The Portland daily press., 1867-02-04

The telegraph gave US some days ago some
intimations of trouble between the Freedmen
and the military on the South Carolina coast.
The Tribune took occasion to say at once that
Tin any trouble in which Gen. Tillson in
volved it is fair to presume that that officer Is
in the wrong" Further information has now
been received by mail. We give below the
account of the Savannah Republican of the
21st ult. The Republican is good authority,
and cannot be suspected of intentional mis-
representation. The disorderly conduct Of
the Freedmen is certainly to be regretted
They have been misled and drawn into this
unfortunate position. But they must be
taught to respect the authority OF the govern
ment. We do not see that Gen. Tillson has
deviated from the line Of his duty in the mat
ter The Republican says 41s
BY virtue of Gen. Sherman's celebrated Or
der of 1865, assigning the valuable cotton dis
tricts known as the Sea Islands to the freed
men, thousands OF negroes have since that
time settled upon the islands, and in some in
stances cultivated considerable Quantities OF
rice and cotton. One of the largest of these
tracts of land-the "Delta Plantation"-th
property OF Mrs. Cleves, situated on the Buck
River on the Carolina coast, was recently
leased to Capt Barnwell, an ex-C Confederate OF:
ficer, with whom the negroes refused to con.
tract, alleging that the Captain had not kept
his agreement with them last year. The
Captain then applied for assistance to Can't
H. Brandt, Freedmen's Bureau, to eject the
negroes from his land, in order that he might
begin his preparations for planting, and EN-
ploy new hands. A corporal and five mer
We're sent to the plantation to enforce the or
ders OF Gen. Scott, which were 10 the effect
that the negroes holding no pOssessory title:
would be compelled either to make contract.
with the new lessees or else leave the planta
tions and proceed to st. Helena, where q
acres of good land would be granted them
With these terms the negroes refused Il
comply, and, after expostulatng in vain, Capt
| Brandt attempted to carry into execution III,
orders OF his superior officer, but finding II mi
terly impossible to carry out his orders witt
such feeble force, Capt. Brandt returned I,
Savannah to report to Gen. Tillson. Ger
Tillson at once secured detail of fitty me,
from Fort Pulaski, who, under the comman
Of Lieutenant Robert Miller of the 10th Unit
ed States Infantry, were provided with thre
days ratIons, and at once proceeded to tn
scene OF difhcuify. 1t was supposed that tn
oPPSoi i"nSS ~ 'So AdASc luultary 1Orce WOul
have the effect of intimidatinc the refractor
NEGROES. and thus force them into obedience
without useless shedding of blood. ArrIv
ing on the island, it was found that the entir
plantation was carefully picketed ia n't.
tdire. A second interview was obta'neo y.
Capt. Brandt, who again read to the negroes
the orders of Gems. Howard and Scott, resslu
ing the titles to lands, rules for consIaGts % @e
but the parley produced no better results, ano
if anythin- tended to increase the anger Q
the II a tyeedmen' e who crowded together in soli'
1SFs s vbrs broSsy Ssy ,noS hs%
e,no thav wouId surrender their claims to tn
land. @ One of the leaders remarked: "W
have have but one master now-Jesus Christ
i had he'll never come here to collect taxes 9
drive US off, .f a..-~.
During all this time many of the negroe
were using the most disrespectful Language
and indulgng in taunting jeers toward Ii
troops, when one or two OF the men, incense
at the insults, raised their guns to tho siu