New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-24
The Mount Pleasant Mardera.


Not much more intelligence has bsen OBJ
tsined during the past twenty-fe hours
regarding the crueltiss practioed by the
Regulators at Mount Pleasant. While the
surmise that the worst has not yet been
told is reasonable and has the attendant
circumstantial evidence to indicate it, yet
even here the refugees do not dare to ex-
press their minds freely. They fear the in.
formation would be traced to them, and
from that time they would live in hourly
expectation of death by assassination.
Some of these poor people have reached
the city, not more than half OF them, how
ever. They tell a pitiful tale, but even
they are guarded in their speech, and, in
listening to them, one knows there is much
more to tell, if they only dared. The
secrecy of the grand jury room is necessary
to unlock their tongues, but of what use
would their sclosures be then! Where
in Louisiana could jury be found to con-
vict the parties indicted Even the plea of
the Baton Rouge Adrocate. that the MUIR
derers were "a band Of irresponsible per-
sons from over the Mississippi line" would
be an excuse for an acquittal in that
region.
One part of their story confirms al asser-
ton of Captain Bascom. They say there
were from thirty to sixty negroes on the
plantation at Mount Pleasant at the last
attack. So does he. This is satisfactory on
both sides, for though what Captain Bas.
com says is confirmed in no other respect,
he may be considered to have made no mis-
take in his hearsay evidence in this.
The rest of their story, condensed, is sub
stantially this: Early on Saturday, before
any row or any beating, they we're notified
they would be attacked. The notice waa
that "there would be trouble" and came
from "Levi," but who he was they did
not tell. This was early in the morning,
and George Kraft, who had two or three
skiffs, spiked them to the trees 90 that
NO one might get away. At this time there
were only eight at the plantation when the
thirty whites came upon them, and they
were driven off. The next day-Sunday-
there we're sixty blacks and 200 or 25C
whites. Again it is pleasure to note that
it was about this number who received
Captain BascOm with marked cordiality
and courtesy" OF the sixty blacks, thirty
five had shotguns or old muskets, but very
little ammunition.
The attack was regularly managed. 1,
is a pity Captain Bascom did not witness it.
and thus obtain material for his military
note book. The advance was seven men,
and was halted four times. Then they
commenced firing, and fell back to wait for
the main body. They came mounted and
firing, but soon dismounted and advanced
a. infantry. The thirty colored men
that have been spoken OF retreated to
Springfield landing, being without ammuni.
tiop, and crossed the river. The balance
scattered through the woods. Their empty
guns were worthless to them, and harmless
to any one else. Yet the people Of West
Baton Rouge took them from them. Per.
hsps this saved their lives. for some
''citizens" pursuing them on tug turned
back on hearing of it.
All that they know OF the women and
children is that they were making their
way through the woods to Profits Island,
two miles and half away. Of their prop
erty they lost 200 head of cattle, 400 hogs,
fifty mules, 100 horses. new gin and engine.
all their supplies and fodder and their
nearly ripened crops.
A msn-and perhaps his name had better
not be mentioned just yet-living close by
Mount Pleasant, was concealed on An island
at Fontanis landing. He saw Levin Fos-
ter, Baptist minister, Henry Martin and
Wilson Rhodes, all Mount Pleasant men,
hanged. Lorenzo jackson, of j. A. Camp
bells plantation, was bulldozsd, terribly
whipped, the excuse being he had stolen .
gun in 1872. Jacob Heintz, employed at the
cemetery, was fred at while on the road to
Mount Pleasant and, with Henry Mason,
was taken by the superintendent, Mr.. Dill
Ion, into his custody for their protection.
Louis Carter, Minor Holmes, Billy Simms
and Rafe Simms were tied to Campbell's
gallery. Minor Holmes, Baptist minister
about forty years old, was taken in w. S.
Slaughter's store, he ordering the clerks to
close the doors in order to catch him, aud
was hanged there. Before death no was
cut down, revived by dashing water in his
face, and tied up with the others.
Of the Ellie, whose leg Captain Bascom
filled with shot, no one on Mount Pleasant
plantation knows anything. They, those
that have reached here, deny that any one
was shot or molested in the least.
Here it may be noted that full justice has
not yet been meted out to Sheriff Foreman.
The affair occurred in his bailiwick, the
parish of East Baton Rouge. He raised all
the men he could. He might have called
ON the Governor for aid, but there seems to
be an impression there that no such aid
could be furnished. He certainly saved the
lives Of fourteen men, and probably ended
the matter by his presence. His full report
will be looked for with anxiety, especially
Is confirming the hanging of the five men.
After the Regulators had finished desc
lsting the plantation of Mount Pleasant
they concluded to look for higher game.
About fifty armed "bulldozers" came into
Baton Rouge and considered the place their
for some time. Thursday morn.
ing the place was full of them. No resist
ance being offered NO blood was shed
They had, in consequence of their success
in crushing the people of Mount Pleasant,
received reinforcements and overrun the
whole parish. They also threaten to visit
the parishes of Iberville and Pointe Coupee
publicly and openly.
Tha fOn rfoon fiftoou nofo uow