Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-01-13

General POrter's Report TO General
Grant on Arkansas Matters-COm-
plete FindicatiOn Of Governor Gay
ton.
The following official report rela-
ting to affairs in Arkansas has been
received at General Grants head
quarters from General Horace Porter,
of his staff:
LITTLE Rock, ARK, Dec, %, 1865.
GENERAL: General BabcOck and l
arrived here two days ago. So many
contradictory reports have been cir
culated in regard to Governor Clay
tons militia that it may be well for
you TO know the facts. The present
state government was certainly in
some danger before the presidential
election. Senator Barker had been
shot and badly wounded Mr.. Upham
of the Lower house wounded, Mr..
Hines, a member of Congress and a
freedmen's bureau officer killed, and
other agents and n United States
marshal driven from their posts
by threats. The Governor, Senator
Rice and others had to sleep in the
State house under guard for fear of
assassination. The governor wisely
IClIdllGu HULL lAhALS ahl NAOANAb
measures until after the election,
fearing that the opposition might
make capital out of il. As soon as it
was over he organized for militia a
force of about 500 men, one fourth
colOred, under General Patterson in
the south west, and Upham in the
northeast, with orders TO live of of
the country, taking what was ALSO
lutely necessary, and giving vouch-
ers. His intention is to pay all
loyal holders of vouchers and no
others. Two aSSassins have already
been executed by sentence of a mill
tary commission. Seventeen others
are in prison, and a great many have
been run out of the state. But the
best result I can see is the disposition
of all business men to voluntarily
enrol themselves as a posse pledged to
assist sheriffs to arrest lawless charac-
tiers, if the government will relieve
them from martial law. He has ac-
cepted many of such pledges, and
martial law exists only in parts of
seven counties. The entire cOnserva-
tive wing of the Republican party
were opposed to the declaration of
martial law, including General Smith,
L. S. A, commanding troops. They
admitted the reign of terror establish
ed by the rebels, but wanted the
United States to make the arrest.
Governor Clayton's arguments in IA
vor of his policy are as follows: The
United States troops do not know the
people and the countrys. The lawless
behave well while the United States
troops arein the vicinity, and hseakou t
worse than ever when they leave.
The rebels are anxious to have them,
as it creates an expenditure of money
in their midst from which they reap
a benefit. This militia punish all the
disloyal and EFFORTS pledges from
them to respect the laws. AS these
people have threatened to break up
the state government rs soon as the
United States troops are removed,
this teaches them that the state is
able to protect itself. The militia
has been under tOlerable good control,
and the plundering reported in the
press is the taking of supplies under
order. One negro militiaman COM
mitted rape on a white woman, but
was Immediately arrested by General
Patterson, who seemed to be a very
good man, tried, convicted and exc
cuted. The Governors policy has no
doubt seriously interfered with bust
ness where martial law has been
proclaimed, and injured business men
of all parties. Hence the opposition
from loyalists. 1t has interfered
with travel, taken off hands for the
militia at a season when they were
badly needed, and created many
panics. Ithas however, accomplished
more good than the most sanguine
expected, and General Smith &C
knowledged that he thought the
governors judgment was better than
his, and that the result would fully
Justify the action of the former. The
governor is now disposed to relieve
each county from martial law as
soon as it can be done safely.
The governor is certainly n man OF
intelligence and nerve, and has
!, labOred under difficulties that would
have deferred a less able officer.
Four thousand arms were seized by
the Ku KluX and thrown off n boat
below Memphis. He could seldom
= secure good men for officers, and in
= the eastern counties he had to depend
entirely upon the negroes for soldiers.
} Veryrespectfully,
= HORACE PORTER, A. d. c.
%OOs
= ~G---I " 4 "