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 May 5: 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 May 5, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton warns White that a steamer named the John Howard will depart Little Rock with some federal troops aboard.
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1874 May 6: 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 May 6, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton reports on the situation in Little Rock, including the disposition of federal troops and the fact that Judges Searle and Bennett had escaped. He also orders White to join him in Little Rock by, Saturday May 10th.
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1874 May 6 [possibly May 16]: 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 6, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. White orders Flournoy to send the infantry to Little Rock tomorrow and keep the cavalry in Pine Bluff to maintain order. He also states that many of Brooks’s troops are heading home.
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1874 May 6 [possibly May 16]: 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 6, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. White informs Flournoy that he hopes to be home soon and that Brooks’s troops are preparing to evacuate the State House.
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1874 May 7: 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 May 7, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton asks whether White is coming by land or water and informs him that the Brooks forces are getting desperate as it seems like the government in Washington D.C. will not support them.
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1874 May 7: 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 May 7, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton informs White that arms should have arrived for him on the Belle of Texas and asks if they have arrived yet.
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1874 May 7: 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 May 7, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton orders White to send his troops to Little Rock by Saturday night and to protect state legislators if he can as they make their way to Little Rock.
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1874 May 8: 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 May 8, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton tells White to ignore General Barton’s foolishness, and that Robert Catterson has been unable to leave Little Rock so far to attack Pine Bluff.
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1874 May 8: 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 May 8, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton says that a Supreme Court Decision “fell flat,” but that he still wants White and his soldiers in Little Rock for the Baxter forces main push on Saturday night.
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1874 May 8: 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 May 8, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton warns that Brooks’s saboteurs may cut the telegraph lines and admonishes White to arrive as quickly as possible. He also reports on the success of operations on the Arkansas River and the arrival of reinforcements from Woodruff County.
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1874 May 8: 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 May 8, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton informs White of a skirmish in which Brooks’s forces captured the steamboat Hallie. He also states that the supreme court decision that he mentioned in an earlier telegram was just a rumor, and he reiterates his request for White to bring his troops to Little Rock as soon as possible.
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1874 May 9: [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 May 9, 1874 During the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Baxter warns White that a former U.S. Deputy Marshal named Sheldon is on his way to Pine Bluff to capture or kill him.
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1874 May 9: 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 May 9, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton says that troops are pouring in from across the state and asks when White will arrive.
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1874 May 9: 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 May 8, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton informs White of a skirmish on Markham. He also implores White to come quickly and reports that the news from Washington D.C. seems favorable to Baxter’s cause.
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1874 May 9: 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 9, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton asks Flournoy if General White has left Pine Bluff yet.
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1874 May 9: 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 9, 1874 during the Brooks-Baxter War in Arkansas. Newton warns Flournoy to tell general White that an assassin may be coming down from Little Rock to kill him. He also expresses confidence that White’s troops will enable the Baxter forces to quickly capture the State House and win the war.
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Undated: "The Question Virtually Settled!" [probably May 12-13, 1874)
Published telegrams from Archer and Carrol, Garland, and H.K. White corresponding to ASA_SMC_002_47, ASA_SMC_002_48, and ASA_SMC_002_50