Freedmen's Bureau Records: Statement of George
Partridge, February 6, 1867
Summary:
Partridge writes that he has known Tukey for some twenty years, and worked with
him in Portsmouth, Virginia before Tukey was transferred to Staunton. He
testifies to Tukey's character and reputation among the local population and
suggests that the accusations against Tukey are the product of a conspiracy on
the part of George Cook and George Graham.
February 6th 1867
Staunton Virginia
Having heard with regret that complaints have been made against Mr F. S. Tukey, Assistant Superintendent Freedmens Bureau at this place it gives me much pleasure to say that I have been intimately acquainted with Mr Tukey for the last twenty years. I was at Portsmouth Virginia during the whole of the time that he was Assistant Superintendent of Freedmen there which according to the best of my recollection was about twenty one months and during the whole of the time was in the service of the U.S. Government and had in my employ about fiftly colored men nearly all of whom drew rations from Mr Tukey and being then as I am now and always have been an ardent friend of the oppressed colored people I was much among them and not only them but all their Teachers and consequently had a great opportunity to learn their sentiments with regard to Mr Tukey, and can say that he was universally beloved and respected by all parties.
I left there soon after the
[page 2]
surrender (on account of sickness) and
went to Massachusetts where I remained until the first
of last November, when I came to this place and soon
after received the appointment of US Inspector of Spirits and have as in
Portsmouth mingled freely with the colored people both publicly and privately
sometimes speaking to them of Mr Tukey, and they invariable spoke in the highest
terms of him and I never had heard one single word of complaint against him by
anyone until Lieutenant
George T Cook was relieved from duty here and nothing
since only what I have reasons to believe come from him. I have known since I
have been here of a greater degree of intimacy existing between Cook and a Mr.
Graham of the Burial Corp and two of the female Teachers then what a sense of propriety would allow and am satisfied in my own
mind that these charges against Mr Tukey are malicious and originated with and
have been made by Lieutenant Cook or the said Graham
acting as his agent, and have been skillfully
carried out thus far by a combination of these four persons.
George W Partridge
U.S. Inspector of Spirits
6th District
Virginia
