The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-02-15
TIN SOLDIERY.

The Leader publishes today the
official reports of the commanding
officers made in relation to the
clash of State troops with the mob
of lynchers in Brookhaven on
Monday morning, together with a
statement on the subject given out
by Gov. Noel, and a commenda-
tory communication by Col. E. B.
Baker of the Third Regiment.
There can be no question but
that these officers and troops and
Gov. Noel we're taken by surprise
by what occurred here. Most of
the people of Brookhaven and
Lincoln county we're surprised at
the sudden denouement Monday
morning, though practically every
NJ an in town that day was resolv-
ed that the negro must never be
allowed to leave the court yard
alive if the extreme penalty of
the law was not pronounced upon
him by the court.
But what of the record made by
the State militia! From a merely
local and shortsighted view point,
The Leader is glad and rejoices
that no one, civilian or soldier,
was killed or seriously injured by
the clash; and yet at the same
time we cannot shut our eyes to
the fact, though We fain would do
so, that the military arm of the
State service has been placed in a
most pitiable and contemplate
light before the world. Missis-
sippi soldiers, So far as our knowl-
edge goes, never before, on any
occasion, gave so sorry and
shameful an account of themselves.
Back of all that is said about
fighting and resistance by Gen.
Fridge and Major Hoskins in
their reports, the fact looms up
as big as Pixies Peak that pris-
oner the troops we're charged with
protecting, was forcibly taken
from them by an unorganized
mob, stabbed several times right
at the depot, with the soldiers all
around him, and then later taken
away from the soldiers altogether,
and never so much as a gun fired,
bayonet thrust made, and only
one soldier and one civilian seri-
ously bruised during all the des
perate fighting" that is reported.
With these soldiers. armed with
the best army rifles and car
tridges, it is no answer to what
happened to say somebody would
have been hurt if there had been
any real fighting. 1t is soldiers
business to kill and if need be to
die, in the discharge of duty.
Gen. Fridge's double time" or
der at the depot when the train
pulled out was a tactical blunder.
The mob and crowd generally at
once construed this tn mean that
they had the soldiers on the run,
and the sequel proved that their
victory over these tin soldiers
was already more than half won.
The Leader would not be under
stood as censuring or ridieuling
the soldiers in the ranks, or the
subordinate officers. They were
acting under orders and it was
their duty to regard these orders,
but mistake was made by officers
somewhere in the official line that
has placed a stigma upon Missis-
sippi's military record it will take
a long time to wipe out.
So far as Lincoln county is CON
cerued, after this exhibition If
dress parade, soldlery, Gov.
Noel may send a regiment here
next time on like occasion, and
il the mob is so minded and the
'melish" act as they did last Mon
day morning, they will be run
over and treated with the con-
tempt they deserve.
la the light of what actually oG-
Cured here last Monday morning,
Col. Bakers fulsome praise of tie
way the military acquitted them
Iselves, reads like the keenest
satire or burlesque.
News of the death of Eric Gam
brell has been received here with
much regret. He will be remem-