Nimrod Porter Papers

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Election / Congress } through the day verry well No disturbence All things seemed to act quietly Jim Beard Challenged some of the Voters When they took the Oath he got tired & quit challenging Jno D. Moore John Ament & myself acted as Judges Thomas beat Arnall in this Box Thomas got & in the County he beat Arnall 213 Votes Arnell did not get a single Vote in the 10th Dist. where he was raised. Fri 4 } I went to Town Met S. W. Fitspatrick there made out a Voucher in his name for my little Mule valued at $125.00 Col Fitzpatrik / My claim } Made A. M. Hughs a power of Atto to collect it he being Claim } appointed Claim agt & will leave for Washington in a few days I paid in Stamp attached to the Certificated $1.10 Fitspatrick will obtain the Voucher he will filed it with his Clames with See / Fitspatrick ) Hughs & pay the proceeds over to me when collected The reason it was made out in Fitspatricks name the Mule was taken by the soldiers & give him a recpt for it 1865 / Augt / Sat 5 } I stayed at home William went to Town In the Bugga with Thomas & Thomas drove the buga to B. B. & William got his filla William } & rode home There was a little shower of Rain at 12 oclock little rain } Not enough to do but little good Just did lay the dust & hardly that Turnips } We sowed a few roes of turnips in the garden No work going Stealing / Negroes on The Neroes are stealing all our Corn in rostening ears It is verry warm indeed Preston has been & work at the Ginger

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Preston } Spring for several days cleaning it out Not done yet Sun 6 } The weather is verry warm My health is some better the weakness & debility that has been attending me for a week or 10 days seems better this morning, tho I have had but little My Self } use of my self & could scarely walk to do any good for nearly 2 weeks My general health otherwise has not been so bad tho Not so well / My Self } I have not been well by any means I have been able to go to Town all the time, when necessary in my Bugga Mon 7. } I went to Town There was a greate many Citisens in Town The Authorities (Fedrel) is taking up many Citisens for disputes amongs the Negroes they are fining them for there quarrels some as high as a $100.00 I recollect they do as they please L. Kirk / killed ) with the money. It is certain they have killed Lewis Kirk at Pulaskie had no trial as we learn. Th. 8 } I went to Town Willam drove my Mule to Pulaskie Ock has started to School Monday 7. She attends night & morning to Ock } supper & breakfast Rich is knocking about the place not doing much of any thing but still here the most he does is try to keep the stock out of the field 1865 / Augt ) I stayed at home & got no particular news A little shower Wed 9 ) of rain not sufficient to do any good. Aleck bought 10lbs of Meat with some wood. No one is doing Rich } any thing but Rich he is knocking round & Plum is trying to William } feed some two horses. William came home from Pulaskie at 11 oclock he drove from home to Pulaskie & back to Lynville

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yesterday & home to day, Thomas L., came back home this evening Th 10 } I went to Town I agreed to go with our neighbours to N. Vaughn } Pulaskie & see what we would do for Newton Vaughn in Jail at Pulaskie There is thought to be some danger of the authorities shooting him. There is some excitement about the Negro the Citizens & the authorities The Citizens are take up for every little accurrence that may take place & fined The money is what they want Friday 11. } I went to Town took the Cars to Pulaskie in company with Pulaskie ] J. N. Sulivans Shff F. M. Dooley, Dr. J. T. Aki, Jo B. Woodside, Wm P. Gent, Jas S. Reaves, & N. Porter & John Col & Judge ) Sulavin making 8 of us We went to Pulasky saw Judge Walker Advocate / Pulaskie ) So Ca, E. Rose John C. Brown Thos Walker & others put up at the Tennessee house got dinner got to see the Judge Advocate Capt J. P. Rixford he went with me to see the Col Mix Commander of the post in company with Dan C. Anderson Treasurer & Register & Justice of the piece, old Citizen of the place & a friend to the Porters of long standing. I there at the Cols made & concluded an agreement with the Col & Vaughn } Judge Advocate for the present release of N. Vawn which was Bond of $1000. / and Money $1000. ) as follows We all with Vaughn entered into a Joint bond of $1000 for Vaughns appearence when called upon to answer the charges agt him by there giving us 5 days notice of the time of tryal We also deposited $1000 in money as security for

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the same to be given up when the Trial is went into or dismissed. 1865 Augt 11 } After giving the bond & depositing the money mentioned, Friday continued) the Irons were knocked off Vaughn & him set at liberty We with Vaught put up & stayed all night at the Tennessee house where we were kindly treated, rejoicing with our friends for Vaughn } the success we have had so far, the poor boy Vaughn was truly over Joyed so much that he shead tears freely We finished and closed our business with the day. Sat 12 } After breakfast we went out & I saw my Gray filly Amanday passing bye the Chef Clerk in the Quarter Masters department In Pulaskie } was on her cleamed her as his own She was not branded I set about & found two men there that know her seen her run in Maury County One of the men was living in Pulaskie at Gray Mare / $200} this time by the name of F. McBride the other was F. M. Doolay that went with us & live in Columbia I procured there Pulaskie } written affidavit proving the Mare to be my property I also Pulaskie } with there affidavids give my affidavid proving the Mare to be mine. I resented to the Chief Clerk McDonald the affidavids & demanded my Mare We compromised it by his giving me $200.00 for her I transfered her on the back of the affidavids to him & promised to give him when called on in Maury County her pedigree which states she is through bread. We all repaired to the Depot got on the Cars at 12 oclock

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Smith P. } night. Simth stayed all day I came home before night, nothing doing Wed 16 } I stayed at home bad cold. Wash & Monk is mooving there Wash } house to South of the Spring No news looks a little like rain Smith } Smith P. went to Town came back at night It seems that the Negroes } Negroes are determined to take all our Corn out of the fields to feed there horses & rosting ears to sell in Town We are trouble verry much with the stock in our fields. (Bad Cold) Th 17 } It is dark & cloudy & turned much colder the Wind is from Cold } the North looks like rain this morning. Smith P. went to Town Rockaway Mare ) this morning I haltered & tighed Rockaway Mares head down to keep her from Jumping & turned her out with on her Colt is remarkable fine a bay filly none better. Nothing doing Richard } Rich is trying to keep the stock out of the field Our little Game Cock ) red game ruster was taken to day I was verry unwell & had lay down to rest I heard them when they got him but could not see who done it 1865 Augt ) The weather is quite Cool cleared off & no rain My Cold Fri 18th ) has broke & I think I am getting better I have been quite unwell for several days ever since last Sunday, & am in feelings not much better P. Smith is staying with me of nights goes to Town of days (Nothing doing) The blacks are all well that is here William

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Negores ) and Mag has not returned yet they left last Monday I Wm & Mag still gone ) drove the little black Mule again this evening to Town & back, I think the last time I will do so tho I have though so before. I was unwell & it hurt me a good deal, there was no particular news. The crops are burning up for the want [Left margin: pointing hand] of rain it is predicted it will rain on Monday the 21 Andrews / Welsh ) The investating Comitty upon Wm J Andrews & Frank Welshs case arose got through there labours & gone back to Nashville Court of enquiry) to report, it is not known there decission. They set & took evidence with closed doores none permitted present but themselves & the Witness upon examination. There was no witness examind for Andrews & Welsh but several others for the prosecution Amongst them was the well known & renouned Jim Beard, Jum Grigery & others of that stripe Arnell & Bernon Frierson standing behind the screen stearing the derection the Witnesses were to take. Sat 19 } [Left margin horizonally: See Mon 21 paid] I send early this morning to Wm P Gants & got 307 lbs of Bacon $61.40 ) Bacon (sides) at $20 Cents pr lb. Amt $61.40 Cents This is Wm Gant ) Allis Youngs Meat I am to pay for it upon sught (paid) before night (10 Midlings) Wm & Mag } William & Mag got home in the evening from Lawrence (I have N. Vaughn } stayed at home all day Verry bad cold) Newton Vaughn came to see me to git me to go back to Pulaskie upon his matters

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with Dr Akins. If I am well enough I will go on tuesday. It seems that the stock Cattle & horses are determined Stock } to destroy the Crops 1865 Augt ) The weather is extremely dry but verry poor Crops will Sun 20 ) be made in this neighbourhood The Cotton is looking better than the Corn if rain is not had in a few days we will raise but little to eat for the next year. My Cold is breaking & Self } I think I will mend shortly tho I am bad off yet.(prophesying Steal chickens ) it will rain tomorrow) It appears the blacks will steal all Corn ) our chickens & we have not been able to ketch them at it they are taking our Corn until we cant have much left Mon 21st } I went to Town paid Wm P Gant for the Bacon I got Saturday paid Wm P Gant / See Sat 19 ) 307 lbs at 20 Cts per lb $61.40 Cents. Maryann was in Town I started some hands to cutting out the stalks of Corn that hands Working } had no ears on them & shocking them up in the field. Web, Work } Richard, Plim West (& a boy Andrew at 50 Cents per day) the others goes on at the same price they have been working at heretofore Tu 22 } The boys cut Corn until dinner It rained at 2 oclock a shower Just enough to keep the hands from going to work the ballence Work } of the evening I stayed at home got now news. I was not so Work } well all day The rain was not sufficient to do any good in the Crops Same hands at work as was yesterday

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Threats &c / See Mon 31 ) have been threatening to have this done for some time they have by there speaches & by there prophesying it would be done & by there reporting to the authorities things that never did happen until the authorities are dissatisfyed & excited with the people & Citisens of Columbia & the pople of the County Generally The truth is the friends of Mr Arneld was determined to Elect him to Congress, threatened if it was not done a Negro rule would be the result, at this post. Mr. Arnell failed the Conservatives carried the County by over 200 & Elected Thomas to Congress Reporters dissatisyed ) in this district The [underlined]Reporters have been beaten & they are with the people ) now reaking Vengence for it against the people These reporters have been carrying on a secret Malicious Lying course towards the pople of this County for a long time Acasioning this bad feelings with the authorities both here & at Nashville agt the people of this County as I think verry unnessary, say the least of it. The Authorities both here & at Nashville are not so much to blame they have these reporters employed & of Course are bound to believe them hence the condition of affairs at this time & has been for some time These reporters must make the reports or there Services would not be wanting 1865 Augt / Sun 27 } I see many Negroes passing to Columbia verry considerable

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excitement meeting the Negro regt & soldiers in Columbia. It looks verry much like all our Corn will be gathered out of the field by the Negroes No help for it that I can see. Things are getting along verry poorely Nothing doing except stealing. Mon 28 } This is 1st day of the Circut Court & a greate many people Circut Cort ) in Town Court was called Judge J. C. Walker presiding The Grand Jury was panneled the petit Jury dismissed until next Monday Tue 29 } I was in Town got up a pitteon to Genl Thomas to order M. Vaughn } the case of Newton Vaughn changed from the Military to the Civil Courts to be tryed. Wed 30 } I have agreed to go with N.Vaughn to Nashville this morning Nashville } to prevail upon Genl Thomas to intercede in his behalf to change his tryal from the Military to the Civil I got to See remarks / Sun 4 ) Nashville at 5 in the evening put up at the St Clouds house George F. Case proprietor The fair was good the eatables verry fine & splendid & the beads & all was verry fine We Th 31st } stayed Wed night, had supper Breakfast dinner & supper Th June } 31st Augt & Breakfast Friday 1st Sept & paid $8.00 that is $4.00 per day. Fr 1st / Rain } I came home Friday 2d got Wet at the Depot in Columbia June / Sat 2d } It commenced rain this morning & is raining a good rain at

110 taken verry well by the more Conservative portion of the people The radicals cant stomick it & the reporters are from every appearance much creasefallen & much dishartened There Negro soldiers are some what cresse fallen too from appearance. Sun 17 William & Mag went off in the Bugga I suppose to Meeting it is 12 oclock and every appearance of rain thundring at intervals It rained South & East not much here Mon Brick 18) It rained last night I went to Looney^s this morning to see Brick if there were much more brick, & found we have not halled the forth of them, there are at least 30,000 there yet. I bought Baskets $3.00) 6 Cotton baskets at 50 Cents each. I told the boy Eli, formerly belonging to E. Caruthers, to leave and go right off & he took me at my word, he was verry finely dress like he was ready to go into the ball room &c has fine suit of Cloth close must have cost not less than $100. hat boots & fine shirt Boys Work all in perportion Said he came to see the folks, but he left soon halled 7 loads of Brick^s 1865 Sept 19 Tu The last night was quite cool Wind from the North & East almost frost quite a change picking out Cotton) We commenced this morning picking out our Cotton Webb, Rich^d West & Flin & Aleck. (Sweet is still mending) Sweet like the small pox) Sweet is better the broke out like it might be the small pox She was brought home sick some fever, pain & akin all