Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-15
STARTLING NEWS.
Reported Desperate Fight Between
the Ku-Klux and Negroes
vs. In INJURY county.

From the Nashville Banner. l4'h.]
| OF all the reports and stories brough
10 this city by negroes from Maury ant
other counties, the most startling ane
apparently most absurd was brought u
this city yesterday, by q party oil blacks,
claiming to have come from the vicinity
Of Columbia. The following embraces
the substance of what was reported tt
the State authorities: 80,
On the night of either the Sd or the 4th
of July, body Of one hundred negroes
armed themselves in anticipation OF a
raid of the Ku-Klux, and stationed them
selves about the old Notifications near
the town. During the night, COM
pany of thirty became separated from
the main body and placed them
selves behind some bresstworks, about
giving IN the idea of seeing the phan.
tom X. KS, when suddenly the shrill
signal of the Khan was sounded not far
from where they lay, and looking up,
they discovered small body Of the white
borsemen bearing rapidly down upon
them. Quickly as possible they grasped
their guns, and, as the ghostly troop were
about TO spring into their midst, they
poured into the assailants heavy yolley.
Yells Of pain followed the discharge of
the guns, and the Ku-Klux, apparently
taken by surprise, wheeled and galloped
away, not one, however, having fallen
from his saddle. :,
The negroes were equally astonished
at the result Of the FIRE, and lay trembling
as the weird cavalcade moved away. In
about half an hour they we're again star.
tied by the tramp of horses, and body of
the Ku-Klux, apparently hundred and
fifty strong, came laundering up the
slope toward the breastworks, pouring
yolley after volley toward it, but the bull
let's only striking the earth and never
touching the we'll covered negroes. The
horsemen again charged close up to the
breastworks, when another volley from
the blacks sent them flying back again,
hut not one fell from his seat.
By this time the negroes were very
badly frightened, and retreat was de-
cided upon. They hastily fell back until
they reached the camp of the United
States troops, where they halted, and,
backed by the soldiers, prepared to
again receive the white horsemen, Mean
while, the persistent Ku-Klux had again
formed, and were bearing down in splen-
did order on the little camp.
The officer in command had drawn up
the soldiers to receive the charge On
came the phantom squadron, their white
robes tapping dismallY as they rode
along and presenting fearful spectacle
in the calm, still night. Suddenly
the whole of the advancing
troop were seen to halt, and the braced
hoofs Of the snowy chargers seemed
rooted to the earth. The Ku.Klux
had discovered the line of blue, the
little company of regulars, and their ex.
petition was at an end. The legend that
the X. KS will never attack anything
representing the government of the Uni
ted States, was verified, for, although
outnumbering the soldiers five to one,
they slowly wheeled about, and IN few
minutes galloped of, disappearing in the
darkness aud leaving the soldiers lost in
bewilderment
This is the story the negroes tell, and
they furthermore believe that two of the
Khan were killed in the charges that
were made, alleging that two new.made
graves have appeared in cemetery at
Columbia, of which the sexton can give
no account. They also assert that sew
eral young men have disappeared from
Columbia.