The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-23
TROUBLE AMONG THE NEGROES
ON THE COAST.
THE NEGROES ON BACK RIVER, OPPOSITE
SAVANNAH, ARMING THEMSELVES.
THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP THE
LANDS. Nc
The Savannah Ne,os Of Monday has the follow

The Savannah Ne,cs of Monday has the follow
ing:
!, a rum9r nor was prevalent in this city yesterday
ment of the United States soldiers and tie freed
men on Mr.. Cheves' plantation, by which several
lives bad been lost but, from what we could learn
found the officers very reticant, but, from what we
could learn, the facts are these: An order has been
issued to Capt. Il. G. Brandt, Commissioners Of tho
groes on Back River, to tho effect that the lands
are to be turned over to tho owners and the
freedmen to make contracts. portion Of the
Cheves property has been leased by Mr. Smith
Barnweu, who was desirous Of making arrange
ments T,en wit With the negroes but they positively
Application was then made to Captain Brandt
who furnished Mr. Barnwen with corporal and
six men, with whom he proceeded to the place, but
soon found that the negroes were determined to
resist. He then came back and made application
for detachment Of fifty men. They were fur
nished from Fort Pulaski, and Lieutenant Miller.
Of the Sixteenth Infantry, detailed to command
them. Captain Brandt then proceeded a ross the
river and left twenty -fvc men at the mill. With
the balance he went to MIR. Barnwelrs place. and at
first saw nothing but q few women and children.
He read his orders to them, and said that Ie came
to them as a friend and not to fight them. Soon
thereafter the detachment was surrounded by
three or four hundred armed negro men and wo-
men, the men keeping to the rear Of the women
We have been informed that tie negroes have
been thoroughly drilled and armed, and that IN
officer, with sash and sword, was in command. We
also learn tnat the negro lawyer, Bradley, who
piled to be admitted to practice in the Superior
Court last week, is at the bottom of the whole
thing; that he has informed the negroes that they
cannot be removed: that Congress has passed .
Law giving them the right to hold the lands; and
that he has reco nmended them to resist the OFF,
GERS of the Bureau. Some of the negroes present.
ed what they said was their warrnt, and which had
been given them by Bradley for the sum OF one
dollar q head. @
We understand that dispatches have been sont
to Gen. Scott informing him of the state Of affairs
and that he will probably arrive on the scene to-
day. A steamboat left yesterday afternoon with
hear OF its returning last night.
They were armed with clubs, hooks and mus
kets. The Captaid stated that he wanted them to
appoint one or two mon to talk the matter over
with him, and advised Them that he did not want
to drive them off the place, but merely to induce
them to make contracts with Mr.. Barnwell. This
Ghey refused and said the lands belonged to them;
they had paid taxes TO the Government, and that
they would not leave. -::l s.T3
While the pnrley was progressing, some of tho
negroes had got in the of the soldiers and be-
hind fence, and when discovered they had their
guns pointed through the holes OF the fence, and
bearing directly on The soldiers. Discovering this,
the Captain judiciously determined to withdraw
his men, not wishing to shed blood, especially as
! the women and children would probably have been
the sufferers. He retired to the mill where he had
left the balance Of the soldiers and came to town
for further orders from Gen. Scott, commanding
the District.
/ +. 3. Z . y