The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-10
TIE WAR OF RACES.
The Disturbances and Murders In
Bossier Parish.
[vrom TIE Shreveport Gazette. October


A thousand conflicting reports of the horrible
assaseinations in Bossier parish have been circu.
lated far and wide. To correct erroneous reports
and give our readers plain, unvarnished history
Of hese revolving acts 10 the object Of this article.
The apprehension so long entertained that the two
races would eventually make war upon each
other, has been changed to q horrid reality.
We present the following statement of all the
facts We have obtained connected with the dis
turbances and murders which have occurred in
Bossier parish during the past week:
On Sunday morning Mr.. Elisha Gibson, with
several of his peighbors from Columbia county
Arkansas, were returning home from Shreveport.
They had sold their cotton and made their pur-
chases. but still retained several hundred dollars,
which were in the hands of Mr.. Gibson. This
party stopped at the Shady Grove plantation on
Red River, eight miles above this place, and pur.
chased corn. While there q pistol was fred. 1t
is not proven that the pistol was fired at any one.
Gibson asserts that it was an accident, while the
negroes on the place declare that he shot at one
Of them. At any rate nobody was hurt.
When the party left q number of negroes fol-
loved them and arrested Gibson. No resistance
was made, as the whites we're unsrmed and I'M
prepared to defend themselves. The negroes re.
turned to Shady Grove with their prisoner, and
for safe keeping he was chained by the neck to
tree. Mr.. Brownlee, DR.. Vance and Mr.. Byrne. of
our city, advised the negroes to release Gibson,
assuring them that he was worthy citizen of
Arkansas. Failing In this, Mr.. Brownlee went to
Benton and secured the assistance Of several citi-
zens who came down and rescued Gibson from
the Infatuated barbarians. Gibson then informed
them that he had been robbed of all his money,
his hat and coat.
There was an interval Of two days. a Iull which
preceded terrible storm OF passion. On Wed.
Desday morning before daylight, party of about
thirty men, said to be from Arkansas, surrounded
the negro quarters at Shady Grove and demanded
the surrender of the guilty parties. fight en-
tued IN which one negro was killed and three
wounded. Five negroes charged with stealing
the money were taken in the direction of Arkan.
sas. Thus ended the first bloody tragedy.
On the same morning Wednesday, number Of
negroes from adjoining plantations posted them.
selves along the road near Mr.. Brownlee's, and
when the latter left the residence of Mr.. Saggus
bis father in.law, in company with Mr.. Francis
Ogden. they surrounded them. and then deliber.
ately shot them down. Mr.. Baer, who was pres
emit protested against the assassination of these
young men, but the negroes stated that they had
rescued Gibson from them, for which crime they
must be killed. Bird shot were used, mixed with
few buck shot, and these white men we're liter.
ally filed with lead. Neither of them were killed
instantly, but Mr.. Ogden died 10 q few hours and
Mr. Brownlee is in a critical condition. The ne
groes having 6red by plattoons upon these help
lees men, left them in the sgonies of death, as
they supposed, and walked of quietly as if they
had obeyed a military order.
When the news reached our city il produced the
widest excitement for the safety of white fami-
lies in the neighborhood, who were outnupbered
tcu W oIC ny t0t ucKTotns NOluutttIb QUICKLY
rallied to the cry" to arms.r and about fifty men
started for the dark and bloody ground.
At the earnest and oft repeated solicitation of
our citizens, Mr.. Heating, the United States dep
uty marshal, made requisition upon the military
commander of this post for troops. Before the
soldiers crossed the river courier from the front
brought the startling news that the fight had be-
gun. The volunteers from Shreveport sent fr-
ward scouts, who reported tkat the negfoes at
SMeoeyN one mile below the place where the
"srders were committed, were loading their guns
and preparing for action. Col. Jack Wharton,
them that they would not be disturbed. but or.
dered them to lay down their arms. 10 answer to
this request the negroes began to fire, which was
when the negroes beat hasty retreat
Ed. Sturgesss clothes were torn by shot, and his
Horse was badly wounded. About twenty-five
sb OTIS we're fired but no one was killed. One ne
gro was severely wounded, and has since died, the
balance escaped.
The plantations along the river were visited. but
strange to say all the negroes had deserted their
cabins and taken to the woods. They seem de.
ermEed to shield the murderers of Brownlee and
Ogden.
The party from Arkansas did not return home
IS was expected, but halted at Benton until they
could learn the result of their raid on Shady
Grove. They were enraged by the murder of
Brownlee and Ogden, and have retalisted terribly
On the negroes wherever they can find them.
On Thursday morning five negroes were shot by
he Arkansians at Shady Grove, although the pro-
prietor voucbed for their good character. and had
Ps0missd them PIOtection. Many of she party
rom Shreveport were shocked and offended by
his unnece ssary cruelty, and returned home. sThe
citizens of Shreveport volunteered their services
10 arrest the murderers and to protect all who
we're peaceably disposed. They deprecste all
acts of brutality, whether committed by whites or
blacks.
On Thursday evening, few miles above Ben
on, In Bossier parish, Mr.. W. II. Thompson was
hot by some negroes from the Dixon plantation.
These negroes had not been molested. as they re.
ided several miles from the locality where the |
nurdtrs had been committed. Mr.. Thompson had |
hipped cotton the same day. from Carolina Bluffs |
IN the Ers'No, s, and was riding down to Benton, |
when he was shot through the hand-but escaped. |
The case Is undergoing investigation before the |
vil authorities at Benton, and negro testimony |
las been taken, eliminating certain negroes on |
me of the Dickson plantations.
In conclusion we will state that the citizens Of |
Sossier, aided by the civil authorities. are doing
II in their power to restore quiet, and we are |
lad to announce. with prospect of success. We |
10 hope that the bloody drama has at last closed.
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