The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-05-14

"S ~ IL 0ANnahSc.. 1heV haa
four improvised cannon MOUNTED, laa
their brcastworks, one Of which NJ, ~
fired at this time; no sound of shot fs "ss
1t was heard, and its report createti ~ ny
impression that it had burst, which ~, y.
found afterward to be so. Marshai' ny ny
Klyne states this to have occurred -. ~
viously, when the4fact is they were an, s-
fixed up the evening previous under .ay
direction of two white men, who had ny
remained to test their work. Seva.ovsss
shots were fired at different times w..
IDENTIFY from Enfield, rifles, comino W. -
close to skirmishers and strikingagronns
several hundred yards behind them ''u
In the meantime our main BODY ws,.
behind in supporting distance. soms s
with horses held in the rear. .otha.ee
Holding their own horses in line. Ms
enemy not returning our fire brisklv ~ ~
is usral with raw troops, at first creatss
the impression that they were held M
der control by some military man WI.
was forcing them to reserve their fra
since then we have formed the conrlr
sion that they were afraid to risk thei,
heads above the breastworks, aud ,thar
finally became So shy that simply poin;
ing gun without firing would maLs
them dodge instantly. ], .,r,
A little incident occurred at this fin
which showed that the whites were an
tuated by a desire to settle matters with
out blo0lshed. A large negro, tlressea
in gray shirt, jumped on the breast
works, bowling his head and throwins
up his hands several times, adding somss
expression, the precise words not beinc
understood. Some of the skirmish linss
thought he was pleading for mercy. and
the order ,cas giten to cease firing, until 9TH.
ers Immediately in front announced ~
was defying us. This negro was attsr
wards killed in or.near the Court Housa
In the meantime the two men on ths
river, Messrs. II. and T., had approach.
ed under cover Of the bank (yery stean
all along) within about l25 yards Of thee
works, where they found a cut. from
which they opened fire with some 'o W .
feet; the former then came and report.
ed the river bank as the best position
for attack. Upon examination it was
found to be so. The position being snrh
that the gun could slightly entilade
their, works and be easily defended bv
men under the safe cover of the river
bank, it was Immediately moved there
near the cut in the leyee where boats
land above town, and about 300 wards
from where their breastworks crossed
the road. a detachment OF about Is or
Is men, armed with SHOT guns, were
then ordered into position within few
steps Of the gun, under bank, with or.
ders to fire at negtOes when ARTILLERY.
men We're loading or firing, just TO
scare them, as their shots could not pos.
sibly Eeach them.
= BY this time, perhaps two
hours had elapsed since the advance
was commenced. A good many shots
had been fired by our little gun, genef.
ally falling below the Court House from
positions on the field with more effect
from river bank. So far we were only
feeling their position-could see that It
was very strong. The negroes were
nearly double our force, behind breast
works and in brick houses: we knew
that Colfax must finally be taken at anv,
cost. but wished, if possible, to do 50
with as little loss as possible, the id,aof
sacrificing, if possible to avoid it, the &
Hover of our youth at the hands of
5hese poor, miserable barbarians, being :
horrible.
The negroes giving away, which oc-,
cured soon after, was therefore totally
and found us couss auently
lnprepared to follow up our almost Ito
ls) bloodless victory. ft
The skirmishers in the cut were di-
'ectly in front OF the howitzer, and had
o lie down while it fired, and fearing
hat the supporters might kill them,
hey were all ordered that point, being.
Is before stated, l25 yards from works.
soon after their arrival a load of buck
:ilot from gun, followed by vigorous
ire from whole party ut the cut, COM
,leted the decentralization ofthe negroes.
'erceiving that some of them were re-
rea1ing, the party at the cut climbed in
,ank or road, as it was, and charged
Town under severe fire from the Court
louise, and halting in front Of the Ware
louise. Parish. selling his gun, ran it
behind Shackleford's house, loaded it,
pulled it to the breastwOrks in omen
new, within 80 to 100 yards from Court
louise, where he fired four shots at the
'ourt House with great rapi'lity, before
le fell. He bled to death in short
'mc, thus passing away as gallant .
pirit as ever animated the form of man.
lft"r this, about twenty men mounted
heir horses held in line some 200 yards
!ehlnd the gun, and charged down
trough the town, pursuing the retreat
ng negroes.
Captain -. on receiving the orders.