A letter from Joe Easley to M. L. Armstrong
Dublin Core
Title
A letter from Joe Easley to M. L. Armstrong
Date
1868-07-27
Type
Text
Publisher
Ancestry, citing NARA, 'Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Field Offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands', Series M821, Roll 32, pages 837-840
Source
https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/240792?token=4c07d33dd41c06bba326a808a62ac3deb781294f1a4faa392a9dce7439d2fb90
Description
Letter from Joe Easley in Sulphur Springs to Texas Representative Micajah Louis Armstrong
Creator
US Freedmen's Bureau
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Sulphur Springs, Texas
July 27th 1868
Hon. M. L. Armstrong
Dear Friend
There have been but three murders in this county since I wrote you last, but of all the crimes yet committed they are the most inhuman. I will now give you the details as they have been handed to me from various sources. You recollect that I wrote to you about the murder of a portion of the Starr family. Well, since that one Everett Jackson, a son-in-law of old lady Starr was shot and killed dead just at day light, as he walked out of his house. (It seems that all the family had assembled at the old lady Starrs). About 9 o'clock A. M. a party of men appeared in front of the house and demanded the surrender of Luke Starr, the youngest and only son left of the family. Of course the demand was not complied with. They then told the old lady Starr that if they would deliver up all the fire arms and Luke they would not hurt him or any of the family, if not they would burn them all in the house together whereupon they complied with the demand of the mob, first by delivering all the fire arms in their possession. They then demanded Luke. He at first resisted, but his mother and sisters took him and led him out to where they were, outside of the gate. They told them to sit down on a log, which they did, his mother and sisters sitting beside him, with their arms around his body. One of the party put a double barrel gun against him and hurled him into eternity. This makes a final disposition of the Starr family, except females.
The other murder was committed in the forks of Sulphur. I know nothing of the particulars. He was a freedman. The wildest excitement prevails throughout the county. The Union men are leaving. Eight families are leaving for the North today; while a great many others are said to be making preparations to leave soon. It looks as though I would soon be left alone so far as Union man are concerned. But depend upon it I shall stand at my post. I prefer death to submission. I know that Republican principles will prevail, though every loyal man in the rebel states may fall, if not there is nothing left to live for.
Yours,etc.
(Signed) J. M. Easley
A true copy
July 27th 1868
Hon. M. L. Armstrong
Dear Friend
There have been but three murders in this county since I wrote you last, but of all the crimes yet committed they are the most inhuman. I will now give you the details as they have been handed to me from various sources. You recollect that I wrote to you about the murder of a portion of the Starr family. Well, since that one Everett Jackson, a son-in-law of old lady Starr was shot and killed dead just at day light, as he walked out of his house. (It seems that all the family had assembled at the old lady Starrs). About 9 o'clock A. M. a party of men appeared in front of the house and demanded the surrender of Luke Starr, the youngest and only son left of the family. Of course the demand was not complied with. They then told the old lady Starr that if they would deliver up all the fire arms and Luke they would not hurt him or any of the family, if not they would burn them all in the house together whereupon they complied with the demand of the mob, first by delivering all the fire arms in their possession. They then demanded Luke. He at first resisted, but his mother and sisters took him and led him out to where they were, outside of the gate. They told them to sit down on a log, which they did, his mother and sisters sitting beside him, with their arms around his body. One of the party put a double barrel gun against him and hurled him into eternity. This makes a final disposition of the Starr family, except females.
The other murder was committed in the forks of Sulphur. I know nothing of the particulars. He was a freedman. The wildest excitement prevails throughout the county. The Union men are leaving. Eight families are leaving for the North today; while a great many others are said to be making preparations to leave soon. It looks as though I would soon be left alone so far as Union man are concerned. But depend upon it I shall stand at my post. I prefer death to submission. I know that Republican principles will prevail, though every loyal man in the rebel states may fall, if not there is nothing left to live for.
Yours,etc.
(Signed) J. M. Easley
A true copy
Collection
Citation
US Freedmen's Bureau, "A letter from Joe Easley to M. L. Armstrong," Rethinking Violence, July 27, 1868, accessed July 24, 2026, https://www.rethinkingviolence.com/items/show/1025.