A. H. Bowen to James S. Brisbin

Accession Number

KYR-0001-003-0126

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1863-1867

Item Location

BR5-223 to BR5-227

Place of Creation

Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

25 September 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-09-25

1865-09-22

1865-09-05

1865-09-09

1865-09-26

1865

1865-09-27

1865-09-28

A. H. Bowen to James S. Brisbin, 25 September 1865, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's Official Correspondence File, Military Correspondence, 1863-1867, BR5-223 to BR5-227, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-003-0126, (accessed September 9, 2024).

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Hd. Quarters 1st Div Dept Ky
Lexington Ky September 25/65
General

In compliance with instructions of September 22' I have the honor to state that I have made a thorough investigation of the interference on the part of the Military with the civil laws at Harrodburg Ky and would respectfully summit the following report

On the 5' day of September Lieut Col. John D. Hale of the Mercer County Militia was seized by a party of fourteen "14" citizens living in the vicinity of Harrodsburg Ky, armed with double barrel ^shot^ guns, pistols and knives and forcibly taken by them to some distance in the country and kept for twenty four, 24, hours when he was released upon his promising not to prosecute any of them for making an illegal arrest, At the
time of arresting him the party were nearly all intoxicated and threatened to kill him by hanging and shooting and said openly in the streets of Harrodsburg that they came there for the purpose of killing Hale and they intended to do it. When Hale was first arrested and the party made the above remarks a man by the name of Jefferson Roberds came up to the party with a rope and urged them to hang Hale saying that if they would he (Roberds) would tie the ropes around his (Hale) neck.

On the release of Hale he returned to Harrodsburg Ky and seeing Roberds followed him into the office of Mr. Chas H. Hardin Atty where he spoke to him and asked him why he had done as he did the day before Roberds denied every thing when Hale told him to come with him, and he would have him confront a man who would prove that he had done what he was charged with
whereupon Roberds jumped up and thrust his hand into his pocket as though in the act of drawing a pistol when Hale drew his revolver (a large sized navy) and presented at Roberds breast and told him if he drew a pistol on him he would shoot him

At this time several others interferred and took Hale out one side and talked with him a few moments when the trouble was settled. A man by the name of Mr. Bowen acting in the capacity of civil policeman on learning of the above quarrel between Hale & Roberds applied for and obtained a warrant for arrest of Hale for a breach of the peace in drawing a pistol on Roberds which he attempted to serve on the evening of the 9' day of September When Lt W. F. Bishop Comdg. a Co of 5' U. S. C. C stationed at that place interferred and prevented the officer from making the arrest

I will here state that at the time
Hale was arrested (as will be seen by the accompanying affadavits) several of the civil officers including the police judge and several of his policeman stood by and saw it and did not attempt to stop the proceedings but actually urged others who were going to the assistance of Hale from doing so under the pretext they they were afraid that if any one interferred they would all be killed I enclose here the affadavits of Thomas H. Hardin Judge of Police court Chas H. Hardin atty Mr. Bowen policeman and Col Hale also the official report of Lt Bishop in which this report is based As will be seen by referring to affadavits of Col. J D. Hale Judge Hardin told him Hale "during the absence of Lt Bishop that Lieut Bishop had gone to Lousiville in arrest and that if he returned to Harrodsburg Ky he (the judge) intended to order out the citizens and kill Bishop and all his niggers. It would show by those re=
marks that Judge Hardin might if he had chosen to do so have ordered out citizens enough to have prevented 14 men from perpetrating these disgraceful outrages that was purpetrated in arresting Hale

Taking into consideration the fact of Hales being taken and treated as he was by this party of citizens and the non interference of the legal authorities in endeavoring to prevent it and the prompt manner in which a warrant was issued for Hales arrest when he quarrelled with this man Roberds. It certainly looks like a desire on the part of the civil authorities to pester Hale all they could do legally and take no step to prevent others from doing it illegally if they chose therefore I consider the interferrence of Lt Bishop was proper and well timed

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
Your obt Svt

A. H. Bowen
Major and A. A. I. G
I. D. D. Ky

Brig General
Jas S. Brisbin
Comdg 1 Div Dept Ky

Hd Qrs 1 D D Ky
Lexington Ky Sep 26/65

Bowen
Major & A A. I. G
1 D D Ky

Forwards report of investigations of affairs at Harrodsburg. Ky.

Hd. Qrs 1^st Div D. K,
Lexington Ky. Sept. 26" 65

B 451. 1^st Div D. Ky 1865

Respectfully returned with attention invited to enclosed reports of Maj A. H. Bowen A. I. G. and LieutBishop 5" U. S. C. C. and affidavits of JudgeHardin, Cha^sA.Hardin, M. V. Bowen and Col J. D. Hale.

Ja^s S. Brisbin
Brig Genl.
Comdg. Div

Rec^d D K -- 9 -- 27 -- 1865

E & M. C G Vol. 3. D. K. 1865.

Hd. Qrs Dept Ky.
Louisville. Sept 28./65

Respectfully returned to Thos. E. Bramlette Gov. of Ky -- inviting atttention to report of Maj. Brown and to accompanying affadavits --

W^m W [...]
Capt. & A. A. A. Genl.
In absence of Genl. Comdg.

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Hd. Quarters 1 Div Dept Ky
Lexington Ky September 25/65
General

On the 5' day of September Lieut Col. John D. Hale of the Mercer County Militia was seized by a party of fourteen "14" citizens living in the vicinity of Harrodsburg: Ky, armed with double barrel ^shot^ guns, pistols and knives and forcibly taken by them to some distance in the country and kept for twenty four 24, hours when he was released upon his promising not to prosecute any of them for making an illegal arrest, At the
time of arresting him the party were nearly all intoxicated and threatened to kill him by hanging and shooting and said openly in the streets of Harrodsburg that they came there for the purpose of killing Hale.. and they intended to do it. When Hale was first arrested and the party made the above remarks a man by the name of Jefferson Robards came up to the party with a rope and urged them to hang Hale saying that if they would he (Robards) would tie the ropes around his (Hale) neck.

On the release of Hale he returned to Harrodsburg Ky and seeing Robards followed him into the office of Mr. Chas H. Hardin Atty. where he spoke to him and asked him why he had done as he did the day before Robards denied every thing. When Hale told him to come with him, and he would have him confront a man who would prove that he had done what he was charged with
Whereupon Robards jumped up and thrust his hands into his pocket as though in the act of drawing a pistol when Hale drew his revolver (a large sized navy) and presented at Robards breast and told him if he drew a pistol on him he would shoot him

At this time several others interferred and took Hale out one side and talking with him a few moments when the trouble was settled. A man by the name of Mr Bowen acting in the capacity of civil policeman on learning of the above quarrel between Hale & Robards applied for and obtained a warrant for arrest of Hale for a breach of the peace in drawing a pistol on Robards which he attempted to serve on the evening of the 9' day of September When Lt W. F. Bishop Comdg a Co of 5' Vol U. S. C. C stationed at that place interferred and prevented the officer from making the arrest

I will here state that at the time
Hale was arrested (as will be seen by the accompanying affadavits) several of the civil officers including the police judge and several of his policeman stood by and saw it and did not attempt to stop the proceedings but actually urged others who were giong to the assistance of Hale from doing so under the pretext they they were afraid that if any one interferred they would all be killed I enclose here the affadavist of Thomas A. Hardin Judge of Police court Chas H. Hardin atty. Mr. Bowen policeman and Col Hale also the official report of Lt Bishop in which this report is based As will be seen by referring to affadavits of Col. I D. Hale Judge Hardin told him Hale "during the absence of Lt Bishop that Lieut Bishop had gone to Lousiville in arrest and that if he returned to Harrodsburg Ky he (the judge) intended to order out the citizens and kill Bishop and all his niggers. It would show by their re=
marks that Judge Hardin might if he had chosen to do so have ordered out citizens enough to have prevented 14 men from perpetrating there disgraceful outrages that was pertrated in arresting Hale

Taking into consideration the fact of Hales being taken and treated as he was by this party of citizens and the non interference of the legal authorities in endeavoring to prevent it and the prompt manner in which a warrant was issued for Hales arrest when he quarrelled with this man Robards. It certainly looks like a desire on the part of the civil authorities to pester Hale all they could do legally and take no step to prevent others from doing it illegally if they chose therefore I consider the interferrence of Lt Bishop was proper and well timed

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
Your obt Svt
A, H, Bowen
Major and A. A. I. G
I. D. D. Ky

Brig General
Jas S. Brisbin
Comdg 1 Div Dpt Ky

Hd Qrs D o D Ky
Lexington Ky Sep 26/65

Bowen
Major & A A. I. G
1 D D Ky

Forward report of investigations of affairs at Harrodsburg. Ky.

Hd. Qrs 1^st Div D, K,
Lexington Ky. Sept 26" 65
B 451. 1st Div D Ky 1865

Respectfully returned with attention invited to enclosed reports of Maj A. H. Bowen A. I. G. and Lieut Bishop 5" U. S. C. C. and affidavits of Judge Hardin, Cha^s A. Hardin, M.V. Bowen and Col J. D. Hale.

Ja^s S. Brisbin
Brig Genl.
Comdg. Div

Recd D K -- 9-27-1865

E & M. C G Vol. 3. D K. 1865.
Hd. Qrs Dept Ky.
Louisville. Sept 28/65

Respectfully returned to Thos. E. Bramlette Gov. of Ky -- inviting atttention to report of Maj Brown and to accompanying affadavits --

W^m W [...]
Capt. & A. A. A. Genl.
In absence of Genl. Comdg.

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