Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-02-15
Selettea M1istellauy.
From the Charleston Courier.
An Affair on Johns Island.

obtained the following particulars:
Last Friday, party of four gentleman,
on visit here from Pennsylvania for the
purpose of buying land, &c., accompanied
by two or three citizens, obtained the con-
sent of General Sickles to visit all the is-
lands adjacent to the city. The party were
fortunate, also, in being rendered by Gen.
Sickles the use of the United States steam
transport Mary Frances, and on Saturday
morning they left the city and proceeded
to the lower end of Johns Island, at the
junction of the Stono With the Kiawah
River. The party went ashore, but were
unable to reach the plantation which they
desired to examine and ascertain whether
it would answer the purpose of their busl-
ness. They returned to the steamer, pre-.
viously agreeing to make another trial next
morning. The party hailed number OF
negroes in small boat going to the next
plantation, and were told not to land at
night, or they would certainly be shot.
On Sunday morning they again landed
and proceeded towards the settlement, in.
quiring the way of the negroes. They
were shown how to reach the main land,
but on approaching the houses observed
considerable excitement among the people.
They continued on their way, however,
and on crossing from the marsh to the main
land and entering an old field, body of
negro men, armed with various kinds of
weapons, 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 expressed that the
party be allowed to proceed unmolested.
During the conversation, gang of negroes
surrounded them and became very threat
eniug and abusive, and the party thinking
they were not likely to succeed in their OBJ
iect, determined to return. This, howev-
er, the negroes promptly refused to allow,
and threats of instant murder we're made on
all sides Only two or three we're willing
to permit them to return to their boat
After violent alteration of words and
several attempts at violence to the visitors,
the negroes decided to escort their now
prisoners to the quarters ofthe commissary,
Sergeant of the 35th o. s. G. T, about
twelve miles distant. The party earnestly
entreated the negroes to permit them to re-
turn to their boat, but their entreaties were
uuavaling, although the party agreed to
steer directly for the commiSsary's post.
They also suggested to the negroes to &C.
company them on the boat, but this was al.
so refused. They we're then compelled to
walk through the heavy sand the entire
length of the island. The crowd of ne
groes continued to increase-all armed with
muskets, rifles, shot-guus, revolVers, bayo-
nets on sticks, scythes, hatchets, axes, clubs,
etc., while the women had hoes, pitchforks
and clubs. Permission was given to send
word to the Captain of the Mary Frances
to steam round to the place to which they
were forced to walk.
On their route they we're accompanied
by a yelling, cursing, threatening crowd of
negroes, freedmen, women and children.
As they advanced, they were continually
met by other negroes, running to the scene,
all. armed, and breathing out the most
severe and summary punishment for daring
to land upon their island, where no white
man he'd any right, or should even dare to
come. After proceeding about mile and
half they were halted, the crowd still in
creasing, and becoming more violent Here
they were met by two freedmen, named
Sam Flood and George Roberts, who quiet
ed the crowed to some extent. Roberts be.
ing able to read, the party showed him their
authority from General Sickles, General
Devens, General Howard, at Washington,
and General r. K. Scott, Charleston. The
crowd refused to recognize the papers, and
said if the persons who wrote them were
there, they would serve them the same way
Threats were also made against the Captain
of the the steam boat, and regrets that they
had not attacked the vessel the previous
night and murdered the Captain, crew, and
all the party, aud burned the vessel. Flood
and Roberts endeavored to persuade the
crowd to allow them to return, satisfied the
party was right, but the crowd we're deter.
mined to march them to the Commissarys.
One of the party being crippled efforts
were made to procure horse or mule, but
this was also refused by the negroes. Find
ing eutreaty of no effect, and that the
crowd only continued to increase in num-
ber and ferceuess, they proceeded on their
way. For four hours-from 10 A NJ. to
2 P. M..-they we're marched over the is
land In front were about FIVE to six horse
men, following them some eight to ten
footmen, the prisoners bringing up the rear,
with an armed guard on either side, follow
ed by mob of about one hundred and fifty,
violently abusive and threatening
At each plantation new accession were
made to the crowd, the women and chill
dren lining the road and joining in as the
party passed At one place man stood
with pole, not less than twelve feet long,
which he raised, intending to strike, but
was prevented by the guard Had the pris'
oDer been struck he would have been in
stantly been killed. At another place an
other man, named Armstrong, came riding
up, cooked his gun, and would have killed
one of the party had not his horse been