The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-08

SAY Francisco, May 80. 1861.

SAN Francisco, May 80, 1861.
DEAR DAN: The enclosed extract from
letter written by highly respectable
gentleman Of ST. Louis to gentleman in
this city, gives graphic and thrilling ac-
count OF the terrible tragedy recently en-
acted in that city, in which large num-
Der of inoffensivc citizens fell sacrifice
to the bloody fury of savage and enrnged
soldiery. The writer was an eyewitness
Of the whole affair, and his veracity is un.
questionable. If the brutal battles i'm bo.
half Of the Union are all 10 be fought al.
ter the fashion Of the one herein described,
then the query arises, is tie Onion sc0rtA
hdring at such costy Is it not better for
us to have a peaceful separation and an
amIcablc adjustment and division of the
public liabilities and property, than to at
tempt to cement the shattered columns of
broken Union with the blood of inno-
cent and unolEcnding women and children?
This is but "bcginning of the end'-a
foretastc Of what is to come, if the insane
policy Of coercion be persisted in by the
Administration and its ill.advisers. Heca.
tombs Of human victims, oceans of human
blood, and countless millions of treasure
will not suffice the insntiate appetite Of the
demon Of civil war when once aroused.
AN ADVOCATE OF PEACE.
The Encampmcnt (Cnmp Jackson) had
been, as in years heretofore, q favOrite
visiting place Of our citizens. Ladies' and
gentlemen rcSorted to it in large numbers,
and OH the day in question. many visitors
were at the spot. The manner Of Lyons
moNcncnt drew other crowds mostly of
spectators. These crowds were numerous,
owing To the extraordinary nature Of the
reports. Among them were many women
and children. The spectators seeing the
turn things had taken, were indignant at
1t, and could not be prevented from ex.
pressing their anger by insulting speech.
II is said that some stones were thrown at
the volunteers; but many witnesses deny
that before the trngedy that followed, a
single stone was thrown. Itis pretended
that pistols we're fired into the ranks Of
the volunteers, and that some of them
were wounded aud some were killed. But
this allegation is more cInphatically denied
than the other, by numerous persons at
different points, who could not be mista.
ken. Nevertheless fire was opened by
large portion Of one Of the regiments,
lGerman) promiScuously into the crowd.
The fire from Minnie rifles, discharged
withont warning, took effect terribly. At
least forty three persons were killed and
wounded ; among them were several wO.
men and children.
From all | can gather, cannot but
deem this whole affair an atrOci0uS maSSa.
ere. There was no justification for the
discharge, without warning, into a crowd
Of men, women and children, most Of
them harmless spectators. The act was a
brutal outrage Of men reckless Of life
One or two instances Of this recklessneSs
have been described to me. In one Of
them. n gentlemen named Wright (or the
building firm Of Allen 4 Wright) was
seated on his horse, q lOoker.on, when an
officer of the volunteers approached him
with n pistol. Mr.. Wright, seeing the
menacing look Of the man, begged him to
consider that he was only spectator; hut
regardless Of this, the reckless villain dis
charged his pistol at him and killed him
as he Sat on his horse In another in
stance, another officer, sword in hand,
came out, cutting right aud left, also re.
gardless Of supplications and entreatics
from the defenseless and flying men and
women he seemed determined on Staying.
1t was scene Of confusion, terror and
bloodShcd, that perhaps ftly enough,
crowned the cnormitics Of the days pro.
ceedings.
The excitement that followed through
ont the city was intense all the evening
till late at night; crowds we're addressed
on the streets, aud the inhuman violence
Of the day bitterly denounced.
But the bloody drama had not vet clos
ed. On Saturday regiment Of the Home
Guard (German) Paraded through the
centre Of the city. On Walnut street
they were assaied by crowd, and immc.
dintcly fired, killing several persons, in
Guiding four Of their own men. OF the
last affair, from the best information, |
am satisfied that there was no prOvocation
bryond pistol shot fired by a boy, as the
rear Of the Guards were marching past
the Presbyterian Church, corner Of Fifth
and Walnut streets. Immediately mur.
derOus fire was opened, without other
prOvocatiOn. Many persons were passing
by at the time. being the afternoon.
send you a list Of the killed. The wonder
is, that the hutchcry was not greater.