Reconstruction Era: Lawson Kimbrell, Crow, Davenport, 1869, Winn Parish,
Louisiana
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: Reproduced from the National Archives
     Procured by Prof. Jeff Reeves 
     Submitted by Greggory E. Davies
 

Post of Grand Ecore, La.
Hdqtrs. Co. 'I' Fourth U. S. Cavalry
January 21, 1869

Brevet Brigadier General
Thos. H. Neill, U. S. A.
A. A. Adjt. General 
Department of Louisiana

General,

I have the honor to report that on the 14th inst. A man calling himself
Davenport but bearing the aliases of Carpenter, Baker, etc., made a murderours
assault upon a freedman named Albert Tarkinton, residing in Ward 2
Natchitoches Parish about 25 miles distant from this post, shooting him three
times and leaving him apparently dead

A warrant having been issued and placed in the hands of Constable J. J.
Kimball, he deputized several citizens, and followed the murderer into
Claiborne Parish, capturing him at the house of a man named Tom Crow near the
Arkansas line

On their return, having proceeded about six miles, they were met by nine (9)
men who rescued the prisoner; a portion of this party were known to the
officer who gives their names as follows: Tom Crow, Jim Crow, and two others
of same name, supposed to be brothers; Trailor (a very young man); Tom Wood,
the two or three others unknown.

Each member of this party was armed with two or more revolvers, and Trailor
armed the prisoner; and Tom Crow told him to come to his house, that he had
plenty of meat, bread, corn and fodder, as well as money, and that he would
keep him.

Upon Davenport being rescued he mounted a horse and bousted (boasted) to the
Constable & party, that he was the man who killed Hal Fraser and son (near
Winnfield, a few weeks ago), had killed or if not, intended to kill Tarkinton;
and had taken two mules away from two freedmen in Winn a few days before.

This information has been furnished me by the Constable, J. J. Kimball, and
one of his deputies, H. W. Weaver; from whom I also learn that Lawson Kimball
(the desperado from Winn, against whom are two indictments for murder) brother
of William Kimbrell, killed by me, is one of the party.

I would respectfully state for the information of the Major General Commdg.,
that never in all my experience in this section of the country have so many
outrages been committed as within the past two months, and the solution to my
mind is that the activitys of our troops in the vicinitys of Jefferson and
Sulphur Bottom, have driven most of those Texan desperadoes into these
northern parishes, where they can perpetrate all kinds of outrage with the
most perfect impunity.  Not a day passes without complaints and petitions for
aid from the citizens, whilst the civil authorities are paralyzed with fear,
and I powerless to interfere.

I am well satisfied of the existence of a band of robbers, horse thieves, and
murderers, extending from probably Rapides Parish to the more northern
parishes, and thence into Texas.

I am, General, very respectfully,

Your Obt. Servt.,

N. B. McLaughlen
Captain U. S. Cav. & Brvt. Brig. Genl., U. S. A.
Commdg. Post