The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-03
NORTH CAROLINA.

by the Notorious Colonel KeitL-His Arrest
aud imprisonment mt the Close Of the War
by the Military-He Is Turned Over TO the
Civil Authorities for Trial.
MARSHAL Madison County, Nov. a. 1865.
James A. Keith, . native OF this county and for
mer Confederate lieutenant colonel, has recently
been remanded from the jail at Raleigh to that Of
Buncombe, the county adjoining this, there to be
held until tried for the commission OF one Of the
most fiendsh outrages perpetrated-that OF the
massacre OF thirteen persons In this county during
the late war. In giving the details OF this grave
crime there is no disposition to nurture feeling and
strife that should be buried with the terrible past
but simply to record an important matter
OF history which, II not altogether overlooked,
has been only briefly referred TO In the public
prints. And while impartally recountng the. pri-
mary causes, the circumstances and the results OF
the massacre, at which humanity must shudder, 1t IL
but simple justice to state that the victims as well
as the perpetrators OF the outrage were culpable to
great extent; but that furnishes no justification
nor adduces any sympathy for the chief criminal.
now soon to be brought TO justice All classes here
even the former friends OF James A. Keith. equally
with the friends and relatives OF Ills unfortunate
Victims agree In the demand for that terrible retri
bution-blOod for blooddecreed by the laws OF both
God aud man. II there Ia any sympathy for the
criminal 1t exists only In the breasts Of his wife and
children and those VINO were his accessories to the
act the latter from the fear that through their leader
justice may overtake them at no late day. 1t is
well known to your readers that during the
bellon state OF chaos anarchy and constant
commission OF crime existed in the noun
famous regions OF Western North Carolina and
honest, but mostly Illiterate people, who lived COM
paratively isolated from the outer world were found
IN 1851 SO devoted in their allegiance to the govern
ment OF the United States that ali Efforts seduce
them into tho rebellion proved entirely frutless, and
steadiastly during that terrible four years OF strife
did they maintain that allegiance. Regularly organ
lied bands OF these men, armed with their own shot
guns aud hunting rifles, were formed and by a sys
TEN Of signals ut the approach OF danger they re-
treated to their mountain Businesses, which they
resoutely and heroicay defended II pursued. These
joined, too by large numbers OF deserters, who
usually carried with them their arms, and lorm-
dabe did they become about 1863 that large Coincide
rate force had to be sent TO break up II possible
these bands, which were proving serious source OF
country boosted also OF quite rebeous class of
racy, and, consequently, an intense hatred
grew between the two opposite elements The
plantations OF considerable extent, which being
at that time titled by slaves were frequently invaded
by tho 'Buffal0es," as the oyasts were called, in
| quest OF proyender, which they were usually sue
cessfu In obtaining. Even towns and villages were
| not exempt from these ncursions, and often when
such raids were made the most Migrant Outrages
\ were committed, lie being not unirequenty sacri-
feed. Besides eatabes powder and lead stores were
private houses and even women stripped OF their
| clothing and outraged by men who were drunk. In
the face OF such outrages is not to be wondered at
that the rebels were terribly incensed against their
story enemles,n 80 called, nor that they dealt Sc
| verey with them when the opportunity offered
Many OF the relatives and friends OF the women who
were outraged and the people that suffered losses
| from the raids Of Oyasts were among the rebel
troops on duty IN this secton and these particularly
| always gave them hot pursuit and harsh treatment
| II captured.
TIM IMMEDIATE CAUSE WHICH LED TO THE MASSACRE.
Towards the close Of the war salt was an article oil
domestic use the people OF the cOnlederacy suffered
greatly for the want OF. II could only be obtained
In exceedingly small quantities, and then II had to
be as carefully divided and apportioned the pow
der Issued to the army or the two articles for long
| period salt was decidedly the most precious, and
| many a family who would otherwise have been
amply provided lacked almost every necessary OF
life In the simple article OF salt At the period refer
red the Confederate authorities had possession OF
the Kanawha valley salt works, from which the en-
tire supplies Of this and other States came. Il was
sent to the different county seats and there issued
TO the various townships and precincts IN quantities
TO suit the population, according to the amount re-
ceiyed. On one OF these moment0us and important
| occasions the people living in Laurel valley re-
mote mountain gorge Of considerable extent chiefly
bit Dy sr on, o ae na a sass
necessarily exceedingly indignant. A meeting was
held and i was resolved that as soon
| sent for TO East Tennessee to lead them
\ salt raid should be made on this town (NarslaD,
the county OF Madison. Kirk, valiant Union
commander in this section, generally headed every
movement where numbers to any considerable ex-
tent were required and from ms repeated successes
tailor in East Tennessee, aud boosted OF tins relation
ship to the then military Governor OF the state,
Brgsdier General Andrew johnson.
1 THE SALT RAID.
With the arrival Of Kirk, VINO was notified that
supply Of powder and lead could also DC Obtained ta
proposed raid. Numbering about eighty horse and
foot, variousy haoted and "A oddly armed, with an
advance guard thrown TO the front, Kirk gave the
command "Forwardn which set the force In motion.
But few hours march aud the raiders were close
upon the unsuspectlng town, and, there being no
/
entry erected and the town was In possession
OF rk and at the mercy OF his successful command.
| The inhabitants, mostly women and children and a
few aged men, were thrown into much worse state
| OF CONSERVATION than II the veritaolc "iankees'
4 themselves had arrived when they saw
| their remorseess enemies, the "Butfaloes,m from
| whom they looked for every species OF crime and
| outrage. Kirk however, as long IA possible kept
his men well under control, and the first excuses
that occurred were chiefly due to some OF the terri
ned peopis themselves Who the better 70 appease
| OF whskey. This freely partaken OF the men lost
oil restraint and pllage first OF the stores aud then
| OF private houses was commenced. All the salt,
powder and lead In town HAD been safely secured
| previously, so that with this main object accom-
plished nothing else was left but a comparatively
ingorous return to the valley the sacking OF the
town. This was proceeded with vigorously. Houses
| were Quilted without regard TO who the owners
were; women were stripped almost naked and tlsf
and among the vcllms OF this wholesale numbering
was the family and residence OF Colonel Allen, q
| Keith was. VITA the plopdhf after a short stay,
KIRK and his band LEFT town and returned to their
l mountain resort ppynolested,
| - 49, THa Massacre.
| Soon, however tue sad news OF the pllage was
conveyed by special messenger TO Lieutenant Colonel
Keith. VINO, enraged beyond measure aud beng ues-
perate with leo select men proceeded cautiously
though In hot pursuit Of the raiders. WIN tue Pc
culiar cunning which thirst for blood ana ven.
gcance gives, Keith quietly surrounded portion OF
the valley where he knew his game was safe ~ iar
ss sufncient number 70 alut his appetite Tor blood
Ia concerned without any COMMUNICATION ~ 10
| whether they were concerned In the raid. ThIs was
| on the 10Th OF January, 1888 the house OF ono
John Chandler that selected ior heitils ho,I ,-
| ME nuruose A rapid descent was made upon TINS
| nj a tifae when it was discovered number OF per-
sons were assembled together IN ~ Almost before
tney cuuld realize their situation thirteen men ana
nova some OF whom hal been IN the RAID, were
| pyfsoners with terrible oatn Keith made
tno,yn his intention OF killing every man
| ~ thep, and here q scene ensued that
| IL beyond description. The entire party implored
and begged Tor mercy, declaring In tne most pi.eous
| tones tIar Willingness to DO ythng their capors
| 5amanded nroy ded their lives were spared. Gray