New-York tribune., 1868-09-23
THE REBELLION IN GEORGIA.
THE REIGN OF TERROR!
MAJOR o. o. HOwARD's ACCOUNT or TIE q

ATLANTA Sept 60 o. Howard DIeNot -"'J'i
of tho United States army and subasSiStant OIL 'nc
Freedmens Bureau, telepaphedto Gen. siOiey' COM
r,aodor of tho district the following from Albany,
Sept 10. at 10 O'Clock p. m:
Isbmael Limnor a freedman. reported himself di-
rectlv from Camilla Mitchell County, saying that ne
had left there at o'clock that afternoon lhat III
the forenoon of that day he had approached Camila
with John Murphy, William X. PeaTce, candidate lOr
Congress for the lid District, and +. +. Puthey
White and about IS cOlOred persons, all on inc way
70 Camilla where Pearce and Murphy were 10 W ue
liver political address. On approaching Oaiiii'"
the reatOr being in advance. was accosteu p1 -"
armed and mounted Ukite man, who AT hrst sii" ''
was in search of doctor TO attend ireeuleh WIN nay
been hurt by falling tree, but who subsequently sau
he WAS courier and advised the reiator ana oteISol
the marty who had Overaken him not 10 go 10 lo"h'
fbnf people there cre determined mat EddedS @Ohd hO'
sneak in Camilla; that Notwithstanding the warning
the party moved toward Camilla, when they
were met by the sheriff and posse who accosted
Capt Pearce, and who was assured by
Cant. Pearce that he should speak in Ca
milla on political subjects The sherlff endeavoreu
20 dissuade him. telling him the people "oH'a no'
atrmd IT, The sheriff then went back INTO Gamma
and aqain returned, saying he had done all Ill
his power to dissuade the people rom violence u"
IN rain The party moved on 10 Town.
Pearce and Putney entered the town. dlSmoun'eu
and hitched their horses at the Courthouse AS
the wagon containing the music OF the party entered
town IL uas fired upon By mounted Wh'te men VINO mao
first accosted him. and by several other white men;
tbe freedmen then started to escape to the woods;
Pearce attempted to rally them, calling on them
not to fly; the oGored men being uarmed
rould not stop. The relator, being mounted
dashed out of town past the freedmen on 1Oot ana
mast the musicians who had abandoned the wagon
Murphy and Philip Joiner, in buggy. also drove
rapidly away toward Albany; when about seven
miles from Camilla, the buggy, containing Murphy
and Joiner was overtaken by four or five white men
mounted and armed The buggy stopped. One
horse dashed rdeTless up the road toward the rela-
tor He saw the pursuers around the buggy, some OF
them dismOunted. He then came Us rapidly as pos
sble to Albany.
AFFIDAVIT OF THE SHERIFF OF MITCHELL
COUNTY.
The following is the affidavit of the Sheriff of
Mitchell County, sworn to by himself and other
prominent citizens. 1t is addressed 10 the members
of the Legislature:
ION Saturday the 10Th instant 1t made known TO
the citizens that John Murphy OF Albany. Georgia. had
issued circular and secretly circulated the same among
the coored men OF this County, ordering them to bring
their arms with them TO q political meeting advertised
that day this place The information was corroDo
rated by statements made by Robert Cochran, ST.,
Thomas Jones' and others. who came from the road In
the direction OF Albany stating that armed negroes were
assembling in large numbers in China Grove Church.
waiting for the delegation from Albany. headed by the
said Murphy and Pearce candidates for Congress- who
were the speakers the occasion AT the request
OF the citizens NJ j. Poor the Sheriff. with committee
OF six citizens said procession and pro-
test against negroes being marched in procession in
our town and to them distinctly that they would
put down objection would be made 10 their
entering the town and holding their pOhtcal meeting
The Sheriff delivered this message 10 Murphy and Peace
the leaders of the procession and they replied that they
had nothing TO do with these armed men, the guns De-
onged to them. and they in the habit OF carrying
them wherever they went The Sheriff replied, as peace
officer 1t was his duty under the law, to forbid the
assemblage Of armed men at political meetings anu
assured them that il they entered the town with their
nuse and banners followed by armed men, they then
were that there would be breach of the peace ana hat
he would responsible for the consequences shortly
fterward the column moved into the town IN regular
order headed by Pearce the candidate TOT Congress- anu
one Putney (white in buggy, armed with douDepar
relied aSpencerrihe, and two pistols with quan
ttv OF ammunition as was afterward asceItaned; next
fourhorse wagon containing band and number armed
negroes followed column OF negro men on ioot OF
leween 200 and 400 attended by about 20 Outrders AT
least one-af II not twO-thTds were armed with guns
and most OF them with pistols The music was playing
and the crowd noisy and threatening In their con
duct Murphy and Philip Joiner, negro. were IN
buggy I'm the AS the head Of the column approached
the square one Of our citizens James Johns who was IN
toxieated approached within few feet Of the column
and ordered the music TO stOps which not done and
the column moved When about 20 steps from him Ills
gun tcos fred trheher Intentionally or not IS not knocn
but it was pointed In different direction, aud the shot
struck the ground about u feet from him. The column
fired voiey some OF the shots at Johns most OF them
in the direction Of Naples store 30 40 steps from the
column at which place there number OF our ct
zens all unarzaed, wounding six Of them. Immediately
ABOUT 20 of our citizens sprdg 10 er arms and FRED
into ne column, by which two negroes were Killed ana
an unknown number wounded. The negroes i'm
Inediately broke TO thick cluster OF timber, 100
yards north OF the Court House At this point there was
an attempt made by Peace to rally his routed forces
Our citizens number OF about thirty part OF them
being mounted, immediately made charge and com
peey routed the whole force earce flying through the
woods and fields Murphy and Phil Joiner escaping IN a
buggy up the road toward Albany Seven negroes were
killed and information have been able
70 procure between 80 and 10 were wounded, all OF
whom have been properly cared for II Is source OF
deep regret the caamOus consequences OF this affair
fell exclusively upon e poor del,4ded negroes led on by
wicked white men-Murphy, Pearce, and Putney-Who
made good their escape in the hour OF danger with but
little injury themselves This sad resiHH to Ge dtr1
buted more 10 the sharpness and shrepdness Of their gal
Idnt leaders m eeting their escape hdn 10 intention on
me part Of pIope We hereby disavow any purpose
or intention the part Of ourselves or our citizens
20 violate law or the peace Of the State
in what was done We willing. and 80 expressed
ourselves 70 these leaders for them 10 hold their political
meeting at the Courthouse In town If the negroes
were dsarmed; but We did think and still think that IL
was our duty obey the orders Of the Sheriff. az civil
officer OF this State in breaking up this unlawful Assem-
bage We felt their numbers vastly exceeded that OF
our citizens present that had the meeting taken place.
the lives wives and children would be at the mercy
OF infurated mob While consequences are TO be re-