The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-18

80
,he,r credit be It said not on officer or man
faltered In his duty. Captain Mullen t y.
chief Engineer, was taking pnrt in the 81
Patrick demonstration, but left it to assure
Tho MAYOR of his adherence tolaw and oruer'
and he, together with the captains ana men an
were sworn in az special policemen, anu re-
NAMED under arms ut the engine houses
awaiting orders all day. ----.-.----..-.
THE CITY HALL.
At about 10 o'clock Mayor EllyEon dIs-
patched twenty-five picked men under fhe
command of Cantnin sPlensants to take
charge of and hold the City Hall, it bc,hf
feared that Chahoon would make an eH'''
| h retain possession Of that binding, as nc
| Ind of the police STATIONS. This duty was
discharged promptly by the detachment 10
which it was assigned, and hencetorWard
thew remained on duty, not interfering at
all, however, with persons having business
with the courts or at any of the public ot'ices'
TIE CAMP OF TIE ENEMY.
But while these things we're going on
md the flavor and Chief OF Police were
quietly awaiting Tie promised answer
of Mr.. Chahoon, the rebels were not 1die.
Mr.. CLahoon rcmnined ut the Old Market,
| md called in twenty-five negroes, Whom NJ
sworc in M Especial policemen, armed
with the musketg stacked at the police stu
ton, and placed them under the command
| of Ben Scott, u negro notorious LOT MS rio'-
| Gus tendencies. These negroes, AFTER Dein9
drilled for some time by Sergeant Terry:
| were told to be ready nj moments warn
| ;nr to sustain the few supporters OF Mt.
| Thsloon in case an ATTEMPT was nade 10
dislodec them. Captains Callahan, WOOD,
and Parker, and Sergeants Rankin, Sprag-
gins, and Terry, with half dozen prirates
| of the nolice and Ben Scott's negroes, cou-
stituted the whole garrison.
The uptown police stations were retained
| BY few men, and as the excitement was
all in the lover part of the city they had o
very quiet time of il. The monotony Of
the thing was relieved. however, by the
frequent exchange Of messages with the
other police stations urging each other to
stand firm and giving the latest news.
CHAHooS WRITES TO THE GOVERNOR.
Shortly after the receipt of the Mayors
letter, Mr.. Chahoon wrote ~ follows to
Governor Walker, ahl sent the letter by n
special messenger:
"OrFIcE OF MAYOR,
"RlcHNoND, March II, 1870.
To His Ercelencu G. C. Waller,
"Gorernor Of Virginia:
"Sir,-I have the honor to enclose copies
Of correspondence between MIR. Henry h.
Ellyson and myself.
II have reason to believe n serious
breach of the peace MAY arise III the dis
charge of my duties Gs Mayor Of the city,
and respectfully request that you furnish
me such force rs will preserve order until
such time as the courts may decide upon
the question at issue between AIR. Ellyaon
and myself.
81 have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your ohedient servant,
"GEoRGE CHAH0oN.
"Mayor of R:chmond."
TIE GOVERNORS REPLY.
This came very promptly, and was az
follows
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
"ExECuTIyE DEPARTMENT,
RICHMOND, VA. March II, 1870. )
"George Chahoon, Esq:
"Sir,-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your letter of this date en-
closing YOUR correspondence with II. 4.
Eilvson, ESQ. touching the Mayora}tE Of
this city. lIr. Elytor, having bern APP
pointed and qualified as Mayor Of the city
in pursuapcc Of an ;.ct Of the General AS
scnrbly, your authority rs late Mayor there
fore ccaEcl by force Of tho same oct, and
it becomes my duty TO zee the law faith
fully executed. / cannot, therefore, recog-
nize you ~ Mayor.
"You say YOU have reason to believe a
serious breach Of the peace NAY arise IN
the discharge Of your duties as Mayor, anu
YOU request me 10 iurni-l, YOU such force ms
will preserve order until such time as the
courts may decide the question at issue.
perceive no reason for breach Of the
peace, nor how it can occur except through
YOUR act or approval. It You desire to con-
| troll the official authority rt Mayor Ellyson
| it Is your duty to resort TO The peaceful jul
dicial remedy.
SPY reference to section TWO (2) CHAPTER
twelve N2) of the Code you will find thet
you, who hold place OF trust and emclu-
| mcnt under the Government ri the United
States, have been incapable Of holding the
Office of Mayor since the laws Of Virginia
have been in full force.
thrust that you will, Ike a good citi-
zen, obey tho laws and sustain the consti-
tutional authorities.
- have tho honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
isigncd1 &C. c. WALLER,
Governor Of Virginia."
| AN ADVANCE.
After waiting until nearly | O'Clock for
the promised response TO his demand Tor
transfer of Ike city property the Mayor
decided n proceed to more active measures
| for the enforcement Of hia authority. Ac-
cor,lingly, detachment Of sercnty-tivc
special policemen. under the command OF
the Chief of Police and Captains Tyler,
Fowlkes, and Epps, marched down from the
temporary Headquarters To the Old Market
police station and commenced n siege. y
heavy guard vas stationed ut each en-
trance to the second story, which was held
by the rebels, while fifty men were within
call, ready at an instunt'o notice to support
their comrades.
| It seemed to be the impression Of Cha
hoon's garrison that an attempt would al
once be made to storm their citadel, and in
o few moments they were under arms,
ready to resist any attack. The negroes
we're drawn M, under arms, at the head Of
the stairs, while Captain Parker, as picket
stood at the feet. They soon discovered
however, that siege had been determined
upon, and The darkics we're allowed t.
"stack arms
THE SIEGE