Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-03
GENERAL NDO WELLS REPORT.

GENERAL WELLS REPORT
General Mcdowell has recently made
areport as commander of the department
ofthe South. giving the facts in regard to
military operations within the limits ofhis
department. Compared with the infor-
nation that the correspondent of news
paper, were he ever so capable, intelli-
gent, enterprising and unprejudiced,
might obtain In tour Of investigation
through the South, that contained In Gen.
eral McDowell's report must be far more
Trustworthy. His information comes
from all quarters where disturbances have
been, from eye witnesses in most cases of
what they relate, who have had ample
time and opportunity to become well &C.
quainted with the condition of affairs ex-
isting in the localities for which they
speak. We have not room to copy the
full report, but our readers can Judge from
q few prominent cases what the substance
of lhe report is. in regard to the Ku-Klux,
the White League. and the condition of
the South politically. socially and moral
~.
In regard to the vicinity of the Trenton
massacre the commanding officer at Hum
boldt reports that outrages upon the me-
groes have greatly increased since the
middle Of August. the Ku-Klux raiding al.
most every night in Gibson county and
the counties adjoining. General Nc
,Dowel adds :.,-.-v,. ,-s ~
The resent disturbances in this section of
the State all seem to have started shout the
time the Civil Rishts bill was brought before
Congress, and the reports of outrages COM
mise pm the negroes by These outlaws have
been more uumerous since about that time
thaDAet any other period IN the last three
years. Many Of these have simply amounted
10 the mere act Of driving or frightening the
ceserpame away for the purpose of securing
the small crops they have made. which is
easily accomplished BY threatening them with
visit at night of Ku-Klux. / have learned
siacs tn Trenton massacre that just pre-.
vioas % that time, say shout 23d Of August,
every bridge, railroad and river crossing, and
all roads and important points, were strictly
guarded by the whites, and up to the time of
the msssacre and for some days Afterwards
the whole country was secured by armed men
for the purpose Of capturing those who were
supposed to have made their escape. OF the
men Fho were taken from the Jail at Tren-
ten % Che nofning Of the 26th Of August
thsee have reached the garrison in safety and
are now In Memphis under the protection of
the linked Dtates Marshal. and three more
are known to be alive and at large. Since
the recent troubles here the number of out
RACES reported to me by parties, who have
been beaten have been comparatively few,
from the fact that the Ku-Klux organic alton
now seems to be SO perfect that the parties
outraged are In most instances prevented
from coming here to give information them
selves, and the fact of the outrages having
been committed 10 only learned by general
report through the county and from some of
the friends Of the parties. who pass the news
from oSs to another. A very bitter feeling
seems e exist among the people throughout
this entire section of the country against the |
government and particalarly against the ne.
gro, and the few Union men who reside in !
this vicinity are completely cowed and live in |
constant fear. Several of them have had |
threats made ssainst their lives, to my own |
knowledge, during and since the recent dis |
tarbances. w
The commanding officer at Livingstone,
Alabama. who occupied that place in Sep
TENDER, on the application Of the United |
States Attorney General says:
For the information Of the commanding |
General would respectfully state the cause |
Of all these gatherings Of whites and negroes |
In arms in this and the adjoining counties. |
The white people have an organization |
throushontihe cosnty known az the White
League. They are determined the negroes
shall not vote at the coming elections unless
sAey vote % they do. To effect this they do
everything 10 their power to intimidaie the
blacks. The two most active Republican, in
this county, Billings (white) and Iyey {col-
oreds} have been sssassinsted 10 the county
since tho LIST OF August. These murders have
had very great effect on the colored people,
particularly as they see no arrests have been
made, nor have steps been taken to find out
the offenders To keep up the fear among
he u1scks, the whites now get together al
most every day and night and ride the rounds
IN squads Of from thirty to fifty men, armed
With shot guas, pretending that the negroes
are arming and gathering to attack the whites,
which 10 net The case. There have been no
parties OF the negroes Of any strength to-
gether, THIS place. 70 the headquarters from
vhich the parties start, and would respect.
fully ask that BE- permitted to keep my men
VEN 10 hand u thus place where can always
know vhat y going on and be ready to move
men to me neighberhood of any threatened
disturbance. SINGS ssrived here on the
18th inst, thsfs shsss been gatherings At
three diGssest points in this county No col.
lision has ocesrssd, nor will there as long a
lhe white people. can iniipldate the blacks by
] di1o1nw 81 1rpSd fefce. A night attack on |
~ espp Il fGesly talked Of here and 10 the
,ouslsy around, but do not fear ny,hing of