New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-14
Wefp Orlears 1ailg Gresttrt.


SEVERAL PERSONS FATALLY AND OTHERS SE-
vERELY WoUEDED--The following letter gives an
account Of several terrible outrages lately perpetrated
in Barbour county, just this side the Chatahoochie
river The town Of Florence mentioned by the writer,
is on the east bank Of that river and in the county
Stewart. We copy from the Columbia (Ga.) Times. |
letter in the Clayton tAlabama) Banner confirms
the account given below .g-
GREENYILLE, Ala June Sd, 1856.
Messrs. Editors Our community was thrown |
into state OF great excitement yesterday evening BY
the receipt OF intelligence of most bloody assault
made BY party OF men residing in the neighborhood
OF Jernlgan, on number of5citizens who were pas
sing FROM Florence, Ga, to their homes in this county
The facts concerning this horrible outrage as nearly
as we have been able to ascertain them are about
these:
For some years, Matthew Averett, ST., has been
keeping ferry, at Florence, on the Chatahoochie
river, without charter from the State of Georgia In
1861 A. W. Hill, ESQ.,, Of Florence Ga, applied for
and obtained charter from Georgia, for ferry at
that place. and opened road his land on this
side Of the river, leading into the old Florence road
and stopped the road leading from Averetts ferry on
the Georgia side; whereupon Averett erected toll
gate across the Florence road on the Alabama side,
and demanded and collected the same toll as he would
have received at the ferry
The authority upon which Averett claims the right
to do this is an order of the Commissioners Court Of
Barbour county, Ala granted to him in lS4S to erect
tolgate at the Florence road, the west side of
the Chattahoochie river and collect toll thereat and
forbds any person to interfere with said gate within
one half mile on either side up and down the river
He has erected under this order gate several hundred
yards back from the river, just at the point where
Hills road intersects the old road. Many persons
have paid toll and many have refused to do So but
have removed the obstruction and passed. The mat
ter has been agtated for time, and the citizens
on both sides of the river have become very much
cited, and have repeatedly torn down the gate.
fpv
overseer armed themselves with donblebarrel guns
and proceeded to the gate to guard it and prevent
persons from passing without paying toll The names
Of said persons understand to be VIM. Cliatt, John
Wilson B. Averett, E. D. Ayerett, and - Miles, the
overseer Upon their arrival, they secreted them
selves behind fence in an adjoining field. Soon after
they arrived there, Nathaniel Roach, with his little
and man named Sykes, arrived at the gate and were
| about to pass through when the men fired on them
from their place Of coneealment.
At the first fire Mr. Roach's little hoy was wounded
in the neck and body supposed to be ortally Sykes
was also shot down, mortally wounded. Roach, in
endeavoring to save his child by holding his own
back to them, received great many shot and is Sc
| verely hurt. Warlick was wounded dangerously
Driggers was shot in the arms but not dangerously
Driggers was the only man in the attacked party
armed, and his gun would not fire until too late to dc
any good.
excitement which prevailed alter such shocking out
rage. The officer with posse, is in search Of tbs
offenders and anticipates some trouble in arrestins
them. All are well armed and should they resist
more blood will be shed. The community will set
that the law is executed. The facts above stated W.
believe to be true, they have been gathered from
reliable sources. If anything more happens will le
you know.
P. S.-GREENyILLE June 8, II o'clock, A. MA
letter has just been received by J. NJ White, Esq.
from Florence Ca, stating that five more passed
Averetts gate last night about dark, and on arriving
at Hills ferry got into the flat to cross the river. Soor
after they had pushed out into the stream they
fred upon by persons concealed in the bushes on the
bank and were severely wounded. We have mo-
learned the names of the persons shot, the exten
of their injuries. The persons shot were some gen
tlemen from Georgia, who had volunteered to escor
Mr.. Roach, with his wounded child, home and wer
attacked on their return.
Five o'clock, P. M-Further particulars have bee
received. There were eight men on the flat whe
fired on seven were wounded-one thought to
mortaly. must close, as the mail closes. I cannt
say what will be the result. "The end is not yet
Some of our young men, who went out with the of
Ger, have not yet returned, and hope will not unit
right, justice, peace and order are restored At th
| last hour A FRIEND TO ORDER.