The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-02-07
An sFs;r o, 5;roAn,s !, Island. a


citizens obtained the coasseRt of General Sickles
to visit all the islands adjacent TO the city. The
partR were fortunate, alSo in being rendered By
Geuersl Sickies the use of the United States
stesB transport Mary Frances, and on Saturday
4secaiug they left the city and proceeded to the
foRer end of Johns Island, at the Junction Of the
Stono With the sKiawah River. ~The party went
. ashore, ARE were unable to reach the plantation
which they. desired to examine and ascertain
whether it would answer the purpose Of their
business They returned to the steamer, pre-
Siouslg agreeiag to make another trial next
morning. The party hailed number Of negroes
in a small beak going to the next plantation, and
were told net to land at aight, or they would
certainly be shot,
On Sunday morning they again landed and
proceeded towards the settlement inquiring the
way Of the negroes. They were shown how to
reach the mainland, but on approaching the
houses observed considerable excitement among
the people. They continued on their way how
ever and or crossing from the marsh to the
mai1 land &ad enteFlRg an old field, body Of
negro mea, arussds with various kinds of wea-
pons, approached them, When. within twenty
yards, the leader Of the negroes cried halt"
The party stood STILL the leader came up and
demanded their business. The nature Of the
visit was explained to them and the desire ex-
molested.z. During the conversation, gang Of
negroes surrounded them and became very
threatening and abusive, and the party thinking
they were not likely to sdcceed in their object,
determined to return. This, however, the ne
groes promptly refused to allow, and threats of
Instant murder were made on all sides. Only
two or three we're willing to permit them to re-
turn to their boat. >, H.. ....-:
After violent aiteFcation Of words and several
attempts at violence to the VISITORS the negroes
decided to escort their new prisoners to the
quarters Of the conmssarS, a Sergeant of the
- S5th Q. S, G.. T., about twelve miles distant.
The party earnestly Aentreated the negroes to
permit them to return to their boat, but their
entFeatiesWwere unaRailing, although the party
agreed to. steer directly for the eommissary's
post. They also suggested to the negroes to ac-
company them on the boat, but this was also re-
fused. They. were then, compelled to walk
through Fiie heavy sand the entire length Of the
island. The crowd Of negroes continued TO in
,crease-aH armed with musketS, rifles, shot-gunS,
EeyoEVers baSoaets ep sticks, scythes, hatchetS,
p axes, clubs, etc, while the women had hoes,
spitehfofks and clubs. Permission was given to
d. sendsword to the Captain of the Mary Frances to
steam round to the place to which they were
forced to walk. e.. p. .-'- .--- .-
On their route they were accompanied by a
yelling, cursing, threatening crowd of negroes,
freedmen, women and. children. As they ad-
syanced, they were continually met by other ne
groes, running to the scene, all armed, and
breathing out the most severe. and summary
punishment for daring to land upoe their island,
where DO white man had any right, or should
even dare to come After proceeding about
mile and d half they were halted, the crowd still
Increasing, and becoming more, violent. Here
they were met by two freedmen, named Sam
= PolNo ho tod tlIn
crowd to some extent. Roberts being able to
read, the party showed him their authority from
General Sickies, General DevenS, General How
ard, at Washing on, and General, r. <, Scott, at
Charleston The crowd refused to recognise the
papers, ard said,.if the persons -.Eho wrote them
we're there, they would serve them the same
way. threats we're also made against the Captain
of, the steam boat, andregrets that they had not
attacked the vessel the previous night and muir
dened the Captain. crew and ali the party, and
burned The resSeE Flood and Roberts endea--
Ecred to persuade the crowd to allow them to
return, satisfied the party, was right, 6St the
crowd. were determined to aa1eh them TO the
CommissarF's.~ .- x r; ~ -.4:9
One of the party being crippled efforts were
made to procure horse Or &&le,. but this was
also refused blythe negroes. E,.diRg entreaty
of no effect, and that the crowd only continued
20 increase in number and 6erceness, they pro-
s, Geeded on their way. For. feur shourS-from 10
a NJ to 2 P. II. they were marched over the
ilapd. In front were about FIVE to si1horsemen,
following Saefa some eight to ten footmen the
pTisoBers bringing up the rear, with an arnled
guard on either side, followed by a mob of about
one hundred aud &fty, violently abusive and
threateniBg. So ; s1. -. .,>--,.. --sy:..~
- - At each plantation new raceessous 8era made
TO the crowd fbe women and children lining the
road and joining in asSthe party passed. At enc
place man stood with pole, not less than
twelve feet long, which he raised, intending to
strike, bnts was prevented by the guard. Had
the prisoner been struck he would have been,
instantly killed. At another place another man,
named armstrong, came riding up, cooked his
gun, and Woald have killed one Of the<party had
not his horse been seized by the bride by one
and his gun taken from him by another. . ~
AaeOt two O'Clock they reached TownsenGs
place where &eednan named Sam johnson re-
sides, who had beea appointed by some officer OF
che EFeedmens Bureau as q general supervisor
,oTer the negroes on the island. This man be,
idg some distance from the house the party we're
halted and compelled to wait for him. although
within about two miles of the GomallSsaTys.
EReresthey we're exhibited on the steps CT the.
mansion, with heavy guard of men IN Fl oat of
them and crowd of women behind ) the former
latter abusing the prisoners not only with horri.
BE language, but by paking them with sticks,
&cs There wassoRe United States .eolored, sell
der at the place, wbeRthes desired To- carry in
formation of their condition 10 the sergeant, and
offered to pay him forao doing, bat he would
not consent, handing the writteR nete afier he
had talked with; some of the capters;- who eEi-
dsntlg dissuaded him from, COMPLYING with the
request. Several times while waiting5erea Flood,
? who still befFiended the prisoners, 8as:taken to
one side by the gang, and efforts were, made to
let them take the party into the woods don tless
30 murder them, but be stood firm in his refu-
BzE =. - .>... 2, -
After sitting in the san for two hours not even
allowed to enter fAe house. aldeall the time ex-
posed to imminent danger and insult, one man
haEing cooked his gun to eSheet1ene of the party,
Sam johnson arrived. He acted With great
promptness and at once started with them to the
Gonlmissary's taking only few men with him.
When within abouta mile framthe Commissary's
they met the sergeant coming to- the rescue hav-
ing been induced to do SO by the steam boat cap
tain, who had arrived at the Place. and feeling
exceedingly uneasy about them, he would have
started of alone in search of US, had not the
sergeant at bis earnest solicitations consented to
accompany him with few men.
Tho aSN-oasp Mt informed the men who had ar