The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-14
Yoaxvnbr. 8. O., March 10. 1871.

the Ud,!y Ont0n, OF friday, naTcp AW
we have seen two communications pur-
porting to be from one John Christie
pher, Captain 18th United States Iufan-
try"-the first to the Governor of South
Carolina, aud the other to the sheriff of
York County-in both Of which he as
serts that the arms taken from the negro
militia company from Carmel Hill, by
tho sheriff and his posse, on the after
noon of the 9th, were used on the same
night in picketing the roads leading to
Yorkville, for the purpose of preventing
the prisoners from whom the arms had
been taken from reaching their homes
in case of their discharges; and that the
guards upon the roads CONSISTED of the
same illegal, unknown aud armed band
that made the raid upon the Office OF the
County Treasurer.
Such O statement, emanating from an
officer of the United States army, "a
GLASS who heretofore have been presumed
to preserve the instincts of gentlemen,
and to be able to speak the truth, might,
despite the known gross exaggertions
of which we have been the victims, gain
credence in certain quarters. We, there
fore, in justice to ourselves and to our
community ut large, deem it proper to
mako q simple and truthful statement of
the facts in this case.
On the evening of the 9th, some citi-
zens Of our town were notified by sew
miles below Yorkville, that they were
band of negroes, composed in part of
the company of Jim Williams, who had
been hung by parties unknown two
nights before. A party of fourteen or
fifteen, to which we belonged, at once
started to the assistance of our friends;
we were joined by others on the route,
and arrived during the night at the scene
Of the threatened disturbance. Owing
to our presence, no attack was made,
though We have positive evidence from
a gentleman in the Immediate vicinity
that the negroes were assembled in num-
bers on his plantation during the night.
The body of Jim Williams was kept sew
eral days unburied, evidently with the
intention of making it rallying poiut
for tho attack upon the whites. The
uorcner of the County. when he pro-
ceeded with his jury the day before to
hold an inquest over the body, found an
armed band of ffty or sixty negroes
upon the ground, and it was at their
personal risk that the inquest was held.
So that, in preventing the threatened
attack, in this instance at least, we we're
conservators of the peace rather than
violators of the law.
During the night. Andy Tins, one of
the ieutensnts of Jim Williams COM
pany, voluntarily informed US where
some of the arms belonging to the com
pany had been deposited, aud asked that
hey be taken to the sheriff, which was
done.
Towards morning on the 9th, we start
ed to Yorkville, where we arrived afle,
daylight. and passing directly in front Of
the encampment of Captain Christie
piers command. we were halted and
questioned by Lieut. Whitehead.
This explains tho '.picketing of lie
roads TO preoent The escape Of prisoners"
'cho at that Uery time 1rere dtMe.jai uutie,'
tie charge of Captain CAristopher's oun
troops, and it is q simple statement of
the facts Of the case.
That we were on illegal band" we
emphatically deny; for we were without
regular organization, without disguise,
aud were engaged in the defence of the
lives and families Of our friends, who
Ae>N "PPOoiSA W 10 ALL uool6tuuC6. I1eu
we disregarded that appeal, we would
have been unworthy the name of men,
much less the proud title Of Carolinians
That we were an unknown band"
the list of names in Captain John Chris
topher's possession, and the signature to
this communication. sufficiently dis
prove.
That we were the ''same band that
made the raid upon the County Trensu-
rer, we pronounce to be falsehood-a
falsehood as black and Infamous as the
heart from which it emanated, and we
challenge tho proof.
If Captain John Christopher feels him.
self aggrieved by the foregoing remarks,
we have only to say that we are person
ally aud Individually responsible for
what we have said. We acted rs indi.
viduals, without organization. in going
to tho assistance of our friends, and as
individuals wo hold ourselves response
bic for our action.
We deprecato the present troubled
condition of our country, and if by any
effort of ours the peace and quiet Of for
mcr days could be restored. that effort
would not be wanting. But while ignor-
ance sits in "hiQh plnces md bod md