The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-22
From the Memphis Avalanche. j

From the Memphis Avalanche.l
Major E. N. Hill, of the Camden. Ark.) Demo
crat-himself q refugee from Cattersou's domin-
ioDs-snd who reached the city yesterday, has
furnished the folio wing. statement Of affairs in
the region cursed by the presence of Upham and
his band of robbers and murderers:
MEMPHIS, TENN, Dec. Is, 1868.
Editors Avdldnche-As have just arrived In
from Augusta, Arkansas, where the brigsnd Up
ham. with his thieying band OF marauders. calling
themselves the Arkansas militia. are robbipg aud
numbering the good. quiet citizens Of the State,
propose to give you short account OF the acts of
this so-called brgsdier general.
With about one hundred and fifty men, ragged
and dirty whelps whom be had gathered together,
he entered the town and proclaimed it to be under
then proceeded to rob and imprison. Startling
accounts Of his actions reached Little Rock, and
Gov. Clayton dispatched his adjutant general, one
Keyes Dsnforth, to learn the facts. The. Legisla-
ture called, by resolution, upon the governor to
report what was being done by the militia in
counties where martial Law was proclaimed, and
in response be submitted the report of Dsnforth,
which states that Upham had taken nothing but
what was necessary for his troops, (quartermsster
and commssary stores.) and was acting In man
ner the governor would approve.
The facts are that Upham and his men have
taken by force all kinds OF articles-dry goods,
clothing, hardware, silverware, and everything
they desired and could ind-Upham himself taking
One of his officers, calling for set OF casters,
was shown q common article and cursing the
merchant offering them, told him he wanted
better, and actually carried of silver-plated cas-
tors to grace bis quarters.
The men were dressed in the best clothes the
place could furnish, taking everything they fan
cied, and directing 1t to be charged to the State
In very few instances have vouchers been given
for nything. All the good horses and mules in
the country have been collected aud kept for the
militia to gallop about the country on their rob.
bling excursions.
About thirty citizens have been arrested and
confined In q brick building ia TO wn, many of them
not permitted to see their friends and all treated
with indgnity and insult. Col. Jelks, former
sheriff of the county, was arrested by company
of men under command OF horse thief named
Sharpe. who. with two other ruttians, brandished
cooked revolvers in the face Of this unarmed and
defenseless man, and threatened his life in the
presence of bis wife and daughter. They, after
robbng the family Of most of their portable pro-
perry, forced Col. Jelks to walk to Augusta
through mud and water In some places knee deep.
Adjutant General Danforth. In his truthful ~
report, states that Brigsdier General Upham,
hearing that he would be attacked, arrested some
Of the leading citizens and held them hostages,
and that others went out and parleyed with the
insurgents and prevailed on them TO dispense. One
, of those " no went outside of Uphsm's forti6ca.
. tons told me that he found ttrO men unarmed,
and that at bis request they dispersed; He re-
and one man wounded. The facts are, that forty
six OF the militia riding along the road say eleven
men 10 graveyard DuryfnB ucBru wuuaus tno
gallant forty six seeing they had no arms 10 sight
charged upon them, and. ~ these eleven ran on
to the woods. two of them fred at "ye gallant
meIish, y and they fed.
There has been no armed organization near
Upham, and he knows 1t; but | would not answer
for it that there will not be one and one that Will
sweep him and his fellow thieves from existence
II be continues bis course much longer. The peo'
pie Of Arkansas have borne unparalleled wrongs
with great patience, but point may De reached
| when forbearance will cease to be virtue then
woe be unto Uphsm and Clayton and men OF their
class; the vengeance of an outraged and insulted
people upon them will be terrible.
have given you Q plain unvarnished tale itl
| only merit ia its truth. From what give you
| you can judge Of the conduct OF these men.
| have only recounted some Of their acts. Many OF
the best citizens of Augusta have been ruined pc
| cuniarily, and all those who can do 90 have fed
| large numbers of them coming to this place on
| tie Commercial. Yours. respectfully,
Z. N. HILL, editor Camden Democrat
Especial Telesrsphc Correspondents Memphis Avalanche
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Dec. ls.-Late information
from Augusta reports that nearly all the citizeni
| have deserted the town. A number Of people have
collected together for the purpose of hs
| militia, who have possession Of the place. The
| citizens who have remained are looking hourly
/ for an attack. .rs
Additional particulars confirm the former re
| ports Of rspine and outrsges perpetrated BY thu
militia and establish the fact that no resistance
was ever offered TO the civil authorities.
Representatives Of Northern mercantile houses
are al leaving the State, anticipating furthe
trouble. They are universal in their dennnciatoI
| Of the proclamation Of martial law. All que
here. --..