The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-16
CIVIL WAR.
Deadly Collision Between the Whites and
Blacks Of Grant Parish, La.
Four Hundred Africans
in War Array.
BATTLE AT COLFAX.
Driven from Their Trenches the Negroes
Flee to the Court House.
Fire Employed to Burst
the Barricade.S.
FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER.
One Hundred Negroes Shot In Rushing
from the Burning Ambuscade.
Driven from Their Trenches the Negroes
Flee to the Court House.
Fire Employed to Burst
the BarricadeS.
FRIGHTFUL SLAUGHTER.
One Hundred Negroes Shot In Rushing
from the Burning Ambuscade.
ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE TRACED TO Politics

NEW ORLEANS, La. April Is, 1879.
The steamboat Southwestern, which arrived at
brings stirring and important news from Grant
parish The whites have retaken Coliax and there
is not negro to be found for miles around From
passeng ers on the Southwestern we CLEAN the
following THE negroes had strongly entrenched
themselves in the Court House and built breast
works three ana four feet high. There were 1t is
said, about four hundred men armed and equipped
thoroughly
ATTACK OF THE WHITES.
On Sunday, at about twelve O'Clock, about one
hundred and fifty men, who had gathered from
the surrounding parishes, made an attack on the
breastworks, and brisk fight was kept up till
somewhere near three o'clock The breastworks
were then stormed and captured, the negroes TAX
ing refuge in the Court House, the doors Of which
were barricaded. After some further fighting the
negroes threw out nag OF truce, and several de.
tacnments Of men advanced on 1t, when they were
fred on by the besieged party wounding several,
one of whom was Captain Hodnot who was shot in
the bowels, and who it is feared Is fatally
wounded. They retreated on the outside of the
breastworks, and, as the only means Of dislodging
the negroes,
THE COURT HoU Sc WAS SET ON FIRE.
and they were shot as they came from the burning
building. 1t is reported that between eighty and
one hundred negroes were killed and that there
were none afterwards to be found for miles
around.
The Captain of the steamboat Southwestern
makes the following statement:-We arrived at
Colfax Sunday evening, about eight O'Clock, and
found that the white people and the Sheriff, at
their head, suppose, had captured the town after
having had conflict with the negroes. 1t was re-
ported 10 me that about
ONE HUNDRED NEGROES HAD BEEN KILLED
and many wounded. We saw from our boat about
fifteen or twenty lying around on the banks
name l did not learn, and two very seriously
wounded-Messrs. Hodnot and Harris. Mr.. Hodnot
was shot through the bowels and 1t is supposed
that he is mortally wounded. We brought Messrs.
Harris and Hodnot down from Colfax to Alexan-
dria Three or fsur other white men were slightly
wounded. About one hundred negroes escaped;
but 1t was reported that the whites were still
pursuing them.
ALL THE LEADERS ESCAPE.
All the leaders OF the riot escaped The negroes
ambuscaded themselves in the Court House, The
whites, on finding there was no other mode OF at
tack left them, set fire to the building The whites
numbered In the neiChborhood OF one hundred and
fifty men. The fight lasted from twelve O'Clock
until nearly I'VE P. M. The whites are now in pos
session Of Coax, and when left, late last Sunday
night everything was very quiet.
THE ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
Grant parish, which was recently created out Of
q portion OF Rapides, Is situated upon Red River,
above Alexandria. Its seat, Colfax small, strag.
Cling town, containing about half dozen white
families, Is located upon the Calhoun plantation,
the sugar house serving the purpose Of a Court
House. From some cause its returns were thrown
out from the count in the recent election and
tied this city, had an interview with Governor KEEL
logg and demanded commissions, TIE fusion can
didates being at that time In possession OF the
ofnces.
KELLOGG DECLINES TO INTERFERE.
Al the interview, which was very stormy one,
Governor Kellogg declined to issue commissions
to either party, advising them to settle the dispute
by compromise, whereupon both parties returned
and the local excitement became greatly inten-
siaed Two weeks ago the negroes, under COM
mand OF a colored man named Ward, took posses.
sion OF the Court House, and proceeded to throw
M entrenchments. Some riotlng occurred at the
time, but with no fatal result.
THE WHITES ORDER OUT WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Numbering some four hundred in all, they re-
NAMED in this hostile attitude until Sunday morn
ing last, when league Of white men that had been
formed for the purpose, numbering 125 armed men,
recruited from both Grant and Rapides, arrived at
Colfax at about daylight and, after giving the
negroes an hour to remove their women and chill
dren, made the attack with the result reported.
AS no telegrapnic communication exists with the
seat Of war; we are as yet In possession Of no fur
ther details. The event has created great excite
ment throughout the city. and 1t is expected that
detachment OF Kellogg's newly formed brigade and
armed police viii leave for the scene OF action
under command OF General Longstreet.
SPAIN.
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