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Freedmen's Bureau Letter's
Submitted by Janet K. Hawkins © 2004. Compiled
from Smithland, Kentucky, Freedmen’s Bureau Records, National Archives and
Records Administration, Washington, DC.
Smithland, KY
December 23, 1865
Lieut Col. A.M. York
Supt. R.R.F & ? L.
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication of the 18th inst. And in reply will state that I
have visited both Mr. Sanders Sen. And Mrs. Tabiatha Sanders Col’d. She lives in
a smal [sic] house surrounded by water. She says Dr. Sanders asked her 3-dollars
per month Rent when she moved into the house, but he has never asked for it
since. She also states that she has not suffered much so far, as she has had a
little money.
I requested Dr. Sanders to provide her with a
better room, and also to provide her with wood and food; he promised to do so,
he also said that he would not ask her for rent. I will go and see her again in
a few days.
There are a great many col’d People about here
who need the assistance of the Freedmens Bureau, not only here but 30-40 miles
in the interior.
I am Col
Very Respectfully Your Obt Servant
Fred. Markle
1st D.C.C. 12th U.S.C.A. &c
Comdg Det. U.S. Troops
Smithland, Ky
Office Bureau R. F. and A.L.
Smithland, Livingston County, Kentucky
Answer to Circular No. 9
Report of the number of Freedmen (colored people
of both sexes) who have been murdered (hanged or shot by mobs without legal
trial, for alleged offences) which have occurred in this county from December 18th
1865 to October 1st 1866. None
Report of the number of Freedmen of both sexes
who have been “otherwise badly maltreated” in this County from December 18th
1865 to October 1st 1866.
1st. In the month of February the
house of Henry Bond (colored) was forcibly entered by three white men – Frances?
Smith, Thomas Davis and Pate Wells. Henry Bond was beaten, his life threatened,
and his family shamefully abused.
2nd. In the month of February,
Washington Williams (colored) was shot at by one of three white men whom he met
in the road. The names of the three white men being Frances? Smith, Thomas
Davis, and Pate Wells.
3rd. In the month of April Joseph
Summers?, a white man, committed an assault and battery upon a colored boy named
H.C. Covington by cruelly beating him.
4th. In the month of April, Martin
Wilson, white man, committed an assault and battery upon a colored man named
Edmund Iwen by cruelly beating him in the face.
5th. In the month of June L.W. Bates,
a white man, committed an assault upon M. Marshall, Lucy George, and Mary
Buckner, and by threats and abuse compelled them, contrary to law, to leave
their house and home.
6th. In the month of June Richard
Smith, a white man, committed an assault and battery upon Robert Hurley
(colored) by knocking him down with a hoe causing a serious wound.
7th. In the month of July David
Bryant, a white man, committed an assault and battery upon Lewis Pickard
(colored) by knocking him down with a club and afterward striking him with a
stone causing a serious wound.
8th. In the month of July Stanly
Brown, a white man, maltreated an abused a colored woman named Lucy Ballany
[Bellamy] and refused to pay her.
9th. In the month of August John
Farris, a white man, struck James Terry (colored) in the face with a stone
causing a serious wound.
10th. On the same day, John and
William Farris, Henry and Bone Tyner, G.B. Jacobs, and Lucien Miles raised and
led a mob which compelled all the negroes to leave Salem Ky. for their lives.
There were many negroes in Salem at the time but I cannot learn their names.
These cases have come to my knowledge in
this[?] between December 18 and October 1st 1866. J. Bond
Thompson.
Smithland, Ky. Feby 12/66
Maj. Genl. C.B. Fisk, Nashville
Dear friend[?]
I am informed not on the best authority but
rumor that you have appointed Bart Boyd as an assistant Commissioner of your
Bureau for the (Livingston County).
I can hardly believe if for it certainly is a
great fraud and some very false representation must have been made to you for I
have every confidence to know you would not knowingly place in power here
a man who has no interest with the Freedmen saying nothing of our government.
I have been personaly acquainted with Mr. Boyd
for the last 3 1/2 years. He is or was a slave owner, has sold more slaves from
the auction block than most any man in[?] it. He is constitutionaly a sympathy
[text out? Page not photocopied fully] with the rebellion is associated with all
the leading rebs in this county. I have never known him to do ow? [text out]
kind act of his own free will to put down the rebellion but his associates have
been rebels. He voted and worked to elect the present representation for the
county in opposition to the union candidate.
I cannot conceive how they would have the face
to impose upon the union men of this county for us to sanction this fraud for
now is the time the freedmen need advice and sympathy in their new position they
need someone who will take an interest in their welfare and who they feel they
can go to in confidence to see their contracts to.
Bureau R.F. and A.L.
Office Superindendent McCracken Co. Ky.
Paducah Ky April 17th 1866
Major J.A. Donovan
Chief Supt N.W. Sub Dist. Ky
Major:
I have the honor to forward the following
statement of Edmund Irven (Col’d). He states that he left his household and
personal effects with Mr. Hooks, the proprieter of the Elliott House in
Smithland Ky. Ed. Irven now wishes to get his property and wishes the protection
of the Bureau while so doing, as he fears violence from parties residing there.
He will leave here on Saturday next for Smithland.
I am Sir
Very Respectfully
John F. Smith, Supt. McCracken Co. Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Head Quarters North Western Sub District Ky
Paducah Ky April 28th 1866
J. Bond Thompson Esq.
Supt Livingston Co. Ky.
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication of the 23rd inst. In relation to the case of
Clements versus Sutcliff and inform you in reply that in my opinion no action at
law can be brought by the said Anna Clements (colored) for the cruelties alleged
to to [sic] have been committed to her person by the said Julius N. Sutcliff in
the year 1863 because the case is barred by statute of limitation if on no other
account. By reference to the Statutes of the Commonwealth of Ky under whose
provisions this case should be tried, if tried at all, you will see that an
action for damage to person or property must be brought before the expiration of
two years from the time of the commital.
You are authorized to make demand on the said
Julius Nathan Sutcliff for rendition to the said Anna Clements and Mingo
Clements her lawful husband of their twin daughters of 14 years of age and also
of the personal effects of the said Anna Clements said to be in the possession
of the said J.N. Sutcliff and that upon his (the said Sutcliff’s) refusal to
render or deliver over to the said Anna Clements and Mingo Clements their said
twin daughters and personal effects aforesaid you will proceed against him
according to law for the unjust detention of person and property as in the case
of white persons of this Commonwealth of Ky in similar cases.
Signed
John H. Donovan, J. Bond Thompson
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Assistant Commissioner Office State of Kentucky
Louisville, Ky July 12, 1866
J. Bond Thompson Esq.
Sir: I am directed by ? Major Gen. Jeff C. Davis
Assistant Commissioner State of Kentucky to acknowledge receipt of your letter
dated June 16, 1866 aclative? To the case of Alice and Mary, twin daughters of
Mingo Clements (colored) of Livingston Co. Ky. who have been apprenticed to
Julius Nathan Sutcliff of Crittenden Co., Ky and to inform you that there is no
evidence to show that Mingo Clements is their father. From the report in the
case, made to this office by N.R. Black Esq. of Crittenden County there is good
reason to believe that they will receive proper care and a good home with Mr.
Sutcliff. For this reason they will be allowed to remain with him.
I am Very Respectfully
Levi F. Burnett, Lieut. V.R.C. A.A.A. Genl.
Office Bureau R.F. and A.L.
Smithland, Ky July 14, 1866
An estimate for the support of extreme to
destitute Freedmen in Livingston County Kentucky. At present I find but one to
report. Viz Name: Robert Smith, Age: 96.
Cause of destitution: Is that he was let free 15
years ago after being worked till extreme old age by a cruel master. Has no
friends white or colored. Estimates for support per month $10.00 [$20.00?]
Reported by
Yours Respectfully
J. Bond Thompson
Paducah Ky April 17th 1866
Respectfully referred to J. Bond Thompson, Supt.
B.R.F. and A.L. for Livingston County for investigation.
John H. Donovan
Major 19th Regt – V.R.C.
Chf. Supt. N.W. Sub Dist. Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Chief Supt North West Sub Dist
Paducah Ky 18th 1867 [month not
written]
Solomon Littlefield Esq.
Supt. of Livingston Col.
Sir:
You are respectfully requested to obtain
information relative to the loyalty or disloyalty of the following named persons
without the knowledge the knowledge [sic] of themselves or any one whom they may
be interested.
Wm. P. Nichols, near Princeton, Caldwell Co., KY
Jas Nichols “ “
Saml L. Lapsade “ “
William G. Grooms “ “
John R. Boyd of Marion Crittenden Co., KY
John F. White 4 1/2 miles north of Cadis, ? , KY
J.A. McCain, Waldoned? Trigg Co., KY
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
W. James Kay
Brt Cap. U.S. Vols
Chief Supt ?
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Supt Smithland Livingston Co Ky, March 4th
1867
W. James Kay, Bvt Capt
U.S. Vols. Chief Sup ?
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I have made
all the enquiries [sic] that I can in regard to the loyalty of the persons you
requsted me to assertain and the best information is that W.P. Nichols, Jas
Nichols, Saml L. Lapsade & William G. Grooms are disloyal. I got my information
from John McCoy, ? Dept Provost Marshal of Caldwell Co Ky who is well acquainted
with them. I also have positive information from Mr. John Harris that is well
cquainted with J.A. McCain & John White & William G. Grooms and he sais that
they are all disloyal.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield, Supt L. Crittenden Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedemn and Abandoned Lands
Office Chief Supt N West Sub Dist of Kentucky
Paducah Ky March 15th 1867
Solomon Littlefield Esq.
Supt Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Cos. Livingston & Crittenden, Smithland Ky
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your Report of the assault of A. Brown (col) by C.?F. Mitchel and of the
proceedings of the court in relation thereto.
You are instructed to make a full and explicit
statement of all the circumstances connected there with giving as near as you
can the reason of the assault the name of the Judge before whom the trial was
held H.H.?
Enclosed I forward a contract between R.W.?
Foster of Crittenden County and George Groves (col) now a resident of
Elizabethtown Illinois. Groves states that the contract was fulfilled on his
part and that Foster has refused payment. You will investigate and report on the
case at your earliest convenience and return the contract to this office.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
W. James Kay
Bvt. Capt. U.S. Vols.
Chief Supt. N.W. Sub District Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Supt Smithland Ky March 20th,
1867
W. James Kay
Bvt. Capt. U.S. Vols.
Chief Supt. H.H.
Sir
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of
your letters of the 15 & 18th inst. At the same time and enclosed I
find a contract between R.W. Foster & George Groves (col). You wish me to attend
to it as soon as practible but [following text scratched out: it is out of my
power to do much at present] also you wish me to assertain as to the loyalty of
J.R. Boyd and William A. Champion. As to Boyd the best information that I can
get is he is loyal. Champion I am well acquainted with him. He is a Southern
sympathetic and in favor of the South gaining her independence but he has not
don anything for the South only in talking.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Svt
S. Littlefield
Supt R.F. & A.L. Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky April 13 1867
W. James Kay
Bvt. Capt Chief Comr H.H.
Sir
I have the honor of submitting for your
inspection the statement of Dela Reed (col) in regard to her children now held
as slaves by one Benj. Jones without her consent. She sais that B. Jones has had
her two children for the last twelve months or more and that she has went for
them and the said Jones refuses to give them up the children ages 14 and 12
years and that she is able to support them.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Comr R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
--
Bureau Refugees Freedeman and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky April 15th 1867
Geo Graves (col)
Sir
I have the honor of acknowleding the receipt of
your letter of 9th inst. And its contents duly noted now in regard to
your contract I have it myself and I have received your affidavit but that is
not what I want. That what I do want is to know how much you are dmaged by
Fosters not complying with your and his contract the amount you can prove and by
whom you can prove it by now be sure and attend to it as soon as possible.
Yours Respectfully
S. Littlefield
Comr R.F. & A.L.
Bureau Refuges Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky April 15/67
Dr. J. Duke Mott, P.M.
Sir
I am informed by A. Bird (col) that you know the
names of the men that made the raid on Pat Linsey, Henry Mansfield & James
Mitchesons house and demanded their guns & pistols and did take some of the away
and said if any one reported them that they would hang them. Now if you can give
me any information on the subject I will be under many obligations.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
S. Littlefield
Comr R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland April 20th 1867
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt U.S. Vols.
Chief Sub. Asst Comr H.H.
Sir
I have the honor of sending you a statement from
George Graves in regard to the contract with R.W. Foster. He (Graves) sais that
he is damaged at least $175.00 by Fosters not complying with the contract and
that he can proove [sic] by Lillman Huff a white man living at Fosters landing,
Polly Green, Melton Davis & Agustus Kurt (col). I awate your instructions in the
mater.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Sub Com. R.F.
--
War Department
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Washington, April 8th/67
Circular Letter
The Circular Letter of Feby 12th 187
regulating the designation of offices is so far modified as to permit officers
serving under the direction of sub assistant commissioners and in charge of
portions of Sub Districts to be designated at Assistant Sub Assistant
Commissioners. O.O. Howard, Maj. Gen. Commissioner
Officer
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt. U.S. Vols
Chief Sub Asst Comr
Sub Asst Comr Office Bureau RF & A.L. Paducah,
Ky
Solomon Littlefield, Esq.
Assistant Sub Asst Comr
Smithland, Ky
Sir
In answer to your communication of the 20th
inst. I have the honor to instruct you to cause George Graves (col) to enter
suite against R.W. Foster. As he has Lilman Huff for a witness there can be no
posible [sic] doubt but what he (Graves) receive justice at the hands of the
court? Authorities.
You will report the action of the Civil Court to
this office.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
W. James Kay U.S. Vols.
Sub Asst Comr H.
War Department / Bureau Refugees Freedmen &
A.L. / Claims Division / Washington, D.C. April 19th/1867
Bvt Brig. Gent V. Burbank / Asst Commissioner
/ Louisville, KY
General
Iam directed by the Major Genl Comadg to
acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 11th inst.
Requesting that the following described forms be furnished from office 10
soldiers? Application for bounty when discharged is lost.
100, 3d and 5th class
Evidence of marriage Widows claims for pensions
None of the above forms are printed or issued
from this Bureau
Forms of application for additional bounty
discharged papers being lost, are supplied from this office SW cir 12 Bureau of
C?
In application for ordering bounty discharge
papers being last, the declaration should be made on the usual form of
application for arrears of pay and bounty. A supplementry affidavit as indicated
in the 15th clause pamphlet printed instructions from this office
accompaning each claim.
The circumstances connected with the marriage
and cohabitation of persons of Color who were slaves or of so varied a character
as to preclude the issuing of printed forms of evidence which would be adopted
to tany considerable? Number of dases.
A manuscript form of evidence of two C??
witnesses is furnished to each Supt or other officers of the bureau who forward
claims which form with obvious modifications will meet the requirements of each
cse. Where there is no record evidence of the mariage of parties and the
affidavit of the persons who solomized the marriage rites cannot be obtained. It
has not been considered necessary to issue forms of office certificates as to
the disease or wound of the soldier as no special form of the certificate is
required, see Cir 10 Office Claim Division Ssvces of 1866
I am General
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
Wm. Fowler, A.A. Genl
Signed
Oficial copy furnished Solomon Littlefield Esq
for his informaion and guidance.
W.James Kay
Bvt Cap. U.S. Vols
Sub Asst Commissioner H.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky April 23rd/67
George Groves [Graves?]
Sir
I have just received instruction from
Headquarters for you to bring suite against R.W. Foster for your damages in the
Circuit Court at Marion Crittenden Co. Ky. You will have to employ a Lawyer to
attend to it and he will give you all the instruction necessary in the case. You
had better attend to it immediately as the Court commences next month at Marion
and if you don’t get justice there the Bureau will attend to it but the case has
to be tried by the Civil Court first first [sic] you will report the action of
the Court to this office.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Asst Sub Asst Comr
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky April 30th/67
Report
There has been no disturbance with the white the
white [sic] people & colored everything is quiet and I have not herd [sic] of
anyone refusing to pay the colored people according to their agreements so far
as the court is concerned they will not take colored testimony.
S. Littlefield
Asst. Sub Asst. H.H.
--
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Offie Smithland Ky April 30th/67
School Report
School commenced April 29th/67 by
Marges? McCome, number of pupils 30, number of new scholars 20, average
attendance 20, number always present cannot say. There is there is [sic] 20 at
this time number over 16 years of age. 2 number in alphabet, 20 number who
spells and reads easy lessons, 6 number of pupils in Sabbath Schools, Ky?
The school at this place has been delayed on the
account of the teacher being sick but he has now opened his school and has every
prospect of having a good school as soon as it is generally known that he has
commenced. There appears to be no disposition on the part of the white people to
interup the school.
S. Littlefield, Asst. Sub Asst H.H.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland April 30th 1867
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt. U.S. V.
Chief Supt. H.
Sir
I have the honor to send you my report of the
unfortunat (colored) persons in Livingston & Crittenden Cos. Ky. In Livingston
there is 15 supported by the County & in C. there is no one blind, deaf or dum.,
imbesilic or idiotic, insane or club footed.
S. Littlefield
Asst Sub Asst Comr. RF&AL L & C Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland May 2nd, 1867
Gen. I have the honor to report James McKinny
disloyal.
S. Littlefield
Asst Sub Asst R.F. & L
Livingston & Crittenden Cos. Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky May 3/67
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt U.S. Vols.
Chief Sub Asst Commr H.
Sir
I have the honor
of adressing in reard to two col children that is bound out by M.R. Black who
was at the time Supt of bureau of Crittenden Co. Ky. Now the mother of the two
children sais that she never gave her concent [sic] that the children should be
bound out that she has been trying to get them from Mr. J. N. Sutcliff and that
he will not give them up and if she comes about his place anymore he will
cowhide her. The children are twins and was 11 years old last Feby. And that she
is able to take care of them and has been the whole time.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Svt
S. Littlefield
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Sub Asst Comm. N. West Sub Dist Ky
Paducah Kentucky May 6th 1867
Mr. Solomon Littlefield
Agent for Livingston & Crittenden Cos. Ky
Smithland Kentucky
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your report showing the number sex and age of the class unfortunate among the
colored population at Smithland Livingston Co. Kentucky and would inform you
that not only Smithland but your entire agency is embraced in the order
Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
Your report is herewith returned for correction
and you are instructed to forward a full and thorough report of your entire
agency at your earliest possible convenience.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Svt
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt. U.S. Vols.
Sub Asst Comma.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky
W. George Graves
Sir
Yours of the 2nd? Inst. Received and
according to your wish I herewith enclose your contract with Mr. R.W. Foster and
am ? I think you had better bring suit against Foster if he will not pay you
without.
I will be in Marion on Monday next.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent BRF & AL
Livingston & Crittenden Cos Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt. U.S. Vol.
Sub Asst Commissioner H.
Sir
I have the honor of stating to you that I have
engaged a school house for the purpose of keeping a colored school at fifteen
dollars per month and that is as low a price as any can be got in this place and
the trustees of the house is to let the rent go to pay the school teacher the
rent to commence from the first of May 1867.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent of L & C. Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland May 14th 1867
J McCoy Esq.
Dr. Sir
I have the honor of requesting of you another
favor. I wish to assertain the loyalty of the following named persons to wit,
William Black, William George and James H. Hays,
if you can let me know as to their loyalty you will confer a great favor.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent R.F. & A.L.H
For Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky May 18th 1867
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt U.S. Vols Sub Asst Comr
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I have been
to Marion Crittenden County according to instructions from you and got all the
information that I can in regard to the colored persons bound out by the County
Court Judges of Livingston & Crittenden Cos. There have been bound in Livingston
County William Trimble 14 years old, Robert Trimble 12 years and Henry Trimble 7
years old to James Trimble their former owner. May 1866, William Canady 6 years
old was bound to B.S. Canady Nov. 5, 1866.
There has been bound in Crittenden Co. Susan
More 7 years, Wesley More 9 years bound to Alford/Alfred? More June 6/66, Betsy
Hodge 13 years, Bush Hodge 6 years bound to Singleton Hodge Oct 9/66. Levina
Thomson/Sherman?[name written over] 9 years old, Emma Sherman 7 years old, Vina
Sherman 4 years old, and Molly Sherman 11 years old bound to J.C. Brown March 11th/67.
Zela Sherman 4 years old bound to P.C. Stephens March 11th/67, Joseph
Wood and bound to L.J.? Woodard Oct 8th/66. The above named children
is all that has been bound out by the County Court Judges. There is two children
bound out to Judge Black when he was Asst Supt of the Bureau Refugees Freedmen &
A.L. They are the only ones I can assertain that has been bound by any Bureau
Office in my district.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent bureau R.F. & A.L.
L. & C. Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland May 18th/67
W. James Kay
Bvt. Capt. U.S. Vols.
Sub Asst Commissioner
Sir
I have the honor to state to you that I have
been to Marion and have seen N.R. Black, L. Asst Supt Bureau in regard to the
two children of Anna Clemons that is bound out to J.N. Sutliff. The children has
a good place. They are well taken care of and are satisfied to stay where they
are, and when the children was bound out they were abandoned by their mother and
no one to take care of them.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Cos.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky May 18th 1867
John Ely
Bvt Brig Genl U.S.V.
Chief Supr.
Genl
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your check no. 1224 on the U.S. Depository at Louisville Ky for $150.00 in
payment for my services for Feby March & April 1867.
I am Very Respectfully
S.Litlefield
Agent R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Cos. Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland May 22/67
W. James Kay
Bvt Capt. U.S. Vols.
Sub Asst Comm. H.
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that I have got
the information from J.W. McCoy, L.D.P.M. of Caldwell Co. that William Black,
William George & James Hayes are disloyal and from other reliable sorse [sic]
that Thomas M. Lewis is disloyal.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Co. Ky
Quartermaster Generals Office
Washington, D.C. April 30th 1867
Bvt Maj. Genl Thos Sironds?
Apr QM Gen?
Louisville, Ky
Sir
You are respectfully requested to furnish the
Quartermaster General with any information you may possess or which you can
obtain relative to the past and present loyalty of the following named persons,
Citiziens of Crittenden Co Ky
John B. McMican and Granville F./P.? Clements,
Marion
Abra? B. Rankin, Weston
A.J. Wheeler, Caldwell Springs Chur?
Please return this letter with our answer
endorsed upon the back.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
By order of the Quarter Master General
James A. Blue
Deputy Quartermaster General
Brevet Brig. General U.S. A. in charge of First?
Division
Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky May 14th 1867
John Ely
Bvt Brg Genl U.S.V.
Chief of Staff
Genl
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of May 14th inst. And in answer I will say that I have
seen the trustees of the church that the school is kept in and they are willing
to take the fifteen dollars per month for the house and no one to be excluded on
the account of having no money to pay for tuition. They further agree that the
rent shall go to pay the teacher Marques McCome. Therefore the rent is to be
paid to him. The house has but one room, but is quite a large one sufficient to
hold all the scholars that will attend the school.
I am Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent R.F. & A.L.
Livingston & Crittenden Cos. Ky
Bureau Refugees Freedman & A.A.
Office Smithland May 24th 1867
John Ely
Bvt Brig Genl U.S.V.
Sir
I have the honor to report ?[smudged] B. Sanders
disloyal.
S. Littlefield
Agent R.F. & A.L.
L & C. Cos.
Burau Refugees Freedman and Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland Ky May 30th 1867
Monthly Report
There is quite a bad feeling in this county &
Crittenden County existing between a portion of the white citizens & colored on
account of the white people having the colored person arrested and fined for the
most trifling offences where there is no such a thing as fining a white man let
him do what he will to a colored man.
S. Littlefield
Agent &c
Monthly School Report May 31 [1867]
No of scholars enroled 50. Males 18, females 32.
No. enroled last month 30. No. left school this month 3. No. of new scholars
this month 21. Average attendance 35. No. always presant 30. No. over 16 years
of age 3. No. in alphabet 17. No. who spels & reads every[?] lesson 24. No. of
advanced readers 5. 1 Sabbath School. No. of scholars 40. In regards to the
teacher we have I think it would be better for the scholars if they had a
teacher more advanced in his education one that could write and cipher. This man
cannot do either. He is however very good in lerning the scholars to spel and
read and keeps very good order.
S. Littlefield
Agent &c.
Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Office Smithland June 15th/67
W. James Kay
Bvt. Capt U.S.V.
Sub Asst. Comr
N.W. Sub Dist Ky
Sir
Yours of the 15th Inst is received
and noted in explanation[?] Of my business to Marion I was ordered by W. James
Kay Bvt Capt. U.S. N. Sub Asst Commr to go to Marion Crittenden Co Ky and
assertain how many colored children had been bound out by the County Court. Also
to see N.R. Black former Agent of the Bureau R.F. & A.L. of Crittenden Co. in
regard to two colored children that was bound out by him to J.N. Sutliff. I
accomplished the trip and reported the same to Capt. Kay
I am Very Respectfuly
Your Obt Sevt
S. Littlefield
Agent &c.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands
Office Smithland June 15th/67
John Ely
Bvt Brig. Genl U.S.V.
Chief Supt. &c.
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your favor of the 10th inst inclosing a check no. 1412 on the U.S.
Depository in Louisville Ky for fifty dollars $50.00 in payment for my services
for the month of May/67.
S. Littlefield
Agent &c.
Teachers Monthly School Report
For the Month of June 1867
There is 1 day school in Smithland Ky opend 29th
day of April 1867. Whole number of Pupils 50. Number of pupils last month 50.
Average attendance 30. Number of pupils paying tuition 12. Number always present
30. Number in alphabet none. Number who spell and read easy lessons 41. Number
of advanced readers 5. Number free before the war 1. Number of Sabath Schools 1.
Number of Pupils in Sabath School 40.
S. Littlefield
Agent Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Monthly Report
For June 1867
There is very little disturbance in my district
with the white persons and colored there has been but on [sic] in the late month
when a white man kicked a colored child and hurt her very badly and I have had a
warent isued for his arrest but he has not been arrested and the civil court
pays but little attention to such cases. The colored person has but a poor show
in this district.
S. Littlefield
Agent Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Smithland, May 25th/68
R.S. Egalston
2nd L. U.S. Inf.?
Brt? Apt Comte
Sir
I have the honor to address you by request of
Miss Mary Jane Sanders, the present colored school teacher at this place. She
has taken the place of Washington Lee, the former teacher, which she (Miss
Sanders) thought that you knew until your note to him for him to make out his
school report and send them to you. I think there is some mistake in regard to
it, as the colored people was very much dissatisfied with Mr. Lee, and a great
many of them would not send their children to him and they petitioned to have
Miss Sanders to take his place, and she has been teaching the school since the
first of this month wherein you wil pleas find her report for this month.
I am Very Respectfully Your Obt Sevt. R.
Littlefield
P.S. There is a colored women here that has twin
babyes about six days old that is not able to work and has not got a thing to
eat. She is in a sufering condition. I have caled on the County Court Judge and
he sais that he cannot do anything for her. He sais that there is no money in
the treasury to be appropriated, and the Trustees of the Town will not do
anything in regard to her case. Now if the Bureau dos not attend to her I do not
know what will be come of the poor woman.
The Colored people have a hard time since the
Sheriff collects the taxes from them, and in sted of distributing it to the
paupers, they pay it out to white men for keeping col. children that their
parents are able to take care of them and have been trying to get them and these
same white men will not giv them up now I do think that there should be som
steps taken to remady thes evils.
Yours Respectfully,
S. Littlefield
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