Lee County AlArchives News.....Opelika Insurrection January 24, 1883
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kenneth Stacy klstacyfamily@aol.com January 28, 2007, 4:21 pm

The Huntsville Weekly Democrat January 24, 1883
Opelika Insurrection
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  Some time last year, an election for Mayor and Aldermen was held in the town 
of Opelika, a Mayor, Dunbar, and his ticket for Aldermen, representing the 
roughs of the town, were declared elected.  The better citizens resisted the 
installation of the new Mayor and Board of Aldermen, but the court sustained 
the latter.  The Legislature was asked by the better citizens—the property-
holders of the most respectable class—to relieve them by repealing the town 
charter, and appointing five Commissioners to take charge of the affairs of the 
town.  The Legislature did as requested and authorized the Governor to appoint 
the Commissioners.  He did so, and they assumed their functions, but were 
resisted by the Dunbar crowd.  Whereupon, several of the Commissioners 
resigned.  Such was the turbulence of the Dunbar crowd that the Governor was 
called on for aid to sustain the Commission.  The Governor was in Mobile at the 
time (Christmas week), and returned to Montgomery, and, then, went to Opelika, 
and, apparently re-established law and order.  On Monday last, Gov. O’Neal 
received intelligence from the President of the Commission that the Dunbar, 
with a posse of men, armed with double-barreld [sic] shot guns, was resisting 
the Commission, and asking military aid.  The Governor telegraphed to the 
Sheriff to preserve the peace with all the power at his command.  The Sheriff 
replied: “I find if impossible to keep the peace without bloodshed.  Send 
troops at once.”
  The President of the Commission telegraphed the Governor: “Dunbar defies the 
Commission and the power that created it.  He says he will obey no power acting 
under the Commission.  Great disorder to-night.”
  The disturbance began by Dunbar and his followers resisting the arrest of a 
violator of a city ordinance.—The City Marshal and his posse, and the Sheriff, 
failed to enforce the ordinance because (as they stated) they had not 
sufficient force.  The number of rioters was about 20, with shot guns and 
pistols, in their business houses, and there was shooting in the streets, 
making it dangerous to any one to be out.
  Gov. O’Neal ordered the Montgomery Greys to proceed, at once, to Opelika, and 
thirty-three of them, under Capt. Graham, with the Colonel of the regiment, 
Thomas G. Jones, went to Opelika Monday night.—They arrested Dunbar and his 
followers without serious trouble.  Affidavits were made against them 
yesterday, and they are held to answer before a special term of the Circuit 
Court to be held immediately, by the Judge, at the request of the Governor.
  We trust that this will end the Opelika trouble.


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