Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-18
THE RADICAL MEETING.

jealous eye.
THE RADICAL MEETING.
On the 9th inst there was political meet
ing, which was addressed by Mr. John
Trimble and Mr.. Elliott, Republican candi-
dates for Congress and the State Legisla-
ture respectively. The meeting passed off
quietly and amicably.
APPEARANCE OF JOE WILLIAMS.
In the afternoon, a colored Conservative
named Joe Williams passed through the
town, and was prevailed upon to feturn
and speak.
THE RADICALS BREAK UP THE CONsERvA-
TIVE MEETING.
After he had spoken short time, the
Radicals became dissatisfied with his style,
and attempted to Withdraw from the meet
ing. A Mr.. j. c. Bliss, member of the
league, was assailed by Col. John House
and a party of men who seemed to be act
ing under his orders. He was struck by
this Col. House, and insulted by abusive
epithets. Mr.. Bliss then went among the
members Of the league in a very excited
condition, and attempted to get pistol
with which TO defend himself and to attack
Col. House The alteration between Bliss
and House. and the efforts of the Conserv-
atives to prevent the Radicals from leaving
the meeting, created great excitement
among the members of the league.
FIRING BY THE LEAGUE-A SALUTE +! =
They were marched away then, from the
point where the speaking occurred, and
fired few shots in the air as they moved
of, as a salute, as they claim.
THEY WONT GO HOME TILL MORNING.
Their white friends urged them to dis
perse and 60 to their homes, which they
seemed unwilling to do, feeling that their
liberties were infringed upon; however,
they were prevailed upon to march out OF
town to grove, where they were addressed
for an hour and half by Mr.. Elliott and
Mr.. Cliff, both of whom agaiu urged them
to disperse and go to their homes. They
seemed to object to this, for two reasons
the first was, that the Conservatives would
attribute their retirement to cowardice; the
second, that they had planned atorch-light
procession for the evening, which they
were unwilling to abandon; but they
finally decided to march back to the Public
Square, and there break ranks, and dispense
to their homes, giving up the plan of
torch-light procession.
PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE
This was about halfpast eight o'clock in
the evening. In the meantime, it was
manifest that a collision was expected, and
the Conservatives were preparing for it by
gathering arms and ammunition in the
store Of Col. John House, and perhaps
other places around the Square. During
the afternoon, also, the number of arms
seemed to have increased among the men,
bers of the Loyal League, numbering per-
haps ten muskets, and few pistols, the
number not known. At halfpast eight
the league marched toward the Public
Square, and the party of Conservatives, es-
timated at from twenty-five to thirty, APP
parentlv under command of Col. House,
formerly of the Rebel army, took position
under cover Of the wall of Houses store,
facing the Square.
As an indication of the feelings Of the
Conservative party about this line, the
following evidence is copied FROM the origi-
nal deposition of Matilda Ann Fennell:
WHAT MATILDA ANN SAYS.
81 saw the procession coming down the
street from the grove. | started to go up
and meet the procession. ! wanted to let
them know that the Rebel darkies wanted
to kill them | heard them say so, and l
told them it was wrong. ] heard l.. Cad
sew, Frank johnson aud Martin Boxley
say they were going to fight for their own
side-damn old Brownlow's niggers; they
were going 10 have more of them doubled
up on the corner than a little. / then went
up to meet the procession 10 tell them to
be we'll armed, for my husband was in 1t,
They would not let me go up, aud ! was
stopped at Houses corner by l.. Gadsey,
Frank johnson and Martin Boxlsy, who
had muskeis in their hands. They told
me to go on back, or they would put some
Of the loads in me. | went back"
10 ACTION BY THE AUTHORITIES.
Just at this time any efficient officer Of
the law could have interfered and prevented
/ bloodshed. All that was necessary, was fol-
| eitherparty TO dispeTse and goto their homes
or to refrain from firing. The acting Mayor
of the city was we'll aware that oonhict
was imminent in fact, he stated to NE thai
/ he knew il would take place, but made &C
enOTt 10 lAGFeNl the outbIedhs AuctN va
| no public force in the town-nO indica
tons. whatever, Of a civil government. 1
| seems that the town had been given up
willingly TO the mob.
THE LEAGUE REACH HOUSES srooE.
The colored league seemed fully to exPec
a conflict on reaching Houses store. The
had probably been informed of the Assem-
bling Of the armed party Of CONSERVATIVES
| They marched on, however, past this part,
| Of Conservatives at Houses store, with per
haps ten armed men at the head OF tn
| procession. In the meantime, Col. hons
and his party had been notified by A. \
c. Williams, a prominent member ol IA
colored league, that they we're msrei.
marching into the Square for the purpos
Of breaking ranks and dispensing 10 thei
homes.
SOME MAN" SHOOTS PISTOL SHOTS M
THE LEAGuE-CoNFLICTIN TESTIMONY
when the rear Of the procession ha
come about opposite the left flank
Houses party, white man advanced nor