The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-05
IIe Camp 8IeetIng Outrage.


The Camp Meeting Outrage. s II
FFOm the Baltimore Americun.
The Baltimore Stt,, and the CONNER
ciuE on Saturday published statements
in relation to the midnight assault on
the colored people wershipping at the
white camp meeting at Hanover Switch,
in Anne Arundel county, calculated to
mislead their readers as to the true
character of the outrage. 1t was not to
be expected, SO far as the SIN is COM
cerned, that the truth would be given
in the account of any affair in which
returned rebel soldiers were the Rssail-
ants and the poor, detenceless negro
the assailed, unless the truth was Cletri-
mental to the negro. This was to be ex-
pected of the Sun, but as the COnsmer-
ctdL has soLne character to lose, fithere
may be a probability that, on finding
that they have been miserably deceived
by a false statement, they will, to some
extent, rectity the error. The Gazette
more truthful than either, shows that
the riot was commenced by the white
rowdies, and that the negroes acted
altogether on the defensiv e. ulnl
These statements purport to give the
testimony of witnesses at an inVestiga-
ton conducted by those who sympa-
thfzed with the rioters. Now, the facts
are, no man was allowed to testify who
was cognizant of all the particulars Of
the outbreak. Parties were picked up
who saw some isolated act, which, told
by itself, would reflect on the negro,
and all others were carefully excluded
from the witness stand. hs1 'ut
We are credibly informed that during
the whole of the evening previous to
the assault, the camp abounded with
armed mon, having clubs as well as
pistols, and that threats were made by
them not only against the negroes, but
against some of the preachers, who were
styled odd abOlitiOnists. ~ During
the evening numerous efforts were
made by these men to get up O fight
with the negroes, and before they could
accomplish their purpose q black boy
holding horse was violently assaulted.
Later In the evening black man was
knocked down, watermelon rinds we're
thrown into the tent where the negroes
were worshipping, and burning cigars
thrust violently into the faces Of some
of those who were kneeling in prayer.
All this could not get up riot, and it
was not until astone was hurled against
the head of a colored woman who was
knocked prostrate, that the negroes rail-
lied in self-defence, and drove their as
sailants, who retreated among the
white women and children in the camp,
and kept up an in1iscriminate fire into
that portion of the camp devoted TO the
colored people. The object undoubted-
ly was to break up the whole camp.
The scene OF terror is described as truly
awful. The negroes, however, did not
pursue their assailants, but retired to
their quarters, and awaited asecond at
tack; which was three times made and
three times repulsed. 1t was during
those attacks and the consequent conf
fusion that the young man, Benson, was
shot whilst kneeling alongside of a
Reverend gentleman whose name was
frequently mentioned with oaths and
epithets by the assailants. The SIM
says that this young man was shot by
the negroes, whilst those who were in
the altar with him declare that the
preachers stand was in direct line be-
tween him and the negroes, and that
the shot came from the direction of the
rioters, One gentleman assured US that
tt was as impossible for shot from the
negroes to have reached the point.a
which young Benson was kneeling as
It would have been Gto have shot him
Through a brick wall. ~ All these gen
tlemen were on the ground anxious
and willing to testify to the truth, but
it was not the purpose of those who con-
Quoted the investig alton to elicit the
truth. - tilfsi sti s
The sun states that these young white
men were amusing themselves with
what is usual in that section, joking and
laughing at the proceeding OF the ne
groes, and throwing canteleupe fintls at
them. This shows that the negroes
were actually engaged in worship, sur
rounded by their wives and children,
when the riot commenced, and after
repnlsing their assailants, returned to
their devotions. Those who are fa-
miliar with the Prpeeedings ON camp
of the camp are to the earnest Metho4
dist, whether white or black, the most
solemn and impressive of the occasion,
and that it must have been a serious
assault that could have aroused them
to resistanceat that hour! g ~ a
We are also informed that after the
negroes had retired and the rioters had
burnt their tents and ELECTS, that the
whole ground was taken possession of
by these men, aud all further worship
put an end TO. ThuS many foR'them
openly and publicly boasted of their
services ICES in the rebel army, and show
ing their pistols, expressed their regret
they had not with them the rifles which
they had in the rebel army. They
also. Threatened many of: the whites by
name, and so effectualIy intimidated
them that even now it would be dam
gerous for those in the vicinity to vim
dtcate the truth of the affair. Fb'
We hope that the Freeimenis Bureau
will, take the matter in charge, and have
q full inYestig CATION made. There has
been. enough of this vflliany pfacticed
in Maryland without punishment being
inflicted upon the perpetrators. Church,
es have been burned, unoffendinE men
murdered or assaulted, and other out
RACES committedj and the honor and
dignity Of the State require that the
guilty PARTIES should no longer 90 NM
whipped Of justice. s'4iid.
The outcry Of Gov. Swami against the
unohensive negro has given new en-
couragement to these deSperad ods. and
we VIII next ind them breaking up
white camp-ude Kings and dispensing
the whites, because the majority OF
those who attend them are loyal to the
Union. The Methodist Church OF the
Border States Is the most loyal OF all
the Churches, loyalty being the rule and
disloY atty the exception, and It is cont
lsequehtly the object or Rebel hatred
and Opposition. Several demonstfa-
tons were made to prevent the whites
holding this camp month or more
previous to its asSemblage. "A piece Of
woods that they had selected was
stripPed Of its bark for the purpose OF
dest ytng its foliage, and threats of
persons from attending it. It may
therefore be fairiy presumed that the
attack on the negroes was partly to
break up the camp By invoi Wing the
| whites IN the maie6 Even at the
shtey{ bury camp Il was deemed ex-
| pediens to exclude the IieRrOes frofii
their former participation IN the SER
| vice, fearing that those who are so
nlnch IN dread that the negroes will get
ah1ead Of them IN the race OF life, might
| make their presence an occasion Of not.
The Methpdists q OF the State must look
70 tt, or their ttirn Will come next ~
4 coFrespo pondent 81 the .Aasilerrieaa te.
eGrihing the n lair says salsl'' fzre
u 80 3 r.