The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-02
THE DE kALB SLAUGHTER.
4 RECITAL BY MRS. CIIISOLM

IN THE kEMPER COUNTY JAIL--THE
SCENES WITNESSED BY THE WIFE AND
MOTHER DEEDS OF REMoRsELEss BAR
BARITY-THE HERCIsM OF THE FATHER
AND DAUGHTER.
A lady in Washington who was acquan-
ted with the unfortunate Chisolm family,
has received from the widow of Judge
Chisolm letter descriptive Of the massa-
ere in the Jail at De kalb kemper county,
Mississippi. 1t was not written with a
view to publication, but it contains so
strong and pathetic description of that
awful tragedy that the recipient has been
persuaded to permit its publication No
messed by the desolute woman, who saw
husband, son and daughter shot down by
the mob, would do justice to her recital of
the great crime then perpetrated. The
letter in full is as follows:
De kALE, Miss, May 20.
Your kind letters to my beloved daughter,
Just before her departure to " the house
not made with hands" were received
They were highly appreciated by both my
surviving loved ones. | am still incapable
of writing in CONNECTED manner. | sit
in room where loving hands laid my baby
daughter (Correiia,) and where my own
hands laid out on the carpet the shattered
and beautiful casket which had contained
the spirit of our little Johnnie. My com
panious are the blood of my husband aud
a goblet of pure white lilies, held in her
little fingers after her spirit had escaped
like wounded dove to the bosom of the
Father. My little girl wrote to me of you
in the kindest terms, and often spoke of
YOU as the sweetest of women. My hus-
band was murdered for no cause but that
he was loyal to the flag which he then
thought would protect our citizens. Mr..
Gilmer was murdered on the street on his
way to deliver himself to the Sheriff and
held by one of the guards ~ while
being shot by his son-n law. Mr.. Rosen-
baum escaped by bowling among the
mob that if they fired on him they would
shoot some of their own. MIR. Mcclellan
was'an old man, with gray hair. and a British
subject, who had often assured me he could
not be naturalized because the Government
was not strong enough to protect its sub
jects. He was a man without blemish,
one of natures noblemen. Knowing he
Sheriff called him down unarmed and de-
lvered him to the mob, who despatched
him, putting two more loads into his head
after he was dead. This | saw myself
My boy, after having his hand shot off,
make quick turn and placed his other
shoulder to the door, which they were chop
ping open with axes and pricing with iron
bars. | was locked out of the Jail at the
time, having, by the direction of my hus-
band, gone to the house for a moment on
business. Seeing my boy, | placed my
hand through the CRATE and implored him
to leave, for if he were killed his father
could do nothing. did not know it then,
but my son Clay caught him in his arms
and ran behind a huge iron cage; but even
before Clay could spring back to take his
place, Johnnie cried out "Oh, my father
and sprang between his father and one
Rosser, whom he saw was in the act of
shooting him, when Rosser placed the gun
to the heart of my little baby and sent the
whole load into him. At that instant my
noble husband obtained the only laadsd gun
there, and whiah had been taken from our
house and killed Rosser. did not SEQ all
this, but saw Cornelia faintng, when | ran
my hand through the bars of the door and
rubbed her face, telling her for fathers
sake to rally, which she did and gathered
in her arms her little brother with whom
she ran behind the cage. The avenging
angel wrote down the cries of sorrow sent
forth by father and children over the body
of our child. Just then some one cried
out, s'Get away from here, Rosser is dead
now" They all ran away. Two after
running turned and took hold of his feet,
dragging him down like the beast that he
was. The lock was chopped off the door,
so the way was open to me, aud | sprang
in to give the Intelligence that the mob
were firing tho house. found the room
filled with smoke from the burning clothes
of my boy. My daughters face was
gore of blood, cut by the shot striking the
iron bars and striking her face. | gave Il
kiss to my son as he gave the last gasp but
one, and his sister caught the last. l told
my husband to fight his way through, not
knowing then, as afterwards learned, that
the guard had their guns furnished by the
Sheriff loaded with wadding and powder.
| took Johnnes shoulder in my arms aud
Clay carried his feet. Coming down stairs
and through hall to the only outside door,
saw renewal of the attack. We hastily
laid him down with our daughters arm
around his waist Said l, " Father, what
are you going to do.'' "Take my badly
home," was the reply. By this time old
Henry Gully was at the door. urged him
back, at the same time holding the door
with both hands. His first motion was to
put the muzzle of his gun to my head, but
observing the CRATE he put the gun through
and fired. Mr.. Chisolm was so hemmed
in he could not draw his gun. C9rnela,
with one arm around his waist. threw the
other around his neck, telling Gully to kill
her and let papa live, for she could not live
without papa. emily put the muzzle of
the gun within two inches of her arm and
fired | think her arm received both bar
rels. A boy handed Gully another gun,
and in this time my husband had got out,
when Gully sent the next load into him
Running to the door Gully obtained another
gun. Phil. Gully ran up with club to
finish him Nr. Chisolm, but the other
shot him aud lie fell, the falsely -loaien gun
Said my dear one, "My precious wife,
dered, but if any Of my children live
want them to know l have never done an
act or harbored thought which would
have made them blush.'' Clay tried
to stand between him and his murders |
while Cornelia and | ran to the door to call |
on some one to help carry my husband !
home. The blood was running from her |
arm in tvG streams; that was the arm she |
held to beg for help, and the answer was
five shots in her leg. By this time about
twenty five men come on a run. fastened |
back to where my husband lay and seiyed |
the gun. The leader gave a start and |
aimed his shots at me. fired back on
him and they all fed again. Our son and |
myself, with the help OF a man and demon
who helped to kill him, brought him Mr..
Chisolm) home. l was pursued by twelve
or fifteen to my gate. Our little girl kept |
her bleeding body between mo and them.
at home, 1 FOUND the servants
had fled with the keys. had to pry open
a window, through which we climbed A
kind negro brought my boy, but was afraid
to stop. I laid my husband on the bed,
put water to his lips, caught my fainting
child in chair applied hartshorne, and
babe her be still while | threw down
laid her On it and tiad my hand
kerchef around her arm to check the liow
Of blood. | then threw a blanket on the
carpet in the next room and Strengthened
and kissed Johnnie. I have sobhed OFT
over their childish troubles, but this was