In compliance with the request of the Committee on Reconstruction, the report of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Rose, U. S. A., relative to outrages in southwestern Virginia. FEBRUARY 19, 1869.-Referred to the Committee on Reconstruction and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, February 19, 1869. The Secretary of War has the honor to submit to the House of Representatives, in compliance with the request of the Committee on Reconstruction, the accompanying copy of the report of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Rose, United States army, upon certain outrages committed in southwestern Virginia, together with a copy of the instructions of the commander of the first military district to that officer. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS POST OF MARION, VIRGINIA, January 12, 1869. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with Special Orders No. 78, dated December 28, 1868, from headquarters sub-district of Lynchburg, Virginia, I proceeded to Lee county, Virginia, January 6, 1869. I first visited the colored woman at Cain Creek, who was shot near Jonesville, Lee county, Virginia. From her I learned that on December 25, 1868, the colored people had a ball near Jonesville, Virginia, when a party of white men styling themselves Ku-Klux came into the house where the colored people were holding their ball, and deliberately fired their revolvers among them. One of the white men, named Wallace Woodward, placed his pistol close to this colored woman and shot her through the body, inflicting a dangerous and possibly a mortal wound. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Woodward by the civil authorities, but he is still at large. I then proceeded to Mrs. Cains', on Powell's river, where I stopped to dine. Mrs. Cains is a rebel lady, but from her I learned that families of colored people had been passing her house for several days, fleeing from Turkey Cove, going she knew not whither. She said her old servant, George, who had been on her plantation all his life, was packed up to leave as soon as the gang of Ku-Klux should come along. I then proceeded to Turkey Cove, where I arrived at dark, and stopped at the house of Mr. Jonathan Richmond, expecting to stay there for the night. I was refused, because, they said, Mr. Richmond was very sick. Upon inquiring of the people who came out of the house if there was not some trouble in this part of the country, a fellow by the name of Dan McCully, a refugee from Tennessee, who was stopping at Mr. Richmond's, answered no; that there had been some rows about an old nigger whore, that was all; but as I started off I was followed by a son of Mr. Richmond, who told me that that was not all, for the country was in perfect anarchy; that about two months ago a secret organization styled Ku-Klux had been started up at the seminary, and that the members thereof had commenced driving off all the negroes. His father he said had tried to protect his negroes, when the Ku-Klux turned on him, drove off his tenants, white and black, and threatened his and his son's life. I then proceeded farther up the Cove and tried at several places to get lodgings, but was refused, until I finally reined up, long after dark, at the house of Captain Phil. Slemp, an ex-rebel officer, where I was received 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 Ku Klux for the same cause that Mr. Richmond was; he also said that he expected an attack nightly, as they had already fired into the houses of several citizens and beaten several others unmercifully, &c. The next day I summoned all the magistrates in Turkey Cove together and inquired of them about the condition of affairs. They fully corroborated the statements of young Richmond and Mr. Slemp, but stated, as also did Mr. Slemp, that all the good citizens of the Cove were opposed to the course pursued by the Ku-Klux. I asked the magistrates what they had done to prevent this state of affairs. They answered that they had done nothing, because they did not know who the parties were who had committed these lawless acts, as they did everything after night. I asked them why they did not find out who committed these lawless deeds. These feeble-minded gentlemen said they were afraid to make a move for fear of their lives, and seemed astonished that I should ask such a question. I 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-Klux. I then asked each one separately if he did not know of a single man on whom to rely. After much hesitation on their part, and much impatience on mine, they answered in the affirmative. I again asked each of them if he did not know of two men on whom to rely, which each in like manner answered in the affirmative. I finally asked each of them if he did not know of three men besides himself on whom to rely, and receiving an affirmative answer, ordered each to name them, and then called their attention to the fact that that was 28 men, which was enough to do the whole work required. I 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 confine them in the Lee county jail to await the action of the military commissioner. Also to arrest all persons, except travellers, found carrying guns, pistols, and weapons of any kind, and confine them in the Lee county jail to await the action of the military commissioner. I then proceeded to different parts of Turkey Cove and had communication, or rather conversation, with several persons whom I suspected as having been engaged in these lawless proceedings. I was convinced in most cases that my suspicions were correct, as the gentlemen took to the bush as soon as they could. The negroes had fled, so I could not communicate with them, but I am convinced that they have been most inhumanly dealt with. They have been civil and industrious, and had collected plenty of provisions for the winter. They have been driven shelterless, many of them from their lifelong homes, in the midst of the most inclement season, for no other purpose than that their hard earnings might fall into the hands of white wretches who are too lazy to work. After spending two days in that delectable country I started back to my station. In addition to my order to the magistrates, I have ordered the sheriff of Lee county, Virginia, to summon a posse and arrest Robert Anderson, Bill Anderson, Frank Riddle, Floyd Riddle, Yancey Maynors, Jonathan Ward, A. J. Estep, and Wallace Woodward, and confine them in the Lee county jail to await the action of the military commissioner. In the event that these magistrates and the sheriff fail to do their duty, I would most respectfully request that I be allowed, in the course of a few days, to take a squad of men and go to a point on the railroad that I shall select, and there mount my entire squad and proceed to Turkey Cove, which is about 60 miles from any railroad, and hunt these desperadoes down. It would be perfectly useless to send troops on foot into that country after those scoundrels, unless it would be to station them up there, and that, at this season of the year, is impracticable. I have little faith in the sheriff and the magistrates doing their duty, or that they will be much assisted by the citizens, because they all seem to me to be a set of poltroons-Ku-Kluxes and all; yet in this I may be mistaken; and if they follow my instructions there will be no need of sending any troops into that place. I have probably made this report more prolix than necessary, yet the major general can form no idea of the condition of affairs in that county unless some particulars are mentioned, and not even then without visiting it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. E. ROSE, Brt. Lt. Col., Capt. 11th U. S. Inf., Com. Post. Lieutenant S. R. WHITALL, Official copy: HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT, E. W. STONE, First Lt. 21st U. S. Inf., Bvt. Lt. Col. U. S. A., A. A. A. G. HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT, STATE OF VIRGINIA, Richmond, Va., January 20, 1869. SIR: Adverting to your report of the 12th instant in reference to outrages on the colored people in Lee county, Virginia, I am directed by the commanding general to instruct you to inform the authorities of Lee county that if they do not arrest the authors of the outrages reported by you and not prevent the recurrence of such outrages in future, he will send a detachment of mounted men into that region, to be subsisted and foraged at the expense of the citizens, until good order is re-established and security to person and property is again afforded by the civil authorities. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. F. CHALFIN, Assistant Adjutant General. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel THOS. E. ROSE, U. S. A., Official copy : S. F. CHALFIN, Assistant Adjutant General. |