Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-16
GENERAL FORREST.
The Late Affair ON His Farm-A Full Statemen
of the Facts by an Ex-Federal Officer.

H
The Late Affair on His Farm-A Full Statement
of the Facts by an Ex-Federal Officer.
We copy the following letter from a Southern
exchange, written by an ex-Federa officer, who was
present at the time the difficulty took place between
General Forrest and the negro man Edwards 1t
places the facts connected with the matter in
lucid light, and gives an unbiased account Of
the unruly conduct Of some Of the negroes in that
quarter: ....
SuNFLowER LANDING, Miss, March 81.
SIesSrs. Editors: Allow me to give you an &C.
connt of a serious and most unfortunate affair
which transpired here this afternoon: General For
rest had lust returned about four o'clock, IRON the
landing and noticing from the paper that the chol-
and set the freedmen (who had been allowed to quit
work at noon at work cutting drains about the
houses and cleaning up the premises inhabited by
them. freedman by the name of Tom Edwards
passed along, and was told by the General to fix up
about his quarters. He made no reply, but passed
into his room and, with his knife in his hand, COM
menced cursing and abusing his wife. The General
followed him and told him he must not abuse and
whip his wife; that be would not allow it. Tom re-
piled he would whip his wife when he pleased. The
General said: 4" If you don't stop and shut up I'll
frail you with this broom; giving him, at the same
time, slight stroke on the shoulder with it, when
Tom replied by striking at the General with his
knife, cutting him on one Of his fingers. The Cen
eral then grasped an axe standing by and struck
Tom blow on the head which instantly killed him.
| arrived at the scene about o'clock, and found
about hundred of the freedmen greatly excited,
and disposed TO mob violence.
Afterward the General came out and made them
a speech deplOrng the affair and stating the partic-
ulars, and promising to await a legal examination.
While some of the negroes exhibited the audacity
that not two in thousand white men would show,
and 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 saw and heard them.
The General sent for the Deputy Sheriff. who pass
ed here to-day. The citizens Of the neighborhood
are being notified and will assemble tomorrow,
when an investigation will be had and an inquest
held From the circumstances OF the case, 1t 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 re-
atons 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 judicial proceedings.
will now add some transactions which had previ-
ousy occurred here that had purposed writing, but
have had no opportunity to mail you. Onmy return
from Memphis on the 18th ult, learned that during
my absence Zone week. one of the freedmen in my en-
ploy his wife and son, had deserted, and as | sup.
nose 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 assistant-both eX-United States Off
GERS. Not wishing difficulty during my absence,
they suffered his insults for two hours, for which
they would have knocked down a white man, or
been severely whipped in the attempt. Mrs. Difen-
bacher then undertook to pscfy him, when he in
suited and abused her. using epithets that would
not look well in resp ectable 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 revolver,
Spencer rife and double-bauelled 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 bayonet' position
and cooked it. The white men finally got dead
aim little ahead and made them ground arms.
On drawing the load from one barrel of the shot
gun, which now have in my possession, found it
to consist of full charge of powder, heavy charge
of duck shot one buckshOt and five common bull
lets. As he said he meant TO shoot Mr. Tam,
nudge he loaded to kill. That negroes name is
John Wilson; heavy set, peck marked, formerly
lived in South Memphis. He is wearing 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 growing audacity 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 notice
ness 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 officer of the
Bureau.
A full statement of the facts written by my part
ner, before my return, together with my views as
full and strong as | could write them, with an ear
nest and urgent appeal TO Colonel Thomas to send
an officer here at once to investigate Affairs and de-
ploring results that might ensue as, also, state
ment from General Forrest and another from DIR. &.
NJ Henderson, were prepared and taken in person by
Mr. Miller to Yicksburg and presented to Colonel
Thomas Adiutant General on the 22nd. Mr.. Miller
returned here on the oath, having received the assu
rance that an officer should be sent.
While many of the freedmen work we'll and prove
worthy Others are lazy and stubborn and those are
the ones who most vicious, insulting and abusive
There is no punishment for crimes here, and the vi
cous roam at large to cause trouble and destruction
to Others.
In conclusion | may now repeat, as wrote Colo
mel Thomas that the peace and quiet OF this section
are in jeopardy.
Hoping for the sake of truth you may publish this
and if so, promising you farther particulars at tu
ture time,
| am yours, etc,
B. +. DIFFENBACHER.
Sunday, April l, 4p. m.-The following is the
verdict of the coroner's jury:
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI COAHOMA Co..
April l, 1866,
We, the jury of inquest, Summoned to view the
body of Thomas Edwards, a negro man or freed
man, deceased, having been duly sworn find that
the said Edwards came 70 his death in the after
noon of the 3lst ultmo, from blow on the back of
the head delivertd by n. B. Forrest, with an axe
during an alteration between said parties, arising
from the interference of said Forrest to prevent the
deceased from abusing his (the deCeaseds) wife.
VIM. j. Steele, Thos. Henry McNel
]. +. Jones, E. H. Maupin,
B. F. Diffenbacher, j. F. Bandy,
ChaS. s. Graf, Chas. W. Tam,
Hugh Adams Rob't Carr
W. T. Mitchell, John P. Hutchinson.
General Forrest has surrendered himself to w. W.
Show, deputy Sheriff of the county, and Will pro-
coed to Friar's Point