Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-07

premises. The negroes are very bitter
against the two last named.
Shortly after dark ell became quiet,
aud Winn ventured from his place Of
coucealment. The negroes had left that
immediate vicinity, and nothing could
be seen or heard of them. Mr.. Baxley's
dog, which they had shot, was bowling
piteously with pain, and the plantation
dogs, finding nobody at the houses, were
running around barking and hunting
their masters. Winn proceeded eau
tiously forth, and was hailed by Baxley,
who had Just crawled up out of the ditch.
Wounded, faint and bleeding, they bound
up their wounds the best they could, and
travelled through the woods all night,
reaching town early this morning. Their
injuries were attended to and the two
men then taken before the authorities to
make their statements.
This morning Mr.. Waller, residing be-
low Middleton's place, attempted to come
to the city With his family, fearing further
trouble. He found heavy force at No.
/, with pickets out and all approaches
guarded. He was compelled to 60 to
No. | ] to take the train for Savannah.
Another gentleman who attempted to
come in by the Ogeechee road was
stopped, questioned, and found great
difficulty in making his way to the city.
The declared object of the negroes in
these outrages is to make it impossible
for white men to live in that section, and
then take possession of the plantations
themselves. They now have matters in
their own hands. They have seized upon
the houses, and hold under their control
the rice mills and several thousand
bushels of rice, which will probably all be
stolen ere they can be elected.
Parties in this city keep the negroes
supplied with new muskets and bayonets,
for which they receive an equivalent in
rice. This matter should be looked into
by the authorities, and the miscresnts
guilty of such conduct brought to justice
and ropes end.
The following afidavits were made this
morning by Messrs Winn and Bsxley
State of Georgia, Chatham County
Before me, Henry s. Wetmore, Ordinary
of said county, personally came and ap-
peared Reddin Baxley, who being duly
sworn, deposeth and says:
/ live on the Ogeechee, at Southfeld
plantation. | am overseer of the plan
tation. About four o'clock on the after
noon of the 29th of December, was in
the barnyard, when / saw body of IF
teen or twenty negroes coming up the
road. They were armed with musksts,
some of which had bsyonets on them
There was man at the head of the party
armed with sword, who appeared to be
captain of the gang. They came into
the barnyard where / was and asked me
where Mr.. Middleton had gone, and
threatened to kill me if / did not give
them truthful information. / told them
that be had gone over to Bryan county.
They chased two celored men, ,one named
Fortune, the other named Geo. Bunyan,
who were watchmen in the fields, and
shot at them. / saw bayonet lunged at
Fortune, but do not know whether il
struck him or not. / have not seen him
since. Bunyan hid in fan in the mill
and escaped. They presented guns at
nv breast. and offered to strike me with
the butts of their muskets, if did not
tell where Mr.. Middleton had gone. They
said they intended to kill both Mr.. Mid
ale.en and nv son. and went of in the
direction of Bryan county.
then locked up the mill, and went to
the house, when another party came up.
There were about twenty in the second
party. They came right into my house,
presented their guns at me, and said that
they intended to kill me- raised up
out of my chair, and as / did so they
seized and dragged me outside of the
door of my room. They knocked me
down in the passage-way with musksts;
one struck me on the back, another on
the side OF the head. l was knocked
seuseless. When / came to my senses
they were kicking me. They then
dragged me down the door steps, and
took me up before their whole party,
telling me that they would put me out in
the swamp and let the buzzards eat me.
They kept punching me in the back with
their guns, and told me to prepare to die.
They loaded up their guns and fred at
me, the balls whistling all around me,
but none of them struck me. They then
told me to double quick and run. They
fred at me again as ran. They halloed
at me, "Clear yourself, you d-d rebel
II we catch you here
again we'll kill you" Before they let me
70 they took ava, everything had in
nv pockets, and said that if / would not
give them the money they would 60 to
my hsuse and make my wife give il up
After getting away from them hid in a
ditch. While was there heard parties
who passed my hiding place say that war
had now commenced, and that no white
man should ever live on the Ogeechee
again. About eight o'clock at night l
crawled out Of the ditch. ! saw Mr..
Winn coming along and hailed him. |
also, while in the ditch, heard them say
that they had formed companies, and |
had captains, and we're going to hold !
their positions. They also swore that |
they would kill Mr.. Middleton snd my
sen George Barley. Mr.. VIM and my
self made our way to town through the
woods. / recognized one OF the party
who assaulted me. r. BAxLKY.
Sworn TO and subscribed before me,
this 30th day Of fDecember, A. ID. 1858.
HKHRY \. WKTnoRn,
Ordinary G. c.
State Of Georgia, Chatham County.-
Before me, Henry S. Wetmore, Ordinary
n