Viewing page 190 of 326

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

in the cases of Saunders, Jackson, Downing + others. The matter was promptly reported to Washington and the military authorities sustained, and their trial by a military commission ordered.
This was certainly a proper decision, if for no other reason than that the civil courts were not sufficiently organized to attend to the business. In many of the cases, the criminals would remain at home, near the scene of outrage or murder, unmolested for days, and even weeks, without being brought to trial, or before any civil authority for examination.
Circular No 5., from the Bureau, was received by me about this time, and in accordance with its provisions, Freedmen Courts were established at various points throughout the State for trial of all cases in which negroes were concerned. The best officers I could get were placed at the head of these tribunals; no criminal cases were allowed to come before them, but were referred to the military commissions in session at various points throughout the state. The SubCommissioners for the counties were invested with Provost Marshal powers, heard and decided all cases usually coming before such