Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-04
THE KU.KLUX In TENNESSEE.
what the Commander at Humboldt
Reports and What Gen. Mcdowell
Says-"BehOId, How Great n Matter
"a Little Fire HindIeth

Gen. Mcdowell has reported to the Ad-
jutaut Generals office the operations of the
army in the South during the year ending
Sept. 30, from which we extract as follows:
THE KU-KLUX IN TENNESSEE.
send herewith, marked "B," a letter Of
Aug. %. from the commanding officer OF
the small detachment left at Swayne Bar
| racks. Humboldt, Tenn, when the COM
pany of the Sixteenth Infantry was sent
from that place TO Jackson, Miss, last
Jane. The letter is accompanied by afi-
davits taken by the commanding officer of
certain colored people, alleging maltreat
ment at the hands of the whites. On the
2lst August telegram was received from
the commanding officer, saying: "Sendme
fifteen or twenty men AZ once. The VIII le
country around Us Is under arms on &C
count Of the killing of some hu-Klux by
negroes Saturday night last. The Ku-
Klux have been raiding in large numbers
for two weeks. Parties have fired into the
camp at night. Threats were made 10 at
tack u.s. All approaches to the garrison
are watched by armed pickets every night.
The colOred people are driven from their
homes and from their work. Some are
shot. All in the garrison are worn out by
constant night watching and fatigue. Full
reports and afidayits will be sent by mail"
Orders were telegTaphed TO Nashville to
send a company of the Sixteenth Infantry
to Humboldt, and company arrived there
Aug. %.
THE TRENTON MASSACRE.
In his report of the occurrences con-
nected with the service at the post during
the past year, the commanding officer for
the time being says:
"Although the number Of detachmentS
called out to assist the United States Mar
shall are about the same as last year, com
plants of Outrages of various kinds COM
mitted on the negroes have been more
numerous, particularly since the middle of
August, and, from such information as
they bring in, the Ku-Klux have been
raiding almost every night in portions Of
this (Gibson) and the adjoining Counties"
The recent disturbances in this section
of the State all seem TO have started about
the time the Civil Rights bill was brought
before Congress, and the reports of out
RACES committed on the negroes by those
outlaws have been more numerous since
about that time than at any other period in
the last three years. Many of these have
ing or frightening the cOlored men away
for the purpose of securing the small crops
they have made, which is easily accom-
plished by threatening them with a visit
at night of Ku-KluX. | have learned since
the Trenton massacre that, just previous to
that time, say about the 23d of August,
every bridge, railroad and river crossing,
and all reads and important points, were
IL 49,
the time of the massacre, 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 who were
taken from the Jail at Trenton on the
morning of the 26th of August, three have
reached the garrison in safety, and are now
in Memphis under the protection of the
United States 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 orsaniza-
ton now seems to be so perfect that the
parties outraged are, in most instances, pre-
vented from coming here to give infOrma-
ton themselves, and the fact of the out
rays iittf H. Gtf-l -ll1AtiAll4Etl - Olllb
learned by general report through The cOun-
Try and from some Of the friends of The par
ties, who pass the news from one to
anoth,F, Many outTageS would be
prevented and many more of the
Ku-Klux would he arrested and brought
to justice if a United States Commissioner
and one or two Deputy States MarshalS
were stationed at every point where there
is a regular garrison instead of their being
so remote, as is the case here. A very bit
ter feeling seems TO exist among the people
Throughout this entire section Of the cOsn-
try against the Government and particular
ly against the negro, and the few Union
men who reside in this vicinity are com
pletely cowed and live in constant fear.
Several of them have had threats made
against their lives, 10 my OWE knowledge.
during and since the recent disturbances.
l ask attention to the suggestion that a
United States Commissioner and DEPUTY
Marshal be appointed at places occupied by !
troops; so that the action of the latter NAV
be prompt enough TO be of effect; for, by
the orders have given, the troops are to be |
held in readiness to act on any requisition |
made on them by any United States civil |
officer, but that the officers of the army as |
such should take no initial action, but only /
act in aid of and in subordination to the |
United States civil authorities.