The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-13
GREAT RIOT IN HAMBURG.

GREAT RlUI In HAbkbOhUs
A Co1ored Military Company Resists
the Civil Authorities, and Bloody Work
Ensues.
A frightful conflict between the whites
and blacks took place in Hamburg, S. c.,
on last Saturday night, resulting in the
killing OF three negroes and one white
man during the engagement, and of seven
colored men after the fight was over.
The origin of the affray was the inso-
lent behavior of a colored militia COM
pany in Hamburg on the fourth of July.
On that day Messrs. Thomas Butler and
Henry Gettsen were riding through the
town on their way home and were de-
tained by the militia company, which
obstructed the highway. Some of the
soldiers threatened to keep them there all
night. Three days later they, the young
men, applied to Prince Rivers to have
the matter explained, and to determine
whether the militia had the right to block
up the public road. Rivers is or was a
General officer of militia, and is likewise
Trial Justice. The examination was
had, and the captain of the military,
Doc. Adams, was so insolent as to induce
Rivers to commit him for contempt of
court, and continue the case until Messrs.
Butler and Gettsen were represented by
Gen. M. G. Butler of Edgefeld, who was
employed by Mr.. Robert Butler, the ia
ther of Thos. Butler, to prosecute Ad-
ans. Gen. Butler reached Hamburg on
Saturday afternoon, and proceeded to the
Office of Trial Justice Rivers, where the
trial of Adams was to take place.
The negroes swore in advance that they
would submit to no punishment inflicted
by the magistrate, and were loud and
threatening in the expression of their
views. Gen. Butler asked Rivers wheth-
er he intended to try Adams in his mill
tary capacity as major-general, or in his
civil capacity as trial justice. Rivers re-
piled that he could not tell until he had
examined into the case. At 4 o'clock,
the hour designated for the trial, Doc.
Adams failed to put in an appearance.
After waiting some time, Gen. Butler
told Rivers that he must proceed. The
constable then went to the door and called
Adams, who, however, failed to answer.
1t was then ascertained that Adams, with
his company, was up the street in de-
fant attitude. Gen. Butler thereupon
informed Rivers that this sort of thing
had gone on long enough, and it was
about time that it was put stop to. The
negroes must give up their arms at once,
and he would give the names of twenty
of the best citizens in Edgefeld as securi-
ty that they would be turned over to Gov
ernor Chamberlain. Rivers then asked il
Gen. Butler, in case the arms were given
up, would he see that the town was pro-
tected during the night. General Butler
answered in the affirmative. Rivers as
sured him that he could 60 Immediately
to Adams and persuade him to give up
the arms. He accordingly went to that
worthy and talked with him for some
time. Upon his return, he told Gen.
Butler that the mayor, Gardner, and the
officers of the company would confer with
him at the Council Chamber. General
Butler accordingly went thither and had
conference with the negro leaders. He
told them that the arms must be given
up, there was no necessity for them in
that place, and they had no business with
them. AS for the Adams case, MIR. But
ler would be satisfied if Adams would
make an apology.
This conference accomplished nothing.
The negroes still hesitated about giving
up the arms. In the meantime, however,
number of white citizens had assembled
in the town and matters began to look
squally. Gen. Butler rode over to Au-
gusta and told several young men that
he might ed their services in Hamburg
during the afternoon. He then returned
to the town. Just after crossing the
bridge he was met by Prince Rivers, who
said he would make one more effort to in
duce the negroes to give up oeir guns,
and if they would not yield they must
take the consequences. Accordingly he
conferred with the officers Of the compa-
ny, and shortly returned to Gen. Butler
with the announcement that the negroes
said they would not give up their guns
they intended to fight. In the meantime
the news of the trouble had spread in
Augusta and caused much excitement
A large number of young men hastily
procured arms and ammunition and has.
tened to the scene. Many others waited
at the foot of the bridge anxiously await.
ing the result. By o'clock there was
large crowd at that point.
Upon Learning the result of Rivers eff.
forts, Gen. Butler determined to accom-
plish by force that which could not be
done by peaceable demands. The ne
groes had entrenched themselves in q
large brick structure, known as Sibley's
building, on a corner, and defed the
whites. The latter surrounded the house,
and at half-past Z o'clock opened fire
upon it. This was returned by the ne
groes, and a constant fusilade was Kept
up fol yer two hours.
About 8 o'clock young man named
T. Mackey Merriwether, who was stand
ing near the front of the Charlotte, Col
umbia and Augusta Railroad Bridge, was
struck in the head by a minnie ball fired
from one of the windows of the Sibley
building, and almost instantly killed.
His body was placed on a litter and
carried to Augusta by number of young
men, who were accompanied by the father
of the unfortunate young man, MIR.
Joseph Merriwether, who lives in Edge
field County, about fifteen miles from
Hamburg. The deceased was in the
twenty-t6ird year of his age. Another
account says: "Two young men were
firing from behind an abutment Of the
Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Rail,
road bridge when two negroes slipped
through the tall weeds on the edge OF
the river, and, coming up un1Pe:1rceivedi in in
the rear of them, shot and killed Mr.
Merriwether, of Edgefeld, the ball strik-
ing him behind the ear, killing him ill.,
stantly. The young man who was with
Merriwether turned and fred at the
ncoroes killing one dead. The other