Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-03-19

by the name of Dan McCully, a refuge
from Tennessee, who was stopping at Mr.
Rchm0nds, answered, emo; that there ha,
been some rows about an old negro strampet
that was all; but az 4 started off was fol
lowed by son of Mr.. Richmond who tol,
me that it w9s not all, for the whole eountr,
was in a perfect state of anarchy tina
about two months ago secret organization
styled the Kuklux had been started np a
the seminary, aud that the members thereo
had commenced driving off all the negroes
His father, he said, had tried 70 protect his
negroes, when the Kuklux turned on him
drove off his tenants, white and black, and
threatened bis and his sons life.
! then proceeded father up the Cove and
tried at several places To get lodgings, bni
was refused, until finally refined up, long
after dark, at the house of Captain Philil
Slemp, an ex-rebel officer, where was re
ceived with great hospitality.
In conversation with Mr.. Slemp at supper
he corroborated the statement OF young
Richmond, and said that he himself was
! under the ban Of the Kuklux for the same
ca USE that Mr.. Richmond was he also said
he expected an attack nightly, as they had
ALREADY fired into the houses of several and
I beaten several others numerically, SC.
The next day summoned all the magis-
trates IN Turkey Cove together and inquired
| of them about the condition of affairs.
| They fully corroburated the statements OF
young Richmond and Mr.. Slemp, but stated,
as did also Mr.. Slemp, that all the good
citizens of the Cove were opposed TO the
course pursued by the Kuklux.
| | asked the magistrates what they had
done to prevent this state of afilrs. They
answered that they had done nothing, be-
cause they did not know who the parties
were who had committed the lawless acts,
as they did everything after night. / asked
them why they did not find out who com
mitted these lawless deeds. These feeble
minded gentlemen said they were afraid to
make move for fear OF their lives, and
seemed astosisbed that should ask such a
question. asked them why they did not
summon their neighbors to assist them.
They said they did not know whom to rely
upon, because SO many belonged to the Ku-
kIux. l then asked each one separately il
he did not know of single man on whom
to rely. After much hesitation on their
part, and much impatience on niue, they
answered in the affirmative. l again asked
each Of them if he did not know of two men
on whom to rely, which each in like man
ner answered in the affirmative. / again
asked,each Of them if he did not know OF
three men beside himself on whom to rely,
and receiving an affirmative answer, ordered
each 10 name them, and then called their
attention to tho fact that that was twenty
eight men, which was enough to do the
work required. l also issued the order that
they should summon these men and ferret
out and arrest all persons who had been
guilty Of shooting and beating negroes and
firing into the houses OF citizens, and con-
tin4 them ia the Lee comfy Jail 10 await the
action Of the Military Commission; also to
arrest all persons, except travellers, found
carrying guns, pistols, and weapons of any
kind, aud eoniine them in the Lee comfy
jail, TO await the action Of the Military
Commissioner.
/ then proceeded to diff rent ports of
Turkey Cove and had Communication, or
rather cOnversat on, with several persons
whom | sn 'pected OF having been engaged
10 these lawless proceedTgs was con
yinced In most cases that my suspicious
were correct, as the gentlemen took to the
bush as soon as they could.
The negroes had ded, could not com
municate with them; butt am convinced
that they have been most inhumanly dealt
with. They have been civil and industrious,
and bad collected plenty OF provisions Tor
winter. They have been driven shelterless,
many of them from their lifelong homes in
in tho midst of the most Indictment season.
for no other purposes than that their hard
earnings might fail into the hands of white
wretches who are too lazy to work.
After spending two days in that delecta-
bic country, | started back To my station.
In addition to my order to'tbe magistrates,
have ordered the sheriff of Lee county,
a \ a
Anderson, Bill Anderson, Frank Riddle,
Floyd Riddle, Yancey MaynorS, Jonathan
Ward, A. j. Estep and Wallace Woodward
aud condne them in the Lee county in Jail,
10 await the action of the Military COmmis-
SiOner.
In the event thst these magistrates and
the sheriff fail to do their duty, would re-
specially request that be allowed, IN the
course OF a lew days, 20 take squad Of
men and go to point ON the railroad that
shall select, and there mount my entire
squad aud proceed 10 Turkey Cove, which is
ABOUT sixty miles from any railroad, and
hunt these desperadOes down.
1t would be perfectly useless to send
troops on foot into that county after those
scoundrels, unless it would be TO station
them up there, aud that, at this season OF
the year, is impracticable. .E..
have little faith in the sheriff aud the
magistrates doing their duty, or that they
will be much assisted by tho citizens, be-
cause they all seem to DO a set Of polsroons
l-Kukluxes and all; yet in this | may be
mistaken and If they follow my iostruc-
tions, there will be no need of sending any
troops to that place.
have probably made this report more
proliX than necessary, yet the Major Gene
raj can form no idea of the condition OF
affairs in that county unless some particu-
lars are mentioned, and not even then with.
out visiting il.
Very respectfully, yonr ohedieut servant,
Il. Il Rose,
Brevet Lieut.. Col, Capt. 18th u. S.
luiantry, C0mmadipg Post.
Lieut.. S. r. WHITELL, A A. A. O.,
Sub district Of Lynchburg, Va,
HD'oRs FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. ~, 1869.
| Official copy. Il. W. STONE,
Fleet liant Of ~ II = Tnf Rect