CIVIL WAR IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS
All of the following articles were transcribed
and donated by Fran Warren
The following was transcribed from the "New Era"
Newspaper of Fort Smith,
Sebastian County:
November 14, 1863
PROSPECT OF THE FARMERS- BUSH-WHACKING
The town is full of refugees from the country, of whom a large
number is
supported by the Government. This is deplorable, not so much on
the expense
of feeding them, as from the injury to the community at large
is receiving
by the almost total suspension of farming operations. The cause
of all this
is bush-whacking. No family, known to entertain Union feelings,
is safe out
of the reach of U S Troops. The recent advance of the rebels encouraged
this
abominable, fiendish set of men to extend their operations nearer
to town
than ever. Since the hasty flight of the rebels these fiends have
also
become less bold in the immediate vicinity of this place. But
there is still
so great a feeling of insecurity among the country people, that
they are
very little disposed to work in good earnest and prepare another
years'
crop. Many families also had their houses burnt, after having
been robbed of
everything, and have come to town in most pitiable circumstances.
The
inauguration of the guerrilla warfare, is one of the deepest stains
of
infamy to be charged to this hellish Confederacy; for, while it
decides
nothing eventually, it inflicts infinitely more suffering, and
especially on
the helpless, than an open and regular system of warfare. Good
judges
estimated the amount of grain raised this year in Arkansas sufficient
to
bread the people for two years. Owing to the presence of large
forces in the
State, and the great waste and destruction caused by the rebels,
we may
consider ourselves fortunate if the supply holds out till next
harvest. But,
if we don't sow now, we can have no harvest next year, when there
will be
ten times more applications for rations than now, and the suffering
among
the people must necessarily be great. The only remedy is, to clean
out the
bush-whackers, and give them no mercy wherever and whenever found;
and then,
and not until then, may we look for a revival of prosperity.
The New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
January 16, 1864
HOW THE REBELS ENFORCE THE CONSCRIPTION- A Mississippian communicates
the
following to the Memphis Bulletin: "Each conscript band has
a set of negro
hounds attached to it. The conscripters come up to a man's house,
and
announce that the incumbent, young or old, shall go with them
to
headquarters. They take no denial. The headquarters are at Grenada.
The
conscripters announce to the head conscript officer that they
have such a
person (calling him by name), and before the luckless man can
have an
opportunity to say a word, they are ordered to take him to the
guard house.
There the unfortunate remains for two or three days, until a sufficient
number are obtained, and they are sent off to the conscript camp,
where they
are placed under such surveillance that escape is next to impossible.
They
are denied all opportunity now to go and see their families, or
even take
sufficient clothing. They are unceremoniously dragged off, and
never
permitted to have an opportunity to show that they were unfairly
dealt with.
Some instances are recorded where persons have refused to go with
the
conscripters, and they were generally shot down on their own premises.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
March 5, 1864
Head Quarters District of the Frontier, Department of Arkansas,
Fort Smith,
Ark., March 4, 1864.
General Orders, No. 5.
Stealing, pillaging and burning fence rails must and shall be
stopped. It is
demoralizing to the army, injurious to the government, and disastrous
to
peaceable citizens. The farms must be tilled, and crops raised.
A commander is justified in taking that which is necessary to
sustain his
men and animals, but it must be done by his order only, and he
must give
receipts, and account for what he takes, so that loyal people
may receive a
just compensation.
If troops destroy fences, plunder houses, kill or take away stock,
the value
of the property taken or destroyed shall be stopped against such
troops on
their respective pay rolls. Wagon Masters shall be held accountable
for the
conduct of the teamsters and all others under them, and if either
are guilty
of the outrages named, they shall be discharged from the service
without
pay.
If officers do not use all means in their power to prevent these
evils,
stoppages of their pay shall be made against them for the value
of the
property taken or destroyed, equally with the men, in proportion
to their
salary; and furthermore, such officers will be recommended to
Department
Head Quarters for dismissal from service.
In order to ascertain more fully who commit these outrages, every
commander
of an escort or of an expedition shall furnish to these Head Quarters
in
writing immediately on his return, a full and accurate account
of each day's
march, give the date of the month, stating on whose plantation
he camped at
night, what depredations were committed, if any, what property
was brought
in, if any, and what property was taken by his order, and will
hand in his
report in person.
Each officer will, before starting on an expedition, call at these
Head
Quarters and procure a copy of these orders. By order of Brigadier
General
THAYER, Wm S WHITTEN, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
April 9, 1864
THE SITUATION
Bushwhackers At Work.
Before ever the leaves are out and spring has fairly set in, the
bloody, hellish mode of warfare, bushwhacking, has commenced in
good earnest.
No soon was the Army of the Frontier well on its way southward-
and the country between it and the Arkansas River swarms with
bushwhackers.
Many murders have already been committed within the last few days,
and not a single loyal man is safe for a moment outside of garrisoned
towns. One of the most brutal late murders was that of Squire
BARNARD, a respectable, inoffensive old farmer, living about 8
miles south of this place. He was called to his door at night
and shot through the breast, the ball passing through both lungs.
Mr. SNIDER, one of our Representatives, who is living but a few
hundred yards from Mr. Barnard's, would have met the same fate
but for his being in town that night. We also learn that Mr. OLIVER
and his son on James' Fork was killed one day this week. It is
useless to disguise the fact, that unless the proper and necessary
steps are speedily taken, the Union men in the country will be
exterminated or driven from their homes.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
April 16, 1864
The following are extracts of letters written by the better halves
of some followers of Pap PRICE. They need no comment. Says one:
"Yoo had best kum home fur all the good yoo are doin follerin
that old fool Price about, he never did have no cense enny how
an his follerers hev less. Yoo better a grate site be looken after
yore wife and childern."
Here's the other:
"I speckt yu almoste must hev dide this winter the kold hes
bin orfuller then I ever see in mi life befour, and previsions
is mity scace, I jest wish yu wood cum hom and tend tu rasin yore
off spring, prevision ant heer tu be gott, I spin fur evry mouthful
me and yore innercent baibs git to eat, noboddy won't tak Confed
munny no moar fur nuthin, now ike ile jest giv yoo a peese of
mi mind and that is fur yu tu kum hoam an tend yore family befour
they starv, yu jest let the seceshers fite it out if they want
tu, I have rit tu yu fore times and aint herd but wonst I shuddent
wunder ef yu wos kiled now at this time uv riten, evry boddy is
going ovre tu the feds, Yu jest kum hoam, they all taik the oath
and git komesarise rite of tu ete, ef al the fules that's left
thair familise an fitin wud kum hoam then pese wood kum rite off."
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
May 7, 1864
FROM LITTLE ROCK
Little Rock, Ark., April 29th, 1864
Friend Dell: You have doubtless heard of the two trains being
captured. I saw a few men who escaped from the latter train. They
had just got into Pine Bluff; the train was captured about 35
miles from Pine Bluff. It consisted of 195 government wagons,
going for supplies, and some sutler wagons, and 300 refugee wagons,
and negro recruits. They were attacked by six or eight thousand
rebels under Fagan, and the escort, 1,600, only about 200 of whom
were known to have escaped, some 300 known to have been killed
or wounded. They left Steele with 5 days half rations. The escort
was as follows, 77th Ohio, 43rd Indiana, 36th Iowa, two sections
2nd Missouri Battery, part of the 5th Kansas Cavalry, and part
of the 7th Missouri Cavalry.
The first train was captured nine miles from Camden. It consisted
of 184 forage teams escorted by the 18th Iowa, 1st Kansas Colored,
one section Rabb's Battery, two howitzers, and part of the 2nd,
6th, and 14th Kansas Cavalry, under command of Colonel WILLIAMS.
They fought like demons, but were overpowered; the 18th Iowa lost
over 60 killed, the 1st Colored about one third and 10 officers.
I saw men who were with Steele at the time, who said that he heard
the firing all the time and did not send reinforcements. Thayer
had his cavalry saddled and ready to go but Steele did not or
would not order it out. There is great blame attached to Steele
and I feel almost certain his is not the right man. No flag of
truce went out for three days and not till the rebels sent in
and told him to send out and bury his dead niggers, and to send
white men, as they would not allow no negroes in their lines.
Wounded officers and men suffered and died for three days without
attention. I do not know how true it is, but I more than suspect
that Steele is to blame.
Colonel Williams had three or four horses killed under him, but
he fought his way out and never surrendered a man. The cavalry
were nearly all taken or killed. An officer told me he saw who
was wounded taken out of an ambulance by the rebels and asked
what command he belonged to, he told them the 18th Iowa, they
called him a "damned liar", and said he belonged to
the 12th Kansas, brigaded with the negroes and knocked his brains
out with the butt of a gun.
Some of the negroes who were wounded managed to get away, and
crawled nine miles to Camden. After they shot all their ammunition
away, they went at it with their bayonets and butts of their guns.
The officer above mentioned said he saw them fighting after they
were down, and one he saw with his teeth in the calf of a rebel's
leg, where he held on till his brains were dashed out. Yours respectfully,
G W SISSON.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
May 28, 1864
HOW THE REBELS KEEP WARM
During the investment of Chattanooga and the occupation of Lookout
Mountain by the enemy, it was a matter of some surprise and speculation,
how, when we in the valley were shivering from the cold, the rebel
troops on the mountain side, almost naked and without blankets,
managed to keep alive. The mystery was solved after the storming
of the heights.
We found at several points on the slope, where boulders and flat
stones had been so laid as to form a bed, hollowed slightly in
the middle. Sometimes the stones were laid in an excavation deep
enough to shelter from the winds. The width of the bed was the
length of a man. They were enough to receive fifteen or twenty
persons. In these paved or boulders couches huge fires were built.
The wood consumed, the coals and ashes were raked out, and on
the warm stony bed the shivering soldiers disposed themselves
for sleep.
Fort Smith New Era-Sebastian County, Arkansas
June 4, 1864
FROM TEXAS
We have conversed with Mr. N T NIX, of Jack County, Texas, who
arrived her a few days since, in company with four others. He
states that a large party of Union men was to have assembled on
the Western Frontier last month for the purpose of making their
way north, but the rebel authorities hearing of the move, frustrated
it by sending BOURLAND's Regiment to the vicinity of the rendezvous,
compelling them to disperse, some going towards El Paso and Eagle
Pass, and others back to the settlements- a few working their
way through to our lines. When he left the rebels were actively
engaged in scouting the country, chasing the Union men from the
woods with hounds, and in many instances executing them summarily,
according to orders, in case of persons endeavoring to avoid conscription
or escaping to our lines; all able-bodied persons between the
ages of 16 and 65 being compelled to go into the army or be considered
deserters. Bourland's and McCORD's regiments, with 1200 militia,
under Major QUAYLE, are on the Western Frontier, 1,500 of the
later are also at Bonham, under Brigadier General THROCKMORTON,
all under the command of McCULLOCH. Colonel PARSON's regiment
being detailed to patrol the country, and suppress any demonstrations
of opposition on the part of the citizens, who are only quieted
and kept under military influence. The force at Boggy Depot consists
of four regiments of Indians, and one regiment and one battalion
of whites, one regiment under Colonel WALKER is at Dokesville,
all other troops that they can spare being sent to Shreveport,
La. The crops look well and promise a fine harvest next fall,
with considerable of the old one still on hand.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
May 28, 1864
REPORT OF THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING, OF THE 12TH KANSAS
VOLUNTEERS, AT THE BATTLE OF JENKINS FERRY, ON THE SALINE RIVER,
APRIL 30, 1864
Killed- Privates, Wm ZINN, B Company, Ellis SOWERS, I Company,
and Rufus B BURLEY, K Company, all shot through the head.
Mortally Wounded- Lieutenant Colonel J E HAYES, in thigh,
and Lietenant George ELLIS, I Company, in breast.
WOUNDED
Colonel C W ADAMS, severe in left arm.
Company A- Wm DAY, severe in left thigh.
Company B- F D COSELY slightly shot in the face; Wm MARTIN,
ditto; G W HICKMAN, missing; Henry HURD, ditto; R F MOORE, ditto.
Company C- Corporal D M SHELDON, severe in left thigh; James
STANBROUGH, severe in left leg; Louis BARNARD, missing; Samuel
JACKSON, ditto.
Company D- Allen CALLAHAN, severe in left hand.
Company E- Frank LAVO, slight in thigh; James DALTON, slight
in foot; W H CABLE, slight in arm; J P CONE, left sick in hands
of the enemy; Corporal Thomas PUGH, ditto.
Company F- Wm CARROLL, severe in foot; Lewis FOSTER, severe
in thigh; Wm M GRAY, severe in arm; L B JENKS, ditto; L E MIDDLEBUSHER,
slight in head; George J PEARCE, severe in leg.
Company G- Jacob WAGMIRE, severe in left arm and side; G A
SHIELDS, severe in thigh.
Company I- Sergeant S R HOGUE, missing; Corporal W J VICTOR,
ditto; Corporal Frank DEWEESE, in left arm, missing; Corporal
Thomas ALLEN, missing; Wm JOHNSON, severe in knee, prisoner; C
M WHITE, slight in left side; Marshal BONE, missing; J F LOWE,
ditto; Henry HAIGHT, ditto.
Company K- 1st Lieutenant P J MISEREZ slight in right shoulder
2nd Lieutenant Wm BARRET, ditto in left shoulder; A J BALL, severe
in the thigh; U MASON, severe in left hand; Thomas BETTES, severe
in leg; A H HOOKER, right cheek; J N WIER, ditto.
New Era
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
June 25, 1864
CAGED
Last Thursday the acting Post Chaplain, Rev. J V McAFEE, concluded
to have a pair of rebel women removed from town, in accordance
with General Orders removing refugees. But on Mr. KEENAN going
up to carry out the order, he was violently abused by the women,
who confessed they were rebels, and had done all they could for
the rebel cause, in furnishing them such articles as they could,
and acting the spy, and declared they intended to do so as long
as they had a chance, and if they had any Union blood in them
they would let it out.
On searching the house there was about 80 pounds of lead and other
ammunition, two guns and other contraband articles found. They
were shipped to Little Rock with a request to the Provost Marshal
there to have them caged.
Mr. P, a citizen of Newton County, arrived here a few days since
with his wife and three other ladies, on foot, and in very destitute
circumstances. It seems they had been repeatedly robbed by the
bushwhackers. They then traded off all the available property
they had for something to subsist on, and when this was consumed,
they had to leave, as they were not permitted to raise anything
more. The husband of one of the ladies, who is sixty-five years
of age having been killed, and Mr. P having to keep concealed
to save his life they set out for this place, a distance of 100
miles, carrying everything they had on their backs. Mr. P was
disguised with his wife's clothing, which he changed at Van Buren.
Last Sunday a party of fiends in human shape dashed up within
a few miles of this place and killed three union men, A PADEN,
Thomas PADEN, and George H HILL, in cold blood. Those murders
are endorsed by the rebel authorities, and considered a great
prop to the rebellion many of the leaders holding commissions
in their army, or other permanent positions. The principles of
bushwhacking being so universally inculcated in the beginning
of the war we in reality look at the rebellion, in the point of
criminality as but a bushwhacking warfare on a grand scale.
BUSHWHACKED- Patrick McKENZIE, living about 8 miles south
east of this place, was bushwhacked last Thursday. Like many others
here, he had taken the oath some time since, and treated as a
loyal man, though several union men here remember him as one of
the first to advocate secession, and as having ironed and otherwise
mistreated several persons when taking them to Little Rock, as
prisoners, for the crime of being loyal to the Union.
The Memphis Bulletin of the 14th inst., states that a large train
of wagons belonging to refuges from Lanesport, Arkansas, was attacked
by guerrillas near the northern lines of this State. 75 men and
four women were killed, and all the wagons robbed and burned,
leaving the remaining women and children in great destitution.
Most of them had assembled at Lanesport while our troops were
posted there, but when our forces evacuated the country they attempted
to go through to St. Louis by land and thus met their sad fate.
We are having another wet season, one that would have ensured
to the people of this country a living for a year to come, if
they had been permitted to cultivate their farms. As it is, the
poor will have to suffer, and thousands leave their homes, and
go hundreds of miles to find a land of peace and plenty- which,
thank God, is to be found all over the North- while this country
will be depopulated, and made a wilderness, and in the end the
rebels will gain nothing by their course.
FOR SALE OR TRADE
Four 2-Horse wagons, 3 ox wagons, in running order, 1 Ambulance,
2 light wagons, 10 horses, 5 colts, 1 good Jack, and 7 suits of
2 horse harness. Opposite Bright's old Mill on Garrison Avenue.
Thomas DALY.
July 2, 1864
BUSHWHACKING ITEMS
We learn from Captain COLEMAN, 9th Kansas Cavalry, who returned
from a trip down the river below Roseville, a few days since,
that our cavalry have not been idle during the last week. Major
THATCHER commanded an expedition which surprised a body of bushwhackers
camped at the house of one PEARL, near the Potato Hill, in the
South East part of this county, and killed five of them. They
went from that point to the vicinity of Roseville, where they
killed two more, one of them being Major Randolph TITTSWORTH,
formerly of the rebel army, but more recently of the brush, and
no doubt one of the party who have systematically fired into every
boat, save two, that have made the trip this season.
This is the third time lately that the bushwhackers have been
found on the premises of Mr. PEARL, who had been down south with
the rebels until recently, but his wife came to Fort Smith recently,
took the oath, purchased her goods, and is currently reported
to have received pay for most of the forage used by our troops
in passing through that section; while we know of several Union
men of undoubted loyalty, with their pockets full of vouchers
and receipts, on which they are unable to get a cent.
Captain McCONNELL, of the 9th Kansas Cavalry, has returned from
a scout to the Sugar Loaf Valley, with detachments of the 6th,
9th and 14th Kansas Cavalry, under the command of Captain SEARLE.
They encountered and captured some of the rebel pickets just beyond
Sugar Loaf Mountain, but not being in force to attack them, as
they are reported to be several hundred strong, returned. Captain
McCONNELL represents the country as being nearly devastated by
the Indians, who are driving off all the stock, destroying other
property, and compelling all the families suspected of loyalty
to leave the country. One of the scouts from that section reports
that the Indians had taken off with them several men over 80 years
of age, and small boys, for what purpose, no one knows, unless
to kill, or hold them as hostages.
New Era Newspaper, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
November 26, 1864
FROM TYLER TEXAS
Fort Smith, Arkansas, November 24, 1864
Editor New Era:
Sir:- As many of the readers of your paper have friends in the
military prison Camp Ford, near Tyler, Smith County, Texas, it
may be interesting to some of them to know how they are treated,
and as I am recently from there, I ask a place in your columns
for the following:
The prison is an area of eight acres enclosed by logs set on end
six feet high inside of which the men have erected rude cabins
and temporary sheds which partly protect them from the weather.
There is a spring of good water inside and the men are seldom
or never permitted to go without the enclosure.
Rations are issued to the prisoners every morning and consist
of three articles; one quart of meal, one and a quarter pounds
of beef and three-fourths ounces of salt to each man. The meal
is coarse and unsifted. The beef is generally good. There are
no vegetables allowed and hundreds of the men have scurvy. The
rations are insufficient, and to a Federal Soldier, are certainly
a poor substitute, for those allowed by his government. If the
commanding officer was so disposed he could do better for our
men but they say anything good enough for the d-d Yankees, and
while their men had half rations of flour and bacon issued them
we were issued cracked corn and beef.
Wood is issued in small quantities scarcely sufficient for cooking
purposes, and under the present commander the men are not permitted
to go to the neighboring woods for any. Owing to the inferior
quantity of the rations and the want of medicines many brave fellows
who have nobly fought for their country have died here, and many
more will die if not soon exchanged. The hospital which is outside
the stockade is a rude, comfortless building, erected without
a nail, and is continually falling down. It does not turn the
rain, neither is there a chimney to it, and the patients are compelled
to lay without a fire, or a mattress under them, and some who
were weak and emaciated have died of the cold. The sick are allowed
half rations of flour, bacon and sugar, but are not supplied with
proper medicines, consequently, some days, as many as five die.
Although two parties have been exchanged there are yet 2,600 remaining
at Tyler and 500 at Camp Gross, 200 miles west of Tyler, and had
not our government sent 1,200 suits of clothes, the men would
have been naked.
Every party of prisoners taken to Tyler are robbed by the guards
on the way, and some of the men who were captured with the train
at Cabin Creek, came in without their pantaloons and boots. Some
who became foot sore and unable to travel had a rope tied around
their necks and dragged along. Private SELICK of Company H, 2nd
Kansas Cavalry, was shot dead June 17th, on the way from Camden
to Shreveport, because he could not travel as fast as the guards.
In the stockade men are shot down and during the four months that
I remained there four men were shot and not the least notice taken
of it.
Kansas troops are treated worse than any others, and the party,
120 that were captured with Major MEFFORD and Lieutenant DeFRIEZE
were not permitted to have any shelter erected and were obliged
with only six blankets amongst them to lay on the ground.
With all the hard things the men have to endure they are cheerful
and have their jokes. On one occasion the mill became out of repair
and the Q M issued us corn on the cob, the reason being explained
to the boys. They said nothing about it the first day, but the
second day seen it was corn they gathered around the Q M and made
him promise to bring hay and oats the next time. The next day,
however, they received their everlasting meal. The men amuse themselves
playing chess and other games, and there are three turning tables
in full blast, to the great astonishment of the Rebs.
In the month of July, under Colonel BORDER's Command a great many
made their escape. On the 28th of September a tunnel 80 feet long
was completed and 28 made their escape, but the guard detected,
and in the morning they started five blood hounds on their trail
and recaptured 11 of them. One was severely torn. Since then they
have dug a ditch eight feet around the stockade and escapes are
few. The men are counted twice per day, and so particular are
they that when a man dies the officer of the day had to examine
the coffin before it is removed for burial.
M F PARKER, 1st Sergeant, Company C, 6th Kansas, and Private J
J JONES, 5th Kansas and myself, succeeded in making our escape
on the 27th of October. Our outfit consisted of eight pounds of
bread and four pounds of bacon and a blanket apiece. We crossed
the Red River November 7th, above the mouth of Mill Creek, and
traveled north, near the Choctaw line and were getting along well
until the night of the 17th of November, when in the neighborhood
of Waldron, we were recaptured by a company of bushwhackers and
barely escaped being killed. They told us they were bushwhackers,
and that they killed every Kansas and Arkansan that fell into
their hands; and that since the 1st of April they had killed sixty
Federals. They treated us well, and after robbing our clothes
told us they would not kill us but would send us back to Tyler.
They took us back nine miles the following day and the next day
would have turned us over to MILLER, Captain of a similar company,
but I happened to know the gentleman, and that if we were turned
over to him it would be all over for us. So I gave them the slip,
that night, and succeeded in getting in here on Monday, 21st inst.,
being without anything to eat for three days. PARKER and JONES
made their escape from the bushwhackers on the 19th and came in
on the 22nd. We were 26 days on the road. We lived on acorns,
and corn when we could get it, but only found it at one place
this side of the Red River. A bushel of corn is worth more than
a bushel of Confederate Money. The country is depopulated for
sixty miles south of Fort Smith. Robert HENDERSON.
New Era, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas:
February 11, 1865
SHOCKING AFFAIR- WOMEN TORTURED- ROBBERY, MURDER & ARSON-
A "REVEREND" IN IRONS, etc., etc.
Six heavily ironed prisoners came up on the Lotus day before yesterday
from Clarksville, among whom was G W HUTCHINSON, formerly Chaplain
of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry. The names of the other five
are, W B FARMER, Company A, 1st Arkansas Cavalry, R H ATWELL,
Company F, 2nd Kansas Cavalry, John SHARKS, Company A 2nd Arkansas
Infantry, John HUDSON, citizen, and C O KIMBALL, citizen, formerly
of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry and more recently in the 2nd Arkansas
Infantry.
Ex-Chaplain HUTCHINSON, who resigned his position in the army
some time last spring, in order to follow the real bent of his
inclinations with more leisure, stands charged with heavy swindling
operations upon the Government and people. How far his is incriminated
with the deeds of the other prisoners can not be ascertained yet
until a more thorough investigation of the whole case.
The other prisoners stand charged with torturing four respectable
ladies over a slow fire till they were horribly mutilated about
their heads, shoulders and feet and with ravishing them, from
the effects of which one died and the others are made cripples
for life. One of the prisoners also stands charged with additional
crimes upon the body of one of the victims which pen would shudder
to record.
The object of the cruel wretches was to obtain some money, a considerable
amount of which these ladies were supposed to have in their possession.
They lived about 75 miles below this place, in the vicinity of
Clarksville. Three of the unfortunate victims are now at the latter
place under medical treatment. Their houses were also burned down.
Information was received here day before yesterday, that seven
other persons had been put in irons at Clarksville, charged with
being accomplices in the above crimes.
We give the details of this horrid affair as we received them
from the officer who conducted the preliminary investigation at
Clarksville. A full trial will undoubtedly develop all the facts
in the case and justice be fully meted out.
Ex-Chaplain HUTCHINSON and C O KIMBALL were removed to Little
Rock, yesterday, on board the Lotus.