Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-30
Bloody Negro Riot in Geersia.


ty, Ga, some twenty miles Southwark from
the town of Albany.
The Legislature OF Georgia appointed a
Committee 10 investigate the offair, and the
following is the report of the citizens Of Ca
miIla to the said Committee:
ALBANY, Ga, Sept. 81, 1868.
a. d. Munnally, ef Senate, c. C. Duncan, Of
House, Committee:
Gentlemen: Please find below, the sworn
statement of the best citizens Of Mitchell
county, and our report:
GEORGIA, MITCHELL COUNTY.
Personally appeared before the Undersigned: {:
Mumford j. Poore, Sheriff of said county,
Josiah B. Butler, Robert Cochran, Sr., II. G.
Dasher, Ordinary of said county, W. A. Byrd,
Wade G. Cox, B. T. Brimberry, E. H. Shack.
eford, who make the following statement
under oath On Saturday, the nineteenth in
slant, it was made known to the citizeps.of
Camilla, that John Murphy, OF Albany, GA,
lad issued his circular and secretly circulated
the same among the colorcd men of this
county, ordering them to bring their arms
with them to the political meetngadvertised
for that day at this place. The information
was ccrroborated by statements made by
Robert Cochran, ST., Thomas Jones, and 9TH
ers, 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 delegation from Alba
nv, headed by said Murphy, and Pierce, the
candidate for Congress, who were to be the
speakers for the occasion. At the request of
the citizens n. j. Poore, Sheriff, with a Com.
mitlce of six other citizens, went out to meet
said procession and protest against armed re-
groes being marched in procession in our
town, and 10 state to them distinctly that if
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
Pierce, the leaders of the procession, and they
replied that they had nothing to do with
those 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, 10 forbid the assemblage of armed
men at political meetings, and assured them
that if they entered the town with their mu-
sic and banners, followed by armed men, as
they then were, that there would be breach
OF the peace, and he would not be response.
Bile for the consequences
Shortly afterward the column moved in,
town in regular order, headed by Pierce, the
candidate for Congress, and one Pstney,
white, in buggy, armed with double-bar
rel shot gun, Spencer rife, and two pistols,
with a quantity of ammunition, as was alter
ward ascertained next, a four-horse wagon
containing band and number of armed ne.
eroes; next followed colpmn Of negro men
on foot, between three and four hundred, at
.tcnded hy about twenty mounted outsiders, of
WHOM at lcastoue- hall, !, ii nottwo. thirds, were
armed with guns and the most Of them with
pistols, the smusic playing and the crowd moi
sy. and threatening in their conduct. Muir
ply, and one Phillip Joiner. negro, i'll a bug
gy, in the rear. As the head of the column
approached the Square, one Of our citizens
james Johns, who was intoxicated, ap-
preached within few feet of the column
and ordered the music to'stop, which was
not obeycd. The column moved on. When
about twenty feet from him, bis gun was
fired, whether Intentionally Or unintentional'
ly is not known, but it was pointed in dil-
ferent direction, and the contents struck the
ground about twelve feet from him. The
column fired volley, some of the shots at
Johns, most OF them in the direction Of Ma
ple's store, thirty or forty steps from the col
ann, at which place there was a number Of
our citizens, all unarmed, wounding six of
our citizens. Immediately, about twenty OF
cur citizens sprang 10 their arms and fired
into tho column, by which two negroes were
killed and number unknown wounded. The
negroes immediately broke 10 thick cluster
of timber, Que hundred yards north, of the
Court House. A;-lris point there was an at
tempt made by Pisrco 10 rally his routed
forces. Our gilizeis Immediately, to about
thirty. par. of them mounted: made charge,
and completely routed the whole force, Pierce
flying through The woods and fields, Murphy
AMI Phil. Joiner escaping in buggy up the
road toward Albany. Seven negroes were
killed, all eff whom were gentcelly buried by
a committee appointed for that purpose.
From the best information we have been able
10 procure between thirty and forty were
wounded, all Of whom have been properly
cared for. 1t is source of deep regret that
the calamitous consequences of this affair
fell exclu.ivelyupon thepoor deuded negroes,
led on by the wicked white men, Murphy,
Pierce and Putney, who made good their es'
cane in the hour Of danger, with but little in
iury to themselves. This sad result is to be
attributed more to tie sharpness and shrewd
ness of these gallant leaders in eifccting their
escape than to the want of intention on the
part Of our people. We hereby disavow any
purpose or intent on the part of ourselves or
our citizens to violate the law or The peace OF
the Slate in what was done. We were will
ling. and so expressed ourselves TO these
leaders, Tor them 10 bold their political meet.
lnr at the court bouse, 10 our town, if the ne.
croes we're disarmed, but We did think, and
still think. that it was Cur duty 10 obey ,.hc
orders of the Sheriff as civil officer of this
State, in breaking up this unlawful assem-
blage. We felt that as their numbers vastly
exceeded that Of our citizens present, that II
this meeting had taken place that the lives OF
orr wives and children would be at the mer-
cv OF an inluriated mob. While the conse-
ouences are to be regretted, and we do not
boast of what was done by our people, we
feel that they have but discharged painful
duty imposed upon them by wicked and cor
rupt white men now engaged in leading astray
into acts Of lawlessness the colored people OF
our country. We appeal to The law-making
powers of Georgia and the lawful authorities
of the United States Government to check
the progress of these strolling criminals that
are prowling about the homes and disturbing
the peace and quiet of our war stricken people,
GEORGIA, MITCHELL. County.
Personally came before me James j. Nor
gau, who, being sworn, says that on Saturday
last while the procession was moving on the
road from Albany to this place, he met them
and heard the following conversation: John
Murphy, who was in buggy with a. grey
L