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, ARMNG THEMSELVES.
THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP THE
LANDS.
The Savannah Ne,os Of Monday has the follow

| The Savannah Nel1s OF Monday has the follow.
ing:
a rumor was prevalent in this city yeste, day
that q collision had occurred between detach-
men on MIR. Cheves plantation, by which, several
lives had been lost, but from what we could learn,
there was really no conflict between them. We
found the officers very reticnnt, but, from what we
| issued to Capt. Fl. c. Brandt, Commissioner Of the
! FFeedmen's Bureau, who has charge of the ne
groes on Back River, to the effect that the lands
are to be turned over to tho owners, and the
freedmen to make contracts. A portion Of the
Cheves property has been leased by Mr; Smith
Barnwell, who vas desirous Of making arrange
ments with the negroes but they positively re-
fused, and threatened to take Mr. Barnwelrs life.
Application was then made to Captain Brandt,
who furnished Dir. Barnwel 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 a detachment Of fifty men. They were fur
nshed from Fort Pulaski, and Lieutenant Miller
of the Sixteenth Infantry, detailed to command
them. Captain Brandt then proceeded o ross the
river and left twenty-five men at the mill. With
the balance he won't to Mr. Barnwelrs place, and at
irst saw nothing but few women and children.
He read his orders to them, and said that he came
to them as friend and not to fight them. Soon
thereafter the detachment was surrounded by
three or four hundred armed negro men ano wo-
men, the men keeping to the rear Of the women
and children.
We have been informed that the negroes have
been thoroughly drilled and armed, and that an
officer, with sash and sword, was in command. We
also learn that the negro lawyer, Bradley, who up
Piled to be admitted to practice in the Superior
Conrt last week, is at tho bottom of the whole
thing; that he has informed the negroes that they
cannot bo removed; that Congress has passed o
law giving them the right TO hold the lands; and
that he has reco nmended them to resist tie Off
GERS Of the Bureau. Some Of the negroes present.
cd what they said was their warrnt, and watch had
been given them by Bradley for the sum Of one
dollar o head
We understand that dispatches have been sent
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
supplies and stores for the soldiers but did not
hear of it's returning last night.
They were armed with, clubs, hooks md mus
kets The Captain stated that he wanted them to
appoint ono 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. Barnwen. This
they refused and said the lands belonged to them;
they had paid taxes TO the Government, and that
they would not leave.
While the parley WAS progressing, somo OF tho
negroes had got in tho rear Of the soldiers and be-
hind q fence, and when discovered they had their
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 havc been
the sufferers He retired To the mill whore he had
left the balance OF the soldiers and came to town
for further orders from Gen. Scott, commanding
the District.