Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-29
TROUBLE AT TOWNSVILLE, GA.

The Arrest of Lamar Leads 10 ONT
age on COIOred SOIdiersACity Mar
shall and Others Implicated and Ar
rested-The Town Placed Under Mar
tiaI Law.
From the Savannah Republican, 10th
We are enabled to lay before our read
ers this morning a full and detailed ac-
count of the serious difficulties which have
lately occurred at Townsville.
Within the last ten days our city has
been rife with the most alarming rumors
of bloody instructions in the interior of
San Domingo, strife at Townsville and
other points, but we have generally re-
Trained from publishing these Reports on
account of the vague and unreliable man
ner in which they were repeated to US.
The air has seemingly been pregnant with
sensation rumors oil conflict between the
whites and blacks but the only positive
information We have yet received, are the
following facts of the Hhomasville emeute
received from responsible gentlemen who
were present durlng the troubles.
NO RESURRECTION.
We are glad to state that there is not
the slightest foundation for the silly re-
ports Of INSTRUMENTATION among the freed
men, so that our timid readers, who lay
their uneasy heads upOn their pillows at
night expecting to hear the woelul tidings
of all the accumulated horrors of negro IN
surrections, can at once recover their men
tai equilibrium, sleep soundly and enjoy
the most refreshing repose.
On the night OF the 18th of November
a. % nsb.v,a-r,no $500. ~
denly startled and somewhat excited by
the arrest OF Gazaway Lamar, Jr., by u.
5. Detective Leeman Runnell, acting IN
der special Instructions from the General
commanding this District. As the news
spread through the town of the arrest OF
Mr.. Lamar, all sorts of reasons were as
signed for the mysterious movement, al
though it was generally supposed that the
arrest had its origin III the great cotton
scrape in which 50 many prominent par
ties are implicated.
wHERE THE MISCHIEF BEGAN.
Shortly after the arrest of Mr.. Lamar,
while an unarmed orderly of the 1O3d u.
S. G. T. was on his way to Col. Bogarts
headquarters, he was suddenly assaulted by
three armed men, one of whom succeeded
IL stabbing the soldier in the back, infllct-
ing a severe but not dangerous wound.
In the dark tie assailants made good
their escape, but Jas. A. Seward, a prom
inent citizen, was shortly afterwards ar
rested on suspicion of being the perpetra-
tor of the deed, and was brought before
Colonel Bogart, confessed his crime, but
pleaded inJoXicatiOn as an excuse. The
arrest of Seward was not effected without
considerable trouble, and notwithstanding
a most diligent search was made to ascer-
tain his whereabouts, 1t was a long time
before his place ot concealment was dis
covered.
A colored man by the name of York,
who has resided many years in Thomas
vile, and was therefore familiar with all
its people ande localities, volunteered to
pilot the guards in search of Seward to his
hiding place. Under the guidance of
York the arrest was made, and the news
of York treachery aroused 10 the highest
pitch feelings Of the deepest indignation
among the friends of Jas. "A. Seward, and
all sorts Of threats were freely made on
the public streets of what, would be done
with York when u favorable opportunity
presented itself.
OH buC tNcLAhS u INC oAiCSl1 "a ACN
hours after the capture of Seward, while
York was quietly passing the hotel, he
was halted by City Marshal Atkinson and
a party of his friends, who began to
threaten his life for revealing Stewards
hiding place. One of the party rushed
into the hotel, and Selling a Ratchet, hand
ed it to Marshal Atkinson, who struck at
York a most fearful blow, but failed to
infict any bodily injury, the Ratchet cut
ting through Iorks nat and clothing.
Not long after this occurrence it is report
ed that Atkinson made a second desperate
attempt to assassinate another orderly be-
longing to the lO3d United States coIored
troops, by stabbing him with a dirk, but
beyond the severing of his uniform in n
or two places no injury was done.
Colonel Hogart, On hearing OF the above
Outrages, at Unce ordered the arrest OF
in close confinement, with Seward, to
await the result of the injuries upon the
wounded orderly. Finding the excite
ment on the increase, and the society gen
orally in a turbulent and d%isorderly con-
dition, Colonel Bogart called upon Mayor
Wright to ascertain if he could not in
way produce a better state of things
and restore order, otherwise he would he
compelled 10 proclaim martial law for the
and protection of society. Mayor
Wright replied that he was unable to sup
press the lawlessness and subdue the e&-
element, and that under the circum-
stances he favored the immediate return OF
law, and believed the people
would welcome it as the surest and safest
to peace and quietness, stating at
.he same time that he would use his best
to encourage all good citizens to
sustain the military law. Upon hearing
Colonel Bogart at once issued the fol-
owing order proclaiming the suspension
If civil authority and the restoration OF
martial law:
HEADQUARTERS SUB-DIsT. ALTAMAHA,O
TOWNSVILLE, Ga, Dec. Sd, 1865.
Special Order, No. l.
L. The Municipal Government Of Thorn
being unable to protect the lives
nd interest of the inhabitants, and to pre-
-ent outrages and attempts at assassination
# United States soldiers traversing the
own on business, the functions of the
municipal authorities of Townsville are
hereby suspended, and until further orders
martial law will prevail.
VII. All troops in this command are
by their duty and honor, as SOL
-iers of the United States, to preserve a
espectful demeanor in conversation and
etions, in all their intercourse with the
population whatever the ~provocation
nay be offered, it is not the duty nor the
ight of the soldier, individually, to resent
|, but to report promptly the facts to the
commanding officer.
And the like injunction in respect to
onversations and actions applies to all the
experiment. of civilians towards or CON
the troops OF this command.
By command Of
Lieut.. Colonel JOHN a. BoGART,
Comd'g Sub-DIst.
their Swords into Plough
shares.
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