The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-05-11
Col. SiraI Jht's Report Of the Clay Coun-
ty Disturbance.
ISpiASAFoLIs, Nay 4, 1854


To Is. Err sV-ncy Cor. o. p. Norton:
DKAR SaR-On Monday last. 4 inritei TO SPEAK
at ..ing to be held at Brazil yesterday at one
O'Clock p r. for tie purpose Of raising recruits for
One anl-e3 Days Service. Waen arrived AZ the
depot, vas informed thai there was . party Of men
.nqed At school house, some four miles North
east Of the town. xss had aroved discrimination to
attack the citizen. Of that place. g.Es tie subject
but little attention first, but after conversng with
several the citizens concluded TO visit the desisgna
ted place. with Lieut.. Stunkard for the purpose OF
ascertainsng the truth Of the case We had proceeded
abou, three miles on the National road east of the
the town, when come to cross road at which place
were cengrsgated from twelve 10 fifteen men. each
of whom was armed either with . ride or shot gun
loaded and capped. We stopped and entered into
conversation with them concerning the state of the
Country and the object of their meeting We had
been there but few minutes when a large party came
up, and in the of hour and half some three
hundred men had copyrighted who were armed as be-
fore described-m&ny OF them Lad reFoiscrs visible
upon their persons in addition TO the guns above
ferred to- talked with them freely to their object
in congrerating and discovered that they fully
organized into a military comnraad. Many of them
made very vioen: threats against the people of Brazil
AL with whom, talked expressed the most bitter con-
tempt and hostility toward the State and National
both. After conversing with then freely, became
fully convinced that they assembled fer
BILE purposes In the meantime had ordered two
companies of the Indiana Legion near Brazil) to be
assembled as possible. They were mostly in
town, and responded promptly. then informed the
scnabe armed mob, that if they did not disperse
at once would give them opportunity Of testing
the sincerity of their declarations by giving them bat
tie without delay; and, Notwithstanding numerous
violent eearations the CONTRARY when ordered thu
Legion brought up, they began to dsperse, travelling
the several roads, and in few moments had all lett,
Lieutenant Standard and myself together with five
six Union men, who had collected there during the
conversation, then returned TO town, and on
riva found the people in state of e1ctement. in
consequence of another party numbering forty OF
fifty men, similarly armed, which was preaching the
town on the National road from the West. The citizens
had already delegation requesting them to leave
their arms behind, hoping thus TO avoid bloodshed
The pretended commander had refused to comply and
expressed determination to do as he pleased but in
the meantime had halted about half mile from town.
at once ordered company OF the Legion forward
on the road in that direction, and proceeded inmed
atey to ascertain If possible the determination of the
hostii. party On arriving where they were inqui
=, d for the officer in command, and after short
rsaton with them, ascertained that he aexpec
to form innctiDn Win the oEef party At BRAZIL
sh DIV ing complete concert of action. told him and
hiss party liberty go either TO the town
ret home, whichever they fit, but that mill
tar display would be allowed unless they joined the
glar miiitar and that their presence
we looked upon by the people hostile demonstra
tic nconsequently they must disperse at once, or
SD ould the necessary to accomplish this
OBJ ect at the earliest possible moment At first they
med inclined to stand their ground. Just before the
co npany Iordered up arrived they left hurredy.
Thus ended what seemed at one time to be more
sci .ious difficulty than words. These people
Sc, ,med to well understand each other, though the
Gil liens of Clay county knew but small number of
them. They were mostly on horseback. Some were
recognized who lived twenty-five miles away.
asked many of them their Names but all refused to
give their the of their comrades; though
of them recognized and expect soon to be
able furnish you with the of several of the
ers and violent parties belonging the gang
,ill here remark that they very hard locking
set of men; not educatei, gentlemanly appearing
m N among them, and it is my opinion that unless
sol OF their leaders speedily arrested may
10, any day for startling news from Clay county. !
Most respectfully your obedient servant,
A. d SrREIGHr,
Colonel 81 Indian Vols