Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-08-07

by A. n. c. Williams, promlnenkmenapeE
Of the CoIored League, that they were
merely marching into the Square for the
purpose of breaking rank and dispensing to
their homes.
When the rear Of the procession had come
about opposite the left flank of House par
| ty, a white man advanced from the Conser-
vative party ten or fifteen steps towards the
Col0red League, and fred two pistol shots
toward the League, There is now a con-
hict of testimony as to the party which
/ fired the first volley succeeding these pistol
shots Many witnesses testified that the
pistol shots were followed by volley from
the entire Conservative party, and that that
was returned by the armed men Of the Col
ored League, while others testify that i'm
mediately ON the firing of the pistol shots
the armed men of the League faced about
and fired a volley, killing Michael H. Cody,
| jr., and wounding six whites and several
black Conservatives.
No doubt that the firing of the Colored
League was very deliberate and very aceu-
rate as nearly as many Conservatives were
killed or wounded as there were arms in the
hands Of the colored men, and it was evil
dent that none of the arms were reloaded
and fired a second time. 1t is worthy OF
remark that Of the twenty seven colored
men whose wounds were dressed by DIR. d.
B. Cliff, of Franklin, all were wounded in
the back or the back part Of the limbs,
showing clearly that they were fired upon
from the rear and flank by the Conserva-
tive party while marching in procession, or
after they had broken ranks and were run
ming away from the Conservative mob.
There was nothing in the conduct of the
League, or any member of it, to Justify this
murderous assault on it. There is no doubt
| that some of the banners borne in the pro-
cession were in bad taste. For example,
on one was inscribed " Remember Fort Pill
low, when you go to the Polls" on another
"The Radicals build Schoolhouses, the Con
servatives burn them" These inscriptions
were doubtless the work of some of their
white friends The procession of colored
men marched under the flag of the United
States, and the man who carried the flag
was wounded in the head. The testimony
does not show that thereswas any partIcu-
lar objection to the banners carried on the
9th, though at meeting some days previ-
ously the Sheriff had forbidden the League
TO take their banners into the court house,
where Republican meeting was to be held
The flag Of the United States was one of
these banners.
On the 8th inst / visited Franklin and
found the town quiet, and the people, APP
parcntly, very sorry that the ARRAY had oc-
CURED. All parties, especially the white
Conservatives, seemed very solicitous that
the company of United States troops sent
there by General Duncan, should remain.
The Circuit Court met on the 9Th, at 10
O'Clock, and there was, consequently, no &C.
casion for the military authorities to inter
fere further than to prevent another out
break. The courts of Williamson county
have heretofore been noted for their impair
tial administration of justice where colored
people were concerned
1t is perfectly safe in this case to leave
the whole matter of the Franklin ARRAY to
The action of the Circuit Court of William
son county, believing that the Judge and
district attorney will do all that should be
done to bring the guilty parties to justice
l am informed that the wounded have been
well provided for, and that Conservatives as
well as Radicals contributed provisions and
money towards providing for the sufferers
l am, General, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
W. P. CARLIN,
Brv't. Maj. Gen. .. S. A., Asst Com'r.