had become of Pool, thinking they had captured him and would hold him and demand the discharge of the prisoners as a condition to releasing Pool. Just at daylight we discovered a man staggering in the road in our front. I went towards the person and he advanced towards me. I thought it was a man blacked or a colored man. I spoke to him, saying "Hallo," he answered, saying, “How are you!" I recognized his voice, though he had not recognized me. I then called out “Pool.” He came up towards me, saying, "Do you see how they have beat me? I rode into fifteen or twenty of them, all with guns, standing on the bridge that crossed the river. They cocked their guns on me. I told them not to shoot. Some one struck me on the side of the head with a gun, which left me senseless. I came to myself a few moments since, found myself over in the field. They took me for dead and threw me over the fence. I got up and saw our party, but thought it was the party that had attacked me. I determined to go to some house. Supposed our party had been driven off." They robbed him of everything on his person-a pistol, about $23 in money, his cartridges, &c. We ascertained that they were congregating at a narrow pass of the mountains, in still larger force, about a mile in our front. We then turned and changed our direction and returned to Blairsville, where we got medical attention for Pool, and then left at 1 p. m. yesterday and reached here at 12 at night, bringing our prisoners with us. Pool is badly hurt, though I think he will recover. We will stay with him, or some of us will, until we can carry him home. Our trip has been a comparative failure, so far as results are concerned, but has given us information of the status of things in the mountain counties, which is, in the opinion of our party, that these counties over the Blue Ridge are in armed rebellion against the government in the enforcement of the revenue laws. A better party of men could not be got for cool courage and caution than ours was, but it is useless for any ten or twelve men to go into that country. Severe means will have to be adopted, and a large force employed in order to do anything in that county. We can give you details when we return to Atlanta, as writing with any correctness is impossible, as I have had only one-half night's sleep since Sunday night, the 23d, four days; and having been constantly on the move, either in the saddle or on foot, am so nervous I have doubts about your being able to read this letter. I fear my horse is ruined; got him crippled on the road and may be delayed in getting home. One of our guides ought to have pay for two distilleries that we did not get, as he carried us to the section, and we could have got them if we had not been resisted and the whole country in arms. This is ——, guide, and he traveled a long distance and had a hired horse for nine days and nights. Very respectfully, ANDREW CLARK, Collector. J. C. HENDRIX, [Telegram.] ATLANTA, GA., December 2, 1879. Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue: SIR: Immediately after Deputy Collector Shepard returned from Union and Towns Counties' trip, he went into Rabun County with three men and seized several distilleries, but all his men were seriously wounded in a fight with illicit distillers. One of his men was wounded five times, but, although wounded, my men kept up fire until the distillers were whipped out. It is a dreadful state of affairs, but nothing will draw me away from the performance of my whole duty. I will telegraph to-morrow, if possible, what I think is best to be done to regain the lost ground that cost so much trouble and money to get under control. There is evidently a preconceived plan on the part of illicit distillers through the entire mountain section to resist revenue of ficers, but my men are not flagging, but are hard at work. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. [Telegram.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ANDREW CLARK, Collector, Atlanta, Ga.: You are authorized to employ one hundred and fifty armed men, if necessary, to assert and maintain the supremacy of the law. I wish you to consult Revenue Agents Wagner and Somerville, and act upon their advice with discretion and courage. Without delay cause the arrest of the men engaged in these outrages. Call upon the marshal for all needed assistance. Send strong parties at once into the infected counties, and seize all illicit distilleries. Keep me advised by telegraph. Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue: Fifty men armed with breech-loaders will be force enough. Double this number, with such arms as I can procure here, would be less efficient. I am selecting men; ready in three days. Send immediately by express, if you can, fifty breech-loading Springfield carbines, with one hundred rounds ammunition for each piece. Think Ï can obtain warrants for at least forty of the mob. Will lose no time in perfecting plans. Revenue Agent Somerville concurs as to future action. Will call on marshal to aid me. [Telegram.] ANDREW CLARK, Collector. ANDREW CLARK, Collector, Atlanta, Ga. : TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Dispatch received. Have warrants issued and arrange for co-operation of the marshal at once, so as to avoid expense of keeping so large a force long employed. Employ sober, discreet, responsible men. Go yourself or send your most responsible deputies, and say to Revenue Agent Wagner that I wish him to accompany the party. GREEN B. RAUM, ANDREW CLARK, Collector, Atlanta, Ga.: Commissioner. [Telegram.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Washington, December 3, 1879. Arms and ammunition will be sent you by express to-night. Where is Wagner? GREEN B. RAUM, [Telegram.] ATLANTA, GA., December 3, 1879. Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue: Your instructions will be strictly followed. I will have no men on expense until ready for active operations. Wagner is in Savannah. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. [Telegram.] ATLANTA, GA., December 3, 1879. Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner of Internal Revenue : SIR: Fifty men armed with breech-loaders will be force enough; double this number with such arms as I could procure here would be less efficient. I am selecting men; ready in three days; send immediately by express fifty breech loading Springfield carbines with one hundred rounds ammunition for each piece. Think I can obtain warrants for at least forty of the mob; will lose no time in perfecting plans. Revenue Agent Somerville concurs as to future action. Will call on marshal to aid me. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, SECOND DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, Atlanta, December 2, 1879. SIR: The inclosed copy of a letter, just received from Deputy Shepard, taken in connection with my letter of 1st instant from Savannah with inclosure, shows that in the northeastern counties of my district, opposition to the enforcement of the revenue laws is at once formidable, persistent, and violent. I had hoped that affairs had assumed such a shape in my district that determined opposition to revenue laws had practically ceased. I regret exceedingly that my hopes have not been realized. In accounting for the present defiant attitude of illicit distillers generally, I can add nothing to the opinion expressed in my letter of 1st instant herein referred to. There is certainly no longer any question as to the fallacy of extending immunity to offenders as a preventive of crime. My deputy, Mr. Shepard, has been warned by the law-breakers that if he ever crosses the mountains again he is a dead man. I am maturing my plans for an aggressive campaign against the law-breakers in the counties in which my deputies have recently met with such formidable resistance, and it is my purpose to strike with a firm and determined hand for the extirpation of all frauds and the arrest of guilty parties. It is not my purpose to delay active operations an hour longer than is absolutely necessary to perfect my arrangements, but my experience as a revenue officer is, that for some days after such occurrences the moonshiners are apt to be hiding out, and, therefore, suspend operations and pull out their stills. As soon, however, as my force is in readiness and all the warrants in the hands of the marshal, I shall be on the move. My force will [be] made up of sober, intelligent men, who can be implicitly relied upon. I shall not want for leaders, as I have at least nine regular deputies, either of whom is fully competent to take charge of the expedition and manage it successfully. If my official business is in condition to admit of it, I shall probably accompany the force in person. My deputies are actively at work in their respective divisions, and are daily accomplishing good results. Very respectfully, SIR: On last night, 28th, in keeping with an appointment previously made, I made a raid into Rabun County. On reaching Tallulah River we found it so much swollen by recent rains as to make it impossible to get our horses across, but rather than have the trip turn out a total failure, we crossed in a small boat, leaving our horses behind. We selected two distilleries from the number located, one 10 miles, and the other 12 miles distant, on the same route, and we determined to take it afoot and make the seizures if possible. The first distillery we found was supposed to belong to Worth Grant, because it was located near his house, and I have been told that it was his. It was located on Wolf Creek, about 10 miles from Clayton and 27 from Toccoa, and about 8 miles off the Toccoa and Clayton road. We destroyed the distillery as follows, bringing nothing out: Copper still, cap and worm, 1,800 gallons of beer, 150 gallons of mash, 60 gallons of low-wines, 10 bushels of meal, and 6 bushels of malt. The distillery next seized we supposed belonged to James Turpin, the guide being of this opinion. We found this distillery in operation, and one John Stone in possession. Having no means of transporting the party, we could not do otherwise than release him, which I very much regretted to do. At this distillery we destroyed one copper still, cap and worm, 1,200 gallons of beer, 25 gallons of low-wines, and 4 bushels of meal. Being now very tired from our long and fatiguing journey on foot, we returned to a point within 7 miles of where we had left our horses, and as the night was a bitter cold one and we were wet and cold, we concluded to build a fire and rest until daylight. As soon as our fire brightened up a shot was fired in close proximity to us, and deeming it unsafe to remain in the firelight, we put it out and made ourselves as comfortable as possible "without a fire." At daylight we resumed our journey, and while passing the mouth of Tiger Creek we were fired into by a body of men, secreted in the swamp on the opposite side of the little creek. One of my men, J. M. Daniell, was wounded in five places; one shot in the head, two wounds in the wrist, one in the calf of the leg, and one in the thigh. Another, J. L. Cobb, was wounded in three places, in the leg, thigh, and mouth. The shot in the mouth passed through his lip, lodging in the mouth. Another, P. W. Pitman, received two wounds; one in the wrist, and one in the leg. Cobb's and Daniell's wounds are very severe, but are not considered dangerous. The wound in Daniell's head is quite severe. The slug passed through his hat and a thick fold of paper, laying bare his skull. The ball seems to have ranged downwards, but its location has not yet been discovered by the physician. Although so severely wounded, the men did not falter for a moment, but kept up a steady fire in the underbrush until the distillers were driven off. We were not able to tell whether any of our shots took effect or not. The bushwhackers used shotguns loaded with slugs. Respectfully, ANDREW CLARK, Esq., Collector, Atlanta, Ga. [Telegram.] ATLANTA, GA., December 4, 1879. Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue : Deputy Wilson and party seized distillery with eleven men guarding it. Five were arrested and others driven off. Deputy Roberts seized a large distillery in Rockdale County, destroyed 800 gallons beer, and brought out still. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. ANDREW CLARK, Collector, Atlanta, Ga. : [Telegram.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Send estimate immediately for whatever allowance from fraud fund you need and draft will be sent you. I have confidence that you will not keep the force longer than necessary, I wish constant and vigorous efforts made until all the resisters are arrested if it requires fifty men all winter. Police every county where illicit distilleries are operated. Have the wounded officers well cared for; allowance will be made for surgeon's bills. Express to them my sympathy. Continue their salaries. GREEN B. RAUM, Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, Commissioner Internal Revenue: [Telegram.] ATLANTA, GA., December 5, 1879. Think $2,500 not enough. Will need thirty-five men for at least twenty days at $4 per day, men paying their own expenses. Will exercise most rigid economy. Men will not be under pay until they start. Marshal says he will co-operate. I expect him to furnish fifteen men. We expect to obtain warrants for forty of the outlaws. Wagner is here working with me. ANDREW CLARK, Collector. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, SECOND DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, Atlanta, December 16, 1879. SIR: I have just returned from Dahlonega where I went in company with Revenue Agent Wagner to complete arrangements for my contemplated movements against illicit distillers north of the mountains. I am, however, compelled to say that affairs in that section at this time are in a condition to make it a useless waste of time and money to send in a large force. The outlaws have hid out their stills to be idle and have spies out in every direction watching for the "big raid." Guides whom I expected to meet in Dahlonega had not returned, and I apprehend they cannot, owing to the vigilance of the law-breakers. Other guides have now gone into the infested districts with a view of discovering the perpetrators of the recent outrages and locating stills. I am expecting the return of one of them to-morrow, and if he proves successful I shall be possessed of important information. It is my earnest desire, and I am determined, if possible, to rid the country of these pests. I have therefore decided to strike the section from the northwest, and remain long enough to either arrest or drive out of the country every man engaged in the illicit business. This seems to be the only proper course left me to pursue, as I am fully convinced nothing can be accomplished to compensate for the heavy expense attendant upon a sudden dash in force into the country and out. I have decided, after giving the section a thorough purging, to locate a good deputy at some point north of the Blue Ridge, and support him with a sufficient force for any emergency. This seems to be imperatively demanded, as, with the present disposition of my deputies, the distance to be traveled to reach the work is so great that both men and horses become exhausted on the journey, and, as a result, the work is less effective and results less satisfactory. There is another reason for this action. It is now apparent that detriment to the service results from keeping my regular deputies so much of the time out of their divisions as is necessary to raid the counties north of the mountains. I am loth to assume the responsibility of incurring great expense unless I feel assured that I can accomplish adequate results. Whatever delay ensues will be incident to the caution I wish to observe, and in the mean time every effort will be made to insure ultimate success in the permanent suppression of the evil. Very respectfully, Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, ANDREW CLARK, Collector. Commissioner, Washington, D. C. UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, SECOND DISTRICT Of Georgia, Atlanta, December 19, 1879. SIR: On the 16th instant five of my deputies, accompanied by four United States deputy marshals, went into Cherokee County to make seizures. They had seized two illicit distilleries and assisted the marshals in making the arrest of six men, two of whom were found in one of the distilleries seized, and had accomplished their work, undiscovered by any person until 4 o'clock a. m. on the 17th instant. They had traveled about five miles on their return with the stills and prisoners in charge, and stopped to take some breakfast and feed horses when a crowd numbering about fifteen armed men rode up, inquired for the guides and began to make some very boisterous demonstrations. Meanwhile they tried to exact from the deputy marshals a promise that the prisoners should not be put in jail. They continued their demonstrations, making threats, &c., during the temporary halt of the officers, and when their preparations for continuing their journey were completed, the mob formed in line across the public road in the front of the officers, as if to resist their passage. My deputies loaded their carbines and made preparations to fight, if necessary, and as they approached the mobbers, drove quietly along. The outlaws, perceiving the determination of the officers, gave way and allowed them to pass, saying as they did so, "Give our respects to the parties who led you in here, and tell them never to be seen in this country again." They swore vengeance against our guides, and I am now advised they are guarding the roads so closely they cannot reach Atlanta to testify in the cases. I am also reliably informed they rode into Marietta and warned the keeper of the livery stable at that place that if he again hired stock to revenue officers they would make him suffer for it. This formidable resistance in that section will necessitate the employment of strong force in future. I am determined to have warrants in the hands of the marshal for every one of these outlaws, charging them with conspiracy; and the outlook is that we shall convict not a few of them. I am pressing the work vigorously and need to be strengthened in every way possible. Very respectfully, Hon. GREEN B. RAUM, ANDREW CLARK, Collector. Commissioner, Washington. D. C. |