The New York herald., 1868-09-23
THE GEORGIA RIOT.
DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF the AFFAIR.
An Investigation to be Ordered by the
Secretary Of War.

Additional Particulars OF the Annir-Stete.
Aents Of n Freedman and the Sherifi or the
OOunty-Seven Negroes Killed and Beswecn
Thirty and Forty Wounded.
ATLANTA, Ca, Sept. % 1869.
The particulars OF the riot at Camilla, as tele-
sraphed from cambridge to Augusta yesterday, are
incorrect and exaggerated. The following gives an
account OF both sides:-
O. o. Howard, Brevet Major of the United states
Army and Sub Assistant Of the Freedmen's Bureau
selegraphed to General sibley, commander of the
district, the following from Albany September TO- at
ten O'Clock p. Nj
Ishmael Limnor, freedman, reported himself d.
rectly from Camilla, Mitchell county, stating .na, ne
had left there at two O'Clock that alternoohh: ,nat
IN the forenoon OF that day he had app,uaocu Na
date for Congress for the Second district and F. F.
Putney White, and about seyenty.nVe Goloreu per,
Mnhv a we're Sa e 10 way sSer 10 poca addresses Upon
approaching Camilla the relator. being IN advance,
was accSsea g 1g an ha a[e he was @ in search Of doctor
to attend freedmen who had been hurt by falling
snd advised adv % the reator and others Of the party
who had overtaken him not to go to town,
that the people ne, there were 1 that
standng the warning the party moved towards
Camilla, when they were met by the Sheriff and
posse who accosted Captain Pearce and who
assured by Captain Pearce that he should speak in
Camilla on political subjects. The Sheriff endeayored
to dissuade him, telling him the people would not
permit 1t. The Sheriff then went back into Camilla
and again returned, saying he had done all in his
vain. The party moved on to town; Pearce and Put
ney entered the town, dlsmounted and htched their
Ing the music Of the party entered cred town a'u it
was fired upon by mounted white men who
mad first T acsosted s hm and by several other white
woods. Pearce attempted to rally them calling
on them mo not TO- ay. The colored men being unarmed,
dashed out Of town past the freedmen on foot
and past the musicians who had abandoned
AIur-u hu oypd Drl VAn sp
buggy, also drove rapidly away toward Albany
When about seven miles from Camilla, the buggy
by four or nve white men mounted and armed. The
buggy was stopped One horse dashed riderless up
around the buggy, some OF them dismounted. He
then came as rapidly as possible TO Albany.
The following is the statement OF the Sheriff OF
Mitchell county, sworn to by himself and other
prominent citizens. 1t is addressed to the members
OF the Legislature:--
On Saturday the 10th inst il was made known 10
the citizens that John Murphy, of Albany, Ca, had
issued q circular and secretly circulated the same
20 bring their arms with them to political mee ting
advertised FOR that day at this place. The informa
Cochran, ST., Thomas Jones and Others who came
from the road in the direction OF Albany, stating
hers at China Grove church. waiting for the deera
tlon from Albany, headed by the said Murphy and
pearce candidates for Congress, who were to be
the speakers on the occasion.
AT the request Of the citizens M. J. Poor, the
Sherif, with committee OF six citizens went out to
meet said procession and protest against armed
negroes being marched in procession In our town
aud TO state TO Them distinctly that II they would put
down THEN arms no objection would be made to
Their entering the town and holding their political
meeting.
The Sheriff delivered this message to Murphy and
Pearce, the leaders of the procession and they re-
pied That they had nothing TO do with these armed
men. Tie guns belonged to them and they were I'm
Tue haplt OF carrying them wherever they went.
Ihe Sheriff replied as peace oncer 1t was his duty
under the law to forbid the assemblage OF armed
no nratt thnn.
they entered the town with their music and banners
n% 1oS%ea by armed men n as they then were there
not be responsible for the consequences shortly
lar order headed by Pearce, the candidate for Con
gress and one Putney (white, In buggy, armed
with double barrelled shot gun, Spencer rifle and
Two pistols, win quantity OF ammunition, as was
afterwards ascertained; next q four horse wagon
containing a band and number OF armed negroes;
next followed column or negro men on foot of be-
tween 800 and 400, attended by about twenty out
riders. AT least one-half If not two-thirds were
armed with guns and most OF them with pistols.
The music was playing and the crowd We're noisy
and threatening IN their conduct. Murphy ana one
ihlp JOINER, negro, were In buggy in the rear
As the head OF The column approached the square
one Of our citizens, James Johns, who was mtoXi-
Gated. approached within few feet of the column
and ordered the music To STOP which was not done,
and the column moved
When ABOUT twenty steps from him his gun was
fired, whether Intentionally or not Is not known. but
81 was pointed in different direction and the shot
struck the ground about twelve feet from him. The
column bred a voley, some OF the shots at Johns,
most of them i'm the direction OF Naples store
thirty forty steps from the column, at which place
there n number OF our citizens all unarined,
wounding six of them.
Immediately about twenty OF our citizens sprung
10 their arms and fred into the column, by which
two negroes were Killed and unknown number
wounded. The negroes immediately broke into
thick cluster OF timber, 100 yards north of the Cour
House. Al this point there was an attempt made BY
Fearce to rally his routed forces.
our citizens, TO the number of about thirty part
OF them being mounted, Immediately made a charge
and completely routed the whole force Pearce
nying through the wOoas ana ncld, Murphy ana
I'M JOINER escaping IN buggy up the road towards
Seven negroes were killed and, from the hest In.
formation We have been able To procure. beta 6een
thirty and forty were wounded, all Of whom have
been properly cared for. il Is a source of deep
y,et that the caamitous consequences of this siar
fcli exclusively upon the poor deluded negroes led
on by wicked white fnen-Murphy, Pearce and Put
ney--who made good their escape Ia the hour of
danger. with hut little Injury to themselves. TINS
rld result IL 10 be attributed 10 the sharpness
nnd shrewdnoss OF their gallant leaders In eiiectnu
inelr escape than to intention on the part Vi our
people.
We hereby disavow any purpose or intention on
the peace OF the state in what done. We
willing and expressed ourselves TO these leaders,
Ior them to hold their political meeting at the Court
we did think and s think that II was our duty 60
Obey the or,ers u the Sheriff. ciyii onicer oi this
Slate, IN breaking up this unlawful asse semblsgc.
we leit, a. their numbers vastly exceeded that al
our citizens present, that had the meeting taken
pace the lives OF our wives aud children would he
tine mercy OF nm miuriated mob. While the cons,.-
guences are TO be regretted and we DO not boast of
Ni" uS uohc Ny uuI people, we lcc thNi thtN nave
tut discharged painful duty imposed upon them
by wicked ana corrupt men now engaged IN leading
astray into acts OF awiessnoss the colored people OF
country
We appeal to the law making powers of Georgia
and the lawful authorities ol ihc lnited States
cheek The progress OF these sirollirg criminal. that
are proving about. the homes and disturbing liC
peace and quiet OF our war stricken people.
The foregoing statement from the mitlr, and
civil authorizes gives full particulars Of the rot.
eenerai 4. 4. slbicy'- Report Ia General a..
%. Howard.
WAsHINGroS, sept. -, 1905.
The following was received here to-day -
ATLANTA, Ca, sept. -. 1865
MAJOR General y. q. HOWARD, tOfnms ssiouer &C,
Washington, -. CT
delegation oi colored people. going to attend a
political meeting AT Camilla, were attacked by the
whhes, because, as IL H. alleged, they were armed,
aini zen or more were killed Probably nny were
Killed aud wounded.