Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-11


NEGRO IEsUR1sECT1eN.
me scene In the vIcInisy of Cat Island,
on and eear the Burgett Plantation
Two Negroes KILLED and Four wound
ed--FOrfy Rides and about thirty.
five RevOIvers taken from Them
How They Procured Arms---The At
tack, Etc. ..rr.,-s.
For some time past the planters living on
and about the Burgett plantation, have been
watchful Of the conducs and maneuvers Of
the negroes about them, who, our informant
states, number somewhere in the vicinity Of
five hundred. As many as three or four
times have they THE plansers) been warned
by their friends here to watch their every
act, as il vas known thai they had purchased
arms and ammEnition il this city, and bad
unwittingly limited at their murderous de-
signs. On Tuesday last, number OF the
negroes arrived here, and, obtaining q keg
of powder and a couple of bags Of shot left
that same evening on the Nafonsdf or the
plantation. A mile or two this side of the
plantation, the negroes went ashore and in
stantly started for little trading boat lying
about three hundred 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 negroes
were weighing cotton, the suspicious Of the
overseer we're aroused by hearing them in
terlope the, text Dixie with the words
'Ohs will be wine Tomorrow and "to-mor-
row." well have fun" etc. He said moth
ing, 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 ofthe plantation.
tine brothers BURGErT He related TO them
what had occurred, and suggested the pro-
priety of Immediately taking such measures
of defence as in their judgment was necessa-
ry to preserve the lives of all the white peo-
pie about the place. In the meantime thev
had learned that on the following day. the
negroes intended 10 attack them in the field.
They then determined on devising plans
which, they thought, would entirely circum-
vent those OF the negroes, and obviate the
necessity OF shedding blood. With this end
IN view, they started next morning for the
heid, two OF the party riding Off toward the
road, two riding In the rear Of the planta-
ton. The brothers ISAAC and HENRY took
the road, each being armed with shot gun
and revolver. They had not advanced far
before they were met BY a body of about
nifty negroes, who ordered them off their
mules, accompanying the order with rapid
and indiscriminate firing. Isals i-.tEf
Fortunately none Of thesshots had any ei.
feet. Mr.. ISAAC BURGETT quickly aliehted
from his animal, and raising his gun 10 his
shoulder, fired, killing the leader of The
crowd, and wounding two others. His
brother, Mr.. HENRY B6RGErT. had bv this
time got in the rear of the scoundrels. and.
together with the other two gentlemen who
ii will be remembered had started in another
direction, poured a volIey 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 TINS tune some ten or twelve white men
gathered around the place, and quickly sue
ceeded IN arrestlng and placing under guard
the enure gang. Forty new rifles, thirty
nve reVolyers 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 half
mile of, but Immediately dispersed in con-
fusion upon hearing of the disastrous defeat
OF their infamous brother-plotters and assas-
sins. - =.
An examination, afterward, of about
twenty of the negroes, showed plainly that
it was concocted by heads far more capable
of doing mischief than those Of the ig-
norant deluded negroes; but the planners
lacked the courage ofexecuting their dam
nable schemes. This part Of the work they
left to negro named BILL Dickinson, who
assumed 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 neighborhood, to be followed
by an indiscriminate plundering, 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. This is
the testimony of the negroes. They saw too,
that they were forced into the instruction
by the negro leaders, who told them that if
they would but once take possession of the
plantations, their friends in Memphis and at
the North would stand by them. ages
The result of such teaching is plain. 1t
is to incite the negro, with his low brutal
nature, to murder, rapine and bloodshed.
What can be palmer? We answer, nothing;
and in this occurrence the world is furnished
with another illustration of it. True it is
that in comparison with the Jamaica out
break it is but insignificant. But the same
principle is involved, though on smaller
scale. A desire to possess the lands jundis-
turbed; desire to rid themselves of white
rulers, or have such rulers as they them
selves would choose. Who could tell where
it would end, had it been successful in the
beginning, and with the numerous bands of
negDes coming up as reinforcements? The
matter should be thoroughly investigated
and the investigation should begin in Mem
phis-lhenlphis Avalanche, Oct. oh.