The War in Greene

Title

The War in Greene

Source Type

Newspaper

Publisher

The Marion Commonwealth

Publication Place

Marion, AL

Publication Date

September 17, 1874

Transcript

The negroes, who, a short time since organized themselves into an armed body between Demopolis and Forkland, for the purpose of intercepting Government bacon that was being shipped from Demopolis to the latter place, have since, kept up their organization. On Monday morning last, Dr. Minor, a physician residing at Forkland, while visiting a patient on the Rowe place, about six miles from Demopolis, found there about two hundred negroes collected, armed with guns, and drilling. Upon inquiring of the negroes what it meant, they answered him that negro blood had been shed and that they intended to have white blood. The Doctor returned to Forkland, and informed the citizens of what he had heard and seen. A meeting was held and two unarmed men, Messrs. Little and Robertson, deputed to inform the negroes that the report of a negro being killed was untrue. "But the negroes refused to listen to them and fired upon them, dangerously wounding Mr. Little, and fatally injuring Mr. Robertson. They succeeded, however, in returning to Forkland and related what had occurred. A posse of thirty men immediately summoned by Deputy Sheriff Cole, upon arriving at the scene of the disturbance, demanded tho : surrender of the negroes, but they refused to yield, and retired to their stronghold in a thick wood, near by, formed a regular line of battle, and defied the Sheriff, and his posse. Capt. Cole withdrew from their immediate front, flanked them, and attacked them in the rear, when a short and sharp fight ensued, in which between fifteen and twenty negroes were killed and wounded, and the remainder stampeded. Negroes reassembled in the evening, and it is said have solemnly sworn that no white man shall pass the road. A later dispatch says that the negroes have dispersed but it is not known how many were killed. Nine were captured, and three fled to Demopolis and were arrested there by the City Marshal. Besides, Messrs. Little and Robertson, three other white men were badly wounded.

Sources for

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