The New York herald., 1870-07-31
The Reign of Terror in Caswell
County.
Whole Families Without Male Protector-The
Town of Yancsyville Pickstod by Kinks Jay
hawkers-The Court Martial Postponed
Kirk Reports Fresh Outrages in the
County = Another Side Of the
Case-Peculiar Position of the
United States Troops

and don't know what may happen. Ihere Is no.
body here but myself and the children, and we
arc nearly scared to death" ''Indeed, Mrs. John
son." said the gentleman, 81 would do SO with
pleasure, but have already promised Mrs. -
that would stay there tonight. You know she
has a large family Of daughters and they
require, more than you do, some male
protector" "God help us" said the
lady, "what will become Of us 2" This
brief conversation took place between the wife
of one of Kinks prisoners and citizen, not yet
arrested, who now employs himself ailording pro-
lection to the families OF the gentlemen who are
confined iu the Court House. When the citizens
still at large are distributed, there is scarcely
sufficient number to allow one to each house,
and in consequence of the rowing and depredat-
ing propensties Of the jayhawkers the greatest
alarm and insecurity are experienced by the help
less women and children. town occupied by
an invading foe scarcely ever underwent a more
trying ordeal than does the village Of Yanceyville
at present, for here there is horde of rutans
who seem to be impressed with the idea that their
express mission is one of persecution and outrage.
At night the village is
PICKETED
by the jayhawkers, and every traveller not having
the countersign is marched before of Kinks
officers, who subjects him to cross-examination
as to his residence, where he is going, and his po-
litcal proclivtes; and if the responses oil sat
isfactory he is allowed to pass if not he is hospi-
tably huddledinto the Court House, where he finds
time for calm reflection, if not repose. In the
morning the persons arrested are brought into
the august presence of Colonel Kirk, who again
examines them and either disposes of them by
continuation of the hospitality of the Court
House, or permits them to depart. The
officers comprising the court martial ap-
appointed by his Excellency Governor Holden to
try the prisoners not having arrived yet l called
on Colonel Kirk this morning, and being lucky
enough to meet him at the gate in front of the
Court House, had quite an interesting though
BRIEF INTERVIEW.
orrespondent-Colonel, understand the
officers Of the court have not arrived Have you
any news Of them?
Colonel-Yes. The court martial is postponed
account of the sickness of of the officers.
Correspondent-Are you in receipt of any in
structions as to the disposition Of .he prisoners
Coonel-No. am waiting for dispatches now
Ny Lieutenant Colonel is at one of the stations on
the railroad waiting for the dispatches.
Correspondent-Do you anticipate orders to
bring the prisoners to Raleigh 7 saw a civil
officer here yesterday with nineteen writs from
which he failed to serve on YOU
COlonel--No, don't expect any orders to carry
them to Raleigh. think they will be tried here
after the elections, and see no use in the Chief
Justice sending his writs here, for he knows as
well as | do that the prisoners will not be given
up. l don't want to be bothered any more with
writs, and | don't intend to allow any more of
them to be served on me. have got bundle of
them now in my pocket and the man who brought
them is in the Court Honse. Ten thousand men
could not get the prisoners without fight. am
acting under Governor Holden's orders, and III
be damned if don't obey them.
Correspondent-How long do you expect to re-
main here
Colonel will be here six months at least
There Is plenty to do III this very county for that
length OF time.
Correspondent-Wh What is there to be done that
will take you six months!
Colonel-Why suppressing these outragcs ]
am not political partisan, but want every man
TO have free and untrampled vote. (This was
the COlonePs exact language)
Correspondent-You do not mean TO say there
has been any outrage committed in the county
since you arrived here?
Colonel-Yes do have three pages OF tes-
timony now of outrages committed within the
last week.
Correspondent is the nature of these
outrages?
Colonel-Whipping and scourging white Union
men and colored men because they voted the
republican ticket. And these outrages are not
committed by poor men, becaUse they have horses,
and the horses disguised as well as the men to
prevent them from beng known, but some of
the Ku KluX themselves have betrayed them. it
j. the wealthy men who are tbe real Ku Klux If
they do not murder and whip themselves, they
furnish the means to the scoundres who do.
Them very prisoners up stairs in that Court Honse
have murder in their hearts, and if this thing was
stopped right here at this stage every Union
and negro in the county would have 0 get up aud
leave.
Correspondent-Wh do you get your Informa-
tion of outrages from, for have been asking both
negroes ana white men aud have failed ye. to dis
cover any who know of a recent case Of whipping
even intimidation
Coonel-I get my information from the men
who are whipped and scourged, who have identi-
fled many OF the hypocritIcal scoundrcls that
whipped them throUgh their disguise. If you
want TO see victims OF these outrages 90 down and
talk TO Mrs. Stephens and see her little children
crying for their murdered father. Every one OF
these prisoners knew well that day that Stephens
was to be murdered and The only way to stop
such doings is 10 retaiate, and hang aud whip the
men who are found guilty OF committing such out
RACES.
ton in the role he has 10 plny, and Holden
could not have possibly procured more
wiling and able tool to carry out his
infamous designs. That his allegations of fresh
Outrages untrue is beyond doubt; and that
the respected and elderly gentlemen confined by
him cognilaat of the Stephens murder
is foul and malicious SANDER Ihe officers
commanding the United States troops here, be-
sides two Northern gentlemen who visited Yancey
vile recently gave these alleged outrages most
thorough and impartial investigate, and all
agree in stating that there is more justification
for the unparalleled oppression of the people here
than there is for any county in New ork or any
other Northern State. The murderers of Stephens
will one of these days be ferreted out; aud il is
really believed by many that it can be traced
directly 10 Governor Holden himself who told the
negroes that Stephens must be got lid ot.p
POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES TROOPS
Battery d. Fourth United States Heavy Art-
lery, aow doing duty here as infantry, under TIE
command of Major Rodney and Captain Field, oc-
cupies singular position in relation TO the exist
ing troubles They arrived here about week
prior to Kirk and his bard of jayhawkers, with
Instructions from the headquarters of Genera .
Mcdowell, Department Commander TO aid the
civil authorities in the enforcement OF the laws,
.1.a LIN In, in NJ