Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16
The Reign of Rapine and Murder.
The Murder or OOlOred Men an Every
day Occurrence.
Crime Encouraged by Democratic
Leaders.
The Number Of Troops insufficient TO
Protect Union Men.

The following is the report Of Brevet Major Gen
era Reynolds commanding the 5th military dis
trict, which EN- braces the State of Texas
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT, !
State of Texas
dustin, November A, 1863
Adjatas,t GtacTaI u s. Arpty, Washington, d. c.:
General l have the honor to forward herewith
annual tabular statement of expeditions scouts ant
report of movements of tho various regiments serv
ing in this district for the year ending Septemoe
30, 1868,
Armed organizations, generally known as Ku
klux Khan, exist, Independently or in concert will
other armed bands, in many parts of Texas, but ar
most numerous, bold and aggressive east OF the
Trinity river
| The precise objects of these organizations cannot
be readily explained but in this State to be t.
disarm rob- and, in many cases, murder Union mel
and negroes, and, as occasion may offer, murder
United States officers and soldiers; also, to intml
date every one who knows anything of the organl
cation, bat who will not join it.
| The civil law east of Tire Trinity river is almost
dead letter. In some counties the civil officers
are all, or portion of them members of the khan
In other counties where the civil officers will moi
JOIN the klan some other armed band, they have
been compelled to leave their counties; examples
are Vac Zandt Smith and Marion counties; the
county seat of the latter is Jefferson.
In many counties where the county officers have
not been driven aft their influence is scarcely felt
What political end, if any, is aimed at by these
bands l cannot positively say, but they attend in
large bodies the political meetings (barbecues)
which have been and being held in various parts
of the State under the auspices of the Democratic
clubs Of the different counties.
The speakers encourage the attendance, and in
several counties men have been indicated by name
from the speakers stand as those selected for muir
der. The men thus pointed out have course left
them but 10 leave their homes or be murdered on
the first convenient opportunity.
The murder of negroes is so common AS to render
it impossible to keep an accurate account of them.
Many of the members of these bands of outlaws
are transient persons in the State. The absence of
railroads and telegraphs and great length of time
required to communicate between remote points fla
ellltate their devish purposes. These organizations
are evidently countenanced or at least not discour-
aged, by majority of white people in the counties
where the bands are most numerous. They could
not otherwise exist.
L have given this matter close attention, and am
satisfied that remedy to be effective must be grad
ually applied, and combined with the firm support
of the army until these outlaws are punished or
dispersed. They cannot be punished by the civil
courts until some examples of military commissions
show that men can be punished in Texas for muir
der and kindred crimes Perpetrators of such crimes
aave not heretofore except In very rare instances
been punished in the State at all
Free speech and free press as the terms are gem
orally understood in other States have neUsr existed
in Texas. In fact the citizens of other States can
not appreciate the state of affairs in Texas without
actually experiencing it.
The official reports of lawlessness and crime, so
far from being exaggerated, do not tell the whole
truth
Jefferson is the center from which most of the
trade travel and lawlessEess of Eastern Texas rad
aes and at this point its vicinity there should be
stationed about regiment of troops. The recent
murder at Jefferson of Hon. G. W. Smith, a dele
gate to the constitutional convention, has made it
necessary to order more troops to that point This
movement weakens the frontier posts to such an ex
tent to impair their efficiency for protection
against the Indians; but the bold, wholesale MUIR
derng in the interior Of the State seems at present
to prevent more urgent demand for troops than
Indian depredatiOns
The frontier posts should, however, be reinforced
if possible it is not improbable that the Indians
from the Northwest, after having suffered defeat
there, will make heavy iucursons into Texas.
To restore measurable peace and quiet to Texas
will require, for long time that troops be stationed
at many county seats until by their presence, and
aid if necessary, the civil law can be placed in the
hands of reliable officers and executed. This will
be the work of years. and will be fully accomplish
ed only by an increase of population.
l am, General, very respectfully, your obedent
servant j. j. REYNOLDS
Breyet Maj. Gen. U. S. Army, Com'dg.