barous manner; a description was given of his dress, and the remark made in the paper that he was suspected of giving information to revenue officers against illicit distillers. The description of the man left no doubt upon my mind but that he was the man I sent out. As another instance of the bad state of affairs in some sections, I would state that during the recent raid in Rabun County, the house of John Coffer, a good citizen (who was suspected of giving me information), was attacked by a party of illicit distillers, or their friends, and considerable damage done to his property, and his life threatened. Mr. Coffer procured warrants from the State authorities for the arrest of the men, and offered as a witness John Welborn, a reliable citizen; but a man was introduced who swore he would not believe Welborn on oath, for the reason that he believed he had reported illicitdi stilleries. The witness further swore that he would not believe any one on oath who would give such information. The committing magistrates thought this sufficient testimony to impeach the witness and discharge the prisoners. I refer to this to show that while some good citizens are disposed to give information, they are in danger of personal assaults, and damage to property, without redress from the State courts. Hence it is that large bodies of men must be sent, in order to police the country infested by the law-breakers. It will be borne in mind that for three years I used my regular deputies to make seizures, but recently I found it impossible to send small numbers of men without having them fired upon and driven out. There has not been, so far as I am advised, a complaint of bad conduct on the part of my men, and while many good citizens sympathize with the government and the rigid enforcement of the law, they dare not be known, except in rare instances. The names of parties and officers making the seizures will appear on my Form 131, for January, which will be forwarded as soon as possible. Respectfully, ANDREW CLARK, Collector. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, DC. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, SIR: I submit herewith, abstracts from official reports on file in my office from deputy collectors who were employed in the mountain counties of my district during the month of January, 1880. Deputy Collector J. C. Hendrix reports in letter of January 31, 1880, as follows: "We found persons against whom the deputy marshal had warrants all about, and stills through the country all pulled. Mr. Higdon, the sheriff of Fannin County, traveled with us two days, openly declaring his willingness to assist us in the enforcement of the law in any part of his county. On the 20th, at Morgantown, in accordance with your instructions, I delivered to Col. John A. Stewart, a prominent citizen of Fannin County, the commission of deputy collector of internal revenue for the counties of Fannin, Union, and Towns. Stewart entered upon the discharge of his duties at once and accompanied us through his division. In Union County the civil officers and better class of citizens offered us any assistance we might require, and some of the citizens proposed to the deputy marshal that if he would give them authority they would arrest and turn over Newton West, the man who is charged with assaulting and robbing Deputy Collector Pool. Deputy Marshal Robinson was doubtful as to his power to transfer such authority, and did not do so. We saw but few men in the neighborhood where illicit distilling is carried on; they had been looking for the force for some days and had taken leave of absence. The announcement made by the Commissioner that he would furnish force sufficient to put down illicit distilling has had a good effect, and if the district attorney and the court will inflict the punishment imposed by law upon persons found guilty, a healthy state of affairs will soon prevail all over your district. Finding nothing could be accomplished without much delay, as we had no guides, and distilleries so generally pulled oat, we passed through Towns County and made our way to Gainesville on the 23d instant, where we dismissed the force. I regret to have to communicate the sad intelligence of the shooting of J. M. Starnes, one of our party, by the accidental discharge of a gun of one of our own men. I had repeatedly ordered the men not to carry cartridges in their guns; but it seems orders were not carried out, and the result is the loss of one of our men. I think that Stewart will be able to suppress most of the illicit distilling in these mountain counties, as the good citizens generally assured me they would lend him all the assistance necessary, and if they do so, much good will have been accomplished by the organization of the new division. From Gainesville, by your direction, I proceeded to Clayton, Rabun County, Georgia, and conferred with Deputy Collector Shepard, reaching him on Sunday the 25th instant. His party reached Toccoa on the 28th, where I settled with the men and arranged all expense, &c., and that force was disbanded." G. W. Ware, deputy collector, reports, February 9, as follows: "I would state that my observation is that there is more resistance to the enforcement of the revenue laws in the localities where illicit distilling is carried on than heretofore, and I have never received any aid from citizens in putting down lawlessness, while I would state that there are law-abiding citizens in those counties who do not sympathize with lawlessness, yet, through fear of personal danger and destruction of property, offer no assistance, except in a few instances they have informed us of danger when in the vicinity of illicit distilleries guarded by armed men awaiting our attempt to destroy such illicit distilleries. Such information was given to one of our party on the last raid, on the night of 20th of January, by one -, whose father lived at Blairsville, near where our posse were encamped, that the road from Blairsville to Choastower District (the famous illicit distilling region) had been picketed for us for several miles; expecting the posse to make operations in that section during the night, a citizen passing the road during the night was fired upon, forced to return, who reported the facts at Mr. Wright's. "We passed over the road the next morning; found it had been picketed at each curve of the road and each little hillock which offered the best facility for bushwhacking or ambushing should the squad have passed during the night. These picket posts were invariably upon the left-hand side of the road, and the fresh tramping of horses' feet were as discernible as those of the men who had so lately left their post. Though not attacked here, it was not to be believed that the law-abiding citizens were guarding the roads for our safety on the night before. "On the 21st of January we passed through Union County. On our way to the illicit distillery of Berong in Towns County, at Brasstown, a horse tied to or near a fence was recognized as Berong's by Deputy Marshall Robinson and Deputy Collector Hendrix. I had never seen the horse that Berong usually rode-as on previous raids to Berong's I had been left in charge of the horses of the party while the posse approached the house of Berong. This horse (said by Robinson and Hendrix to belong to Berong) was mounted by an unknown party before we left Brasstown, and others congregated at the store where we bought provisions for dinner, whose remarks and sympathies were in opposition to the revenue laws. We camped at night four miles from Hiawassee. In Hiawassee I was informed by a merchant of the place, that 75 armed men were at the head of Hightower River, in the neighborhood of Berong's illicit distillery, awaiting our arrival. I called to Deputy Marshall Robinson to hear Mr. McConnell's statement, asking Mr. McConnell if his information was from a reliable source. His reply was that it was from as truthful a man as lived in the county, and if we went into that vicinity he feared we would have trouble, as his informant stated that he had seen the men himself, and heard the firing of their guns all through the previous night. I reported the facts to Hendrix and Brown. At once a consultation was held with the officers of the posse, who decided to make the attempt. "We had proceeded but a short distance before armed men began to make their appearance on the road side. When we reached the bridge that spans the Hightower, just three miles from Hiawassee, armed men began to be seen more numerous, six showing themselves at one place. The road that led to the Berong settlement, up the river, was also picketed by these armed men, everything we saw of them confirming the statement of They were well organized and in sufficient numbers to resist any attempt we might make to interfere with any illicit distilling. We crossed the bridge, rode up to a church a hundred yards distant, where a second consultation was held, and each officer admitted that our force of about 25 available men was inadequate to meet these men in ambush, fortified in the hills and mountain passes, nor in open attack should we attempt to seize an illicit distillery, being outnumbered; they were able to cut off our escape, as each road to that section of country was picketed. It was but too plainly seen that nothing was left us but to make our way out as quietly as possible, and that is why we did not go to Berong's distillery." Deputy Collector W. T. B. Wilson reports in letter of February 4, as follows: "We withdrew from Towns County, because we did not have men enough, and the illicit distillers were only prevented from attacking us as we passed the roads because we had carbines, and a strong force, and it was after a consultation with Deputy Collector Hendrix in Towns County, and his representations to us of his information that he determined to come to Gainesville, and return to Towns County with a heavier force. While in some of the counties we met good citizens who gave us encouragement, but it was the exception and not the rule, and I am certain that all the deputies will concur with me in these views; and also, while we might have had a fight, I have no doubt that we would have cleaned them up." Deputy Collector S. W. Murray reports in letter of February 5, as follows: "As your deputy collector for this section I was one of the party under the com mand of Capt. J. C. Hendrix, lately raiding in Gilmer, Union, Tannin, and Towns Counties. My information derived during the trip was not that the violation of the law was on the decrease, but the contrary; and that in several sections the violators were banded in more or less considerable numbers to resist the execution of the law. **Let me recite the state of affairs in the Berong settlement, Towns County, this being an apt putting. Wednesday night, January 21, our force, some 38 in number, encamped within 8 or 10 miles of Berong's, intending the next day to make a dash into his settlement and accomplish what we could. Approaching Hiawassee (the county site) the next morning, one of our party rode ahead to see and interview certain friends in that place and gather what news could be had, for we knew that information had gone ahead of us the day before from Brass Town by a spy of Berong's, riding one of Berong's horses, recognized by some members of our party. The information obtained in Hiawassee (and it was reliable) was to the effect that Berong had 75 armed men around him and in ambush; in fact he had many of the best citizens of Towns County enlisted, and, being near the Rabun line, had some of the worst and most dangerous elements from that county. I cannot adequately describe the road from Hiawassee church to Berong's, a distance of five miles. It is a road hemmed in for the greatest part of the way by mountain slopes and laurel thickets, running through narrow defiles, and as crooked as the Ganges. The greatest danger attends any number of men who will follow the windings of this road when it is picketed. Your posse approached the church. In sight a yell ascended from a knoll on our right, taken up from one on the left, and thence was echoed along the defiles of this road. We had a squad of good men, as good as had ever been in that country, but it was deemed advisable by your deputies, namely, Hendrix, Ware, Brown, Stewart, Wilson, and myself, together with Deputy Marshal Robinson, that we hold a consultation. The conclusion arrived at was that while we might whip in the fight, and a fight was inevitable, still it would be attended by the loss of several of our best men, and probably the greatest part, for we saw from the picketings that we would be bushwhacked at every turn, with no chance to turn upon the enemy. "There being no other approach save this road, and it being guarded as it was, the unanimous conclusion was that for the time we had best withdraw and adopt, at a more opportune time, different tactics. Hence we proceeded on our road to Gaines ville. "I have cited Berong, as his is a good illustration of the resistance we met with here, but to a small force his settlement is by no means the only one where we have met, and the likelihood is will meet, resistance. "It is true we have friends among the best citizens of the mountain counties, and there are many good citizens living there, but as a class they dare not give us material aid. In this particular they are under subjection to the blockaders, who have no property to lose and no fear of the law." Deputy Collector E. M. Brown reports in letter of February 6 as follows: "On the 14th of January we left Marietta, and passed from Cobb County into Cherokee County. About 8 p. m. we met up with a wagon containing about 15 gallons of illicit spirits, driven and owned by Matt. O. Brown, a notorious illicit vender. After taking charge of his team, and Brown taken into custody by the deputy marshal, we then passed on towards the town of Canton. "While en route Brown insisted upon not traveling farther, stating as his reason that if the people found out that the officers were in the county we would be fired into, and as they did not know that he (Brown) was a prisoner, he ran a risk of being killed by his friends. I stated to him that they did not intend interfering with the officers, when he said that I did not know how well they were organized, and what they had determined to do. Our large force, no doubt, saved us from being fired into. "As we were about entering Jasper, the county site of Pickens County, I rode into the town ahead of the force and I saw men mounted, leaving town in every direction, and was informed by a friend that these men were there to ascertain our force, and that the news of our coming had reached the county the day before. I was also informed that the distillers had been operating extensively and would have resisted a force of twenty men; but upon learning the strength of our force, had pulled out their stills and were keeping out of our way. In Gilmer County, in a notoriously bad settlement (known as the Wheeler settlement), we seized a distillery, and as we had seized four distilleries in May, 1879, in the same settlement, they had stated generally that they intended resisting the officers if they came in there again. About the time we were ready to leave the distillery, having destroyed beer, &c., a man was seen upon the mountains near by. I rode up to where he had been seen, and as I approached him, he drew his pistol and would have fired had I not been too quick for him. We found three armed men in the vicinity of the distillery, and three rode after us after leaving the woods and challenged us to return. Again, the size of our force and arms, no doubt, saved a collision. While remaining over Sunday in the vicinity of Ellijay, Gilmer County, it was rumored that a force had gathered in the edge of Fannin County, known as 'Fighting Town,' and intended firing on us as we crossed the mountain, but as we took a different route and did not pass through that gap, we did not learn whether the report was true or false; but do know that the news was carried ahead of us by the citizens. In Union County we saw groups of men gathered together, some having guns, but no public demonstration was made against us or no firing done. In passing through Towns County and after passing Hiawassee, the county site, we were informed of superior numbers having gathered in the Berong settlement, on the Hightower River, and intended bushwhacking us. As we would pass through the mountains passes every prominent point was manned, and a complete signal corps' was found. Armed men could be seen in every direction. Captain Hendrix's advice was to return to Gainesville and secure a larger force. Plans had been made to capture our horses if we left them in the valley, and us afoot. "I found that while some few of the citizens seemed disposed to help us, or talk that way at least, that the majority were reticent, and in many instances give exaggerated reports, and am inclined to think are in sympathy with the violators, and will render them all the assistance they can by giving information of any raids, or anything else that would foil the plans of the officers in either securing the arrest of an illicit distiller or prevent the seizure of their distilleries." Very respectfully, Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue. ANDREW CLARK. Collector Second District, Georgia. The foregoing correspondence shows the present condition of affairs as to the enforcement of the internal-revenue laws in the northeastern counties of Georgia, but for a more perfect understanding of the operations of this bureau in that district, and the necessity of employing a large force of officers, it is necessary that the House of Representatives should be more fully informed as to the condition of affairs which has existed in that district for three years immediately preceding this last outbreak, which is merely a repetition of the violent and forcible demonstrations by illicit distillers and their spmpathizers which have frequently occurred. In January, 1877, it became known to this office that illicit distillation was carried on to an unusual extent in Georgia. I called to Washington Revenue Agent Chamberlin, who was in charge of a division embracing this district, and after conferring with him in regard to the extent and locality of these violations of law, I directed him to commence, in conjunction with the collector's force, active operations to suppress the same. I sent Revenue Agent Grimeson to assist him. A small detachment of the United States troops then in garrison at Atlanta was detailed to accompany the officers to aid them in arresting offenders. This force was met with formidable resistance, and Lieutenant McIntyre, of the Second United States Infantry, in command of the detachment of troops, was brutally murdered. The following correspondence shows the condition of affairs and the result of the operations at that time: Jan. 8. Letter from Collector Clark in relation to the increased number of illicit distilleries in his district. Jan. 15. Letter from Collector Clark reporting seizure of distilleries and the release of property and arrest of officers on process issued from State courts. Feb. 10. Revenue Agent Chamberlin reports the seizure of 26 distilleries and the arrest of 56 illicit distillers. Feb. 12. Revenue Agent Chamberlin reports the seizure of illicit stills and the arrest of distillers. Feb. 13. Revenue Agent Grimeson reports formidable armed resistance by illicit distillers, and the murder by them of Lieutenant McIntyre, Second United States Infantry. Feb. 14. Revenue Agent Chamberlin reports the seizure of illicit stills, and efforts to recover the body of Lieutenant McIntyre. Mar. 6. Revenue Agent Chamberlin reports operations against illicit distillers in Northeastern Georgia and the capture of one of the boldest of the outlaws. Mar. 8. Revenue Agent Chamberlin reports that 88 illicit distillers have been arrested or surrendered since the 1st instant. Mar. 23. Letter from Collector Clark giving an account of his endeavors to secure cooperation of State officers and citizens, and create public sentiment in favor of enforcing the laws. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, SECOND DISTRICT, GEORGIA, Atlanta, January 8, 1877. SIR: It becomes my duty to call your attention to the increased number of illicit distillers in this district. I have taken out over 100 warrants, which are yet in the hands of the United States marshal, with the exception probably of 10 that have been served. There are 84 counties in this district, and over 1,200 registered distilleries. I have in the district nine deputies and one clerk to do all the work pertaining to their regular duties, and, at the same time, try to break up the illicit distilleries which, in my opinion, number not less than 400. These illicit distilleries are operated by men of desperate character, and located generally in places remote from railroads, and in neighborhoods where, from fear of damage to their property, the better class of citizens will not give lodging or food to revenue officers, much less assist them in breaking up the distilleries or making arrests. My deputies are compelled to travel to and from the legal distilleries, and visit all parts of their divisions, and should they succeed in breaking up a portion of these illicit distilleries, their usefulness would be at an end unless sustained by a marshal's posse. I understand fully that the appropriations made by the last Congress have materially crippled the service; but there is not a worse district in the United States than this one; more illicit distilleries, and in the hands of the most desperate men; besides, the whole white population, with a few exceptions, can never be relied upon to aid a revenue officer in discharge of his official duties, and the colored people dare not give any assistance. I am informed by the distillers who pay their taxes that should they be known as informers their property would be burned. The immense corn crop made last year has no doubt had much to do with the starting of these illicit distilleries, as it is the largest crop made in this county in fifteen years. If you will give me assistance, I will exert myself to break up every illicit distillery in the district. An early answer is requested. Respectfully, &c., Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner of Internal Revenue. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, SECOND DISTRICT, GEORGIA, Atlanta, January 15, 1877. SIR: I would respectfully report the seizure of the following property made by my deputies, and belonging to illicit distillers, for whom I have sworn out warrants: Fifteen stills, caps, and worms; one yoke cattle; one wagon. The deputies destroyed about 1,200 gallons of beer and mash, also three stills, that could not be moved. All of the parties have been arrested except three, and they soon will be, although it is hard to do much of this work without soldiers or a marshal's posse, and the marshal does not always have funds to pay men with, and there are no soldiers here now, and I shall have to rely on my regular force and a few special deputies, although it is at this time very dangerous for a few men to make raids or attempt to seize or make arrests. On the 12th instant one of my deputies and a deputy marshal seized two mules and one horse that were hauling illicit whisky. The owner of the team escaped, and took out warrants at the next town for the deputy collector and deputy marshal, charging |