Viewing page 44 of 279

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

The State of Texas }
County of Austin } Corporation of Hempstead

Personally appeared before the undersigned authority TW Rodgers a resident of said County and state and at Union Hill (Cloyds) 6 miles North of Hempstead who being duly sworn says and declares that since he made affidavit yesterday of the present excitement that last night at or near his residences while in the bushes by the road side two freedmen met in hearing of him whom he did not know - he heard one ask the other "if he was going to Hempstead to night - the other replied "no - what for? why the fight is to commence to night" the other replied you're a fool what are you going to fight for - dont you know the United States can throw in 5000 000 men here directly? Yes but they'l be too late - No they wont & you'r fixing a plan to get the last one of the race killed - I see your are siding with the white folks - no I'm not but am going to stay home and work and if the things get to tight why then I'll have to side with the white folks - the other said the white folks' fixing to kill us No they're not you hold your meeting go about in crews & armed which is enough to make the white folks suspicious but if you go about your business and let the white people alone they'l let you alone" - they then parted one saying he was going to Hempstead the other saying he was going home - I heard several signal guns fired last night in different directions which continued until a courier came from Hempstead to Union Hill with news a United States officer had got there Then a perfect quiet ensued after that 

T W Rodgers

Sworn and subscribed to before me at my office in

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-02 12:36:59