The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-23
the WAR OF RACES N LOUISIANA
Official Report Of the Fight at Colfax,,
in Grant Parish.
Ninety-f0mr Negroes Killed and
Twelve Wounded.

twelve w OgaNNSI.
The steamer B. L. Hodge, which arrived In New
Orleans the nth OF April, took back TO the city
Colonel 7. w. De Klyne ana Colonel William Wright'
OF General Longstreet's stan, who had been sent
on the Saturday previous TO investigate the troubles
in Grant parish.
We publish below tho Official report OF these
officers to the Adjutant General OF the State:-
hEADQUARTER FIRST DIVISION, !
LOUISIANA STATE NATIONAL GUARD
NEW ORLEANS April IT, 1873 J
Brigader General HENRY STREET. Adjutant Gen
GENERAI,-In obedience to special order Ne %,
dersigned officers left New Orleans on Saturday,
April II, to proceed to Coliax Grant parish
We reached Pineville, opposite Alexandria, at
about halfpast nine O'Clock on Monday, the 14th
instant, where we were informed that a severe ac-
ton had taken place at CollaX the day be ore oun
day. that from one hundred and fifty to two hun
dred colored men had been killed; that two
white men. named HadnOt and Harris, were
wounded, the former mortaly, and that Coifax, or
part OF 1t, had been burned.
Upon crossing the river to Alexandria we be-
came convinced or the existence oil violent,
| though suppressed popular excitement. Numbers
OF men from the parish OF Rarides had participated
in the struggle, and were now returning TO Alex
| andria Parish officials expressed themselves as
/ apprehensive OF an outbreak in Alexandra,
holding Office under the administration Of Cover
/ nor Kellogg. We were urged to procure the pre-
sence OF troops as speedily as possible ATTEMPTS
OF Rapdes, to go to Grant parish, and failing, the
person claiming to have been elected Sheriff on
/ the Fusion ticket accompanied the party that went
/ from Alexandria.
We lett Alexandria at about halrpast eleven A.
| NJ During our stay there mounted men were con-
stantly crossing the river. coming from the direc-
uon OF Collax, and Just as we eit party o. twenty
mounted, and armed apparently with shetguns,
crossed the river In body.
Believing that Coliax was destroyed, and as we
could not reach there before dark, on our arrival
at Cotile we deemed 1t expedent TO remain there
for the night. Everything in this vicinity appeared
| perfectly quiet and peaceful.
Having secured an ambulance, we crossed the
river into Grant parish early on the msrning OF
! Tuesday, the 18TH instant and started for Csllax
seeh sa me arons ' are pSaSa
neglected, many OF the residents, both white and
colored, have lett their homes, and general sense
OF insecurity prevails, which, we are satisfied, can
| only be removed by the presence Of troops.
About one-tRird OF a mile below the Court House
carrying away a wounded colored man upon
sled. At little distance in the field were the dead
yards nearer the Court House were three dead
bodies OF coored men, and rom that
single white man or TO ascertain the loss Of the
loads Of whites, dead and wounded, were carried
away, but 1t is persistently denied by any OF the
whites claiming to have knowledge OF the actual
loss, they asserting that but man on their side
was killed, and Hadnot and Harris were wounded.
| We may state here that Hadnot has since died In
we send herewith plan OF the Court House and
| Its deiences. space OF about two hundred yards
| square was inclOSed in slight earthwork, with
| ditch inside. This ditch was from ten TO eighteen
inches in depth and the breastw0rk in front OF 1t
| from twenty to thirty inches in height and was
protected in front by tw0and-a-haif inch planking
On the lower side OF the Court House, the greater
| Ing alone laid in zigzags and without ditch.
From what information we could get, we believe
! that the fight commenced on Sunday the 18th
| instant between ten and eleven A. NJ, and con-
| tlnued until nearly dark. or the numbers engaged
on either side it is impossible for US to form any
definite idea, though we are satisfied that the
| parties holding the Court House less in num-
Der than their assailants. 1t Is asserted by the
| colored people that the assaiants consisted OF
parties from the parishes OF VIM, Rapdes, Natchl-
| toches, Catahoua and Caddo, In addition to those
from Grant; but they were either unable or I'M
willing to give the names OF any parties par
tcipating in the attack. This information, how
ever will doubtless be obtained hereafter.
/ All statements that we have heard agree SUB.
| stantiay In the main particulars. IL is agreed
that the attacking party was commanded by {. 9.
| that surrender was demanded and refused; that
| the besieged were given thirty minutes 10 remove
| their women and children, and that at the expra-
ton of that time the fight was commenced by the
assailing party.
The attacking party had IN their possession Satn a
Moore, from which they fired bolts, sample OF
\ which we deposit in your office. The besieged had
gaspipe on rafter timbers blocking up one end
with pine plug and drilling touchhole One Of
these was bursted while trying 1t, some days before
the fight and the other has not the appearance Of
having been used.
Some time during the afternoon the besieged
were drawn from the field and from their breast.
works into the Court House. One end OF this build
ing was without windows. nor had the besieged
Atkins informed us that Mr.. Nash had forced
colored called Pink to come to this end OF the
roof until it caught nre. 1t is our opinion
that few OF the colored men had been
Ureea Up se re s to % eave but e eou ose
| they were shot down without mercy. The position
and condition Of many OF the bodies go far to prove
/ House and the river, were the dead bodies OF six
cslored men who had evidently crept under for
concealment, and were there shot like dogs. Many
were shot in the back OF the head and neck. One
man still lay with his hands clasped In supplica-
ton inc face OF another was completely na5tenea
barrelled shot gun being on the ground near him;
another had been cut across the stomach with a
| knife after being shot, and almost all had from
three to a dozen wounds Many OF them had their
brains literally blown out. 1t is asserted by the
prisoners, VINO were taken before the burning Of
the Court House, were taken to the river bank,
two by two, executed and hurled In the river. We
caused to be buried IN the ditch near the ruins OF
the Court House the remains OF f1ty-four col
ored men, three of whom were so badly burned as
to be unrecognizabe. There we're inside the Court
/ House the charred bones OF one other, and five
bodies gave to their friends for interment else.
where. We saw, also, twelve wounded coored
men, two Of whom Will certainly die and others Of
whom are very unlikely TO recover.
we are informed that since the fight parties Of
men have been securing the country surrounding
Cofax, taking the mules and other property OF the
colored people.
since writing the above report we have seen on
| board the steamboat the colored man, Lew Allen,
/ who commanded the party holding the Court House.
| He assures US that not a single man was killed or
| wounded until alter their surrender, and that then
| they were shot down without mercy. We will
| obtain his sworn statement hereafter
On our return to Alexandria yesterday we were
| again implored by citizens to have troops sent
there at once. the only means Of averting dis
| turbance. Very respectfully,
7. w. DE KLYNE,
Colonel, Assistant Adjutant General
WILLIAM WRIGHT,
Colonel Assistant Inspector General.