Freedmen's Bureau Records: Statement of Edward
Burke, February 9, 1867
Summary:
Edward Burke offers a statement on behalf of Frederick Tukey.
February 9th 1867
Staunton Virginia
Having heard with surprise that complaints have been made against Mr F S. Tukey
Assistant Superintendent of Freedmen's Bureau
of this place therefore this is to certify that I am a Union man and was a
refugee from here during the war and went to Washington D.C. and was in the
service of the U.S. Government Quarter Master Department during nearly the whole of the war. I came back here soon after
the surrender and opened a Livery Stable which I kept for awhile and then
changed my location and bought out a colored man who had been in the same
business here for many years and then hired him to remain with me his extensive
acquaintance among the colored people naturally brought many
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of them
around the Stable and gave me a free opportunity to mingle with them in
conversation. I often heard many of them speak in the highest terms of Mr Tukey
and so far as I recollect never heard one of them say anything against him and I
know that his course here during his former period of service was entirely
satisfactory to the Union men and Freedmen and also forced the Rebels to respect
him. During a portion of the time [illeg.]
Lieutenant Cook was here he boarded a Government
horse in my Stable, which Horse he traded off with another man after he was
relieved he came to me in a state of excitement and said some hard things
against Mr Tukey among others he said that Mr Tukey had undermined him and lied
about him and had reported him to Head Quarters and
swore he would have satisfaction and said he meant to come back here
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again and from all that I have heard since I am satisfied that the comaplaints
against Mr Tukey have been made in a spirit of malice and revenge.
Edward Burke
