The New York herald., 1863-10-29
Tho Tragedy In Sc. Marys, Md.


We inserted yesterday telegrafhic report Of Ia.
mentable tragedy which occurred on Tuesday last In st.
g ona The Of
the negro regiment, now recruiting In Maryland, to
enlist slaves from the plantation OF Colonel H. Sothron,
following account Of the ARRAY and Of the provocasn TO
it, signed BY Several citizens Of high respectabiity
who reside Il the vicinity where occurred We are
person interested in knowing them:-
AoUAsco Posr On1c., Oct. q, Ises
very unfortunate affair took place In tho neghb0r
hood Of Benedict Charles county, Md yesterday after
noon which has created considerable excitement In the
appears that q party Of negro soldiers from Balti
more, with two white officers, arrived in Benedict on
Monday evening for the purpose Of obtaining negro
cruts for the army After establishing themselves and
obtaining fiity recruits from the slaves in the
neghborhood and sending them OF, party or two
groes and white officer visited the plantation Of Colo
mel John H. sothoron In st. Marys county few miles
from Benedict. appears from the best evidence that
obtain and which We believe to bc correct, that
b. business was to carry OIL his able bodied slaves,
that Colonel Skhoroa consented that he might do
80 provided the negroes we're willing with him. The
negroes all dccned 70 leave and said that they pre-.
ferred remaining with their master An alteration
ensucd. in which the officer declared his determine.
ton to carry OF the de and Colonel Sothoron
his intention protect them struggle took place tn
which the officer killed and colored soldier wounded.
Tho whole party then lett Benedict for their headquarters
IN St Marys declaring their intention 70 return day
and take possession OF Colonel 5othorous plantation
This believe to b0 statement Of the case,
there has been resi- itance the neighborhood and
that the officer carried his recruiting without being
nterfered with and In this white person pre-
scnt but Colonel Sothoron and ns and the ocer
toned. Fearing that exaggerated statement might
roach Washington and prejndcs the authorities
thought best 10 publish this true statement OF the
expect the whole matter 10 be fairly and speedily
investigated.
We the National fn.tiigncer of the 9th instant
that the President had issued orders prohibiting the ab
duction OF slaves the eastern shore OF Maryland and
We supposed that the whole thing had been entirely sup
pressed We were much surprised 10 nd that the Same
thing Is being practsed In the lower counties Of the
western shore and not only 70, but tho officer In
mand in Benedict taed several gentlemen that
their determination to establish recruiting stations ut all
the landings the Patuxet river far Upper MARI
borough and to carry OH all the ablo bodied male slaves
BY force, n should be necessary We peace ble,
law abiding people, have suffered very much in variety
OF ways during the war, and II few remaining able
bodied slaves 90 be carried on BY force leaving only
the women and children she superannuated and nnrm,
cannot tell how they areo DO provided Tor, but think
that there must be great suffering during the en-.
suing winter Surely the authorities In Warrington
be correctly informed OF the condition f things here
the whole proceeding would bs stopped and the per
petrators be brought " punishment.
six RESPECTABLE PLANTERS