Troops Were Stationed At A Guard-House In The Vicinity, And The Sentinels Paced In Front Of The Building, As If In Preparation For, Or In Expectation Of, A Foe, Affording A Great Contrast To The Apparent Security Of The Inhabitants Assembled In The Square.

Before reaching Charleston, I had been apprised of the state of jeopardy the citizens were in from the possibility

Of a recurrence of those scenes of anarchy enacted at the insurrection of the slaves some time before - scenes which had filled every heart with dismay, and spread ruin and desolation on every side. From what I could glean of that fearful drama, the slaves in the surrounding districts, on a concerted signal from their confederates in Charleston, made a descent upon the city, and, rendered furious by long oppression, proceeded to fire it and massacre the inhabitants. No language can convey an accurate idea of the consternation of the white inhabitants, as it was described to me. The tocsin was sounded, the citizens assembled, armed _cap-a-pie_, and after much hard fighting, the rebellion was crushed, and large numbers of the insurgents were slain or arrested. Then came the bloody hand of what was impiously termed retributive justice. A court, or sort of drum-head court-martial, not worthy to be called a trial, condemned numbers of the slaves to death, and they were led out instantly to execution. My informant told me that many a brave, noble-hearted fellow was sacrificed, who, under happier circumstances, though in a cause not half so righteous, would have been extolled as a hero, and bowed down with honours.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 151 of 194
Words from 41202 to 41473 of 53222