USA > Arkansas > The aftermath of the civil war, in Arkansas > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
What a travesty upon the paternal obligations of the now victorious Government to assist in the main- tenance of an equal and coordinate State Government created by it, and to throw its shield of protection over the returning Arkansas Union soldiers who, under un- precedented hardships, responded to their country's call in the hour of its direst need!
Seldom perhaps in American history has a military movement been organized and successfully prosecuted under such tremendous difficulties. After my proclama- tion of martial law I passed some very anxious days and nights, as it was far from certain that the militia, in the face of such a situation, would respond to my call. This anxiety, however, was changed to gratification and senti- ments of the highest appreciation of their loyalty when I learned from various sources that the militiamen were flocking, principally from the mountain regions, to the
III
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
places of rendezvous designated by their district com- manders. They were in most cases mounted upon their own horses and armed with weapons of their own, or such as they could borrow from their neighbors.
General Catterson, who was a Brigadier-General of volunteers in the Civil War, with an excellent record, proved to be fully equal to the task assigned him. This tribute of approval applies equally to Major Demby, who was an invaluable support to General Catterson. As a mark of my appreciation of his services I promoted him from the rank of major to that of colonel.
Within nine days from the date of the Proclamation of Martial Law, General Catterson and his staff arrived at Murfreesboro, Ark., the place of rendezvous for the troops under his command. Notwithstanding the remark- able activity of General Catterson and Major Demby in organizing and assembling their commands at Murfrees- boro, the enemy, with their perfect Ku Klux organization, had already assembled 200 men at Centre Point, then in Sevier County, and had on the line of march for that place the following bodies,5-150 men under the notorious Baker, one company from the southern part of Pope County, two companies from Little River County, 160 men from the northwestern part of Hempstead County.
General Catterson has recently died, but Colonel Demby is still living at Hot Springs, Ark. Some years ago I obtained from Colonel Demby the following facts concerning the encounter at Centre Point, which were later submitted to and confirmed by General Catterson and by other participants in the affair :
On the 13th of November, 1868, Major Demby assembled at Murfreesboro about 360 men of the First Arkansas Cavalry,-all white. Learning that the enemy had a supply of arms stored at Centre Point, he sent
II2
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
Captain Reeves with about 100 men to seize them and there await further orders.
General Catterson and his staff arrived at Murfrees- boro that night. The next morning the command marched to a place within seven miles of Centre Point, where they met Captain Reeves retreating, who re- ported the enemy at Centre Point about 500 strong, whereupon General Catterson ordered Major Demby with four companies to take the advance. Coming in sight of Centre Point, Major Demby saw a force of fully 400 men forming in line of battle; whereupon he ordered Captain Reeves, with his company, to march to the rear of the town on the Mt. Ida road, and he ordered Lieutenant Cotton with his command to the left to occupy the Nashville road, while he himself marched upon the town by the Murfreesboro road.
While Major Demby's command was crossing a creek running through the outskirts of the town the enemy, under shelter of the houses, fired upon his troops, killing one man and wounding five. While this was progress- ing Captain Reeves struck the enemy in the rear, which threw them into confusion and enabled him to take a considerable number of prisoners. The enemy formed again behind a church in front of Major Demby, while he rallied his men and charged them, whereupon they fled in the utmost disorder.
At this time a gun shot was fired from a building, which the militia immediately occupied. They found the upper story to be the den of the Ku Klux Klan, with their disguises hanging about the walls, and with a Con- federate Flag spread over the altar where candidates knelt and took the prescribed oaths. The room was empty, but they discovered a trap door in the ceiling and hoisted one of the militia on the shoulders of another, who thus succeeded in entering the loft, where he found
II3
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
several men concealed. They were arrested, and among them was John Crawford, an ex-Confederate Major and the defaulting State officer referred to on page 365.
The militia having occupied the town, the enemy in great confusion sought places of concealment. Some of them were dragged by the militia from a space be- tween the ceiling of a porch and the roof, and others from every imaginable hiding-place. The whole num- ber of prisoners taken throughout the affair was about 60. General Catterson, mistaking my power in the exe- cution of martial law,-which was confined to the coun- ties enumerated in the proclamation,-sent to Little Rock to be turned over to me all the prisoners above referred to. I immediately sent them all back to Gen- eral Catterson with orders to investigate the circum- stances and release such men as were not charged with any special crime against the laws of the State and to organize a military commission for the trial of such offenders as were charged with high crimes. The pro- ceedings and verdict of said military commission were to be referred to me for my approval before being car- ried into effect.
The result of this affair created a profound impres- sion in all localities throughout the State, and even be- yond its borders, and caused the Ku Klux bodies here- tofore mentioned as having been on their way to Centre Point to countermarch to the localities from whence they had come.
Had it not been for the quickness of perception and promptness of action that characterized General Catter- son's operations and his immediate and vigorous attack upon the enemy without parley or delay, the assembling of this very considerable insurgent force might have turned the tide against the State Government and led to the most serious results.
114
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
The Centre Point affair was followed by three inci- dents of far-reaching importance. A negro man, charged with an assault upon a white woman, was arrested within General Catterson's jurisdiction and tried by a military commission. He was found guilty, sentenced to death, and, with my approval, publicly executed at Rocky Com- fort, Ark. The second was the trial and conviction of E. R. Griffith, commonly known as "Bud" Griffith, for having been one of the participants in the murder of Major Andrews, Lieutenant Willis, and the unknown colored man.6 .He was publicly executed at Rocky Com- fort, Ark. The third was the killing of the notorious desperado and bandit, Cullen Baker, the particulars of which were correctly described in the article in the Wash- ington Telegraph, which was republished in the Gazette, January 26, 1869, as follows :
"Death of Cullen Baker. This man, who has prob- ably caused more excitement and committed more crimes than any man in modern times, has at last fallen, and the country breathes free once more.
"The circumstances of his death are as follows :
"About four weeks since, he went to the house of his brother-in-law, Mr. Thos. Orr, in Lafayette County, Ark., and, breaking down the door, took Mr. Orr and his father-in-law, Mr. Wm. Foster, tied their hands behind them, and kept them during the night. Next morning he hung Mr. Orr until he supposed he was dead, when he cut him down to get the rope to hang another man. This man was finally released by some of Baker's men. Mr. Orr recovered after Baker and his party left. Mr. Foster they released about 12 o'clock that day. On the 6th of January, Baker and a man named Kirby came into the settlement again, and Mr. Orr, with a few friends, determined to kill him or sacrifice their lives in the attempt. While concealed in the woods they rushed on him and succeeded in killing him about I I o'clock
II5
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
The execution of the negro taught the lawless ele- ment that under General Catterson's rigid rule they might expect, if apprehended, such exemplary punish- ment as the nature of their offenses should demand.
The arrest and execution of Griffith showed that Gen- eral Catterson was not groping in the dark, but knew whom to lay hands upon, and that while the object of martial law was not to punish members of the Ku Klux Klan as such, it was to ferret out and bring to justice those members who had been guilty of high crimes.
On September 3, 1868, Baker's operations having been brought to my attention, and especially his recent murder of one J. Smith, I had issued a reward of $1,000 for his arrest and delivery to the proper officer;7 where- upon he posted upon the trees and public places in the vicinity of his operations a reward of $5,000 for my delivery to him, dead or alive. After the killing of Baker his body was brought to Little Rock, and after full identification the reward was paid.
The execution of Griffith and the killing of Baker caused a panic and general exodus among the desperadoes who, as members of the 'Ku Klux Klan and under its protection, had carried on their nefarious operations "without let or hindrance" in the southern part of the State.
The location of this band was well chosen for their purposes on account of the ease with which they, if pur- sued by an officer of the law, could fly beyond the juris- diction of Arkansas to the States of Louisiana, Texas, or the Indian Territory, which all cornered within a comparatively small area.
After these favorable occurrences General Catter- son's work of reestablishing the civil authorities in the counties named and in other counties under martial law in his district was comparatively easy. He found that a
I16
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
large percentage of the citizens in a number of counties had joined the Ku Klux Klan in the belief that its object was to protect the whites against their exaggerated ideas of negro domination. This class, having been drawn for- ward step by step by their Ku Klux leaders, at length found themselves verging on or in a state of insurrec- tion against the lawful authority, and were under such terrorism as to cause them to fear the vengeance of the order, should they desert it. They now began to look upon the militia as their liberators, not as their enemies, and many were ready to pledge themselves to support the reestablishment of the civil authorities and to join in the punishment of the outlaws, should they return.
General Catterson, having become satisfied of their good faith and having received assurances of their deter- mination to support the civil authorities, reported these facts to me with his recommendation that martial law be revoked in the counties within his territory, which was done under my proclamation referred to in my message to the Legislature, January 12, 1869.8
COLONEL MALLORY'S MILITARY OPERATIONS
I now come to a description of the condition of affairs in Col. Samuel W. Mallory's district and his militia operations.
On the 30th of November, 1868, Capt. George Prig- more assembled at Monticello three companies of col- ored troops,-one from Little Rock and two from Pine Bluff. On the Wednesday following Colonel Mallory arrived to take command of his district.
Early in December, 1868, Messrs. Haynes, Brooks, Whitington, and Wells,-all prominent citizens of Drew County, representing both political parties and duly se- lected by its citizens,-called upon me at the Capitol to
II7
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
discuss and if possible devise ways and means prepara- tory to the restoration of the civil authority in that county. In the deliberations that followed I became very much impressed with the good faith of this Committee. The result was that they agreed to go back to Monti- cello and raise two home companies of non-partisan membership,-one of cavalry and one of infantry,- upon which I could rely under all circumstances to obey the orders of the commanding officer of that District.
On their return to Monticello, Captains H. C. Burks and James A. Jackson redeemed the promise of the Com- mittee by the prompt enlistment in the State Guards of the two companies referred to, and they and their subor- dinate officers were duly commissioned by me. I have only the muster roll of Captain Burks' company,-which economy of space prevents me from publishing, -- but I can say that, including the two lieutenants, the full strength of this company was 74 men, who, with the exception of about fifteen, were all ex-Confederate sol- diers, and two were ex-members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Shortly after the occupation of Monticello by the militia Stokely Morgan was arrested, having been charged with complicity in the murder of Deputy Sheriff William Dollar and a negro named "Fed" Reeves. The atrocity of these murders is shown by the following well established facts: Deputy Sheriff Dollar was serving a writ and was killed by a gang of some fourteen Ku Klux. Then, in order to make an impressive tableau, they killed "Fed" Reeves, an unoffending negro, and tied the white man and negro together in the attitude of kissing and embracing, and left them in the public road where they remained for about two days. During this time, to gratify their curiosity, many people visited them and left them as they found them.
In due time a military commission was convened,
II8
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
composed of the following members: Col. Samuel W. Mallory, Capt. George Prigmore, Captain Bushmyer, Capt. H. C. Burks, Capt. J. A. Jackson, and Lieut. Thomas Haynes.
The three members last named were officers in the two home companies. The unanimous verdict "guilty" rendered by the military commission was based princi- pally upon the evidence of an aunt and an uncle of the accused, and the verdict was publicly carried into effect by a detail commanded by Colonel Demby, assisted by the two Monticello companies, who were charged with the keeping of order. The execution of Morgan had a very salutary effect, resulting immediately in the flight from the State of thirteen desperadoes from the County of Drew, who were never permitted to return.
A great deal of the foregoing information is based on a letter in my possession from Capt. H. C. Burks to S. A. Duke, dated November 1, 1906, which Duke delivered to me with permission to use. As I do not believe that the facts which I have stated will be ques- tioned, I omit its reproduction.
On February 6, 1869, I issued my proclamation re- voking martial law and restoring the civil authorities 9 in Colonel Mallory's district.
The mustering into the State service and the active use of the two home companies referred to was a master- stroke of peace-restoring policy. During my adminis- tration and ever since I have kept informed as to the history of Drew County, and I unhesitatingly express the opinion that its citizens have justly earned the reputation of being among the most peaceable and law-abiding of any county in the State.
119
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
GEN. D. P. UPHAM'S COMMAND
The civil authority in all the counties south of the White River having been restored, I now proceed to give an account of the administration of martial law in the northeast military district under the command of Brig .- Gen. D. P. Upham.
On December 8, 1868, General Upham assembled a force of about one hundred and twenty white soldiers at Augusta, Woodruff County, and proceeded at once to fortify his position by the erection of a stockade, and soon thereafter he occupied the Counties of Craighead and Greene with suitable forces.
During the period that General Upham was assem- bling and organizing his command at Augusta, several ex- travagant reports came to me of abuses and depreda- tions charged to his troops. I therefore sent Adjt .- Gen. Keyes Danforth to inquire into and to investigate thor- oughly these rumors. As his report is an important document I republish it in full.10
"LITTLE ROCK, ARK., "December 12, 1868.
"HIS EXCELLENCY POWELL CLAYTON,
"Governor of Arkansas, "Little Rock, Ark.
"DEAR SIR: In compliance with your instructions I left the city on the morning of the 10th instant, arrived at General Upham's headquarters at Augusta on the Ioth, returning here this evening. I respectfully submit the following report of affairs as I found them there.
"At De Vall's Bluff, and other points on my way up White River, I heard extravagant reports of depreda- tions committed by General Upham's command, all of which I am glad to report, upon a thorough investiga- tion, proved to be untrue.
"I found General Upham located in a house (which
120
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
was unoccupied when he took possession of it) protected by a strong stockade. Some of his troops were quartered inside the defence; others in such buildings as were found tenantless in the town.
"His force amounted to about one hundred and fifty white men, tolerably well armed and mounted. He moved from Batesville with one hundred men, only a portion of whom were armed. Upon his arrival in Au- gusta he immediately seized all arms and a large amount of ammunition in the possession of the merchants. He had taken such clothing and quartermaster's stores as were needed by his men, and nothing more that I could ascertain. I am satisfied that his command has not taken the property of the citizens in any case where it was not actually needed. On the night of the 9th instant General Upham had reliable information of an intended attack by a force of insurgents, estimated to number from three to four hundred men. He at once arrested fifteen of the leading sympathizers in town and confined them in a brick building, and sent notification to the citizens that if he were attacked he would kill his prisoners and burn
the town. Upon this, several influential men went out- side of the town and prevailed upon the attacking force to abandon their intentions and return to their homes, which it is believed has been done. General Upham told me that a detachment of his troops had been fired upon while marching to join him, and had committed some depredations immediately upon their arrival in town; and that he had caused their arrest and returned the goods to their owners. He assured me that he would main- tain strict discipline and allow no seizures of property except by officers under proper orders. He feels per- fectly confident of his ability to defend successfully his position against any attack which may be made upon him. On the morning of the 10th he sent out a detach- ment to ascertain if there were any armed men in the county. If there were not, he intended to release all but two or three of his prisoners ( who are desperadoes)
I2I
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
and to do all in his power to restore a feeling of security and confidence among the people.
"General Upham has no colored troops in service; but intended to put into camp the colored companies in Woodruff County. I respectfully recommend that this be not done except in case of extreme necessity. I found the people in Augusta very much frightened; a few of them had gone away. The merchants had shipped a small portion of their goods. When I left, however, a better feeling had begun to prevail and the excitement was rapidly dying away. I do not think it was so much the presence of the militia which agitated the people as the fear of an attack from the outside upon General Upham's troops. General Upham's ideas about restor- ing civil law as soon as possible and using as few men as possible accord fully with your own views. He thinks a month or six weeks will end militia operations in his district. He also recommends that civil law be restored in Fulton County at once.
"I am, very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "KEYES DANFORTH, "Adjutant-General."
I am glad to say that General Danforth's report fully exonerated General Upham and his command. On the 15th and 22d of December, 1868, General Upham trans- mitted to me two reports 11 relative to militia opera- tions in Woodruff County, copies of which are as follows :
"AUGUSTA, ARK., "December 15, 1868.
"GOVERNOR CLAYTON,
"DEAR SIR: I have the honor to make the follow- ing report :
"A large force numbering about two hundred (200) of the citizens of Woodruff County gathered together. armed, to resist the State troops, and the citizens of
,4 .
I22
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
Augusta went out and met them day before yesterday and caused them to lay down their arms and return to their homes ; all except a few are outlaws, among which are the men who shot McClure and myself on the 22d of October last ; the others are men of the same character. Last night, about ten o'clock, our pickets were fired upon by a party of about one hundred ( 100) men from Sharp, Lawrence, and Jackson, joined by the aforesaid few outlaws of this county. They immediately retired about five miles above here on my plantation, camped overnight, and took my overseer, Richmond Briscoe, and Captain Ander- son prisoners. This morning they made a move in the direction of Augusta.
"We are about one hundred and twenty ( 120) men, half armed. We can hold the position until Dale and Monks arrive, who are on their way with about two hundred men. Send us, if possible, about one or two hundred stands of arms and some ammunition. The rebels will probably get together six or eight hundred men within a week. Colonel Schaurte can give you some information. We are anxious for a fight, and our men will do all they can with what they have to do it with. I don't care for reinforcements if we have arms. The citizens under my orders are bringing some every day. The telegraph operator, Holman, is a Ku Klux and made his escape last night after giving all the informa- tion he could to Jacksonport. Send an operator. The
good citizens have been here this morning begging for arms to fight with us, but we have none to give. We are in fine spirits and every man will fight. The citizens have just presented an address to the citizens of other counties, praying them to desist and let this county alone, as they are well satisfied and wish no interference from any quarter. I will send you copy by next mail.
"I have the honor, Governor, to remain
"Yours with great respect,
"D. P. UPHAM, "Brig .- Gen. Commanding."
123
CIVIL WAR, IN ARKANSAS
"AUGUSTA, ARK., "December 22, 1868.
"HIS EXCELLENCY, HON. POWELL CLAYTON, GOVERNOR, "Little Rock, Arkansas.
"GOVERNOR : My report to you on the 15th con- tains about all that could be said. Captain Taylor with a detachment of about fifty (50) men followed the out- laws from Jackson and other counties two days and nights, and at last drove them into Jackson County. I telegraphed to Captain Brian to arrest Bob Shaver and notify me, but as yet have received no notice of the ar- rest of Shaver, who was in command of all the insurgents north of Woodruff County, and a resident of Jackson- port. Under his direction and superintendence were the Ku Klux, with Col. A. C. Picket at the head, and Capt. A. W. Robertson and Lieut. B. Y. Jones, who have fur- nished me with the original roll of one company, named as follows :
"Capt. A. W. Robertson,
B. Y. Jones, Ist Lieutenant,
H. H. Hammock, 2d Lieutenant,
"Privates :
W. B. Yarber,
A. L. Harralson,
R. B. Harris, William Harris,
S. M. Crutchfield,
J. T. Spradlin,
T. A. Spradlin,
William Hughes,
James Harris,
Merideth Williams,
E. M. Hughes,
John Brown,
John Q. Shields, Robert Jennings,
H. C. Mondy,
F. M. Spradlin,
John Home,
J. B. Q. Shields,
B. M. Yarborough,
Joseph Carden.
"There are several other companies which will be re- ported in future.
-
¥24
THE AFTERMATH OF THE
"The aforesaid Col. A. C. Picket was with Bob Sha- ver, commanding insurgents of this county. He is a law- yer of Augusta and recently connected with the Augusta Sentinel.
"The greater portion of the Ku Klux of this county are young men, who have been called upon by these 'high- toned gentlemen' and 'law-abiding citizens,' invited to ride with them at night, and taken out in the woods and sworn in without knowing what the nature of the organi- zation was until they were in it. The headquarters of Bob Shaver while in this vicinity were at my house, on the Jacksonport road, and they stole and destroyed every- thing, taking away the last thing in the house and every horse and mule on the place. The citizens are now in favor of the administration as it is. I can, the last of this week, proceed to Craighead and Greene. I would re- spectfully recommend the restoration of civil law in this county at an early day, and that martial law be proclaimed in Jackson county. I have ordered the arrest of Bob Shaver,12 and report says he is now under arrest. Next mail will convey to you a healthy state of affairs in Wood- ruff county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.