New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-08
KU-KLUX OPERATIONS AT SPARTAN
BURG s. C..

The following are extracts from a private
letter written by soldier OF the detachment Of United
States troops stationed at spartanburg. s. c.:
u. 8. GARRISON, sPARTAgDuRG, May q, 1871
MY DEAR BROTHER: On the 10Th inst. an old wenrh
came 10 camp and reported that there were 80 masked
at small cOl0red settlement, six miles from Spar
tanburg who had told all the cOOred that they had
thee days 20 make up their minds 10 either vote and
turn Democrats or be taken out in the woods and be
whipped TO death. The old wench wanted Yankees
to drive the masked men away. They would not allow
any OF the cO0red men out, not even 10 York In the
FIELDS On the 27th inst three coored came 20 the
garrison and reported that saturday 10th inst
the kuKux masked men came 10 their cabins and took
them out and whipped them until they said they
would vote the Democratic ticket One would not do 4
and he had his left shot clear Of On the day
statement be came no camp ann mn serr 70 tns
spaftannurg aud last night, a. near as ca judge IS
men clothed In white came 70 the boat at ofock They
9sheu they could cross told them dld lot know IN
To1a De dong night to take them over They told mo
10 mold my tongue and talk much Thty then tied
NY hahus anu laid me In the bottom OF hei boat, and
IoirGd themselves over. They then told fine that II
would po a At the s same t% aoy i ha
pistol TO my face and made swear not T. mention
b S mater, when they were out OF sight Went 70 my
nVur MASKED man came mp to my gate aud fave low
WHISTLE went out 10 see what was the m1ter, whom
the man asked me how far II was 20 the railro asked
him four or ye questions when he told me n shut up
How far I to the ne Ta s and bS 9i'
mile He told Inc TO keep quiet about him. and
with good night, he gave another low whitte which
was repeated all over the woods and then Went of.
returned TO the house and took down the old shot gun
and started for your camp, resolved to tell IAN that
| knew"
Last night at o'clock two darkes tp tho garri.
and reported that they working In the grade
OF the Richmond and Atlanta Air Line Psilroad, ono
mile from Spartanburg. At noon, on going home to
dinner, two white met rhem at the door Of their
shanty and told them they had 70 shin OF that
The negroes went to work usual In the afternoon aud
when they went to supper last night the same men
them and told them that they slept IN that shanty
that night they would be in HI In the morning. The
wanted the negroes to leave the place, but did not
give any reason
m.-Last night 40 armed and masked men came TO
the house OF four negroes, five miles from SpaTtanburg
and hauled them out OF bed and whipped them until
they could walk. The then set fire 10 the shanty
and rode of. One OF the negroes says he knows the
horses they rodethat he plOwed with one Of them yea
terday afternoon The negroes are hOrrdOOking sight
Their backs all IN strings the flesh hanging down.
and their heads all battered into pumice It's fear
ful. NV God brother this ia fearful country it,
nothing but Ku-Kux, ku-KluX, from morning tn night
Oh! how would like to catch four or five OF them. The
garrison of spartanbuTg would never see tbem unless
they went to the woods IL ~ Impossible for
TO explain the situation Of this country. The X X KS
as thew style themselves have scared the people out Of
their wits They afraid TO speak above whisper
| IT'S terrible.