The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-10-26

of HOYT CO,
Anderson, 8. c.
they found that the negroes had left, one
party going toward Rouse's Bridge, and
the other, under Corker, going toward
Penn Branch Swamp, where they
EXPECTED TO AMBUSH WHITE REIN
FoRCEMENTs
that were coming from Barnwell county
under command of General Hagood.
The whites-it then being about four
O'Clock on Monday-pushed on to Rouse's
Bridge. They had not proceeded far
when their scouts were fired upon by six
negroes, who were fortified in a little
house by the roadside. The main body
rushing up, the negroes fed. David
Malley, colored, was shot dead in the
house. Sam Brown was. killed while
running, gun in hand. Warren Kelsey
was wounded and fell. The whites
rushed upon him. Mr.. Jim Bush ex-
claimed, "Don't shoot him, boys, his
daddy is good old negro" 4 white
man, reaching down in the grass, lifted
Kelsey's head and cried, "By God! he's
got gun in his hand, right nowW At
this dozen shots were fired and
HE FELL BACK DEAD, .,
Couriers then reached the whites and
implored them to return and camp in
Ellenton during the night, as the negroes
had threatened to return and burn. the
town: They did 80 and went into camp
on Monday night at Ellenton. Up to
this time the whites had one man killed
and four wounded. The: negroes had
FIVE killed and two wounded. During
the night and evening at.Elienton, John
Kelsey, colored, was killed while running
through O field, armed, Wilkins Hamil-
ton, colored, who had been wounded ut
Union Bridge, was brought to Ellenton
and was either killed while aEprisoner or
died of his wounds received at the bridge.
He was reported dead in the morning.
Abram Hammond, colored, was killed at
Silverton during the evening. How, I
am unable to learn. He was quite an
old man and was very obnoxious to the
whites. !. shall now leave the Aiken
County whites in camp at Ellenton on
Tuesday morning thaving lost one white
man and with four wounded, and having
Killed eight negroes and wounded two]
to describe the fighting done by the
BarHwell County men, Who, under the
leadership Of General Hagood and Sheriff
Patterson, colored, Of Bafnwell, were
marching toward the scene. 1t will be
remembered that Simon Corker's compa-
ny, armed with Winchester rifles, had
left Ellenton on Monday evening for
Penn Branch Swamp, where they inten.
ded to ambush the white reinf0rcements.
Before reaching. the swamp the; Barnwell
whites were fred upon from ambush, and
the Sheriff, James Patterson, colored, was
severely wounded. Upon reaching the
edge of the swamp the advance guard of
whites we're confronted suddenlylbyi 'e1
ABOUT SEVENTY ARMED NEGROES
who poured direct fire into them. Rob-
ert;W Williams, u hite,lwasjkiliefi atthe first
flash, Samuel Dunbar shot in the hand
and breast, j. 81. ,Killingsworth was shot
| ih the leg and Mike Heyers in the neck.
The whites returned the fire, and killing
Ed! w. Bush, colored, Roundtree, col
ored,. and two negroes named "Paris"
and, Henry" Thenegrnes then plunged:
into the swamp, leaving Simon Corker,,
their captain, in the hands of the whites.
The whites then pushed on toward Ellen
ton, carrying Corker with them. En-
route to EIenton the whites killed. George
Turner, colored, and William Tut. coll
ored. I am informed that these negroes
were seen with guns in their hands, and.
were fred,upon and shot down. rArriv-
hing at Ellenton, Simon Corker, prisoner,
|, who had been the instigator and leader,
| OF the negroes, it.was alleged, was killed
llbg his captors. The Barnwell men. then
killed seven negroes in tie march to Ell
Iylenton, losing one man killed and three
wounded The casualties, then stood, ff
teen negroes killed in both counties and
two wounded whites, two Killed and
eight woundeddt III 9Gi'J E1;'f' ia -.
2 THE iMARcH on RoUsE's BRIDGE q
|. On Fuesdaymorning the AikenfG County
whites; who were encampeda at: Elfenton;
started for: Rouse's Bridge, where it was
understood the negroes were nassed in
Large numbers. Uponreaehing the bridge
Fit was discovered that the negroes had
crossed the creek. torn up! therbridge and
ehtrenched themselves i'm the swamp,
|, The decisive moment. had now come.
The main body of the whites, some three
hundred in number, were preparing to
charge ,on the swanpsin which. we're am
bushed. the. MAIN body! of the negroes,
numbers unknown, bpt possibly as large
| as the whites. The whites were delayed
at the torn bridge, and spent half an
hourr in arranging to cross :the, stresm.
bA few struggling shots were fred ou,both
sides, without damage, Is, either, At
length the stream was crossed and the
Writes were stiffening themselves in the
saddle for a-charge, when a >yeil1 that
broke from the, depths of the swamp
caused them to. hesitate. A dozen guns
were at the shoulder to fire on the body
of men who were evidently approaching
the edge of the swamp j'when Captain
Croft struck them. down and shouted 400:
"THosE ARE WHITE MEN COMING =
THROUGH TIL. q SWAMP" =! NJ! 46 d
In moment they broke, through the
edge of the swamp, and discovered that
| it was q body Of United States troops.
The soldiers came walking rapidly for.
ward, totally unarmed, many with their
coats of, and many, ma Of. oft them ri swinging
their hats in the air. IF.
A committee Of three whites, headed
by Captain Croft, advanced to:Ineet Cap
tain Lloyd, in command of the troops.
After saluting, Captain Croft said: ia.
Owe are here, sir, for the purpose of
enforcing order. Have you any orders
for us !; if so, they shall.be obeyed.no ~
%Ihave none, sir.", griJ..' bIa ,9;a.- III
| ."Under what instructions are you here
ssimpiy to preserve the peas,css&''h peacs&.''h .
b @Have you any advice to ofer~ 80
| ".I advise you to disperse yonr men,"
"Will you force the negroes to dis
perse ?"
''I cannot force them. Ifeel assured,
however, that the advice 1 shall give
them will result in their prompt disper-