USA > Arkansas > The aftermath of the civil war, in Arkansas > Part 11
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So it seems that the "mission of peace" these gentle- men engaged in was really a midnight raid of the Ku Klux upon a small squad of negroes who for once routed their oppressors and drove them from the scene in the utmost confusion. A ridiculous travesty upon Ku Klux chivalry !
The facts relating to this entire disturbance, as sub- sequently ascertained, clearly showed that it was the purpose of the Ku Klux in Conway County first to dis- arm the negroes and then, when they were in a helpless condition, by repressive and terrorizing acts, to cause them either to abstain from voting or to vote the Demo- cratic ticket at the November election.
INCENDIARY FIRES AT LEWISBURG
Now came sudden information of a serious outbreak in Conway County, -- an outbreak that I was able to meet with my eyes opened, and with information from sources on which I could fully rely.
About December 4, 1868, I received information describing an incendiary fire at Lewisburg, of which, on December 7, 1868, the Republican published the follow- ing account :
"KU KLUX KILL ONE MAN AND BURN THE VILLAGE OF LEWISBURG
From the evidence it appears that six Ku Klux, wishing to gain a little notoriety, assassinated a
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colored man about two miles north of Lewisburg, Wednesday night, December 2; and after committing the chivalrous act passed into town and succeeded in destroying by fire one-half of the village. They com- menced operations by setting fire to Captain Matthews' Hotel which was destroyed, together with the Post Of- fice building, storehouses, and dwellings. All the books, letters, and papers in the Post Office were lost. The men were disguised, but it is thought they can be iden- tified, as being obliged to leave in a hurry they left be- hind them some important papers which may lead to their detection. .
This hotel belonged to two prominent Republicans, and it will be observed that the six men who set fire to it were disguised. The other buildings that were burned on account of their close proximity, so far as I know, were owned by Democrats, but that fact was evi- dently not taken into consideration by the incendiaries. Their disguises established their Ku Klux identity, for during the period covered by this work there never was an instance of Republicans using disguises to conceal their identity. The object of these reckless men was evi- dently to punish a political enemy.
On the 15th of the same month the Gazette published the following letter :
"LEWISBURG, ARK., Dec. 4, 1868.
"EDITORS GAZETTE: Yesterday morning about four o'clock Messrs. Gill and Matthews' hotel was discovered to be on fire, which was totally destroyed with its con- tents; also the storehouse of Burrow, Rankin & Co. was destroyed with its contents, except some one thousand or fifteen hundred dollars' worth, and that was nearly ruined with the rain and mud. Our smoke-house with considerable bacon, pork, lard, molasses, etc., etc., was totally destroyed. The saloons of R. T. Markham and
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Carroll & Bertram, with nearly all their contents, were destroyed. Our dwelling house was saved by great ex- ertion and work of the citizens. . . . Messrs. Burrow, Rankin & Co. and A. Gordon and lady hereby tender their heartfelt thanks to the citizens for their great ex- ertion in saving our property.
"Your friend, "ANDERSON GORDON."
On December 6, 1868, news came to me of the kill- ing of Thomas Hooper. It was alleged that Hooper had been arrested by the militia on account of the mur- der of a negro by the Ku Klux in a midnight raid. The cap of one of the participants, having inside the name of Hooper, was knocked off and afterward picked up by the wife of the murdered negro. It was charged that Hooper, while a prisoner in the hands of the militia, two days before the declaration of martial law, was killed by some one of the militia, and an attempt was made to justify the act on the ground that it was done while the prisoner was trying to escape. The killing of Hooper, whether by the militia or not, furnished an additional reason for my declaration of martial law in Conway County.
The question may be asked: "Why did I not make the killing of Hooper the subject of an investigation by a military commission, as was done in other cases during the pendency of martial law?" My answer is that the civil authority had not been suspended there when Hooper was killed. The troops that were charged with this offense had not been called out by me, but were acting as a sheriff's posse. The matter was a local affair that came under the exclusive jurisdiction of the civil courts, which courts did take jurisdiction in the case by the arrest, trial, and acquittal of Captain Matthews and a colored man
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who were charged with the offense. Captain Matthews was subsequently murdered, but the particulars of his murder I am not able to give. For more complete infor- mation relative to the killing of Hooper I refer the reader to "The Contested Election Case of John M. Clayton vs. C. R. Breckinridge," on file in the Library of Congress, Washington, D. C., testimony of myself, pp. 539 to 542 and 556 to 559; testimony of R. F. Hooper, pp. 521 to 523, and testimony of W. H. Hooper, p. 522.
The killing of the negro by the Ku Klux raiders, fol- lowed by the murder of Hooper and the incendiary fire just described, were my justification for my declaration of martial law in Conway County on December 8, 1868. About a week after martial law was declared these con- ditions were greatly aggravated by a second incendiary fire, which resulted in the destruction of the business houses of Breeden & Casey and Howard & Wells, and by the atrocious murder of James M. Casey of the first named firm, and his robbery of four or five hundred dol- lars, as near as I can remember, after which his body was left in the burning building to be destroyed by the flames.
On December 20, 1868, the Gazette gave an account of this second fire at Lewisburg, from which I quote as follows :
"ANOTHER FIRE AT LEWISBURG
The following statement was made to us by a reliable citizen of Conway County, who is now in the city a refugee from home. It appears that on Wednes- day night last, the 16th, about 8 o'clock, Gibbons, with four companies of militia, commanded respectively by Gray, Williams, Roane, and Matthews-the company commanded by the latter are negroes-entered the quiet little village with demoniacal yells, shooting in every di- rection, and marched up to the store of Messrs. Breeden
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& Casey, fired a number of shots through the door. and then set fire to the building by pouring out upon the floor a can of coal oil and setting it on fire. The flames rap- idly spread and soon communicated to the storehouse of Messrs. Howard & Wells which, together with the for- mer, was entirely destroyed. Colonel Eagan's store ad- joining was saved by the almost superhuman efforts of the citizens, through the use of wet blankets placed upon the roof. During the burning Mr. Casey, of the firm of Breeden & Casey, was shot down by some one of the murderous villains, his pockets rifled of money, watch, etc., and his body thrown into the burning flames. His trunk was burst open and the entire contents appropriated. The militia, both white and black, while the fire was in progress consumed the time in rifling the buildings of their contents, reserving such articles as they desired for their own use, and burning such as could not be used. . "
In contradiction of all the statements contained in the above article, I reproduce a communication from Capt. John J. Gibbons, commander of the militia sta- tioned at Lewisburg, dated December 23, 1868, and published in the Republican, December 30 of that year, and a number of supporting affidavits :
"EDITOR OF THE REPUBLICAN.
"Sir: I send you for publication in the Republican the particulars of a fire at Lewisburg on the night of the 16th of December, 1868. The fire broke out and was first discovered in Messrs. Breeden, Billingly & Co.'s storehouse, which was burned down, and also Howard & Wells' store was totally destroyed by the fire.
"I make this statement to refute a slander published by the Gazette, in which it alleges that the information was obtained from 'a reliable citizen of Conway County who is now in this city a refugee from home.'
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"Ist. If that 'reliable citizen' is one E. W. Adams, he is not only a refugee, but also a fugitive from justice. "And if A. Gordon is the 'reliable citizen,' I will only refer to the affidavit of Lydia A. Gordon, his wife; James Gordon, his brother, and R. T. Markham and John Rankin, citizens of Lewisburg.
"2d. The four companies, as alleged by the Ga- zette, did not come to Lewisburg on Wednesday, the 16th instant.
"Captain Matthews' Company State Guards came to Lewisburg on Wednesday the 8th, and for their good conduct toward the citizens here I refer to the affidavits of John Rankin, R. T. Markham, and William Howard, all citizens of Lewisburg.
"3d. I came to Lewisburg on the 14th instant, with twenty-two men. Captains Gray and Roane came after- ward. The 'demoniacal yells' of the four companies of militia were never heard by the cititzens of Lewisburg on the night of the 16th; this is shown by the affidavits of John Rankin, James Gordon, and others.
"Nor was J. M. Casey murdered and robbed by the militia, and as to who is guilty of that outrage, see the copy of the verdict of Coroner's jury relating to the case.
"4th. 'The superhuman exertions of the citizens of Lewisburg to arrest the fire' were aided by seventy-five militia men; see affidavits of John Rankin, Wells, Wil- liam Howard, R. T. Markham, and Lydia Gordon.
"The militia, both white and black, 'while the fire was progressing' did all in their power to arrest and stop the fire, and were not 'rifling the buildings of their contents' as represented by the 'reliable citizen from Con- way County.' For proof see sworn statement of William Howard, A. Wells, James Gordon, and others.
"The allegation that 'the town is now occupied by the ruffians who perambulate the streets shooting and cursing' is not true, as shown by affidavits of Rankin, Gordon, Howard, Wells, and others.
"I would further request that the editors and pub-
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lishers of the Gazette disclose the name of the afore- said 'reliable citizen of Conway County,' and show who is responsible for their malicious slanders.
"Respectfully, "JOHN J. GIBBONS, "Capt. Commanding Conway County."
SUPPORTING AFFIDAVITS 18
"William Howard, a citizen of Lewisburg, being duly sworn, deposes and says : I am one of the firm of Howard & Wells, merchants in this place; our house was burned on the 16th of December, 1868. I was not on the ground until the house had fallen in; there were 16 sacks of cof- fee, several bolts of calico and domestics, two barrels and about one-fourth of flour, some jeans, three trunks that had been taken out of our house. I did not see, hear, or know of any person plundering or pilfering.
"I know a great many of the troops that are sta- tioned here; I believe them to be good citizens; never heard any threats made against any person or their prop- erty ; never saw any person mistreated by them. I think nearly every person on the ground was militia, and they were all doing all they could to prevent as much as they could when I arrived. I have seen a printed report of the fire at this place on the 16th of December, 1868, which I denounce as a false and malicious slander, not only to the troops, but also to the citizens of this commu- nity.
"W. R. HOWARD, December 22, 1868."
"R. T. Markham, a citizen of Lewisburg, Ark., being duly sworn, deposes and says: I have never heard any of the militia that are stationed here at this place make any threats against any person or their property. I know nearly all of the militia here, and I believe them to be good citizens. There has been a guard near my house since the 17th inst .; we have been respectfully treated by
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them, both black and white. I have been acquainted with Captain Gibbons a great many years and never knew him to mistreat anyone. I knew him during the war ; don't be- lieve he would suffer his troops to commit any outrages if he knew it. I have seen a printed report of the late fire at Lewisburg and denounce it as a malicious slander against the citizens of this community.
"R. T. MARKHAM, December 22, 1868."
"John Rankin, a citizen of Lewisburg, Ark., being duly sworn, deposes and says: On the night of the 16th of December, 1868, I was in our store, opposite Colonel Gordon's residence and about 40 yards from the storehouses that were burned. I was going from the warehouse with a lantern. I heard some men talking and laughing. They asked who that was with a light, and said put it out. I did not put it out; they seemed to be very merry. I thought it was some of the boys on a spree. If I were to see or hear persons going on purpose to burn a house or commit a robbery I don't think they would act like these men. I think it was about two hours after I heard these men that I heard the alarm of fire. I re- mained at our store some time after the fire broke out.
"I saw no person plundering or pilfering anything. The greater portion of the persons that assisted in trying to arrest the fire were persons belonging to the militia. I have not heard any threats either against persons or their property. I think the negro militia came here about a week before the fire, and I don't know of any outrage committed by them since they have been here.
"I think Captain Gibbons came about the 14th inst., with the white militia. I don't know how many he had with him. All the militia that I have noticed all take an interest in preserving the peace.
"Ever since the fire there has been a guard stationed near our house, and they have treated our folks respect- fully all the time. I am acquainted with a great many of the militia and believe them to be good citizens; I
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have seen printed reports of the fire, and the acts of the militia at this place, which I denounce as a malicious slander.
"JOHN RANKIN, December 22, 1868."
"James M. Gordon, a citizen of Lewisburg, Ark., being duly sworn, deposes and says that I have never heard any threats against any person or their property by the militia stationed at this place ; on the night of the fire of the 16th of December, 1868, I got on the ground as soon as I could and assisted in stopping the fire; the greater portion of the men that were assisting belonged to the militia. I know a great many of the troops sta- tioned here, and I consider them good citizens. Never saw any person on the night of the fire pilfering or plun- dering anything. I heard somebody say that they saw somebody taking off some coffee, but paid no attention to it. I think Captain Gibbons brought the negro militia here about one week before the fire; I don't know of out- rages committed by the negroes.
"When Captain Gibbons came with the white militia they made no attempt to commit any outrages. I have known Captain Gibbons a great while, both before the war, during the same, and since; always received kind treatment from him; while he was in the Federal Army that was stationed at this place during the war I never knew of any person being mistreated by him.
"I have seen a printed report of the late fire at this place and denounce it as a malicious slander against the citizens of this community.
J. M. GORDON, December 22, 1868."
"W. L. Conley, a lieutenant in Captain Roan's Com- pany of militia, who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that on the evening of the 16th inst. he came into the town of Lewisburg in company with about 30 men of Captain Roan's company of militia; at the time the alarm of fire was given I was at Capt. J. J. Gibbons'
F
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Headquarters, and was ordered by him to take 50 men of the white militia and save all the property that I could, and if possible arrest the fire. I did so. The men came out promptly and acted nobly; by their exertions aided by some of the citizens, we succeeded in saving Colonel Eagan's dry-goods store, also D. B. Russell's drug-store, which otherwise would have been burned. After the fire had subsided I placed a guard on the goods we had succeeded in saving, to prevent any of them from being stolen; yet I saw very little of such disposition mani- fested. I have seen the Gazette's report of the reliable citizen of Conway County; I in common with all others present during the fire denounce him as a malicious liar.
"W. L. CONLEY, December 22, 1868."
"A. C. Wells, a citizen of Perry County, Ark., lives across the river, opposite Lewisburg, Ark. On the night of the 16th of December, 1868, my storehouse was burned down; when I got on the ground a great many of our goods had been taken out of the house; there were a great many of the militia present; they all showed a dis- position to preserve all they could, and many of them as- sisted me to take care of our things; saw no person take anything whatever; I believe that it was by the aid of the militia that other houses were saved.
"I have seen a printed report of the late fire at Lew- isburg, which I denounce as a false and malicious slander to the citizens of the community, and also to the troops that are stationed here, as they have acted as gentlemen as far as I know : never heard any threats by any person. "A. C. WELLS, December 22, 1868."
"Lydia Ann Gordon, being duly sworn, deposes and says, that I have never been mistreated by any of the militia ; on the night of the 16th of December, 1868, some men came by our house hallooing and making a great noise ; after they passed I heard four or five reports of pistols or guns; they acted like drunk men; as they came back, some one threw something at our dog on the porch ;
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since the fire there has been a guard every night near our house; they have treated me and my family respect- fully; the party that made the noise passed my house about six o'clock on the night of the 16th inst.
"I first raised the alarm of fire about two hours after these men passed back. I live about 30 yards from the store that was burned. I did not see the men shooting; I saw a great many persons that were not citizens of the place assisting in trying to arrest the fire; I did not see any person plundering any thing that had been thrown out on the street. I have heard no firing on the street since the fire; a few moments before the discovery of the fire I heard a report of a gun or pistol which made a dead sound; I thought it was in the direction of the building that was destroyed. I knew Captain Gibbons during the rebellion and always received kind treatment from him, both to myself and family. From what I know of Captain Gibbons I don't think he would suffer his men to commit such outrages as the burning and robbing of the 16th inst.
"LYDIA ANN GORDON, December 22, 1868."
This affidavit is especially significant in view of the fact that it is generally understood that it was upon her husband's statement that the Gazette based its article, published on pages 154-155.
In addition to Captain Gibbons' letter and the affi- davits reproduced, the coroner's verdict on the death of James M. Casey fully disposes of these malicious false- hoods. I reproduce it from the Daily Republican, De- cember 24, 1868 :
"STATE OF ARKANSAS,
"COUNTY OF CONWAY.
"Be it known that upon an inquisition begun on the 17th day of December, 1868, at Lewisburg, Conway
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مسے
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County, Arkansas, before L. B. Umphlet, one of the Justices of the Peace of said county, upon the view of the dead body of James M. Casey, by the oaths of James T. Young, William L. Brents, Thomas H. Har- ness, Thomas L. Wells, William Lloyd, Thomas A. Up- church, William Choat, David A. Wells, William H. Roberts, John A. Ferguson, John M. Bond, and William A. Upchurch,-twelve good and lawful jurors of said county,-the said jurors being in due form sworn .- do say that the said James M. Casey came to his death by being murdered for his money, in some manner unknown to this jury, and the house in which he was was set on fire and burned down on the night of the 16th day of December, 1868, in the town of Lewisburg, Ark., by the hands of one Pompey O. Breeden and one George Bent- ley.
"IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, As well the said Justice of the Peace as the said jurors, do hereunto respectively set their hands, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1868.
"L. B. Umphlet, J. P., James T. Young,
William Choat,
Wm. L. Brents,
David A. Wells, T. H. Harness,
John A. Ferguson,
Thomas L. Wells,
John M. Bond, Wm. Lloyd,
W. A. Upchurch, Thomas A. Upchurch,
W. H. Roberts."
"STATE OF ARKANSAS,
"COUNTY OF CONWAY.
"I certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of the inquest held over the body of James M. Casey, and finished on the 20th day of December, 1868.
"Given under my hand this December 20, 1868. "A. B. GAYLORD,
"County and Probate Justice of Conway County."
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This leaves nothing for me to explain except that the George Bentley mentioned in the Coroner's verdict is the same George . Bentley who, according to the Gazette's authority, was one of the two "old and re- liable" 19 citizens of Lewisburg who went upon the "mis- sion of peace" which proved to be really a Ku Klux raid upon the negroes.
Upon the receipt by me of an official report from Captain Gibbons of the highly satisfactory conduct of the troops under his command and the quieting effect produced thereby, supported by sworn statements from the best citizens of Lewisburg of both political parties, I revoked martial law in the county of Conway, and so informed the General Assembly in my message to the Legislature on January 12, 1869.20
RESTORATION OF CIVIL AUTHORITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE
On March 21, 1869, I informed the General Assem- bly by message of the revocation of martial law and the reestablishment of the civil authority in Crittenden County. This important message I now quote in its entirety : 21
"MR. SPEAKER : I am instructed by His Excellency, the Governor, to inform your honorable body that he issued a proclamation restoring the civil authority in the county of Crittenden, to take effect upon the receipt thereof by the officer in charge of that sub-district. He has also directed that at the same time the prisoners held under military order shall be turned over to the civil authorities, and the small force on duty there shall be disbanded.
"With this action, the occupancy of counties by
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process of martial law ceases for the present through- out the State.
"It is believed that the civil authorities in every county lately under martial law, as well as in the other counties, are able to enforce the laws and arrest and punish all desperate characters.
"Repeated assurances have been received from the sheriffs and other officers in those counties that the peo- ple are not only willing but desirous to see a faithful and prompt administration of justice in their midst, and to bring all offenders to punishment. The feeling of ter- rorism and insecurity that existed so generally before the inauguration of martial law has almost entirely disap- peared. Men guilty of the most flagrant violations of the law were permitted to run at large or, if arrested and brought to trial, were in very few cases found guilty and made to suffer punishment, on account of the terror they and their friends exercised in their respective com- munities, or from a diseased condition of public senti- ment which, to a great extent, sympathized with acts of outlawry, especially upon the persons and property of po- litical or personal opponents, and which, in many cases, rendered the administration of the civil law a farce and a mockery.
"This has given place to a more healthy spirit of determination on the part of the citizens to see the law enforced.
"A large number of desperate men who formerly were a terror to the citizens and officers of the law have either been killed or driven out of the State, and assur- ances have been given that those who were driven away will not be permitted to return.
"The Executive was informed that three desperadoes. formerly residents of Lafayette County, had returned to that county; but he is assured by the sheriff that this is not the case, and that if they should come back they can and they will be at once arrested and made to suffer the penalty of the law.
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"Letters are constantly being received from all parts of the State, and from citizens of all political parties, bearing cheerful evidence of the very marked improve- ment in their respective localities. Lawlessness has been checked or put an end to, and quiet, security, and good order are being enjoyed by all classes. During the last three months but five murders have been reported to the Executive, while during the preceding four months nearly two hundred murders and attempted assassinations were reported.
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