The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-02
The Sunflower Disturbances.
Com6ash and other Radical Leaders the
AUTHORS.
CARROLLToH, CARROLL CCUNTYl
Nov 2lst, ls6a.

CARROLLToH. CARROLL CCCNTY.l
Nov. 2lst, ls6a.
Hon. Efhel B0rksddie,
Jackson. Mis.issippf.
DEAR SIR :-The Sheriff OF SunhoweT
county lJOhnson) recently passed through
our village at night en- route TO jackson for
the purpose Of reporting 70 Gen. Ames q
disturbance which occurred In that county
between the blacks and some white citizens
of Sunfiower and Carroll counties.
Having no reliance In the veracity or hon
esty OF johnson, / send you a statement OF
the affair which Is reliable. as IL Is condensed
from the report Of two worthy gentlemen.
Mai. James NJ. Watt ard Col. A. j. Liddell.
who were sent to Greenwood near the scene
of the disturbance for the purpose ofinves-
tigating the matter, and Is based upon the
testimony OF credible witnesses.
Ii seems that on the 18th inst, Combash
at the head of about Is or 10 negroes, armed
each with gun and pistol, crossed the 1azoo
river from the county of Sunhower into
Carroll a few miles below Greenwood. Ii
will be seen from the testimony Of Mr..
James Young that Combash had threatened
70 cross to Greenwood and clean out the
town and destroy it. Young endeavored 10
dissuade him from so bloody purpose. but
he would listen to nothing. Meeting q
white citizen named Dennis, they dragged
him from his horse without any proyocation.
cursed him, and swore that the blacks should
rule this country, that the rebels had ruled
it long enough and that they would nov
take IL in hand.
Having arrived at Greenw BOD they de-
manded the surrender OF a conservative
negro who had been engaged In a fight with
a radical negro and had worsted the latter
The citizens refusing to surrender him TO
the Infatuated and armed mob, the leader |
Combash was very violent In language and |
action; he rode through the streets denounc- |
ing vengeance and swOre that he would |
return to Sunfiower and raise 500 or 1000 |
mel. and would ''clean out the town." that |
he "would wipe it out"-and cursed the
whites in most blasphemous terms. The
citizens being fearful that his threats would |
be speedily carried out as he dispatched |
to summon his followers, sent mes
sengers to various portions OF the county for |
assistance. A warrant was Issued for the |
arrest of Combash and placed I'm the hands /
Of the Sheriff.
In obedience to the call for assistance y
number of citizens, probably hundred or
more, assembled at Greenwood. for its pro-
lection and for the purpose Of aiding thu
Sheriff to Arrest Combash. The latter hay-
ing got wind OF the movement remained IN
and the citizens crossed over into
that county to make the arrest, as they were
fully satisfied that II Combash were once
placed in arrest that the negroes whom he
bad deluded would return to their homes.
While squad Of fifteen or twenty men
we're advancing up the bank of the Talla-
hatchie river they were repeatedly fired on
from the opposite bank of the river. and
finally were fired on by the pickets which
Combash had thrown out from his negro
force, and two whites were wounded. The
citizens returned the fire and two negroes
were killed and one wounded. The negroes
hen fed, and Combash escaped. The citi-
zens then quietly returned TO their homes.
having first met Lieutenant Pickett, L. S.
A., who is stationed in Sunhower with a
squad of ten or fifteen men, who assured
hem that he would exert himself TO secure
.lie safety of Greenwood and the citizens OF
who are alike threatened with
by this demon Combash.
| enclose you the statements OF Mr.. Dem
1is, Mr.. billiard and Mr.. Pillow, who are
reliable and truthful men. The statement ,
II MIR. Young, who heard the threats made ,
Jy Combash against the citizens of Green ,
wood, and also the threat 70 burn the resi- .
lence of Mrs. Scales, widow lady who re-
tides few miles below on the river. have
been turned over 10 Lieut.. Pickett, who will ,
make a report on the subject 20 Gen. Ames. |
Ind will forward with his report the testi-
nony. Lieut.. Il. expressed the opinion
openly and freely that Combash Is the guilty
gent who produced the collision. and all. ,
10Th white and black, concur Ia the state
nent that the negroes first fired upon the
citizens before any hostile act was commit
ed by them. and while they were engaged ,
n the lawful attempt to arrest Combash
charged with crime before the courts of the
country.
These facts. taken in connection with a
'ecent demonstration made In Sunfiower
county, when Combash raided through the
county with thirty or forty negroes threat
ming fire and sword, land the affair was
,nly quieted by the utmost exertions OF the
most influential citizens OF the county.) all |
how the dniBlaIs of the Radical chief
Yours, respectfully,
JAMES SOMERVILLE.
Chairman OF Executive Committee
Carroll County.