The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1869-02-02

We find the following letter, 10 the Lit.
tie Rock Gazette Of the 2jth OF January
AsuLry C0vyTy. Arks Jan, $50.

We find the following letter, 10 inc Lat
tie Rock Gazette Of the 2jth Of January
II AsuLrY CoUNrY, Arks, Jan, $50.
To Has ENcIItENcY Gov CLArToS--
>irs desire 10 make a plain, myar
nishcj, unexaggerated statement Of the
manner la which was treated by q de.
tachment Of General Catterson's militia,
commanded by Major Anderson, who is
sheriff. | believe, of Crawford county,
Arkansas
wia promise by saying fiat I am, was,
and have been, quiet, unoiicnding, law
abiding citizen Of Ashley county; that |
never was member of the /" Ku Klnx.
Khan or the Knights Of the White Ca.
mclia," OF of any other secret political
organization; nor ever gave them any
countenance or support During all the
| time / was plundered, and cursed and
robbed by Major Anderson and his men,
protested my innocence, and asked for
a trial 10y any court, civil or military.
Bot to rccur to the statement of my
wrongs, On Monday evening, the 2Sth
day OF December, 1868, detachment of
seven men. commanded by Lieutenant
-, from Major Anders0n's command
(Which was campcd a short distance off
at the Widow Stillwell's, charged M to
my residence aud demanded the keys of
store, When they were obtained the
lieutenant and one man took me inside
and locked the doors behind them. They
then commard me to speak low, that they
intended TO Kill me any way and to give
up my money. pointed to my money
drawer and they took what was in it.
They then carried mc under arrest, with
the keys Of my store to Mrs Stillwells,
whore Mai. Anderson and his command
were encamped.
During the night squads of soldiers
were sent through the neighborhood, to
summon the negroes to meet at my store
in the morning to secure such goods as
Major Anderson could not carry off,
On the morning of the 20th, Maj An
derson and his whole command came to
my house and store Some so or 60 ne
groes had assembled to these Mai. An
derson himself distributed my entire
stock of goods, except these that he and
his men carried off with them. Major
Anderson himself told me that he held
me as hostage for the good conduct of
my ncighbors, with terrible oaths threat
ened that if | ever demanded the goods
of the negroes or interferrcd with them
in any way in reference to them, that he
would come back and kill me and burn
up my neighborhood. The words used
were "my (our) life should pay for it. -
Mai Anderson himself, boxed up a
large quantity of goods--took my wife s
trunk to put some of them in, took the
bed blankets--took my clothing, my sons
clothing and hauled them off to Hamburg,
General Cattcrson's headquarters. The
load Of goods was so heavy that it broke
down 4 new wagon, and they impressed
poor widow woman's wagon, with
which to continue the trip and have not
yet returned it to her.
| Some of his men emptied the contents
of this trunk on the door and took my
wife's breastpin and daughters cloak.
This, Governor, is a statement OF my
grievance, in language which | think is
devoid Of abusive epithets, as l desired
to say nothing which was not strictly il
accordance with the facts and capable o
proof
was numerically abused and cursed
kept under arrest, carried eight or ter
miles from home and turned loose afoot
/ am ffty-foar years ofage, have awif
and seven children-my loss in good
amount to $4,000. Thus in my old ag'
l am left penniless and my children beg
gars.
have addressed you this communica
ton which | shall ask the editors of til
Gazette to publish as the most convenicn
way of reaching your eye, to demand o
the chief executive of the State, the pan
ishment of my destroyers. If these out
RACES had not been committed by, an
under order Of commissioned officers
then | should not have made this com
plant. Respectfully,
K. C. KIMBERLEY.