The New York herald., 1871-03-13
TIE SOUTHERN DISORDERS
Alarming Condition Of Affairs in the
Palmetto State.
The Black Militia and Ku Klux
in Battle Array.
Barn Burnings and Other Out
RACES Prevalent.
THE COLCRED DEMONSTRATION ON CHESTER.

HE lUDVhEU DEhUNSl UN UHLDl Ih'
CHESTER, March Q, 1871.
Not since the memorable day Of December 20, 1850,
when the cry, "The Union is dissolved" nashed
upon the wires and res0unded throughout this State
from mountain to seaboard, has there been such in
tense excitement In the town Of Chester as has ex-
listed here for the past week. The changed relations
of the two races since the hydra.headed monster OF
rebellion made its appearance with the Palmetto
flag its banner, the disastrous results Of the great
civil conflict the advancement OF the negro to the
enjoyment of civil and political rights coequal with
the whites, the dominance OF the blacks over the
whites by majority of 100000 votes in this State,
and the superior advantages accorded to the
negroes in the matters of civil government by
partial national legislation, has again fired the
spirit of the chlyalry, and disafectl0n has broken
out now under the guise or that mysterious organi
zaton known as the Ku Klux Kan. Every day for
the past week this community has been on the
verge OF bloody conflict-a " III or raceS-which
was only prevented by the timely arrival OF
COMPANY OF UNITED STATES TROOPS,
the presence OF which had the moral effect Of restor
ing law and order where before hostility chaos and
lawlessness reigned supreme. For q number OF
weeks past most unsettled and lawless state Of
affairs has existed In the western portion OF chester
RACES by the Ku Klux Klan, consisting in mainly
whipping and scourging, though 1t is strongly sur
missed by many republicans here that NUMBER OF
NEGROES "HAvE BEEN LOsT''-
q most significant phrase in this section, which
means changed" or 'shot,' or otherwise summa-
rily disposed OF. Then, in addition to these, and
which all parties cencede to be the origin of the
cent disturbances there have been numerous aggres
SONS the property OF the whites and also attacks
upon themselves by the armed negro militia. In
the present excited state Of the community 1t is
hard to get at the actual facts which led TO the
threatened conflict but from the conflicting state
ments and rumors that prevail it Is evident that the
whipping and maltreatment of negroes by the Ku
kluX was in this instance provoked by the
BURNING OF COTTON GIN HOUSES
py Inc n negroes generay anu @ mring on unarmea
the Winchester rifles with which they have been
armed by the State. Few people felt themselves safe
arly at night, and frequently the darkness lit
up by the lurid glare OF some burning barn, with its
valuable contents OF cotton, prOvender and agricul
tural implements. Added to this, too, for some rea-
sons there b IS existed recently a
SULLEN INDISPOSITIoN
the part OF the blacks TO perform their duties as
laborers. They perslstently refused employment,
though the spring work created a demand for their
services; they broke or all contracts which had pre-
viousy been made. and, armed with rifies, muskets
pistols they began rowing In bands over the
try, committing depredations, shooting cattle and
frequently perpetrating daring acts OF highway rob-
berry. / was more than aslenlshed to find thar the
PERFECT WAR FOOTING,
as far as arms are concerned and some people init
mate that they are by means wanting in the mat
ter OF discipline. They are often drilled by regularly
commissioned officers OF the State hold their speci
fed meetings for that purpose and have been seen
borhoods in which they reside No negro cabin
Is to be found without Its Winchester rne Its
ter formidable weapon 6eing one Of tn the most p popu-
lar among them An almost natural consequence OF
this belligeren aspect OF the blacks coupled with
RACES, which easily incited the nery spirit Of the
GENERAL UPRISING OF THE WHITES
having for its alleged object the suppression Of vio
ence, and by speedy and summary means, If possi-
be to put end to lamentable state or AFFAIRS.
1t Is needless to say that the ever ready Ku Klux
found in the general unsettled condition OF the
and, from the accounts have been able to CLEAN,
they not slow to take advantage OF 1t, subse
quent developments VIII doubtless show. Informa-
ton having been received here that an
attack was about to be made on the town.
and that 1t was to be tired, all the young men
assembled here on Monday last, and under the
leadership OF the Oldest and most influential gentle
men oil the town. This section OF the county has
been perfectly quiet, and the rumored attack had
justification beyond an assumed right or the blacks
TO do as they pleased, and perhaps as retaliaory
for hu knX e oqages IN the western sec,
the people claimed that no law or power could
THE RIGHT OF sELFDErENcE,
and they resolved to stand by their bones and their
hresides. Scouts were sent out to reconnoitre on
the evening OF Tuesday, the 9th, and they reported
a considerable body OF armed blacks forming and
gathering IN the vicinity OF Mount Carmel. So gene
raj and widespread was the apprehension now felt
that parties here teegraphed to points in North
Carolina tor assistance, and to other places in
this State and large bodies OF whites Immediately
places applied to- Three hundred men are said to
have lett the county OF Union horseback on their
N L.. besides numbers of others from points nearer
On the morning oil the 7th body OF coored militia,
numbering about seventY-hve, armed with the Win
chester rineS made their
APPEARANCE IN THE SUBURBS
OF the town, on the Union road, coming from Car.
mel Hill. The whites, IN strong force, renamed In
town, ready, however. for immediate action in case
or an attack WHAT the intention of this bellige-
rent force Of blacks could have been was not known
but they alleged they came there owing to the un.
settled condition OF affairs in their immediate
neighoorhood, in the the western part Of the county.
Sheriff and other civil authorities OF the town
despatched messengers to ascertain their purpose.
This mission was accomplished without gaining any
further information than already known, and
the blacks continued in hostile and threatening
attitude the whites became more eXasperated, as
they had nothing to do with outrages committed q
considerable distance from them in a different por-
COUNCIL OF WAR
was held, and the blacks were informed by the
sherin in person that 1t was the determination of
the citizens, II they did not at once withdraw from
the town without moiestiDg either persons or pro-
perty that they should be
COMPELLED TO DO So
and they were allowed until tour O'Clock in the after
noon to consider the terms offered them and evacu-
ate the suburbs. The hour arrived and the hostile
blacks still remained In position-many supposed
with the Intention Of storming the town and OF firing
1t, II possibe-and the whites patiently awaited
some development OF their purpose, whatever it
might be. To their surprise, late IN the afternoon
the sable force began retrogade movement and
soon they disappeared from vIew There was
nothing further then heard from them, and it was
supposed they had grounded their arms and quietly
returned to their homes, until the following morn
ing at malt past one O'Clock, when a
SERIOUS DISTURBANCE
occurred near the Charlotte ana Augusta Railroad
depot, in the opposite quarter OF the town. in which
one coored man was wounded. A number Uf shots
were exchanged principally without effect, and at
daylight the whole colOred force was found
IN POSITION
near the site OF tho old York depot, in an excava
ton known as the turntable PIT, While the whites
were intrenched at the depot, about $50 yards dis.
tant. In this hostile attitude the opposing forces
eyed each other, neither anxious to make the
attack, but both eager that the other should open