Freestone County, Texas History Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas March 13th, 1867 edition Page: 11 Loss of the Brig Derby Particulars of the Wreck - No Lives Lost - Letter from Capt. McMullen ... The brig Derby which sailed from Galveston on the 26th ult., for Igupoe, Brazil, with one hundred and fifty passengers on board, was wrecked on Sunday, 10th inst., at about 4 1/2 A.M., on the coast of Cuba, about thirty miles west of Havana, at a place called Plaza de Banes, but fortunately no lives were lost. Several of us were pretty badly bruised; and M. Crolle, of Freestone county, Texas, had his collar bone broken; no one, however, was seriously injured. ... =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas April 12th, 1867 edition Page: 1 Hotel Arrivals WASHINGTON HOTEL ... H. A. High, Freestone W. M. High, do [meaning ditto or also Freestone] ... =============================================== Dallas Herald published in Dallas, Texas May 25, 1867 edition Page: 2 The Fairfield, (Freestone county,) Pioneer, has been discontinued for want of support. =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas July 6, 1867 edition Page: 4 Texas Items CROPS - The Houston Transcript of July 4th says: "We have just seen a gentleman from Navarro county, who came all the way through to Houston on horseback, passing through the counties of Freestone, Leon, Robertson, Brazos, Grimes and Montgomery. He says that the wheat crop of Navarro, Dalla and ellis counties is almost an entire failure on account of the weather. In the other counties mentioned he says that the crops of both of corn and cotton are very poor, and that thousands of acres have been turned out in consequence of having become imbedded in grass and weeds. ... =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas July 9 & 10, 1867 edition Page: 4 Justifiable Homocide - We learn from the Conservative [a Corsicana paper], that on the 10th of June, Mr. J. Q. Carter, of Freestone, killed Mr. Edwards, a former partner, in a business quarrel. Mr. Carter was placed on trial, and acquitted on a plea of justifiable homocide. =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas Sept. 7, 1867 edition Page: 4 We have been shown a letter from the interior, which states that there is great mortality among the people of Limestone county. The "black tongue" is the prevailing disease. Not a house but there are four or five confined to their beds. At least so says the writer. The wheat crops were cut short by the continued rains. Corn crops are abundant in the vicinity of Freestone and Limestone counties. Waco included. Beeves are in fine order, and selling for twelve per head, and in great demand. The grazers are in high spirits, the grass splendid, more luxuriant than it has been for years. Texas flour is sold for $12 (specie) per bbl. Butter only 10 cents per pound. Chi[c]kens $5 per dozen. Eggs 35 cents per dozen. =============================================== Dallas Herald published in Dallas, Texas Sept. 28, 1867 edition Page: 2 The Bureau Agent at Cotton Gin, Texas, has prohibited the carrying of fire arms in the counties of Freestone, Limestone, and Navarro, after the 1st of October next except by special permission. =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas October 15 & 16, 1867 edition Page: 8 Trouble in Freestone -- We learn that a difficulty exists in Freestone among the negroes. Report says that the negroes had subscribed to the building of a school-house near Cotton Gin. One negro refused to pay his quota or discharge it in work. Captain Culver had him arrested, tried, rode on a raid, ducked and otherwise summarily treated, and as soon as the nigger got loose from the military, he prosecuted the negroes who had inflicted the punishment, before Squire Carter. The defendants and their friends armed themselves and refused to be arrested. Captain Culver also came to their assistance, and told Squire that he was the law, and that the proceedings must be dropped. But the enraged freedmen determined to put the matter through, vulgarly believing that the civil law was superior to Captain Culver. Last accounts state that Culver was at Fred. Miller's with an armed body of negroes, and word had been sent to the commandant at Centerville to take the matter in hand and suppress the dark rebellion, and if this was not done by last Tuesday, the gallant citizens of Freestone would regulate the affair themselves. -- Corsicana Observer, Oct. 4. =============================================== San Antonio Express published in San Antonio, Texas November 28 & 30, 1867 edition Page: 5 (on the 28th) and 2 (on the 30th) The Murder of Another United States' Officer ---------- We have the following letter from a gentleman living at Hillsboro, Hill County: Hillsboro, Hill County, Texas } November 20, 1867 } It falls to my lot to report to you another one of those horrid acts which have blackened the reputation of our State. On Friday the 15th instant, Captain C. E. Culver, the Bureau Agent stationed at Cotton Gin, Freestone county, and his orderly, were murdered three miles north of Springfield, Limestone county. It appears that Captain Culver had some little difficulty with one Wm. Stewart, and this same Stewart claims to have killed both Captain Culver and his orderly, and says they fired on him first; but, strange to say, they were shot with different guns. Captain Culver's head was also severed asunder, done with an axe or some other sharp instrument. There was a large bullet hole through his right breast, and there was no hole in the shirts or vest Captain Culver had on at the time he was killed. It is strange that a large ball should pass through a mans body and not through the clothes he had on at the time. It is a great mystery. Would it not be well for good General Reynolds to habe this thing thoroughly investigated? The clothes Captain Culver had on are now in the hands of Lieutenant D. F. Stiles, at Waco, and can be seen by any one. These mysteries are quite common in this part of the State. Captain Culver was an active member of the Union League of America, and was to open a Council in Springfield on the night of the 16th, and the rebels of that place had said he should not do it, and they made good their threat. As soon as I learn further particulars I will write you. There were two freedmen reported to have been killed at Cotton Gin on the 16th, and the rebels were disarming the freedmen in Freestone county on the day of the threat to kill Captain Culver. Yours in haste, J. H. TOLEDO =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas November 30, 1867 edition Page: 7 More Decapitations ----------- HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TEXAS } AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 18, 1867 } SPECIAL ORDERS, No 206. V. Upon the receipt of this the commanding officer, post of Waco, Texas, will immediately order 2nd Lieutenant D. F. Stiles, 26th Infantry, and 25 picked men, to proceed to Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, and establish a temporary military post. Thirty days rations will be furnished this detachment, the necessary camp and garrison equipage, and forty rounds of ammunition to each man, will be issued. The Quartermaster's Departement will furnish the necessary transportation. VI. 1st Lieutenant James F. Hill, 6th U. S. cavalry, with a detail of 10 cavalrymen, will at once proceed to Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, and investigate the killing of C. E. Culver, late Sub-Assistant Commissioner, and a U.S. soldier at that place. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, he will report to his proper station, and report to this headquarters. By command of Brevet Major General J. J. Reynolds. C. E. Morse, 1st Lieut, 26th Inft'y, A.A.A.G. ------------ HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TEXAS } AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 19, 1867 } SPECIAL ORDERS, No 207. I. In complaince with authority from the Major General commanding the Fifth Military District, the following appointments and removals are made: ... FREESTONE COUNTY Wm. Patton to be clerk of the county court, vice A. G. Anderson, removed. ... =============================================== San Antonio Express published in San Antonio, Texas Dec. 6, 1867 edition Page: 1 Our Galveston Letter -------- The Coming Convention - Removal of Headquarters - The Brenham Desperadoes - Violation of Orders - Freedmen's Schools - Personal - City Items - Erratum Galveston, Texas, Dec. 1, 1867 Editor San Antonio Express: .. Reliable information of the murder of Mr. Culver, the Bureau Agent at Cotton gin, places the matter in an altogether different light from that which was derived from rebel sources. Mr. Hall, a Union citizen of Cotton Gin, was, on the day of the murder, traveling in a carriage with his wife, from Freestone county to Springfield. He sttes that on his way, at a place where the roads forked, he was suddenly starled at the appearance of three desperadoes, fully armed, who, emerging from the bushes, peered eagerly into the carriage; but, seeing a lady present, they sufered the vehicle to pass on. Mr. Hall remarked to his wife, on passing them: "Those men are up to some mischief-they intend to waylay some Union man." His wife, who was alarmed, replied that she was fearful they intended to do some harm to her husband, who was well known as a Unionist; being, in fact, employed as a clerk for the Bureau Agent. Mr. Hall, however, attributed to his wife's presence the fact of no assault being made on him. It did not occur to him at the time, thugh he knew of the absence of Mr. Culver and his orderly, that they were on the same road and would have to pass by this place. Later he heard of the murder of Captai Culver and his orderly, saw their bodies riddled with musket balls and buckshot, and the deep ax wound nearly severing the neck of the body of Culver; and, going back to the spot whence he had encountered the desperadoes, saw marks of blood and struggle. The supposition is that at this place, Culver with his orderly were beset by the ruffians; that at the first fire Culver was broufht to the ground, from his horse; that the orderly was unhorsed but able to limp off, as the blood marks on the ground plainly showed; but that, firing again, the orderly was killed; and, though the death of Culver was certain probably at the first fire of the party, yet to make sure, the inhuman monsters nearly severed by the blows of an ax, his head from his lifeless body. During the melee, it is presumed, Stewrt got wounded, either from the fire of his own party or the waylayed men, and that therefore the bodies of Cuver and his orderly were carried to the vicinity of Stewart's house and the story of killing in self-defense, etc., originated. ... HUMPHREY =============================================== Dallas Herald published in Dallas, Texas Dec. 17, 1867 edition Page: 2 1st Lient. Jas. F. Hill, 6th U.S. Cavalry, has been ordered by Maj. Gen. Reynold, to "proceed to Cotton Gin, Freestone County, and investigate the killing of C.E. Culver, late sub-asst. Commissioner, and a United States soldier, at that place." -- Second Lieut. D.F. Stiles, 26th Infantry, has also been ordered to Cotton Gin, with 25 picked men, to establish a temporary military post at that place. =============================================== Flake's Bulletin published in Galveston, Texas Dec. 19 & 21, 1867 edition Page: 6 (on 19th) and 5 (on 21st) Letter from Freestone County. Fairfield, December 1, 1867 Editor Flake's Bulletin: After having been well acquainted with all the country in Middle Texas, and comparing notes of soil, climate, etc., we are convinced that there is no portion of the State, combining so many advantages as the country bordering on a line between the prairie and timber. Just here we have the advantage of the bracing and invigorating atmosphere of the prairie, and not far enough in the timber to be debilitated physically by the malaria of the timber swamps. Its here we can raise a variety of crops, the soil and atmosphere being adapted to the growth of almost everything, whilst in the prairie, or wheat region proper, it is so subject to drought, as to make the growing of corn and cotton profitable; in the lower timber regions, where cotton grows luxuriantly, also the excessive hear and moisture produces the smut, or rust in the wheat. The very pabulum, in a heated, stagnant, moist atmosphere, on which the cotton plant feeds and grows fat, is poisonous to small grain, as well as to human health. Ordinarily, fruits and vegetables (except small grain) do not grow to much perfection in the prairie or wheat region. Potatoes are carried from the timber into the wheat region and exchanged for wheat readily, measure for measure. The malarial fevers prevail to a great extent every year in the timber, while in the wheat region there is a perfect immunity enjoyed, except in the creek and river bottoms. The last two or three years have been an exception to this general rule; particularly last year. The rains have extended far in the great north-western prairies, and have carried with them malaria to poision the blood, as well as vegetable productions, large potatoes and ears of Indian corn, etc. Wherever the waters have been dried by the solar hear, the fevrs have been more general than in the river bottoms, where the atmosphere was kept humid all the season. Such is the powerful effect of malaria on the constitution that you can point a citizen of the prairie or timber as accurately as you can a Mississippi overseer from a Tennessee hog-driver. Most of the emigration this year is into the open prairies or wheat region. There is a constant stream progressing here all the time, we estimate that there has been an average of twenty wagons passed daily since the first of November, sometimes more than a dozen in a train. At night the roads are illuminated by their fires, most of them look and careworn, as if they had seen better days, and wished to better their condition. You can guess well where they are from, by their teams and outfit. A long string of oxen, Eastern Texas; small ox team, or poor mules, Louisiana; horses or mules, and wagons all in good fix, Tennessee, or beyond the Mississippi' one thing to be noted, no negroes and but few boys. It is sometimes interesting to interrogate them: for example, meeting a man and family with two yoke of oxen, pony tied behind, says he is from Fanning county, his reasons for moving; has not seen a dollar of his own since the war; learns there is plenty of money at Bryan; says there is an abundance of every sort of provisions in Fannin, but no market nearer than Jefferson; is tired of waiting for the Central railroad to tap him; thinks he must go to the road. He popped his whip after we suggested to him that he probably had been too hasty in leaving the "flesh-pot"; that he would think of them at Bryan, where too many had already congregated to catch the few floating pennies; that he ought to have husbanded his resources, and waited for the Central railroad. Upper Country ===============================================