The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-10-26

AhpSsCo1 W. hiAhh eti1e Ohtto iio iltN
been killed by the whites through
pure wantopness. There are no
elected constables in South Carolina,
and the justices appoint a constable
for the serving of each warrant they
issue. Feeling that there would bo
trouble IN making tho arrest of
Pope, Griffin appointed Mr.. Angus
p. Brown, q citizen of known cour-
age but of prudent good sense, to
curry out his writ of arrest.
AND RIGIT HERE THE wAR-CLoUD SHOWED
ITSELF.
Mr.. Brown quietly proceeded to
surround himself with u small but
determined posse. BY Saturday
night he had collected fourteen men,
having intended to talo only ton.
He then waited for morning, that
the search for Pope might be COM
wenced, keeping his mon together
during the night. EARLY in tho
moraing he learned that Pope was
at itosse's Bridge, under the pro
lection MA considerable number of
armed nesroes. Ho at once sent
Messrs. Wsathersby and Stallings
out as scouts,to determine if the
reports We're true, and in the mean
time advanced whh his posse toward
the bridge, taking tue prccaution to
carry the negro justice with him,
that the negroes might>bo persuad.
ed to give up their man without a
struggle. When the posse passed
Silverton, the homo of Mr.. Harley,
it was reinforced by five men, tue
news of the gathering ut Rouse's
Bridge having been received at Sh
vcrton several hours before. Con
stable Browns scouts returned, and
confirmed, from actual knowledge,
TINT the negroes toward tho bridge
were terribly excited, armed and
defiant A negro (Sidney Hanlen-
sony confirmed their report. he hay
ing been at the bridge himself. Mr.
Brown and his posse-a list of
which is in my possession-moved
quietly forward.
Rouse's Bridge spans small
creek, and is tlankcd on the left and
front by m immense swamp. 1t
is approached by deep and narrow
cut just rs tho posse emerged from
this cut-or, rather, as the first men
emcrged-they were met with
ARAaaED AND SCATTERING FIRE
from u party Of negroes, who were
aligned on the very edge of the
swamp. No ono was injured, n
horse only being wounded. The
posse promptly returned the fire.
1t is snid chat three negroes were
wounded by this fire. From con-
vers,ltion with two or three Of tho
blacks engaged, I can got the name
OF onl ly one wounded man-Henry
Campbell, who was shot in the arm.
This, l believe, is the only casualty
of the first Rouso's Bridge fight. At
tho fire of the whites seve al ne
groes issued from tho swamp and
hurried to reinforce their fricnls,
who numbered originally about
thirty The whites, fearing the
swamp was filled with armed ne
grocs. retired precipitately to q
neghboring open field, and the first
fight of the campaign was over. It
isprovcn by the affidavits of moro
t,mn n dozen men, including the
colored justice, that the negroes
made the first fire, opening upon the
posse in the defilc as is descl ibed
above. The whites then, instead of
returning to the attack, determined
to hold n parley. They procured O
white flag and sent it by negro
woman into tho swamp, asking for q
conference with tho blacks. Tho
woman returned shortly aftorward
saying that the negroes refused to
hold any communication with the
whites. She was returned to the
swamp with n moro pressing invi-
tation for q conference She did
not return ut all, but negro came
out unalmed and stated that if the
whites would send forward six men
nam>d in n list he held in his hand,
TIE BLACKS WOULD GIVE THEM CON-
FERENCE.
The whites agreed and the six
men entered the swamp. This was
at about 5 o'clock On Sunday. The
whites showed their warrant of ~
rest and demanded the negro Popo.
The blacks replied that Pope was
not with them, and had not been.
The whites upon heoring this agreed
That they would disperse and go
home, if the negroes would do tho
same thing. This was arranged and
the conference terminated. The
whites ut once dispersed and started
home, Mr.. Brown riding off by him
self, Mr.. Sta 'lings/ and Mr.. join
Williams taking another road, and
thirteen members of the posse riding
in scattered groups toward Double
Bridge, whore they expected to
cross. These thirteon men were
scattered along the road, >Messrs.
Ashley and two others riding some
three hundred yards in advance.
Whon these gentlemen approached
tho bridge, wading through dense
swamp, about score of armed