Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-01

1 AAAAAAHio AuiOll-u llE WIN ~
aud e was read by cOlOred ministers on
Sunday 70 their congregations. Did not
call on Crosby TO aid him in preserving the
peace, because he had resigned to the
Board Of Supervisors, and the resignation
had been accepted.
To Dir. 0 Brien - resided here
League was composed Of Democrats and
| Republicans, and the most substantial and
influential men Of the city. Mr.. Woodruff,
the President, sWas a Republican. The
men who participated in the day fight be-
| longed 10 both parties. Prior 10 the light,
taxation and rascality bad forced the de-
cent Republicans 10 quit the party.
On being asked TO specify the rascais,
the Mayor named Crosby (colOred) Sheriff.
and Dorsey (cOlOred) Circuit Clerk. No
eOlored men Of the city took part in the
fight.
To Mr.. Williams-Had heard since that
| some country negroes were afraid to come
here, but this feeling was not general.
About the time Of the trouble, Judge Hill
and chancellor Lee left the city.
To Mr.. Speer-GoY. Ames' statement in
! his proclamation that the whites wanted to
deprive the negroes Of their rights because
of their color, was untrue. No such a
I NllllE " - ENEA ENEAA uluLEA a.
To Mr.. COnger-The late meeting of the
Taxpayers League was to make Crosby
give good bond, or else resign.
To Mr.. Speer-An Injunction had been
granted a few days before by the Chancery
Court, restraining Crosby from acting as
Sheriff, but he did not know whether notice
had been served On him.
To Mr.. 0Brien-The first fight took
place in the city limits.
Testimony OF Gen. Horace Miller.
Gen. Horace Miller, a lawyer, aged forty
six years, who commanded the citizens in
the fight, was the next witness, who being
sworn, depOsed as follows:
Early Sunday morning, December 6,
owing to rumOTs Of an invasion by negroes,
an informal meeting Of a few citizens was
held, and it was agreed to establish guards,
and that the ringing Of the bells should be
the signal for as sembling. Between three
and four o'clock the alarms were rung.
Going to the courthouse he heard the ne
grOes were approaching; also, that Crosby,
Gen. Packer and Col. Lee, Of Gov. Ames'
staff. had been seen to leave town a short
time before in a hack. He found the
driver who informed him he had been en-
plOyed by that party during the night, and
had driven them out Of town short distance,
and brought them back at three O'Clock.
Just as he sat down TO break
fast, DR.. Hunt and tie Mayor came
in. The former, much agitated,
said he had gone on a scout on the
BaldWin's Ferry Road, and ridden into
crowd of armed negroes, who began shout
ing, skill him. '.shOOt him. he threw
up his hands and asked them, What do
you want to shoot me for?7 Andy Owens,
the leader ordered them to fire. The OBJ
jet in coming into town was in obedience
to the order Of High Sheriff Crosby, who
told them to come in early and well armed,
and that similar bodies were coming in on
other roads. Owens permitted him to re-
turn. When DR.. Hunt had told US this,
the Mayor told me to 90 70 the courthouse /
and ring the bell, and take command,
which did. l got about 80 or 70 armed
men together, sentCapt. COwan to keep the
streets clear, and moved out Baldwin'S Ferry
Road. At the corner Of First North street,
halted and formed the command across on
the hill commanding the valley. To the
eastward, on the apex Of the opposite hill,
l saw body Of armed negroes, and de-
plOyed a line Of skirmishers; then rode
forward alone 10 where the negroes were.
On his approach there appeared cOnsidera-
Die confusion among them and much loud
talking. Andy Owens stepped forward,
saying be was Col. owen, in command Of
that regiment. l asked the object Of their
movement. He said in obedience to Cros-
by's order. / told him Of the Mayors
prUelamatiOn. and warned them 70 dispeFse.
Owens replied thai he had 4 right 10 come,
and he be-gOd-damned, IL he didn't come.
l again urged him to 60 home. He then
wanted TO see Crosby, To which l agreed,
and | sent a guard with him, by side
street. then rode back towards my men.
Owens soon returned very much excited; |
saying he had seen Crosby, and, said he,
the damned son Of a bitch that got US !
into all this trouble now goes back |
on us, and if ever we get |
him We will settle him, aud rode back |
with Owen TO his men, and told them to 20 /
home, for if they persisted in going to- /
wards the city their blood would be on /
their own heads. A big negro, who called 1
himself lieutenant, drew a pistol and /
threatened to shoot me. Owen inteTtered
and said if be hurt Col. Miller he would
shoot him; that he was not fit 10 be with
gentlemen, nOhOW. Seeing the excitement
increasing, he rode TO his men and, looking
back, saw the negroes approaching and
waving their guns and hats. About this
time firing began simultaneously
on both sides. Could not say
which fired first. He then
ordered a charge, and the negTOes soon broke
and fed. SEEING the object accomplished,
ordered the firing 20 be stopped. In this
light the bulk Of the prisoners were cap
ured. among them Owens. All were sent |
pack, with orders to allow no ore 70 modest |
hem, which orders we've carried out.
About twenty to twenty-five were captured.
then marched nv command 10 the corner
# Cherry and Grove streets, thence out
Cherry 90 the city limits, where l learned /
hat a small bOly Of citizens had dispersed |
/ column coming in on that road. l then |
laard Of the advance on the Jackson rOll.
O. cross exam nation, he said his COM
nand was armed with Winchester rifles,
leedle-gIns, shOt-gJIns, and some with side
rms. Owens told him he (OwenS) had
100 men. Saw only about 80 Of them.
Tney were variOusly armed, some with
nuskets and bayOnets, and some with only / ;
ide arms. Saw none unarmed. The city | .
undertaken buried thirteen negroes killed !
n the fight. Believe that was the true
number killed. Don't think any were left
lnburied. Owing to the excitement, the
rider to bury the dead was not given for
hours aftcTWard. Chancellor !
Hill mad on Monday morning granted an
Injunction prepared by him on SUNDAY, re-
training Crosby from acting as Sheriff. |
zen. Packer, Of Gov. Ames' staff, told him
Miller) that he and Co. Lee had on Sun
lay night tiled to get horses to send out
nd cOuntermand CrOsby's orders to
be negroes, but failed, but Crosby |
lad agreed to send runners on fOOtuutil they |
.Ould get horses, and then countermand all
uch orders. He Packer) had left Crosby
this would be done, and the dan
,er of a collision thus avoided, and bit for
lis faith in Crosby's promise, he would
never have gone 10 bed Gen. Packer
afterwards reprOached Crosby in his mil {
eTs) presence for his perfidy, ands told
rim he was responsible for all the blood
pilt. Crosby made no reply, but simply
iung down his head. Crosby said he I
wanted to resign the office, and asked
Packer 10 write out his resignation,
which he did Crosby then signed it, and
Packer and Lee attested it in Miller's
presence. Parker kept it until the
Board Of Supervisors met, and
hen presented it and it was accepted, and
! new election was ordered.
= II.