Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-12
THE COUSHATTA BUTCHERY-
OPEN REBELLION ADVOCATED-
rHR KC-KLUX IN KENTUCKY

A private Olspatcn mas Deen TecleNeo mere
| this evening from New Orleans, which brings
two days later intelligence from the Coushat.
| ia massacre in Louisiana. The person who
sends the dispatch is known here to be en-
correctness of his information. The follow
ing is a synopsis of the long despatch "Two
white refugees from Coushatta arrived here
(Nev Orieans) day, accompanied by ne
gro. They had come through the woods by
way of Monroe. They are in a most deplor-
able condition. They are without shoes or
shirts, and are very mnch overcome by their
fright, fatigue, and exposure. One Of them is
Henry A. Scott, of Townsend VT. He serv-
ed through the war in the Union army. He
was First Lieutenant in the Eleventh Yer
mont Artillery. He came to Coushatta to set
tie, with other Northern men, in January
last. The other white man is Seth Western,
a native of Louisiana, and an old officer in
the Confederate cavery. Since the war he
has been follower of Cen Longstreet in
supporting the Administration. The refugees
left Coushatta two days after the murder of
the prisoners. They report that they arewarned
by the Captain of one of the White League
companies that they must escape, if possible,
for he would be utterly unable to protect
them on account of their support of the Gen.
eral Government, which was generally known.
The refugees say that the swamps stink with
the corpses of the slaughtered regrots. The
q nd To n he
before their murder that they
must take their watches and iewelry with
them, as their captors woad Eot Otherwise be
responsible for the safety Of their property.
They did SO, and after they were murdered
their bodies were robbed of everything that
had any value. They were entirely stripped.
Four of these persons were married and had
families. Only one of them were permitted
to see his wife. Three of them had married
Southern ladies. and were living there with
their families. The guard who conducted the
six men out to be murdered wore thirty-five
in number, well mounted and armed with
double -barreled shot-guns. The refugees
state that the White League was continually
receiving reinforcements up to two days after
the murder. The league is organized in
companies which are well armed and disci-
plined, and thoroughly drilled by good Off
GERS. All provisions in the town have been
seized and preparations made for regular
siege. The person WHO sends this dispatch
of the story of these refugees may otherwise
reach the North"
The Shreveport Times, of Sept 8, received
in New Orleans this morning, says. We are
engaged in a contest to protect our rights and
property against the tyranny of local State
despotism, and we shall prosecute that con-
test whether the Federal Government sends
troops or not" And the Times adds "The
President must send troops enough to subju.
gate US by by physical force, for the people of
louisiana can no longer be ground into the
dust by the phantom of federal army in the
person of regiment or SO of soldiers. In the
next sixty days Louisiana must be tree State
or military cnmp."
Willis Russell, deputy United States Mar
shall in Ken lucky, makes a full report of Ku-
Kentucky. He says:
| live at Monterey, in Owen county, Ky,
and was born and reared near that place.
About the year 1870 bands of armed men,
disguised and masked, began committing
depredations in the vicinity of Monterey and
Gistville, two small villages, the former being
in Owen and the latter Immediately opposite,
in Henry county. They were known as Ku-
klux, and were in the habit of visiting the
houses of citizens, disguised as stated, in the
night time, and intlictng summary punish
ment, without charge, reason, or excuse.
The parties thus visited by them were mostly
poor colored men, living in humble cabins,
but they would sometimes attack a white cit
izen of the poorer class. Sometimes they
would kill the parties whom they visited.
Sometimes they would whip their victims
severely, and occasionally burn the homes in
which they lived. They would give no rea-
sons for their conduct, but contented them
selves with these summary proceedings with
out explanation.
More than 100 men have been killed,
wounded, or driven away from that portion of
Owen and Henry counties lying on the Ken
lucky river by the ku Klux in the last three
years. These have been mostly colored peo
pie, although some white men are included.
Among the number l will mention Sam Crew
(colored) and family, James Bourne (colored)
and family, John Dickerson (colored) and
family, Wallace Dickerson (colored), Jor-
don Mosby Scolored) and family, one of his
boys being shot; Levi Fishback (colored),
AL. Towles (colored) and his brothers and
mother; Thornton Dunlap, (colored). They
killed four colored people on Sand Ripple, in
Henry county. They have also driven away
several white men, among whom are Richard
E. Williams (also wounded), William Plas-
tiers. c. M. Lndall, W. II. Walker, and all
his brothers except James M. Walker, whom
they murdered. They also drove away an
old man named Hiles and his family.
The majority of the people are all good cit
liens, and are at heart violently opposed to
these Ku Klux, but they are under reign of
terror, and are really afraid to express their
opinions, not knowing what moment they will
have to pay the penalty. Whenever the
country is ridden of these pests it will be as
flonrishing community as it was before the
Ku- Ink orQaniZatioD