Randolph County journal., 1861-02-28
STEALING THE L. =. ARMS AT
LITTLE ROCh.
The Governor Privy To the Then.
THE Difficulty Happily Settled

From the Little Rock Democrat. Psb. ..
On Tuesday morning city was thrown into
the highest state of excitement by the unexpect-
Cd arrival, on the steamer Frederick Notrcbe,
OF a body of troops fro.u Helena, with the avowed
p npos. of taking the L. 5. Arse at this place;
ana the arrival OF ADDITIONAL troops few hours
later, from Jefferson county, ON the hey West,
increased the excitement ten fold.
On W Wedneslay more troops, from Phillips,
Monroe and Prairie counties, continued to arrive,
and by dusk there was force of 400 men, well
armed with MIME rifles, quagtcred in the
town.
As our citizens were not apprised of any de-
termination to take the arsenal, and we're igno
rant that troops had been requested from dis
tance to take IT, their unexpected arrival pro-
duced quite sensation. The City Council Was
called, and on application to the Governor Was
informed that the troops we're not here by his
orders The troops themselves were of a differ
ent opinion, aud came here, they thought, at
his command; but whether SO not, they were
here TO take the arsenal, and they determind TO
accomplish that object before leaving. The
excitement consequently continued to increase
with every fresh arrival Of troops, until the citi
zens of the town met and made a formal request
of the Goveror to assume the responsibility OF
the NOV ement, in the name Of the State, to de
mand the arsenal OF the officer in command OF il.
1t wasbelieved that Captain Totten would sur
render to the authorities of the State, rather
than have collision, but would not to a body OF
men dsavowsd BY the Governor and acting in
violation of law, and that as the troops were de-
tcrmipd on taking the arsenal ut all hazards,
there would of course be collision, and prob
ably much sacrifice of life. Consequently, the
Governor consented to act; and Immediately y
made formal demand upon Capt. Totton. In
the meantime. he ordered the three regiments
of this and Sain counties to hold themselves IN
readiness for an emergency, and assembled and
armed as many of them at once as could be got
together on 80 short notice. Yesterday even
ing our streets presented quite military appear.
ance about one thousand being on parade under
arms.
! To the Governors demand for the surrender
of the arsenal, Capt. Tottcn asked until yester
day evening at , o'clock to consider, which wa.
/
made known his readiness to evacuste the arse
nal, and after the details were finally agreed up
on, il was arranged that. at IL o'clock to-day
the arsenal should bc delivered TO the authori
ties of the State.
Thus the difficulty has been happily settled
and, Ne far can learn, TO the entire satisfac
ton of the troops. The arsenal will be deliver
cd at IL o'clock to day, and we understand il il
the intention Of the Gov ernor to sustain ther,
permantly one of the companies of fifty mel
from Phillips county. BY the close Of the day
We suppose most of the troops will have dis
parsed to their homes, and our city will have re
/ lapsed into its usual quiet.
Capt. Tutten, we presume, will soon take hi
departure, and, as he has been regarded almos
/ in the light Of citizen, his father aud mother
having resided here for more than wen,y years
! he will carry with him our regrets for the neccs
sity that compels him to leave, and our warnes
wishes for his welfare. There is no truer South
ern man than Capt. Tottcn, and during his stay
here he won the respect, esteem and confidence
of every one