The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-31
PRICE FOUR CENT S


and after numbering the family here, l de-
termined on starting for Jerusalem Our
number amounted now to fifty or sixty, all
mounted and armed with guns axes, swords
and clubs, On reaching Mr.. James w.
Parkers gate, Immediately on the road lead
ing to Jerusalem, and about three miles dis
tant, it was proposed to me to call there,
but l objected, as l knew he was gone to
Jerusalem and my object was to reach
there as soon as possible; but some of the
men having relations at Mr.. Parkers it was
agreed that they might call and get his
people. Remained at the gate ON the road,
with seven or eight, the others going across
the field to the house, about half mile off
After waiting some time for them, became
| impatient, and started to the house for them
and on our return we were met by party
of white men, who had pursued our blood
stained track and who had fired on those
at the gate, and dispersed them, which
knew nothing of, not having been at that
time rejoined by any of them Immediately
on discovering the whites, | ordered my
men to halt and form, as they appeared to
be alar med The white men eighteen in
number, approached us in about one hun
dred yards, when one Of them fired this
was against the positive orders of Captain
Alexander 2. Peete who commanded, and
who directed the men to reserve their fire
until within thirty paces) and l discovered
about half of them retreating, l then ordered
my men to fire and rush ON them; the few
remaining stood their ground until we APP
preached within fifty yards, when they fred
and retreated. We pursued and overlook
some of them whom we thought we left dead
| (they were not killed. after pursuing them
about two hundred yards, and rising little
hill, discovered they were met by another
party, and had halted, and were reloading
their guns, (this was a small party from Je-
rusalem who knew the negroes were in the
field, and had just tied their horses to await
their return to the road, knowing that Mr..
Parker and family were in Jerusalem, but
knew nothing of the party that had gone in
with Captain Peete; on hearing the firing
they Immediately rushed to the spot and
arrived just in time to arrest the progress of
these barbarous villains and save the lives
of their friends and fellow citizens. Think
ing that those who retreated first, and the
party who fired on us at fifty or sixty yards
distant, had all only fallen back to meet
others with ammunition. As l saw them
reloading their guns, and more coming up
| than saw at first, and several of my brav-
est men being wounded, the others became
panic struck and scattered over the field;
the white men pursued and fired on us sew
eral times. Hark had his horse shot under
him, and / caught another for him that was
running by me; five or six of my men were
wounded, but none left on the field finding
myself defeated here, Instantly determined
to go through private way, and cross the
Nottoway river at the Cypress Bridge, three
miles below Jerusalem, and attack that
place in the rear, as expected they would
look for me on the other road, and had.a
great desire to get there to procure arms
and ammunition. After going short dist
ance in this private way, accompanied by
about twenty men, | overlook two or three
who told me the others were dispersed in
every direction. After trying in vain to
collect sufficient force to proceed to Jeru-
salem, determined to return, as | was sure
they would make back to their old neigh
borhood, where they would rejoin me, make
new recruits, and come down again. On
my way back / called on Mrs Thomas's,
Mrs Spencer's and several other places, the
white families having fed we found no
more victims to crafty our thirst for blood,
we stopped at Major Ridley's quarter for
the night, and being joined by four of his
men, with the recruits made since my defeat
we mustered now about forty strong.
After placing out sentinels, | laid down
to sleep, but was quickly aroused by great
racket; starting up, found some mounted
and others in great confusion; one of the
sentinels having given the alarm that we
were about to be attacked, / ordered some
to ride around and reconnoitre, and on their
return the others being more alarmed, not
knowing who they were, fed in different
ways, so that was reduced to about twenty
again; with this determined to attempt to
recruit, and proceed Oh to rally in the neigh
borhood l had left. Dr. Blunts was the
nearest house, which we reached Just before
day; on riding up the yard, Hark fred a
gun We expected DR.. Blunt and his fam.
lily were at Major Ridleys, as / knew there
was company of men there; the gun was
fired to ascertain if any of the family were
at home, we were Immediately fired upon
and retreated, leaving several of nv men.
do not know what beanie of them, as
never saw them afterwards Pursuing our
course back; and coming in sight of Captain
Harris, were we had been the day before,
we discovered party of white men at the
house, on which ell deserted me but two.
Jacob and Nat; we concealed ourselves
in the woods until near night, when l sent
| them in search of Henry, Sam, Nelson and
Hark, and directed them to rally all thew
could, at the place we had our dinner the
Sunday before, where they would find me,
and accordingly returned there as soon
as it was dark and remained until Wednes.
day evening, when discovering white men
riding around the place, as though they
were looking for some one, and none of my
men joining me, concluded Jacob and Nat
had been taken and compelled to betray me.
On this gave up all hope for the present,
oyxH On Il Ii L 1.