Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-20

ms statement IS confirmed by 5. +. Plxey.
While these negotiations were going on the
armed body of white men in the town were con-
centrated on the bank Of the river the Sibley
building. Soon alter they were broken of firing
began Men who were in the building say that 1t
was commenced by the whites firing upon the
building. Adams gave his orders not to shoot un-
til he directed them to. The company had very
little ammunition, and all they bad was portion
of that issued to the company when it was first
organized After the firing had begun it was re-
turned by the Militia, and one Of the attacking
party, McKie Merriwether, shot through the
head and instantly killed. After this piece of
artillery, said to belong to the Washington Ar
tillery of Augusta, was brought over from Au-
gusta, and four charges Of canister fired from it
upon the armory, but without injuring any one.
The persons in the armory escaped from the rear
by means of ladders and hid under floors of ad-
jacent buildings, or wherever else they could find
shelter.
The first man killed by the whites was James
Cook, Town Marshall. He had been in the armo-
~, but not a member of the company. He
had gone into the street from the rear Of the Sib-
ley building, and was at once fired on and fell
dead instantly, pierced by five or six bullets.
Aftcrward the whites began their search for the
members of the company. They succeeded IN
getting about twenty-five colored men as prison
ers, some of whom were never members of the
company. As fast as the men were captured they
were taken to place near the South Carolina
Railroad, where a large party Of armed men stood
guard over them. None of those thus captured
had arms in their hands
Subsequently, and at about o'clock A. NJ, six
men took A. T. Attaway out of the ring" He
| aud his mother begged for his life, but in vain.
lie was then told to turn round, and was shot to
death by the crowd. David Phillips was next
taken out and similarly killed. Pompev Curry
was next called out. lie recognized among the
bystanders Henry Getzen and Dr. Pierce Butler,
and called on them to keep the other men from
killing him.
He ran, and was shot at as he ran, one bullet
striking him in the right leg below the Knee AT
terward Albert Myniard, Moses Parks and lamp
ton Stevens were killed. Stevens did not belong
| to The company. Nelder John Parker, who has
been commonly referred to in the newspaper re-
ports as John Thomas, was Corporal in the com
pany.
where the other prisoners were, he recognized
among the party two gentlemen of Augusta,
named Twiggs and Chatfee. lie appealed to
them for protection. They said be should not be
hurt. lie stated that Gen NJ. Z. Butler asked
him if he was one of the - rascals. The reply
was in the affirmative. He was then shot in the
back. Messrs. Twiggs and Chaffee then said If he
was shot again they would shoot the ones who did
it. They took him off and had him taken to Au-
gusta. He was shot before Attaway was Killed
lie may recover from his wounds. One Butler
Edwards was taken as prisoner. He says he
was taken before Gen. Butler, who at the time
was in the street near the SIbley building. This
was about II o'clock. Threats were made to shoot
others. He recognized among the crowd
Capt. Carwile and - Dunbar, of Augusta said
he had long talk with the former. He WAS
among the prisoners who were let loose and told
TO run. As they ran they were fired at ana he was
shot in the head. He not member of the
company.
Willis Davis, one Of the members of the eompa-
ny, was taken to the place where were the other
prisoners. The men stated that John SwariDgen,
of Edyefeld county, had charge of the prisoners.
Ia hat he w (reD hpfO ~ m
were killed, who asked him what he was doing,
and told him he would have enough of it before he
got through. He was shot in the arm, near the
elbow, when about twenty PAGES distant from the
crowd. The ball is still in his arm and he suffers
much pain. He also states that some Of the
Young men from Georgia demonstrated against
shooting the prisoners, but in vain.
Besides the killing and wOundIng OF the men
herein named, the party broke open several stores
aud houses, and in some instances robbed the in
mates. They took from Mr.. Chas. Roll, the post
master, and a very respectable white citizen, gun
which he had in his store, and his private property
From colored man named Jacob Samues, in MS
employ, they took watch and set fire to his house
They broke open the house of Trial Justice RiY
ers, and did much damage, as well as robbed hin
of clothing. They obtained kerosene oil and al
tempted to set fire to house, but were prevented
by Col A z. Butler from doing The ropes Of
the public wells were cat, and some fences were
torn down.
So far as can learn, the primary object Of the
whites was to take away from the Militia their
arms. The man Parker, who was wounded, states
that on Friday, the 9TH inst, he had long talk
with one Harrison Butler, (whte) on Broad street,
Augusta. Butler told him that if Rivers did not
give orders for the Militia to give up their arms,
they would take them anyway on the next day. On
Saturday rumors were abroad in Hamburg that
there were armed parties coming to take the guns,
but little credit was attached TO them. One OF
the white citizens of Hamburg heard a converse
ton between David Phillips and General Butler in
the afternoon. Phillips talked very big as the
gentleman said, and Gen. Butler told him they
wanted those guns, and were bound to have them.
In the afternoon Col. A. p. Butler went to the
various stores 10 town and told the proprietors that
they must not sell any liquor to his men. In spite
of this, some of the men compelled one of the
storekeepers to furnish them liquor. From the
same person they obtained kerosene oil to use in
setting fire to house. The whites are armed
with guns and small arms of various kinds, and
many of them had axes and hatchets. 1t is proper
to state that the intendant OF Hamburg, MIR. Gard
ner, was informed by Gen. Butler, in an interview
with him, that the arms of the company must be
given Up.
Trsl Justice Rivers is now holding an inquest
and taking the testimony of witnesses. Until their
verdict is rendered it will be impossible to tell who
were engaged 10 the attack on the Militia and the
subsequent killing and wounding of the colored
men.
1. may be possible that careful judicial invest-
CATION may show some slight errors in some Of the
minor details stated in this report. But, making
due allowance for such errors, the facts show the
demand on the Militia to give up their arm,
were made by persons without lawful authority TO
enforce such demand, or to receive the arms had
they been surrendered, that the attack on the Mi
iia to compel compliance with this demand was
without lawful excuse or justifcation and that
after there had been some twenty Or twenty-five
prisoners captured and completely in the power of
their captors, and without means Of making fur
ther resistance five Of them deliberately shot
to death and three more severely wounded. 1t
further appears that, not content with thus salts
lying their veng canoe, many OF the crowd added
to their guilt the CRIME OF robbery of defenseless
people, and were only prevented from arson by
the ettrots Of their leaders.
Yours very respectfully,
WILLIAM STONE,
Attorney General OF South Carolina.
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