The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-12-15
Massacre of Citizens in Arkansas
4 Torn Sacked aud PIundcred

The absurd proclamation of martial law by
the so-called Governor Of Arkansas could hardly
have other result than rapine and bloodshed.
The Washington (Arkansas) Telegraph, of the
18th. comes to us with an account Of one of the
most shocking occurrences of these times,
which we have not space to reproduce entire this
morning.
1t appears that on Wednesday, the 9th ult
a band OF between two and three hundred men
entered the little town Of Centre Point, in Sewer
| county, about twenty -eisht miles from Washing
! ton, and took possession of the place Taken
by surprise, the citizens were entirely defense
| less, and were marshaled en- anns<e in an open
field, where they were kept until four o'clock in
the afternoon, not knowing by what authority
or for what reason they were arrested. In the
meantime the town was ransacked and plunder-
cd by the armed wretches, calling themselves
Claytons militia, Of everything of value, and
| whatever they could not carry away they des-
troyed Finally, Capt Reeves addressed
the captive citizens i'll the following strain, as re-
ported by the Telegraph:
! "Gov. Clayton had declared martial in Sewer
! county. They were there to enforce his procla-
nation. 1t was only the initiation of what
would occur. His men were enraged. 1t was
with great difficulty he could restrain them.
They wanted to kill ten or twelve men anyhow.
They want to hang some of you fellows. We
| are coming back here again, perhaps tomorrow,
etc.
The darkest part of this monstrous outrage
remains to be told. Next day number of cti-
Zens from the adjoining country, hearing it re-
ported that the jayhawkers had made descent
| upon Centre Point, came into town. some ofthcnl
armed. \ meeting was held, and it was agreed,
in view of the authority under which the raiders
had pretended to be acting, to appoint Commit
tees to visit Murtreesboro and Washington to
confer with Clayton and the military authorities
| While they were still in consultation the horde
of thieves and assassins again entered the town
and commenced an indiscriminate onslaught
shooting down a number and making prisoners
of those who were not fortunate enough to es-
cape. They atterward selected three citizens
from among the oldest and most respectable, led
| them out and murdered them in cold blood. The
| Telegraph thus concludes its account of this
most horrible fruit of Claytons blood thirsty bru-
! tality:
! ''Thrcc other citizens Of Sewer county, Ark
ansas, noted for their responsibility and stand
! ing In the community, strong and unwavering
advocates Of peace, OF law, of order; respected
/ for their age and esteemed for their virtues;
Hester, Anderson and Gilbert by name; living
under government declared by Congress to be
republican in form, were led out to the scene of
slaughter and shot down like dogs, by men act
! ing under Instructions from the Executive Of the
| State. There were also some six or eight citi-
zens wounded, but how many of the militia were
killed and wounded We were unable to ascertain.
The militia held possession of Centre Point,
and had all approaches to the town guarded
They permitted persons to enter the place but
did not permit them to pass out. The citizens
had all dispersed except those whom they still
hold RS prisoners.
! Blood will have blood and the vengeance
of an outraged people will yet fall upon aud
crush the miserable wretch who thus prepares
a banquet Of plumber and slaughter for his MUIR
derous nlai;ons"