The Ouachita Telegraph - Army Report on the Killing of Primus Johnson and Wounding of Eaton Logwood Date: Jul. 2000 Submitted by: Lora Peppers * ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** * The Ouachita Telegraph Friday, November 3, 1876 Page 1, Column 4 THE KILLING OF PRIMUS JOHNSON AND WOUNDING OF EATON LOGWOOD. Official Report of an Army Officer. The following report, forwarded from this department to the headquarters of the Military division of the Missouri, is copied from the Chicago Tribune of the twenty-fourth: HEADQUARTERS U.S. TROOPS, Monroe, La., October 12, 1876. Assistant Adjutant General Headquarters Department of the Gulf: I have the honor to report that at or about seven o’clock yesterday morning, the eleventh instant, at their residence on the island eight miles above Monroe, Primus Johnson, a colored preacher, was shot and instantly killed, and Eaton Logwood, also colored, shot and very dangerously wounded, by two disguised white mn. At the time of the shooting Johnson was standing on the gallery of his house, holding his infant girl in his arms. Eaton Logwood was employed in front of the house (the two men, Johnson and Logwood, being joint occupants of the house) in loading seed cotton on his wagon for the purpose of hauling it to a neighbor’s gin. The two disguised and armed white men appeared from behind the bank of a bayou near the road, and advanced to a picket fence in front of, and about fifteen yards distant from the house. Resting their guns across the fence, one of them addressed Logwood, saying: “Eaton, old fellow, is that you? God damn you, I’ve got you now!” aiming his gun while saying so. Logwood attempted to escape by running, but was shot by the disguised man referred to, as he (Logwood) was about to run around the corner of the house, a full load of buckshot entering his back, neck and shoulders, inflicting very dangerous wounds. At about the same time, or an instant later, Primus Johnson, standing on his gallery, and still holding his child in his arms, was shot by the other disguised white man, and died in a few moments. The two disguised whites, after saying that if they had not fixed it all right hey would return and finish it, walked slowly along the road, crossed into a field, went down to the bayou and crossed on a log, after which all trace of them was lost. A number of wagons loaded with cotton passed the house a short time before, and just after the shooting. Those passing just before the murder was committed were stopped by three armed and mounted white men at Shovan bridge, which is some distance beyond Logwood’s house, toward Monroe. The armed men thus picketing the road interrogated the driver of the wagons, asking whose were the teams, an on being informed that they belonged to Mr. Tidwell and Mr. Swan, two white planters on the Island, permitted them to pass. Two physicians living on the Island, when sent for, refused to visit Logwood. The brother of Logwood then started to Monroe for one, and while on the way was stopped by two mounted white men and questioned as to his business, and his person searched for arms and papers, and when he told them he was going for a doctor they asked him whether it was for Eaton Logwood, and told him if it was he could not go. He succeeded in getting away from them and reached town, but none of the physicians there could be induced to go out. Logwood had also sent a message to Mr. John H. Dinkgrave, Deputy United States Marshal and attorney-at-law, that he wished to see him as to matters pertaining to his property, but Dinkgrave, considering the mission too dangerous, declined going. These fats were communicated to me at about two o’clock in the afternoon. After consultation with Mr. Hardy, the District Attorney, who considered it important to obtain Logwood’s dying declaration (he was then thought to be mortally wounded,) I deemed it necessary to take such steps as would enable him to do so in safety, and at 8 P.M., I sent a detachment of eight men, under command of Lieutenant McCawley, thirtieth Infantry, accompanied by the District Attorney, to Logwood’s house, transporting them in the government wagon belonging to the post. They reached Logwood’s about 10 P.M., and found a large crowd of colored people there, all of them completely cowed and subjugated, and in constant apprehension of the return of the murderers to carry out the threats made in the morning. Logwood informed the District Attorney that he had no hope of living, and had no other expectation than that of dying, and made what he pronounced to be his dying declaration, which was duly subscribed by him, sworn to and witnessed. The facts as herein given are taken from that declaration and from the testimony of the two women, the wives of Logwood and Johnson, both of whom were present and witnessed the shooting. Lieutenant McCawley returned to this place with his detachment about three o’clock this morning. Believing there was danger of a renewal of the attack upon Logwood, and acting under instructions from me, Lieuenant McCawley left a guard at Logwood’s house, consisting of a corporal and three selected men from his company, (Company I, Thirteenth Infantry,) with instructions to protect Logwood, his house and occupants at all hazards, and to allow no one to enter the house or on the premises ecept those having permission from Logwood, his wife, or the widow of Primus Johnson. This guard is still at Logwood’s house, and I caused rations for three days, blankets and other necessaries to be sent up this morning. It is now thought possible that Logwood may recover. Logwood states that, judging from the size, appearance, dress, walk and voice, that the person who shot him is Robert Logan, a white man and plantation owner living near by, and one of his neighbors. He also states that William F. Theobalds, a white planter, and this neighbor, and who is also captain of one of the Democratic rifle companies on the Island, has repeatedly threatened his (Logwood’s) life, and it is declared by the witness that two or three weeks ago Theobalds and George Phillips, who is commander of another Island rifle company, searched through Logwood’s house, announcing their intention to kill him. Neither Logwood nor the two women present were able to express an opinion as to the identity of the man who killed Primus Johnson. Logwood and Johnson were both of them resolute and intelligent men. Both owned small farms, and were making good crops. By their joint effort they had erected a building near their house which was used as a school for colored children and as a church. A short time ago this building was set on fire in the night time, and the roof and inside finishing burned. The walls being of green logs did not burn. Logwood says it was set on fire in the expectation that he would rush out and extinguish it, and that he would then have been shot had he done so, but he did not go out. He was a strong, influential and tolerant partisan of the Republican party, and was especially obnoxious to resident Democrats on the Island. Logwood is the same man on whose account Lieutenant Jacob A. Huger and Captain McGinnis visited the island in the early part of last September. In my opinion no earnest efforts will be made by the civil authorities to investigate the matter and apprehend the murderers. The Judge of the State District Court (Ray) is a time-serving man, desirous of adapting his course to the changing political condition of the State and of his judicial district. The sheriff, a white negro, is a fugitive, and his deputies are wholly inefficient. The United States commissioner, Judge Baker (also parish judge,) is indifferent, insincere and negligent. The United States deputy marshal, John H. Dinkgrave, is a coward, and utterly worthless for the performance of any duties pertaining to his position. The district attorney, Mr. Hardy, is the only one that is working to vindicate the laws and trying to bring the murderers to justice. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CLAYTON HALE, Captain 16th Infantry, Commanding. NOTE: An editorial, “REPORT OF CAPT. HALE.” By G.W. McCranie can be found in the same issue, page 2, column 1. # # #