The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-24
From The Cincinnati Commercially
The Truth about the Vicksburg Massacre

| That a false account of the slaughter of col
been spread over the country, by tt ose who
are sy npathizers with the aggressors, guilty of
needless and most wicked bloodshed, we are
not at liberty to doubt,
We have, from source that commands con-
fidence statement that is due the country -
Our information is that the active whites of
Vicksburg had some time since determined to
.'clean out" the present Office holders. Three of
those 4officeholders were indicted at the last
term of the grand jury. Crosby, the sheriff.
was the one especially aimed at. 1t was deter
mined that he should be put out of office. The
papers insisted upon the Board of Supervisors
meeting ON Wednesday of last week and req,,i-
ring Crosby to give good bond. A meeting of
that body was called, and it is known that the
intention was to require Crosby TO give 4 good
bond.
B 1t the citiz MS, headed by hot-heade, and
iri responsible set OF men, put out an inccn.liary
circular calling for meeting Of the citizens Of
| TIL county OH the same day the Board of Sl-
pervisors were to meet. And every one knew
| full well that it was the intention that the
| Board should be forced to do what was wanted,
or personal violence used. So the country
members failed to put in all appearance. But
| the citizens held their meeting. 1t was attell-
| ded mostly by the younger men and irrespOll-
| sible parties spelling for row. During the
session a committee OF five lawyers were APP
| pointed to report if all legal means to GUST
| Crosby had been exhausted. A majority of
| the committee reported that all legal means
had not been exhausted. A minority report
| was made by two young limbs Of the law, say
| ing that all legal means had been exhausted,
| and that the fine for action had come. BY
| action they meant force, and by force they
meant the rope. No concealment was made in
| their talk about hanging. &c. A committee
was appointed to wait upon certain officials and
| demand their resignation. The meeting adj
| journed to await the report. The officials who
could be found begged time to consult their
| lawyers, but failed to reply in the time given
! Them On the re-assembling of the meeting in
| the afternoon. and hearing the report Of the
| committee, they resolved to adjourn i'll body
| to the Courthouse and demand the resignation
of the officers On reaching the court house all
the officers fled but Crosby H. signed res
ignation. No one concealed what his fate
would be if he had not done so. As soon as he
| cot out Of the clutches of the mob, he write d
| letter to Judge Brown, OF the Circuit Court,
stating that he took back his resignation, as he
was compel d to sign it to save his life. He
was then out in the country, on bis way te
| jackson.
| The morning after this row Judge Brown
tried to hold Court, but the parties left in charge
of the court house refused to let the Deputy en-
| ter the Courtroom, and so court has been adj
journed from day to day since then.
| On Friday a rulnor got abroad that Crosby
was about to make good bond, by placing hi
| office in thc hands of some person OF another
| acceptable to the PEOPLE and retiring, leaving
all control to such deputy. Two or three goot
parties agreed to take the position, and arrange
ments had been made with their friends tt
make bond chat would be ample and beyont
dispute. When this was heard a meeting o
the citizens in the city was called. which re
solved to frown down any such effort: TIT
next morning the papers contained notice!
| warning white citizens from going on the bond
and this, too, i'll the face of repeated asscr. ion
that no charge was made yainst Crosby excep
his failure to give good bond. On the street
the threats were numerous that no MANS lii
would be safe who went on such bohd.
Crosby returned from Jackson on Friday
with Instructions from the Governor to talk
possession of his Office, and to call in the aid o
the militia to sustain him. He sent news to tn
country for the negroes to come iii Monday
and report to the courthouse. They came, wer
met at the city limits and slaughtered;- >impl
slaughtered and Lutcheretl. They were chase
through the woods and fields and shot dow
like dogs. Many were shot after they gave ur
and some We're shot en- their knees while beg
cling for mercy. The spirit Of demons was j
Tie pcOpIS LII WIS IiOG Suit IOi ANY WY NV
ACCORD with them to be on the street. IN
poor old negro by the name of Ambrose Brow
was ordered off the street by Captain CoWa!
and being tardy in going, Cowan deliberatel
shot him. Many prisoners were taken an
kept in the courthouse, and taken OUT in til
!, morning. With winks and mods and ls,tgllte
and Jest it was reported that three Of the mos
obnoxious made their escape, which mean
they have simply been murdered while prison
ers.
This is unquestionably the truth Of the ma
saere, and the people Of the Nation should full
f4co.nize all its enormities. The worst OF it
that the persons who have been guilty Of II
wholesale murder fully Justify themselves upo
the statement of facts that we have given, al
i we are bound to add trey are animated by I'll
), conviction than there has been political re
!, oution in the North, and that their time
J, come.
The Rev. W. Prettyman, a Methodist preac
: err, and post master at Marietta, Gas has di
proved entirely, by square showing OF his a
oouptc oertain charoeS Of (lefaillt made latei