Reminiscences of the Civil War, 1861-1865

by Preston Lafayette Ledford

Crimes Committed.—Under this wicked teaching or training crimes galore were committed and men were unsafe and women insecure to go along the streets or highways. Instead of law and order anarchy reigned supreme and crime stalked boldly in the land heretofore noted for peace, happiness and prosperity.

Negroes Offensive.—Young negroes became offensive as a result of the false training of this vicious class of men and some women, pretended religious enthusiasts, who knew nothing of the class of people to whom they were teaching a doctrine of direct or indirect social equality. Ambitious notions took possession of the bestial natures of some of the worst element of the race and results revolting to think of blackened the page of history of this fearful period.

W. W. Holden was then governor of North Carolina, and could have used his fine talent, directed in a proper channel, to have been a blessing instead of a curse to the people of the State whom it was his sworn duty to protect instead of persecuting. The Executive and Judicial powers of the State were silent as the grave and by their silence put their seal of approval upon the disgraceful transactions, thus staining their administration with crime and the approval of crime and becoming a party seeking and wreaking revenge.

Ku Klux Klan.—The ferocious wretches became so bold in the commission of their outrages that in defense of life and property the good people of the country organized a society called by different names in different places but known every where as the “Ku Klux Klan.” The object of the organization was to secure protection that the pretended officers of the law failed to give to the oppressed people.

Holden and Kirk.—Governor Holden prevailed with his gang of blind partizans in the legislature to pass a law authorizing him to declare martial law in any part of the state. This he proceeded to do in a few counties and had some citizens of the highest character, accused of committing heinous crimes. Federal troops were sent to these counties, not troops made up in the state, but a gang of cut-throats from Tennessee, commanded by an acknowledged vicious wretch by the name of Kirk.

Governor Holden was not satisfied with the scope of power given him, but wrote to the president asking for Federal authority allowing arrests to be made and parties tried before a military tribunal hoping to have some of the best citizens of the state shot at the stake. Congress refused to confer on the president the power to declare martial law. The governor and his crowd had to depend on such state authority as they had managed to usurp. Col. Kirk with his gang had invaded the state under the direction of the governor and more than one hundred citizens were arrested and imprisoned by Kirk and his minions.

Judiciary Exhausted.—Chief Justice Pearson had until this time been regarded as a just judge, and application was made to him for a writ of habeas corpus that men in prison might know why they were imprisoned. Judge Pearson granted the writ but when an attempt was made to serve it on Kirk he ignored it under the plea that he was acting under orders from Governor Holden. Counsel of the prisoners asked for further process to punish Kirk but the Chief Justice held that his power was exhausted and that the Judiciary could not contend with the Executive. The highest judges in the state claimed to be powerless and the Holden Kirk conspirators, although panting to get recognition from the Federal Government, began to make preparations to form a Drumhead court to consist of thirteen members—seven to be appointed by the governor and six by Colonel Kirk. The Chief Executive of the state expecting to preside over this court and try cases with the Judiciary in sight and hearing, declaring itself helpless.

Judge Brooks.—The right will usually prevail and Judge Brooks a Federal Judge listened to the cry of the distressed and oppressed and gave them relief. Governor Holden and Colonel Kirk could not intimidate him with their scarecrow cries of war and bloodshed. He gave Kirk peremptory orders to allow his prisoners to come before him at Salisbury within ten days. Governor Holden asked the president to interfere and he promptly informed him that Judge Brook’s order must be obeyed. Nothing was against the prisoners and they were released, and the state was soon relieved of the presence of the Kirk mob. Governor Holden was impeached, convicted and expelled from his high office. The people rose in their might and partially redeemed the state, but it took years to accomplish the desired effect.

One hundred thousand ignorant negroes were enfranchised and their proportional numerical strength of the voting population enabled them to exert a baneful influence which very much afflicted the counsels of our state.

Negro Problem.—This brings to the surface the negro problem, which will not be discussed here, but the different phases of negro life at different periods of time will be noticed. The negro was brought to this country from a heathen land centuries ago and it was soon discovered that a Southern climate was suitable to his health and growth and as a commercial commodity in the South he would be profitable. The negro living as a servant of the white families developed many commendable traits of character. Under the influence of an acknowledged superior race he became partially civilized and became very much attached as a servant to his master and mistress as he was pleased to call them. He brought with him from the dark continent some traits of character that were inherent and hard to eradicate. As a slave he was faithful and the great mass of them were happy, and growing up with white children loved and respected them without once thinking himself their social equal. Before the war and during the war it was a very rare case to hear of an outrage being committed. The negro was happy in his surroundings, having no cares for the future, knowing he would be provided for even in sickness and old age. During the war he cared for and as far as he was capable protected the white women and children at home while their fathers, brothers and husbands were in the army.