Return to First Page---ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, Volume 20 (Winter 1961), p. 345
Accordingly, they considered themselves the victims of an unjustified attack, an attack that got out of hand and led to the atrocities described by these two writers (1).
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J. W. TODD TO EDITOR OF SOUTHWEST ARKANSIAN, BUCHNER, ARK., MARCH 11, 1890
Editor of Southwest Arkansian:
Sir---Just before Christmas 1868, I was a resident of Belleville Sevier county Ark., being engaged in merchandising at that point. One beautiful day a squad of about sixty armed ragmuffins [sic], clad in every kind of garb from the long tailed linen duster to the heavy overcoat, rode into Centre Point. The war had been over for more than three years. Not one of these men was in uniform. The squad did not carry colors. A strip of flannel tied on the left arm of each, was the distinguishing badge of those villianous looking ruffians. These officers made no proclamation, showed no authority, but at once asked that the store of a leading mercantile be opened, on the pretense that arms were hidden therein. Their request was refused. The squad then broke open the doors and completely gutted the store, takin gaway saddles, bridles, and everything else they wanted. After the robbery, they retired to their camp on the Little Missouri. The news of this audacious burgarly, in open daylight, spread through the country around Centre Point, and the next day, about one hundred and fifty citizens assembled there to see what the trouble was. During the day without a word of warning, General Catterson, at the head of about 400 of these ruffians, charged down the street, firing upon the people as he advanced. In this charge several of the citizens were wounded. An old honorable gentleman, Mr. Hester, had brought his gun with him, seeing the armed mob advance, he threw his gun under a house. Catterson's men told him to get it. While the old man was bent over trying to reach the gun, the dastardly scoundrels shot him. The citizens fled to the Saline bridge to await reenforcement, leaving the town in the hands of Catterson's men.
