New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-29
Ckristmas Day In AIexandriA-Tho Negro
"Eusurrectiou.0
ldenee Of The N. Y. Tribune.


..pondenee Of Tn. N. Y. Tribune
ALEXANDRIA. Va. Dec. 81, 1865.
On Christmas day in this city considerable
rloing took place between colored and white parties
concerning which full evidence hiss been taken oy th
military authorities and the following points proved
viz;
lss That the disturbances were In every instance
commenced by white persona, and in nearly every In
stance by returned Rebel soldiers.
%. That tho disturbances we're premedtated. al the
white leaders therein having been previously armed
and determined on mischief
81. Tha. only the presence Of the Federal soldiers
FIVE companies 9th Regiment United ststes Veteran
volunteers-saved the city from an extensive riot.
The anius OF the white rioters Is shown by the fact
that they collected in strong parties at various points
during the morning of the 25th and allowed no coored
man to pass them without grossly insulting bin. and
beating hn cruelty in he made any reply. 1t is
also noticeable fact that nearly every one OF
those attacks made by many whesupon one biack.
Tle colored men having become convinced that they
were be made objects OF systematic outrage. armed
and prepared for the worst. At ii o'clock q. N. or
thereabout affairs had assumed very threatening as
pect one negro having been wantoDy Killed and two
others morally wounded and large number Of armed
negroes having collected. It seems. however that at
this time the attacks upon the negroes had been dis
continued, the perpetrators thereof having come
To the conclusion that such operations wonld
nortaie less of tho nature of sport than they
did earlier in the day. Indeed. 1t is extremely
prohabe that the tables would have been turned, aud
that the negroes would have taken bloody revenge for
the murder of their comrades had not Lieut.Col
Manuel Eyre 9th Regiment IT, S. Vet. Vols taken the
trembling town under his protection and ies loo'e ms
war dogs upon the rioters who slunk into their holes
on both sides wherever the soldiers could get at them
Many arrests were made. but those guilty or tie mar'
der, escaped and are still at erge. Order was soon
restored. Inter in the day. however, white msu
mad with rum and rage made an unproyoked attack
upon q coored man. and got bis skull cracked for LIS
pains .,, -
MANY Of tho ruflans who thus amused Themselves BY
trying their hands at their old sport Of walloping the
piegers eheered for JEFF Davis aud such as were OF
musical turn ited up their voices In singing Fare
" ell 10 the Stars and Strpes" and "the Bonnie Blue
Flag" Many of tnem ore now singing different song
being confined in the old slave gen. now converted into
4 military prison Gan instance OF poetic lusteel ana
made 10 confront witnesses testify ing to their msdee1s
Can't Nambrick, Provost Judge, Is investigating the
whole affair and it Is to le hoped that these guy des'
peradoes will be dealt with In sneh manner as 10 deter
their admirers from following their example. =.
There Is no dolbt that tho rioters were oil well
primel with liquor before th commenced operations
and those who look upon their oense as venal viii no
doubt endeayor 10 make IL appear mere drunken
escapade without any special Significance. III this be
the case however, one OF two conclusions must DC
reached either the Maine Law nus be rigidy enforced
in the States animated with snch hatred OF the coored
peope that will break forth In acts OF violence whom.
ever suiicen. number OF the Inhabitants get drunk
10 furnish the necessary force for combined atao Is
upon individual negroes. else troops must be mai-
sined IN those States in such strength 20 protect
the latter against tho very frequent attacks to which
they arc liable from this IL the Southern people
are allowed have their option OF the two alternatives
they will undoubtedly choose the latter.