The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-23
NUMBER 81.
CIVIL WAR IN ARKANSAS.
Battle at Pine Bluff-A Number Oi
Killed and WOunded-The Situation
at Little Rock.

Battle at Pine BlufT-A Number of
Killed and WOunded-The Situation
at Little Rock.
A Little Rock dispatch of the Both, says
that General King White, who has charge of
the Baxter forces at Pine Bluff, hearing that
party OF Brooks men were assembled at New
Gaseony, in jefferson county, committing
depfedations, moved column of 200 men
down TO that point for the purpose of dispers-
ing them. White sent forward flag of truce
to order the men to disperse, but they fired
upon the party, and q regular battle ensued,
IN which nine of the Brooks party were killed
and twenty wounded. The remainder were
taken prisoners, disarmed and sent home.
General White reports seven of his own COM
mand wounded and three horses killed.
The situation at Little Rock, ON the 1st,was
practically unchanged. Baxter's headquar-
ters were still at the Anthony House, and he
had about him some 800 men. Brooks occu-
pies the State House with force estimated at
500 men, mostly colored. The United States
troops occupied aposition between the oppos-
ing forces. In an address to the people, Gen.
j. T. Pagan, a Major-G General in the Confed-
crate army, assumed command of the Brooks
forces throughout the State, and called on his
old comrades to rally to his stand
ard. Both parties were anxiously wait
ing for some definite news from Washington.
Later reports from the fight at Pine Bluff
give the number of killed and wounded as
follows: On Brooks's side, five killed and
twelve wounded; on BaXter's side, six
wounded and Rone killed. The remainder of
Brooks's army was captured, but they were
afterwards released on parole excepting the
commanding officers.
Governor Brooks, ON the 1st, sent the fol-
lowing telegram to President Grant: ssTo
the President: II. King White, who fired on
the commander of the United States troops at
Little Rock, has been ordered to Pine Bluff
by Baxter, and is pillaging and numbering.
The State Is perfectly peaceful except in Jef-
ferson county, the scene of Whites robberies
and murders. have refrained from sending
out force in order to avoid conflict
The Arkansas Democratic State Central
Committee published an address, on the I'd,
calling upon the people to sustain Governor
Baxter; number Of other Democrats signed
an address advising the people to stand by
Brooks. An attempt to assassinate the Asso-
ciated Press agent was reported.
Everything remained quiet at Little Rock
on the 4th. Judges Bennett and Searle, Of
the Supreme Court, were taken off the train
from Memphis at Argenta {opposite Little
Rock on the evening previous. by squad OF
armed men, and secreted somewhere IN the
vicinity, probably. as they had sent word to
their friends assuring them of their being uH-
harmed. Their capture was doubtless effect
ed for the purpose of preventing special ses-
sion of the Court, which was announced to be
held at Little Rock on the following day. Bax-
ter's troops were charged with the abduction,
but on the other hand, the Baxter men
charged it upon Brooks.
At Little Rock, on the 9TH, Chief-Justice
Mcclure had a writ served on Generals
Churchill and Blocher (of Baxter's army.
commanding them to produce the bodies Of
Myers, Bennett and Searle, the Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court, whose arrests
were heretofore mentioned. These officers
replied by stating that martial law prevailed
in Pulaski county at this time, and they knew
of no orders, except those which came from
their superiors.