Firsthand Testimony
After the Memphis Massacre, Congress investigated the event,
conducting hundreds of interviews with witnesses and survivors.
These testimonies not only describe the Massacre itself, they
also provide valuable detail on life in Memphis in 1866; which,
in turn, adds to our understanding of the post-Civil War urban
South. Snapshots of everyday race, class, and ethnic relations
before the Massacre come to light, as do glimpses of households
and families, wage work done by freedmen and women, the
routines of black and white artisans of both genders, and the
range of businesses owned by African Americans.
These testimonies have been published in many texts and can be
found in full in the attached PDF on the right. In addition to the
Congressional investigation, investigations were
made separately by The Freedmen's Bureau, as well as by Major
General Stoneman of the United States Army. We have chosen a
few poignant excerpts from people of different races, classes,
and opinions. The PDF on the left holds 8 additional pages of
selected firsthand testimony.
“some three of four policemen came to my house and broke open my trunk, taking there from my discharge and fifty dollars in silver, and fifteen dollars in greenbacks; after which they set fire to my house and burned it up” (Burton Davis - Free Black Man )
Tuesday night, seven men, two of whom were policemen, came to my house. I knew they were policemen by their stars. They were all Irishmen. They said they must have supper and asked me what I had, and said they must have some eggs and ham and biscuit. I made them some biscuit and strong coffee, and they all sat down and ate. A girl lives with me, her name is Lucy Smith.; she is about 16 years old. When they had eaten supper, they said they wanted some women to sleep with. I said we were not that sort of women, and they must go. They said that “didn’t make a damned bit of difference.” One of them laid hold of me and hit me on the side of my face, and holding my throat, choked me. Lucy tried to get out the window when one of them knocked her down. They drew their pistols and said they would shoot us and fire the house if we did not let them have their way with us. All seven of the men violated us two. (Frances Thompson - Free Black Woman)
“I saw several policemen beating a negro, and ordered them to desist, which they did…there were policemen among the crowd who did not attempt to restrain them, but seemed to countenance the proceedings” (William H. Smith – Major of 16th US Infantry)
“I saw a colored soldier, names Charlie, walking quietly along, when a policeman walked up and hit him on the head with his revolver, breaking the weapon” (Mathilda Hawley - Free Black Woman )
Did you see the sheriff at any time during those days? I saw him on Tuesday afternoon or evening. I saw him at first in Beale Street market getting a posse to go down to help the police. What were the police doing? They were fighting negroes. (J. S. Chapin - Free Black Man)