The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-04
GEN. u.AGOOD,S "POSsE.n

The Citizens Called Out by Judge
Wiggin--Hagood in Chargc--The
Rally of the Colored Democrats
In the Field - The Killed and
Wounded.
The following report was forwarded
by Gen. Johnson Hagood to Judge
Wiggin, on the 23d instant:
BARNWELL, S. c., Sept. %, rs.
Hon. Z. L.. Wiggin, JUdye Second Cir
cut South Cur0iina:
SIE-Information having been re-
ceived at this place, at 4 a. M, on the
10th instant, that the riot said to have
originated in Aiken county from the
armed resistance of negroes to the ar
rest of u negro by q colored magis-
trate. upon the charge of brutality
upon a white woman, had extended
into the upper portion of this county,
some thirty miles hence, and that GER
tain white citizens, riding upon the
highway, had been BUSH hacked by
negroes, one being killed and three
wounded, you, before adjournment of
Court, directed me, with such men as
1 could control, to proceed to the dis
turbed section and act as the posse CON-
itatus, under the orders Of Mr.. James
Patterson, the county sheriff, in sup
pressing the riot and arresting the
ringleaders. I at once dispatched
couriers to the white citizens nearest
the scene Of the disturbance to act in
the matter, and to others from remote
sections of the the county to meet me
at an appointed rendezvous, the She
riff accompanying me to the same.
While awaiting the assembly of
these at the rendezvous, Mr.. Patterson
without my knowledge or consent, but
actuatcd by the laudable desire to SUP
press the trouble without risk of blood
shed, went forward to the disturbed
district. While riding along the
highway in his buggy, some eight
miles in advance of me, he was fired
upon by three negroes, who immedi-
ately fled. They were hid in the
bushes by the roadside and did not
challenge him. His first %intimation
Of their presence was a volley of slugs
dragged and broken bits of lead) fired.
He is very seriously wounded, but I
trust will recover.
At daylight next morning the citi-
zens whom i had directed to meet me
having reported, some Of them having
ridden forty miles the previous night,
I moved forward into the disturbed
district, and thoroughly secured that
portion Of it in this county. At Mr..
Joseph Ashley's place I found Mr..
Patterson, and had his wounds attend
ed to by q surgeon who accompanied
me, he having been unable to procure
medical assistance up to that time.
Mr.. Patterson deputized Mr.. John w.
Holmes to discharge the duty he was
now disabled from performing, and
that gentleman accompanied me from
Mr.. Ashley's.
I found that the white citizens from
the vicinity together with those resi-
dent in the locality had completely
suppressed, for the present, at least,
the riot; that the evil disposed ne
grOes had fled to the swamps, and
were then dispersed and disorganized.
I made several arrests, but in every
case became satisfied that the parties
were unjustly accused of participation
in the riot, and discharged them.
Deeming it undesirable to keep the
country in an unnecessary state of eX-
element, / dismissed the citizens who
had accompanied NE to their homes;
and directed Nj. w. ]. Wood and Mr..
NJ. A. Roundtree, reliable citizens O:
that section of the county, at once to
procure warrants against four or five
| men whom l was satisfied had been
ringleadcrs, and arrest and send them
to Barnwell Jail for trial upon their
emergencc from the swamps. Four
hundred and seventy-five citizens of
the county mounted and armed re-
sponded, within thirteen hours, to the
call to preserve its peace; among
whom I am pleased to mention the
Barnwell colored Democratic Club.
So many exaggerated rumors have
been rife in this matter that perhaps
it may not be improper for ME to give
you what 1 think al approximation to
correctness in the number Of casual
ties. Only two white men have been
killed II seriously and three slight
ly wounded. The number Of negroes
Killed including the fighting in Aiken
county, is probably thirty. There
was some incendiaryism and injury to
the railroad, committed by the rioters.
Respectfully,
JOHNSON HAGOOD.