The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-02
Arkansas MIDDLE.
Actual Fighting Be-
gum.
Two Skirmishes and SeyeraJ No,
Killed.
FuH particulars Of the OnfliCctS
and the Situation.

LITTLE ROCK, April 30-Gen. King White
VINO has charge of the Baxters forces at Pine
BUNS, hearing that party of Brooks nren
We're assembled at New Gascon, in Jefferson
county, committing depredayiops, moved a
column OF 200 men down to that point TO-DAY
Ior the purpose of dispensing them Genera
White sent forward a flag of truce to order he
men to dlsperse, but they fred GU the nart =
ana a regular battle ensued, Ia which nine Of
We 3I9oks party were killed and twenty
wounded. Inc remainder were taken prison.
ers, disarmed and sent home General Wbits
reports seven of his own command woundad
and three horses klIid
governor Baxter was reinforced by one ccm.
pany from Hampstead county this morning.
Brooks side sent out squad last evening and
cut the telegraph wire between the citv and
fine alnff. The squad was aptured last night
by the Baxterites, and are now under guard
me United States troops got cut in line
last night prepared to prevent trouble. bnt
the alarm which caused this proved to be- mn.
founded. S@ - - w. "u
It IS SAID the Brookites at the State House
nave ehlrty days provisions, six tons of powde
and large quantity of shot and shell.
NEW YORK, May IA Little Rock speeial
gives gives the following details Of the capture of
General Churchill;
Major General Churchill, commanding Bay
ter militia, together with seventeen men. was
captured at about 3 o'clock this mornjng
Churchlll had been out in the State recruiting
and had just returned on the Cairo & Fulton
railroad accompanied by an sdiatanJ general
and several aides They were met at the sta
ton by q small body guard, which was iutend-
ed as an escort to headquarters. Earlier in the
evening the Haxtefltes made requisltion OF,
livery stable for saddle horses The proprietor.
however, said he must have money. They then
left, but soon afterwards returned aud broke
into the stable and took out two horses.
The proprietor made q requisition on the
sheriff at the State House to go with posse
and retake them. He id they had started
towards the Cairo & Fulton depot. Sheriff
Oliver at once collected a small posse of citi
zens and applied to Gen. Colterson for some
more more men ma squad of the I'd Arkansas
lbrooksl militia, undar the command of Cant.
Pritchard, was detailed, carrying only side
arms eleven men in all. The posse went to-
ward the depot.
The Churchill men had in the mean time
been captured at the depot. Some man he
longing to the Brooks ammunition scouts be-
ing sent forward, were seen by Churchill's par
and several shots were fired at him He then
returned to his party aud all advanced. The
Bakeries fired several shots at them and tn en-
reiterated into saloon near the depot and bar
rlcaded 1t Orders being given by the Brooks
leader to fire the building unless they surrend-
cred the men set fire to It, At this poi1t the
Bakeries hung out a white handkerchief aud
Surrende' ed. Sixteen revolvers were taken
from them and they were then marched off ia
tne state House aud put 10 the guard house.
General Churchill was turned over to the req
ulars late this afternoon, who soon after releas
ed him.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The following was
received to day;
LITTLE Rock. Ark, May1.
70 the Presidential King White, who Fl rec
on the commander OF tue United States troops
at Little Rock has been ordered to Pin. Bluff
by Baxter. and is pillaging and numbering.
The State is perfectly peaceful except in JEFF
terSon county, the scene of Whites robberes
and murders. have refrained from sending
out forces in order to avoid eouflict.
Signed, JOSEPH BROOKS,
Governor OF Arkansas
MEMPHIS, May LA private despatch from
| Pine Bluff, Ark, confirms the report to thu
| Associated Press last night with reference t.
| fight between Raxter's forces under Genera
hlng White and Brookes forces near Gascony
| The despatch states that f. Lee son of Dr.
Lee, and Pleasant Pendleton, son of DR.. Pen
| dleton, were slightly wounded. None wert
killed on our (White) side. On the other eIey
en- negroes were killed and twenty wounded
ana twenty prisoners taken. Gen. Whit,
holds all the Brooks leaders, fwho are white,
as prisoners,
The situation here is practically unchanged.
Bakers headquarters are still at the Author,
House, and he has about him some 800 men
Brooks still occupies the State House with 8
force estimated at 500, mostly colored. The
United States troops still occupy their position
| between the opposing forces. The follow,ns
Is the Gazetteer account of the affair takel
from despatch to the Baxtsr side: On Wed
nesday Gen. King White advised Geu. Newton
that John MoC,ayton had gathered a uumbe
OF coored men at New Gascony. They being
unable to procure transportation to Little Rocl
commenced plundering the citizens of tina
| section. He asked perm, ssion to move a suffi
Glen. force to that point to dsperse them
which was granted with instructions to protec
| everybody without regard To coor
Further advices state there is another SINH
lar organization OF about 200 men in Lincoll
| and Arkansas counties, and Gen. White ha
been directed to disperse them. To-day a car
tel tor the exchange of prisoners was agree,
upon between the two parties and all the pris
oEers released on both sides, and permission
| given to citizens to pass both lines Without mo
estation. The steamer Hattie is expected to
| night with $50 men to reinforce Brooks side
| from Fort Smith, Baxter's side also expect
some reiDforoements. :
| Idter-A Gazette special from Pine Bluff to
night gives the following particulars of tn
| night near New Gascony, Thursday: Two hun
| dred of Brooks men, with Murphy and Va
| Desande as leaders, formed and threatentd l.
| come to Pine Bluff and take the Court hous
and burn every house in the city. Gen. Kin
White went down with So white and colore
mounted and foot men, and after arrivn
| within short distance of the insurgents, VIII
were at giu house OH Ashy place, he sen
| forward three staff officers to order the insul
gents to disband. When the insurgents sa,
the staff officers coming they Immediately fire
volley upon them, and orders from Genera
White were given to charge the insurgent.
They made stand at the corner of ston
church, and fight began in earnest but Taste
only short time. Six of Whites comman
were wounded and Murphy and Van Desand
and So men captured. All but the two leader
were released on parole. Murphy and Va