Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-07
From the Memphie Post.l

Forests plantation last Saturday, which
| gives more complete and further details
| than have yet been published.
We regret exceedingly to learn Of the
! lawless conduct Of certain Of the negroes, as
narrated by our correspondent, and trust
! sincerely that, upon the arrival Of an officer
| of the Ereedmen's Bureau, the evils COM
planned Of will be remedied
1t viii be seen that the Coroners Jury
merely state in their verdict the cause of
| death, without asserting that the murder
was committed in self-defense:
SUNFIowER LANDING, Miss, March 81,
lS66.-Messrs. Editors Allow me TO give
you an account Of a serious and very unfor-
tunate affair, which transpired here this af-
ternoon: Gen. Forrest had just returned, at
about o'clock, from the landing, and noti-
cling from the paper that the cholera was re-
ported in Mobile, went out to the quarters
and set the freedmen (who had been allowed
to quit work at noon, at work cutting drains
about the houses and cleaning up the prem
ises inhabited by them. A freedman by the
name Of Tom Edwards passed along and
was told by the General TO fix up about his
quarters. He madeno reply, but passed into
his room and, with his knife in his hand,
commenced cursing and abusing his wife
The General followed him and told him he
must not abuse and whip his wife; that he
would not allow it. Tom replied that he
would whip his wife when he pleased The
General said "Dyou don't stop and shut
up, I'll fail you with this broom:" giving
him at the same time, a slight stroke on the
shoulder with it, when Tom replied by strik-
ing at the General with his knife, cutting
him on one of his fingers. The General then
grasped an axe standing by, and struck
Tom blow on the head which instantly
killed him.
arrived at the scene about six o'clock,
and found about hundred of the freed
men greatly excited, and disposed TO mob
violence.
Afterward the General came out and
made them a speech, deploring the affair
and stating the particulars, and promising
to await a legal examination. While some
Of the negroes exhibited an audacity that
but two in a thousand white men would
show, the others were controlled by the ef-
forts Of some Of the most intelligent and bet
ter Of the freedmen, and they finally dis
persed 20 await the future. These are the
facts, as ] saw and heard them.
The General has sent for the Deputy Sher-
i'll, who passed here to-day. The citizens of
the neighborhood are being notified, and
will assemble tomorrow, when an investiga-
ton viii be had and an inquest held. From
the circumstances Of the case, it will merit
and attract much attention. That it is mos
unfortunate, is felt by all, and by none so
deeply as the General himself
Being somewhat conversant with the ex-
listing 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 elected by iu-
dicial proceedings.
| will now add some transactions which
had previously occurred here that l had
purposcd writing, but have had no opportu-
nifty to mail you. On my return from
Memphis, on the 18th ult., learned that
during my absence lone week one of the
freedmen in my employ, his wife and son,
had deserted, and, as / suppose, left for the
freedmen's Mecca" Memphis The second
day after | had gone he refused to work.
and for two hours cursed, threatened and
abused my partner and assstant-bOth ex-
United States officers. Not wishing a diff
Guilty during my absence, they suffered his
insults for two hours, for which they would
have Knocked down white man, or been
severely whipped in the attempt Mrs. DIFF
fenbacher then undertook to pacifv him,
when he insulted and abused her, using
epithets that would not look well in re-
spectacle newspaper. That night the negro
went over to Forests plantation, and the
next day returned with two men and four
women; the three men armed with n re-
volver, n Spencer rife, and a double-barrelled
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 a "charge bayonet" posi-
tion, and cooked it. The white men finally
got a dead aim a little ahead, and made
them "ground arms"
On drawing the load from, one barrel of
the shot gun, which l now have in my pos
session, ! found it to consist of a full charge
of powder, heavy charge of duck shot, one
bucksbot and fUe common bullets. As he
said he meant to shoot Mr.. Tam, Judge
he loaded to kill. That negr6s name is
John Wilson; heavy set, poxmarked, form
erly lived in South Memphis. He is wear
ing good clothes belonging to me, and /
hope the Freedmen's Bureau may arrest
him, for which | will pay fifty dollars, if
justice is done both parties.
found such a growing audacity toward
white people, among the baser of the freed
AAiNAAS bdNhNA ~ a illbbblllE blSttlltI iIOiH
adjacent plantations, with firearms loaded
to kill white people, and noticed such an
increasing disposition among some to idle
ness and vice, that l felt that the good and
order, the peace and quiet Of this section,
both white and black, called for the pres
ence Of an officer of the bureau.
a full statement of the fact, written by
my psrtner, before my return, together
with my views, as full and strong as | could
write them, with an earnest and urgent APP
peal TO Col Thomas TO send an officer here
at once TO investigate affairs, and deploring
results that might ensue as, also, a state
ment from Gen. Forrest and another from
DIR. 4. NJ henderson, were prepared and
taken in person by Mr.. Miller to Nicks-
burg, and presented TO Col. Thomas Adiu-
tant General on the 22d. Mr.. Miller re-
turned here on the oath, having received
the assurance that an officer should be sent.
While many Of the freedmen work well
and prove worthy, others are lazy and stub
born; and those are the ones wno are most
vicious, insulting and abusive. There is no
punishment for crime here, and the vicious
roam at large TO cause trouble and destruc-
ton TO others.
In conclusion, ! may now repeat, as wrote
Colonel Thomas that the peace and quiet of
this section are in jeopardy.
Hoping for the sake of truth you may
publish this and, il so, promising you far
thcr particulars at a futue time.
/ am, yours etc,
b. i. BIFFENDACHER.
SUNDAY, April lSt, P. M.-The follow
ing is the verdict Of the Coroner's Jury:
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, CoAHoMA COUNTY,
April l, lS66-We the Jury of the inquest,
summoned TO view the body Of Thomas Ed
warc.s, a negro man or freedman, deceased,
having been duly sworn, find that the said
Edwards came to his death in the afternoon
Of the Slst ultimo, from n blow on the bac k
Of the head delivered by n. R. Forrest, with
an axe, during an alteration between said
parties, arising from the interference of said
Forrest 10 prevent the deceased from abusing
his (the deceaseds) wife.
VIM. J. Steele, Thos. II. Mcneil,
}. +. Jones, +. III. Maupin,
b. B. Bifendacher, J. +. Randy,
c. 5. Graf, c. w. Tam,
Hugh Adams, Robert Carr,
w. T. Mitchell, J. p. Hutchinson.
Gen. Forrest has surrendered himself TO
w. w. Shaw, Deputy Sheriff Of the county,
and will proceed TO Friar's Point.
TIE CoTToN CRoP.-A correspondent of
the Memphis appeal, writing from Missis-
sippi, says: