The Often Brutal Reality of Emancipation in Austin

A follow up to my recent post about the first known Juneteenth celebration in Austin. What follows is a series of White newspaper articles and tidbits about life in Austin for freedmen and freedwomen for a few months before and after June 19, 1865, both good and mostly not so good. There were, of course, no Black newspapers and no coverage from the freed people’s perspective.

May 25, 1865

Confederate soldiers, without officers or order, are coming in every hour, and there is nothing but plunder and sack going on –and the citizens are as bad as the soldiers.

May 26, 1865

Both negro men and women have deserted their homes, and are hanging about the streets, watching the white men plundering, but too much afraid of the white man, to take a hand in the work.

June 14, 1865

Today the soldiers are looting the government stables. They are dividing the mules and horses and saddlery among themselves. The noise and tumult is indescribable.

June 21, 1865

A fourth ward rookery seems to be the asylum of discontented freedwomen, who cannot get along with white people. A respectable denizen of that neighborhood asserts positively that the quiet of sundry chickens has been disturbed in broad day at the place in question. Comment unnecessary.

THE FLAG-RAISING. — Local went down Friday evening to see the flag and hear the talk. We found a large crowd of gentlemen of all shades of opinion gathered about, some of them on horseback; a number of ladies and children in the upper stories of the adjacent buildings; a good sprinkling of officers and soldiers, but by far the largest number of observers consisted of negroes who impudently crowded into some of the best places, and in fact seemed disposed to monopolize the whole thing.

About 5 o’clock Gen. Merritt arrived on the ground. Soon after the flag went up rather lazily, and seemed to hang fire a few moments. It soon righted, however, and unfolded to the breeze, and a shot from the foundry announced the thing done. Three cheers were proposed and given with a hearty good will; the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the niggers showed their teeth. Long may the flag wave “over the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Judge Turner was called out, who responded in a speech of probably half an hour’s length. We were too far off to hear much. He was applauded frequently. The soldiers demanded that the custodian of the identical then in the breeze, who had faithfully preserved it since it was taken down at secession, should exhibit it himself. 

The Speech of Judge Paschal

There was no way of getting out of the scrape, and accordingly, Capt. Geo. Hancock was forced upon a good box erected on the corner. He blushingly showed himself, bowed gracefully, and retired in good order.

In response to repeated calls, Judge George W. Paschal made a characteristic speech. The crowd listened patiently for an hour or more, and frequently interrupted the speaker with applause. The military band discoursed excellent music at intervals.

It is impossible to give a full synopsis of the speech of Judge Paschal at the hoisting of the flag at Hancock’s corner. It was listened to an hour and a half by thousands, few of whom left or stirred during the whole time.

He said that he found himself forced to speak in the presence of several hundred sable producers of King Cotton, and he would not shrink from the task of speaking to them. “You come here,” said the speaker to the negroes, “feeling that you have an interest in this old flag, which was never the … poor woman – a place where there is a great deal of singing and nothing to do. But you will find it a freedom which gives no holiday to head-aches, side-aches, back and belly aches!

If you nurse and physic these much afflicted organs hereafter, it will be at your own expense. You will have to pay the doctors to kill you, and the sextons to bury you, just as white people do. I have paid more of these expenses, than would hire a dozen of you your whole lives.

The 1st Louisiana Cavalry are on duty at this place, Lt. Col. Badger commanding. As a general thing the citizens and troops get along very well together. No serious trouble has arisen. We hear of a gentleman being fined for selling liquor to soldiers, contrary to orders; another arrested for singing the Bonnie Blue Flag, and still another for some cause unknown to us. We believe these parties have been released, and the matters amicably adjusted. We are glad to hear this. It is absolutely necessary that troops should be at hand to repress violence and enforce law.

I have generally clothed and fed ten to get the labor of two. None of us will do this any more. You must pay for your cursed awkwardness and carelessness, which have generally ruined your masters. You never were much of workers any way. I have seen you broken down in the cotton fields and fainting in the wheat fields, in the rows, away behind the well-knit young white men. So go to your homes, and make your arrangements to do better work for less pay.” To the northern officers and soldiers he said, “Your people sent down among us a number of dwarf school-masters, lawyers and editors, who had been falsely taught, at home, that all whites sat in the shade, and only negroes worked.”

We all prayed for them [the Union soldiers] to come when riot ruled not many weeks since; now they are here, and let us thank our stars for it.

CAME BACK. — A lot of negroes followed the soldiers as they left for San Antonio last week. No doubt they calculated upon big rations, plenty of clothes and no work. It seems they started with the view of proceeding with the division to San Antonio, but on getting a few miles from town they tired out and consented to come back.

June 24, 1865

The sheriff read the Emancipation Proclamation. He read it with no more ceremony than if he was giving notice of a forced sale of land. He was surrounded by white men, who listened without interest or remark, and the negroes were shocked and dismayed. They had been sure that the news of their freedom would come with the calling of trumpets, the firing of cannon, and triumphant entry of a victorious army.

Instead, they got:

[Official.]

H’D Q’Rs District of Texas.

Galveston, Tex., June 19, 1865.

General Orders No. 3.

The people are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free and this involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.

The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes, and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

By order of

[Signed] F. W. Emery A.A.G.

Maj. Gen. Granger

June 28, 1865

Our city is in somewhat of an uncivil condition owing chiefly to the position of the negroes. Upon the receipt of General Granger’s Order No. 6, many owners of the slaves informed them of their status, and gave them full explanations of their condition. We know of a number of cases where the negroes were much attached to their former owners, and implored them quite sympathetically to permit them to remain in their employ as they had always been previously. Others concluded that the “blessed boon of freedom” was too good a thing to lose the immediate benefit of, and exultantly took themselves from the scenes of their former labors. The former class are, from what observation and the inquiry we have been able to make, more obedient, if possible, and more humble than formerly.

They seem serious, while the latter class can be seen loafing around the streets at all hours of the day, without home or master, and without any visible employment. We have seen several within the last few days who seemed to be traveling to some distant point, as they were well packed and riding tolerably good horses.

Our citizens, as a general thing, consider they have no right or authority to inquire into their cases, and are not certain but that any movement of this kind would be considered officiousness on their part.

For ourselves we are satisfied that all action of the municipal authorities, city or county, tending to a proper police of the country, and for the preservation, intact, of the social interest of the community, would be acceptable to the authorities of the general government. Indeed we risk nothing, we think, in assuring our readers that all laudable efforts to this end upon the part of the municipal authorities will be endorsed by the military power which is soon looked for here. Let those whose province it is, under the necessities of the country, consider and look to this.

A lot of colored women have gone to housekeeping in regular style, in a recently vacated tenement in the northern part of the city. They receive the visits of their friends, talk largely, gossip some, we suppose, in imitation of other people, wash clothes, and vegetate generally. This is a considerable accession to “society” in that end of town, and we doubt not the addition is duly appreciated by the neighborhood. So we go.

July 4, 1865

We understand that quite a number of the negroes have collected at the old Arsenal buildings in this city, who are arguing about, living principally on the roasting ears taken from the nearest fields. The friend of ours informs us that he visited this rancho on Saturday for the purpose of finding a good cook, whose services the desired.

There were plenty there, but he was unsuccessful in hiring, the negroes saying that they would await the arrival of the federal troops when they would get plenty of work and big pay.

July 7, 1865

Mayor’s Court. — Tom, a “freedman,” was sentenced to receive 50 lashes is on the bare back, and then to be returned to his former master, provided the costs were paid; otherwise, the said “freedman” was required to perform physical and manual labor upon the streets to the amount due. The whipping was remitted because Tom had never been in such a fix before.

Lawrence, another “freedman,” was adjudged guilty of a similar offense, the same judgment was awarded, conditions similar, and he fared exactly like Tom.

Lem, another “freedman,” was adjudged guilty, and fined $1 and costs, which was paid promptly by his former master, and the colored gentleman taken home to comfortable quarters.

John, another American citizen of African descent, was adjudged guilty of vagrancy, fined $3 and in default of payment condemned to work on the streets at fifty cents per day, until fine and cost were paid.

Jo and Jim preferred to risk the mercy of His Honor, the Mayor, and accordingly waived a jury trial. They were reprimanded and released on good behavior hereafter.

Chloe, a “freedwoman,” was arraigned on a charge of selling spirituous liquors without a license. Having waived a jury, she was mulcted in a fine of $10, besides costs. Chloe promptly paid up, and promised better behavior in future.

The “Freedmen” have partially withdrawn their besieging forces, though the siege of the city has not been entirely raised. The e is still in possession of the citizens, and being well provisioned, and having been furnished by the municipal authority with some regularly manned batteries of suitable calibre, they feel confident of their ability to hold the place until reinforcements arrive from the Federal forces, which, however, have not been heard from at the time of our going to press.

An Ordinance Concerning Vagrants.

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Austin, as follows:

Section 1. — The following described persons are hereby declared to be vagrants:

First. — All able-bodied persons, who, not having any visible means of support, live idly, without employment.

Second. — All able-bodied Freedmen, or other free persons of color, who have abandoned the service of their former masters or employers, for the purpose of idleness; or who are found loitering or rambling about, or idly wandering around the streets or other public thoroughfares, or in any public place.

Third. — All persons found lodging in the open air, or in any shed, stable or other outhouse without permission from the person owning or controlling the premises.

Fourth. — All persons who shall be found trespassing in the night time, upon the private premises of another, and not giving a good account of themselves.

Fifth. — All able-bodied persons wandering abroad and begging; or going from door to door begging; or placing themselves in the streets or other thoroughfares, or in any public place, to beg or receive alms.

Section 4. — Whoever shall be found guilty of being a vagrant, within the meaning of the Ordinance, shall be punished as follows:

First. — If the defendant is a white person or free person of color, not included within the definition of Freedmen, he shall be assessed to pay a fine of not less than three, nor more than one hundred dollars, with cost, for the first offense; for the second offense, not less than six, nor more than one hundred dollars; for the third offense, not less than nine, nor more than one hundred dollars, and so on, the minimum penalty to be increased three dollars, with costs, upon each additional conviction.

Second. — If the defendant is a Freedman he may be fined as in the preceding clause of this section or he may be punished by whipping, at the discretion of the jury or mayor trying the case, and returned to his former master or employer.

Section 5. — If the defendant be a person of color, and if the fine and cost adjudged against him, is not promptly paid, he shall be committed to the custody of the City Marshal, and it shall be the duty of the Marshal to hire said defendant at public outcry, after giving at least one day’s notice, thereof, by posting advertisements at three public places within the City of Austin, for the shortest period for which the bidder will take said defendant, and pay therefor the amount of the fine and cost, including the cost of keeping and hiring. Such hiring shall be for cash, payable before the defendant shall be delivered into the hands of the hirer.

Section 6. — The hirer of a person under the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be entitled to the services of such person during the time for which he is hired, and may use such force, and inflict such chastisement as necessary to compel such hired person to labor.

Section 8. — If the Marshal is not able to hire said defendant as provided for in section five, after reasonable efforts to do so, he shall put said defendant to work on the streets for the benefit of the City, there to be kept at work, at the rate of fifty cents per day, until the amount of said fine and cost is extinguished, and may use such force and inflict such chastisement as may be necessary to compel the defendant to work. He may also, if necessary, put a ball and chain on the person of the defendant.

August 8, 1865

SIDEWALK VIEW. — A negro fellow last week had the temerity to show fight towards an inoffensive white man from the country, who was inebriated. As to the cause we are not advised. Some national soldiers near by witnessing the affair, took up the matter and gave the darkey a good kicking. He will not soon forget his trip down the sidewalk, propelled by blue cloth and army leather.

August 11, 1865

Capt. Snow, Provost Marshal, is getting after the idle freedmen. He notifies all darkeys loitering about without any regular employment, that they will be arrested by the provost guard and carried before him for trial as vagrants. This is an excellent order, and receives the approval of the entire community.

We learn from the Republican that the small pox has existed in Marshal for some weeks. The unrestrained rambling of negroes over the country affords facilities for the rapid spread of this loathsome disease. It may make its appearance in our midst at any time. If it does and if there is not some change effected in the mode of living with our negro population, no one can anticipate the destruction of life that will come. It would be well for those in authority to think of this and adopt such measures of defense as may be necessary and proper?

September 1, 1865

And still another instance is reported to us of white men robbing a negro jacal of certain articles.

Another instance of robbing a negro in the street occurred Tuesday evening. A white man stopped a boy in the street and forcibly took a cheese from him; and the boy would have lost all he had, if he had not been fleet of foot.

We heard of a black woman obtruding herself among the white ladies at the Baptist Church, during evening service, last week. She was promptly conducted to a back seat.

A similar thing happened at the Methodist Church Sunday night. When the sermon was about half through, a colored woman deliberately walked down the aisle and planted herself in a seat near the centre of the house, in the midst of a number of ladies. There was considerable sensation produced, mixed with indignation at the act, and so small flutter among the ladies. She sat only a moment. A young gentleman very properly went to her and showed her the door. She was probably put up to it by parties outside.

Last Friday night the darkeys had a grand shin-dig at the Peck hall. A guard was in attendance, and we are told, good order prevailed.

TOO BAD. — We are credibly informed that on last Monday evening, some low mean white man was caught fondly embracing a negro friend of his on the street, and trying by a sleight-of-hand process, to make himself possessor of the money which he thought he had heard jingle in said negro’s pockets. His fury at finding the negro’s pockets filled with nothing but nails, and his surprise at being marched off to jail for so slight a “breach of etiquette” as that of attempting to rob a negro, can be better imagined that described.

September 8, 1865

Last Monday night a negro man was overhauled on the street by white men (soldiers, whose names are unknown) and without any provocation beaten in the face with a stave until the blood flowed freely. It seems to be dangerous for darkeys to frequent out of the way places at night.

September 18, 1865

NEGROES. — We have been frequently asked now how the idle negroes, now infesting our thoroughfares, make a living. Don’t know: they are living, but how, what on, or where we are unable to say — more than likely they saved a few dollars before they were freed, and to show that they can live without working, are now crowding our sidewalks, to the great annoyance of our citizens. When Gen. Gregory arrives, we trust a change will take place.

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