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Clarksville Texas
May 21/67
Lieut. J. T. Kirkman
A.A.A. General
Lieutenant
I have the honor to report that Elisha Guest has been arrested by the Civil Authorities of this County, and is now in Jail here, charged with the murder of a white man.
Bills of indictment for murder of Freedmen, has I am informed, and believe been found against him in Lamar, Hopkins and Titus Counties, and it is believed he has committed several other murders upon Freedmen, he is a perfect desperado and a terror to the Black people in all this region of Country, the County Jail is almost worthless, by no means safe, the Sheriff of the County is doing his duty promptly, he has to keep a guard at the jail all the time.
I have reported the within fact to the Commandant of the Post of Marshall, and hope he will be able to send some help, the men of worth of this County are anxious to have troops sent here. I have just received a Roster dated May 1st from which I suppose troops are to be sent here. If practicable I would urge that at least twenty men may be sent, there is a pressing necessity