OFFICE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FREEDMEN'S BUREAU
FOR NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI,
Jackson, Miss., September 28, 1865.
Major: In compliance with your request desiring me to furnish you a list of crimes and assaults against freedmen, I have the honor to report that on or about the 18th day of August, 1865, Matilda, a colored woman, was murdered by one J.H. Kiley and son, in Newton county, in this State, for simply remonstrating against whipping her son. Lucinda, a colored woman, in Yalobusha county, was stripped naked, tied to a tree, and severely whipped by three men, names unknown. In the county of Holmes, between the 5th and 15th days of September, 1865, five negroes were murdered; names of the perpetrators unknown. In Simpson county, about the 1st of August, a father and his two sons cruelly whipped and abused a colored woman in their employ. Near Lauderdale Springs, Castwell Eads, a citizen, by his own statement, shot and wounded a colored man for simply refusing to obey his command, halt! while he was running from him after being cruelly whipped. In Smith county, S.S. Catchings, a citizen, followed a colored man, who had left his plantation, overtook him, knocked him down, and beat him brutally.
These are all the cases of which I have detailed accounts, none but general reports having yet been received from the agents. These indicate that cruelty is frequently practiced.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E.S. DONALDSON, Lieutenant Colonel, Acting Assistant Commissioner.
Major W.A. GORDON, Assistant Adjutant General.
No. 44.
Savannah, Ga., August 1, 1865.