Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-01
MASSACRE OF CITIZENS In Ar
KANSAS 81 CLAYTON'S
MILITIA.
A Town Sacked and Plundered.
Unarmed Men Shot i'm Cold
Blood.

From the Memphis Appeal, Nov. q.
The absurd proclamation of martial law
by the so-called Governor of Arkansas
could hardly have other result than rapine
and bloodahed. The Washington Ark
TeIsqraph, of the 18th inst, comes 10 US
with an account Of one of the most shock
ing occurrences of these troublesome times,
which we have not space to reproduce en-
tire this morning.
1t appears that on Wednesday, the 10Th
inst, band Of between two and three hun
bred men entered the little town Of Center
Point, in Sewer county, about twenty-eight
miles from Washington, and took posses
sion of the place. Taken by surprise, the
citizens were entirely defenseless, and we're
marshaled en- mGss3 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 towL was ransacked Snd
plundered by the armed wretches calling
themselves CiagtOr7 militia, of everything
of value, and whatever they could not carry
away they destroyed. Finally, one Capt.
Reeves addressed the captive citigsns ia
the following elrain, as reported by the
Telegraph:
"Gov. Clayton had declared martial law
in Sewer county. They we're there to en-
force his proclamation. 1t was only the
initiation of what would occur. His men
were enTaged. 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 tC-
morrow" e.c.
The darkest part of this monstrous out
rage remains to be told. Next day a nun
| Der of citizens from the adjoining country,
hearing it reported that .yhawkers had
made descent upon Cen T toint, came
into town, some of them & med. A.mettss
ing was held, and it was a. eed, in view Of
the authority under which he raiders had
| pretended to be acting, TO appoint commit
tee, to visit Murfreesboro and Washington
to confer with Clayton and the military
authorities. While they we're still in con-
suItation the horde Of thieves and assassins
again suddenly entered the town and COM
menced an iudiscdmiBate onslaught,
shooting down number ana making pris-
oners of those who were not fortunate
enough to escape. They atterward selected
three citizens from among the oldest and
NEST respectable, led them cut and MUIR
dered them in cold blood. The TeleorapE
thus concludes its account of this most hor.
ribIe fruit Of Clayton's blood-thirsty brut.
atty:
"Three ether citizens of Sewer county
Arkansas, noted for their respeClability anC
stlnding in the community, strong ant
unwavering advocates Of peace, of law. O
order; respected for their age and esteemed
for their virtues; Hester, Anderson anC
Gilbert By name; living under govern
ment declared by Congress to be republi
can in form, were led cut 10 the scene o
E slaughter and shot down like dogs, by me,
& acting under instructions from The Execu
D tive OF the State. There were also SOM
e six or eight cilizsns wounded, but bo,
4 many Of the militia were killed and woun
ded we were unable to as,er air. The nj
: litia are still in possession of Center PoinI
] and have all approaches to the town guard
ed. They permit persons to enter tn
: place but will not permit them to pass on
/ The citizens had all dispersed except thos
n whom they still hold SO prisoners.5
n Blood will have blood" and the yer
), geance Of an outraged people will yet IA
Il upon and crush the miserable wretch VIII
o thus prepares banquet OF plumber an
II slaughter for his murderou4 minions.
IN @-------------
n The ex Queen Isabella has set asit