Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-09
THE CAMILLA RIOT.
Official Re aart

THE CAMILLA RIOT.
Official Report.
General Howard last evening recaived from
General Sibiey, the reports and a.idavits Pc.
lating TO the Camilla riot, and orwarded them
to the Secretary of War, rs follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Bureau OF Rsfugee.
Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Washing,
ton, October 9th, 1S6s.-f,n. j. NJ Schofetd, Sec
retary y War-Sir: I have the honor to for
ward to you the afIidavits scot me by General
Sibley with regard to the Camilla riot The
General says that "no action whatever ha,
been taken by the civil authorities at this date
October 6th) toward bringing the guilty par
ties to punishment, and no inquest was hello
upon the bodies nor investigation had
except by this Bureau and Captain Mills by
the order CT the com manding otncer OF the Dis
ulct OF Georgia, hose report had been for
warded to the commanding officer of the De-
partment of the South. He further says: at is
not believed possible to bring the guilty parties
to punishment through the civil authorities OF
Mitchell county, they being engaged IN the af-
far and Justifying it, and no unbiased Jury
eonld be found in that county"
which relate to this riot, but simply submits
the afndaviIs, together with a private letter
from an ofhcer in that county, who makes a
special request of him that IL be not pu bli she'd
Very respectfully your obedient servant.
o. q. HOWARD,
MAJOR General Commanding.
MCPHERSON BARRACKS, Atlanta, Georgia
Sept. 2ah, 1S6s:-Brvret Brig. Cen r. T.. Drnm,
fsst. Adjt. Gen. Department Of the Sosth, AtLcntd.
Gsorgtd.-General 1 have the honor to report
that in compliance with par. VII, q. y. No.
40, Z. s., from Headquarters Department of the
South, proceeded to Camilla, Mitchell coun
ty, Georgia, on the 23d instant to investigate
the occurrences at that place on the 10Th in
slant. respectfully report as follows A few
days previous to the 18TH instant notices were
circulated in Dougherty and Mitchell countie,
a tna vxlaa xr.,snlI hotl
Camilla, Georgia, on that day, and that W p
Peirce, candidate for Congress from that
DisIlct John Murphy, candidate as Elector
tor the District, Putney, and others would al !.
dress the meeting; that purs uant to that notice
number OF colored people from plantations
between Albany, Georgia, and the neighbor.
pood OF Camilla proceeded in body to that
place, accompanied by musicians and u wagon
This crowd numbered from two TO three hun
dred colored people, about one-half of whom
may have carried hre-arms of different descrIp-
lions; that when within from two To three
miles from Camilla they were met by M s
Poore, the sheriff OF Mitchell comfy, accompa-
nfd by foAr or five citizens Of Camilla. who
protested against their entering the town with
arms, claiming, In accordance with a late
proclamation OF the Governor he was empow-
cred to demand that they do not enter the town
with arms. This demand of the sheriff was
replied to by Messrs Pierce and Murphy on
behalf OF the crowd. by their stating thai they
We're not an organized body, and ia no way
under the control Of any leader; that the per-
sous with arms carried them or heir own ac-
cord and assured the sheriff, and the eIuzens
OF Camilla with HIM, that they werp
gong to Camilla for the purpose of attending
apoiitical meeting, and that their intentions
We're peaceful and without intent to disturb
the pc ace of the place. would respectfully
eall your attention to IL enclosed adidavlts Of
w. p. Pierce, John Murphy, +. f. Putney, and
W. ). Poore, sheriff OF Mitchell County. for a
full understanding of what took place between
the sheriff and the freedmen at this time.
From the affidavit it Will be seen that he con-
siCered the attitude OF the crowd approaching
the town OF such character as 10 induce him
10 Return 10 the town and prepare the citizens
against attack, by directing them as q posse 10
have their arms re dy in case he should ciIl
upon them 10 ss5ist him in preserving the
peace. have bcen unable 10 Obta. any evil
dence that these colored people gong 10 Ca
milia on that day were either INSTRUCTED or adj.
Nlsed by any one To carry arms with them for
purposes OF defence or violence, or that they
seriously expectea Interruption from holding
their meeting, although, froIa some OF the
enclosed sfidavits, it is alleged that
James Johns, a white citizen of Ca
mIlta, had frequently said that no Republ.
can meeting should be held at Camilla, and
that on this day this man Johns, armed with !,
gun, met the crowd some three miles from the
town, and told them that they should have no
meeting or speaking at Camilla, and that IL
they came into town they would be hurt. Upon
the crowd entering the town, en- route 10 the
Court House, they were met by this man
Johns, who was Intoxicat| d and armed with a
gun. He was bosterous and angry in his man
ner. and ordered the musicians in the wagon TO
cease playing. His orders were not obeyed.
In some Of the enclosed affidavts it is stated
that he then fired his gun at the people IN the
wagon-by Others that his gun was discharged
accidentally, or not in the direction OF the
wagon. However, this may be, the result OF
the discharge Of tins mans gun was mmedi-
ate fire from both colored people and citizens
OF the place II is admitted by all persons that
this mans gun was the first fired, and that it
was discharged without provocation. In con-
versation with the citizens of Camilla this man
Johns was described 10 me as drunken and
dangerous man, and frequently in diffic culties,
and one whOse acts they deprecated, and that
on that day he was intoxicated.
Under these circumstances, as it cannot but
be considered neglectful on the part Of the
kept out Of the way on that day, particularly
as he was drunk, and as he (the sheriff. ap-
pears TO have apprehepded SO much trouble
from the approaching crowd and the excite
ment existing among the citiZens of the place.
For a full understanding Of the occurrences
from the time the sheriff met the crowd ad-
vancing on the road to the town until the firing
commenced and its results, respectfully call
attention to the enclosed afildav of both citi-
zens OF Camilla and persons who went there
10 attend the meeting. SO lar as II was possible
follows Mine kIllrd, (coiored,) from IS to 30
(colored) wounded; several citizens of Camilla
(whlte) wounded, none severely.
Prom the enclosed statement of parties pres.
ent, it will be seen that the firing In town did
not continue many minutes. but that the col
ored people fed to the adjoining woods, and
that they were pursued by the cttIzens as a
posse Of the sheriff, some of them mounted and
some on foot, and that firing Of guns through
the woods was heard during the balance OF the
day. The sheriff, in his afYidavit, states that
three colored men were killed one mile from
the town. i have been unable to ind any
proof that the cOlored people who went that
day TO Camilla were advised by any Of the
white men who accompanied them, and who
were to address them, either to 60 armed for
defence or violence, but that, ON the con.
rary, the enclosed anidavits show that
Mersrs. Pierce. Murphy, and Putney all
advised and impressed upon them that they
should be peaceable and law abiding in ali
their acts, as they were meeting at this
place, (Camilla, in the exercise Of their rights
as citizens Of the United States. That the citi.
zens Of the town OF Albany were in any way
implicated or connected with the occurrences
at Camilla on the 18th inst, is in no way
proven. 1t is explained in the affidavit Of
the Sheriff Of Mitchell county, that notice of
some colored people having left Albany on the
evening OF the 1sih instant for Camilla was re.
ceived by him through person living In the
adjoining town Of Newton. This Is in no way
denied, a. by reference to the afhdavit Of Peter
Hines the leader OF the band, 1t will be seen
that the musicians with other freedmen
LETT Albany on the evening Of the 18th
instant. / herewith transmit the
proceedings OF meeting of the citizens of
Albany, Ga, held on the Goth instant, / will
state that Information was tully rendered me
BY all parties. i was accompanied BY Breyet
Major U. n. Howard, Sub. Assistant Commis.
sioner OF Bureau of R., +. and A. L., from
Albany, Ga, TO Camilla Ga and from wha, \