Violence and Justice

Although the issues of violence and justice were not originally main concerns of the Freedmen's Bureau, the lack of help from local authorities in dealing with these two issues forced the Bureau to absorb many cases not taken by the courts. Following the end of the war, many southern whites resented both their northern occupiers and newly freed blacks. This resentment fills the newspapers, diaries, and letters of the period. One way southern whites expressed their anger and frustration was by attacking both northerners and freedmen. These victims rarely found protection or justice from the local civil athorities, which were often dominated by the same whites who had been the aggravators. With civil outlets closed, the local Freedmen's Bueau office appeared as a haven for victims. The Bureau received letters from both blacks and whites complaining of attacks, mistreatment, and other criminal actions. In dealing with these claims, the Bureau's hands were tied and the cases never were addressed by the local athorities. As a result, unprosecuted assaults, abuse, an thefts remained a common occurance in reconstruction Virginia.

• Assault and Abuse: Although the Civil War ended at Appomattox, violence still plauged the occupied South, and Augusta County was no exception. The Freedmen's Bureau in Staunton received numerous complaints and requests for help concerning assaults agianst both black and white residents. In the case of abuse, Freedmen Bureau agent Thomas Jackson and the Bureau tried to intervene in all cases brought to his attention. His efforts, however, were in vain.

• Theft: During the Civil War the Shennandoah Valley hosted roving armies moving north and south between the the Blue Ridge Mountains. This traffic by both Conferderate and Federal armies resulted in almost total destruction of the land. As the war progressed, stealing increased on both sides with horses being a favorite target for horse starved cavelry and artillery units. After the war, law enforcement was inaccessible to many, especially blacks, and victims of thefts often turned to the Bureau for assistance in recovering lost goods.

  Return to the Valley of the Shadow