The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-30

CLEAN them from the Memphis papers, are
as follows:
THE SITUATION BEFORE THE OCCURRENCE.
Mr.. Jones is a merchant as well as planter.
and lives at Tiptonvile, in the abovc-namcd
! county. On his plantation there are two
groups Of cabinS-one at the north end and
the other ut the south end-and situated
about mile or so apart. In these cabins
dwelt his colored men, most Of them his
former slaves. Mr.. Jones represents that
county, and particularly his part of it, as
being very profitable place for farming, and
labor as very scarce--in fact. there was quite
a rivalry about labor. There is also another
circumstance which seems to have no little
influence in bringing about whatever of i'll
feeling existed there, from which the pre-
sent fearful tragedy resulted. On account
Of the land being naturally rich, and con-
Sequently very valuable, number of white
men who own no land themselves ure very
desirous Of renting. Many of the planters
do not wish to rent out their land, prefer
ring to work it themselves by hiring negroes,
whose labor they find profitable. The land
less farmers do not like this, and frequently
show their resentment in a very rude man
ner. 1t is not certain that the present diff
Guilty originated in this way, but in the ab-
scnce of any other apparent cause it be-
comes necessary to make this explanation,
as it may serve to throw some light on the
| bloody events which follow.
COMMENCING THE WORK OF BLOOD.
On last Monday week, late in the night,
gang of six masked men went to the group
of cabins at the northern extremity of Mr..
Jones's plantation, took out one of the CO.
lored men and Ind him on the ground as if
they were about to whip him. They took
the arms which were found in the cabin
with the view Of confiscating them. 4 son
Of Mr.. Jones, who happened to be at the
cabins, ran and told his father how things
were. He went Immediately to the scene
and demonstrated with the intruders. They
alleged as their reason for the eXtraordi-
nary proceeding that the negroes had arms,
and that they had no right to them.
Mr.. Jones finally persuaded them to 90 of,
remarking, in his conversation with the
principal man of the gang, that his negroes
were pcaceablc; that they intertcrcd with
no one, and that he would not allow any
one TO interfere with them or disturb them
in the peaceable pursuit Of their proper
business. They then left the place, and
Mr.. Jones retired to his own dwelling. In
about two or three hours afterward they
again returned. 1t was now about l or
in the morning, and as they passed the
cabins they commenced firing. According
to instructions received from Mr.. Jones,
the negroes returned the fire and beat the
fellows away. Thus ended the first cncoun-
ter without any bloodshed.
THE NEGROES ENCOURAGED.
Mr.. Jones, who is an eminently respect
able citizen, and evidently man not to be
tritled with, had formed the determination
to "protect," as he says, his "colored men
from all outrage" He was strong south
crn man himself all through the war, had
three sons in the Confederate army, and he
felt it his duty to see that his people were
not molested in any way. and lie resolved
that they should not so ne encouraged his
six negroes to resist every attempt that
might be made to interfere with their
rights. He told them that no man, white
or black, had any right or pretcXt to
90 to their cabins ut the dead Of
night and poster them. When the negroes
felt that they had, the moral support Of their
employer as well rs that Of other rcSpecta-
BILE planters in the ncighborhood, they be-
came courageous and resolved to defend
themselves. The week, however, passed
of TRANQUILITY enough, and no fears OF 4 re-
petition Of the visit were entertained until
Saturday afternoon, when unaccountable
riding up and down the road was observed.
This, with other signs of an unusual charac-
ter, aroused the fears of the negroes and of
Mr.. Jones. They became convinced that
visit would he paid that night, and prepara-
tions were made accordingly.
AN ATTACK AND REPULsE.
The cabin in which they assembled is Il
double log, with passage in the middle,
same as those commonly seen in the country.
Mr.. Jones, with il young man named Albert
Hall, son Of Hon. r. c. Hall, formerly 4
member of the Legislature, were in the
cabin ut the time sitting ut the fire. In the
other end of the cabin were two work ne
groes, armed with guns. They began to
think that no visit would be made that
night, when the door, behind which was
nothing but Il brick, was showed open, and
three men stepped in a foot ortwo. and com
menced biaZing away at the group around
the fire. Tire fire was returned with spirit,
and the three men reeled back discom-
fitted. The negroes in the other wing Of
the cabin, being reused up by the sound OF
the firing, opened their door and fired Il vol
ley into the rctreating assallantS. Young
Hall Jumped in between the combatants
and called upon both parties to stop. This
produced a cessation OF hostilites, during
which one of the maskers was captured,
and would have been shot by negro but
for the interposition Of young Hall, whose
mission was tor peace. He was allowed to
90 and ioin his comrades, some fifty yards
away across Il field. In the fight man
called Robert Dickenson was shot IN the
face and killed instantly. He lived seven
miles off across the Kentucky line, and was
most respectfully connected. He was about
twenty years old. One Of those mortaiiy
wounded was his cousin, Benjamin Bechaln,
from the same neighborhood, and about the
same age.
MOTIVE OF TIE ATTACK.
1t may be proper to state here that during
the war the father and grandfather and i've
brothers and sisters Of Dickinson were
murdered by some negro Union soldiers.
The recollection of such bloody deed may
have had some influence upon the present
disturbances.
TERRIBLE REVENGE.
This was on Saturday night. The people
about Jones's were well aware after THIS
that great excitement would be raised,
and that the negroes would be III great
danger. Jones himself was for Keep
ing them where they were, and braylng
every danger and resisting every assault,
knowing that he was in the right but the
advice and remonstrance of friends whom ne
respected induced him to change his mind,
and he allowed the negroes to 60 into the
woods, where they remained all night and re-
turned in the morning. On Sunday the place
was surrounded and three of the negroes
were captured in the woods. Subsequently
three more were taken, and in company
with two gentlemen named Hines, and some
others, who undertook to be responsible
for their safety, the whole six were marched
off to the county Jail at Troy, twenty-five
miles distant. After crossing Reelfoot river
l,nJt t,I of ha 4 RlupkcnairS =.