Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-07

CIIngan to Gen. Cooper
Nothing Said AbOut Saspending
a Citizen by His Thumbs.
The Hero OF FOrky Dear ON the
Situation.

3 Below will be found the official repor
of Maj. Clingan's exploits in West Ten
> nessee, as rendered the General com
handing. We have not taken the liberty
to alter the manuscript, but publish a.
written, for fear that we might incur the
displeasure of the Major commanding
and be tied up by the thumbs. The in
formation fur lished about citizen o.
Brownsville, attempting to fire store
on the night of the arrival of the
"melish,' SO that the troops might get
the credit of it, is very rich, and entirely
original with the Major commanding.
He deserves promotion for this brilliant
charge on the enemy's works. But
here is the document
HEAD Oars, DIST, FoRKY DEER Hum,
BoIDT Tenn. May 9th 1869 Brig Genl
j. A. Cooper comdg. Tenn State Guards
Dear Genl. Sir. On 10Th of April
1869 l with sixteen men proceeded to
Lauderdale CO. to investigate outrages
committed by KuKIux upon one Whit
ney Lee and family col, on or about the
mig int of Doth of April 1869. On arri-
wing at Brownsville Tenn, we impressed
horses sufficient to mount squad Pro-
ceeded to Thomas Lees in Lauderdale
co. about % miles south west of Browns
vile. Arrived about 3 o'clock P. IN, on :
29th April upon being informed who
were there on night the outrages were
committed sent out squads in different
directions to arrest thereported guilty par.
| ties at same time sent to . Hendren ESQ,
TO procure civil warrants for them which
was did but only two of parties were ar
rested to wit John S, Wells, and Monroe
Lucas, the other 3 in number had made
their escape or so concealed themselves
we could not find them The trial was
had on Saturday LIST day of may 1869.
in cases of Wells and Lucas. The State
was able to prove that John s. Wells
was at said Whitney Lees house Just af>
ter some shooting had taken place and
before the rapes were committed upon
the persons of said Whitney Lees Wife,
and daughter aged about IA years, that
he was in house with pistol cooked in
hand iLquiring after that damned Radi-
cal meaning the coloed man. whitney
Lee that he had killed Blair and that he
was going to stay there until day or have
him, Threatening to burst out the daugh-
tiers brains if she did not make up light
which was did but as soon as light was
| made he ordered ashes put upon it, and
went out of house Lucas it appears was
there but did nothing This between 10
and II o'clock. Mr.. Thomas Lee (White)
Testified he recognized wells voice that
night although was not cut of his
house which was about fifty yards away.
But man by name of Blair was kille in
the affair and an inquest held next day
after the trouble at which time and place
those witness in behalf of state were
sworn and appears they swore they
knew nothing about any one who was
there on night of Goth Of April 1869.
This was made to appear by
nearly all the Jury Of inquest
therefore the evidence was set
aside in behalf Of State and parties re-
leased although the witness swore they
were afraid to divulge the whole matter
at inquest as those KukluX had told
them if they told on them they would
kill every one of them Find ng that it
was useless to arrest any others no matter
how guilty l made preparation and re-
turned to Brownsville on Sunday % Inst.
with Col. man Whitney Lee and family
with ne Turned back to the proper par
ties all herses and equipments which had
been impressed. l will here state that
one man was killed and two slightly
wounded by Whitny Lee or some Of the
Kuklux themselves during their shooting
at said Whitney Lees appears to be
some doubt as to who killed Blair but
the colored man wounded two. The
feeling Of people in that community is
very strong against the colored people
none of them are allowed to express
their political preference if radical
though we were treated with due respect
for many of their principles l think
Loyalty is at very low eddy in that
portion and no hopes of change. On
arrival at Brownsville we found excites
ment rather high upon inquiry we were
informed that on Saturday May LIST 1869
a white man was shot and colored man
cut with Ratchet. under these circum.
stances That convention to nominate
delegates to the State convention on the
Doth inst meet in Brownsville and dur.
ing forepsrt of day this colored man
stepped in to store and looking at some
articles called to one Thomas Grant white
citizen OF Brownsville and in remarks
called him psrdner Grant somewhat err
itated at remark INTERCEPTED him why
he called him pardner Col. man state
that he thought we had right to call
any one of his color pardner. Grant
| then made at him with Ratchet the
| colored man only saved his life by super
human exertions in trying to get away
but was struck in back as he run by
| Grant with Ratchet cutting considerable
cash which required sewing up by sur
geon. This not satisfying Grant in even
ing he and some other party abused ans
other colored man. The civil officers
were informed these parties were hanging
some colOred men they without waiting
any further explanation proceeded in
hast to the spot. party consisting of
| Sheriff Sherman Dept. Sheriff Saml.
Boyd and City Marshall Will. Sherman
and appears that Boyd was in front
seeing Grant had been taking hand
in the beating of another colored
man was going towards him Grant
seeing this drew his pistol and
odered them to halt which was not
obyed upon advancing clost to Grant
he Grant fired at dept. Boyd the city
marshal being close and armed immedi-
ately shot Grant in the side Dept Boyd
| was not armed at the time Grant is not
dangerously wounded. The fighting
| excitement guelled. But during Satur-
day night plan was concactred by one
| William Show a citizens of Brownsville
Tenn as | am informed by Sheriff j. L.
Sherman to this effect. That a party
was to go to Jail and fire in at windows
and if the Sheriff or Sheriffs wife como
to door to shoot them down then charge
the house to get dept. Sheriff Samuel
Boyd and city marshal so they could
assassinate them this that Sheriff says
he sable to prove the parties had some
shot guns with them at their meeting on
memphis and ohio r. r. near Browns
vile but by Some unknown cause failed
to execute their designes Finding this
statement of affairs | stationed for time
Lit Lowe with q men at Brownsville
Tenn with instructions to assist and pro-
tect the civil officers at any and all times