Dominic Sandbrook

I mean, I think a lot of radical Republicans would say, come on, what are you going to lose?

The Klan and the white supremacists are in arms already.

I mean, they're not going to vote Republican, so it doesn't really matter.

Right, exactly.

At first, his instinct is to send for federal troops.

So he sends for federal troops.

There's an infantry company of the US Army sent to Columbia, Tennessee, but they are totally useless because Washington is telling them, work with the local authorities.

And the local authorities are, of course, on the side of the Klan.

So by the summer of 1868, law and order in Middle Tennessee is very close to breaking down.

And the Freemans Bureau reports to Washington, and I quote, the coloured people are leaving their homes and are fleeing to the towns and large cities for protection.

Unless something is done immediately, the cities will be flooded by poor, helpless creatures.

The Ku Klux organisation is so extensive and so well organised in arms that it's beyond the power of anyone to exert any moral influence over them.

Powder and ball is the only thing that will put them down.

And Brownow himself has finally run out of patience.

He calls for a special session of the state legislature.

And he says, look, you know, we've given them every chance.

And not one of them has been punished.

They've carried out thousands of crimes with impunity.

So they pass a bill that makes it illegal.

to join a secret organization for the purpose of disturbing the peace and they authorize brownlow to send in the state militia to any county where 10 people you need you need 10 people to say the law is not being enforced and then you can send in the state militia and those people can be black