Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1859 — Great Conflict in Mississippi. [ARTICLE]

Great Conflict in Mississippi.

A friend who has just arrived from Lafayette Parish, informs us that, on Saturday morning last, the Vigilance Committee of that Parish were summoned to assemble and proceed to a place called Bayou Tortue, about fifteen miles west of Vermillionville, where an encampment of outlaws had been formed, the ringleaders of which had challenged them to battle. Accoidingly, the law and order men of the Parish, who had long suffered from these depredators, who had robbed, plundered, passed counterfeit money and murdered with impunity, quic <ly gathered, and, taking a piece of artillery with them lrom the village of Verinillionville, started for the rendezvous of the out}laws. * At 9 o’clock A. M., on Saturday, about five hundred well equipped mounted men suddenly appeared before the entrenched camp of the boastful defiers of the laws, where they found them in full force, with the bayou well guarded, and a house in the center of their position loop holed and otherwise thoroughly prepared for enduring a siege, or resisting a storming party. The flag of their fraternity also floated defiantly in the breeze, and until the “Vigilants” had formed their order of battle, and unm sked their cannon, all looked as though the defense would be obstinate and sanguinary. The sight of the big gun, however, struck terror into the hardened hearts of these out laws—and sauve qui peut suddenly appeared to animate the warriors. Their number was about one hundred and fifty—many of whom, having horses,managed to make their escape; but seventy of their force fell into the hands of the Vigilants. Immediately a court martial was formed, consisting of two Vigilants from each company, to whom the question was submitted whether the prisoners, notorious evil doers, should suffer death or be paddled. By a majority of two it was decided to inflict the paddle punishment, and 3,600 blows were equally administered. One fellow committed suicide by shooting himself, to avoid the paddle. Subsequently five others of the gang were found dead from gunshot wounds. Our informant says that the news of this affair caused the greatest pleasure among all the honest and decent inhabitants of the parish where it occurred, and the adjacent Attakapas parishes, which have long suffered from the depredations of this powerful and dangerous gang.— New Orleans True Delta, 10 th.