Freedmen's Bureau Records: P. F. Earman to W. J.
Jackson, August 20, 1867
Summary:
Earman writes about the prevalence of horse thieves in Augusta County, and ways
in which they may be stopped, including the formation of local "vigilance
committees." It is unclear whether the letter was meant for Thomas P. Jackson,
or if it is indeed meant for another man by the name of Jackson.
WJ Jackson
August 20th 1867
Burkes Mills Virginia
Sir,
I have just received your letter
this evening and hasten to reply. At the time of writing to General Schofield I did not know that you were
established at Staunton or I should have written to you instead. I have no
complaint to make of an official, either Military or Judicial as I believe they
are all prompt executing the law when called upon. That which I complain of as
being intolerable is horse stealing and the trouble is
to get officials on the task in time and not in any want of of promptness on
their part. In Some neighborhoods in Augusta County the citizens are forming
themselves into vigilance committees for their
[page 2]
own protection
against this nuisance, and we were about doing the same, and I had written to
the General as one of the
Committee for instructions not wishing to go into an arrangement of that kind
unless with the sanction of the Commandment of this District horse stealing has highly become
intolerable here a short time since there were five horses Stolen from this
immediate neighborhood in one night from different persons the [added: time] that would, necessarily have been consumed in
getting officials would have enabled them [added: (the
theives)] to make their escape but by pursuing them at once they were
over taken in the north mountain and the horses recovered. But for want of arms
the theives escaped which is to be regreted by every law abiding citizen.
[page 3]
Since then there have been other horses stolen in the neighborhood, no doubt by the same individuals so
that no one was safe at any time. It was with a view to break up this band of
marauders that the letter was written and not designing to call in question the
[unclear: promptness] of any offical whatever [deleted: (Scratched out writing)] Hoping this explanation may be satisfactory.
I Remain
Yours
P.F. Earman
P.S. Please excuse my writing with pencil as I was anxious to answer at once and was out of ink.
