The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-06-08

The citizens Of Franklin county held
meeting at Winchester on Wednesday
night, in reference to the conduct of the
militia in that county. F. A. Longmiller
acted as Chairman, and W. J. Slater as
Secretary.
On motion, a committee of twenty citizens
was appointed to inquire into and report
upon the conduct Of themilitia, and to make
suggestions as to the best course to be pur-
sued.
The committee, after retiring, made re-
port, and thereupon speeches were made by
Jessee Arlidge, the chairman of the commit
tee, Col. Peter Turney, A. S. Colyar, and
Henry Singleton. The report was then
adopted unanimously.
The report is as follows:
Your committee report that upon examin-
alton, they find the following facts to be true:
That the militia now located in this county,
under one Capt. kirkman, are committing
depredations that call for prompt and imme
diate action. For weeks the conduct of this
militia has been such as to deter many of
our citizens from engaging in their ordinary
pursuits, and In particular parts, Of the
country, farmers particularly have been de-
TERED from making any expenditure in the
purchase or collection OF stock to make
crop; and in portions o. the county the IN
dicatiOns now are that the crop VIII nave TO
be abandoned, and will be entirely lost.
Several of our citizens have been driven
from their homes, and for weeks have been
hiding out Within the last few days the
Outrages of this militia have been Of 4 much
more serious and alarming character. They
have been travelling over the country, pre-
tending to be hunting arms, but they have,
In the most violent manner, entered peoples
houses, insulted the women alarmed the
children, threatening to Kill many persons
Among the families thus outraged, are
Dr. Abernathy's, &. IL Poe's, Hampton 3,
and many others.
Only few days ago, they took an inof
1 fensive boy, the son of Z. Il. Poe, prisO-
! ner carried him into camp, and tied HIM
and condemned him to be shot and his life
was saved by the intercession of a friend,
making the young man promise, on pain OF
DEATH not to tell what had taken place.
Yesterday morning, about daylight, pOr-
ton of this militia went to the house of a
peaceabIe, quiet citizen, James Brown, and
upon pretended acknowledgements, which
they claim to have extracted from him, by
/ falsely persOnating East Tennessee refugees,
as to the part he BROWN took in the war,
they took him into the woods, utterly disre-
garding the appeals and cries Of his wife
and father, and put him to death IN most
heartless and cruel manner Leaving him
dead, they returned to camps, only sending
word to his wife that she could send and get
her husband if she wanted him.
Other citizens were shot at, and the lives
of many men have been threatened. Sever
al of our citizens have been notified within
the last few days, that they would be killed
And these things are all done as is alleged
because of the part said persons took IN the
war which has now been over more thar
two years, and for which the parties have
all been pardoned, and have the pledge o.
the United States government, through 1t:
highest military officers that they should bC
protected, having laid down their arms:
We further report that so far as the citi
zens of this county are concerned, and es
pecially the men who were Rebels duriuI
; the war, the most perfect quiet and orde
prevails Everybody, and especially tht
former Rebels, have shown disposition t.
obey the laws, no matter how onerous, neye
before witnessed in this country. 1t hai
been the constant remark of our Judges, to
wit: Judge HickcrsOn Judge Patterson
and Judge Steele, all of whom have he'll
court in this district, and all Of whom wer
appointees of Gov Brownlow, that they neve
, knew people more disposed to be laW-abid
ing. The truth is, no one pretends that an.
man who was Rebel has committed an
It crime or done anything since the war TO
y which he deserves punishment.
a Your committee recommend, first, Tor tn
immediate protection Of men who were
:, the Southern army and who live in the neigl
g borhood where this militia is located, tina
e they protect themselves by keeping out {
= the way Of this militia for the present, eve
if they have to abandon their families an
give up their crops.
e Second. That a committee be appointed
d draft petition to the Federal government
s setting forth our grievances, and asking pr
a lection for our lives and property.
e Third. If the depredations OF this milit
are continued, and our people are indiscriT
Il inately driven from their homes and mu
& dered, and after appealing in the most ca
nest manner to the Federal and State a
IN thorities, we can get no protection, we recoI
'e mend that the people combine and prote
themselves.
Jessee Arledge, Charles H. Cherry,
le Wm F. Taylor, J L. Baugh,
r J. J. Williams, w T. Farris,
Of Nath FrizzelL John Burrough,
4 Tilman Arledge, NJ. Ransom,