Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-01
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.


A CoIOred Camp Meeting Attacked
BALTIMORE, August 31-Last night an
attack was made on the eolOred portion of
the camp meeting held at Shipley Woods,
three miles from Hanover Switch, on the
Washington road, BY a band Of armed des-
peradoes. Several negroes were badly beat
en-, wounded, &c. A white man named
MILTON BENSON, while at prayer, was shot
in the back of the head and MORALLY wound
ed, the ball coming out of his mouth. As
far as can be ascertained, the following are
the facts in this outrageous affair;
A white camp meeting, attended by many
ministers ct the Methodist Episcopal Church
Of the North Baltimore District, Of which
Mr.. LANAHAH is Presiding Elder, was
being held at the place before stated. Rev.
Messrs. SPEAKE, REED, and other white
ministers, were officiating at white camp
meeting, near which, under the auspices of
the same, some colored people were holding
camp exercises, also. During yesterday after
noon, number of young men were no.
ticed ON the camp ground, having pistols on
their persons. These were, as far as can be
ascertained, residents of the surrounding
neighbOrhOOd.
No disturbance occurred during the day,
but about midnight, while the eolored peO-
pie were engaged in conducting their reli-
gious exercises, they were suddenly set upon
by gang of men making loud shouts Of
epithets and imprecatiOns. The attack COM
menced with the beating of anegro while on
his knees. The negroes at once rose up and
ascene of wild and Undesirable excitement
ensued; women screaming in terror, shots
were fired by the assailants but as it was in
the dark, few were supposed to have taken
effect. The colored men rallied and turned
upon the assailants and drove them off two
or three times, whilst the women fled toward
the camp of the whites. Many of the
colored people were wounded with clubs.
There we're a few flesh wounds from pistol
| Shots
Some Of the colored men had pistols, and
used them freely upon their assailants but
with what result is not known. Finally the
conflict ended through the persuasion Of the
white members and others, by the cOlored
people leaving the ground and seeking their
homes, leaving their camp to the despera-
does, who further gratified their unmanly
success by piling the tents and effects of the
negroes, including bundles and trunks OF
clothing, in a heap, aud setting fire to the
pile, destroying all. The white man shot,
| as HTsL |HehtlOneu, WAS At prayers az the
altar in the white camp, where Mr.. SPEAKE
was conducting exercises. By whom the
shot was fred is not known, but friends of
some of the ministers believe that it was
fred by some of the white rioters, who in
tended it for prominent Methodist minis
ter. How this may be it is impossible to
say Others think that it was simply a
stray shot, which is very probable.
Oar informant says the white men certain
ly began the disturbance, while the colored
people were engaged in religious exercises
The assailants are reported to have used va
rious rallying cries, among which was heard
the expression, how about New Orleans:
There are many exciting, doubtless, more oil
less exaggerated stories circulating about the
affair. The above, as far as can be ascertain
seems 10 be authentic.