The Portland daily press., 1874-05-04
THE ARKANSAS WAR.
The New Gascony Fight.
ANOTHER VERSION.

NEW YORK, Maya Little Rock special
contains the following additional details of the
engagement at New Gascony: Col. King
Whites aggressive force was composed of forty
mounted men, provided with horses from plum
dered stsbles at Pine Bluff, and of 200 foot SOL
diers: They were all armed with Springfield
and Enfield rifles and heavy shot guns. The
village of New Gascony consists of one store
aud three or four dwellings houses, situated
ABOUT sixteen miles below Pine Bluff, on the
lett bank of the Arkansas river Brooks men
numbered about 100, commanded bv captains
Murphy and Vandesande. They were poorly
armed and had bird shot for ammunition.
COL white surrounded the store which they
occupied ana opened the engagement with q
volly OF bullets. Brooks partlsans returned the
fire, but were soon Overpowered by the superior
force which attacked them. They were taken
prisoners and all Immediately disarmed. On
the Brooks side there were ten negroes killed
and twenty wounded. OF Bakers forces, half
and seven wounded. Several of the horses were
killed and wounded Capt. Vandesande, one
OF the leaders on the side of Brooks, was dan
gerously wounded. He had been a colonel in
the Federal army. Most of the defeated war
rors, having been disarmed, were released
The men of Whites command then embarked
on steamer and arrived at Pine Bluff at late
hour last night Murphy and Vandersande were
brought along as prisoners. The wounded were
lett at New Gascony, and to-day sheriff Vaughn
village to attend them.
The Gazette remarks editorially that the war
is opened and will exterd throughout the State
unless the President takes speedy action in the
matter; II Brooks and Baxter ight.a few more
King Whites would settle the present trouble
1t is rumored that Baxter is much annoyed at
this proceeding by White and that he and his
generals do not seem to agree. Churchill,
doubtless because of his recent experience
thinks that the policy of making arrests on
either side is nonsense, and Gov. Baxter is of
the same opinion. Blocher, who commands
this post, wants to arrest all who sympathize
with Brooks. Late last night several adherents
OF Baxter advanced toward Brooks line and
fired pistol shots at his advanced pickets, but
nobody was hurt. Stray pistol aud gun shots
were heard at all hours of the night.
Democratic Pronuciameuto.
A number of prominent Democrats have Just
issued an address to the people, in which they
say that alter a personal consultation with
Brooks they confidently assure the citizens of
the State of his fidelity to his platform of 1872;
that the charge that he has bartered principle
for office is utterly groundless; that he will not
defraud the people of their votes at the fall cleo
tons, and that Dajority of the Legislature
have privately declared that they will not meet
at Bakers call They appeal to the people
not to be deluded into movement looking to
his election by force, which would result in
ruin to themselves and disaster to the State.
They ask of the people for hi N fair trial, and
tuey say tudt dil VIII Ue well, duu GQ6y declare
that he was truly elected and is Governor.
The Situation.
The situation is unchanged. The State House
party received few recruits to day. Both al
SO sent off some men.
There has been no news received from Pine
Bluff to-day. The State House party had
dress parade this evening which attracted quite
a crowd of spectators.
Laser-Assassinati
An attempt was made about dark this even
ing by some one supposed to belong to the
State House party to assassinate the agent of
the Associated Press. A shot was fred by some
party concealed in a lumber pile into the win
dow of the Office, but the agent had just left
his desk, over which the broken glass was scat
tered by the bullet.
Brooks Gaining.
ST. LOUIS, May "a special to the Demo-
crat from Little Rock says that the addresses of
leading reform Democrats, who take grounds in
favor of Brooks. is regarded as important and is
having serious effect on Baxter's cause Be-
tween 200 and 300 white men from Fort Smith
arrived Saturday to reinforce Brooks, whose
defensive forces now consist of three full regi-
ments, while several others are subject to i'm
mediate call.