Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-15


srosa Volunteers quickly rallied to the
cry OF ITO arms" and about my men
started for the dark and bloody ground.
At the earnest and of repeated solicit
tation Of our citizens, Mr.. Heating, the
United States Deputy Marshal, made a
requisition upon the military comman-
der Of this post for troops. Before the
soldiers had crossed the river, courier
from the front brought the startling news
that the fight had begun. The volun.
teers from Shreveport sent forward
scouts, who reported that the negroes at
| Smedley's, one mile below the place
where the murders were COM
mitted, were loading their guns
and preparing for action. Colonel
Jack Wharton, with few others,
rode up to them and assured them that
they would not be disturbed. but ordered
them TO lay down their arms. In answer
to this request the negroes began to fire,
which was returned, when the negroes
beat a hasty retreat Ed. Sturgess'
clothes were torn by shot, and his horse
was badly wounded About twenty-five
shots were fred, but no one was killed.
One negro was severely wounded, and
has since died; the balance escaped.
The plantations along the river were
visited, but, strange to say, oil the me-
groes had deserted their cabins and taken
to the woods. They seemed determined
10 shield the murderers Of Brownlee and
Ogden.
The party from Arkansas did not re-
turn home as 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 retaliated terribly on the
negroes wherever they could find them.
On Thursday morning five negroes
we're shot by the Arkansians at Shady
Grove, although the proprietor vouched
for their good character, and had prom
ised them protection. Many Of the party
from Shreveport were shocked and of
Tended BY this unnecessary cruelty, and
returned home. The citizens of Shreve-
port volunteered their services to arrest
the murderers, and to protect all who
we're peacesbly disposed. They depre-
cate all acts Of brutality, whether COM
mitted by whites or blacks.
On Thursday evening, few miles
above Benton, in Bossier parish, Mr.. W.
II. Thompson was shot by some negroes
from the Dickson plantation. These
negroes had not been molested, as they
resided several miles from the locality
where the murders had been committed.
Mr.. Thomson had shipped cotton on the
same day from Carolina Bluffs, on the
Era No. s, and was riding down to Ben
ton, when he was shot through the hand,
but escaped. The case is undergoing
before the civil authorities
at Benton, and negro testimony has been
taken eliminating certain negroes on
ne of the Dickson plantations.
In conclusion, we will state that the
citizens of Bossier, aided by the civil and
military authorities, are doing all in their
power to restore quiet, and, we are glad
10 announce, with prospect of success.
We do hope that the bloody drama has at
asst closed
OF the occurrences in Shreveport, the ,
,ame paper says
On Wednesday night the negroes at the
arsenal, outside of the city limits, armed
themselves and put out pickets. These
measures were adopted, they assert, to
'epel an attack from our citizens. Mr..
Bryce, our chief of police, in company
With Mr.. Walker, was hailed this side of
he arsenal grounds, and then shot at.
The negro who turns our cylinder press
anne into the Office Thursday morning
nth marks of violence on his person.
fe stated that he had refused to obey ,
he orders of the so-called Captain
lick White, negro who lives at q
be arsenal, to arm himself and turn out; s
hat he was held and beaten that morn
ng for refusing to do SO. Writs were
ssued for the arrest of White and the I,
theirs. A preliminary examination be- :,
ore Justice Markham elected the leading :,
acts connected with the affair. White !.
cknowledged that they did arm them
elves for self.protection, and that he did A
boot his gun in the air to Brighten away
NO men the previous night. a
There was no ground for apprehension Il
n the part of the negroes, and these ideas
rere doubtless put into their thick skulls
, increase their hatred of the whites,
nd thus confirm them in the Radical f
nth. II