New-York tribune., 1868-11-02
TFNNFSSFF.

HALF A MILLION MEN BEHIND THE MASKED
PIRATES AND AssAssISs OF TENNESSEE,
ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, AND TEXAs-GEN.
FORREST TIE LEADER OF THE MEMPHIS
PIRACY-EXPOsURE OF THE DESPERADOES
PLANs-THEIR MoNSTK OUs oUTRAGEs.
IFROM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
MEMPHIS, Oct. 2S.-Y on say that many object to
the nee Of tho phrase "Tho Now Rebellion" To Unonls;s
South II but expresses the actual condition OF affairs
seen I'm every day life What else the organization
and purposes Of thc KgKluX Klani Acknowledge that in
s ncipency designed solely political organ
zaton 10 control the Southern elections, how such
purposes manifested In mldstf by evident deter
minaton through the agency OF the clan 10 carry such
elections by any means even to the assassination OF prom
incnt Republican leaders the numbering oyerawng Of
tho leading blacks aud the consequent intimidation Of
tho colocd voters large. This policy 80 successfully
adopted IN Mississippi, and subsequently introduced
throughout the SOUTH is certainly but rebellion, aud can
not be ftngy expressed by any other term Those who
object TO the phrase probably s profess 10 code IN the
peaceful professions OF such conspicuous Southern leaders
rs Hampton, lin, Forrest and Others and reject the
adm OF Forrest IN regard 20 the uklux orgauiza
ton In Tennessee said Forrest. there are over
5000 in al the Southern states there about $4,000
men" Here the of action with the light about
u.s. led 10 the painful conviction that, rendered
desperate by tic seeming certainty OF defeat aud eonse'
qucut overthrow OF their hopes for the accomplishment OF
their lnccudary designs through the ballot the insane
leaders Of the fire eating element are preparing, despe
rate 10 It may se, light the flames OF civil
war
We know tlat the Northern mind il slow 20 believe
this posslbe S. In the beginning OF the Old Rebellion
nothing but certainty Of actual war could awaken the
public mind o the dangers of the situation Here, In the
south here the Rebel leaders Intense hatred OF the
Government seen u all IL ncudish malguity, the fact
that such Leaders have to-day thoroughly organized force
o. over s0ool men at their control and constantly
fomentng strife and bloodshod conclusive OF itself
This organization so FAR from showing amy evidence OF
dis-cupe1rcut. IS fast Increasing ln numbers aud ehic
crr 'ov, r the name of common scnre me pirates
aud as- d. rvt iHt'i to'viu'ni Mh'' - ''c ih'Ah
t, such secret armed. organized, aud disciplined
force throughout the southi Acting under advice Of
Northern Democratic leaders, as Is well known, our
Southern advisers end c0uuscors have for some time
strven 10 hold check the reckless lawless element
under their control Dcspe a thls however, IL has been
pap.bc that 80 far from abatug oJ or title In their
prcparatlous tie Rebel leaders have been thorough
y and constantly at work In the organza-
ton and perfection Of the force in their hands
In minds Of ols'lng Unionists there has Tor long
time been no doubt that Gen Forrest himself "a the re-
cogniged military leader, and Gen. Pike the counselor
and controller OF o. political movements. throughout the
South and Wc.t In Tennessee there are over $4,000,
and In n the Southern states there are about $4,000
mon" IEact porder 10 burn IN kHO'g neg'oes m
teud 70 tif the Badicdb" " Not Radical IN Memphis
but Is watched ihcy and their houses are pckcted and
n CASE OF disturbance not damned one OF them VIII es
cane alive They and Mr. Brownlow's government
win he srept out Of existence" Says the one, Ai7H ana
,,,-e" and DeGancs 10 tie lao says the other That
Gen Forrest himself commanded the expedition In per
son that committed the late lpratca destruction OF the
Arkansas arms Is now the general belief OF Memphis Ke-
ubcans There are several reasons for tins j. lie IL
recognized as the leader OF the Organization, PROOF
.pel,,.ut Of winch - found IN his own adnls-
siops In his famous "Dig alk." some time ago.
u al IN lp
,iop po man from his wellnown characteristics, would
he 40 likely to called upon TO lead In such desperate
venture as Gen " b. Forrest s. IL has been reported
that the day before the outrage he rdhc0 70 una te
hundred desperate Dicn" g. The description given by the
crew of the steamer Hesper OF the Kuklu1 leader on
tro tuy l. es follows: "a very largo wedressed man,
very broad shouIdered little STOPPING as he walked.
and having a sharp quick voice" Now give this de
scripton to any man IN Memphis and he VIII at once
select Gen. Forrest The command OF tho lana forces on
the Tennessee eide, out In considerable numbers Is
scrbed by the knowing TO no less petsonage han
Mr. J. J. DE Bose, reputed AdJutantGeneral OF the
organization for West Tennessee. This gentleman VIII
hardly deny that on the evening OF the
ntrocv he went from his room with two
reyolyers buckled about his waist and revolving
carue wrapped up In blanket, his ayoWed purpose PC
@ 70 90 out OF town by the midnight train lie Is next
heard Of riding of town in the direction OF the scene
clothes ana boots are covered with mud as though he
had been out a night campaigil When driven from
tain Houston aud his brother fled up the bank on tno
Arkansas shore But the Captain sently returned 70
the top Of the bank aud, hidden Dehhu Jog, NnOhtu
the proceedings Of Gen Forests outlaws Several eases
OF champagne having been found on board several OF the
robbers became unruy aud less than twelve or fteen
band got their masks from OF their faces evidently
caring nothing for the OF the tug Here the tug snd
steamer renamed some time before nhuhus
ont into the stream and much OF the conversation on
board was heard by the brothers Houston on the bank
EOagts were freely made that their organization was over
500 strong und that they were able to get their rights
aud intended Ia do sOby force, IL need be- Iha they
/ I.aI nNO
rsrs Ony waiting he signal 10 be given 10 km OF ana
d,rs OIL et,rg damned Radical Ia heir midst These ana
OF similar threats were heard from Gen fOriest
Ku KuX prncs before hauling out In tho stream anu
commencing destruction OF the Thnt part OF tho
programme was TO murder the two brothers Houston
owners Of the little steamer, IA beyond doubt AIter
her return city both OF the brothers became aware
that their every move watched ana that tney Wco
followed from place 10 place by men evidently peht on
doing them personal injury II occasion ohercu inueeu
the CAPTAIN privately warned by several Ola elAcns
with whom he had been acquainted for years 20 10 ON s
guard every moment as they were tatsnoa sn o , '
He told by person thnt on ono oco"s'o wy
previous evening he surrounded by nVe perSoh ca
bent OIL HIS death II II could be eonpassed wou, t
detection 10 themselves All this time be Was h" tnas
messages and even letters passing between COY va, n
and himself known TO others ere icachlIR ms
thus proving secret ramihcaOns of the ofuer on o'o'
! hand. -, .o..t.,.
There is now little doubt that several hundred possibly
thousand OF the arms that were seized 80 ih o pu %
ing destroyed landed the AlbSle pHhntn' .D
below here, and thence teamed into tho country 10 @ ,
use OF our Tennessee Ku knk.' That thero nau 20 ~,
time been settled purpose OF arinhR oi sono w
Democratic organizations, 70 pc pepnuou 10 ,s
emergency that might arise" Is well known eoie o o
organizations OF kuklux proper IN our must he MY h @ ~
In addition 10 brace 0f revOyers, To DO aiheu
yolyDg carbneH, as the with the entire pa,y
lately boarding the tug. Many of the arms destined io
Arkansas added to those already IN ossebsoh VI
Some there arms we're found hands Of The Orleans NJ
J KaI ptGoOs" dgrpg ai reeit noA-IhD l"hV@"