New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-15
N1W ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, TUESDAY u1CENBnta5 WH

1ho2buGb AAoae - vlcksAurg Massacre
That . false account of the slaughter of
o0ldged 80 II lie Aeighb0rhood Of vicks-
burg hse been spcead over tho country by
those who aro aympathizers with the ag-
greseoes, guilty Of needless and most wicked
blOOdshod, We arc not at liberty to doubt. Z,
We havo, from source that commands
: confidence, . statement that 10 due the
country. Our information is that the active
whites of vieksburg had some time since
determined to ''clesn out" the present Office
holders. Three Of those oficeholders were
indicted At the last term of the grand jury.
Crosby, tho sherid, was the one especially
aimed ct. It was determined that he should
be put out of office. The papers insisted
upon the board of supervisors meeting on
Wednesday Of last week and requiring
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
Q good bond.
But the citizens, headed BY hot-headed
and irresponsible set OF men, put out an in
cendiary circular calling for meeting of
the citizens of the county on the same day
the board Of supervisors were to meet
And every one knew full we'll 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 an appearance. But 1.-THE
citizens held their meeting. 1t was attend
ed mostly by the younger men and irrespon-
sible parties spelling for row. During
the session committee Of five lawyers was
appointed to report if all legal means to
GUST Crosby had been exhausted. A major
ity of tho committee reported that all legal
means had not been exhausted. A minority
report was made by two young limbs Of
the law saying that all legal means had
been exhausted. and the time for action had
come. By section" they meant force, and
by force they meant the rope. No conceal
ment WAS made in their talk about hanging,
etc.
4 A committee vas appointed 60 wait upon
certain officials and demand their resiSna-
zion. The meeting adjourned to await the
report. Tho officials who could be found
begged time to consult their lawyers, but
failed to reply in the time gwen them. On
the reassombling of the meeting in the
afternoon: and hearing the report OF their
body to the courthouse and demand the
resignation of the officers. On reaching the
courthouse all the officers fed but Crosby.
He signed resignation. No one concealed
what his fate would be if he had not done
60. He would have been hanged on the
spot. A soon a. he got out Of the clutches
Of the mob he wrote letter to Judge
Brown, of tho Circuit Court, stating that
he took back his resignation, as he was COM
PEELED to sign it 20 cave hp life. He was
then out in the country, on his way to Jack
son.
The morning after this row Judge Brown
tried to hold court, but the parties left in
charge of the courthouse refused to let the
deputy enter tho courtroom, and 50 court
has been adjourned from day 10 day since
then.
On Friday . rumor got abroad that
Crosby was about to mako good bond, by
placing his Office in the hands Of some per,
son OF another acceptable to the people and
retiring, leaving all control to such deputy.
Two or three good parties agreed 10 take
the position, and arrangements had been
made with their friends to make . bond
that would be ample and beyond dispute.
When this was heard q meeting Of the citi-
Gems in the city was called, which resolved to
frown down any such effort. The next morn
ing tho papers contained notices warning
white citizens from going on the bond, and
this, too, in the face Of repeated assertions
that NO charge was made against Crosby
except his failure to give good bond. On
the streets the threats were numerous that
no mans life would be safe who went on
such bond.
Crosby returned from jackson on Friday
with instructions from the Governor to take
possession of his office, and to call in the
aid of the militia to sustain him. He sent
news to tho country for the negroes to
come in Monday and report to the court
house. They came, were met at the city
limits and laughtered-simply slaughtered
and butchered. They were chased through
the woods and fields and shot down like
dogs. Many were shot after they gave up,
and some were shot on their knees while
begging for mercy. The spirit Of demons
was in tho people. 1t was not safe for any
one not in full accord with them to be on
the street. One poor old negro by the name
of Ambrose Brown was ordered of the
street by Captain Cowan, a former rebel
battery commander, and being tardy in
going. COwan deliberately shot him. Many
prisoners were taken and kept in the court.
house, and taken out in the morning. With
winks and mods, and laughter and jest it
was reported that three OF the most OBJ
nOxi0us made their escape, which means
they have simply been murdered while
prisoners.
This is, professionally, the truth Of the
massacre, and the people of the nation
should fully recognize all its enormities.
The worst of it is that the persons who
have been guilty of this wholesale murder,
fully Justify themselves upon the statement
of facts that We have given, and we are
bound to add, that they are animated by
the conviction that there has been q polit-
ical revolution in the North, and that their
time had come.-Cincimmati Commercial