Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-09-24

the candidate for Congress, and also |
one futney, white, in buggy, armed |
with double barreled shot gun, a
spenser rifle and two pistols, with quan. |
nty OF ammunition. as was afterward as. |
tanned next farm house wagon, con.
tain .inga band number Of armed no.
groes; next followed column % negro
men en- foot between three and four hun.
dred. attended by about twenty wounted
out riders, At least one-halt,if not more,
were armed with guns, and most Of them
with pistols The music was playing and
the crowd were noisy and threatening in
their conduct. Murphy and one Phillip
Joiner, negro, were in buggy in the
rear, As the head column approached the
square, one Of our citizens, James John,
who was in the crowd, approached with
in a few feet Of the column, and ordered
the music to stop, which was not
done, and the column moved for
ward. When about twenty steps
from him, his gun was fired, whether in.
tentionally or not is not known, but it
was pointed in different direction and
the shot struck the ground about twenty
fee, from him; the column fired a yolley,
some Of the shots at Johns, most of them
in the direction of Naples store, thirty or
forty stops from the column, at which
place there was number Of citizens, all
unarmed, wounding six Of them.
Immediately about twenty of our citi-
Gems sprang TO their arms and fired into
the column, by which two negroes We're
killed and number wounded. The NO
grocs immediately betook themselves to a
thick cluster Of timber one hundred yards
north Of tho Court House At this point
there was an attempt made by Pierce to
rally his routed forces. Our citizens to
the number of about thirty, n part of them
being mounted, Immediately made a
charge and completely routed the whole
force, Pearce flying through the woods
and fields, and Murphy and Phil Joiner
escaping in buggy up the road towards
Albany.
Several negroes We're killed, and from
the best information We have been able to
procure, between 30 and 40 We're wound
ed, all Of whom have been properly cared
for.
1t is source Of deep regret that the
calamity occurred, and We hereby disown
any purpose or intention on the part OF
ourselves or our citizens 10 violate the
laws of States in what was done. We
were willing, and so expressed ourselves
to those leaders, for them to hold theil
political meetings at the Court House IL
our town il the negroes would disarm
but we did not think, ana still think, tina
it was our duty to obey the orders OF tn
sheriff, as civil officer Of this State, ii
breaking up this unlawful assembly. w
felt, as their numbers vastly exceede
that of our citizens present, that had tn
meeting taken place the lives of our wive
and children would be at the mercy of a
infuriated mob. While'the consequence
are to be regretted, and we do not boas
of what was done by our people, we fe,
that they have but discharged painfr
duty imposed upon them by wicked an
corrup. men, now engaged in leadin
astray into acts Of lawlessness the colore
people of our country. We appeal to Il
D law-making powers of Georgia, and Ia,
! full authorities of the United States,
check the progress of these strolling erin
inals that are prowllng about the home
: and disturbing the peace and quiet of OF
, war-stricken people.
{ The foregoing statements from the mi
! itary and civil authorities give full pa
| ticulars of the riot.
The governor addressed a message
the Legislature recommending that ii
President be petitioned for troops.
The matter is being considered to-day