New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-26
THE GEORGIA MASSACRE.
THE REPUBLICANS AMBUsHED AND AssAs
SINATED
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

readers account Of the recent important events I'D
this section. On the 18th inst, Capt William I.
Pierce Kentuckian by BIRTH gallant officer Of the
Union army during the late war, o staneh Republi-
can, and the regular nominee of the Republicans OF
this (IId) Congressional district, for the United
States Congress, proceeded to Americas. Sumter
County town but a few miles from Andtrsontue
for the purpose of making his first speech IN the
canvass of his district. He accompanied by
Mr.. John Murphy. native of Indiana, and now
citizen and the sheriff elect of this county, elected
by Republican majority Of about 700 in poll OF
about 200. Reaching Americas, they registered
their names at the hotel Five minutes thereafter
they informed by the proprietor that his board
ers insisted upon his turning these gentlemen out Of the
house. They were Radicals, they must leave, or no
could not be landlord of theirs. The gentlemen re-
Piled Erase our names from your books" Shortly
after this they addressed the cOlOred Republicans
amid the muterings and of the white citizens
who were in town in force. After speaking, they
went by invitation, to the house OF
II. X. Mccoy. Republican and associate
Chef-Justce of the State. While there the colored
Republicans attempted to march through the public
square with drums and fife though undrmed. They
were ordered by the Judge of the Superior Court
then in session. to stop the noise meaning that of the
drum and fife. Some cOlored man, not hearing the
order of the Judge nor comprehending the cause OF
the cessation of the music, called out " go on with
the music whereupon The whites drep their pistols
shotquns nres etc., and drore the coored men from The
square Messrs. Pierce and Murphy, knowing nothing
of this approached the public square. paying little
heed to the warnings of the colored people who told
them that the achilles had srorn to Kill them.
The Mayor addressing tho mob was informed by
angry that dc blacks should not be harmed but he
"t,co id ,chie scoundrelS should die As Messrs.
Pierce and Murphy neared the square an old white
man said. more to himself than to either of these
gentlemen, God d-n you, you'll ner9 edre hatsqndro
aliren They then turned. and by cireuitous route
reached the Office of Mr. W. c. Morrill,. Agent of the
Freedmens Bureau, where they took refuge They
remained concealed thus until after nighudtt when Mr.
Morrill, sent his servant with them through the
fields to q point outside the town where he met
them with wagon. in which they escaped
into Lee County, and thence to this place.
Returning over the road upon which he had taken
ont the wagons Mr.. Morrill, found hpicketed BY hapa
dozen armed men. These men inquired OF coiored men
who passed over the road after Mr. Morrill, for TWO
men, girng careful description Of Nessrs Pierce ana
Murphy That night every road leading from Amer
Gus in any direction picketed BY armed bodies OF
rAite men. Similar bodies of men kept watch over
houses where the two gentlemen were supposed to
be concealed None Of these people made any secret o.
their intentions of numbering Nessrs Pierce and Murphy
Yesterday the 10Th inst. Mr. Pierce, accompanied by
Mr. Murphy, the Rev. f. F. Putney, Phillip
Janin Ia colOred man, recently member OF
the Georgia Legislature, but who was expelled
on account of his color, and about seyentyye col
ored men approached the town of Camilla, Mitchell
County, where Messrs. Pierce, Murphy, and Janin
were to address the coored Republicans Four niles
from Camilla they met by white man named
James Johns who at first stated that he was IN search
of a doctor to attend colored man who had been
Injured by falling tree. As soon however. as he
learned the character of the party approaching, he
declared himself courier" sent 10 notify Mr. Murphy
that the people of Camilla and Of Mitchell County To9M
permit no Radical speaking in Camilla, that tie county
ras theirs and Mey intended 10 rule Il.
He then dashed off to town, and the party moved
toward the town, not believing that the people
would use force to prevent political speech. Mr.
Pierce however. needed the warning of the man
Johns so much as to send note by freedman 10 the
Sheriff of the county, the contents OF tins note are
unknown to your correspondent but from suDse-
quent actions of the Sheriff it is supposed to have
been a note asking The protection Of The GIRL dHh0rto
AT point two miles from the town, the party was
met by the Sheriff aud aposse The Sheriff asked
that in Difference to the wish Of the citizens, Mr.
Pierce uoud mol enter the torn. Mr. Pierce answered
that as he was violating no law of the county, and
no right of the people he would speak in Camilla.
He thought he had the right 70 do Upon that the
Sheriff and his posse all being armed and mounted
dashed off to town.
Mr.. Pierce in buggy, with Mr. Putney, proceeded
toward the town. followed at some distance by the
rest of the party With these latter was a planta
ton wagon, drawn by four mules, containing the
coored band consisting of two drummers and hfer
Messrs Pierce and Putney drove into the town. dis
mounted from their buggy and bitohed their horse
at the Court,tiouse At hundred yards from h'
Court House tie bdndragon ds met BY the man Johns
cM doable-bayeled shotgun wkch he discharged into
The ,cagon, rounding hco colored Upon this there
rose ND from either side of the road upon ehch hecolored
people We,e approaching the tora large nsmber %
,rbite men, tcho had been concealed in the aRdergrOr
scho opened fire upon the cotored people in road
A few of the colored people, having pistols
endeayored to defend themselves, but majority OF
them fed Messrs. Pierce and Putney rushed to-
ward the contendng parties Mr.. Pierce throwing us
his hands and calling the freedmen to STOP say
ing don't do that, don't do that" Upon this the
whites or portion of them turned upon Pierce and
Putney, and fired, wounding Mr. Pierce in the leg,
and Mr. Putney in the elbow and shoulder. Both,
however. took to the woods and escaped, reachns
the plantation of Messrs. Flagg and Fish, two gen.
tlemen from Massachusetts, at o'clock this morning
To return to the battle massacre at Camilla.
The freedmen Who armed having emptied their
pistols fed for their livessuch as had not already
been placed hors da combat-leaving the wounded oh
the ground The mhites pursued some Of them first as
su,img Themselves that those coored et on the ground
,cere dead BY repeated shots at their PROSTATE bodies
Murphy and Jania endeavored to escape in their
buggy, but eight miles from Camilla wtre orot"kcn
BY IRE or sic moanted men, both dismsunted from the
buggy, Jann taking to the woods, and Murphy taking
ha arahfl Gall