The Brooks-Baxter War of April and May 1874 was an armed conflict following the gubernatorial race between Joseph Brooks and Elisha Baxter. Settlement of the election dispute in favor of Elisha Baxter ultimately ended Reconstruction and the reign of Republicans in the state of Arkansas. This collection contains telegrams sent during the Brooks-Baxter War to and from Elisha Baxter supporters.
The Brooks-Baxter War telegrams finding aid is available in the finding aids section of this site.
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1874 April 25: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 25, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. The telegram tells White to hold his position and organize his troops rapidly.
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1874 April 27: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 27, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. The telegram updates White on the situation in Little Rock and instructs him on how to proceed.
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1874 April 28: John Huggard, Reform, Arkansas, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from John Huggard, Reform, to Brigadier General H. King White on April 28, 1874 during the Brooks- Baxter War in Arkansas. Huggard warns General White to be on the lookout for a man who may be on his way to Pine Bluff
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1874 April 28: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 28, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. General Newton requests reinforcements from General White and offers reassurance regarding Baxter’s attempts to garner support from President Ulysses S.Grant in Washington.
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1874 April 28: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 28, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. The telegram clarifies that Newton still endorses White’s actions in Pine Bluff even though martial law is not formally in effect.
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1874 April 28: S.B. Miller, Memphis, Tennessee, to H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from S.B. Miller, Memphis, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 28, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Miller assures White that he can get the supplies he wants from Lullman and Vienna on Wednesday the 29th pending cash payment.
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1874 April 29: Elisha Baxter, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Governor Elisha Baxter, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 29, 1874 During the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Baxter endorses White’s actions in Pine Bluff while reiterating that martial law has not been declared.
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1874 April 29: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 29, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton orders White to keep his troops where they are for now and await further orders from Governor Baxter.
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1874 April 29: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 29, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton orders White to hold the government buildings he has seized in Pine Bluff and move to quash any insurrections that his troops can reach.
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1874 April 29: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 29, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. General Newton reports on the situation in Little Rock and assures White that victory over the Brooks forces is near at hand.
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1874 April 30: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White [General Barton], Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 30, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton gives a report on the situation in Little Rock and requests more troops.
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1874 April 30: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 30, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton assures White that the Brooks forces are getting desperate and requests 100 more cavalry as quickly as possible.
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1874 April 30: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Brigadier General H. King White, Pine Bluff on April 30, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton warns White that Brooks forces are trying to cut telegraph wires between Little Rock and Pine Bluff and requests more troops regardless of whether the telegraph is operating or not.
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1874 May 10: Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 10, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. White informs Flournoy of his arrival in Little Rock. He also notes the impending meeting of the legislature and a skirmish in which the Brooks faction attempted to use the captured steamboat Hallie.
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1874 May 10: W.N. Portis, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from W.N. Portis, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 10, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Portis informs Flournoy that General White arrived safely and that the state legislature is gathering and should have a quorum soon.
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1874 May 11: A.H. Garland, Little Rock, to C.H. Carlton, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from A.H. Garland, Little Rock, to C.H. Carlton, Pine Bluff on May 11, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Garland just informs Carlton that things are going well.
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1874 May 11: Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 11, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. White informs Flournoy of that morning’s skirmish and reports that the legislature is still short of a quorum. He also describes how a compromise proposed by Brooks was declined. Finally, he details the new pieces of artillery which the Baxter forces will soon bring to bear on the State House.
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1874 May 11: J.C. Cross, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from J.C. Cross, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 11, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Cross informs Flournoy of the skirmish that took place across the river that morning.
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1874 May 11: Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 11, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton describes a successful skirmish in Argenta. He also notes that the legislature is now meeting and that it will be protected by federal troops.
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1874 May 11: W.N. Portis and R.C. Newton, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Major General R.C. Newton and W.N. Portis, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 11, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton and Portis inform Flournoy about the casualties from the day’s skirmishing and the fact that the legislature is in session.
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1874 May 12: A.B. Carroll, Little Rock, to Honorable D.W. Carroll, Pine Bluff
Western Union Telegram from A.B. Carroll, Little Rock, to the Honorable D.W. Carroll, Pine Bluff on May 12, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. A.B. Carroll describes the results of yet another skirmish and describes the fact that the legislature is still two members short of a quorum.
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1874 May 12: [A.H.] Garland, Little Rock, to W.M. Harrison, Pine Bluff
Western Union Telegram from Garland, Little Rock, to W.M. Harrison, Pine Bluff on May 12 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Garland asserts that his side [the pro- Baxter one] will not compromise their interests.
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1874 May 12: A.J. Wheat, Little Rock, to S.K. Wheat, Pine Bluff
Western Union Telegram from A.J. Wheat, Little Rock, to S.K. Wheat, Pine Bluff on May 12, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. A.J. Wheat assures S.K. Wheat that everything is alright as President Grant is on their side.
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1874 May 12: Archer and Carroll, Little Rock, to Cleveland or Norfleet, Pine Bluff
Western Union Telegram from Archer and Carroll, Little Rock, to Cleveland or Norfleet, Pine Bluff on May 12, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Carroll describes the legislature as firmly for Baxter.
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1874 May 12: Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock, to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff
Western Union telegram sent from Brigadier General H. King White, Little Rock to Colonel T.C. Flournoy, Pine Bluff on May 12, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. White informs Flournoy that President Grant has ordered that the legislature be allowed to meet unhindered in the State House to decide the controversy between Brooks and Baxter.