Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-25

assembled, fully armed and ready for &C
ton. Included in this force was the Sabre
Club under command of Col. A. p. Butler,
a cavalry company and an infantry eotttpa-
ny. In addition to these a large number of
citizens not belonging to any organization
were in arms. 1t was ascerained that the
negroes, some three hundred strong, were
in the woods near ReeSe's store, under
command of Ned Tenant, notorious ne
gro militia captain and a delegate TO the
recent Radical Convention which nomina-
ted Chamberlain for Governor of South
Carolina. A committee of citizens was
sent to confer with Tenant in order to as
certain the cause Of the assembling Of the
negroes. Tenant met the committee in
the woods, and in answer to their inqui-
ries, stated that some parties had
FIRED INTO HIS HOUSE
the night previous, and he had therefore
called out the militia for his protection.
He was very insolent and defiant. Holding
out one of his hands full CT cartridges, be
said he intended to kill and btirn every-
thing in the neighbOrhood Seeing that
nothing could be accomplished with the
neguoeSIby persuasive measures, the COM
mittee proceeded back to their comrades
and reported the result of their conference.
The aspect Of affairs being so serious, a
courier was dispatched to Augusta. Gen.
NJ. G. Buler also sent word to the Dark
Corner aud other sections OF Edgeield
county, Of the threatening situation, and
re1uestiig the people to send assistance.
This would have been forthcoming in a
short time if the negroes had not receded
from their warlike position. The whites
also sent for the United States troops at
Edgefeld, but these refused to take any ac-
ton in the matter as they had
40 ORDERS TO INTERFERE.
Late in the afternoon Tenant sent
courier to Col. Butler, proposing TO dis
band the negfUcs il the whites would first
dlsperse. Col. Butler replied, "Ill show
you whether we will disband or mott and
rode off in the direction of the white forces.
Seeing the determined attitude OF the
whites, Tenant deemed discretion the bet
ter part of valOr. He therefore called Col.
Butler back and surrendered at discretion.
Tenant was immediately put under arrest
for trial on the charge of riot. The whites,
as matter of precautiOn, remained under
arms and were still guarding the locality ct
last accounts.
The white people about Reese's Mill
totally disbelieve Tenants story about the
firing upon his house. They say that if
such firing was done, il was done by Ten
ant himsalf, IN order to get some pretext
for a rising of the colOred people. Tenant
is known to be a very desperate negro and
a turbulent ebataCter. Ii is thought, how
ever, that in the present instance he was
melted to his insuTrectiOnary course by the
notorious J. II. McDevitt, the white Radi-
cal implicated in the Ridge Springs distur-
bance. The whites are
FULLY PREPARED
for an emergency, and the negtoes will
make nothing by incendiaTy movements.
The people are organized in sufficient force
to resist any warlike demonstration on the
part of the blacks, and there is no doubt
but that they will be assisted in case of
need by citizens from the Georgia side Of
the river.
The excitement in Augusta Sunday upon
the receipt Of the intelligence from Heese's
store was great, and did not subside until
the arrival of the courier with the in
formation that the negroes had surren-
dered.
The citizen to whom the letter was sent
by Gen. Butler advised the young men
who intended going from Augusta TO the
assistance of their friends in South Caro-
lima not TO leave the city as an organized
force, but simply to go as individual vol
unteers, and this course would have been
pursued if their assistance had been need
ed. The purpose of these yONng men was
not aggressive, but merely to aid their
friends at Recess store and vicinity in pro-
tecting their families and property from
the assaults of the misguided blacks.
LATER.
Yesterday about twelve O'Clock, a young
man named Gettsell, from Resee's store,
who had been to Augusta and was return
ing home, met a courier about four miles
from Augusta, just from the scene
of the disturbances. The courier re-
ported that the negroes were reasSembling,
and that an outbreak was feared. He had
been sent, therefore, to summon Gettsell
and other South Carolinians who were in
Augusta to repair to Reese's store immedi-
ately. He also stated that Tenant had not
been arrested, as was first reported, but bad
disappeared and il was thought he had gone
to either Columbia or Edgefeld for rein
fOrcements. In view Of these circumstan-
ces it was deemed best to be prepared.
Gettsell Immediately rode back to Augusta
to inform other ) nth CarOlinians here Of
the state of affairs, while the courier re-
turned to Reese's store.
Another party from the same point re-
ported that the officers commanding the
Federal soldiers at Edgefield, had finally
decided to move to the locality of the dis
turbanoe, and that the company was then
qtiartered at Mr.. NJ. o. Glover's near Reese's
store. The same party stated that early
yesterday morning company of negroes,
eighty strong, marched by Mr.. GlOyer's
house. Mr.. Glover counted the men as
they passed, and as the last one reached
his gate he stepped up to him and asked
him what that meant. The negro replied
that they were going home. The impress
sion seemed to be, however, that the force
was intended as a reinforcement for Ten
ants militia. 1t was reported late yester
day afternoon that a number of negroes
from Hamburg had left for Reese's store,
with the object of reinforcing the rioters.
A gentleman of this city who has plan
tation on this side of the river, near FuTy's
Ferry, which is only short distance from
Reese's store, came to Augusta about two
O'Clock and reported that all was quiet that
morning at the scene of the recent disturb
dllCCs Ilt lCtClhGu d lctlcI lIDul Ntlls NJ
G. Butler, written at ten O'Clock, stating
that the negroes had dispersed and they
would all be disarmed during the next
twenty-four hours. This indicated that no
further trouble was apprehended.
About twenty-five men from the Georgia
side
CROSSED THE RIVER
at Fury's Ferry before daybreak yesterday
and proceeded four miles towards
ReeSes store, when they were met by a
courier, who informed them that the ne
grOes had dispersed. The Georgians there
upon returned TO their homes, their only
object IN crossing the river being TO assist
the citizens about Reese'S store in protect
ing life and property. Neither the people
of Georgia nor those Of South Carolina
have any desire or intention of making war
upon the negroes, but they are determined
that the negroes shall not make war upon
them.
MIR. Gettsell returned to Reese's store
about three o'clock yesterday afternoon, in
company with another young gentleman
from South Carolina. The intention of the
latter was to ride back to the city with the
news, if an outbreak should occur, i'm order
to give volunteers an opportunity TO 60 to
the assistance of the peOplesa at Reese's
store.
THE VERY LATEST.
Mr.. Joseph ThaYer arrived in the city