Dominic Sandbrook

So all of this puts a lot of pressure on the governor of Tennessee, Parson Brownlow.

He's in a real bind because his Republican legislature in Nashville is very anxious about alienating white opinion by sending in the state militia.

Because if they send in the state militia, that means basically arming a lot of African-American volunteers, which is the one thing that is guaranteed.

Well, I mean, but you might say, so what?

I mean, I think you could reasonably say, so what?

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.