Threats of his assassination and the destruction of his mill and other buildings were freely uttered. He was formally “warned” by the K. K. K.’s, that he must change his course, politically, or he would certainly suffer death. Halliday’s reply to this threat and warning was simply to proceed to Jefferson, and procure some of the best modern weapons, for defense, that he could find. With these he returned to his dwelling, awaited results, pursuing his usual course, advocating such political principles as he please, and employing colored men as before.
During the spring of 1871, at a meeting of the Ku Klux Camp of Jefferson County, it was solemnly resolved that Halliday should be killed, and his property destroyed. The night for the “visitation” was duly decided on; and through an anonymous note this information was conveyed to Halliday, the writer begging him as he valued his life, to leave the place, and thus save himself.
To less resolute men this would have appeared a serious matter, but upon Halliday the threatened danger had an entirely different effect. It nerved rather than weakened his brave spirit, and he resolved to “stick.” He was a man full six feet in stature, and well proportioned; he had been long accustomed toout-of-door life, and was considered one of the most powerful men, physically, in the county; he knew his strength, and relying upon that and an unswerving faith in God, he determined to defend himself and his family to the last.
On the night of the anticipated visit, he placed his wife and his two children in the upper room of the house, and barricaded the passage way leading thereto, as best he could.
Mrs. Halliday well knew the desperate character and murderous designs of the Klan. She clung to her husband, to whom she was devotedly attached, and expressed her fears as he passed down the stairway, that she would never see him again, alive! To this Mr. Halliday responded:
“You forget that theGreat Masteris with me! TrustHimasIdo,” and kissing her and the little ones, he descended to the ground floor, where he intended to remain and await the advent of the party.
Some of the more faithful of the negroes observing the unusual care with which Mr. H. adjusted the fastenings upon the doors and shutters, that night, hinted to him that they “reck’nd he ’spected trouble,” and they would like to be near him.
“No,” said he, “go to your own places and don’t come out; if they come in here, I had rather be alone, for then I can shoot and cut at random and be sure not to hit any of my own friends. Every man I strike will surely be one who ought to be stricken.”
Mr. Halliday was armed with two rifles, two revolvers, and a long bowie knife. Shortly before midnight, the Klan made their appearance in front of the house, to the number of about twenty. Halliday saw them through a small half-moon shaped aperture at the top of the shutter.
They were all masked, and appeared each to wear a long rubber cape, falling from the shoulders to thewaist. They came straight to the door, and, without saying a word, commenced to batter it in. The door gave way in a few moments, and as they rushed in, Halliday discharged his firearms with such fatal effect, that three of the Klan dropped dead upon the floor.
The room was intensely dark, and a desperate fight ensued, in which the assailants more frequently encountered each other than the victim for whom they were in search.
Halliday was finally grappled by one of the foremost of the party. He speedily freed himself through his superior strength and the prompt use of his bowie knife, thrusting it into his assailant’s bowels, and throwing him violently back on to the crowd. The wounded man exclaimed:
“He’s got a knife! I’m murdered!”
This caused a panic among the marauders, and the entire crowd left the house, taking their dead and wounded with them. After making certain that all of their own number were out, they discharged their firearms through the open doorway, and beat a retreat, taking a circuitous route, to avoid being traced by the blood that oozed from the wounds of several of the number, two of whom died soon after reaching their homes, thus making five in all who had paid the forfeit of their lives in the unholy cause.
During all the time of this desperate encounter, the feelings of the wretched wife and frightened children in the upper room, may only be imagined. The father and husband, single handed, fighting against a horde of ruffians bent upon his murder; their own fate depending upon his, and not daring to cry out lest they should be discovered, and thus bring destruction upon their own heads, their situation was agonizing in the extreme.
Mrs. Halliday did not forget the last words of her husband, so full of the strong faith that characterizedthe man: “You forget that the Great Master is with me. Trust Him as I do!” And sinking upon her knees, she poured her spirit out in silent and earnest prayer to God for help.
The dead calm that had ensued after the uproarious tumult of the firearms, and the fierce struggle of the combatants in the room below, alarmed Mrs. Halliday more than all else. Whether her husband had been overpowered at last and taken away, or had been left dead upon the floor, with some of the murderous crew watching to see who would come for the body, she knew not. Possibly he might be lying there alone, wounded and insensible, with the life-blood ebbing away, and no friendly hand to stay the crimson tide, and the thought was terrible and agonizing.
An hour went by. An hour into which years of misery were crowded to the forlorn woman, and yet no sound of life, no ray of light gleaming through the impenetrable darkness, to relieve the awful gloom and suspense, or give her one faint shadow of hope.
Halliday was indeed lying there, exhausted and unconscious from the numerous wounds and contusions he had received. In his right hand he still held the bowie knife firmly grasped, as if awaiting the further onslaught of the foe, while his left was clenched with the determination of his iron will. The cool wind blowing off the mill-stream and coming in through the open doorway, aroused him at length to consciousness.
The remembrance of the fight, his successful resistance, the retreat of the assailing party, and, above all, his wife and children, saved—and by his own right arm!—came back to his recollection and nerved him to action. He roused himself from his lethargy, and groping his way to the stairs, he called out:
“Are you there, mother! and our darlings!”
Who shall tell the feelings of that wife-mother’s heart, bowed in its terrible anguish, and now sosuddenly raised to the highest pinnacle of happiness as she responded, “Here! and safe, thank God, and our husband and father.”
Who shall describe the music that will compare, in Halliday’s bosom, to the pattering feet of his darlings, as they rushed to meet his strong and loving embraces, and shouted, “Papa, papa!” amid their fast falling tears.
Halliday’s wounds, though not fatal, were still serious enough to alarm his wife, and as early in the morning as she dared, she sent one of the negroes for a doctor; but it appeared that every doctor in the vicinity was busy with patients who had been “taken suddenly ill during the night.”
One of these was the only son of a widow, the nearest neighbor to the Hallidays. He had received a “severe fall” the night previous, they said, upon a sharp instrument that had pierced his bowels and caused his death. This proved to be the man Halliday had cut. Five funerals attested the energy and strength of the hero’s arm, and the dead bodies of the victims remained as lasting “warnings” to the “defenders of the white man’s government,” and that it was not always wise to attack the members of the “white man’s race.”
It is almost needless to add that Mr. Halliday was left free from that time forth to pursue his own course, politically and otherwise as he deemed best, and that his persecutors came to realize with him that “the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,” and that in the struggle of the right for supremacy over the wrong, “God and one constitute a majority.”
Slaughter of An United States Official.
John Springfield, a Deputy United States Marshal, residing in St. Clair County, Alabama, had drawn upon himself the odium of the Ku Klux of that county by accepting a position under the United States Government, the duties of which he endeavored faithfully to discharge.
He had been approached on several occasions by members of the Klan, who had made propositions to him to pervert his office, and shield certain parties who were engaged in the illicit distillation of whiskey; but had utterly refused to listen to any of these overtures, and was bold enough to proclaim the fact that he should use his best endeavors to bring to punishment the violators of the law wherever he found them.
The customary warning was sent to this intrepid officer, informing him that “St. Clair County was getting hot for him,” but that if he kept on in his course he would “be sent to a hotter place in a hurry.”
He was somewhat alarmed at this threat and moved about with great caution, but was unremitting in his attention to his duties until the spring of 1871, when the Klan decided that he must be stopped. An edict was issued, sealing Springfield’s doom, and the second night thereafter he was followed by three members of the Klan, disguised in black gowns and with their faces blackened, and was shot dead within a few feet of his house.
This murder was charged upon the negroes, and up to the present writing, the instigators and perpetrators have escaped punishment.
The Assault Upon Asa Thompson.
Singular Conduct of the Klan.
In the latter part of the year 1870, there resided in Clinch County, Georgia, a gentleman by the name of Asa Thompson, who, although a Southerner by birth and education, was an outspoken Radical Unionist, and had directly identified himself with the Republican party.
In his intercourse with the people he was frank and free in the expression of his sentiments, and always exercised the right of suffrage, conducting himself in an orderly and acceptable manner, at all times, as a good citizen should do. He was proprietor of a thrifty plantation, upon which he employed a large number of hands, and stood well generally in the community.
These essential requisites to a good citizen were altogether insufficient, in the eyes of the Ku Klux Klan in that vicinity, to balance the bad points (in their esteem) which characterized him, inasmuch as he was a Radical in principle. This fault was considered good cause for forwarding to Thompson a sharp “warning” from the camp, which was sent him in the customary form, and he was ordered to restrain himself in the utterance of his Radicalism, or quit the country.
If he failed to obey, then he would receive a visitation from the K. K. K.’s, and that meant death. To this notice he gave no attention, but laughed at the threat and awaited events. A second warning was then sent him, couched in the following terms:—
“One of three things will happen to you, very shortly. You will leave the country, so that we can never find you—change your politics—or be turned into Buzzard Bait.K. K. K.”
“One of three things will happen to you, very shortly. You will leave the country, so that we can never find you—change your politics—or be turned into Buzzard Bait.
K. K. K.”
To this expressive, but not over polite missive, Thompson returned a somewhat defiant reply,proceeded at once to fortify his cotton gin-house, in which he remained at night, and dared the Klan to come for him.
During the month of September, 1871, matters had assumed such a position in this man’s case, that the Klan felt that Thompson must be annihilated, or the “reign of terror,” which they had inaugurated in the county, would be broken—and a reaction take place among the people, inimical to themselves.
Numbers of the band were accordingly detailed by the Commander of the Camp of Clinch County, to put Thompson out of the way. They were headed by Shimmie Timmerson, formerly sheriff of that county; a man notable for his unusual brute force and personal resolution.
The Klan approached Thompson’s gin-house on the night of the assault, cautiously, and as they supposed, unobserved. Each one of them was well armed, and disguised in black gowns, masks and hats.
Thompson, who had been constantly on the watch, discovered them upon their first appearance. He relied upon the solid door of the gin-house, which he supposed would withstand a much heavier shock than it did. It gave way upon the first assault, which was made with a heavy piece of timber, battered against it by the assailants; and which shivered it to splinters.
As the door crashed in, Thompson opened such a rapid fire upon the marauders, as to lead them to suppose that the gin-house was full of armed men. This belief had been strengthened, from the fact that its only occupant shouted simultaneously with the discharge of his weapons: “Give it to ’em, boys! Don’t spare a man.”
Timmerman (the ex-sheriff), who led this gang, fell at the first fire, seriously though not mortally wounded. Several others of the party bit the dust, and the entire band at once beat an ignominous retreat—bearing withthem their wounded; and leaving their single-handed and brave opponent master of the situation.
The most singular and unexpected result of this was, that the band were so thoroughly chagrined at their failure, that they had a quarrel among themselves after leaving the place, and charged their defeat upon Timmerman, who led the van—and whom they adjudged guilty of death on the spot, on the ground that their defeat was due to his bad management.
This sentence would actually have been executed upon him, but for the interposition of some of the Klan, who declared their belief that Timmerman could not recover from the wounds he had already received, and that he might as well be left to die in the woods; that they did not think he was a traitor, and hence ought not to suffer a traitor’s doom.
The ex-sheriff was greatly weakened from the loss of blood, caused by these wounds, and was so thoroughly panic-stricken at the idea that he might possibly be murdered by his associates, that he swooned, and his body was carried nearly a mile into the wood, where his “brethren” of the Camp threw it down, and left him.
On the following day Mrs. Timmerman, having missed her husband, employed a gang of negroes to go in search of him. The hunt was successful, and the wounded man was removed to his house; where, after the most careful nursing, he was partially restored to health, but was so badly crippled as to be unable ever again to perform manual labor.
The treachery and inhumanity of these men towards one of their own number so enraged Timmerman that he declared himself ready to expose their whole operations, their modes of working, and their secrets; and it was from him and Mr. Thompson that the writer obtained the facts, as herein set forth. This raid ended the operations of the Clinch County Ku Klux Klan, forsometime, so far as the influential whites were concerned.
Outrages upon negroes were continued, however, but with less severity—the subsequent vigorous action of the Government in enforcing the laws, in other parts of the country, being felt to some degree in that place.
Brutal Whipping of Women.
The outrages committed by members of the Klans, upon both individuals and property, in the county of Chatham, and in Moore county, N. C., were so numerous and oppressive, during the spring of 1871, and finally became so brutal in their character as to occasion the direst consternation among the whole negro population, as well as among such of the whites as dared to exercise the right of suffrage in accordance with their own convictions, which were not in accord with the tenets maintained by the Ku Klux or democracy of the place.
About this period, the more intelligent of the colored people were in the habit of gathering together at stated times, for consultation in company with the friendly whites, as to the course it was deemed best for them to pursue for the protection and security of their lives.
A favorite place for holding these meetings, was at the dwelling of Mrs. Sallie Gilmore—a woman then residing with her family in Moore county.
These frequent assemblages were soon brought to the notice of the Camp in Moore county, and it was decided that such an example should be made of the parties as would deter others from pursuing a similar course; and compel these to abandon their radical views, or quit the country.
The house occupied by Mrs. Gilmore, was rather of the better class, and Mrs. G. was known as an intelligentwoman, who, in her sympathy with the colored race, was anxious for the day when the rights and privileges guaranteed them by the Constitution and the laws, could be enjoyed without molestation.
The opinions and teachings of Mrs. Gilmore becoming known, the heresy was sufficient for the Klan to commence a crusade upon her and her family, and an edict was issued that she, and all the others found upon her premises, should be scourged.
Thirty men of the Klan were, accordingly, detailed to carry out the order, and the “visitation” was fixed for the night of April 15th, 1871. The Klan were disguised, as usual, and were under the leadership of Roderick J. Bryan, a prominent citizen of Moore county, who was violently opposed to Republican principles. They met and organized in a field about a mile from Mrs. Gilmore’s house, where they held a counsel, and finally completed arrangements for making the proposed raid.
Saturday night (the night in question) was the favorite time when the negroes met there, but, on this particular evening there chanced to be but three present, besides Mrs. Gilmore, her son and daughter, and a young woman named Mary Godfrey.
For greater security, no lights were used when these meetings were held, and when the Klan arrived, the place was found to be entirely darkened. The doors were at once broken in, and Murkerson McLane, one of the negroes, taking advantage of the darkness, crept through the doorway stealthily, and darted towards the woods; but he was observed by some of the Klan, who pursued and soon came up with him.
They had fired upon him as he ran, and when overtaken, he had sank down exhausted, and begged hard for his life. Roderick Bryan and Garner Watson replied to his earnest supplications for life by discharging their revolvers at him a second time. Both shots tookeffect. McLane gave a spasmodic leap into the air, and dropped motionless by the roadside. Supposing him dead the band left him there, where he lingered through the night in great agony, and died next morning.
Having murdered McLane, his pursuers returned to Mrs. Gilmore’s house, where the rest of their party were awaiting them before commencing their inhuman indecencies. A light had been struck, and Mrs. Gilmore, her son and daughter, the negroes, and Mary Godfrey, were found fastened to the bed, in the most indecent positions. The negroes were first released, and were fearfully beaten with clubs and twisted switches, until they became utterly unconscious, when they were rudely dragged to the doorway, and their bleeding bodies tumbled, unceremoniously, into the mud.
Mrs. Gilmore’s son and daughter were then stripped of their clothing and compelled, in this condition, todance, for the edification of their tormentors; the music of this wretched exhibition being provided by the switches in the hands of the Klan, who applied them to the naked bodies of their victims with terrible severity, mocking them wickedly, meantime, as they were forced through the unwilling and miserable antics they performed!
The son was entirely nude, but the daughter was allowed to retain her chemise. Both became exhausted, and sank down under the terrible punishment inflicted upon them, and the vigorous switching kept up, failed to revive them into further action. The attentions of the Klan were then directed towards Mrs. Gilmore.
One of the band said, “Let’s make the old she radical dance now!”
“We can do better than that,” said another; “we can lick the d— nigger-loving blood out of her.”
Mrs. Gilmore, now upwards of fifty years old, was then seized and thrown violently upon the floor. Her clothes were drawn up over her head, and the cotton under garments covering her limbs were rudely torn off, exposing her naked person to the demons in human form who surrounded her. The switches were then applied with all the vigor of which the executioners were capable. The old lady uttered a few heart-rending shrieks, but speedily fainted, and continued unconscious during the remainder of the infliction.
The punishment of the young woman, Mary Godfrey, was reserved to the last. She was stripped of every thread of clothing, and was thus compelled to experience the shame of indecent exposure, added to her other tortures. During the process of scourging this young woman the vilest and most obscene epithets were bandied about by the Klan, and she was subjected to many other indignities.
She sank under the treatment at last, and lie upon the floor, her life apparently extinct. Cold water was dashed over the faces and bodies of these unfortunate women, who, by this means, were rallied sufficiently to render them conscious enough to listen to the final edict of the Klan, which was, “To cease indulging in and promulgating their heresies, from that hour forward, and abandon the country, on pain of certain death!” With this admonition the defenders of the white man’s government left the house.
Of a truth, “all cruelty springs from wickedness.” But the weakness which could prompt the brutality—exhibited in such cases as those above recorded—is utterly inexcusable in any being wearing the shape of man.
The brutal whipping of these inoffensive women, and the murder of the negro McLane, add one more to the many evidences of the degradation to which the members of the Ku Klux Klan had reduced themselves, intheir endeavors to crush out freedom of thought and expression, and compel adherence to their own peculiar tenets. Thank God, and the wisdom that now guides and controls the destinies of the nation, these dark hours of the Republic, fruitful with scenes like those described above, are passing away. A gleam of light appears in the horizon, as a glad harbinger of the dawn that shall usher in the day when
“All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;Returning justice lift aloft her scale;Peace o’er the world her olive wand extend,And white robed innocence from heaven descend.”
MISCELLANEOUS OUTRAGES.
Whipping of Stanford and Nash.
On the night of the 16th of June, 1871, two negroes, named John Stanford and Edward Nash, were proceeding to their homes, near Oltewah, Hamilton County, Tennessee, when they were met in the road by some fifteen men armed and disguised, who ordered them to stop. They were then interrogated by the leader of the band as to why they had voted the Radical ticket at the previous election. Stanford replied that they had done it because it was right. One of the band said:
“There’s a sting in that ticket, and you may as well have the whole of it,” at the same time striking at Stanford with a wooden club.
The latter is a very powerful negro, and havingsome spirit, resented the attempted injury, dodged the blow, and instantly seizing his assailant, threw him heavily to the earth. Nash showed fight also, but being a much weaker man, was soon overpowered and pinioned fast. Several of the band seized Stanford, who, from his superior strength, dashed them one side, and darted away, followed by half a dozen of the Klan.
As he ran, he managed to pick up a piece of board in the road with which he turned on his pursuers with the intention of defending himself, when a well-directed shot struck his elbow, shattering the bone, and compelling him to drop the board, and again attempt to save himself by flight. A second shot struck him in the ankle, and impeded his further progress. His pursuers again came up with and secured him, and conveyed him back to where Nash was pleading for his life.
A council was held by the Klan, in which it was decided that the negroes should be severely whipped, and if ever known to again vote the radical ticket, they should die.
Stanford was tied to a tree, his immense strength still being feared by the band, and was beaten until entirely insensible. Nash received a similar castigation. Both the negroes were then untied and placed across the driveway of the road so that a wagon in passing would be likely to run over them, unless they should in the mean time become conscious, and get out of the way.
In his desperate struggle with the band, Stanford had displaced one of the masks, which enabled him to recognize a man named Goal Martin, who lived in the vicinity. Upon the statement of these negroes, and from evidence furnished by other corroborating circumstances, several of the members of the band committing these outrages were arrested and brought to appropriate punishment.
Outrage Upon William Fletcher.
On the night of the 23d of November, 1871, there assembled in the woods near Cross Plains, Alabama, a band of men armed and disguised as the White Brotherhood. Their persons were enveloped in long white gowns, white masks covered their faces, high white conical hats surmounted their heads, their hands were encased in white gloves, and white stockings were drawn over and completely covered their boots.
The object of this gathering was the punishment of one William Fletcher, a white Unionist and Radical, who had the temerity to vote the Republican ticket, advocate the supremacy of the Government, and aid the officers thereof in the enforcement of the laws. These were crimes in the eyes of the Ku Klux Klan sufficient to warrant their taking the offender in hand. The customary warning was not sent in this case, but a friendly hand penned a note to Fletcher, informing him of the danger, but this, unfortunately, never reached him.
At the time of the assembling of the band, as above stated, the “Night Hawks”[1]of the Camp came up with the intelligence that Fletcher was then in a grocery store kept by a man named Flanders, and that it would be better to decoy him out of there, and get him on the road towards the woods, where he could be the more easily mastered.
Fletcher was a cool, resolute and brave man, was supposed to be well armed, and the members of the Klan knew that unless some strategy was used with him, some of their number must suffer the consequences. One of the Klan, named N. G. Scott, wasaccordingly detailed to decoy Fletcher away. Scott removed his disguise, and started for the store, followed at a convenient distance by several members of the band. He was successful in his undertaking, and in about twenty minutes he and his intended victim were walking down the road, in the direction of the ambuscade.
In a moment more, the Klan sprang upon and overpowered Fletcher. Pistols were presented at his head, threatenings of death were made if he uttered a cry; a towel was tied tightly across his eyes as a bandage, and he was led away to the woods on the north side of Cross Plains. Upon reaching the woods, his coat and vest were removed, and he was stood up with his face pressed hard against a tree. His arms were drawn around the trunk of the tree, and tied together, and his legs were firmly secured by ropes.
John Yeateman, who had charge of the proceedings of the Klan that night, then stepped forward, and told Fletcher to say his prayers, as he had but a short time to live; that it had first been the intention to give him a whipping and let him go, but that they had now decided to whip him to death.
Fletcher replied by asking if there was no mercy to be accorded him, and inquired to know for what he was to be killed. The only answer to this was that they never gave mercy to the “infernal radicals, who wanted niggers to rule the country.” This remark was followed by his shirt being torn completely off his back.
Meantime the “executioners,” who had gone for the “rods,” returned, and upon the order of their leader fell to their work, cutting the back of the poor victim most dreadfully, and causing him to lose all his stoicism at last, and shriek from the effects of the blows. The “executioners” becoming exhausted, Yeateman himself seized a knife, and cutting away the garments thatencased Fletcher’s lower limbs, took a “rod,” and commenced beating him about the loins with great ferocity.
Fletcher fainted under the punishment, and as his screams had ceased, Yeateman desisted, remarking, “There’s one Radical vote less, by ——.”
The band continued consulting together for some time, when, Fletcher being heard to groan, one of the Klan, named James Bierd, said: “He ain’t finished yet; I reckon he’d better have the whole of it.”
Yeateman then approached the miserable victim, and having succeeded in arousing him to consciousness, asked: “Have you anything to say before you die?”
Fletcher responded faintly, saying: “Write to my mother, Mrs. William Fletcher, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and say how and why I died.” In a moment afterwards he asked: “Is there no chance to live?”
The band consulted together again, when Yeateman said: “There is just one chance for you, and that is that you agree to leave the State in three hours, and never come back.”
Fletcher gladly gave the required promise. He was then untied, and two of the band supporting him upon either side, led him to the railroad track. The bandage was then taken from his eyes, and he was told he must walk on, and that if he looked back, he would be shot. A row of revolvers pointed at him gave evidence that he was not being trifled with, and summoning all the resolution and strength which he could command, he slowly hobbled away.
William Fletcher is no mythical creation. He lives to-day, a scarred and maimed monument of the demoniac brutality that instigated his scourging for opinion’s sake; his property destroyed, his health ruined for life, his spirit crushed and broken. The naturally indignant reader will ask if justice has overtaken themiscreants who committed this outrage, and will be gratified to know that it has; and that the principal offenders have felt the weight of the strong arm of the law, now being vigorously enforced throughout the South against the execrable Klan to which they belonged, and in whose interest, and that of bigotry and persecution, they committed this dreadful outrage.
A Significant Conversation.
The preceding stories of wrongs and outrages committed by the Ku Klux Klan, and those that follow, serve in a degree to show the extent to which persecutions for opinion’s sake were carried. It was the intention of the leaders to intimidate the masses, that further opposition to the principles promulgated by the Ku Klux Klan, or Southern Democracy, should cease altogether. They were wiley enough to see, however, that silence, while it may often give assent, can rarely be construed as an endorsement of that which is utterly repugnant to the human heart.
Hence, plans were adopted for the dissemination of principles in violent antagonism to the Government and the Administration. It was not only hinted at that a change of Administration would effect the ends desired by the Ku Klux Orders; but it was openly declared by the bolder ones that such an event would give the South more than it had ever hoped to obtain, even had the war been a success to them instead of to the nation at large.
As an illustration of the feeling of some of these leaders, who were men of property and influence, and owned plantations in the interior, the following conversation is given. This conversation actually occurred upon the Moore plantation, situated upon the Tuscaloosa and Lexington Turnpike.
Moore had been a most uncompromising rebel, and was one of the first to join the Ku Klux Camp in hisvicinity. He was continually haranguing his laborers in the interest of Ku Kluxism and democracy, cursing the Government and the Administration, and swearing death to all who upheld them. One of his hands, whom he had but recently employed (September, 1871), said to him:
“What shall we do to break up this cursed Government, and have things as we want them?”
Moore replied: “There is a movement on foot all over the South that will drive every d——d Yankee out of it before long, and give us things all our own way.”
“Good,” said the laborer, “I’d like to know the programme, and get posted in that thing; I’d take a big hand in it!”
Moore being now convinced that he had the right kind of a tool for the intended work, then said:
“We’ve got the right thing now to fix all the niggers and Yankees with that don’t go as we want them to; we don’t care a d—— for the general government. It can go to ——, where it ought to. They may pass an hundred more Ku Klux bills, and it won’t do them a bit of good. The Ku Klux are resting just now; but they are not asleep. They have got the niggers and radicals in pretty good train, so they don’t dare say anything. All we want is a Democratic President, and that must come sure the next election, and then we can run things to suit ourselves.”
If Mr. Moore ever sees this faithful transcript of his disloyal speech, delivered upon his own plantation, on the 12th of September, 1871, he may begin to get some idea that the farm hands by whom he was surrounded were not all as badly poisoned with hatred to the radicals as he was, and that one of them at least had the temerity to treasure up and repeat the above conversation. It is here produced as an evidence of the sentiments that pervaded the minds of the leaders;and to set all doubt at rest as to its authenticity, it may be added that it is a matter of record, to be seen and read of all men.
Outrage Upon Persons in Texas.
As an evidence that neither color or nationality formed any protection against the evil machinations of the Ku Klux Klan, the case of Henry Kaufmann, a well-to-do German residing in Bell County, Texas, may be cited.
Kaufmann had come to this country after the war of the Rebellion, and, having some means and an extensive knowledge as a stock raiser, made his way South, finally locating in Texas, as the place best adapted for the business of raising stock, which was one he intended to pursue. His family consisted of his wife and two children, a boy and girl, aged respectively nine and eleven years.
Texas at this time was the scene of many outrages, but the good-natured German was for a long time unable to comprehend their significance. Like most of his countrymen, he entertained republican sentiments; they were the sentiments of his heart, while at home, in the land of his fathers, and he had supposed, that in America, the asylum of the oppressed of all nations, he would find them in all their purity, upheld and expressed without fear, and honored by all.
In this respect, he was doomed to bitter disappointment. The nearest neighbor to Kaufmann, was a man named McPherson, originally from the North, but who had for some years resided in Texas, and was a thorough-going Unionist. He did not hesitate, even among all the tumult and disorder, by which he was surrounded, to express his union sentiments, and had been repeatedly warned by the Ku Klux that he must change his course.
As he paid no heed to these threats, he received a visitation during the Spring of 1871, which utterly ruined him, and from which he escaped with his life, only by the aid of Kaufmann. It appears that the Klan having beat McPherson almost to death, gave him twenty-four hours in which to leave the country, threatening to kill him if he did not do so. Suffering terribly from the dreadful scourging, McPherson was just able to get as far as Kaufmann’s house, where he sought protection until such time as he might be able to travel and get away from the place.
The good-natured German, filled with the humane instincts, natural to his people, at once took the refugee into his house, and cared for him for several days, without dreaming that he would incur the displeasure of anyone for such an act. He nursed McPherson tenderly for some four days, when the latter, dreading that the Klan might discover, and destroy, not only him, but his generous benefactor, left the house at night, and removed himself as far as possible from his persecutors.
The fact of his having been harbored by Kaufmann, became known to the Klan, however, by some means, and they forthwith classed the latter as a radical. On the third night after McPherson’s departure, about eight o’clock in the evening, the unsuspecting German was sitting with his wife and children before a log-fire—as the weather was still chilly—when the door was unceremoniously burst in and a score of the Klan filled the room.
Kaufmann was rudely seized and a demand made upon him to know what he had done with that d—d radical McPherson.
To this he made reply that he “didn’t know such mans.” Upon this, one of the band struck him a severe blow, telling him they meant to learn him not to interfere with their business. Mrs. Kaufmann implored themin broken English, not to hurt her husband; he had done nothing, and they had made a mistake.
“He’s done enough,” said Butch Williams, the leader of the crowd, “You can’t make any mistake on these dutchmen, they are all d—d radicals anyhow. Its born in ’em, but by —— they shan’t spit it out here.”
Kaufmann was then securely pinioned and whipped until he became unconscious. When the castigation was ended, the leader turning to Mrs. Kaufmann, and pointing to the bruised and bleeding body of her husband, as it lie upon the floor, said:—
“Now if that dirty, dutch scallawag ever comes to himself, you tell him to sell out and get away from here, or we’ll be the death of the whole of you and burn the house over your heads. We’ll give him just ten days to do it in.”
Kaufmann did revive at last, and when he learned the dread message which the Klan had left behind, saw with sorrow that he must relinquish his pleasant home, and become a wanderer; but the necessities of the case admitted of no other course. His property was disposed of at a ruinous sacrifice, and with his wife and little ones, he made his way to Illinois, where he now is.
It would seem that the nationality of Kaufmann, and his probable ignorance of what constituted an offence in the eyes of the Ku Klux, should have saved him from this terrible visitation, so fraught with physical chastisement and financial ruin; but to the vision of men who regarded no law, who only saw the attainment of their despicable ends, through fraud and violence, he appeared a “radical by nature.”—One, who being a German, must necessarily be a Republican, and hence they could make no mistake in scourging him.
A Slave’s Former Experience Revived.
In the month of May, 1871, an intelligent mulatto—in whose veins flowed the blood of some ardent advocate of thewhiteman’s race, unquestionably judging from his light color—whose name was William Washington, resided in a small shanty or cabin, about two miles and a-half from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Washington had been a slave in the early part of his life, and was one of those unfortunates who chafed under the abuses and the yoke that held him in servitude to a “master.”
He was high-spirited, and had learned to read and write before the Emancipation Proclamation had given him freedom, to act upon his own volition, untrammelled by his nominal “owner.” Upon becoming a freeman, he left Montgomery County, Ala., near which place he had been reared, and settled in the vicinity of Tuscaloosa.
He was quiet in his deportment, orderly and well disposed. He had given general satisfaction to all who had employed him. But in the early part of the year 1870, it began to be observed that Washington was actively exerting an influence over the negroes in the vicinity, to such an extent as to cause the Ku Klux Camp organized under Philip J. Brady, as Commander to take the alarm.
The mulatto Washington was charged with being a Republican, of the radical sort, with presuming to teach the negroes to read, (shocking offence?) and of instructing them in Northern principles. This wouldn’t answer, surely. And so William was “warned” by the Camp that he must cease this kind of practice, and leave the country at once.
He paid no heed to this warning, and a second one came, notifying him that unless he departed within the succeeding thirty days, he should suffer death—for“though the moon was then bright, it would turn to blood—K. K. K.” Instead of seeing this fearful summons in the light it was intended he should, the mulatto industriously circulated the story that he went well armed always, and was ready to die, if he must, in defence of his principles. But that “he wouldn’t run away—no how.”
Matters went on thus for nearly a year. On the night of the 15th of May, 1871, Washington shut and barred his cabin door, as was his custom upon retiring, placed his gun and a single barrelled pistol by his bedside, and turned in, to sleep. About eleven o’clock, he was suddenly awaked by a thumping upon the closed shutter of the only window in the hut, and upon inquiring who was there, he recognized the voice of a friendly negro, outside, who answered—
“Day’s a pow’r o’ men a comin’ up der road, yender—an’ yer muss look out for yar se’f Wash’n’t’n, dass a fack.”
This timely and kindly warning from his friend was very gratefully listened to by Washington, who replied that his informer must try to get help to him, if possible. And quickly dressing himself, the former slave awaited the assault which he now anticipated, from the look of affairs outside, so near his hut.
The mounted band rode up very soon afterwards, and having been refused admittance, some of them dashed in the door. Washington was a powerful man, well built and very muscular—while his self-possession was always remarkable, when in peril. The interior of the shanty being quite dark, he crouched down in one corner, and fired upon his assailants with the pistol first and then immediately discharged the gun. Both shots took effect, and two of the Klan fell heavily to the floor.
Clubbing his musket, he then desperately rushed upon the enemy, determined, if he must die, that hewould sell his life as dearly as possible; but the odds were altogether too heavy against him. The gun-stock in his brawny hands, was shattered at the first blow struck by his powerful arm, and then the band sprang forward and secured him, though not without a furious struggle. He was at once taken out of the cabin, a rope was placed about his neck, and thrown over the projecting limb of the nearest convenient tree, from which his body was quickly dangling, a lifeless corpse. They hung him without accusation, judge or jury, until he was dead, dead, dead—in accordance with the terms of the bitter oath of the Ku Klux Klan, whose victims are doomed “for opinion’s sake!”
One of the gang had been mortally wounded by Washington’s first shots, and died on the following day. Two others had been seriously hurt, and one of them was crippled for life. The body of Washington was left hanging beneath the tree for several days after this conflict, and until the negroes in the neighborhood gathered courage sufficient to cut it down, and give it decent burial; which they did at night, secretly and mournfully, for their late friend’s sudden and violent death, proved an affliction indeed to the poor creatures, towards whom he had been so kind and clever an instructor and companion.
And thus this poor negro paid the penalty of his offence in being a radical, and like many a one before him who had been similarly sacrificed, “his soul goes marching on.”
Scourging Radical Teachers and Banishing Ministers Of the Gospel.
Judging from information gathered from the most available sources, it appears that all measures, whether of a political, a religious or educational character, lookingto the elevation of the negro, were strenuously opposed by the Ku Klux Klans, as they had sworn they should be.
The education of the negro was regarded as an especial heresy, not to be tolerated under any circumstances. It was an offence second in magnitude only to that of his voting the Radical ticket, and the face of the Klan was set against it with a resolution that made it a dangerous avocation for any one to engage in. School houses, erected for the purpose of teaching colored children, were burned to the ground, and the teachers scourged, banished or whipped to death.
The testimony of Col. A. P. Huggins, formerly of the Union Army, and subsequently of Monroe County, Mississippi, is pertinent to the point. Col. Huggins, is known as a brave and gallant officer, a man of great physical and moral courage, and of unquestioned veracity. During the month of May, 1870, he became County Superintendent of Schools, for Monroe County, and on the 8th of March following, went into the interior, some eight or ten miles from Aberdeen, the County seat, on business connected with the School Department. He was at this time an Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, and improved the opportunity to make several assessments of revenue in the vicinity, staying, by invitation, at the house of a Mr. Ross.
On the night of the day after his arrival at the house of Mr. Ross, (the 9th of March) a band of the Ku Klux, armed and disguised, and numbering about one hundred and twenty, came to the house and compelled Col. Huggins to come out. The chief of the Klan then informed him that they had come to warn him that he must quit the country within ten days that it had been decreed in the camp that he should first be warned, that the warning should be enforced by whipping, and if that did not produce the desired effect, he should be killed by the Klan, and if circumstances were such that he could not be killed by the Klan in a body,then they were sworn to assassinate him publicly or privately.
Col. Huggins asked them what his offense consisted of, and was answered by the chief, who said:—“You are collecting obnoxious taxes from Southern Gentlemen, to keep damned old Radicals in office. Now I want you to understand that no laws can be enforced in this country, that we do not make ourselves. We don’t like your Radical ways, and we want you to understand it.”
Col. Huggins then asked them if their operations were against the Radical party, and the Chief replied that they were; that they had stood the radicals just as long as they intended to, and they meant to banish or kill every one of them. The Chief then said, “will you leave the country in ten days.” The Colonel replied that he would leave the country when he got ready, and not before. He was then taken about a quarter of a mile from the residence of Mr. Ross, where they halted. He was then ordered to take off his coat, which he refused to do, and it was removed by force.
Twenty-five lashes were then given Col. Huggins, when he was asked if he would leave the country. To this he replied that he would not, that now that they had commenced, they might go on as far as they pleased, as he had just as soon die, as take what he had already received. The whipping was resumed. Col. Huggins remembered hearing the executioners count the number of lashes up to seventy-five, when he fainted. The Klan left him in charge of Mr. Ross, and rode away. The main reason assigned for the punishment of Col. Huggins was that he was a Radical and in favor of educating the negroes.
The case of Cornelius McBride, a young Scotchman who taught a colored school near Sparta, Chickasaw County, is one of unusual cruelty. Being teacher of acolored school, McBride was classed as a Radical, and beside this, he had come from the North. He was accordingly doomed by the Klan for a visitation.
Between twelve and one o’clock of the Thursday night of the last week in March, 1870, a number of the Klan came to his house, and presenting rifles through the window, ordered McBride to come out. He asked what was wanted, when one of them replied, “come out you d—d yankee.” McBride saw that nothing less than taking his life was intended, and determined to make an effort to escape. He gave a sudden spring through the window, landing directly between the two men who were pointing their rifles, dashed past them and ran to the house of a colored man whom he knew, and where he thought he could get a gun. While he was running, the members of the Klan commenced firing upon him, ordering him to stop, or they would blow his brains out. None of the shots took effect upon him, and he entered the cabin, but before he could get the gun, of which he was in search, the Klan were upon him and secured him.
McBride was then taken about a mile away from the place, having nothing on but his night dress. This was rudely torn from his person, and the executioners were about to commence their work, when he asked them what he was to be whipped for. The leader said, “you want to make the niggers equal to a white man. This is a white man’s country.”
The whipping was then commenced with black gum switches, that stung the flesh and raised it in great ridges at every blow. The torture was so great that the poor victim begged them in God’s name to kill him at once and put him out of misery. The leader said “shooting is too good for this fellow, we’ll hang him when we get through whipping him.” Another one said, “Do you want to be shot?” To which McBride replied, “Yes, I can’t stand this torture, it is horrible.”He then partially raised himself upon his knees and determined to make one more effort for his life. Standing directly in front of him was one of the Klan, the only one who stood directly in his way, if he should attempt to run.
Stung by the terrible pain of the switch, McBride sprang to his feet, dealt the man in the front of him a tremendous blow, and darting past him scaled a fence, and ran across the open field. The Klan discharged their fire-arms after him, but in a few moments gave up the pursuit. McBride reached the house of a Mr. Walser, and there found protection through the remainder of the night.
Other teachers of colored schools received similar visitations, and colored schools were burned there and in the adjoining counties.
The crusade against Ministers of the Gospel who preached to the freedmen, was then commenced. The Rev. John Avery, of Winston County, was notified that he must appear at a meeting of the Ku Klux; that he must join in with the Klan, and cease his interest in free schools, and upon his refusal, his house was burned over his head. Mr. Avery was a southern man, and a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. Mr. Galloway, a Congregationalist Minister, of Monroe County, was in the habit occasionally of preaching to the freedmen. During April, 1870, a band of the Ku Klux called upon him at night, and notified him that he must not preach to these people. He continued doing so, however, and received a second warning, accompanied by an intimation, which he did not dare disregard, and he was compelled to relinquish his good work, on pain of banishment or death.
The Rev. Mr. McLachlin, a Methodist Episcopal Preacher, of Oktibbeha County, received various warnings to the same effect, but persisted in his courseuntil he was finally driven from that county, and dared not return to it.
Scores of similar cases might be cited, all of which are matters of public record, but those above given, serve to show, that the Order of the Ku Klux Klan, is inimical to religion and education, as well as to the politics of those differing with them in their avowed opposition to Republicanism, and their adherence to the Democratic party. These gallant defenders of the white man’s race were determined that no Government but the white man’s should live in the country, and these results they hoped to obtain through the banishment, scourging and killing of negroes, Radicals and Republicans, by which means also, with the aid of their sympathizers at the North, they expected to have a Democratic Administration.
Warnings and Edicts of the Klan.
It would seem to have been the design of the leaders of the Ku Klux Klans, in issuing their warnings, to play as much as possible upon the superstitions of the people. These documents were written in a disguised hand, sometimes in coarse language, and contained sentiments intended to inspire terror in the minds of the recipients.
They were usually bordered with designs, representing daggers piercing bleeding hearts, death’s heads and cross bones, and various grotesque devices. Some of them had a spice of grim humor, which, although fun to the Klan who issued these missives, meant banishment, scourging or death to those who received them. Specimens of these, the originals of which fell into the hands of the United States Officials during their attempts to break up the Ku Klux organization are here givenverbatim et literatim.
Five persons residing in White County, Georgia,having made themselves politically obnoxious to the Klan, received the following:—