Article clipped from Macon Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal and Messenger
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1875.Anxious to ascertain the true position f affairs in this disturbed portion of he State, and. if possible, allay the pub-io excitement, the writer came down y the early train from Macon this mom-ng. At Gordon the firstSYMPTOMSjegan to be manifested. Here the people rare much exercised over the intelligence that several negroes had liscovered in the woods plotting jhief, and some of their plans overheard by those who secretly approached them. They were promptly scouting parties, sent out to patrol the country. Nothing else was talked of, though everything seemed perfectly quiet, and no hostile demonstration whatever had been made. When the trainTOOMB3BORO,however, the village was thronged with an excited crowd, many of whom were armed, and leaving the car we essayed to learn what was the trouble. A respectable looking citizen replied that the negro community were in full sympathy and communication with tho Washington and Johnson county conspirators, and as many asSEVENTEEN HAD BEEN CAPTURXD,some with arms in their hands, and were now in confinement. Among the number was a captain and two lieutenants. The people seemed fully aroused, and if] the occasion had not been so serious, we would have been tempted to laugh at the grotesque ..appearance of some of these improvised heroes. Ono gallant fellow was armed with a shooting-iron for all the world like a George Law condemned musket, while slung around his neck and reposing at right angles with his stomach, was a huge cavalry sabre. He evidently felt the importance of the situation, and was decidedly dangerous. The Saturday previous, a company of one hundred and fifteen men had been raised, and no precaution for the public safety will be omitted.ABRIVED AT TENNILLE,about 10 o'clock, a. m., we boarded a hack propelled by two lazy mules, and paid ono dollar for the passage to Sanders-ville, distant three miles.NEW CORN DODGERS.Ono farmer on the road, either short of cash or tired of weevly bread, had gathered some of his corn, dried it in the and was now feasting upon clammy i dodgers from new meal. Did he bnt know it, for the next two months bread made from sound old corn would be far more palatable and wholesome.SANDERSYILLE.But we are now entering this erstwhile peaceful village, now transformed into a military camp, and alive with bristling -bayonets and clanking sword3.Armed sentinels constantly mount guard, and keep watch and vigil over the multitude of misguided negroes who listened in an evil hour to wicked counsellors, and are now reaping the of their folly. We foundTWO MILITARY COMPANIES on duty under the orders of the Governor, to-wit: The Washington Dragoons, Capt. Tarbutton, and Washington Rifles, Capt. Peacock, assisted by a volunteer force of armed citizens who acted as patrols and ts. Indeed, the whole county is on aWAR FOOTING.though the belief is general that the crisis is past, and the negroes thoroughly cowed and disorganized. One hostile band is still reported, however, to ho in arm3, and defying opposition. They are led by the notorious Frank Murchison, and have retreated to cover in the almost impenetrable cano brakes of Buckeye swamp on the borders of Johnson county. They number twenty-five and are said to bo desperate fellows. An. INVESTIGATING COMMITTEEof citizens and lawyers were in session at tho Court-house, charged with the duty of examining the prisoners one by one, with tho view of eliciting facts and evidence for tho preliminary trial which comes off before Judge Herschel V. Johnson on Monday next. It was composed of the following gentlemen* Solicitor General John W. Robison, Capt. William Worthen the representative in the Legislature from Washington, and Col. W. H. Wiley, R. L. Bodgcrs and C. C-Brown, attorneys at law. At the request of tho writer the famous ringleader COBDY HARRISwas brought before him and interrogated in private. This fellow is evidently a hardened villain, and so cute and self-. possessed, that it would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to circumvent him. Ho was as innocent as the dove sent forth from Noah's Ark, though the evidence of a half score of his confederates fastens tho most damning guilt upon him. We letCordy slide in utter disgust at his cunning and duplicity, though tho phisi-ogomist would condemn him without judge or jury.SERGEANT ANDREW HIGHTOWER,of Johnson county, was then introduced to the committee. He testified that ho had belonged to Jerry Waters' company, had drilled three times, and heard that the negroes were striving for equal representation in the jury box and civil rights. He, too, was a sly fox, and decidedly reticent.We then, by permission, visited another apartment where the Solicitor General and a sub committee were receiving the voluntary testimony of those who had turnedSTATS8 EVIDENCE,es. Then we were to take axes, hoea brickbats, and take the guns and am-lition of the whites as we killed them, if the white men didn’t submit and give up. We were also to get all the money we could from the dead whites and divide. This movement was to commence ii, 1875. Ti Murkerson, who got from Cordy Harris, who gob tl Major Joseph Morris. I told . any, and Murkerson told Capl Harrison Tucker's company. Both com-ley would do as we said, and would go into the movement on orders from Morris through Murkerson. Were to go from Sandersville to Wrights--ville, and then to Dublin, and then to Irwinton, in Wilkinson county—the four counties of Washington, Johnson, Laurens and Winkinson. his(Signed) Jake X Moorman.mark.In presence of Wm. Henry Wylly and S. G. Jordan. Reuben Mayo, Sheriff.Eliza Young, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I bear that the colored folks, both women and children and men, rise with pitchforks, hoes, every white man, woman and child. Tom Derassaw told me that my brother and Virgil Walker was in the fuss. I heard Uncle John Hasty talking about it at Tennille, about a month or six weeks ago; he said there would be better times in the country in about six weeks; I inferred from what he said that the present troubles were what he had reference to; I heard the men from Jefferson telling the colored folks in town the day of the big meeting in town that if the colored folks would lean their heads together they could succeed. I have heardthey wouldftee their hoes, •itch forks, etc., to kill the whites with.have heard eo many talking about this matter that I cannot remember all they were saying about it.herEliza X Young. mark.Tho abovo testimony, sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st August, 1875. J. B. Joyner, J. P.The above facta were substantially corroborated, and additional details given by tho following persons, who also turned States evidence, viz: John Chillis, Andrew Guiton, Jordan Wright, Nero Miller, Tode Norris, and others we had not time to listen to.Chillis and several others declared that it was said that all the land belonged to tho government, and was to be divided up among the negroes, each receiving forty acres. It was agreed that the conspirators would rendezvous near the line of Laurens county, and then, after killing Dr. Haynes and gutting his premises on their route, proceed to Wrightsville. The order was to“ KILL FROM THE CRADLE UP,” sparing only the pretty young women, They were then to occupy the homes and houses of the whites. The Carolina head centre, General Bivers, never appeared upon tho scene but once, and that wa3 on the 24th of July, when it was announced he would lead tho attack on the Sandersville Court-house, and he actually did approach as near to that town as Bran-nanville, which is one of its suburbs. He was dressed in ablue uniform, and wore a low crowned felt hat looped up on the left, and ornamented with two stars and a half wreath.Not liking the aspect of things, at this juncture, the Ebon hero fled from tho field, and took the car3 incontinently at Bartow, No. 11, Central railroad, never halting until he had regained his native heather, God forsaken Carolina.Cordy Harris, we should mention, pronounces the letter found in Johnson county, and published in your columns, a forgery; and says he cannot write at all. Bnt several testify to the falsitv of this statement, and evtn the individual who taught him that accomplis ’ as a witness against him,So far as we can gather, after the most diligent investigation,THE ARRESTSup to this time foot up seventy-one, now confined at Sandersville, and seventeen at Toombsboro. In Waynesboro, Burke connty, 74 were captured, bnt of these all save eight or nine were sot at liberty. Tho warrants issued number about two hundredsThere are 33 prisoners from Johnson county, all of whom wero committed for trial after a fall and impartial hearing, and the benefit of able counsel in their behalf.Tho principal movers in the prosecution are Col. W. H. Wiley, J. J. Sparks, Col. C. S. Guyton, R. L. Worthen, A. D. Adams, Judge Youngblood, H. Adams, T. J. Smith, and others.We were delighted to find that there were no evidences of undue excitement among the people, and Linch law is not even mooted of thought of. On the contrary, in obedience to the8TIRRING ADDBES3and commands of Governor Smith in his admirable talk last Saturday, the majesty of the law will be fully vindicated, and the prisoners receiveA FAIR TRIAL,with the assistance of competent counsel. A telegram received to-day from his Excellency, announcod that Mr. Webb, a phonogrpher from Augusta, will be to take down the testimony. The ernor orders, also, that tho investigation shall not commence *' until both sides areState of Georgia Washington County.The confession of Ben Davis, the lieutenant of Jerry Waters’ company, says: lam third lieutenant of Jerry Waters' company. Jacob told me that to organize tho company, his lt;_and go down the road and start to killing out the whites. Ho didn’t say what day we were to start. Ho said we would kill the whites. He didn’t say what he going to do with the children. He Baia wo would kill some of the women. He didn’t eay anything about tho money. It was to take place on Friday, August 20, 1875. I didn’t know what they were going to fight with. Captain Jerry told me I was to fight with first one thing and then another. He said we should have a few of the women. I heard about No. 11 a few days ago. Oar sign was so (makes sign with right hand across the breast). We bad a secret oath, and every ono who were to break the secret we wero to turn him over to the United States and Grant would punish him. I was persuaded into this company by the head man, Cordy Harris. General Rivers was to command us on the day they come to Sandersville. General Morris was to command us on the day we commenced tho killing. He didn't say how far we wero to go. Only Jake said we were to get up anything to use. Jake Moormnn is first lieutenant of Captain Jerry Waters* company. Bob Hightower is second lieutenant. These officers wero appointed, not elected. They were appointed by Jerry Waters and Jake Moorman. his(Signed) Ben x Davis.mark.Confessed and sworn to in presence of H. S. Barnes, August 18,1875.Georgia, Washington County.I, Jake Moorman, do make this, my confession, in fall, in reference to the insurrection which we, the colored citizens of Washington, Laurens, Johnson, and sixteen other couaties, the names of which I do nob know, have entered into s I am first lieutenant of a colored company commanded by Jerry Waters. We were under the command of Francis Murkerson, who in turn was under command of Cordy Harris, who in turn was commanded by Joseph Mcrris, of Burke county, who was appointed by and common Jed by P. R.displayed during this distressing affair. Not a gun has been fired, not a single act of violence perpetrated under the meat aggravating circumstances, not a drop of blood shea, and there is far less of antagonism between the two races than might naturally have been expected.Wo call upon the Democrats of the North to make a note of this, vincing proof that there is no war of the races, and that they may take steps in time to defeat the nefarious and patent attempt of the Radicals to ring», at least, the boot is on the other leg j for not a shadow of reason, or a single ground of complaint has been offered in justification of this attempted diabolical emeute. Never had the gro less cause for complaint, and nt was his employer more liberal and just to him than at the present time.The Hew York TribuneOn our return trip,at 4o’clock,p.m.,wo encountered at Tennille a reporter from this metropolitan jeurnal, bound for the seat of the anticipated war. Our only hope is that the hard money mat * this astute sheet will not blind its eyes to the true merits of the situation. Let every one treat this representative of Northern press, with that distinguished courtesy which is the characteristic of Southern gentlemen. H. H. J.A calculation has been made of the number of persons the great cathedrals of the European Continent will hold. St. Peters, at Rome, holds 54,000 people; the Milan Cathedral holds 37,000; St. Paul’s, at London, holds 25,000; St. Sophia, at Constantinople, hold 23,000; Notre Dame, at Paris, holds 21,000; the cathedral at Pisa holds 13.000, and San Marco, at Venice, holds 7.000.Havana, August 23.—The steamship City of New York, which sailed hence the 2lBt instant for New York, left the mail ashore. It was taken by the^im-ship Wilmington, which sailed tWsHmtf day, and will be landed at Savannah.
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Macon Georgia Weekly Telegraph and Georgia Journal and Messenger
Macon, Georgia, US
Tue, Aug 31, 1875
Page 8
Full Page
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Scottie S.
USA 01 Jun 2024
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