The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-30
A Riot in Southwestern Georgia

riot occurred in the town OF Camilla
Mitchell Co., Geo. From the various ac-
counts of this affair, we select the annex,
ed statement made by the Sheriff ana
other prominent citizens, ;ss contain
ing the most concise narration OF facts,
and entitled to the greatest credit from
the public: -.
son Saturday, 10Th instant, it was
made known to the citizens OF Camilla,
that John Murphy OF Albany, Ga, bad
issued circular, aud secretly circulated
the same among the coiored men OF tins
county, ordering them TO bring their arms
with them to Il political meeting adver-
tised tor that day at this place. The IN
formation was colroborated by statements
made by Robert Cochran, Senior Thomas
Jones and others, who came from tire
road in the direction Of Albany, stating
that armed negroes were assembling III
large numbers at China Grove Church,
waiting for the delegation from Albany
headed by said Murphy, and Pierce CAN
didate for Congress, who were to De
spoakers for the occasion. AT the request
of the citizens, M. j. Poore, Sheriff, win
q Committee of six other citizens, went
out to meet the said procession and 10
protest against armed negroes being
marched in procession in Our town, 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. Enc
Sheriff: delivered this message to Murphy
and Pierce, the leaders Of the processloii'
and they replied that they had nothing TO
do with those armed men; the arms De.
longed to them and they were in the habit
of carr, ing them wherever they went.
The Sheriff replied that as Il peace officer
it was his duty, under the law, to forbld
the assemblagc of armed men at po'ltlcal
meetings. and assured them that if they
entered the town with their music ana
banners followed by armed men, as they
then were, that there would be Il breach
of the peace and he would not be respon-
sble for consequences. Shortly alter
wards the column moved into town IN
regular order, headed by Pierce, the cum
didate for Congress, and one Patney,
(whitc) in buggy. armed with double
barrel Shot gun, Spencer rifle and two
pistols with quantity OF ammunition rs
was afterwards asceria:ncd, next four
horse wagon containing a band ard a
number OF armed negroes. Next followed
~ ctiumn cf negro men on foot, between
3 and 400, attended By about ~ mounted
outsiders. At least one-hali, If not two
thirds, were armed with guns, and most
of them with pistols. Tne music was
playing and the crowd noisy and threat
cning in their conduct, Murphy, and one
Phillip Joiner, negro, in Il buggy, IN lhe
rear. As tic head Of the coiu'nn APP
preached tie square: one ct onr citizens,
James Johns. who WAS intoxicated, ap-
preached within iow feet OF the column
and ordered the music To stop, which WAS
not obeycd. The column moved on
When about twenty steps from him his
Gun was fired, whether intentionally or
nnintcltionallv is not known; but 1t was
pointcd in u different direction, and the
contents struck the ground about twelve
feet from him. The column then fired Il
volley, some of the shots at Johns, most
of them in tho direction Of Naples store,
thirty or forty steps from the column, at
which place there WAS Il number OF our
citizens, all unarmcd, wounding six OF our
citizens. Immediately about twenty OF
our citizens sprarg to thelrarms and hired
into the column, by which two negroes
were killed, and Il number, unknown:
wounded. Tho negroes Immediately
hroI.a IN p, thicl, cluster Of timber, one
hundred wards North OF the Court uonse.
AZ this point there was an attempt made
by Pierce to rally his routed forces, Our
citizens Immediately, to the number o!
about thirty, part OF them mounted made
q charge, and completely routed the
whole force; Pierce flying through the
woods and fields. Murphy and Phil
Joiner escaped in IL buggy up the road
towards Albany. Seven negroes were
killed.
"From the best information we have
been able to procure, between thirty ard
forty were wounded, all OF whom have
been properly cared for. 1t is u source
OF deep regret that the calamitics in con-
sequence of this aft;tir fell exclusively
upon the poor deluded negroes, led on by
three wicked white men. Murphy, Pierce
and Patney, who made good their escape
in the hour of danger, with but little IN
Jury to themselves. This sad result is TO
be attributed more to the sharpness and
shrcwdness OF these gallant leaders, in
effecting their escape, than to want OF IN
tcntion on the part OF our people. We
hereby disavow any purpose or intention
ON the part of ourselves, or our citizens,
to violate the law or the peace OF the
STATE in what was done. We were willing.
and so expressed ourselves to these leaders,
for them to hold their political meeting
nt the Court House in our town, II the
negroes were disarmcd; but we did think,
and still think. it was our duty to obey
the the orders of The Sheriff, as civil officer
oI this State in breaking up this unEaw-
f,l .ssembla"e. We felt that as their