Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-07-21
The Hamburg Massacre.

The recent murder of negroes ut Ham
burg, S. c., was a most brutal and entirely
inexcusable affair. The particulars as Civ
en- in full by an unimpassioned representa-
tive of the New York Times may be sum-
med up as follows:-
Augusta is a city of some thirty thous-
and inhabitants, and stands on the left
bank of the Savannah river. Hamburg,
town of about five hundred inl abitants, is
situated on :he right bank of the same
stream, and is directly opposite Augusta.
The two places are connected by one
carriage and two railroad bridges.
On the Fourth, company of (colored)
state militia, parading in the streets of
Hamburg, drilling and celebrating the day,
refuse to get out of the way of two white
boys, gentlemens' sons, returning from
visit to Augusta. The hieh-toned father of
one of the boys brings a suit against the
negro captain and his men for obstructing
the highway, and retains Mr.. NJ. c. Butler
formerly major-general C. S. Al TO prose-
cute it. The colored trial-justice postpones
the hearing once or twice. Mr.. Butler then
tells him the negroes, who have gathered at
their armory, must give up their arms.
The trial-justice, who is also general in
the state militia, advises them 10 comply
but they refuse. Presently white saber
clubs appear on the scene. The chivalrous
youth of Augusta snatch up their guns and
hurry across the river. Another demand
is made for the guns. The negroes reply
again that they are the legal militia of the
county. Then they are besieged in their
armory. Small-arms proving Intellectual,
a six-pounder Is brought over from the
Georgia side of the river. Several negroes
attempt TO escape from the building; five
succeed, two are shot dead, one is taken
prisoner and butchered in cold blood. The
other negroes, 20 in all, are dragged from
the cellar. Mr.. Butler, late major general,
after giving orders for the conveyance OF
| these prisoners 10 the Aiken Jail, rides off
home. Then the guard take out the "ring-
leaders," one by one, TO convenient corn
| field, bid them run for their lives, and
shoot the poor wretcbes down as they run.
| Those who got farthest dropped down at so
| yards. Then the other prisoners were let
loose, and volley fred after them. And
| then the white chevaliers rode away, well
satisfied with their nights sport. The
Charleston News hears that two OF the bod
les were ''mutialed with hatchets and bay
onets.''
The Charleston News prints the sub
stance of a statement by Prince Rivers. the
colored Justice of the Peace, above referred
TO. He says: upon affidavits Of one Rob
| ort Butler he issued warrants as trial jus
tice for Doctor Adams and the other COM
missioned officers of a militia company in
the town of Hamburg, for obstructing the
highway and preventing said Robert But
Ter from passing. This was on the 5th of
July, 1876. Owing TO some confusion TAX
ing place in this Office on that day he post
poned the trial till Saturday, the Sth, at four
o'clock in the afternoon, at which time
General NJ. c. Butler appeared as counsel
for Robert Butler. During the trial NJ. C..
Butler asked for more time, which was
granted, he (Butler) promising to he ready
within half an hour, but he never returned
to Rivers's Office any more, but went TO
Augusta and returned with two companies
OF soldiers and demanded the immediate
surrender of arms in possession of the mill
tia TO him. After some talk with Rivers
he (Gen. Butler) granted them half an hour
to comply with his terms. Rivers then
went to the drill room of the company and
consulted with the men, who were there
assembled, to get them 10 give up their
arms sooner than have blood shed. This
they refused 10 do, saying Gen. Butler had
no authority to make them give up their
arms. The time having expired, Gen. But
/ L. 4. Il La
to fire, which they did, and said the fire
was not returned by the militia for some
time. Butler told me he would have The
arms or burn the town. l (Rivers) offered
to box the guns and send them to Cham
berlain, but Butler would not agree tC
this"
The New York Times pertinently re-
marks that the conduct of the whito ruff
fans in the matter was wholly without le-
gal excuse, and was cruel and savage in
the last degree. The negroes had a perfect
right to their arms, and had given no indica'
ton that they intended to make any wrong
full use of them. The pretense that they
had such intention was without foundation
1t was the complaint of the wolf that the
lamb was muddying the stream. The
shooting of the negroes was done in the
most brutal and cowardly manner, such as
makes one blush for shame that the wretch
es who did the work should call themselves
American citizens. The Charleston News
says that the act of the white murderers il
sincerely condemned by the better class o
white people throughout the State. We d.
not doubt it (; but that only shows that the
better class of white people have cry littl'
control over the worse class. We have nj
desire to draw partisan advantage from al
occurrence so shocking and so disgracefu
to the whole country. But we venture Il
ask all candid men whether the rufiian
like Butler and his gang would have NOR
or less license than now in South Carolin
If Tilden aud Hendricks were elected mex
Fall7
/ AZ,