New-York tribune., 1866-04-27
lDEEDNENS Affairs IN y! EENTIGKY.
Reports CfGen. Ely Capt. Merrill and
Others.
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS EXISTING.
OUTRsGES AND ABUSES WITHOUT NUHBER
The Civil Authorities will do Nothing
BUREAU OF REFUGEES AND FRETpNHN,
HDQRs. SUH-DIsTmcT or kENTUcKi,
Inrn.VuIr Anil Q 1861.


rege Major Gen. CLlSTON T. FISK. Assistant Connisons''
have the honor to submit the following report OF
te operations Of Bureau In the State Of Kentucky from
18th Of February to the 3st of March, inclusive
In accordance with from the Assistant commissioner
m e States Kentucky and Tennessee dated OF Nashville
FEB 10 1866 proceeded to Lexington Kentucky to organ
s the business the Bureau the 42 Counties Of
Kenucky designated the Lexington SubDistrct Immedi
aely my arrival Lexington Feb H. 1866 issued Gen
era Orders No accompanied by Breyet MaorGen. Fsks
letter Of Instructions assuming charge Of said District
found County Superinteudents in this subdsrct
who had been previously appointed by order Of the Assistant
Commissioner who were doing their best to attend to the
Of their department but owing the intense
puice existing throughout the whole region by the large
majority OF whites against the blacks and the FreedmeD Bu
these SlIernendents powerlss and had done
little nothing except record of ourages and
wrongs committed by whites blacks reported at their
spective Offices by oolored people.
Preliminary complete organization Of the Lexing
tou subdsrct issued General Order No g. dividing ii into
twelve numerical districts which order submitted TO- and
approved by, the who appointed
superintendent each Of the twelve districts from among the
best class persons czen who applied for such positions
and gave them instructions recommend proper to
agents their respective districts subject to their
order aud instructions In pursuance OF these recommeda
tous appointed by special orders agents several Of the
numerical districts COPIES Of which orders furnished for
your information and aPg5Oya This system was found to
work well in Izactice
The presence few troops under the immediate orde rs
OF the Chief Superintendent found to be absolutely
ta the respect Of white people for Superin
tsndnts and their agents and the enforcement OF the rules
and regulations Of the Bureau accordingly made appca
ton to MaorGen Palmer commanding Department Of Ken
tucky for companies Of troops which he furnished
from the llgh [. S c. Oae company Of this detail posted
Lexington ard details Of thirty EACH under command
commissioned officer posted MaySvie aud Gov
ington
The presence Of troops caused marked change for
The better in tie sentiments Of the people toward the Bureau
aud gave confidence many good (whte people, who
cspt present condition Of affairs and willing when
sured Of protection by the United States authorities TO aid
by influence and action in the just snd proper admins
raton the Of United establishing this Bn
reau These toops are employed protect the coOred
people in many counties that District particularly
err Ese ald Madison from the fendh outraees committed
BY white people who banded together under
TIE cOgnOnen o. Regulators" lgger Killers &C. operat
ing These scOundes generally returned
soldiers the lowest grade OF white humanity working
" no Iespeotabe employ nen e graduates o. 'Ae corner
groceries and groggeries Of this region.
many OF thes have resulted death special report Of which
was furnished 70 tbe Commissioner Of The Bureau by his
report and before moved my headquarters ts place two
as-oBe Of coored soldier no had been discharged
cry County by Superintendent, II. G. Howord, at Mt
Sterling who that the gooG people Of tie county are
rendering bic procure the OF the
mvtdeers and the evil authorities have recently signi
The eedaeE are in the main vel employed at wages
throughout subdstrc and were not for
Incl sa by tie awess bands heretofore mentioned.
would be difficulty in finding good homes and employment
for every freedman in that section AS yet however many
OF ihc wedspoed white people who reside at places remote
from the stations where troops posted ore afraid 70 en-
poy black particularly those recently mustered out Of the
United States military for fear injury 10 their per
sons by the sells yed regulators.
IN accordance with orders from your Office deted March ~
1855 established ny headquarters at Louisville and assumed
charge o. ne affairs Of the lreau as Llei superintendent
for the DTc, q Kentucky March - 1850 aud am proceed
ing rapidly possible business throughout the state.
On the last day Of March several white Old resi-
deuts state OF the highest Iespecabty and worth
verbally reported at M heaaq out WISHED 'hslr
withheld for fear Of tie consequence number OF outages
tics Marion Bosrren, Warren Logan end MetcaL Ioas'
certain the truA Of which and tie state o. feeling existing IN
Capt wm. Il Merrill lst Regiment n. r. G.. my Acting
Inspector Genera h special order copy hee"ih inei'sed
respectfully submit copy Of his report making It part OF
this f3r your in ruaon very Of the coloed people
perhaps lot throughout the whole State read
write THIS not to be wondered at from the fact tiat
uot the lsh December last the announcement Of the
Honorable the Secretary Of State ploesming the adoption
Of tie CONSTITUTIONAL Amendment prohibiting Slavery through
the United states no slave child IN the state was per
mtled 60 school and only few who the fortunate
slaves Of kind and benevolent persons had learned to read
bud however among al me eoo'ed people e1oaD dese
20 acquire knowledge So far 50 schools for coloed children
have been reported different parts Of the State all
tsned by Subscriptions from freed people and taught by
Several cases Of extreme desttuon existing among very
Old young freed people have been reported 70 from d
ferent art G Tie saie OF and hunger For
that thew should afford relief small
supply clothing and raons placed in the hands Of qdcions
the freedmen is necessary flr relief
For supply q clothing applied directly to personal
friend tue Treasurer Of the friends Association Of Phia-
depha the Relief Of Freedmen These good Qnakers were
prompt IN reipoEdm9 1e'ieesy SS h Iece,pn 1 pacS
absolutely necessary and respectfully request that small
supply ratcns be furnished from your hadlaI for do
Tie are c tie Legislature Of Kentucky topass the
sary giving the freedmen the right Of estiying IN the
Courts is woEng very uuusty to their interests and has
Intensified the efforts OF Rebel sympa'hzers and tmid Union
ssdn have the Bureau removed believing that
sach wold result the personal advantage OF those
who advocate Its removal by giving them tne iea nnu
ence at the elections Of the class OF rascas WHO rob aud
slireet the poor negro because he night 10 testify 10
TIE Courts when whites are tie aggessors
Few reports have been yet received from the Sub District
and County Sgpentenaen Of their transactions during the
From such az lave been received and from personal Obsera
ton satisfied that the sentiments Of tho Respectable
white people Of the State Improving toward eq1 Jl
rights OF person and property before the a" ior tne
Submitting tbs report for the consideration Of the Assistant
Commissioner an, Sir. very respectfully your OOc1ieH'
Brsrei Brgader General T. s. " Chief Superintendent
REPORT OF CAPT MERRILL.
BUREAU Or REFUGEEs AND FREEDMEN, H'DoBs SUB !
a,.sBri9 On, Ely SapaieHdsat SUB Dsrd Of Kentucky.
SIs honor report that in obedience to cen
quarters Sub District Of Kentucky Louisville Kentucky
April is6 visited the following places in tins district
and the feeling Of the people toward them namely Lebanon
County; Glasgow. Barren County, Bowling Green
Warren County; and kosseye Granger County and found
that the town Of Lebanon. Mansn County, the feeling
toward the freedmen was gerbiter and that On The night
the Jl day Of March last house N SAID town occupied p
some 20 or so freedmen OF both torn down by
party Of men Numbering from 80 to 75 These men were
TIE eeimen usle without shelter driven into the
street and treated with violence they remained longer ~
town md quite impossible 10 Obtain cne 70 any o he
porous gagged this outrage There were lew pers0nt
IN the town seemed disposed 10 aid IN an eort TO DIS
referred TO- bat ey assured the outrage 60 perfectly
planned md secretly executed TO render detection pos
Tie parties referred to also Informed known