Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-24
OUTBREAK AMONG THE NE.
GROEs In SOUTH CAROLINA.
The Negroes On Rack River Armed and
Orennised-They Refuse 90 Give mp

The Negroes on Rack River Armed and
OFsnnised-They Refuse 90 Give mp
the Hands.
From savannah News and Herald, Jan. p.
A rumor Was prevalent in this city yes
terday that q collision had occurred be-
tween detachment of United States sol
diers and the freedmen on Mr.. CheeYes'
plantation, by which several lives had been
lost, but from what we could learn there
ives really no conflict between them. We
found the officers very reticent, but from
what we could learn the facts are these: An
order has been issued to Capt H. c. Brandt,
Commissioner of the FTeedmen's Bureau,
who has change of the negroes on Back
river 70 the effect that the lands are to be
turned over TO the owners and the freed
mon to make contracts. A portion of the
Cheeves property has been leased by Mr..
Smith Barnwell, who was DESTROYS of
making arrangements with the negroes, but
they positively refused, and threatened to
take Mr. Barnwells life.
Application was then made to Captain
Brandt, who furnished Mr.. Rarnwell with
a corporal and six men, with whom he pro-
ceeded % the place, but soon found that the
negroes weredetermined 10 resist He then
came back and made application for de-
tachment Of fifty men. They were f1rn-
ished from Fort Pulaski, and Lieut. Miller,
Of the Sixteenth infantry, detailed 70 COM
mand them. Capt. Brandt then proceeded
across the river and left twenty five men at
the mill. With the balance he went to
Mr.. BarnwelPs place, and at first saw
nothing but few women and children.
He read his orders to them, and said that
he came to them as a friend and not to
fight them. Soon thereafter the detach-
ment was surrounded by three or four hun
dred armed negro men and women, the
men keeping in 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 applied 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 Con- |
gress has passed Law giving them the !
right 90 hold the lands; and that he has re-
commended them 10 resist the officers ofthe |
Bureau. Some Of the negroes presented |
what they said was their warrant, and |
which had been given them by Bradley for |
the sum Of one dollar a head.
We understand that dispatches have !
been sent 20 General Scott, informing him |
OF the state ofafairs, and that he will pro-
badly arrive on the scene to-day. A |
steamboat Left yesterday afternoon with |
supplies and stores for the soldiers but We |
did not hear Of lie returning last night. |
They were armed with clubs, hooks and |
muskets. The Captain stated that he |
wanted them 70 appoint one or two men to |
talk the matter over with him, snd advised |
them that he did not want TO drive them oil /
the place, but merely 90 induce them 10 |
make contracts with Mr.. Barnwell This |
they refused, and said the lands belonged 70 |
them; they had paid taxes 10 the govern
ment, and that they would not leave.
While the parley wss progressing, some
of the negroes had got in the rear Of the /
soldiers and behind fence, and when die /
covered they had their guns pointed through /
the holes Of the fence, and bearing directly /
on the soldiers. Discovering this. the |
Captain iudiciously determined to withdraw
his men, not wishing TO shed blood, espe-
cially as the women and children would /
probably have been the sufferers. He re- 4
tired to the mill, where he had left the bal
ance Of the soldiers, and came TO town for
further orders from Gen. Scott, oommsnd-
iag the district.