The New York herald., 1874-12-10
EDITOR sHEARER's STATEMENT


To THE EDITOR oP THE HERALD
.yICKsBURG, Miss, Dec. Q, 1874.
The diniculty here mas been called riot. but
that was misnomer. 1t was an attack In three
separate columns by negroes upon The city Tho
cause OF this attack can be stated ia a few words.
For six months Sheriff Peter Crosby dcolored) has
been exercising the functions OF the once without
having given legal 0ond The Board OF County
Supervisors refused to order him to give
the regular bond, and the time drew on
to pay the county taxes some S200, 900.
The Chaneery CLERK was without any bond what
ever, and under an Indictment for emnegzement
and forgery, as was his predecessor. Cardosc, the
present State superintendent OF Education.
CHABGEs AGAINST THE sHEsIFF.
Notwithstanding his indictments rhe Sheriff was
notoriousy packing jures, and three weeks ago
the county records, bearing evidence Of the guast
Of the o1lcials. were stolen from the Court House.
The Taxpayers Association. composed Of the best
citizens and property holders. held meeting last
Wednesday, and in q body went to the Court House
and demanded the RESIGNATION OF the Sheriff.
the Chancery Clerk, the Treasurer, and the
Coroner. The Sheriff only was found, and he
resigned. The Sheriff then went to Jackson to
consult with Governor Ames. On his return on
Saturday q caro- appeared on the streets and was
circulated throughout the county, signed by
Crosby, calling on republicans, white and black,
to come to his aid and sustain his posi-
tion. Crosby publicly and through the
papers denied the card; yet on Sunday
rumors came that negroes were arming and
gathering at dincrent points to march the city,
but little credence was given to the report then.
THE ATTACK.
On Monday morning at lve O'Clock the alarm
was given thar the negroes were approaching
from several directions. The white citizens armed
and organized in companies. At nine O'Clock
general alarm was given, and . detachment Of
citizen soldiery marched out OF Grove street, and,
near Point Lookout, just inside the city limits,
met body Of 200 negroes The commander OF
the citizens warned them to disperse, when the
negroes replied, "we have come for a light and
We are going to nave It,"
Firing then commenced. The negroes were
soon routed, with loss Of six killed, several
wounded and some prisoners taken. Among
the latter was Andrew owens, the negro com.
mander.
FIGHTING ON THE OLD GROUND.
few minutes after the engagement derach.
ment OF citizens, sent out on the Jackson road on
the northeast side, encountered q large body OF
negroes, strongly intrenched in the old federal
breastworks, Just west Of the monument
where Pemberton surrendered. The nghr
here lasted an hour, and was the most sanguin-
airy tight OF the day. The infantry In front
engaged the negroes while the cavalry charged
their hanks. The negroes ned In wild disorder
and twenty-five were killed and wounded. oliver
Brown. white, was also killed.
THE THIRD BATTLE.
ABOUT the same time three companies OF citizens
met $50 negroes on Cherry street, South, and,
with yell, charged on them driving them from
their strong position on the hill with light loss.
The cavalry at other points dispersed the negroes
and by noon the war was over
Sheriff Crosby was arrested early and put under
guard at the Court House. ON Monday night an
effort was made to lynch him. but the deed was
prevented by the white guard. On Tuesday after
noon the funeral procession OF Oliver Brown,
while passing Snyder's Biun near the city, was
fred into by negroes, and william Vaughan,
citizen, was killed.
To-day everything is quiet and business has been
resumed In the city. The Board OF County Super
vIsors held meeting and accepted the Sherf's
resignation. and ordered An election to I'LL the
vacancy.
were three white citizens killed and three
wounded.
or negroes there were about seventy-nve killed
and wounded and thirty or forty taken prisoners.
owens, the negro commander, who was cap
tured, says ne was ordered BY Crosby to come to
the city on Monday morning with all the armed
negroes he could gather together. Stackhouse.
another prisoner, says the same order was read
in a negro church in the lower part OF the county
on sunday.
MILITIA FORCE
has been organized to-day under the command OF
Colonel French, and further trouble Is appre.
hended. Governor Ames has called an extra ses-
sion OF the Legislature to meet on the 18th inst,
to consider this vicksburg difhculty. To-day, in
the house Of Davenport, the indicted negro
chancery CLERK, were found the stolen records.
Davenport has OF course absconded.
y. v. SHEARER,
City Editor Vicksburg Herald.
THE GOVERNORS PROCLAMATION.