The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1868-09-05

IIlaG pOTtlOl OF the PARISH Wai
thrown into great excitement il
consequence Of the presence il
this armed band of freedmen, anC
the people were apprehensive o
depredatiOns being committed, sc
much SO that messengers were
sent to Shreveport, calling on the
military authorities at that point
for assistance to quell this insur
rection. The whole community
was thrown into commotion, from
the cause of the rumors afOat as
to the objects and intentions Of
this armed assembly, and found
it necessary to assemble for sell
protection.
The general rumor through the
neighborhood, was that the freedmen
were collecting from various quarters
of the parish for fight with the whites;
that the freedmen had been informed
that an effort would be made to break
up their club, or prevent the meeting
of the club by the Sheriff of the parish
Rnmors of this disturbancebad been in
circulation for several days, before the
capture of these parties. Isaac Will
liams was not present when these other
freedmen were captured. On the eve
ming of the same day witness saw Isaac
Williams in the custody of the United
States soldiers, commanded by Capt.
Farran. Capt. f. was then going
down to suppress the riot above allud-
ed to. The citizens composing the
posse who arrested The prisoners at
the bar, were abaut $50, composed .ot
citizens of Bossier, Claiborne and
Bienville. Other accessions afterwards
extended the number to 300 or ESQ.,
The prisoners were brought on to Fill
more, from which point they were sent
to the Parish Jail of Bossier. The
prisoners were treated humanely and
fed at Fillmore, and none of them were
maltreated. Witness only assisted in
bringing to Fillmore. This unlawful
assembly above referred to, was at OF
near Isaac Williams house. Jim Rob.
inson, one of the prisoners at the bar,
told witness that they assembled on
the occasionin question by couriers OF
runners Of Isaac Williams.
Cross Examined.-Witness says lie
has never known Isaac Williams be-
ing in a riot previous to this. Some OF
The party mado ready with their guns.
Remembers seeing some of them with
arms, and some without arms, on said
occasion referred to. Witness saw
Henry Mcdaniel in tho line, but does
not remember seeing him with any
arms. Witness saw Stephen BrazeaI
in the line, with a gun in his hand.
Witness saw Armistead Bailey in the
party referred to. Witness saw Sam
Harris in the party with arms. Wit
ness saw Reuben Jenkins, John Jones,
Sam Watkins, Jim Robinson and
Wiley Bnllard in the assembly. Did
not SEQ Ben Sanders. lie did not see
Jack Warner. George Sanders was
captured in the feld-saw him in the
crowd.
(Signed,) E. J. HAMILTON.
j. G. Pilkington, sworn-says he lives
in Bossier parish, eight miles west of
Bellevue. On last Monday the 24th
day of August~witness captured the
prisoner Tom Wash, freedman as a
courier sent by Joe Hughes and JEFF
Moore. Witness learned through the
freedman on his place that Tom Wash
had been on his place notifying the
freedman TO assemble at Mr.. E. Il.
Moore's place for the purpose of fight
ing the white men. They were told
if they did not go they would be shot.
Witness recognises Tom Wash one
of the prisoners at the bar. On Sun
day witness met Tom Wash about {
milo from witness home, on his way
back with a recruit named Winston
Taliaferro. Tom Wash had gun
Witness arrested the party. Tom Wasf
stated in presence of witness that he
had been sent for the purpose of rails
ing recruits to whip the white people
in the vicinity of Fillmore. that he was
sent by JEFF Moore and Joe Hughes
Witness arrested the above parties in
the parish of Bossier.
Cross Examined.-W Wituess saw
Winston Taliaferro about 300 yard,
this side of his, Winston's house, will
Tom Wash. They were going to
wards Fillmore.
(Signed,) ]. G. PILKINGToN.
Z. F. Connel, sworn-says that he reside
at Fillmore, Bossier parish On MOndR,
the oath Aug. 1868, witness made one of tn,
posse called ont by the Sheriff to stop a rio
down IN Bossier Point On arriving a
Isaac Williams about IL o'clock, foun,
about IS freedmen, most of them armed j
not, the majority of them and in line of TIVE
against the fence. This line was drawn Hpol
the public road This company OF armed
freedmen terrified this community, and caus
ed great excitement by the demonstration
of violence ard disturbance When Captain
McMiehcal, revenue officer from Minden
and Mr. Bright, galloped up in front OF tn
line of armed men, witness was about TEL
PAGES behind them. Capt. McMicheal o
Bright, ordered them 10 ground arms AM
surrender A portion Of the freedmen dlt
so immediately Some Of them halloEe
out, don't put down your arms, we com
here to fiaht Witness recognized anon
those who ordered them not to put dow
their arms Sam Harris who vas sitting o
his horse with his gun u hia hand 'Ihos
who had not rnt down then arms assume