Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-10-09
The Camilla Massacre.

affair. One ct THESE, the Democratic
account, got up with all the facts stated
so as 10 Justify the massacre, we find in
the New York World That account states
that the people Of Camilla had been
greatly agitated for several days, because
of the announcement of a Republican
meeting to take place there, and, though
the account is silent upon this point, no
one questions the fact that there was a
general determination to prevent the meet
ing. The people finally "heard" that
the negroes who were coming TO the meet
ing were all armed, and they became
alarmed for the safety of their wives and
children, II this numerous body of armed
men were permitted to enter the town.
SO the Sheriff went out of town and met
the procession, and insisted that the ne
groes and others who proposed to attend
the meeting should stack their arms out
side the town, and then, unarmed, enter
the public square, where they might be
shot down by the populace. The negroes
refused 10 lay down their arms or to enter
the trap prepared for them unless they
had the means to fight their way out.
The Sheriff then rode into town, and,
when the procession neared the Court
House, an "intoxiceted man named
Johns" ordered the music to stop, and fred
his musket. The shot was answered by
the procession, when body of armed citi-
zens fired into the procession, killing q
number, wounding others and dispensing
the remainder. The Democratic account
places the responsibility for the murder
on the refusal Of the procession TO sban-
don their arms. Having resolved TO hold
their meeting, and deliver their speeches,
according to their previous announce
ment, they entered the town, and met the
fate with which Forrest visited the un-
armed prisoners at Fort Pillow, and to
which the mob devoted the unarmed mem
bers of the Louisiana Convention in New
Orleans. The Worlds account, which is
sworn TO, states that "seveD negroes were
killed, all Of 1ohom were genteelly buried
by a con1mttteo appointed for that pur-
pose" Thirty or forty others were
wounded The same account states:
ut is source of deep regret that the calaml-
tous consequences OF this affair fell exclusively
upon the poor deluded negroes led on by the
wicked white men, Murphy, Pierce and Putney,
who made good their escape. This result is TO be
attributed more to the sharpness and shrewdness
Of these gallant leaders in effectlng their escape
than to the want Of intention on the part Of our
people,"
From this it will be seen that there was
whose guilt is proven by the fact that they
were all Northern aliens Pierce being
a Kentuckian by birth, and afterwards a
resident in Indiana and an officer of the
Union army; Murphy was in the Union
army under General Wilson; Putney is q
Northern man by birth, who has gone to
Georgia to live. These men are all citi-
zens of the United States but IL seems
they are infamous because they have
taken up residence in Georgia and refuse
to become rebels. One ofthem is a candi-
date for Congress, and because he is Re
publican his right to hold meeting is de-
MED, and the regret is expressed that he
escaped the Camilla massacre with his
life.
The other statement of the facts in the
case Is, that Pierce and Murphy on the
10Th reached the town of Americus,
Georgia. They registered their names in
the hotel book, and were soon after, or
dered to leave the house. They, however,
made their speeches, and were entertained
at the house of Judge Mccoy, Of the Su-
preme Court of Georgia While at his
house the negroes attempted with drum
and fife to pass through the public square,
when an armed mob drove them out. The
Mayor addressed the mob, stating that
there was no purpose to hurt the negroes,
but the two white scoundrels should
die" Pierce and Murphy took refuge in
the office of the agent of the Freedmen's s
Bureau until dark, after which the agent
sent them through the fields to point
out of town, where he met them with n
wagon, in which they escaped into Lee
County. Every road leading from Ameri.
Gus was picketed that night with
armed men, and no secret was made of the
intention to kill Murphy and Pierce. On
the 18th these same men, accompanied by
seventy-five negroes, entered the town OF
Camilla, pursuant to appointment to hold
public political meeting. Four miles
from town they were met by one Johns,
who told them that he was sent to notify
them that the people of Camilla would
permit no Radical speaking in that town.
Pierce accepted the warning to the extent
of sending note by freedman to the
Sheriff demanding protection. The Sheriff
and posse answered in person, outside OF
the town, requesting Pierce not to attempt
to enter; that row was inevitable. Pierce
answered that he was violating no law
and would speak in Camilla The Sheriff
then galloped back to town. Pierce and
Putney, in q buggy, entered Camilla in
advance of their crowd, and went to the
square; the procession entered, preceded
by a wagon in which were two drummers
and two fifers The account then pro.
ceeds:
AT hundred yards from the Court House the
double .6arrelled shotgun, which he discharged
ins the wagon, wOunding two colored men
Upon this there rose mp from either side of the
road upon which the colored people were ap.
nTOAChinn the town laTqa m ~ xuhi ma,
who had been concealed in the underground, who
opened cross fire upon the colored people In the
road. A few of the colored people, having pis-
tols, endeavored to defend themselves, but ma.
Jority OF them fed Messrs. Pierce and Putney
rushed toward the contending parties, Mr. Pierce
throwing up his hands, and calling upon the freed
men TO stop, saying don't do that, don't do
that Upon this the whites, or y portion of
them, turned upon Pierce and Putney and fred
W,GSI1SSng ,Go MT psTSs in the Lex and Mr. Patney n
the woods and escaped, reaching the plantation
OF OF Messrs. Flagg \ Fish, two gentlomen from
Massachusetts, at three O'clock this morning.
"To return to the battle or massacre of Camilla
The freedmen, who were armed, having emptled
their pistols, ned for their liyes-suoh as had not
already been placed AOrs ia combat leaving the
wounded on the ground The whites pursued,
some OF them first assuring themselves that those
eolored men lett on the ground were dead by ne.
peated shots at their PROSTATE bodies.
Murphy and Janin endeavored 10 escape in
their buggy, but eight miles nom Camilla tCcre
opsrdken by are or ste mounted DseH Both dis
woods, and Murphy taking refuge in deserted
house, where he prepared to sell his life deSrly
Ms possible. His pursuers surrounded the house,
and demanded his surrender. He refused, and
told them to commence nring. After some parloy,
upon solemn promise that he should not be
harmed, nor detained, he came out, and while
talking TO some OF the party, he was dealt n nor
Iihle blow upon the head with barrel OF a gun.
In the hands Of another lie was then, after some
questioning and examination, allowed 20 proceed
on his way.
"Up tos O'Clock this morning theXThite neon,e
were sill in pursuit Of the fleeing and wounded
with horses and hloodhounds.
The white people In Camilla boast that one
Is near the house ofaDr. Dasher, some two miles
from Camilla
These two accounts agree In the essen
tial particulars /, That the people were
determined to kill the white men who un-
dertake to make Republican speeches in