Galveston Daily News - Nov. 22, 1867 issue

[Researched by Linda Mullen]

THE KILLING NEAR SPRINGFIELD - BURNING OF COTTON GIN, ETC.

  The Bureau Agent at Cotton Gin, Freestone county, Texas, a Lieutenant Culvert,
with his clerk or sergeant, were killed two miles north of the town of Springfield,
in Limestone county, a few days since, by a man named Stewart and his son. 
Stewart had some misunderstanding with his fands, some freedmen, a short time
previously, and the difficulty had been referred to parties selected by Stewart
and the freedmen to be settled by arbitration. The award given seemed to satisfy
all parties at the time, but the next day after its rendition, complaint was made
by the freedmen to Culvert, the nearest Bureau Agent, whose domicil was at Cotton
Gin, and he sent some wagons and freedmen over to Stewart's house, distant from 
Cotton Gin about twelve miles, with orders to haul Stewart's cotton and corn from
his house to the agent's headquarters. Stewart would not permit the parties sent
to take away his property, and the agent then came, and the fatal affray was
commenced by the agent himself, who first shot Stewart, wounding him severely,
whilst Stewart was inside his house. The sergeant and agent both fire at the 
inmates of the house, also wounding Stewart's wife. Stewart, in self defence,
then fired upon and killed the agent and Stewart's son, a lad of about fourteen
years of age shot and killed the sergeant.
  Reports of the burning of the town of Cotton Gin by the negroes and Loyal 
Leaguers have been received, and we are satisfied they are correct. It is also 
reported that the people at Springfield are threatened with the destruction of
their town by fire and that al law-abiding whites, including the entire Union
element, save three or four leaders of the negroes, are coming in to the assistance
of the townspeople.
  The bodies of Culvert and his Sergeant were dressed and decently buried by the
people at Springfield.
  The old man Stewart and his son are under arrest by the military.
  Stewart we happen to know personally. He is between fifty and sixty years of 
age, quiet, sober, religious at all times and upon all occasions; universally
esteemed for his prudence and kindness, and known all over the county as a man
of untiring industry. He has never meddled in politics, and we believe was an
original Union man, though of his political views we know little, as he never
talked politics.
  From what we know of the character of the man, we have no doubt that the danger
to himself and his family must have been fearful and imminent, to have caused
him to kill the agent Culvert.