The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-15
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

STORY OF THE BATTLE-sHERIPF CRosBY's
PART IN THE Row-A MEETING or CITIZENS
Gov. AAEs IMPLICATED.
VIcKsBURs, Dec. T.-EDgagements took
place this morning between the whites and
negroes on the various routes leading into
the city. This negroes were repulsed
and routed at all points, with loss
of eighteen or twenty killed and
the same number wounded. Thirty or forty
Ep11soner rs were captured and lodged in Jail.
sOn the side OF the whites Oliver Brown, of
Snider's Bluff, was killed. Policeman Bur
TO. was wounded and George Bachelor ac-
cldentally shot through the foot. The Cit
liens are still under arms and the roads are
Dicke!ed. The excitement is subsiding in
thetown, THE negroes took no part in the
difficulty whatever. There has been trouble
brewing for some time between the tax
PAYERS association of the citizens and the
county officials. The sheriff was acting
without a legal bond, and the board OF
supervisors refused to order new one,
though the new time for paying
taxes had arrived. Two or three other
officials were under Indictment for forgery
and embeZZ' 'ement, ana inc citizens des-
sairiEg of any relieffrom the part isan courts,
last wednesday held meeting, and in
body proceeded to the court house to de-
mand the resignation OF the sheriff, chaDeery
clerk, treasurer and coroner. All fled eX
cept Sheriff Crosby, negro, and he signed
his resignation. On Saturday a card ap
peared on the streets, signed by Crosby, cali
ing on all the citizens of Warren county, re-
.publieans. white and black, to come TO his
aid and support hlm in his position. Crosby
publicly and through the papers denied
the authorship of the card. Yet this morn
ing armed bodies of negroes appeared
advancing ia the city from six different
roads. The alarm was sounded about
O'Clock. and the citizens gathered en- masse,
armed Immediately, and advanced 10 meet
the negroes on Baldwin's Ferry road. The
negroes we're met just outside the city on
Grove street, about two hundred strong.
Irk.a commander of the citizens warned the
negroes to disperse but they refused, and
immediately firing commenced on both
sides. The negroes retreated about a mile
-and again made a stand in the old breast
works and house hut were soon routed.
The loss in this engagement was
soee citizen, Oliver Bacon, killed
and about twelve or fifteen negroes
killed. Several were wounded and about
twenty taken prisoner. On Halls ferry
road about two hundred and fifty negroes
were found, and routed after short engage
ment, with several killed and wounded.
Andrew OVENS negro who commanded the
negroes on Baldwin's Ferry road, was cap
tured aud committed to jail. In an inter-
Wow with a Herald reporter, Owens said
that he was ordered by Sheriff Crosby to
come to the city to-day with all the armed
mon he could get together. Alex. Stock
house, from Newton, one of the captured ne
groes, ssys tnat the order for all the negroes
TO come to Ficksburg this morning
was read siu the church Sunday. Crosby,
who is under guard at the canal house, de-
nies that he gave such orders. It is reported
this evening that the negroes are commit
ting depredations in the country. The in
tense excitement that prevailed this morn
ing has subsided to great degree, yet many
citizens are under arms and all the roads are
picketed. At public meeting this even
ing the following was adopted:
Resolved, That W lille we are fully satisfied
that Peter Crosby has caused armed negroes
to march on the city, and should, therefore,
be held mainly responsible for all the blood
that has been shed, we recommed
all good citizens TO abstain from
lnfiicIing any personal violence upon him
and that we use still further efforts to have
him removed from Office in some legal man
ner.
The latest evidence just received renders
il absolutely certain that Gov. Ames and
his attorney, Gen. George E Harris, incited
and advised the invasion of this city by the
negroes to-day. This evidence has been
laid before the ablest lawyers of the city
with view to arresting and bringing these
parties to this city for trial.