25 Lashes on the Naked Buck” For Teaching the “Darky”

25 Lashes on the Naked Buck” For Teaching the “Darky”- Inventory Number: DOC 336

Letter discussing a colored gentleman being brought before a mock jury, which gave him the full extent of punishment prescribed by the statute of the state “25 lashes on the naked buck” for teaching the “darky” to read.

Daniel J. Prickett

(1840 - 1927)

POW SERGEANT WITH Co. "H" IN THE "HARD-FIGHTING" 3rd OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

Daniel J. Prickett enlisted in the Union Army as a Private on October 5, 1861, at the age of 21. On Dec. 11, 1861 he mustered into "H" Co., 3"Ohio Cavalry. He was promoted to Quarter Master Sergeant on Sept. 17, 1861, and was taken a prisoner of war at the battle of Bardstown, Kentucky on Oct. 4, 1862, and subsequently paroled. His brother, James H. Prickett, who served in the same company 'H,' served the same fate!

The 3rd Ohio Cavalry moved with General Don Carlos Buell through Tennessee in April 1862. During that summer, the regiment participated in the Siege of Corinth, and later fought at the Battle of Chickamauga. In January 1864, the unit participated in raids with Generals Stoneman and Wilson, and went with General Sherman's Army through Georgia on his infamous "March to the Sea" before the regiment was discharged on August 14, 1865.

Prickett discusses his position working as a Chief Clerk in the Provost Marshal's Office in Columbia, TN, handling all of its correspondence, and putting the office in needed order; Colonel Seidel of the 3d Ohio Volunteer Cavalry commanding the post, discussing the accommodations;

Southern beauties assenting to the oath of loyalty to the United States, and not being as loyal in reality; and other great content including, in part:

"There are those who are profuse in their expressions of sentiments of loyalty - who would strike the deadly steel to your heart if the opportunity offered. Nothing but the restraints of military power keep the smothered fires of rebellion down around here. I think a few months of wholesome restraint will bring the passions of the fiery southron to a temperature suited to the habits of a civilized and enlightened age.

"Captain C is too sharp for them no one can commit any crimes or violate the civil or military law in so secret a manner to escape detection or punishment. Last Thursday we arrested Six (6) of the most influential citizens and officers of the county - One a mayor of this town, a justice of the peace, constable and one or two other civil officers for violation of oath lof allegiance to the USI

"They arrested "Cap" as a "colored gentleman" who was teaching a school for his colored bretheren

"eddication" and these men arrested him and brought him before a mock jury and gave him the full extent of punishment as prescribed by statute law of the state - 25 lashes - in lieu of the 25 dollars which was at the discretion of the court - 25 dollars fine or 25 lashes on the naked buck is the penalty for teaching a darky to read. Gen. Thomas had them arrested. The darky had permission from some military authority to keep school.

"I tell you there is a change in the appearance of the ebonies who used to come at the will of their master, now they look and act like human beings - they live - not exist - and seem to have an object in life, something more than to drag out a miserable existence - to hurry off the mortality and be at rest from the toils of life and free from the smart of the overseers lash..."

BOLDLY SIGNED BY PRICKETT:

"D. J. Prickett, Co. H, 3d O. V. V. C.

Pro. Mars Office, Columbia, Tenn."

Note: Sgt. Prickett was with the 3' Ohio Cavalry in a major fight at the battle of Stones River, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, TN on Dec 31, 1862 - Jan 2, 1863.

The Union squeaked out a victory in a bloody conflict at Stones River, which boosted morale in the North and gave the Federals control of central Tennessee.

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Inventory Number: DOC 336