Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-14

! that we could capture them easily. We
/ landed at Shoo-Fly without ringing a
/ bell or sounding a whistle. Captain
| Finlay's company was placed on the
| forecastle, with orders to spring ashore
as soon as tine boat touched, and cover
4 our debarkatiOn above and below and to
/ press forward the remainder of his COM
/ pany to the forks of the road at o. k,
and stop all pass ng, all OF which he ac-
/ complished in true military style. The
rest OF the command was landed in good
order aud in perfect silence. There was
no real danger, as we afterward learned,
! because the negroes had evacuated Aus
/ TIN several hours before we reached there,
going off with their arms loaded with
dry goods, which they had plundered
from Alexanderis Store. But we knew
the enemy had been there in force, and
we believed them to be there still; and
too much credit cannot be given to the
gallant little band of two hundred and
fifty men, who, to save their friends,
landed in the dark on a strange shore,
with no chance for retreat in case Of dis
aster, and with the full expectation of
meeting six times their number. But the
justice of the cause and their own stout
hearts sustained them, and the sight of
the women and men who had been
driven out from Austin nerved them
for any risk. Captain Finlayis COM
pany moved In front, and we took
possession of Austin without re-
sistapce and restored the deputy-sheriff,
Mr.. Niblett, who wss with US, 10 power.
He acted throughout with caution,
prudence and good Judgment. We cap
tured about forty negroes, some with |
guns and many without Those who !
were armed were sent TO Jail and the re-
mainder released. By twelve O'Clock /
ia the day quiet was restored, and the /
representatives Of the county and a /
number Of influential coloFed men who |
had not been engaged with the rioters, 1
came into the lines and offered TO stand /
by the depuy-sherif and restore law /
and order. Believing that the expedi- |
ton had been eminenly successful in !
inspiring the negroes with the know
ledge of the fact that white men would 1
aud could promptly rally to suppress
such a riot, and further, that they
would protect the innocent, both black
and white, and that we had accom-
plished ali we could lawfully do when
we restored the sheriff TO power, we
withdrew. To Colonel w. L. Duff,
who, at my command, acted as second
in command, and to Captain II. T.
Force, my adjutant, and Dr. Nutall,
surgeon, am deeply indebted for much
needed assistance. Captain Proctor,
the ordnance officer, rendered efficient
service in the preparation Of cartridges,
as well as in his ordinary duties, and
Mr.. George Elliott, acting cOmmissary,
was Indispensable. Major Cooper, Of
the Memphis battalion, and was every
where that he thought chance for one
could be found. Captain Finlsy COW
cred our Decentralization with the skill
of a veteran, and Captain Can
non, who is every inch a SOL
dier, moved promptly to his sup
port. Captain Williams and Cap
tain Hamilton, OF Memphis; Captains
Means, of Tate, and Captain Oliver, of
DeSOto, all moved their commands with
skill and prudeBce. Captain TayiOr
covered the rear, and it is no idle boast
to say that had the enemy in Austin
been as great as represented, We would
have carried it by assault. In coDclu-
sion, must mention that We all, officers
and men, tender our heartfelt thanks
and three rounds Of cheers to Captain
Vickers, Of the steamer St. Genevieve,
who waited patiently to get us aboard,
and brought US to Memphis free OF
charge. Ihave the honor to be yours,
JAMES X. CHALMERS.