Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-14
GENERAL CHALMERs's REPORT.

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COLONEL 7. H. ALLEN-As you have
been the representative of the liberal
and patriotic men Of Memphis who re-
spOnded so promptly TO our call for help,
/ deem it proper TO make report to you
of the affairs st Austin, which, though
alarming and serious, resulted in the loss
OF but little life, although much damage
has been done to property. That you
may know there has been no false alarm,
| give you detail Of The facts. a short
tine since one DR.. Smith killed q negro
and was put in Jail for murder. He was
released by Judge Fisher on bail,
which incensed the negroes, and a
mob of three hundred dragged him
from his house and put him
burn the town if he was not Kept there
smith remained in jail under these
threats until last Friday night, when
about fifteen men came IN and escorted
him out of the county. On Saturday
about twenty negroes threatened in
Austin that they would get up their
crowd again and burn the town. Cap
tain Manning, the sheriff. was absent,
leaving Dsering and Nlblett as depu-
uties. They telegraphed repeatedly to
the governor for troops, but could get no
answer. They sent dispatches 10 Col
onel Morgan, at fernando, for help, and
also telegTaphed to Memphis for troops.
On Sunday about one hundred and
twenty white men came to Austin, and
Monday skirmishing between them
and the negroes commenced. The
negroes, who had been trying
to get up riot on account
of the Smith affair, raised the cry Of
white interference IN their county, and
a large armed force was soon raised.
The excitement extended to CoshOms,
from which a number of the negroes
csme. | heard of il for the first time on
Tuesday morning, August 18th, and
heard that the fight was going on when
the packet passed, and at once took pas
sage on the st. Francis for the scene of
action. At all the landings on the Mis-
sissippi side we received information
from reliable men thst large bodies Of
armed negroes had gone, and were pre-
pairing to % 10 Austin. When we
reached o. X. landing We learned that
the town of Austin was in
the9.hauds Of the negroes, and
that Two severe skirmishes had taken
place between the whites and negroes,
In both of which the whites were sue
cessful and had no one hurt, while sew
eral negroes were killed and wounded,
and s number captured. The st. Fran
els did not go by there, and / went on
to meet the men who were coming from
Memphis on the White. Just above
Austin a number Of ladies and men
who had escaped from the town got
aboard the ST. Francis and informed me
that fifteen hundred well armed and
organized negroes were in the town
when they left, and were breaking
open the stores and groceries. One of
the men had been a prisoner aud gave
US this statement from PERSONAL OBJ
seTvation. When we met the A. J.
White the refugees from Austin
and the deputy sheriff changed with
me from tht st. Francis TO the White.
From the report that the town was
in the hands Of the negroes in strong
force, it was apparent that il they con-
tinued 20 hold il We should have TO at
tack them. This led 20 a council Of war
upon two points: First, whether We
had sufficient legal authority 10 justify
us In making the attack; second, in
vIeW Of the smallness Of our numbers,
hein0 only two hundred and forty armed
men. and without proper fixed ammuni-
tion- whether we should attack the
town or intrench above town at Mhoon s
lapding. and wait for reiniolcemenis
and FOR further orders from the governor
OF Mississippi. Colonel Morgan was IN
favor of the latter plan, and finding the
council against him, resigned the COM
mand. ] was then elected to take the
command, and gave orders to prepare
for action, as l should land as near Aus
! tin as it was prudent to do, and attack
! it ct once, believing that ] would find
the eaemy rioting and drinking, and