Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-10-27
Official Statement of the OainhOy Affair

NAshlN1TONf Octs ~
The following official report of r. NJ.
Wallace, U. S. Marshal for South Caro-
lima, addressed to Gen. Taft, was read
at the Cabinet meeting to-day: 3D..
CHARLEsToN, S. c., oct. II, 1875.
Hon. A. TAFT Attorney General Washington:
SIR have delayed giving you a report OF
the recent unfortunate political riot at a
place near the town OF Cainhoy, in this coun-
ty, until l could get correct statement of
the facts. 1t is one of the Legitimate results
OF the intimidation policy, on the Mississippi
plan, adopted by the Democratic party in
opening their campaign for the purpose of
breaking down the Republican majority in
this State. The first meeting in this county
at which the Democrats put their shotgun
policy in practice took place over a month
ago, on Cooper River, some ten or twelve
miles from the scene of the late riot. The
Republicans had called meeting, and the
Democrats in the city chartered steamboat
and took about $50 well-armed men to the
meeting. They formed their men in line near
the stand and demanded that they should
have half the time for their speakers. The
Republicans did not relish this s,klrlS of peace
full political discussion, but the request was
backed up by $50 Winchester repeating rifles
in the hands of men who knew how to use
them, and they consented to division of
time. Other meetings followed this, with
similar display of arms, and, in order to
each meeting, the executive committees of
each party arranged to have a series of Joint
discussions, and agreed that their people
should not come armed to the meetings.
The discussions in the county had been GO
ing on with more or less of bitterness and
animosity, mainly growing out Of the fact
that the Democrats carried large force of
men from the city to every meeting, who ir-
ritated the Republicans by their violent de-
nunciation of their leaders and their party.
The meeting at the Brick Church, near Cain
hoy, was called by the Republicans, and was
largely attended by men who were present at
the first meeting at which the Democrats
had enforced their demand to speak, but had
not attended any of the joint discussions,
and many of them, being suspicious OF the
Democrats, carried such guns as each man
had at his home, consisting of old muskets,
shot-guns and fowling pieces, but no militia
went there with State arms and ammunition,
as the Democrats claim, and the best evil
dence of that fact is that all the dead we're
shot with buckshot and not with rife balls.
When these colored Republicans arrived at
the place of meeting their leading men told
them that they were violating an agreement
by coming armed, and that thessvmust de-
posit their arms at some place away from
the grounds. The colored men complied
with this request and some guns, say fifteen,
were placed in an old dilapidatcd building
some fifty yards from the stand, and others
were placed across a rayine in the woods.
About 80 Democrats accompanied their
speakers from the city on steamboat and
soon appeared at the meeting.
The first speaker was Democrat, a candi-
date for Prosecuting Attorney of the circuit.
He was heard through very patiently. He
was followed by W. j. Mckinley (cOlored),
who was delegate to the Cincinnati Con-
vention from this State. Soon after McKin-
ley commenced speaking a cOmmotiOn was
observed in the crowd on the side next to the
dilapidated building, and Mckinley jumped
off the stand and said: "Those white men
in that house have guns and are going TO
shoot" The colored men raised a shout,
"The Democrats have seized our guns and
made rush for the other guns. The white
men who had secretly slipped into the house
and seized the guns then fired the first shot
and killed an old man about seventy years
old who was standing leaning on a stick,
and this is the only colored man who is
known to have been killed. The cOloFed
men returned with their guns very soon, and
attacked the party at the old house, and then
commenced general fire on the Democrats,
who aEu efssAssslls .s'ssSd via st0fs, bat
had to retire rapidly toward the boat under
heavy fire. The colored men became furious
when they saw that some of their arms had
been seized and one of their old men KILLED.
Sheriff Bowen, whom they recognized as their
personal and political friend, rushed among
them and tried to stop the firing, but they
did not cease until all the white men were
driven away from the church. Six white
men were killed or have died, and one eOlOred
man. Several white men are wounded but
none seriously. 1t is not known how many
negroes are hurt. AS soon as the fight
ceased the steamboat returned to the city
for arms and -reinforeements, and over 100
men went back on her on two hours notice
with arms for themselves and for 800 men
already there. Next morning about 200
armed men went up on the same boat, which
had returned. These armed men were the
military companies (or portion Of the com.
panies) which Gov. Chamberlain ordered TO
disband two weeks ago on the night
OF the riot | telegraphed TO Someryille,
TO an officer in command of troops, for
company to 90 to Cainhoy. He replied next
morning that he had only one artillery com-
pany, which had no small arms. then tele-
graphed TO Gov Chamberlain TO know where
could get troops and he referred II 70 Gen.
Ruger at Atlanta, who has ordered com
pany from Columbia which will arrive to-
morrow morning, aud will proceed with
them at once TO Cainhoy. will require the
armed men there 10 disperse, and will see
that no further riotlng takes place IL II
Very respectfully, Il, M. WALLACE,
tt. United States Marshal.