Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-29
R,i0t in GanrCia

Inc nrSG reports puDllSheQ or the flOG winch
occurred at Camilla, Mitchell county, Georgia,
were greatly exaggerated. The following is an
authentic account, being the sworn statement
of the Sheriff and other prominent citizens Of
that county, which was presented to the Legis-
lature:
Con Saturday, the 18th instant, it was made
known to the citizens of Camilla that John
| lar and secretly circulated the same among the
colored men Of this county, ordering them to
bring their arms with them to political meet
ing advertised for that day at this place. This
information was corroborated by Robert Coch
ran, ST., Thomas Jones and others, who came
from the road in the direction Of Albany, sta
ting that the armed negroes were assembling IN
large numbers at China Grove church, waiting
for the delegation from Albany, headed by
John Murphy, and Pearce, candidate for Con-
gress, who were to be the speakers for the oc
casien.
At the request of citizens, W. j. Poore, with
a committee of six other citizens, went out to
meet said procession and to protest against
armed negroes being marched in procession IN
our town, and to state to them distinctly that
if they would put down their arms no objec-
ton would be made to their entering town, and
| holding their political meeting. The sheriff de-
| livered this message to Murphy and Pearce,
the leaders of the procession, and they replied
| that they had nothing to do with the armed
negroes, the guns belonged to them, and they
were IN the habit OF carrying them wherever
| they went. The sheriff replied that as a peace
officer, it was his duty, under the laws, to for
bid the assembling Of armed men at political
meetings and assured them that if they en-
| tered town with their music and banners, fol-
lowed by armed men, as they were, that there
would be breach of the peace, and he would
not be responsible for the consequences.
Shortly afterwards the column moved in
town in regular order, headed by Pearce, the
candidate for Congress, and one Putney (white)
in buggy, armed with double barrel shot
gun, Spencer rife and two pistols, and hav-
ing quantity of ammunition, as was after
wards ascertained, next came four horse wag
| on containing band and number of armed
negroes, next followed column of negro men
on foot, between 800 and 400, attended by
about twenty mounted outsiders. At least one
half, if not two thirds were armed with guns
and the majority of them with pistols The
music was playing, and the crowd noisy and
| threatening in their conduct. Murphy and one
| Philip Joiner (negro) brought up the rear IN a
| buggy.
! AS the head Of the column approached the
square one OF our citizens, named James Johns,
who was intoxicated, approached within few
| feet Of the column and ordered the music to
| stop. The order was not obeyed and the col
umn moved On, and was about twenty steps
from him when be fred, whether Intentionally
or unintentionally is not known, but his gun
was pointed in different direction from it,
and the contents struck the ground about
twelve feet from him.
The column then fred volley, some of the
shots at Johns, but most of them in the direc-
ton Of Maple store, thirty or forty steps from
the column, at which place there were q num-
| Der of our citizens all unarmed, Woundlng SIX
Of them. Immediately about twenty Of our
citizens sprang to their arms and fired into the
column by which two negroes were killed and
a number wounded. The negroes Immediately
broke for a thick cluster Of timber, one hun
| dred yards north Of the courthouse. At this
| point there was an attempt made by Pearce to
rally his routed forces. Our citizens to the
number Of thirty, part Of them mounted, made
charge and completely routed the whole force,
Pearce flying through the woods and fields, and
Murphy and Phil Joiner escaping in buggy
up the road towards Albany.
Seven negroes were killed, and from the best
| information we have been able to gather be
tween so and 40 were wounded-all Of whom
have been properly cared for.
1t is a source Of deep regret that the calaml
tous consequences of this affair fell exclusively
upon the poor deluded negroes led on by wicked
white men-Pearce, Murphy and Putney-who
made good their escape in the hour OF danger
with but little injury to themselves. This sad
result is to be attributed more to the sharpness
and shrewdness Of these gallant leaders IN ct
fecting their retreat than to want OF intention
on the part Of our people.
We hereby disown any purpose or intent on
the part of ourselves, Or our citizens, to violate
the law or peace of the State in what was done.
| We were willing, and so expressed ourselves tC
these leaders, for them to hold their political
meeting at the court house In our town if the
negroes we're disarmed, but we did think, and
still think, that il was our duty to obey the Or
ders Of the sheriff as civil officer Of this State
in breaking up this unlawful assemblage. We
felt that as their numbers vastly exceeded that
of our citizens present. that if this meeting had
taken place the lives of our wives and children
would be at the mercy of an infatuated mob.
The consequences are to be regretted. We
do not boast Of them. We feel that VIC have
but discharged painful duty, imposed on us
by the wicked and corrupt white men who are
now engaged in leading astray into acts of law
lessness the colored people Of our country.
We appeal to the law making power of Geor-
ga and to the lawful authorities Of the Uni
ted States government, to check the progress
of these strolling criminals that are prowing
aUOuI Tic uUuGo dilU NiStuiDiuS lilC pCdCC anu
quiet Of our war stricken people. -
The Governor addressed a message to the
: Legislature, recommending that the President
be petitioned for troops.
The following report is from Judge Vasor
and Mr. johnson, who were requested by
Lieut. Howard, of the Freedmcn's Bureau, tc
investigate the Camilla affair:
10 the Committee Of he Senate and House O
Representatives. Of the State Of Georgia.:
, We left Camilla this day at noon. All wa!
, quiet, and no apprehension was felt Of further
E trouble. The act Of the citizens was under The
orders of the sheriff, they acting as his posse
in the whole affair The negroes Of the county
are all quiet, and no bad feeling exists between
them and the whites growing out Of the affair
But few negroes were present except those ii
the procession. There is no necessity for any
additional force to protect the white or black
wounded. The negroes will be cared for, and
have the sympathy Of the whites.
The whole difficulty grew out Of the righ
claimed by Murphy, Pearce and others to carry
the negroes into political meeting with arms
The sheriff disputed this right and insisted
that under the proclamation Of the Governor
and the law, it was his duty, as a civil officer
to prevent it. There is 10 excitement in Al
bany. l. Ill. JOHNSON,
D. A VASON.
Messrs johnson and Vason, and Mr.. Clarke
Northern man, who came South since the
| IL, ooJ oh oEar cft bo