Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-20
The Radical Loyal League Arms
Thrown Overheard and
Consigned to Catfish
and Turtles.
Full and Highly Interesting Ac-
count Of the Affair.
The Whole Simply a Radical Plot
to Make Capital Against
the South.
Memphis Radicals in High Glee
Over the Result.
From the Memphis Avalanche. Oct. Ii.

1t is notorious fact that the four thou
sand stand of arms recently brought TO this
CITY and stored with Uomer & Richardson,
until transportation TO Arkansas could be
provided, were obtained in the North
through the influence of Governor Fletcher,
of Missouri, and United States Senator
Yates, of Illinois; that they were designed
for the use of the negro Loyal Leagues
of Arkansas, against the whites, to the ex-
tent of bloodshed, il deemed necessary and
that they arrived here in charge of one
VIM. H. Hodges, Arkansas Penitentiary
Contractor, and one of the most infamous
carpet-baggers of that State. 1t is also a
matter of notoriety that the pretense ofthe
arms having been ordered by the State
government of Arkansas, is falsehood, it
being matter of record that no appropria-
ton has been made for that purpose. 1t is
equally Well-known that the Secretary of
War has refused to distribute any OF the
arms appropriated by Congress TO the
Southern States. And it is equally we'll
known that Hodges, who accompanied
these arms 10 Memphis, is the agent OF the
Radical Executive Committee at Little
Rock, and prominent leader in the Loyal
Leagues.
One after another, the commanders of the
White and Arkansas river packets refused
10 be the mediums of introducing into Ar
kansas arms and ammunition, to be placed
in the hands of ignorant negroes for use
against the white people of the State, and
The Inauguration Of a reign of terror. 1t
was simply impossible to secure their
transportation 60 the Memphis and Little
Rock Radical leaders counseled together
as to the most effectual method of turning
the affair into capital against Southern
white men, and for use in behalf OF RadI-
calism North. The little steamer Hesper,
a worthless, unseaworthy tub, about as
large az an old fashioned cooking stove,
was provided with Radical captain and
Radical crew at Little Rock, and sent here
for the arms. The commander noto-
rious blovialing Radical named Houston
no sooner reached the Memphis wharf
than, in accordance with the programme,
he RECALLED every crowd surrounding him
with a recital Of what be intended TO do.
He proposed taking those arms to Little
Rock if he had to fight all the "Rebels" in
the South. Sulphur and birthstone emitted
from his mouth in huge jets, and his won
dering auditors were astonishea that Gen.
Grant didn't engage, in lieu Of his armies
during the war, this valiant fellow, who, It
as gifted in battle "a in talking fight"
could have CLEANED OUT the South IN a
iiffy. :, ;,
The Radical deliberations had resulted
in determination to have the arms de-
| stroyed by violence, and the affair tele-
| graphed throughout the North az 'hu-
Klux outrage" of stunning proportions. A
| few sensational lies were alone necessary TO
put the matter in shape for the Northern
Radical press. 1t might not be without ef'
feet in November.
Thursday afternoon the Hesper left with
the arms, and on the same night she was
boarded and stripped of her cargo. The
programme was carried out to the letter,
and il the masks had been removed from
the faces of the hundred men who pitched
the guns overheard, more than one Radical
leader would doubtless have been recog'
nized. Many were reported missing from
the city between P II. Thursday and sun
rise yesterday.
For two or three days certain leading
Radicals, who were known to be interest
ing themselves in the matter of these arms
had scarcely been able to restrain them
selves. Their faces beamed with satisfac
| lion. and one could almost read therein
"What a big thing we could tell you if VT
wanted tor II was evident that something
was ''in the wind" as il Is now fact tina
a "hig thing" occurred. Throughout yes
terday-even before the news of the cap
ture arrived-Radicalism was all smile
and smirks Little groups met in door
ways, and in the rain, under lamp-postf
pressed each others hands knowingly
poked each other in the ribs festiyely, AM
chuckled and whispered and winked a
each other as merrily as brigands gloatln
over prize Of diamonds and rubies. Tn
fate of Hodges consignment could be Plalr
ly read in their manners and no one WIN
Jaw them required any further light on tn
subject. Toward nightfall the Joyous lee
| ing found expression in words, and Nv
high officials rubbed their hands gleefully
| shrugged their shoulders knowingly, an
| said the affair was worth hundred thous
and votes in the North. These votes al
|. needed, and this explains the whole matte
The following particulars of the seIzul
, were obtained, in substance, from Captal
, John Ford, of the impressed ting Nett
? Jones:
About five o'clock Thursday aflernos
the tug Nettie Jones, Captain John For
: left the wharf for Fort Pickering, hsvlT
i a barge in tow, and intending TO retul
with lumber. The tug reached its destln
= lion. and landed at about half-past n
o'clock. No one was in sight, but Z
t line had scarcely been made fast" b
t fore the spot was covered with men, all
q securely masked as to be unrecognizab
If They were probably a hundred in nul
- Der. and had evidently been concealed
# some time under the bluff. Had tn
it sprung out of the earth their appearan
= before the startled crew could hardly ha
. heen more sudden. Without speaking
!. word. they quickly boarded the tug, to
~ possession of the pilot. house and eDgl
- room, and ordered Captain Ford to INN
diately start down the river, adding,
way of an incentive to prOmptness, Il
; somebody might be hurt in the event OF
- refusal.
re As soon as Captain Ford could su
u GENTLY recover from his fright to. dec
20 whether mis- unbidden guests we're hi
l. dred or a thousand in number, and whetl
nc the height of ordinary men or tall
3, church steeples, he cOmprehended thtt
sistance was out of the question.
u cnrdingly he ordered one of the crew
ct cast Of The line, and in few moments
ry tug was rapidly steamiug for Presidel
ID. Island chute. Upon taking possessI
r. the new commanders kept yigllant
lis on the crew, not allowing any one OF ii
IL to leave his post for moment. The
ce gineef was not permitted to oil his
IN Chinery, the mysterious passengers
for IDENTIFY fearing he might suddenly put 1t
,ro of repair.
- The head of the ting was held stea'
NV down the river until approaching
ia' Island, twenty-five miles below, near
les Arkansas shore. This was between y
are s o'clock, and. Captain Ford was oTdt
lite TO run his tug alongside the little stea
he Hesper, which left the city during the
by ernoon with the cargo Of Radical
err tfor Arkansas, and was tied up, wood
30 During the trip, the leaders of this
ng terious party informed Ford that thel
tendended overhauling the HespeT,
the Destroying the arms, but that strict oil
be had been issued to the men TO harm I
his and respect all other property.
,nt In obedience to orders, Captain
rau the tug alongside. This wac no sc