Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-12

T.
SchTiver dived and swan nearly n mile
UP the creek. but they killed MIR. Schriver
afterwards while swimming for his life
After they pitched me into the creek
swan short distance and buried myself
IN mud.
GILBERTs ESCAPE.
] icid in the mud. ] think, nearly two
hours. While in the mud and after they
returned 20 take the boat TO Meek OF
Land" they looked for me, and one OF
them stepped on my right hand. could
hear every word they said. While hunt
ing for me I heard the chain attached 10
the boat rattle. when they came out and
tied her mp. Then / dragged myself out
OF my place or conceaiment In the mud
Finding an old boat bottom. i brought II
up TO "Thoroughfare Wharf" and under
took 20 cross the creek. but found could
not do 1t on account Of n rough tide.
tried II three times, but could not make
the trip.
At last ! came back. and walked by
their camp the best / could, shot all 10
pieces as ! was This was in the night. |
found them standing picket at a corn
pile Ike soldiers | then hobbied to the
woods. and made me "a bed OF leaves and
trash. Next morning / broke down
dogwood tree and made me a crutch
With this / managed TO get to Mr.. Cope
mnds place. At the gate. with my entra!ls
partly hanging out. covered with blood,
and muddy. | met a child. ! scared the
child almost TO death. Mr.. Copeland tore
UP a pair Of his drawers and fixed me up
the best he knew how.
FURTHER FLIGHT.
Mr.. Copeland then said: II will take Gil
bert home" but his wife and another
lady screamed and pleaded with him not
10 do IT, saying III he did. they 0he
Island negroes would burn them I'd"
But Mr.. Copeland sent me to Mr. John
Caston's ten or twelve miles off where
/ stayed all night. Wednesday. I believe
Mr.. Castor was afraid to keep me. but
fixed up a boat for me and showed me off
tn bank. | got nearly a mile from shore
tainted and fell in the bottom Of the boat
The wind bowed me ashore on the James
city county side. Mr. John Castor. who
was watching me IN the river, came to me,
and started to carry me 10 "Four-Mi.e
Tree" but seeing so many people ashore
and not knowing whether they were
friends or enemies Out they were friends
who were looking out for Mr.. Schriver
and Lawyer Graves and myself, he drop
pcd to Mt Pleasant. He then set me
ashore, and started back home. From
there / was sent home
MURDERERS ARRESTED.
Seven of the men who were in the
murdcrouS crowd were afterwards caught
by the Confederates, and was sent TO
Richmond and gave evidence in what !
think was a soldiers court. After this
court adjourned | heard they Uhe muir
dcrers) were made away with in some
manner
The bodies Of Mr.. Schrver and the little
- oil ,.,feA -.
Rufus. were buried on the land of Mr.
Coke, in James City county, opposite
jamestown Island. That OF Mr. Graves
was never found Afterwards their buried
bodies were cXhumed and carried 10 the
south side Of the James river and re-
inferred in ther respective family burial
grounds.
DIR. Smiths Account.
DR. +. {. Smith. an aged physician,
now living, in Surry county, at the court
house. was a Confederate surgeon with
his regiment in the field. He had been de-
tailed 10y the Confederacy to attend the
sick women and children Of Surry county
and vicinity. He was the family physi-
clan Of Mr.. Algernon Graves, and knew
him intimately. having seen Mr. Graves
the Friday before the massacre. and hav-
ing promised TO accompany him on the
having r patient seriously III, who sent
for the Doctor on that day. the Doctor
could not 20 with the Inflated party.
Thus his lie was spared. He makes the
following statement Of the affair
! rec0llect well the massacre Of which
You speak. / was on detailed service at
home in Surry county. 1t was in 1863.
after Mcclellan had fallen back from
Richmond. The day before IL occurred
I 81 fD hp
near Swans Point, on James river.
After prescribing for the child. walked
on the river shore with Mr.. AL
gernOn Graves, near Swans point, and
found a dead Federal soldier on
the beach. Mr.. Graves looked at the
dead man and stood for several no
ments. morallzlng on death. His So
lloquy was the most eloquent speech I
ever heard from mortal man. He then
turned his face TO mine and remarked 10
me: How soon may we be called to
answer! Who knows?"
That was on Friday. Just here / want
IL remark that Mr.. Grave was Com
monwealth's Attorney Of Surry county,
was learned in the law. and please say
further In the Dispatch. that he was
gentle and brave, a shining light. and
eloquent In tn broadcast sense Of the
word. oh, | have not words 10 express
my admiration for the character and
talents OF the mani"
After his soliloquy. Mr.. Graves re.
marked 10 me: Major William Allen,
Of Ciaremont, desires me TO 60 over TO
Jamestown 10 see IN what condition that
property is, but ! will not go until you
50 with me-"
Saturday a friend ana myself went to
Smithhcld. Mr. Schrivsr came 10 Mr..
Graves's on Monday, bringing three ne
Grors in a boat. wishing Mr.. Graves 10
20 with them over TO jamestown. Mr..
Graves refused to go unless l was noti-
lied. He sent 20 MY house. but | was
not in having gone to see patient. Mr..
Graves, Mr.. ScnriveT and little George
Graves, the nephew Of Mr. Graves, then
set out for Jamestown with the negroes
in boat.
THE MASSACRE
When near jamestown, everything
seemed 50 peaceful and quiet, they shot
into a flock Of ducks in the river. The
report Of the gun must have notified the
NEGROES on the island that some ore was
coming over. The party landed on James
town Island. and started across the neld.
Suddenly they were confronted by twelve
or fifteen negroes. armed with muskets
and sticks. and. looking behind them
they saw about the same number. gilbert
Wootten, a slave Of Major Allen. who
was with Messrs. Graves and SchriVer'
recognized many who were in the crowd
MIR. Schriver told NJ Graves not 10
resist; that he knew Tia negroes, and they
would do them no Injury.
The negroes then marched the while
men over TO a place called Meek OF
Land" where they had q mock trial.
They told Mr.. Schrver and Mr.. Graves
that they did not intend 60 hurt them, ana
would carry them back TO the boat when
they got TO the bridge crossing from
'Neck OF Land" to jamestown. When
about the middle OF the bridge, crowd
OF negroes rose up in front, at the oppo-
site end The negroes conducting them
hack 10 the boat were behind Schriver
and Graves. and without any notice
whateve- they commenced firing on Them.
Mr.. Graves was killed instantly. Mr..
schriver was wounded. but he jumped
into the river. and was swimming. Wheh
he was shot and killed.
THE KILLING OF THE LITTLE BOY.
Little George Graves, recognizing one
Of the negroes. who belonged 10 MI
Allen. fell down ON his knees before