will take the required oath, though they may know the applicant perjures himself, is sustained by the views of the attorney-general. My opinion is that it is the duty of the Board of Registration to see, as far as it lies in their power, that no unauthorized person is allowed to register. To secure this end registrars should be allowed to administer oaths and examine witnesses. The law, however, makes district commanders their own interpreters of their power and duty under it.

Freedom of the Press Limited

Annual Cyclopedia, 1867, p. 758. the editor of the Richmond Times. suppressed.

General Schofield's directions to In each state newspapers were [April 27, 1867]

SIR: The commanding general directs me to call your attention to an editorial article in the Richmond Times of this morning, headed, "A Black Man's Party in Virginia," and to say that while he desires not only to permit, but to encourage the utmost freedom of discussion of political questions, the character of the article referred to calls for severe censure. Especially the following words, "It is a proposition which implies that they are ready to grasp the blood stained hands of the authors of our ruin," are an intolerable insult to our soldiers of the United States Army, and no less so to all true soldiers of the late Confederate army, as they have long since extended to each other the cordial hand of friendship, and pledged their united efforts to restore peace and harmony to our whole country. The efforts of your paper to foster enmity, create disorder, and lead to violence, can no longer be tolerated. It is hoped this warning will be sufficient.

Forcing "Patriotism"

Annual Cyclopedia, 1867, p. 693.

Gen. D. E. Sickles, Second Dis

trict, to Gen. H. B. Clitz, commanding Charleston, South Carolina.

[1867]

It is reported to me this morning that among the various emblems borne by the several [fire] companies at the rendezvous on the citadel parade-ground the flag is not there. I desire that

you will at once send for the Chief of the Fire Department, and inform him that the national standard must be borne in front of the column; that an escort of honor, to consist of two members of each company present, will be detailed by himself to march with the colors; that the colors be placed opposite the reviewing personages on the ground designated for the review, and that every person in the column shall salute the colors by lifting his hat or cap on arriving at a point three paces distant from the colors, and, carrying the cap uplifted, march past the colors to a point three paces from the same.

The Mayor of the city, the Chief of the Fire Department, and the foreman of companies will be held responsible for the observance of this order, and they are hereby authorized and required to arrest any person who disobeys it.

General Sheridan in New Orleans

Johnson MSS. Report of Ethan A. Allen to President Johnson.

[April 9, 1867]

I HAVE been here for several days and mixed much with the people and find the most perfect good will and feeling existing toward the Federal Government. There is not the slightest desire on their part to oppose the power of your Administration. The only turbulent Spirits to be found here are Northern men who really appear to be in the interest of the radical element in the Eastern States; their whole aim and ambition is to ferment trouble and they are ready at any time to get up any excitement which may be damaging to the harmonious working of the Government, and make some political capital for that party in the North to the injury of the South. .

The removal from Office of Major Monroe here, and substitution of Heath by General Sheridan, of Lynch for Atty. Genl. in place of Herron and Howe [Horne?] for Judge of the Criminal Court in place of Abel is truly unfortunate. Judge Abel has ever been a strong and uncompromising Union man - his devotion to the Union has never faultered - he stood up manfully throughout the War for the Union, and nothing but the Union at the risk of his life during the fearful struggle

through which our Country has so recently passed—he is a man of fine character and much respected and liked by the people. His removal is certainly a poor recompense for his unfaultering love of Country. Heath was one of Butler's dirty spies when that General Commanded here. In fact, Mr. President, not a single one of the three appointments made by General Sheridan are at all creditable they are men of no status in this Community they are not or have they ever commanded the least respect they are Strangers whose feelings are not all identified with the interests of this City or the concilliation of the people. There are many, many good and true, respectable, and responsible men in New Orleans who could have been appointed by Genl. S. who would have been perfectly satisfactory to Citizens. Then why irritate and insult New Orleans by giving such appointments to Imported Yankees. Sheridan is becoming more and more unpopular with the people here; every day still do, and still will they submit to the Government.

Military Misrule in Alabama

MS. account, by Mrs. T. L. Kennedy. The incident here described occurred near Greensboro, Alabama. [1867]

THE negro population was very dense and Military Posts were established at intervals of 20 or 30 miles. There was one at Greensboro, Ala., and the negroes grew, under its influence, impudent beyond endurance. One day a young man, Mr. Tom Cowan, resented an insolent remark made to him by a negro passing on the street. Immediately, a Yankee officer stepped up to Mr. Cowan and slapped him in the face. The young man drew his pistol and killed the officer and . . hid in a little, dark closet. . In less than 30 minutes the street was filled with a black, surging mass of howling negroes, led by the Yankee soldiers, searching for the young man. Two of his friends, by the dim light of a candle in that. . closet, shaved off his mustache, disguised him completely, and placing him between them, boldly walked out into the mob, and un-recognized went the whole length of the town to a strip of woods, where young Cowan made his escape. The infuriated negroes

.

soon discovered this and in retaliation they entered every white man's house and seized every gun and pistol thus placing the whites at their mercy. They also went to young Cowan's home dragged his younger brother forth and declared their intention to keep him as a hostage and. . to hang him if his brother did not return. . . In view of the whole town, a tall gallows was erected for the execution of this innocent young boy. The deepest gloom and despair settled down over the whole community. . . By chance, some one remembered having heard that General Marsh, who was stationed at a Post about 15 miles off, was a Mason. The news soon spread and The "Masons" of the town dispatched to this officer, and of course, we do not know by what means it was arranged, but if the sum of $9,000 was paid, the boy would be set free. You can form no idea of the poverty of our people after the War, but there were some who had little hoards hid away. . . . . The sum exacted was raised and sent as quickly as possible. It was never known for what purpose it was demanded, unless it was used to buy off the Federal officers and soldiers. This transaction was not generally known and promptly at the hour appointed, the negro mob placed a halter around the young victim's neck and dragged him through the streets to the fatal place. A more pathetic spectacle was never witnessed than that of the grey-haired father, walking by his son, exhorting him "To die like a man." Just as the lad was ascending the scaffold, the reprieve arrived, in the shape of an order from General Marsh forbidding the execution.

Military "Justice"

Ku Klux Report, p. 446. Letter of F. S. Lyon to F. P. Blair (1871). Lyon was a prominent banker and had served in the Confederate Congress. [1867-1868]

WHILE on the subject of military government among us, allow me to state to you a few cases not calculated to inspire our people with affection for their rulers. At Eutaw, in the adjoining county of Greene, [Alabama], a difficulty occurred between two individuals, one a carpet-bagger, the other a citizen, the latter charging the former with stealing his father's

wood. The occurrence took place in the day-time, on a public street in the town. An attack was made by the citizen without any weapon except the fist; a number of persons rushed to the scene and some riotous demonstrations occurred; something was said about riding the assailed party on a rail, but no such thing was done, and no blow struck except by the party who brought on the controversy; no blood was drawn and no material damage done. For this offence come six or seven young men of Eutaw were arrested by military order, carried to the then military post of Selma, confined for a time in the guard-house, tried by court-martial, convicted and sentenced to confinement at hard labor at the Dry Tortugas for periods varying from six to two years. After conviction they were carried in chains and under military guard by way of Jackson Mississippi, New Orleans, and Pensacola, to the place of imprisonment. . . Their friends were not permitted to supply them with pocket money when they left. After the confinement for some time of these young men the public authorities. perhaps discovered that the punishment inflicted was excessive and out of all proportion to the offence committed, and remitted the sentence. 1. The men were set at liberty at the Dry Tortugas, where no transportation home was to be had except such as belonged to the Government. They were compelled to ship on a credit to a distant port, Galveston, Texas, whence they could appeal to their friends for aid.

Another case of military outrage occurred in the arrest of Mr. Barker, a worthy and industrious carriage-maker of Livingston, in Sumter County. He was arrested in his own house, in the night-time, placed in irons and sent to Selma under a military guard, and confined for a time in the military prison, the officer making the arrest refusing, to tell him or his friends the cause of arrest. In a short time he was discharged without a trial, when the fact was made public that he was arrested upon the supposed information of a servant in his employment. The servant, upon being examined, denied utterly having made any report or communication charging Barker with any crime whatever.