Letter from L. M. Hall to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; November 5, 1870

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Letter from L. M. Hall to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn; November 5, 1870

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Benedict, Unknown Brantley, Arnold J.Brantley, William F.Hall, L. M.Hall, Unknown Keys, Unknown Maguire, Unknown Poe, Unknown Ringer, Henry Ringer, William Taylor, Unknown Tuttle, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Assassination Crime--Assault and battery Crime--Jail Escapes Crime--Murder Crime--Shooting Criminal Procedure--Arrest Fairs

Military Units

Under Review

Organizations

Headquarters, Military Mississippi. Executive Department Mississippi. Secret Service Bureau Railroad

Occupations

Mayors Messengers Police Sheriffs

Places

Atlanta (Ga.)Carroll County (Miss.)Choctaw County (Miss.)Greensboro (Miss.)Jackson (Miss.)Vicksburg (Miss.)Winona (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Historically free and newly freed African Americans

Vital Statistics

Death

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EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Vicksburg ~~Jackson~~ Miss., Nov 5 1870^{[note] 0 [/note]}

To His Excellency. J. L. Alcorn
Governor of Miss

Dear Sir—By this time I presume you have heard of the assassination of General W. F. Brantley, at Winona Nov 2, 1870

The particulars of the affair are about as follows—About 9. A. M. General B. left the Fair Ground in a Buggy for Greensboro, and was accompanied by a negro boy—About a half mile east of the Railroad two men were ambushed behind the fence, and were covered with brush. As the Gen^l drove up—they thrust their guns through the fence and fired—both discharges taking effect killing him instantly—As they put the guns through the negro boy saw them, and screamed to the Gen^l "to look there"—and jumped out—The Gen attempted to Jump out also—but did not succeed

The boy says that he saw the two men distinctly—and from their description—they are

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undoubtedly the same men who killed A. J. Brantley, are William and Henry Ringer—They are undoubtedly laying out in the woods—and are harbored and secreted by friends—Nearly the whole town are in sympathy with them, and Brantley's friends are so few and timid, that it is all a one sided affair—The ^county^ officers do not seem to be making any effort to find them, at all—Benedict was at the Fair—where the murder occurred and was at the spot almost instantly—An attempt at pursuit was made but it was only a faint one. Some thirty men started lead by Benedict and the new mayor—but before they had tracked them two miles through the dense thicket they had escaped into—every man had turned back but Benedict and the Mayor—They kept up the search till after 3. P. M and were compelled to give it up—As they fixed—they could have done nothing had they found them as they had nothing but pistols—and the boys had double barelld shot guns

The plan I have decided on now is—as follows Sheriff Keys of Choctaw having assured me that he can turn out a posse of a hundred men—

I have sent Benedict over to Choctaw—to get the posse and in conjunction with the sheriff surround simultaneously if possible—Old man Poe's House—

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Maquire's house—and in fact every place where they are likely to be concealed, and if not found—to come on over into Carroll and take the upper end of the Brake that runs up behind Winona and beat up the whole of the upper end—the brake is about twenty miles long—This will take sunday and Monday—On Teusday morning I will have my force at Winona—And will work there with the others—thus, before day light on teusday Benedict with his Posse will have every road and bye path ambushed for 5 miles around Winona—I have got hold of a pack of full blooded nigger dogs and we will get off at Winona making a great Stir with our dogs—and if they are any wheres near Winona messengers will at once be sent to them—where we will stand a chance of cap-turing—and if the boys hear the horses and the dogs yelping through the woods they will certainly get up and duck—and we may stand some chance of getting them—Benedict informs me that Tuttle has made no effort whatever to summons a posse to pursue the men, and he also informs me that Tuttle. asserted that Hall nor any of his men should make an arrest in his county. Benedict asserts

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that Tuttle said this to him—and that they were near having a personal difficulty about it—

I also desire to ask your advice in regard to using a detail of 10 soldiers to assist us in the search through the woods for these Ringer boys

I telegraphed to Major Taylor, at Atlanta Hdqrts Department of the south to know if I could get a detail but have received no answer—yet.

Should my action in this matter not be entirely approved by your excellency—I trust you will attribute any rashness to my desire to get thse men at any hazzards—

If I should not hear from you before we start up—And the detail of men is granted by the Military Authorities, I will take them up as citizens—and not as soldiers—and they will then be but a volunteer posse—assisting us—

Awaiting further commands from Your Excellency

I have the honor to remain your most obedent servent

L. M. Hall
Chief Secret Service Division
State of Miss