Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-22
TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.
Gen. Thomas on the Rise and
Progress Of the Ku-Klux.
A Partisan Report.
The Resistance to Revenue
officers.

| ATLANTIC, LOUISVILLE, KY, October
1865. To the Adjutant General United
States Army, Washington City, D. c.
| General: have the honor to submit the
following report of the operations of my
command. and of the condition of my de.
partment, for the year ending September
so, 1868:
The duties of the troops have been much
the same as heretofore reported, and the
same necessity for them exists. The state
of society, as regards the non observance
| of law, and the want OF protection for life
and property, has not at all improved, and
in some sections is decidedly worse. l
| had hoped. that, with the good crops and
| Increased substance obtained, the people
would appreciate the blessinga of peace
and plenty, and abstain from that petty
lawlessness cd often engendered or stimu-
lated by poverty; but, on the contrary, it
would appear that, with increased means,
the spirit of lawlessness is more actively
exhibited.
With the close of the last, and beginning
of the new year, the State of Tennessee
was disturbed by the strange operations of
a mysterious organization known as the
"Ku-Klux KlaD," which first made
its appearance in Giles county. Within
few weeks it had spread over great part
of the State, and created no little alarm.
Accounts of it from many sources we're
received at these headquarters. The news
papers recognized its existence by publish
ing articles on the subject, either denuncia-
tory, or with an attempt TO treat lis pro-
ceedings as harmless jokes, according to
the political opinions of their editors. The
Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of
Refugees and Abandoned Lands for Ten
nessee, in his reports-copies Of which
were furnished me-narrated many of the
proceedings of the organization, whose acts
were known to be of lawlessness and dia-
bolical nature. Organized companies of men
mounted and armed, horses and riders being
disguised, patrOlled the country, making
demonstrations calculated to brighten
quiet citizens, and in many instances
abused and outraged them, especially that
class of colored people who, by their energy
industry and good conduct, are most promI-
nent. 1 did not think it necessary TO take
any action on the information furnished
until the month of March, when a member
written statement of the doings of the or
ganization, saying it carried terror and dis
may throughout the country; that the civil
authorities we're poWerless, and appeared
terror-stricken that his own life was
threatened: and asked if something could
not be done by the general government
to protect the community; if not, there
was danger of bloody collision. At the
same time Quartermaster'5 agent, travel
ing in Tennessee on duty, forwarded an
official communication confirming previous
reports on the subject. Such lawless and
riotous conduct, requiring power to cup
press that was not exercised by the local
authorities, was believed to be of such
magnitude that it was probable the services
Of the troops under my command might be
needed, under the general instructions to
me, to assist the civil authorities in pre-
serving the peace. But as on particular
occasions of actual or threatened disturb
auces in Tennessee, wherein the difficulties
we're caused by the antagonism existing be-
tween the State authorities and their OPP
ponents, and were likely to affect the po-
iitical future of the State, l had received
special instructions as TO lay action, and
believing these difficulties to he of that
nature, some Of the reports of this secre!
organization were forwarded to the Gener-
al.in-Chief, with the following indorse.
ment:
Respectfully Forwarded to the Adju-
tant General for the Information of the
General-iu-Chief. He will see by this, as
he doubtless has already learned from
other sources, that the enemies of the
present State government in Tennessee
are organized for resistance to the laws.
This resistance to the laws is an OutgroBth
of the rebellion, aud means, as well, OPP
position and hostility to everything repre-
senting patriotism and devotion TO n e
best interests of the country, although, as
vet, it has not taken the form of open re-
sistauce to the United States government.
As Tennessee is fully constituted State, !
consider that the State authorities should
deal with and suppress the organization Of
lawless, desperate men, and l have not, up
to the present time, considered myself au
thorized to take active measures against
them. shall be glad to receive any Or
ders or instructions yon may give me in
the premises"
was answered that the papers had been
turned them with the following opinion
"The Constitution provides that the Uni
ted States shall protect each State, on APP
plication of the Legislature, or of the
Executive when the Legislature can not
be convened against domestic violence
As the Legislature of Tennessee is now in
session, and as no application for Federal
aid has been received from that body, or
any information communicated by the
Governor, of that State, it is not, at this
time, deemed within the province of the
Executive to give any instructions upon the
subject to which these papers refer"
Partial extracts from these papers, with
the Presidents action on them, were per-
mitted to be published by some authority
at Washington, and caused a deal of COM
ment in Fennessee. That portion of the
press Of the State, whose greatest labors are
TO bring odium upon all who aided to save
the government from being destroyed by
the late rebellion, hastened to deny the
truth of the statements made to me, re
fected very severely upon them, and, to
fortify their assertions, procured and pub
| lished the certificates Of few dmiable per
| sons of Northern birth, who were living in
Nashville under the protection of a well
| organized police force, that the alarm was
| 4 false one. But this only caused to be
| added further evidence concerning the
truth of the original statements. From
| this time forth was in the receipt of Ste
ries of oppression and outrage committed
| by these midnight providers. It was evident
that the old spirit of prescription was far
from having died out. Il had remained a
| latent fire, ready TO burst forth with yio-
| lence upon the least occasion. Some of
| these statements were accompanied BY an.
| peals for assistance from the military. To
| all of these l returned for answers copies
! of the Presidents opinion, as before reel.
| ted. This state of affairs continued till
April, when action was taken by the State
authorities which required the disposition
of troops. On the 10Th of April | re.
ceived the following communication from
his Excellency Governor Brownlow, dated
April 10:
d most earnestly, but respectfully. ask
you TO dispatch, without delay, fifty armed
regulars TO Maury county, Tennessee
Matters have been growing worse than
ever, since the State militia were disbauded
To give you an idea of the state of affair.
ia that county, inclose YOU dispatch
Just received"
The dispatch referred to wac from promi,
nent citizens, stating that, in order 10 pro
tect the lives of white and Colored Union
lists, United States troops should bestationet
at Columbia. By the same mail. reports
of outrages by Ku-KIUx bands, in Maury
county amounting TO murder, were received
through General Carlin, Assistant Commits
sioner Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen snC
Abandoned Lands. / Immediately order
ed one company of infantry to Columbia