Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-12
The Men, Women and Chill
dren Fleeing for
Safety.
Horrible State of Affairs


works held Austin and repulsed several
attacks made by the negroes.
A squadron Of cavalry from the hills
of Pamela and DeSoto counties charged
the negroes near Austin and routed
large detachment Of them, killing six
and capturing ten. A number Of negroes
were killed and left dead in the woods
and canebrakes.
Yesterday afternoon it was rumored
at Austin and Helena that General Bill
Pease, a Coahoma county negro, was
marching on Austin with one thousand
men. Negro companies and squads
from Arkansas were surrounding Austin,
the entire negro force being estimated
at from six hundred to one thousand
men, we'll armed with pistols, rifles and
shotguns. The white men, with the
women and children, evacuated Austin
Yesterday afternoon, and fell back to
Chalmers mills on Coldwater, some six
miles back of Austin, which village was
at once taken possession of by the negro
forces, who at once commenced plumber
ing and burning the stores and dwellings
At dark last night the St. Francis
landed at 0. K, one and half miles
below Austin, and learned that the me-
groes were carousing and drinking, be-
ing enthused over their success.
Gen. Chalmers, with fifty men, came
up on the St. Francis from Friar' Point
and boarded the steamer White, which
was met fifty miles below here. The
Mississippi and Memphis troops were in
a high state of enthusiasm, and had or
ganized into companies, the entire bat
talon being under the command of
Major j. Bright Morgan, Of fernando,
Mississippi.
As the boats met a cheer rent the air
and foated over the placid bosom of
the Mississippi. Gen. Chalmers had
authority from the sheriff Of Tunica
county to use the troops as a posse com
mitatltS to suppress lawlessness and in
surrection at Austin. He was armed
with full legal powers to act in this mat
ter. On the White" the troops were
fully organized, officers being elected,
and each soldier had white stripe Of
cotton cloth tied around lis right arm.
The programme was to land at o. X.
below Austin, and in conjunction with
the men who fell back from Austin to
Coldwater, attack the negro forces at
daylight this morning.
Gen. Chalmers took command of the
entire force, which. with the Austin
force, numbers at least FIVE hundred
well armed men.
The steamer St. Francis brought up a
large number of women and children,
having picked them up above and below
Austin and from islands whittier they
had fed for safety in order to escape
from the infatuated and brutal negroes.
The St. Francis will return this evening,
and it is possible that the White may be
up.before night.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
A gentleman who resides at o. X.
Landing came up on the St. Francis.
He says that on Monday the negroes
around Austin had gotten reinforce
ments and attacked the Austinites, who
numbered about fifty men. The negroes
we're repulsed and the white men fell
back to the courthouse, which position
they held until a company of cavalry
from the hills came to their relief. They
then assumed the offensive and drove
the negroes back down the levee road a
distance of mile. In this skirmsh
several negroes were killed.
Yesterday morning an advance was
made by the white force toward o. X.
Landing. The hill cavalry met the ne
groes on the levee road and charged
them, driving them through corn field,
killing six and capturing ten prisoners.
The negroes fell back and awaited rein
forcements, stating that they intended
to capture Austin next morning. Yes
terday afternoon Austin was evacuated
By the white men, and the women and