The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-04

From the Memphis Bulletin, June 80
Frightful Tragedy I'm Arkansas-Da
ring Robbery and Murter-Five Men
shot Down I'm Cold BlOOd-A Planta
lion Devastated.
Information has Just reached Memphis
OF dreadful tragedy which was enacted
on the Tccumseh plantation, located in
Chico county, Arkansas, a few nights ago
which resulted in the death Of five men,
who were shot down in cold blood by a
band of maraudcrs. The plantation is
situated on the Mississippi about seven
miles above Grand Lake, and is owned by
Mr.. F.. =. Johnson, and is farmed by Bri-
gadicr-General Adams, formerly Of the
Eighty-frst Ohio Infantry, and Messrs. Van
Pelt and jerks, under the firm of Adams,
| Van Pelt l. Co. About l O'Clock on the
morning of Tuesday week, while the rain
was descending in torrents, and when
General Adams, Captain Johnson, Cap
tain Van Pelt, and Captain jerks, the
owners, were asleep in small dwell
ing on the plantation, the door sud-
denly opened, and four stalwart men,
with blackened faces and otherwise
disguised, rushed into the room, seized
the sleeping men as they lay in their beds,
and, with pistols pointed at their heads,
demanded their money. The inmates of
the house were powerless in the grasp of
these night maraudcrs, for in an instant
they had secured the pistols Of their vic
tins, which had been placed under their
pillows. Threats of instant death were
made if any resistance was offered, and
General Adams was compelled to rise from
his bed and point ont the trunk in which
the money belonging to the firm was de-
posted. In an instant the trunk was forced
open and three thousand dollars secured
by the robbers. This, however, did not
seem to satisfy them, as they Immediately
afterwards rifcd the pockets of the gentle
man above referred to, and took away
hands on. After making various threats
in case they were intertered with, two
left the cabin, the others remaining to pre-
vent the owners of the plantation from
quitting the cabin.
Meanwhile dreadful tragedy had been
enacted at the quarters of the men, situa-
ted short distance from the dwelling Oc-
cupied by the owners. Another party OF
the maraudcrs, in the darkness Of the night
and in the midst Of the storm of wind and
rain, had made an attack on the quarters.
Entering the stable in which the stock had
been placed for shelter, they in the most
wanton manner commenced killing the
poor animals by s999ssgHwtth confidence 10
thelr plst"' al them with
ord r,re, Per The firing had the effect OF
urousing the laborers on the plantation,
many of whom were cd soldiers, VINO
quickly armed themselves with muskets,
rcvolvcrs, and whatever arms they could
Law their hands on. The majority of them
did not take time to dress, but sailed out;
not knowing the meaning of the attack.
As they were marching towards the stable,
the marauders fired q volley, killing five OF
the laborcrs and wounding nine. The
others who had escaped, ten in number,
returned the fire, but in the darkness OF
the night it was impossible to ascertain
whether any Of the marauders were Killed
or wounded.
Overpowered by numbers, the laborcrs
retrcated to their quarters. The maral-
der., bent on destruction, then set the
stable on fire, and the engine and cotton
gin were completely destroyed. Having
completed their work of destruction, the
maraudcrs assembled their forces and left
the place.
When morning at length broke, the bo-
dies of the five men who were killed were
found lying about twenty yards from the
burnt stable, and arrangements were made
for their decent intcrment.
As they had only arrived at the planta-
ton couple of days before from Cmcin-
natl, our informant, Captain jerks, could
not give their names. After the burial OF
their comrades, the owners of the planta-
ton, accompanied by several of their hands,
followed the track of their aSSailants for
a considerable distance, and from the
tracks made in the mud it was computed
that the band was composed of thirty men
at least. The traces of blood were to he
seen all along the road which they ira
yelled, and it was quite evident that one
or more had been wounded by the volley
which the laborcrS fired in self-defencc.
A consultation then took place, and as it
was considered that they would bc unable
to cope with the murderers even II they
came up with them, the chase was given
up. Fearful of a second attack when night
came on, the men resolved to separate and
, make their way to the nearest canebrake
for security, trusting they would be able
to hail steamer passing up the Mississippi.
CAPTAIN jerks went out towards small
island in the river for the purpose OF walt
ing the arrival OF a steamer, but the watch
was long and weary one, and he was
almost famished for want OF subsistence
| He procured materials and lighted a hre,
and fawn being attracted by the light, he
succeeded in killing it with a club, and
after skinning the animal he roasted
portion Of it on the Goals. This was
his only subsistence for three long days
and nights. On the third day 8 steamer
hove in sight, and although unable to make
those on board observe the signals made,
he witnessed the embarkation OF several OF
his late comrades from the main land, a
considerable distance above the island III
which he had taken up his quarters. A
the water was beginning to rise, he pro-
cured a log and foated towards the main
land, which he reached in safety. After
wandering for couple of days in the cane
brake, getting q precarious subsistence by
fishing, he met Messrs. Johnson and Van
Pelt, and they continued together for hal
day, when they resolved to separate, and
Captain jerks was again thrown on fls
own resources. He was fortunate enough
in securing several cartridges and few
fish. and on these he lived till last Wed
nesday, when he observed steamer COM
ing up the river. He quickly made ar
rangements for hailing her, and soon had
the satisfaction of seeing that his signals
were observed. The steamer proved to Dc
the Liberty No. 2, and he was soon OF
board, and through the kindness OF the
officers he procured passage to Memphis