Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-24
From the Augusta Constitutionalist.
LETTER FROM EDGEFIELD,C. Ill.
Moses Aiming the Blacks Muster
ing of Ragged Squads-AInOst a
Pitched Battle-Sumner's Legacy
TO the South.

CIOnailSC, am always OIL tAe dlcIt III
an item of news which may be of in
terest to your readers. 1t may be thai
[ have gathered together few facts
| which will be of interest to many Of
| our friends in your State.
Several years ago the militia OF this
State was organized by Governor Scott
| and arms were distributed to the d1f'
ferent negro companies throughout the
State. AS might have been expected
| this made the negroes very insulting
| and overbearing towards the whites
| and the result was that serious diff
culties were frequent and there Were
several collisions between armed bands
of white men ard the negro militia
companies. Governor Scott profited
by experience and called in the arms,
the companies were disbanded and the
troubles ceased.
The Radical party at this time is
much divided and the leaders are
uuarelling among themselves. Gov
5rnor Moses has many prominent Rad
zeal leaders arrayed against him. For
the purpose of controlling the corn
field negroes i'll the next election the
militia is again being organized, and
the persistent demand of the negroes
for arms has been acceeded to. AS to
what the consequences may be Moses
does not care; lie has been in one wal
and knows there is no danger that he
will be hurt in battle, and as to the
fate of others, it gives him no concern,
provided he can keep his hands upon
| the money in the Treasury.
Under the laws of our State it IS al
most impossible for the white men to
form military organizations. and OF
course the arms there ore and dlstrlb-
uted only to negroes.
Saturday there was q grand review
at EdgeGeld Of the forces Of this
county Such q spectacle you have
probably never witnessed. The whole
country was black with women, chill
dren, old men, boys, armed negroes,
dressed in every conceivable manner,
and impudent negroes. mounted, were
prancing through every street of our
quiet village. The cavalry was also
present, some mounted on mules, but
most Of them riding agricultural, lean
horses, and presenting such a ludicrous
spectacle that q smile stole over the
face of the maddest man present.
One Of our citizens asked q very
prominent planter question which it
seems would have required some time
for reflection before proper answer
could have been given, yet see the
ready wit of the farmer of, like Rip
Van Wrinkle, you had just awoke from
long sleep, and this passing scene
had presented itself, what do you sup
pose would have been your feelings?'
Answer II would have felt that there
had been some objectionable mistake,
and that had unexpectedly arrived in
hi"
After 'the muster most Of "the
colored troops departed for theil
homes. A few stragglers, however,
were left behind. A citizen had one
Of the guns belonging to the militia
and was inspecting it. 4 negro stepped
up and rudely snatched it from him
| and the citizen knocked him down
| This was the signal which it seemed
had been anxiously looked for al! day
| The negroes became very indignant
rallied in crowds, some with guns
some with pistols, and fl way of race:
sc emed imminent. OF course The
whites came upon the scene and were
| armed. But for the earnest efforts O
| some of the " hite leaders and some O.
| the better disposed blacks the fgh
voald have begun at once. 1t is bu
! justice to say that many of the negroe:
endeavored to prevent a collision
Conspicuous amongst the freedmen
who desired to avert the calamity wa
| Milo Simmons, former servant o
Gov. Pickens, who, although he is
radical, did much to prevent bloodshed
Tic whites appreciate his acts and h
/ ~ Ri. Il hnrnI
| Tie negroes with us know but little
now of politics. They are % unit
however, when the question of race
comes up. They are more soiidifiet
/ against us now than at any time since
/ the war. Heretofore arguments have
| been used to unite them politically
They have bliudly followed then
leaders, however, without any partic
uiar intereat IL the result. Now they
are making the Issue OF color and as
this needs 10 argument they present
! almost an un5roken front. Heretofore
| in our town elections they have been
conservative, and, although they have
always had a majority, we have had nc
/ trouble in elecrlng ticket by a larg5
| majority.