The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-30
The Troubles in Edgefeld,

We clip from the augusta Chronicle d
Sentinel, the following notice of the re-
cent troubles between the whites and
blacks in Edgefield -
Last Sunday about one o'clock Gen.
NJ. G.. Butler discovered force of about
seventy-five negroes, all armed, cross
ing Stevens Creek in the direction of
Reese's store. Suspccting that an evil
movement on their part was on foot,
Gen. Butler rode over to Reese's store
and gave the alarm. In an almost in
credibly short space of time q large force
of whites assembled, fully armed and
eady for action. Included in this force
was the Sabre Club under command OF
Col. A., p. Butler, cavalry company
and nm infantry company. In addition
to these large number of citizens not
belonging to any organization were in
arms. 1t was ascertained that the ne-
groes, some three hundred strong, were
in the woods near NeeSe's store, under
command Of Ned Tenant, q notorious
negro militia captain and delegate to
the recent Radical Convention which
nominated Chamberlain for Governor
of South Carolina. \ committee OF
citizens was sent to confer with Tenant
in order to ascertain the cause of the
assembling of the negroes. Tenant met
the committee in the woods, and in an
swcr to their inquiries, 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 of
cartridges, he said he intended to kill
and burn everything in the neighbor-
hood. Seeing that nothing could be
accomplished with the negroes by per-
suasive measures, the committee pro
cecdcd back to their comrades and
reported the result of their conference.
The aspect of affairs being so serious,
courier was dispatched to Augusta.
Gen. AI. G.. Butler also sent word to
the Dark Corner and other sections of
Edgcficld County, of the threatening
situation, and requested the people to
send assistance. This would have been
forthcoming in short time if the ne
groes had not recedcd from their warlike
position. The whites also sent for the
United States troops at Edgcfeld, but
these refused to take any action in the
But finally the officer commanding
the troops sent q portion of the COM
mand to the disturbed locality, and the
troops rendered good service in prescrv-
ing order. Tie blacks seeing the deter
mined attitude of the whites soon
qisbanded.
"During the disturbance they were
under command of Tenant AMI Bullock,
negro militia captains. Tenant, how
ever, has been the moving spirit in the
matter, Bullock being only lesser lu-
Tenant was clothed in the full
uniform of captain in the United
States army, and was splendidly mount
ed and armed. He positively refused to
the arms of the negroes under
his command, and informed the whites
that if they wanted the arms they would
have to take them. Gen. Butler gave
the negroes until Wednesday night to
deliver up the arms. a written agree
ment was signed by Tenant OH Sunday,
promising not to tap q drum or assemble
the negroes at any time in the future,
first informing some RESPONSE
bic white man.
The negroes numbered four hundred
when they agreed to disperse Sunday
afternoon. The whites numbered be-
tween three and four hundred. Sunday
night negro militia company, eighty
strong, under command of Paris Simp-
tins, a notoriously turbulent mulatto,
'eached the vicinity of Reese's store,
rom the village of Edgefield. Discov-
,ring that Tenants company had dis
banded, the Edgefield company counter
marched and returned home. 1t was
his company that Mr.. Glover saw
passing his house early Monday morn
ng, and the appearance of which in
he neighborhood renewed the excite
ment of Sunday"
The arms have been since surrender
I'd. .....