The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-29
Terrible Riot in Georgia.

I
Murphy ex-bureau agent, with about two hun
dred negroes armed and equipped, started on
| Friday for Camilla with three weeks provisions
and boxes Of new arms and accoutrements, the
/ intention being to overcome the citizens and Kill
the leading Democrats of the town and vicinity
Before starting five negroes exposed the plans
and negro courier was dispatched to Camilla to
inform the citizens what was going on.
A deputation of three prominent citizens met
the mob at Cana Church, five miles from town
The Governors Proclamation disarming and for
bidding armed organizations was read The mob
paid no attention. but were determined to march
On to town and kill such as they choose. Twice
more the deputatlOn demonstrated In entreatlng
the negroes to come into town without arms and
they should not be molested Efforts were fruit
less to dlssuade the negroes, and the rioters
marched into town with banners flying and
drums beating, numbering nearly four hundred,
numbers having joined on the route. The mob
halted and clamored for the blood ofa man named
Johns. Johns in company with DR.. Tibitty pre-
scented himself, when one hundred guns were
leveled at them. The former being intoxicated,
fired and the riot commenced the mob firing at
every one they could see. The citizens, white
and colored, rallied, gathering about fifty stands
of arms.
The rioters were vigorously attacked and
driven back, beating hasty retreat which was
increased every moment by panic. The negroes
were pressed for five miles, losing thirty-fve
killed and many wounded, the total loss, as far
as ascertained, being from seventy five to one
hundred in killed and wounded Owing to panic
among the mob, only five of the whites were
severely wounded.
The colored citizens Of the town are reported
to have rallied promptly with the whites in de-
featng the mob.
The stores and munitions of the rioters were
captured, amounting to three weeks provisions
and number of boxes of arms At last ac-
counts Camilla was quiet. E-.,-..
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The following is the statement of the Sheriff
Of Mitchell county sworn to by himself and
other prominent citizens. It is addressed to
members of the Legislature:
On Saturday, 9th inst, it was made known
to citizens of Camilla that John Murphy, of
Albany, Ga, had issued circular and secretely
circulated the same among colored men of this
county, ordering them to bring their arms with
them to a political meeting, advertised for that
day at this place. This information was corrobo-
rated by statements made by Robert Cockeran
ST., Thomas Jones and others, who came from
the road in the direction Of albany, stating that
armed negroes were assembling in large numbers
at China Grove church, waiting for the delega-
ton from Albany, headed by said Murphy and
Pearce candidates for Congress- who were to be
speakers Tor the occasion At the request of
citizens, NJ. j. Poore, the Sheriff, and COM
mlttee OF SIX other citizens, went out to meet
said procession and to protest against the armed
negroes being marched in procession in our town;
to state to them distinctly that if they would
put down their arms, no election would be made
to their entering town and holding their politi-
cal meeting. The Sheriff delivered this message
to Murphy and Pcaree, leaders of the procession
and they replied that they had nothing to do
with these armed men; the guns belonged to them,
and they were in the habit of carrying them
wherever they went. The Sheriff replied, that
as peace officer it was his duty under the law,
to forbid the asseniblage of armed men at polti-
cal meetings, and assured them that if they en-
tered town with their music and banners fol-
lowed by armed men, as they then were that
there would be breach OF the peace, and he
would not be responsible for consequences
Shortly afterwards column made it's way into |
town In regular order, headed by Pearce, candi- |
date for Congress, and one Putney, white, in a
buggy, armed with double barrel shot gun |
Spencer rifle, and two pistols with quantity |
OF ammunition, afterwards ascertained |
Next came a four horse wagon. containing the
band and number of armed negroes; next fol- |
lowed a column of negro men foot, between |
three and four hundred in number, attended bv |
about twenty mounted out siders; at least one |
half, If not two-thirds, armed with guns
and most of them with pistols, the music play
ing, and the crowd noisy and threatening in
their conduct. Murphy and one Phillip Joiner,
a negro, in buggy, were in the rear, as the
head OF the column approached the square
(lpa ofO ait I'll
toxicated, approached within few feet of the
column, and ordered the music to stop, which
was lot obeyed. The column moved On, and
when about twenty steps from him, his gun was
tired, whether Intentionally or unintentonally,
is not known. but it was reported in different
directions, The contents of the gun struck the
ground about twelve feet from him The col
nmn fired volcy, some ofthe shots at Johns,
NEST Of them in the. direction of Naples Store,
thirty or forty steps from the column, at which
place there was number ofour citizens, all un-
lrmed, and six Of them were wounded Imme-
1iately after this, about twenty of our citizens
;prang to their arms and fred into the column
by which two negroes We're killed and number
wounded. The negroes Immediately broke and
made for thick cluster of timber, one hundred
Yards north OF the court house. At this point
here was an attempt made by Pearce to rally his
outed forces, when about thirty of our citizens.
part OF them mounted instantly made charge
md completely routed the whole force, Pearce
lying through the woods and fields, and Murphy =,
md Phil Joiner escaping in a buggy up the i
Dad towards Albany. Seven negroes were Kill .
ed, and from the best information we have been :
BILE to procure between thirty and forty were {
all ofthe latter being properly cared
or. ,
1t is a source of deep regret that the calamit-