Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-09-30
The GeOryjn Massacre.

A special correspon dent of the Tribune
writes from Albany, Georgia, to that
paper, giving detailed account of the
massacre at Camilla in that State, where,
according to his account, 81 coiored men
were killed and wounded on the 10Th
instant. 1t seems that, at Americas,
while on their way to Camilla, Messrs.
Pierce and Murphy were warned away
from their hotel and compelled to take
refuge for their lives in the dwelling of
y Union citizen, while the procession of
colored men who had gathered to receive
them were driven from the town by
Whites, armed with pistols, shot-guns,
knives, &C., and there was no secret
made of the design to murder both gen.
tlemen. OF the Camilla affair, it is stat
ed as a fact that none of the colored men
were armed, only with pistols for the
purpose of legitimate defence, whereas
the Copi crhead account says they were
armed with rifles. The following are the
leading details of the massacre
On the 10Th inst, Mr.. Pierce, accom-
panied by Mr.. Murphy, the Rev. f. f.
Putney, Philip Ia IN IA colorcd man,
recently a member OF the Georgia Le-
glslature, but who was expelled on ac-
count of his color, and about 10 colOred
men approached the town of Camilla,
Mitchell County, where Messrs. Pierce,
Murphy, and Janin We're to address the
co orcd Republicans.
Four miles from Camilla, they were
me, by Il white man, named james
Johns, who at iirst stated that he was in
search of 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 Il courier sent TO no.
" Mr.. Murphy that the eople OF Cam
lila, and of Mitchell County, would per-
mt no Radical speaking III Camilla
that the County was theirs, and they
intended to rule it.
party moved toward the town, not be-
lievlng that the people would use force
to prevent a political speech. Mr.
Pierce, however, needed the warning of
the man Johns so much us to send note
by freedman 10 the Sheriff OF the
County ; the contents OF this note are
unknown to your correspondent, but
from subsequent actions OF The Sheriff 1T
is supposed to nave been note asking
Tor The protection of the civil authorl-
ties.
Alta point two miles from the town,
the parry was met by the Sheriff and a
posse.
The Sheriff asked, in Difference to the
wish of the citizens, that Mr.. f.tace
would not enter the town. Mr.. Pierce
answered that, as he was violating no
law OF the County, and no right OF the
people, he would speak in Camilla. lie
thought lie had the right to 40 so.
Upon that, the sheriff and his posse,
all being AIMED and mounted, dashed OH
to town.
MIR. Pierce, in buggy with Mr. Put
new, proceeded toward the town, fol-
lowed ut some distance by the rest of
the party With these latter was a
plantation wagon, drawn by four mules,
conta ming the cOlOrcd band, consisting
or two dlummelS and II iiter.
t Messrs. Pierce and Putney drove into
= the town, uismOunted from their buggy
and hitcned their horse to the Court
y House.
u At 100 yards from the Court House,
the blnd-wagon WAS met by the man
Johns, with adoubic- bafrelled shotgun,
which he discharged into the wagon,
woundinS Two cOiOfed men. Upon TINS
there rose up from either side OF the
Ii road upon which the cOlOrGd people
were approaching the town, large
, number of white men, WHO had been
concealed in the underground, who
), opened Il crOss-fire upon the colOred peo-
> pie in the road
A few of the colored people, having
: pistols, cndeavOred to uelend them
y selves, but The majority OF them fled.
Messrs. Pierce and Putney rushed to-
ward the cont .nding parties. MIR. Put
i.ts t,l Ia, md \ a
q on the freedmen to stop, saying "DOn't
a do that don't do that"
d Upon this the whites, or portion of
i 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, reaching the planta-
ton OF Messrs. Flagg and Fish, two gen
tlemen from Massachusetts,, at 3 O'Clock
in the morning.
TO return to the battle or massacre al
- Camilla. The freedmen who were arm
=, ed having emptied their pistols, fled fol
their lives-such as lad not already
been placed hOrs du combat - leaving
r the wounded on the ground. The white
Ie pursued, some of them first assuring
1t themselves that those colOred men lief
Is on the ground were dead by repeated
n n shots at their PROSTATE bodies.
~ Murphy and Janin endeavOred to es
III cape in their buggy, but eight mile
4 from Camilla were Overtaken by five O.
IL six mounted men. Both dismountet
L. from the buggy, Janin TAX ng to thu
l. woods and Murphy taking refuge in
T. deserted house, where he prepared Z
sell his life as dearly as possible. Hi
pursuers surrounded the house and de
handed his surrender. He refused ant
told them to commence firing. Ate
some parley, upon solemn promise tina
he should not be harmed nor detainel