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0608

8

REPORTS OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS

rebel notoriety, refused to give them up to their father and husband, and notifies the soldier if he comes on his lands for the purpose of getting them he will shoot him. He has not got them yet. Please inform me what course should be pursued in regard to the freedmen. We have no agent for the Freedmen's Bureau at this place. The disposition of the would-be rebels is to persecute the freedmen to the utmost extent.
Sir, another thing I wish to call to your attention is the oppression of returned Union soldiers. On the 18th of December, 1865, a Union soldier, formerly of the 17th Kentucky cavalry, came to this place, and was grossly beaten by a former rebel soldier (guerilla) and his friends; reason, that he had set negroes across the Ohio river. He was beaten for obeying an order issued by you to his officer and by his captain to him. The civil authorities have taken no notice of the disgraceful riot on the Sabbath. Such things have occurred on several occasions. The civil law here is in the hands of the rebels.
For character I refer you to Colonel E. W. Crittenden, United States army; Colonel James T. Bramlette, inspector general of Kentucky.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,
W.F. DENTON,
Former Lieut. 12th Kentucky cavalry.
Major General PALMER.

BRANDENBURGH, KY., January 4, 1866.
I wrote some sort of letter to General Palmer. I was up there, having just come out of a scrimmage. I now can state to you more circumstantially matters that lie within your jurisdiction. There is a place about nine miles from this called Meadeville, formerly a guerilla headquarters. At that place there has been a reign of terror for two weeks. The pretence of the rascals concerned in it is to expel all the freedmen. They have made the declaration that no one shall hire a negro, not even the former owners of them. One man's houses were burned some days ago on the faith of a rumor that he was about to hire his former slaves and put them there to live. 
The family of a certain John Blant Shacklett, together with a Jesse Murray Shacklett and Bill Shacklett, attempted to carry out their purpose here day before yesterday. They, with cocked pistols, paraded several negroes about the street, and went in search of some who had been in the army, and would undoubtedly have killed them if they had been found. Some of us (very few) went into business about this point, and they were soon cleaned out, two being badly wounded.
I learn that yesterday they were assembled in force at Meadeville. No process of law can be served upon them. Now, what are we to do? I cannot undertake the business, for I have been thumped to death nearly heretofore.
Please inform me what may be looked for at once.
Obediently, &c., 
J. STEWART.
General FISK.

I just hear that yesterday at Meadeville a certain Mayor Harrison proclaimed that any one who hired a negro deserved to hang, and should be hung. This is a fellow they had charged as a spy, and I unfortunately lent a hand in getting him clear. It is certain that he went to pilot Berry and his gang through here last fall, and ought to be had up for that.