The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE RIOT IN GEORGIA.

ID 1HALSA 1CA1 IIs
THE RIOT III GEORGIA.
THE PARTICULARS OF 1HE AFFAIR-BoTH
= SIDES OF TIE STORY.
ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 22.-The particulars Of
the riot as telegraphed from cambridge to Au-
gusta yesterday are incorrect and exaggerated
The following gives the account Of both sides.
oh. Howard, Bvt. Maj. o. S. A., and Sub
Assistant Commissioner OF the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, Selegraphs Gen. Sibley, commanding the
District, the following:
ALBANY, September 18th, at 1o'clock P. M
Ishmael Lunner, q freedman, reported himself
directly from Camilla, Mitchell County, stating
that he had, left there at two O'Clock, P. NJ.
and that in the forenoon this day he approached
Camilla with John Murphy, and VIM. r. Pearce,
candidate for Congress from the Second lis
trict, and F. F. Patney, white, and about seven
ty-fiye colored persons en- route to Camilla,
where Pearce and Murphy were to deliver po-
htical addresses. Upon approaching Camilla the
relator being in advance. w1s accosted Dy an
armed and mounted White man, who at first
stated that he was ID search Off doctor to attend
o freedman, who had been hurt by falling of O.
tree, but who subsequently stated that he was
Q courier, and advised the relator and others
of the party who had overteken him, not to go
to town, as the people there were determined
that the Radicals should not speak in Camilla.
Notwithstanding this warning, the party NOV
ed ON towards Camilla, when they were met by
the Sheriff and posse, who accosted Captain
Pearce, and who was assured BY Capt. Pearce
that he desired and intended to speak in
Camilla on political subjects. The Sher-
if endeavored to dissuade him from
doing SO, telling him that the peo-
went back into Camilla, and again returned,
saying that he had done all in his power to
dissuade the people from violence, but with no
avail. The party then moved on to the town.
Pearce and his party entered the town, dis
mounted from their buggy, and hitched their
tanning the music entered the town it was
fred upon by the mounted white man who had
first accosted the relator, and by several other
white men. The freedmen then started to es-
CAGE to the woods, but Pearce attempted to
rally them, calling on them not to fly. The
colored men, being uuarmed, would not stop.
and the relator, being mounted, dashed out OF
town. A part Of the freedmen we're on foot
and part Of the musicians who had abandon
ed the wagon. Murphy and Philip Joiner being
in q buggy, also drove rapidly away towards
Albany. The relator kSpt ahead Of them. When
about seven miles from Camilla the buggy
containing Murphy and Joiner was oyertaken
by FIVE or six white men mounted and armed
The buggy was stopped, and one horse dashed
saw the pursuers around the buggy. Some Of
them dismounted. he then came rs rapidly
% possible to Albany,
The following is the statement Of the sheriff
otMitchell County. sworn, to by himself and
other prominent citizens. It is addressed TO
the members ofthe Legislature: sur zazzl
On Saturday, 18th instant, it was made
known TO the citizens Of Camilla that John
Murphy, Of Albany. Ga, had issued a circular
coiored men Of this county, ordering them to
bring their arms With them to political meet
ing advertised for that day at thus place. This
information was corroborated by state
ments made by Robert Cochran, Sem
ior, Thomas Jones and others, who came
from the road in the direction Of Albany.
bling in large numbers at China Grove Church
waiting for the delegation from Albany, head
ed BY sald Murphy and Pearce, candidate for
Coagress, Who Were TO be the speakers for the
occasion. Afthe request Of the citizens NJ. j.
.Poore, Sheriff, with committee OF Six other
citizens, went out to meet the said procession,
and to protest against armed negroes being
marched IN procession in our to yn, and to
state to them distinctly that il they would put
down their arms no objection would be made
to,their entering the town and holding their
political meeting. The Sheriff delivered this
message to murphy and Pearce, the leaiers OF
the procession, and they replied that they
had nothing to do with those armed
men, the guns belonged 70 them, and
er they went. The Sheriff replied that, as
peace officer. 1t ives his duty, under the Law, to
forbid assemblagea OF armed men at; political
meetings, and assured them that Il they entered
town with their music and banners, followed by
armed man, as they then we're, that there would
be breach Of the peace, and he would not be
responsible for the consequences. Shortly at
terwards the column moved into town in regu.
lar ordsr, headed by Pearce, the candidate for
Congress, and one Puney (white) in buggy.
armed with double barrel shot gun, Q Spencer
riAeand two pistols, with squantity Of ammuni- |
ton, ss was afterwards ascertained. The next |
vehicle was Q four horse wagon containing
the band and a number of armed negroes.
Next followed g column OF negro men on
attended by about twenty outriders. At least
one-haK il not, two.thirds, were armed with
gums, and most OF them with pistols. The
music was playing, and the crowd noisy and
threatening in their conduct. Murphy and
one Philip JOINER, negro, were IN buggy IN
the rear.-As the head OF the column approach
ed the square, one Of our citizens James
Johns, who waS intoxicated. approached within
q few feet OF tho column and ordered the music
to stop, which order was not obeyed, but the
column moved on. When about twenty steps
from him, his gun was fired, whether inten-
tionally or uninten1onally is not known; but
it Was pointed in different direction, and the
contents struck the ground about twelve feet
from him. The column then f. ed volley-some
of the shots at Johns, but most OF them In the
direction bf Naples store, thirty or forty steps
from the column, al which place there was q
number OF our citizens, ali unarmed, six OF
whom we're wounded. Immediately on the
shooting, about twenty Of our citizens sprung
to their arms and fred into the column, by
which two negroes we're killed and number
unknown wounded: The negroes Immediately
broke to q thick cluster Of timber, one hundred
Yards north Of che courthouse. at this point
there was an attempt made by Pearce to rally
his routed forces, but thirty citizens, part OF
them mounted, made o charge and COM
pleteIy. routed the whole force, Pearce flying |
through the woods and fields. Murphy and
Phil JOINER escaped in buggy up the road to-
ward Albany. Seven negroes were killed. From |
the best information we have been able to pro-
cure, between thirty and forty were wounded, |
ell Of whom were properly cared for. It is q |
source Of deep regret chat the calamitous con- |
the poor deluded negroes, who were led on by |
new, who all made good their escape in the !
hour Of danger with but little injury TO them |
selves. This sad result is to belrattribut- |
cd more; to the sharpness and shrewdness |
Of these gallant leaders in effecting their es-
cer,o tbor In auv want NJ intention on fhn mart |