Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-09-16
The Coushalta Massacre,

er shoes or shirts. and very much over
come by their fright. fatigue and expos
ure. One of them is Henry A. Scott, o
Townsend, Vermont He served through
the war in the Union army. He was FRS
Lieutenant in the 18th Vermont Artill
cry, and came to Coushatta to settle viii
other northern men 10 January last. Th'
other white person Is Seth Weston. a ma
tive Of Louisiana, and an old officer il
the Confederate cavilry. These refugees
left Coushatta two days after the murder
of the six prisoners. They report tha
they were warned by the captain Of one
of the "White League" companies thai
they must escape if possible, for be would
be utterly unable to protect them on ac'
count of their support Of the General
Government, which was generally known
The refugees say that the swamrs stink
with petrifying corpses Of the slaughtered
negroes, a1 Fe 7.Hot 90 rs'f a7f
The six murdered white men we're told
the day before their murder that they
must take their watches and jowelry with
them, as their captors would not other
wise be responsible for the safety of their
property. They did so, and after they
we're murdered their bodies we're robbed
of everything that had any value. They
we're entirely stripped. Four of these
persons we're married with families. Only
one was permitted to see his wife. Three
of them had married Southern ladies', and
were living there with their families. The
guard that conducted the six men cut to
be murdered were 35 in number. well
mounted and armed with double barreled
shot guns. The refugees state that the
"White League" was constantly receiv.
ing reinforcements up to two days after
the murder.
1t will be remembered that Of the six
white men murdered, three. II. l. Twitch.
ell, M. G. Willis. and Clark Holland,
were natives of this State, having been
born in Windham county.
A correspondent of the Brattleboro
Pheenir gives the following sketch Of the
Vermont men so brutally murdered:
Capt, Marshall Twitchell. the present
State Senotor Of Louisiana, was reared a
farmers son in Townshend, w., enlisted
as private soldier in the 4th VI. Regi-
ment, and was severely wounded in the
head at the battle of An.ietam. After
bis recovery, aud upon the organization
Of the colored regiments, he received
commission in one Of those reg
iments and was stationed in Louisiana.
Here he won the hand of Southern lady.
The close of the war found him establish
ed on Red river plantation near Cous.
hatta. This enterprise proved to be de.
cided financial success. aud he erectad
steam saw mill aud took held of business
as he had Of wa, to make things move.
He entered into the political reorganiza.
ton of the State with the same energy
aud determination to win, establishing and
editing for time Republican journal at
Coushatta. Midst all this business and
political warfare, he has been the object
Of deep rebel hatred. Many times has
his life been threatened and but narrowly |
has he escaped in number of instances.
He doubtless owes his life to-day to the
fact that he was IN New Orleans when
this family butchery occurred. Thus much
We have felt it necessary to say Of the
living to make complete the story Of the
dead.
Monroe G. Willis and Clark Holland
we're both farmers boys, born and reared
in Newfane, Windham county, VT, and
both graduated at the same dstric, school.
ln the early Part Of the rebellion Willis's
oldest and only brother enlisted as
ard was killed during Gen.
Pope's disastrous campaign in Virginia.
When the call came for nine months men,
young Willis was ready to go and avenge
his brothers. death. He enlisted in the
10Th Vermont regiment, and was in his
place. on that forced march to Gettysburg
and nobly did his part on thai field of
carnage. As night was closing in on the
day Of the final rebel rout, be was wound
ID by stray shot. He came homo with
MS regiment, received his honorable dis
,harge, and again took up the labor of
The farm with his aged father, who is to-
lay past three score years and ten. Some
where between the years 1867 and 1869,
young Willis, King aud Holland, married
he three Twitchcll sisters. In 1870
CAPT. Twitchell's business in Louisiana
lad become so extensive that he found
himself in situation to offer his brothers
ind brothers-in-law GOOD business positions