Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-04
Prom the Baltimore American OF Friday.
OUTRAGE AT A CAMP MEETING.
NEW ORLEANS MASSACRE INITIATED.

/ 49," NAA+i@ANn mAHbACHE INITIATED.
One Of the most disgraceful and blood
lhirsty affairs which has ever been recorded
IN this vicinity occurred Thursday night at
the camp-meeting held in Shipley's woods.
J three miles from Hanover Switch. on the
Washington Branch of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. The meeting was opened on
Friday morning last, and had progressed
very successfully and harmoniously up TO
Thursday night, about 100 persons having
protessed conversion and nearly sixty peni-
tents remaining at the altar when these riot
Gus proceedings were iDaugurated
puring Thursday afternoon certain men
were observed on the ground armed with re-
yolYers which they wore in belts around
their waists, but no danger was apprehended
until nearly midnight, when party went
INTO the colored peoples meeting and
Knocked down woman. The colored peo-
pic soon rallied, however and drove the riot.
efs from the immediate vicinity, and the
meeting again progressed but while those
in attendance were engaged in prayer,
man praying was knocked down, and as the
colored people rose from their knees they
were fired upon by these desperadoes, who
attacked in front and on either flank, almost
surrounding them. The attacked party
again rallied, returned the fire and charged
upon their cowardly assailants, driving them
within the circle formed by the colored peo-
pies tents, Immediately in the rear OF the
preachers stand of the principal camp. In
few minutes the rowdies renewed their
onslaught, but were again repulsed, firearms
being freely used. At this time Young
man named Milton Benson, a resident OF
the vicinity, while in front of the preachers
stand, upon his knees as a penitent. was
wounded by pistol ball which struck
MN in the back of the neck and pass
ed out at his mouth The supposition is
that this shot was intended for a certain
preacher, rs il was currently reported after.
ward that he had been fired at, although he
was not in the altar when the shot was fired.
In the progress OF the melee one OF the des.
peradoes deliberately fired a pistol AT the
head OF MIR. Downs, of Anne Arundel coun-
w one OF the managers, but the ball merely
passed through the top of his hat, cutting
his hair; at the same time he received a ball
through one of his boots.
After the second OF third charge of the
eolored people upon the rioters, they (the
colored people, were requested by the mana
gers 10 quietly withdraw from the camp
ground, which they did, in the dead hour Of
midnight, men, women and children. The
rioters then robbed their trunks and satchels
oil pocket books, money &c, and then
heaped into one great pile all their tents,
beds, trunks, clothing and valuables, and
then burned them to ashes, exhibiting the
most hendish delight in gathering up every
Vestige OF the effects Of these unohending
people. Several of the desperadoes were
heard to express regret that none of the
preachers were shot, and during the progress
OF the riot some OF them said they were
good johnson men, and cried "What
about New Orleansy"
That all this was enacted without any in.
reference on the part of the officers of the
law in that county is only explained upon
the theory that they were in sympathy with
the whole movement, as every known Rebel
and Rebel sympathizer in the neighborhood
either justified the affair or endeavored to
pallate IT, In fact, many were disposed to
thrust the blame for the whole affair upon
the colored people.
lhis general statement is given upon re.
liable information, and any lack of details is
attributable 10 the fact that in the confu-
sion which prevailed throughout the camp.
consequent upon the disgraceful scenes
enacted, it was utterly impossible to gather
anything more definite. Several colored
persons were reported TO have been killed,
but nothing positive upon this subject was
iearnedi it is only known that numbers
received severe wounds, some OF which
may prove fatal. Certainly their exemption
from more fatal consequences is not to be
credited to the mild and humane character
OF the treatment they received, but rather to
the stubbornness with which they defended
themselves from attack.
AS to the effect OF this affair upon the camp
meeting, it can only be added that MS Ii oc-
CURED upon the closing night no serious in
convenience was felt by those in charge,
though the meeting was, of course, closed
more suddenly than was anticipated by the
managers
The general camp was under the charge
OF Key Mr. Lanahan, Presiding Elder of
the district, and previous to the attack ON
the colored people the best order had pre-
vailed, and the religious influence of the
services had been excellent
The colored camp was a small affair, con.
sisting of four or five tents, located about
one hundred yards from the general camp.
1t has been usual in Maryland for years tor
the colored people to thus hold a camp in
connection with the white people The be
hayior of the colored people at this camp
mad been entirely unexceptionable, and gave
no cause for the atrocious attack
Various estimates are made as to the num-
Der OF persons really engaged in this unpro.
Toked assault upon the colored people but
the confusion was so great that it was diti-
cult TO form just conclusion. Many of
those participating are believed to have been
reconstructed Rebel soldiers, who en-.
braced this opportunity of displaying their
devotion to law and order and their humane
treatment OF the cOlored race