Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-31
The Radicals Claim the Election of
Lauelxe.

Elsewhere we publish full report of the
election at Gallatin on Saturday up to
2:30 P. NJ. At four o'clock nearly all the
citizen special police threw of their badges
and the whole force was disbanded. Some
fifteen or twenty of them repaired to the
markethouse, and we're talking over the
occurrences Of the day, when they were
startled by measured drum tap from a
westerly direction, and in few minutes a
company of about fifty negroes, with glis
tening guns fresh from the arsenal at
Nashville, came marching up toward the
markethouse, as If for an attack upon the
disbanded police.
Every man at once sprang TO his feet, and
in an instant the whole town was in blaze
of excitement. The citizens and special
police rallied in an almost impereeptibly
short space of time, and moved to meet
the approaching blacks. On seeing the
whites advancing, Horner, who commanded
the negroes, called ont TO the citizens to
hold, and at once ordered his company to
about face, and It moved away. So exas-
perated were a portion OF the whites, that
they were about TO dash after the insolent
negroes, but were restrained by the inter
position of Col. Turner, who throughout
the day had labored zealously to prevent a
disturbance.
An explanation Of the movement of the
negroes was demanded by Col. Turner,
and he was told by Horner, that they were
only being marched TO a stable near, for
shelter They were marched into a cross
street, and Post Commandant Col. Leib
then persuaded them TO march away TO the
fort, on the west side of the railroad, and
disband.
No further incidents Of particular inter
est occurred during the balance Of the day,
and Sunday passed off quietly. Mean
while, recruits were constantly coming in
for the negro force under Phillips, and yes
terday morning the excitement broke ont
afreah upon the circulation of a story TO
the effect that Phillips had declared he
would march his negroes into the town at
ten o'clock. Large numbers of whites had
hocked 10 from the country, nearly all of
them armed, and the greatest determine
ton was expressed to resist any advance
Of the negroes. Old and young were
equally determined. There were men
whose heads were whitened with the frosts
of seventy winters, who talked about fight
ing across a hair and the young men eli
lently clutched their arms and looked
what they would have said.
About one O'Clock, it was reported in
town that Col. Leib had received orders
from Gen. Thomas to disarm the citizens,
and another period of intense but unde-
monstrative excitement followed. This
report was subsequently coptradicted, Col.
Leib denying that he had received any
such orders. He stated, on the contrary,
that he had received orders not to take
sides with either party, but to aid the civil
authorities in quelling any disturbance
that might occur.
Though Col. Leib was understood TO be
in sympathy with the Radicals, his men
were outspol,en against the negroes, and
evinced their determination neither TO
submit to moving beside them nor TO the
shooting down of white men.
The Radicals claim the election of
Laucke TO the CHARACTERISTIC. lie has a
majority of 800 in Sumner county, and 400
majority is claimed for him in Monigome
ry. Huntsville gave Barry 20 and Laucke
one Lafayette, Macon county, gave
Laucke l6S to SO for Barry. Robertson is
said TO have voted for Laucke. Stewart
and Jackson have not been heard from.
Judge Laucke arrived in this city from
Gallatin yesterday. He alleges that the
raising Of the negro force was without his
knowledge or consent, and that it was got
ten up to protect Phillips from assassina-
tionl
The following special to the UNION AND
DISPATCH, received at late hour last
night, furnishes a graphic review of the
situation at Gallatin:
GALLATIN, March 30.-A large number
of countrymen hocked in early this morn
ing, well armed. The negro militia were
entrenched in the fort at the depot, threat
ening to march into town. There was
universal determination to resist on the
part Of the citizens. An exciting rumor
got anoat that the regulars had been or
dered TO disarm the citizens in the after
noon. Gen. Thomas sent orders that the
troops should cooperate with the Mayor
and civil authorities, and quiet was restored.
The militia are still in the fort, but are un-
der promise not to approach the town.
Nouneasiness is now felt