place to this
communications with the remark that it
comes from a reliable and responsible source:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
F. c. DUNSINGToN, ESQ,
The Know-N Nothing papers here will en-
deavor, l have no doubt, to produce false
impression upon the public mind with refer
ence to an assault made upon Fleming, the
editor of the Register, by John Mitchell.
You have seen, suppose, the articles re-
Gently appearing in the Louisville Journal,
in which Mitchell is charged with having
effected his escape from Van Diemans Land
by breach of parole. One of those arti-
cles, during Mitchel's recent absence in
New York, was republished in the Register,
accompanied by some impertinent comments.
Day before yesterday, he met with Fleming
and approaching him Ono friend of Mitchel's
hauing tie slightest intimation of his inten-
tions in the premises said to him in the
hearing of sundry persons: "Mr. Fleming,
sir, in my absence, you published sour
rilous and impertinent article respecting
myself in your paper" Here Fleming in
terrupted him by saying "Scurrilous p
Eyes, sir" said Mitchell, sscurrlous,
and it is in this ,eay that shall answer it y
and Immediately commenced Gaming him, a
dozen or more persons witnessing it. His
cane was broken upon Fleming, the latter
making such resistance and parrying the
blow as best he could, though inaicting no
injury whatever upon Mitchell. They were
separated by bystanlcrs, an officer Selling
Mitchell. In ten or fifteen minutes after
wards Mitchell stepped into the Lamar with
friend, and remained there perhaps a
half hour Fleming's friends became quite
anxious to know why he did not appear upon
Che street, that F might repair the injury
ne had suffered Mitchell not being armed
in the FIRST melee provided himself with suck
Weapons as he thought necessary to his de-
fence, and appeared upon the street, though
told that there were Know Nothings around
and intending to mob him. He passed by
Fleming, who accosted him, when Mitchell
nalted and said. Well sir what do you want q
At this time Fleming had half dozen or
more of his friends about him, ali of whom
were armed. Fleming said. "Yoa made d
dastardiy attack upon me when was not
prepareded for it, and | now pronounce you
a coward" "Well," said Mitchell, "words
are nothing aow, what will you do" Flom-
ing thcrcupon repeated his donzac;at;on.
To which Mitchell replied, ''You are 'ehipt
man; what are you going to do ~ At the
same time inviting those who stood about
not to interpose, that he and Mr. Fleming
might settle, as it was personal difficulty
between them. F. made not the slightest
demonstration of an intention TO make an
attack, and when Mitchell pronounced him
"a "whipt man. and that words were moth
ing then, he (M.) turned and started on,
when one Of F's Know Nothing friends
spoke ont, "You sneak off, do your" NJ
turned, stepped back and inquired "Who
said sneak ~ whcreupon he who spoke
thrust his face vicously at NJ and said 81
did sir" Instantly NJ. though surrounded
by the whole pack, with their pistols and
revolvers, slapped him in the face with such
force as came near prostrating him. As he
recovered from the blow he drew a pistol
and snapped it at Mitchell, the cap expio-
ding only Mitchell Immediately drew his
pistol and was about to fire upon him, when
some one told him not to fire, that the fell
low was drunk, whereupon Mitchell put up
his pistol saying, Il will not shoot drunk
en- man."
As he stood there casting a glanc, aret
at one AMI then at another of them, neither
f. nor any one Of them dared further to
mnHst him. Whether any one Of them
will yet do so remains to he seen. However,
Yesterday he was upon the streets. and no
further assault was made.
! have cn1eavored to give you narra-
tive of the occurrence as it TRANSFERRED, and
/ hope you will take such notice of it as
will countcrac any false impression that |
am SIRE will be attempted to be made by
the know-Nothing press here, there being.
as you know. no other here now 1t is
deemed a great offence here that Mitchell
should dare, in the midst of so large ma
iority of Know-N othings, to edit paper,
and | have no doubt but that everything
that can be will be done here to impair the
influence of the paper, but it will be to no
purpose.