The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10

r,n,,o- :. tons between
Albany, Ca, and tie neigaborhood 81 Cam,-- ~
oeeuea IA body to that place, accompanied =
uiusicians ana wagon. This crowd nufrHSteu
rom two TO three hundred colored people, about
one-half OF whom may have carried firearms OF dii-
iereut descriptions That when within from Two 70
tnree miles OF Camilla they were met by M. >. P0ore
sherif OF Mitchell county, accompanied by four or
I'VE citizens OF Camilla, who protested against their
ance with late proclamation OF the Governor, that
ne was empowered to demand that they 90 not enter
tne town with arms. This demand OF the shenI
was replied to by Messrs. Pierce and Murphy on be-
nan OF the crowd, by their stating that they were
not an organized body and In no way under control
o. any leader that the person with arms carried mem
81 Their own accord, and assured the Sheril ana the
citizens OF Camilla with him that they were going to
Camilla for hepurpose of attending political meet
ing, ana Their intentions peaceaDle ana wltn-
out intent to disturb the peace OF the place.
would respectfully call your attention 70 the en-
Pat.y aad O. p"cr e. sherio SI Michel COUNTY
for full understanding OF what took place between
The Sheriff and The freedmen at this time. From the
affidavit OF the Sherf IL would DO seen that nc con-
sidered the attude Of the crowd approaching the
town or such character as TO induce min 10 return
10 the town and prepare the citizens against at
tack by directing them as posse to have their arms
ready in case he should call upon them 10 assist MN
In preserving the peace. have been unable TO OBJ
tain any evidence that these coored people going 10
Camilla on that day were either instructed o advised
by any ono TO carry arms with them, either for the
expected an inteTrapt;on from holding their meet
ing, although IN some OF the aidavis It Is alleged
that one James Johns white citizen OF Camilla, had
frequently said that republican meeting should be
held at Camilla and on this day this man, armed
with gun, met the crowd some three miles from
the town. and told them they should have no meet-
ing or speaking at Camilla and that II they came
into the town they should be hurt Upon the crowd
entering the town en- route to the court house tney
were met by this man Johns who was intoXlcoted
and armed with gun. He was boisterous, angry In
his manner and ordered the musicians In the wagon
to stop playing; his orders were not obeyed In
OF the enclosed ailldavs IL is stated he then
fired his gun at the people In the wagon. by others
that his gun was discharged accidentally and not In
the direction OF The wagon. However this may be-
the result of the discharge OF this mans gun was
an Immediate fire from both c0orec people
and the citizens OF the place. Ii Is admitted by all
persons that this mans gun the first one fired
and that 1t was discharged without provocatOn. In
conversation with the citizens OF Camilla this man
Johns was described to me as drunken and dam
ger0us man and frequently in difficulties and rs one
whose acts they deprecated and that on this day he
was intoxicated. Under these circumstances 1t can
not but be considered negectful on the part OF the
Sheriff in not seeing that this man Johns was kept
out o. @ s way an h a sn a ~ Sau s o m
hended 50 much trouble from the approaching crowd
and the excitement existing among citizens OF the
place. For u iull understanding OF the occurrences
from the time the Sheriff met the crowd advancing
In the road to town Till firing commenced, respect
fully call attention to the enclosed ailidavs OF both
citizens OF Camilla and persons who went there to
attend the meeting SO far as II was possible to
learn, the causaltes on that day were as follows-
Nine killed tcolored) from twenty-five to thirty
wounded (cOl0red) Several citizens of Camilla
(white) were wounded, but none severely From the
that the firing In town did not continue many
minutes but the coored people fed to the adjoining
woods, and that they were followed by citizens as
posse OF the Shcrn's, some OF them mounted and
some on foot, and that firing Of guns through the
woods was heard duriog the balance OF the day.
The Sheriff in his AFFIDAVIT states that three coOred
men were killed one mile from the town.
have been unable to find any proof that The col
viscd by any Of the white men who accompanied
them or who addressed them, either to 60 armed
for defence or violence bus that, on the contrary,
the enclosed aflidavts show that Messrs. Pierce,
Murphy and Putney all advised ana Impressed upon
them that they should be peaceful and law abiding
in all their acts, as they were meeting IN this place
(Cama) in exercise OF their rights citizens OF tile
United States. That the citizens OF the town or
Albany were In any way connected with the occur
rences ct Camilla on the 10Th INST. is In no way
proven. II IL explained In the affidavit OF the sheriff
that notice Of some colored people having LETT
Albany the evening OF the 18th inst. for Camilla
was received by him through person living in the
adjoining town OF Newton. This is In no way de-
MED. BY reference TO the affidavit OF Peter Hines,
the leader OF the band 1t will be seen that the musi-
cans with other freedmen left Albany on the even
ing OF the 18th. herewith transmit proceedings OF
meetings OF the citizens Of Albany held on the
26th:-
win state that information was freely rendered
me by all parties. j was accompanied by Brevet
from Albany to Camilla, and from what could learn
the colored people and whites were pcaceably dis
posed towards each other. In my investigation on
this matter was materially assisted by Major How
ard and upon my arrival at Camilla the citizens OF
on the 10th inst. should DO investigated and up TO
the date OF my VISIT here no action had been taken In
the matter by the civil authorities OF the county,
nor had any Inquest been held over the bodies Of
Respectfully, your obedient servant
Captain Sixteenth United States infantry.