The New York herald., 1874-09-02
THE COUsHATTA TROUBLES.


Detailed Account Of tho A6afr-Armed
Bands OF Negroes Threatening tho
Whites With Extermina q tion-A Conn
promise and Resfgnation OF Radical
Omcisls-Tholr Subsequent Assassina-
tiOn.
SHREVEPORT. La, Sept l, 1874.
Major A. r. Stephens. OF De Soto parish, who ar
rived here to-day furnishes the following account
OF the Coushatta troubles which is no doubt, sub
stantlally correct:-
1t seems that in Red River parish. where the
negroes are largely in excess Of the whites, much
apprehension and alarm has been felt by the latter
ON account or u threatened outbreak OF negroes,
instgated, was generally believed. by Edgartou,
De Wees TwitchelI, Howell. Willis, Holland and
others. The lives OF several respectable white
residents OF the parish had been threatened by the
negroes and few days ago Mr.. Williams, q re-
spect table citizen Of the Third ward OF Red River
parish, was threatened with assassination by two
notorious and desperate negroes near Browns
vile, in the lower edge OF the parish. he having
been fired at by them with double barreled shot
guns.
On last Thursday night a small party OF white
men went to the cabins OF three negroes with the
view of arresting and lodging them in jail, when
they were fired upon from cabin and one OF the
party instantly killed. The negroes then at
tempted to run to the woods when they were
both shot and killed by the party attempting TO
make the arrest. On the next day tFriday) q
large party OF armed negroes, between 800 and
400 in number, assembled near Brownsville, swear
ing vengeance against the whole white race, and
declaring they would not leave white man,
woman or child alive In the parish, This created
GREAT APPREHENSION
and excitement at Coushatta and throughout the
FRIDAY niOhL
roads leading tns0 the town were picketed Two
young men, Mr. Joe Dickson ana Mr.. Pickens, who
were on one Of the posts, halted negro who was
coming into the town with q sack OF bucksh0t.
He PAID no attention to their command to malt and
ran or into the darkness, being fred at by one Of
the party, without effect, however. Tney immedi-
ately went into town to report what had Oc
Cured, and were returning to their post when
they were accosted in the streets Of Coushatta by
desperadoes named Andrew Bosley and Bob
Smith, all OF whom were armed. They had lew
moments conversation with Them, not Of violent ole
post, when they were flied upon twice by that
party from the rear without warning. Dickson
he now lies in a very critical condition. Mr..
P.ckens escaped unhurt. The firing party then ran
Twitchell for the time being. That night ana next
morning, 7. s. Edgart0n. Homer l. Twltchell, r A.
a De wss nesdes Of neSroe ~ we're as
rested and placed under guard All Of the party
who held ONCE then voluntarily wrote out and
TENDEREp THEIR RESERVATIONS,
and they, with Others voluntarily proposed II
guard was furnished them to Shreveport, that
This was at once assented to, and the prisoners
requested Mr.. John Carr. reliable and trust
s to 1
at ten O'Clock, Mr.. Carr, with guard OF about
sixteen men, started with the above named prison
ers, except the negroes released aiterward. A
Texans. ff who had come into Coushatta, started in
Ing Ing 'Is the prisoners. Later II The day Nj:
Carr was apprsed OF this fact, and put
nsr ana to e to
While nearing the Hutchinson plantation on Red
River, some thirty miles below Shreveport, with
the view OF crossing there and destroying the 6at
boat to prevent further pursuit. he was overtaken
by the pursuing party Inc guards were over
and three OF them, Edgarton, Twtchell and De
Wees, shot on the spot. The other three, Howell,
tancs to near Wards store and there shot. The
citizens in the neighborhood assembled yesterday
morning and buried the parties who had been
killed, the drst three IN graveyard near Hutchin-
sons plantation and tine last three ON the spot
where they had been killed, near Wards store.
Governor Kellogg Calling Out the State
Militi. i'm View Of Appreciated Dis
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. I, 1874.
The Governor has called out an extra regiment
OF state militia to be composed OF picked white
men, the orders being issued some days ago, In
view OF the apprehended White League distur-
Dances and the entire absence Of United States
troops from the State Recruiting mas been Quie
going on, and 1t Is stated that no ex-s0deEs have
volunteered. This regiment will be added to
LOngstreet's brigade, and will De used mainly to
keep down disturbances in and around the city.
An Alleged Attempt OF White Leaguers
to XIII or Run Republican Leaders
Out OF the Stato-The Statement Of
Governor Kellogg.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Sept. 1, 1874.
Dispatches received In New Orleans by State
Senator M. Fl. Twltchel, a brother OF one Of the
persons killed in C0ushatte, state explicitly
that the only cause OF the occurrence
was q white league movement to run
out OF the State or kill all the
white republican leaders in tue parish Of Red River
which, by the returns OF all the returning boards,
went largely republican at the last election and
thus to prevent the organization Of the republican
voters OF that parish i0r the coming campaign.
AT the Executive Department 1t ID asserted that
the Intention OF the white league OF Caddo
parish TO take possession OF Red River parish
was known to the parish ofncers Tor days
previous TO the actual occurrence, and this was
organizing to ,mocs resist their displscemeD.
they were fairy elected. Governor Kellogg
states that all the Information In hts possession
emphatically cOntradicts the version given by
Major Stephenson Of the origin Of the trouble.
oouxrrxrmron on rrnruuDc yomc