The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-17

+ ~
REVIEWERS Taken from Them Hsw
They Procured Arms-Thc Attack.
From the Memphis Avalanche, October 9th.
For SOME time past the planters living
on and about the Burgett plantation have
been watchful of the conduct and manGu-
.yres Of the negroes about them, who, our
informant states, number somewhere in
the vicinity Of Ave hundred. As many as
three or four times have they 1.-THE plantcrs)
been warned by their friends here to watch
their every act, rs 1t was known that they
had purchased arms and ammunition III
this city, and had unwittingly limited at
their murdcrous designs. On Tuesday
last, a number of the negroes arrived
here, and obtaining key of powder
and a couple Of bags Of shot, left that
same evening ON the Natoma for the
plantation. A mile or two this side
of the plantation tic negroes went ashore,
and Instantly started for little ira
ding boat lying about 800 yards below
Here they found six rifles offered for sale.
They purchased these articles also, and,
with the ammunition, buried them in the
woods. On Friday evening, while the ne
Croes were weighing cotton, the suspicious
of the overseer were aroused by hearing
them interpolate the text Of "Dixie with
the words "Ohs will be win Tomorrow"
and "To-morrow we'll have fun &c. lie
said nothing, but when the time arrived,
dismissed the negroes from their labor, and
repaired as quickly as possible to his own
quarters, where he found the owners OF
the plantation, the brothers Burgett. He
related to them what had occurred, and
suggested the propriety of Immediately
taking such measures Of defence as In
their Judgment was necessary to preserve
the lives of all the white people about the
place. In the mean time they had learned
that on the following day the negroes in
tended to attack them in the open field.
They then determined on devising plans
which they thought would entirely cir
cumvent those Of the negroes and obvate
the necessity Of shedding blood. With
this end in view they started next morn
ing for the field, two of the party riding of
toward the road and the other two riding
in the rear Of the plantation. The bro
theirs, Isaac and Henry, took the road, each
being armed with shotgun and revol-
YER. They had not advanced far before
they were met by body of about fifty lie.
groes, who ordered them off their mules,
accompanying the order with rapid and
indiscriminate firing. Fortunately none OF
the shots had any effect. Mr.. Isaac Bur-
gett quickly alightcd from his animal and
raising his gun to his shoulder, fired, killing
the leader Of the crowd and wounding two
others. His brother, Mr.. Henry Burgett,
had BY this time got in the rear of the
scoundrels, and, together with the other
two gentlemen, who, it will be rcmem-
bcred, had started in an opposite dircc-
ton, poured n volley into their ranks,
which had the effect OF scattering them in
all directions. 1t was here that the other
negro was killed and two more wounded.
By this time some ten or twelve white men
gathered around the place, and quickly
succeeded in arresting and placing under
guard the entire gang. Forty new rifles,
thirty-ive rcvolvcrs, a keg of powder,
and two large bags of shot were
captured. In about an hour after the
capture, two more squads of negroes were
discovered about a half mile off, but
Immediately dispersed in confusion upon
hearing of the disastrous defeat of their
infamous brother. plottcrs and aSsassins.
An examination afterward Of about twenty
Of the negroes showed plainly that it was
concoctcd by heads far more capable OF
doing mischief than those of the ignorant,
dcludcd negroes but the planners lacked
the courage Of executing their damnahlc
schemes. This part of the work they left
to negro named Bill Dickinson, who as
sumed the leadership, and who, as is stated
above, was killed. This outbreak, which
was to result in the murder Of all the
whites in the ncighbcrhood, to be followed
by an indiScriminatc plundcring, was
planned and originated here in Memphis
There can be no question about it. The
ammunition and arms for them were pur.
chased by white men in Memphis. Thi'
| is the testimony of the negroes. They
say, too, that they were forced into
| the insurrection by the negro leaders
who told them that if they would but once
take possession of the plantations thcil
friends in Memphis and the North would
stand by them. The result Of such teach
ing is plain. 1t is to incitc the negro, will
his low, brutal nature, TO murder, rapine
and bloodshed. What can be plainery W.
answer, nothing; and III this occurrence
the world is furnished with another illus
tration of it. True it is that in compari
son with the Jamaica outbreak it is but in
significant. But the same principle is in
volved, though on smaller scale. A de
sire to possess the lands undisturbcd; {
desire to rid themselves of white rulers OF
have such rulers as they themselves would
choose. Who could tell where it would
end had it been successful in the begin
Mug, and with the numerous bands Of ne
groes coming up as reintorcemcnts? Thi:
matter should be thoroughly investigated
and the investigation should begin in Mem
phis. 1t is due to the planters that the
yillainies of the Radicals should be eX'
posed, and their heinous plottings put al
end to.