Freedmen Complaints at Farmerville

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Timothy D. Hudson, 1/2005
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Articles from the 'Ouachita Telegraph'

Captain George W. McCranie founded the 'Weekly Telegraph' in Monroe, Ouachita Parish 
beginning in September 1865. In mid-December, he decided to change the name to the 
"Ouachita Telegraph'. The paper continued publication until and the 1890s or later. 
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'Ouachita Telegraph'
27 Sept 1866
page two
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In justice to Lieut. James Burns, Agent of the B.R.F. and A.L. for Morehouse, Union and 
Ouachita parishes, we feel called upon to say that his administration of the affairs of 
the Bureau in this vicinity has given, so far as we can hear, full and complete 
satisfaction. He has eschewed all bargains and intrigues, and has uniformly dealt out 
justice to the planters of this section, in some instances taking responsibility upon 
himself to do it. His letter to Mr. Darby, at Farmerville, the subject of some complaint, 
he informs us was written under peculiar circumstances. Numerous complaints by freedmen 
had but recently come to him from that parish, and being sick at the time, as he has been 
for several weeks, he said more than he otherwise would. He did not, he informs us, 
contemplate himself asking for a force to be sent to Union, as some have inferred from his 
letter, but simply meant that such would be the result of the state of affairs understood 
then to exist in that parish, unless there was a change. We assure our Union friends that 
Lieutenant Burns has given strong evidences of his sympathy with the distresses of our 
people, and that if he has unwittingly offended them, his course in that has been 
inconsistent with his treatment of the planters down this way.

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Note: This article illustrates to some extent the state of affairs existing in Union 
Parish and throughout northeast Louisiana following the War Between the States. Mr. Darby 
mentioned here was William A. Darby, a Farmerville merchant who served as treasurer of the 
Union Parish police jury during the war. Darby also served in a number of civic 
capacities for Farmerville and Union Parish until his untimely death as a result of 
injuries sustained from the tornado that struck Farmerville in 1883. 

Lt. Burns was apparently the military officer in charge of the United States Bureau of 
Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands for Morehouse, Union, and Ouachita Parishes. 
As such, he apparently had command of the Yankee soldiers stationed at Monroe during 
this time. Perhaps others with more knowledge than I can share more precise historical 
details surrounding the Freedman's Bureau. 




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