Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-25
IAIEST NEWS
TELEGRAPH.
3 Y
Fearful Riot in Georgia.


fearful riot occurred at Camilla County tie
site of Mitchell County, Georgia. last Saturday.
The following particulars teegraphed from
cambridge, twenty four miles from the scene Of
the 1iot. Pierce the Radical nominee for Con-
gress, and Murphy the bureau agent, with about
two hundred negroes ar,aed aud equipped, start
ed Friday tor Camilla with three weeks pro isions
and boxes of new arms and accoutrements, with
the Intention to Overawe the citizens and kill the
leading Democrats Of that town and vicinity
Before starting, free negro exposed tne plane,
and negro courier dispa tched to Camilla to in
ton of three prominent citizens met the mob at
Cana Church, five miles from town. The Cover
nor's proclamation disarming and forbidding
armed organizations was read. The mob paid no
attention to it, but were determined to march on
the town and kill such as they chose. Twice
more the deputatOn demonstrated, entreating the
negroes to come into town without their arms,
and they should not be molested. These efforts
were frlitleSs to disuad, the negroes, and the
mob marched into town with banners flying
drums beating, numbering nearly four hundred.
Numbers having joined them the route. The
mob halted and clamored tor tho blood of a man
named Johns.
Mr. Johns. in company with Dr. Fifty presen-
ted himself. when hundred guns were immedi-
atey leveled at them. The former being intoxi-
Gated fired and the riot commenced the mob fir
ing at every one they could see. The citizens,
white and black, rallied, gathering about fifty
stands Of arms. The mob was vigorously attack
ed and driven back, beating hasty retreat.
which spread into panic.
The negroes were pursued five miles, losing
thirty five killed and many wounded.
The total loss as far as ascertained up to the
present, is reported at from seventy-tive to one
hundred in killed and wounded Owing to the
panic of the mob only five whites were severely
wounded.
The colored citizens of the town are reported
to have rallied promptly with the whites in de-
feating the mob. Their stores and munitions of
war were captured, amounting to thu lee weeks
provisions and several boxes of arms.
At last accounts the 'owa Of Camilla was COM
paratively quiet.
The Particulars of the Terrible Riot at
Camilla, Georgia.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. 22-Noon.
The particulars of the riot at Camilla, as tele-
graphed from Bainbridge to Augusta yesterday
are incorrect and exaggerated. The following
gives an account of both sides:
". ID. HOWARD, Dr6VeG major Y. =. army,
Sub Assistant Freedmen's Bureau, telegraphs
General Sibley, Commanding the District the
fol owing from Albany, dated September 18th,
P. M. +: Ismael Lunner reported himself directly
from Camilla, Mitchell county, stating that he
had left there at o'clock p M. !; that in the fore
noon of this day he approached Camilla with
John Murphy. VIM. q. Pearce, candidate for Con-
gress in the Second District, and F. +. Putney,
white, and about seventy-fve colored persons, en-
route to Camilla, where Pearce and Murphy were
to deliver political addresses. Upon approaching
Camilla, relatOr nelng in advance, was accosted
by armed anu mounted white man, who at
first stated that he was in search of doctor to
attend freedman who had been hurt by the
falling of tree, but who bseluently stated
that he courier, and wished relator and
others of the party who had overtaken him rot to
to go town that the people there were determined
that the Radicals should not speak in Camilla
that notwithstanding the warning the party
moved on towards Camilla, where they were
met by the Sheriff and posse, who accosted Capt
Pearce, and who was assured by Capt Pearce that
he desired and intended to speak IN Camilla on
political subjects.
The Sheriff endeavored to dssuade him from
doing so, telling him that the people would not
permit it; that the Sheriff then went back into
Camilla, and again returned saying that he had
done all in his power to dissuade the people from
violence, but with no avail; that the party moved
on to town; that Pearce and Putney entered the
town dismounted from their buggy and headed
their horse towards the Court House; that as the
wagon containing the music of tho party entered
the town it was fired upon by company or
and by several other whites: that the freedmen
then started to escape to the woods; that Pearce
attempted to rally them, calling on them not to
fly; that the cOiored people being unarnled would
not. Relator being mounted, dashed out of town,
with part of the freedmen on foot and part or the
musicians, who had abandoned their wagon that
Murphy and Phillip Joiner, who were in buggy,
also drove rapidly away towards Albany; that Be-
lator kept ahead OF them; that when about seven
miles from the town OF Camilla, the
buggy which contained Murphy and Joiner
ONlr taxp nv five All W
armed that buggy was stopped that ono
horse dashed riderless up the road towards Reia-
tor that he saw the pursuers around the buggy,
some OF them dsmOunted that he then came as
rapidly possible to Albany.
The following is statement of the Sheriff OF
Mitchell county, sworn to by himself and ether
prominent citizens and is addressed to members
of the Leg stature On Saturday, 18th instant, it
was made kOwn to the citizens of Camilla i, that
John Murphy, of Albany, Ga, had issued circu-
lar and secretly circulated the same among the
coored men of this county, ordering them to bring
their arms With them to political meeting adver-
tised Tor that day at this place. Information
was cOrrObOrated by statements maue by Robert
Cochran, Sen, Thomas Jones and others, who
came from the road ia the direction of Albany,
stating that armed negroes were assembling III
large numbers at China Grove Church. waiting
for the delegat from Albany, headed by said
Murphy and Pierce, candidate for Congress, who
were to be speakers for the occasion.
At the request of the citizens, a. j; Poore,
the Sheriff. with committee OF six other citi-
Zens, went out to meet the said procession and
to protect aga inst armed negroes being marched
in procession into town, and to 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
these armed men. The gUns belonged to them
and they we're in the habit Of carrying them
wherever they went.
The Sheriff then replied that, as peace officer,
it was his duty, under the law, to forbid the as
of armed men at political meetings,
and assured them that if they entered the town
with heir music and banners, followed by armed
men, as they then were, there would be breach
of the peace and he would not be responsible for
the col, sequences.
Shortly afterwards the column moved into
town, in regular order, headed by Pierce, can
didate for Congress. and one Putney: white, IN
buggy, armed with double barrel shot gun,
Spencer rifle and two pistols, with quantity OF
ammunition, WAS afterwards ascertaIned
next came u four horse wagon, containing the
band and q number of armed negroes, followed
by q column of negro men On foot, between three
and four hundred, attended by about twenty |
mounted outsiders. At least one-half if not two
thirds, were armed with guns, and most OF them