The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-25

During the afternoon, also, the number
of arms seemed to have Increased
among the members of the Loyal
League, numbering perhaps ten mus
kets and few pistols, the number not
known. -A stlF hIsF
At haIf.past 8 the League marched to-
ward the public square, and the party
Of Conservatives, estimated at from %
to 80, apparently under command OF
Col. House, formerly of the rebel ar
my, took position under cover OF
Houses store. facing the square. AS an
indication of the feeling of the Conserv-
alive party about this time, the follow,
ing evidence is copied from the original
affidavit of Matilda Ann Fennell
saw the procession coming down the
street from the grove; l started to go up
and meet the procession; ] wanted to
let them know that the Rebel darkles
wanted to kill them; L heard L. God
sew. Frank johnson and Martin Boxley
say they were going to fight for their
own side-damn old Brownlow's mig
gers, they were going to have more oil
them doubled up on this corner than a
little. then went up to meet the pro.
cessIon in order to tell them to be well
armed, for my husband was in It. They
would not let me go up, and was stop
ped at Houses corner by l.. Godsey,
Frank johnson and Martin Boxley,
who had muskets in their hands. They
told me to go on back, or they would
nut some Of the loads In me. I went
back" .-7 -.
Just at this time any efficient officer
of the law could have intertered and
prevented bloodshed.' All that was
necessary was for either party to dis
perse and go to their homes, or refrain
from firing. The acting Mayor of the
city was we'll aware that a conflict was
imminent; in fact, he stated to me that
he knew It would take place, but made
no effort to prevent the outbreak.
There was no police force in the town
no indication whatever of civil gov
ernment. 1t seems that the town had
been given up willingly to the mob.
The Colored League seemed fully to ex-
pect conflict on reaching Houses
store. They had probably been in
formed of the assembling of the armed
party of Conservatives. They marched
on, however. past this party of Conser-
vRtives at Houses corner, with, per-
haps, ten armed men in the procession.
In the meantime, Colonel House and
his party had been notified by A. N. q.
Williams, a prominent member of the
Cotored League, that they were merely
marching into the square for the pur-
pose OF breaking ranks and dispensing
10 their homes. When the rear of the
procession had come about opposite the
left flank of Houses party, a white
man advanced from the Conservative
party ten or fifteen steps towards the
Colored League, and fired two pistol
shots toward the League. There is now
conflict of testimony as to the party
which fired the first volley succeeding
these pistol shots. Many witnesses tes-
titled that these pistol shots were fol-
lowed by a volley from the entire Con-
servative party, and that that was re-
turned by the armed men of the Colored
League; while others testify that imme-
diately on the firing OF the pistol shots,
the armed men of the League faced
about and fired volley, killing
Michael II. Cody, Jr., and wounding
ak white and several black ConservH-
tives. No doubt that the firing of the
Colored League was very deliberate and
accurate. AS nearly as many Conserva-
tiyes were killed or wounded as there
were arms in the hands of the colored
men, and 1t was evident that none of
the arms were reloaded and fired a
second time. It is worthy of remark
that of the twenty-seven colored men
whose wounds were dressed by DR.. d.
B. Cliffe, OF Franklin, all were wounded
| in the back, or back part of the limbs,
showing clearly that they were fired
upon from the rear and tianks by the
| Conservative party, while march
ing in procession, or after they
had broken ranks and were run
ming away from the Conservative
mob, There was nothing in the con-
duct of the League, or any member of
| it, to justify this murderous assault.
| There is no doubt that some of the
banners borne in the procession were in
bad taste. For example, one was in
scribed, "Remember Fort Pillow when
you go to the Polls.n On another, "The
Radicals build school-houses and the
Conservatives burn them" These in
scriptions were, doubtless, the work OF
some of their white friends. The pro-
ces sion of colorRd men marched under
the flag of the United States, and the
man who carried the flag was wounded
in the head. The testimony, does not
show that there was any particular OBJ
lection 10 the banners carried on the 9th (,
though, at meeting some days previ-
ously, the Sheriff had forbidden the
League to take their banners into the
Court House, where Republican
meeting was to be held. The flag of the
United States was one of these banners.
ON the 9Th inst. 1 visited Franklin,
and found the town quiet, and the peo-
pie apparently very sorry the atfray
| had occurred. All parties, and espe-
cIally the white Conservatives, seemed
very solicitous that a company of Uni
ted States troops sent there by Gen.
Duncan on the 9TH should remain.
| The Circuit Court met on the Sth, at 10
o'clock, and there was consequently no
occasion for the military authorities to
| interfere, further than to prevent an
other outbreak. The courts OF William
son county have heretofore been noted
for their impartial administration of
justice where cOlored people were con-
cerned. 1t Is perfectly safe, in this case,
to leave the whole matter of the Frank
lin affray to the action of the Circuit
Court OF Williamson county, believing
that the Judge and District Attorney
will do all that should be done to bring
the guilty to justice. / am informed
that the wounded have been well pro-
vided for, and that Conservatives, as
we'll as Radicals, contributed provis-
ions and money toward providing for
I am, General, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, a1r.A.
w. P. CARLIN, Brevet Maj. Gen.,
| Assistant Commissioner.
AT TAppleton's, says the Found Table,
may be seen very curious and inter-
esting relic OF pre-revolutionary times