Viewing page 330 of 346

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Clarksville, Texas
Aug 17th 1867

Lieut. J.T. Kirkman
26th Inf
A.A.A.G

Lieut

I arrested yesterday Edward Rosser, who has publicly threatened the life of Mr Garland, a register for Bowie County, & who drove back the freedmen living with him with his revolvers; stating that unless they returned he would "kill the last one of them" (they were on their way to De Kalb at the time to register.)  Rosser had prior to this time registered himself, but has since behaved in such a manner, as has induced me to arrest him, as a warning to others, even if the gov't does not choose to press the charges against him, there are circumstances attending his case, which convince me, that he endeavored to procure the assassination of Col Garland the evening after the above difficulty occurred, but the plot was fortunately frustrated by the unexpected arrival of Capt Kirkway & three soldiers.  Apart from the above Rosser is a bad man, & his plantation is believed to be a rendezvous, or rather a station of a gang of horse thieves, in their trips through the country - can forward charges & specifications against Rosser, if desired. 

I saw Capt. Kirkway at De Kalb, who assured me, that every where in the county there is the greatest hostility to