Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-14
A VOLUNTEERS ACCOUNT OF THE "BAT-
TIE OF AUSTIN.n

Ine steamer A. J. Wnite. which left
the Memphis wharf st five O'clock Tues
day evening with volunteers to assist in
quelling the disturbance at Austin, Mis-
sissippi, after a six hours trip, landed
the volunteers at a point just above
Shoodg. Captain Finlay's command,
mum bering seventy men, was selected
| by General Chalmers as the advance
guard. Wher the stage-plank was
lowered, the skirmlsh line, Lieutenant
Taylor commanding. rushed up the
steep bank and scrambled through briars
and thick underbush about fifteen min
utes until the road was reached. Three
men, of which the writer was one, were
deplOyed as advance skirmishers, to fall
back on the remaining squad in case of
coming in contact with the enemy's
pickets. After marching about half a
mile, shanty containing wOOd-chop-
peTs was surrounded, and two white
men and one negro were captured and
placed under guard to keep them from
giving the alarm. A mile further on
silently marching, not whisper being
heaTd-tne advance skirmishers took
possession Of o. X. landing, which con-
tanned only two men, aud they both
white. From them we learned that
there was no excitement at Austin, the
negroes having possession of the town.
Another two miles walk, over dusty
road, and the advance entered Austin,
without firing a gun. The courthouse
was taken charge of, and q number Of
negroes captured, the main body of ne
grOes having retreated at five O'clock in
the evening. Pickets were thrown out
on all the roads, and a prOvOst-guard,
for the purpose of guarding private
property, detailed. From three O'clock
in the morning until nine O'Clock,
prisoners TO the amount of eighteen,
10 squads of two and three, We're
brought in. some armed with double.
bsTreled shoI-guns, while others had
only pistols, some of them Of very an
tique pattern. All, however, declaring
their innocence of any participation in
the riot. Eight of the number were in
generated in the county Jail, to await
their trial. Only three white men were
found in the town, the UGLidRt troops
under WOOdfOrd having retreated about
half-past four O'Clock in the evening,
when the negroes, numbering about
four hundred, with flags flying and
drums beating, took possession of the
place. They remained only an houI or
SO; but before leaving they broke open a
couple Of stores, helping themselves to
clothing, boots, shoes, etc. All the
women and children had fled, and
their houses were left TO the
mercy OF the ignorant mob. Ii all the
fighting Exaggerated reports of which
have already been reported, there was
but one negro killed, aud that would not
have resulted in his case had it not been
for his running when ordered TO halt.
Their being eight printers among the
volunteers, the Cotton Plant was entered,
and work commenced on an extra to
give a detailed account OF operations,
but before the work was completed the
cry was raised that the "enemy in large
force were advancing" and that their
cavalry had already driven in our pick
cts. HuHying from the Office to where
their arms were stacked, the battalion
was thrown into line of battle, and Cap
tain Finlsy toos charge of the skir-
mishers, and in closing on the
supposed enemy, discovered that
instead of an enemy il was our
own scouts, sent out about day
break, who impaired the information
that no enemy was nearer than POtter's
landing, and that there was no likell-
hood of an attack. We retired disgust
ed, concluding that we were egregiously
At five O'Clock in the afternoon the pick
cts were all drawn in and q march to
o. X. was next in order. The COM
maDd Of Captain Finlay, the first to enter
Austin, were the last TO leave, being the
rear. guard. AL this trouble could have
been O0viated by a little frmness on the
| part of Deputy-Sheriff Neblett, who,
/ we are sorry to say, exhibited lament
able want Of courage. Carter, the su-
/ psrintendent Of education of Tunica,
/ gives an unbiased and truthful account
I Of what led to the difficulty. To Sem
eral Chalmers great praise is due for his
Good and soldierly manner Of dealing
with difficulties. And, in fact, the Off
! GERS and men under him deserve espe-
oial mention for their decorous and gem
tlemanly conduct. The volunteers em-
barked on the steamer st. Genevieve,
and arrived here at daylight on Thus
day. Everything is quiet at Austin,
and, We hope, likely to remain so.
r. s. s.