Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-05-16
The Arkansas War.


forces of Brooks ind Baxter, the riv-
al contestants for the GovernOrship
of the State. A steamer containing
fifty Baxter men went up the river
early in the morning to capture
dat boat, under Col. Fowler, with
arms for Brooks, obtained from the
State University. When this new de-
partnre was learned at Brooks head
quarters,a detachment OF State troops,
under Col. Brooker, was sent by spe-
cial train TO prevent the capture Of
Fowler and intercept the steamer.
The men on the boat got behind the
barricades provided on the boat, and
then deied the troops, opening fire
on them at the same time. BROKER
fastened 20 the front with his reserve,
and, Ia few minutes, by hot firing,
they drove the boat to the other side
of the river where all hands took ref
uge in the woods. Col. Brooker seiz-
ed the boat and found two men killed
and several were badly wounded.
The victors lost one man and one
badly wounded.
A despatch from Little Rock says
both sides of the Governorship contro-
versy will be heavily reinforced on
Saturday and Sunday, and q collision
between the contestants may be ex-
pected. 1t is quite probable that
Baxter will claim the Legislature.
1t is not improbable that, incidental
to the confusion, Geographic commu-
nieation may be interrupted, or q
Baxter censorship established.
A Little Rock special Says 4 ne
gro belonging to Savage's force at
Gascony states that they will take no
more of Brooks men prisoners, but
they will he slaughtered wherever
found. Post Office Agent Egerton
was arrested and kept in the guard
house short time. The party that
captured the Memphis train, Wednes-
day night, released the white men of
Brooks force, but kept the negroes
prisoners until morning, releasing
them on parole. There was picket
firing on the river bank all day. At
the State House, earth works have
been ttirown up TO strengthen the
barbados, and Notifications arc un-
der way across the street. All the
windows in the State House are loop
holed and bai'ricaded. Large re-en-
forcements for Baxter ere eproute,
and a fight seems imminent. A Lit
tie Rock despatch says that Colonel
Rose sent the regulars to the build
ing from whence the firing was report
ed, but no one was found. Two COM
panies of regulars remain at the City
Hall All the parties are very vigil
liant.
LATEST.
WASHINGTON, d. c., MAY 12.-The
Presidents efforts to induce the rival
factions in Arkansas to accept CON-
promise have been brought to an alb
rupt termination by the refusal Of
Brooks, in a telegram to the Presi-
dent, this morning, to accept his last
proposition to let the Legislature set
tie the question as soon as bis friends
in that body can he called to Little
Rock, and that, in the meantime, all
the troops be disbanded., Brooks re-
fuses, absolutely, to surrender the
State House, except at the point Of
Federal bayonets, which he says he
will not resist. He says that if the
President believes Baxter to be the
legal Governor, it is his duty to re-
cognize him, and not prolong the
present disturbances and lie init
mates that Baxter can only be placed
in possession of the State House and
the Governors office by the strength
of the military arm Of the Federal
Government.