New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-10
The Forrest Tragedy.
SOME PARTICULARS CONCERNING IT.

| A correspondent of the Memphis Post an aboli-
ton sheet gives the following report from cor
respondent at sunhower Landing, Miss. 1t shows
bad state Of things among the freedmen in that
locality: sm '. @a.&t% .'t'' 5.'''.
| General Forrest had just returned, about four
o'clock, from the landing, and noticing from the
| paper that the cholera was reported in Mobile,
went out to the quarters and set the freedmen
lwho had been allowed to quit work atnoon) at
work cutting drains about the houses and cleaning
up the premises inhabited by them. A freedman
by the name of Tom Edwards passed along, and
was told by the General to fix up about his quar-
tiers. He made no reply, but passed into his ROOM
ana abusing his wife. The General followed him
and told him he must not abuse and whip his wife,
that ne would not allow it. Tom replied he would
whip his wife when he pleased. The General said
this broom" giving him, at the same time, a
light stroke on the shoulder with it, when Tom re-
piled by striking at the General with his knife,
cutting him on one of his fingers. The General
Tom blow on the head which instantly killed
him. lcEJ T4.ua aIt ~. ~ 70" a.e, 1,.pa
arrived at the scene about 6 o'clock, and
found about a hundred of the freedmen greatly
excited, and disposed to mob violence.
Afterward the general came out and made them
! speech, deporing the affair and stating the par
ticulars, and promising to await legal examina
ton While some of the negroes exhibited
IL
would show, the others were controlled by the
efforts of some of the most intelligent and better
OF the freedmen, and they finally dispersed to
await the future. These are the Facts as Isaw
and heard them. re-. ,~a NJ
The general has sent for the deputy sheriff, who
passed here to-day The citizens OF the neighbour
hood are being notified, and will assemble to,
morrow, when an investigation will be had and an
inquest held. From the circumstances of the
case it will merit and attract much attention
That it is most unfortunate is felt by all, and by
none so deeply as the general himself
Being somewhat conversant with the existing
relations of affairs here for some time past, |
would most respectfully request suspension of
opinion on this case, both North and South, until
the facts are ecitedsb by judicial proceedings.
will now add some transactions which have
previously occurred here that had proposed writ
ing but have had no opportunity to mail you. On
my return from Memphis, on the 18th ut., learned
that during my absence Zone week. one of the
freedmen in my employ, his wife and son, had de-
serted, and as supposed, left for the freedman's
g Mecca Memphis. The second day after had
gone he refused to work, and for two hours
cursed, threatened and abused my partner and
assistant, both exhibited States officers. Not
wishing a difficulty during my absence, they suf-
fered his insults for two hours. for which they
would have knocked down a white man, or been
severely whipped in the attempt. Mrs. Difen.
hacker then undertook to pacify him, when he in
suited and abused her, calling epithets that would
notlook well in a respectable newspaper. That
niglt the negro went over to Forests plantation,
and the next day returned with two men and four
women; the three men armed with revolver,
Spencer rifle, and double-barreled7 shot gun.
They again threatened the white men. and then
entered our premises and commenced carrying
away our property. On being demonstrated with.
they brought the Spencer rifle TO " charge bay
onet" position, and cooked it. The white men
finally got a dead aim little ahead, and made
them ground arms ..G .s- ~. Nl|I 49,"
On drawing the load from one barrel of the shot
gun, which now have in my possession, / found
it to consist Of a full charge of powder, heavy
charge Of dock shot and FIVE common bullets. AS
he said he meant to shoot Mr.. Tam, / Judge he
loaded to kill. The negro's name is John Wilson :;
heavy set, peck marked, formerly lived in South
Memphis. He wearing good clothes belonging
to me, and hope the freedmens bureau may ar;
rest him, for which will pay fifty dollars, if jus
tee is done both parties. 2 e - 7i-,s@
found such growing audacty toward white
people, among the baser of the freedmen, backed
by mobbing together from adjacent plantations,
with fire arms loaded to kill white people, and
noticing such an increasing disposition among
some to deness and vice, that felt that the good
and order, the peace and quiet of this section,
both white and black, called for the presence OF
an olheer OF tAe bureau. ..s7 7-,r ~ 'aa.