The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-06-15
The Memphis Riot--Desctipuou by an
s.WituCss.
To the Edito, efthe Leader!


made rhetorical by tho events of the
past four years, and having spent Tho
greater part Of the last three years
in West Tennessee, most of the time
In the city of Memphis, and being al
eye. witness Of the scenes Of that weel
oil horror, misery and brutality whicl
will make Memphis UNANIMOUSLY mem
orable for the next century, / have
been PANIED to see statements III
Northern as well as Southern jour
nails, conveying the idea that the col.
ored people were the insiigators OF
the riot. which was not So In all IFS
aspects II was white mans riot. ]
wish to paint the circumstances (Only
as they occurred) to the best OF abili.
~. My eye rested ON the flash of the
first volley that was Fred on that occa.
sion, and had been u close observer OF
events as they occurred in the city OF
Mempeis Tor three years, especially
among the colored people, rs soldiers
and civilians, and no one had better
opportunities to know their condition,
wants or conduct than myself.
The systematic organization and
operation of this riot, IN its onward
march, aud execution of its plans,
clearly show that it had an existence
previous to the first of May. They
seemed only to wait fnT an open field
on which to wrcak their vengeance
upon the ga ant colored soldiers who
defended the Union flag during the
Shareholders rebellion. The cause
of the riot may he traced to the deep
nnimosity existing between the Irish
police and white citizens towards the
colored soldiery duIing the war
Whenever an arrest Of coIored per.
son. male or female, was to he made |
by any one OF these officials, they !
seemed TO consider part of their in.
structions TO beat and main their vic
tins with their clubs, and bring them
lame and bleeding into court. While |
making such brutal arrests, the col /
orcd provost guard coming up would /
arrest both parties and take them he.
fore military tribunal, and in sey.
eral instances the police, attempting
to break away from the guard, were
shot: also. prisoners confined in the
Irwin Block Tor various crimes white
under escort, with preteucc Of get
ting bail, would attempt to escape
and would suffer the same conscquen.
ces. For the faithful discharge OF
these duties, it had been openly
threatened in the streets OF Memphis,
that for each one thus shot ten sol.
diers would be put TO death.
No need of the learning of philos-
opher TO analyze the intention
Of the riotcls. They waited un.
until the colorcd soldiers were dis
aud unarmcd, aud the last
taken from the hands OF the
colored troops, who had stood guard
upon the walls of Fort Pickering,
then the fendish mob opened an in.
aud murderous lire upon
hem, leaving their dead bodies
,trewn upon tue streets, alleys, roads ,
and bywals.
When the riot commenced, | sol.
emnly aver that there was not the
shadow of n cause for il. Being on
,he street few moments previous
% its commencement, my engage
nepts being in tue immediate vicini.
v, there was no disturbance OF any
.ind, not q particle Of noise, or an
Irmed man to be seen, or anything
Indicating resistance on the part oI J
he Colored class, prior to the arrival
II the Police, but when they arrived,
ntering South street, tncy had the
'eapons of death in their hands and
olnmenced their bloody work im- i
lediately.
Being a teacher Of n school at the
Ime, my school house was in the i'm
Mediate vicinity OF he riot, anil |
'as completely encircled by AliIg
ullets, and the dead and dying; II
cemed 10 be the intention of the ,
hob, 10 murder every one in soldier =
as a small boy in uniform
vas shot and took refuge in my
chcol room. The house WAS burned
he next day, and the reason assign
Il was that 1t gave refuge to 4 negro
older. My school house was burn.
d in open daylight. Armed ruliiIns
TODD with loaded guns in both doors,
heir intention beng to shoot ana
,urn me in the house, as thel Il
/ was in it ut the time. SO II
was the city in the hands /
Il the rioters, and no real attempt
vas made to check them, that in dc
ision they called the roll oi my
chool among them, having secured
ny roll book before setting iirc.to the
louse.
was met next day by aportion Of
he mob who demanded my revolver,
which | carried by authority OF Gen,
Sunkle, having neen appointed by
lin as one of the tax collectors. j
Produced the revolver and showed
hem my authority for carrying 1t,
when they demanded me to deliver ii
TO the Generals 5 headquarters, and
stood with pointed guns until they
saw me deliver it to that gallant
young officer, who received seven
shots in his person willie leading a
charge at Shiloh. He was now, like
Sampson, shorn Of his strength, not
having SO much as O prison. guard at
his command
THIS mob seemed to be composed
OF three classes: First, the police,
whose object was to murder the col
ored soldiers; second, class to take
private revenge On colored citizens,