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

bly, excited, armed ana denant. negro
Sidney Hankenson) confirmed their
report, he having been at the bridge
himself. Alr. Brown and his posse-a
list of which is in my possession-moved
quietly forward.
Rouse's Bridge spans small creek,
and is Aanked on the left and left front
by an immense swamp. 1t is approached
by deep and narrow cut. Just as the
posse emerged from this cut-or, rather,
as the first men emerged-they were met
with ....f. .,,... -, 81
A RAGGED AND SCATTERING FIRE
from party of negroes, who were>align-
ed on the very edge of the swamp. No
one was injured, q horse only being
wounded. The posse promptly returned
the fire. 1T is said that three negroes
were wounded, by this fire. From con.
versation with two or three of the blacks
engaged I can get the name of only one
wounded man-Henry Campbell, who
was shot in the arm. This, l believe, is
the only casualty of the first Rouse
Bridge fight. AT the fire of the whites
several negroes issued from the swamp
and hurried to reinforce their friends,
who numbered originally about thirty.
The whites fearing The swamp was filled
with armed negroes, retired ,precipitately
to neighboring open field, and the first
fight of the campaign was over 1t lis
proven. by the affidavits of more than a
dozen men, including the colored Justice,
that the negroes made the first fire, open;
ing upon the posse in the defle, as is de-
scribed above. The whites then, instead
of returning to the attack, determined to
hold .parley. They procured white
flag and sent it BY negro, woman into
the swamp, asking for conference with
the blacks. The woman returned short
ly afterward, saying that the negroes re-
fused to hold any communication with
the whites. She was returned to the
swamp with more pressing invitation
for conference. She did not return at
all, but a negro came out unarmed and
stated that if the whites would send for
ward six men named in a list he held in
his hand,
THE BLACKS WOULD GIVE THEM A CON-
y,ia.l, y FERENCE. .7,dfo,I sdl
The whites agreed aud the six men
entered the swamp. This was at about
o'clock on Sunday. The whites showed
their warrant Of arrest and demanded the
negro Pope The blacks replied that
Pope was not with them and had not
been. The whites upon bearing. this
agreed that they would disperse and go
home, If the negroes would do the same
thing. This was arranged and the con-
ference terminated. .-iEl sfis''.2
The whites at oncedr dispersed and
started home, Mr.. Brown riding off by
himself, Mr.. Stallings and Mr.. John Will
liams taking another road, and thirteen
members of the posse ridingiin scattered
groups toward Double Bridge, where
they expected to cross. MI .siq9r
These thirteen men were scattered
along the road, Messrs. Ashley and two
Others riding some 300 yards in advance:
When. these gentlemen approached the
bridge, wading through, q dense swamp,
about score of armed negroes jumped
up and seized Ashley Three or four
guns we're raised toward him, when !Bry.
ant Counsel, a captain of the negro conf
pany, knocked the. guns down with his
sword, crying "Don't shoot the man
don't shoot =" he succeeded for q mo-
ment, and then cried to Ashley, 90 ~
'YoU WILL. HAVE TO SAVE YOURSELF,
, SIR; 1cAN'T SAVE YoU'f,; -;
Ashley at once nut spurs to his horse
and rushed, off. He was fred on by sew
eral negroes and struck in the back by
several smalt:shot. His companions fol.
lowed, one of them losing; his gun. and
anoter, having. his ,trowsels leg torn of
by negro who attempted to pull him hin
In the meantime, the whites behind
Ashley; ;Jiheauingo theh firing, galloped
sharply, tforwardra A they; entered the
swamp, eleven in number, they were met
with a brisk yolley, and Jim Bush, James
Cochran, DIV. Grassland and Sid.
Hankersonlweieuwounded.ieFi7 Fire of. the
whites stood. firm .and leyeled their guns,
The negroes rushed ON them. Basil, Bry-
ant and Wilkins Hamilton leading tie
charge. The whites fired steadily, and
|: Basil Bryant fell dead, and Wilkins fell
sharply wounded. IL The. whites, then
hastily retreated, each, one. .plunging into
the swamp at separate points.
Just one!half hour later-this recontre
occurring at about six o'clock on Sunday
the. negroes opened the ball in another
direction, some fyea miles distant, near
Silverton. MI. John Williams and Stall
.lings, two members Of the dispersed posse,
who we're quietly riding home, we're fred
on by three negroes who were lyingdown
under, O. large tree. Johp, Williams fell
dead on the instant, and Mr. Stallings'
hJtses was killed. He lesped OF and
| sprung into the woods and made bis
escape, nrSil., -ta' .;7a5J ..p. 80 81
At Just about this time the skies were
reddened in the direction of Ellenton
BY HEAVY AND VARIOUS FIRES,
caused by the burning of mill, ginhouse
and barn on the plaCeaof DR.. Bailey.
These had been fired by the. negroes.
Every point of the above is supported
by the fullest afidavits from both whites
auu UIaCho. 1V aPPooio cuot tuS usSioSss
after agreeing, to a treaty of dispersal
which the whites, observed in perfect
faith, broke the peace ia three particulars.
First by firing on the eleven men at
Double Bridge, and 'wounding four oi
them; second by the firing on Williams
and Stallings,, by which the former was
killed third, by the burning of the
Bailey. outhouses. It must be remem-
bered that these events occurred within
two hours Of each other. They covered
an area of twelve miles, proving couclu'
sively that several bands Of negroes were
at work with murderous intent. Occur
ring in the night time as they did, the
scattered members of the posse believed
that the whole negro racelof the county
were in arms and bent on murder, rapine
and arson. They sped il different direc-
tions, rallying the white people and call:
ing for aid. This movement commenced
at eleven o'clock. Bytwo O'Clock possi-
blyi200 mounted white men were hurry
ing toward Silverton.s where they. were
massed Nt about daylight. Colonel a. P.
D...1 -. i II ,fIy; w G,,<.ft- ,r,hrA az