39TH Conoasss}

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

1st Session.

REPORT
{ No. 101.

MEMPHIS RIOTS AND MASSACRES.

JULY 25, 1866.—Ordered to be printed.

Mr. E. B. WASHBURNE, from the Select Committee on the Memphis Riots, made
the following

REPORT.
The special committee of the House, charged with an investigation into all mat
terA connectcd with the riots at Memphis, which took place on the first days of
May, 1866, and particularly to inquire into the origin, progress, and termi
nation Qf the riotous proceedings; the names of parties engaged in it; the
acts of atrocity perpetrated ; the number of killed and wounded, and the
amount and character of the property destroyed, having completed their labors,
now beg leave to submit their report :
The committee reached Memphis on the 22d day of May last, and immediately
proceeded with their investigations. They examined a hundred and seventy
witnesses, whose testimony, with the various exhibits, is herewith submitted, and
which will make a volume of, it is estimated, twelve hundred printed pages.

On their arrival the committee found that Major General Stoneman, command
ing the department of Tennessee, headquarters at Memphis, had instituted a
commission for the purpose of making substantially the same investigations in
regard to the riotous proceedings your committee were‘directed to make. That
commission consisted of‘ Brevet Brigadier General B. P. Runkle, superintendent
of the Freedmen’s Bureau for the district of Memphis; Captain A. W. Allyn, 16th
United States infantry; Brevet Major W. J. Colburn, assistant quartermaster in

the volunteer service ; and M. J. Wright, a citizen of Memphis. This commis
sion had nearly completed its labors, and its investigations seem to have been of
the most thorough and searching character.
In order to insure a fair hearing on the part of the citizens of Memphis, Major
General Stoneman, with great propriety, placed upon the commission, in addi
tion to the military men, Marcus J. Wright, one of the most prominent citizens
of that city, and a man who had held the position of brigadier general in the
rebel army.
The committee also found that Brevet Major General Clinton B. Fisk, of’ the
volunteer service, and assistant commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau for the
States of Kentucky and Tennessee, had instituted a commission consisting
of Colonel Charles F. Johnson, subsequently uniting with him Major Gil
braitli, who had been sent out by Major General 0. 0. Howard, of the Freed
men’s Bureau at Washington, for the purpose of instituting an investigation into
matters connected with the riots. This commission also prosecuted its labors
with great zeal, thoroughness, and fidelity. The committee desire to state that
they received from Major General Stoneman, Brevet Major General Fisk, and
Brevet Brigadier General Runkle every assistance possible for them to render
in the discharge of their duties. They were greatly aided in their labors by the
records of the investigations made by the respective commissions, embracing

 2

MEMPHIS RIOTS AND MASSACRES.

the testimony of very many witnesses whom it was impossible for the committee
to examine, both for want of sufficient time, and from the fact that many of them
had scattered off and were not to be found. The testimony of all witnesses
bearing upon the subject, taken by those commissions, except where the same
witnesses were examined by the committee, was verified as being such testimony,
made a part of the record, and is submitted to the House with the testimony
taken by the committee.
MAJOR GENERAL STONEMAN’S TESTIMONY.

The testimony first taken was that of Major General George Stoneman,
from which it appears that the whole military force stationed at Memphis con
sisted of a detachment of the 16th United States infantry, not more than one
hundred and fifty strong, and that this force was not more than snflicient to
guard the large amount of government property at Memphis against the large
numbers of thieves, robbers, incendiaries, and the Irish police of that city.
Previous to this time the people of Memphis had been clamoring for a with
drawal of all the United States troops, boasting that they were perfectly com
petent to take care of themselves. General Stoneman had, therefore, turned the
city and that section of country over to the civil authorities, as far as it was
practicable, holding them responsible for good order, peace, and quiet. At
the first breaking out of the riotous proceedings, on the afternoon of Tuesday,
the 1st day of May, General Stoneman was called upon by the sheriff of the
county, and requested to use the United States troops under his command for
quelling them. As there had theretofore been so urgent a demand upon the part of
the people to have the troops withdrawn, General Stoneman desired to know what
means the city authorities had taken to uell the disturbances; and he further de
sired that the question should be teste whether the civil authorities could take
care of themselves, and preserve order as it had been claimed they could and would
do. Subsequent to this, irresponsible parties, representing themselves as coming
from the mayor and aldermen of the city, made application to the general for
the use of the troops. His reply was, that if the mayor wanted the use of the
troops, or wanted assistance, and would address him a communication to that
effect, it should receive due attention.

Shortly after, and on the same day, the

mayor requested General Stoneman to order a force of troops to co.operate with
the constabulary force of the city in case of any further continued lawlessness;
to which General Stoneman replied immediately that he had but a small force
at his command, which was in camp at Fort Pickering, and the mayor could
communicate with the commanding oflicer at the fort in case he should find need

of assistance.

He would, however, prefer that the troops should be called upon

only in case of extreme necessity, as he desired to see whether they could keep
peace and order themselves without the intervention of the military authori
ties, as they had asserted they could in a communication previously made.
RlOTOUS PROCEEDINGS.

The riotous proceedings continuing, the regular forces were called out on
Tuesday night, and they scattered and dispersed the rioters, as will more fully

appear by reference to the testimony of Captain Allyn, in command of regu
lar troops, Captain Dornin, and Lieutenant Ulifford. The next morning, May
2, General Stoneman was called on by Judge Leonard, judge of the county
court, who, after stating that they were skirmishing down in South Memphis,
.made application to have arms turned over to a posse of citizens, then being
formed. The general told him he had no arms to be used for that purpose;
that all arms used must be under his control, and that in no event would he
turn over arms to citizens, without being assured that they would be used for

proper purposes, and placed in the hands of proper parties—of men who would

 MEMPHIS RIOTS AND MASSACRES.

3

act under the direction of the military authorities. The reply of General Stone
man was a very proper one, for, as he states, this posse, when brought to him
by Judge Leonard, proved to be a heterogeneous mass, some of them firemen,
some err.confederate soldiers, and some did not belong to anything but the
rabble of the town. Judge Leonard said he thought he could vouch for these
men, but after taking a look at them, General Stoneman became satisfied that
if he, the judge, could vouch for them, he, the general, could not, and declined
to put any arms into their hands.
The mob continuing its outrages through Wednesday and Wednesday
night, on Thursday a meeting was held by a number of citizens, who resolved
that the mayor of the city and sheriff of the county, together with the chairman
of the meeting, be authorized to summon a force of sufiicient number, to act in
concert with the military, which should constitute a patrol for the protection of
the city, 86c. General Stoneman, on the same day, addressed a communication
to the mayor and city council of Memphis, stating that circumstances compelled
him to interfere with the civil affairs of the city, and forbidding any persons
without his authority to assemble together any posse, armed or unarmed, white
or colored. That, however, did not include the police force of the city, so long
as it could be relied on to preserve the peace. This interference by the mili
tary authorities seems to have had an immediate and most salutary effect, for
all parties who had been assembled together by the civil authorities for any
purpose whatever immediately dispersed and went home. There were no more
formidable riotous proceedings after this, although there were many isolated acts of
murder, robbery, and maltreatment both of white and colored persons. There
were apprehensions, however, as appears from the testimony of General Stone
man and others, on the part of agood many persons, that a general conflagration
would take place, and that the town would be burned down. Several northern
people came to him and expressed their fears that measures would be taken to
drive all northern people out of the city, though the general does not seem to
have shared in those fears. The teachers of colored schools and preachers for
colored churches came to him and represented that their schools and churches
had been burned down; that some of them had been threatened and others
warned, asking him for protection and troops to guard their places. N o1;
having troops enough for such purpose, he told them that if they would go to
the troops they should have protection, or if they desired to leave the city they
should have transportation to wherever they wanted to go. Many, and, in
fact, nearly all of them, availed themselves of the opportunity and left the
cit .
The guards which were placed in the city on Thursday night, with strict
orders to disperse any party assembling together for any purpose whatever,
prevented the assembling of any such parties, if there was any intention of
so doing, which the general thought, from information subsequently obtained,
there was ; that people had come over from Arkansas and different sections of
the country, leading him to believe there would have been trouble on Thursday

night if no precautions had been taken.
It was very natural, after the pcrtinacious demands of the people of Mem
phis to have the troops withdrawn, and their boastful pretences that they could
take care of themselves, that General Stoneman should have been disinclined
to interfere until it should be fully demonstrated to him that the public safety
impcrativcly required it. It is to be regretted, however, that he had not at an
earlier period of the lawless and murderous proceedings taken the same resolute
steps that he subsequently adopted, as he, no doubt, would have done, had he

comprehended the full proportions of the riots and the true character of the
city government of Memphis, and of the controlling influences of that city.

 4

MEMPHIS RIOTS AND MASSACRES.

MAJOR GENERAL STONEMAN AND THE CITY AUTHORITIES.

After the riotous proceedings were at an end, General Stoueman constituted
a commission of investigation, as has been stated, and on the same day addressed
the following communication to the mayor:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT or TENNESSEE,

lVIemp/u's, Tennessee, May 5, 1866.
SIR: I have the honor to request information upon the following points, viz:
1. What efforts have been made or steps taken by the city authorities of the
city of Memphis to apprehend and bring to trial and punishment the perpetra
tors of the outrages which have disgraced the city of Memphis during the past
week, and what assurances can be given me that the murderers and incendiaries
will be arrested and punished’?

2. What steps or measures have been taken by the city authorities, or the
citizens of Memphis, to remunerate individuals and the United States govern
ment for losses sustained and expenses incurred caused by the recent riotous
proceedings of the people of this city, and are you able to assure me that all
claims for such losses and expenses will be promptly paid by the city?
3. Can and will you furnish me with a statement, showing the sources from

which the city derives its revenue, with the amount or amounts derivable from
each source ?
4. Are the city authorities able and competent to prohibit and prevent per
sons, under whatever pretext, from carrying and using arms 2 I am reliably in
formed that the city recorder has assured the people of Memphis that they will
not hereafter be prohibited from carrying and using fire.arms.
5. \Vhat security can you give me that the rights and privileges of the col
ored population of this city and surroundings shall be respected and protected ; and
what disposition has been made of the large number of negroes who have been
arrested by the police during the past week 'i
I have to request that you will do me the favor to give me all the informa
tion possible, and such assurances as circumstances warrant, as future action

will be based upon your reply to this communication.
In conclusion, I have to assure you, and, through you, the people of Mem

phis, that if they cannot govern themselves as a law.abiding and Christian
community, they will be governed, and that hereafter it will be my duty
and privilege to see that there are no more riotous proceedings or conduct, either
on the part of whites or blacks, or city authorities.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. STONEMAN,
Major General, Commanding.

His Honor JOHN PARK,
Mayor of Ike City of Memphis.
The committee desire to say that, in theirjudgmcnt, General Stoneman is de
serving of the highest commendation for his prompt and determined action in
demanding this information, and in warning the mayor and people of Memphis
that if they could not govern themselves as a “law abiding and Christian com
munity,” they would be governed, and that it would be his duty and privilege
to put a stop to further riotous proceedings. The answer of the mayor is of a
very unsatisfactory and discreditable character, and too long to be inserted in
this report. It is, however, set out in the testimony of General Stoneman. It

will be seen that the mayor states that the city authorities have taken no steps
or measures to remunerate individuals or the United States government for
losses sustained by the riotous proceedings, and that he is advised of no law or
tatute authorizing any such appropriation of money ; and takes it for granted

 MEMPHIS RIOTS AND MASSACRES.

5

that no action will be had. He is also advised that no claim for such losses
had been or would be entertained or recognized by any tribunal of competent
jurisdiction as constituting a meritorious claim against the civil authorities.
Order having been restored in the city,and the excitement of the community
consequent upon the riot having abated, shortly afterwards the military control
of the city was withdrawn, though without formal public notice, and the civil
authorities exercised their functions as before the riot The further testimony
of General Stoneman is particularly referred to, as entitled to great weight,
coming from a military man, not complicated with the political or other questions
of the day.
THE CHARACTER OF THE A'I‘ROCITIES.

The proportions of what is called the “riot,” but in reality the massacre,

proved to be far more extended, and the circumstances surrounding it of much
greater significance, than the committee had any conception of before they en
tered upon their investigation.
Most of the newspapers in the city had grossly misrepresented nearly every
thing connected with it, while great efforts had been made by the citizens to
belittle it into a simple row between some discharged negro soldiers and the
Irish police. It was called in derision the “nigger riot,” while, in fact, in the
language of General Stoneman, the negroes had nothing to do with it after the
first day, except to be killed and abused.

“They assembled in no bodies, and

were engaged in no riotous proceedings.”
Nothing could be more false and malicious than the charge that the riotous
proceedings grew out of the teachings of the Freedmen’s Bureau oflicers and of
the teachers of the colored schools and the preachers in the churches of the
colored people. From the observation of your committee the affairs of the
Freedmen’s Bureau in Tennessee have been most admirably managed by Major
General Fisk and his subordinates, and the best possible influence has been
exercised on the colored people.
The outbreak of the disturbance resulting from collision between some police
men and discharged colored soldiers was seized upon as a pretext for an organ
ized and bloody massacre of the colored people of Memphis, regardless of age,

sex, or condition, inspired by the teachings of the press, and led on by
sworn ofiicers of the law composing the city government, and others. The mob,
findingitself under the protection and guidance of ofiicial authority, and sustained
by a powerful public sentiment behind, actuated by feelings of the most deadly
hatred to the colored race, and particularly those who wore the uniform of the
republic, proceeded with deliberation to the commission of crimes and the per
petration of horrors which can scarcely find a parallel in the history of civilized
or barbarous nations, and must inspire the most profound emotions of horror among
all civilized people. The testimony taken in this regard is very full, and is
believed by the committee, as a general thing, to be entitled to the fullest con
fidence. The story of the shocking events of those terrible days, the 1st
and 2d of May, told by colored witnesses who escaped the fury of the mob,
was simple, affecting, and, no doubt, truthful,

The whole evidence discloses

the killing of men, women, and children—the innocent, unarmed, and defenceless
pleading for their lives and crying for mercy; the wounding, beating, and
maltreating of a still greater number; burning, pillaging, and robbing;
the consuming of dead bodies in the flames, the burning of dwellings, the
attempts to burn up whole families in their houses, and the brutal and revolt
ing ravishings of defenceless and terror.stricken women.