Petition to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; September 22, 1865

Documents
Petition to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; September 22, 1865

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Document Metadata

Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Bishop, John J.Gordon, W. A.Hubbard, Unknown Ingate, F.Johnson, M. S.Krause, A. J.Lacey, W. S.Moriarty, J.Osterhaus, Peter, 1823-1917 Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Shearer, Thomas B.Tucker, Unknown Waller, Unknown Wheakley, Elisha

Events

Commemoration--Memorialization Crime Crime--Robbery

Military Units

United States. Army United States. Army. Colored Infantry Regiment, 108th United States. Army. Colored Troops

Organizations

Military Headquarters Plantations United States--Congress United States--War Department United States--War Department. Adjutant-General’s Office

Occupations

Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Planter

Places

Mississippi--Chickasaw County. Okolona Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus Washington (D.C.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Historically Free and Newly Freed

Vital Statistics

Wounds and injuries

Page 1

To His Excellency W. L. Sharkey
Provisional Governor of the State of Miss

At a meeting of the citizens of the county of Chickasaw held at Okolona on the 15^th,, day of Sept 1865 for the purpose of inquiring into cerain outrages committed upon the persons and propety of citizens by the "Black Troops" now stationed at that point, & into other matters pertaining to the public safety two commit=tees were appointed the one for the purpose of waiting upon the Col Comdg these troops; the other for the purpose of memorializing Your Excellency in regard to the subject matter The latter committee respectfully Submit the following statement, and memorial. upon conference with with the committee appointed to wait upon the Col commanding—we find that they were courteously received, & assurances given that every precaution should be taken in the future to prevent the repetition of like outrages. That these assuran=ces were honestly made & that as far as practicable will be honestly executed the comittee have no doubts

In discharge of our special duty as a committee appointed to memorial=ize Your Excellency we would express our Perfect confidence in the Government at Washington as regards. its intention to secure to all its citizens immunity from personal outrage. We are assured that the Government cannot be aware of the insults, and positive injuries to which citizens have been subject=ed while in the peaceful pursuit of their affairs Nor do we for a moment impute to the

Page 2

Government an unreasonable degree of responsi=bility. Subordinates will often fail to carry out the general policy, and even disregard the ex=press instructions of their superior. It is in view of this fact that we memorialize Your Excel=lency. Nor would ^we^ at present ~~[?]~~embarass the administration by an application for redress of grievances. The memorial looks to the prevention of an evil which every day becomes greater, and in time may lead to consequences the most dreadfull. As law adiding citizens, & men who are most anxious to realize the happy effects of peace, and harmony through-out the land, we cannot but regard outrages perpetrated upon quiet, & inoffensive citizens as matters of the most serious import. Were these outrages occasional, and accidental patient sufferance might commend itself to the reflecting mind. But as such is not the case we deem it not only a privilege, but a duty to call the attention of the authorities to the matter

The presence in our midst of "Black Troops" should if possible be at once dis=persed with. Public ^sentiment^ in regard there to should be respected if upon no other ground than that of sound policy. It acts as a constant irritant, and serves to demoralize the negro by exciting animosity, & raising the most exorbitant hopes. Nor can the ~~verry~~ best disci-pline among these troops give any very flat=tering promise of security to the citizen. Within the past few days outrages of aggravated character have been committed by these troops The plantations of Messrs Waller, &, Hubbard and that of D^r Tucker have been visited

Page 3

by strolling bands of armed troops, & violent demonstration made around the houses of these planters ^robbery comitted upon their places^. The gentlemen who have been subject=ed these indignities, & injuries, are among our most peaceful, & respectable citizens, Besides the ^general^ apoinment of these troops is to create a feeling of insecurity. And were they releived by other "Black Troops" public anx=iety would have no reasonable ground of Satisfaction. We appeal to Your Excellency to releive us if possible from an Evil the exent of which can not well be magnified To the extensive experience, & sound judgment of Your Excellency we with confidence leave the means by which our future shall be rendered secure. In conclusion ^the committee^ would express their high appreciation of the ability, & patriotism your Excellency has displayed under delicate & trying circumstances, & ^reiterate^ their confidence in the national adminsitration

J. Moriarty. Ch^r,,, Committee
Tho B Shearer
F. Ingate
W S Lacey

Page 4

Hd. Qrs. Northern District of Miss.,
Jackson, Miss., Sept. 22. 1865

Respectfully referred to C. O. Sub Dist. of Columbus who. wil investigate this mat-ter and report. at length on the alleged depreda-tions in the premises of Waller, Hubbard and Tucker

This document to be re-turned with report

By order of
MAJ. GEN. P. JOS. OSTERHAUS.
W A. Gordon
Asst. Adj. Gen.

E.v. M.—101—1865.

L R "C" NDM 1865 No 48

Hd Qrs Post & Sub Dst
Columbus Miss Sept 25/65

Respy referred to Comdg Officer 108^th US, C, T inviting attention to foregoing endorsement,

By order of
Col M S Johnson Comdg
Elisha Wheakley
Lieut & AAAG

Recd Sept 21^st, 1865

EB 318

Memorial of the Citizens of Chickasaw County in regard to outrages commited in that County by Black Troops.

Respectfully submitted to General Osterhaus, with a request that he require the commander at that Post to keep a watch over the conduct of his soldier's which I think will answer all purposes

W. L. Sharkey
Provisional Govr of Miss

472

Hd Qrs U S Forces
Okolona Miss
Oct 2^nd 1865

Respectfully returned with the following report. The 108^th Regiment U. S. C. T. arrived at this place on 12" Sept. 1865

In regard to the depredation I investigated the case and find that. the Depredations were committed by negros belonging on M^r, Tucker—Plantation and Hubbard no other acts of depredation have been reported

A J. Krause
Maj, 108^th,, U. S. C. T.

Head Qrs Sub Dist of Columbus
Columbus Miss Oct 5^th 1865

Respectfully forwarded—These supposed depredations were report-ed to have been committed on the night of the arrival of the regiment at Okolona. Mr Tucker plantation is distant 3 or 4 miles. the others I understand much farther. Mr Tucker stated to me that the soldiers were no doubt brought on the place by some of his own negroes, that ^they^ not only com-mitted no depredations but caused no alarm beyond discharging one or two shots. The gentlemen exonerated the troops from all blame—

The [flimsiness?] of the protest upon which its meeting referred to was called [illegible] [?] an evidence of this

unfounded prejudice existing in the minds of the people against the "black troops" The charge is against the "black troops" as a mass as the memorial states that the change of one regiment for another will not give "any reasonable ground of satisfaction" a slight disturb-ance is magnified unto an "outrage" to afford an occcasion to memoralize his Excellency Gov Sharkey for the removal of the "black troops"

The regiment on duty at Okolona has always borne the reputation of an orderly well disciplined command, Measures have been taken to prevent any just cause of complaint against it.

John J. Bishop
LtCol 108^th U. S. C. T.
Comg Sub. Dist Columbus

E,B,
318

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