Lemons, William - 1865

Headquarters Military Dist. Western S. C.

FOURTH SEPARATE BRIGADE

Newberry, July 15, 1865.

GENERAL ORDERS,
            No. 3
I.  The case of John B. Glymph, by his own statement, shows that he had a conversation with a freedman, on his plantation, about the contract, who wished to consult a United States officer to ascertain if it was correct, and so told Mr. Glymph.  Glymph was indignant that the colored man should not confide in him and, when he started for this place, seized a shot gun and deliberately fired, the contents entering the arm and back of the negro.  As Glymph has been several days in jail, it is ordered that he be released on executing a bond, with sufficient security, to keep the peace and appear for trial whenever called.

II.  Wm. Lemons is a clerk in a hotel at this place.  Burrel Mayes, whom no one would suppose to be anything but Anglo-Saxon, has a taint of African blood.  Some time ago he escaped from his master, went to Colombia, volunteered as a soldier, under the name of John Brown, in a South Carolina Regt., was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, captured, sent North, and finally returned as a prisoner of war.

Lemons makes the justification for assault and battery, that Mayes, came into the hotel and requested him to take charge of his carpet bag, passing it over the counter.  The next day he returned, procured his carpet bag and went on his way.  By some means Lemons learned that Mayes was tainted with African blood ; he became enraged, that a negro should ask him to do any service, followed until he found and commenced beating him.

As there is not the shadow of an excuse for his conduct he must remain in jail until a competent court can punish him as he deserves.

III.  John Whitman charged by a freedwoman with beating her, was arrested, and on examination states that he was informed the woman was insolent to his wife, the particulars or provocation for which he did not ascertain ; but he took the woman, stripped her naked, tied her down, and then with a leather strap gave her 25 stripes.  This is clearly a case of assault and battery, and would be punished as such except that Mr. Whitman alleges that he would never have punished the woman had he not supposed he had a right so to do, from the fact that Capt. Murray, of the 25th Ohio Vol., lately commanding at this place, approved contracts with the power inserted to the employer to punish, and also took them in numerous instances that they could buck and gag and tie up by the thumbs when necessary.  This is the excuse given for many outrages committed upon the colored people in this section of the State.

That there may be no excuse for future offences, the Brev’t. Brig. Genl Com’dg issues this Order, directed to all districts in his command, viz:  Lancaster, Fairfield, Chester, York, Union, Newberry, Ed.efield, <sic> {page worn} Abbeville, Laurens, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson and Pickens.

Why an officer in the United States service should approve contracts with such a dangerous delegation of power, and in addition authorize the exercise of punishment so brutal and inhuman, as seldom to be used in the army, is very remarkable.  The contract said the punishment should be lawful.  Yet no man so stupid but knows, that the lawful punishment which slavery imposes cannot now be allowed to scourge the naked back and limbs of free men and women.

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~ Abbeville Bulletin, 10-Aug-1865, Page 1, Column 5