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0553

only protected by canvas tents. But the blacks when they had charged to the limits of their own grounds always returned to the front of their own tents. I saw, (after the riot had somewhat subsided) a white man with a white coat, deliberately fire at least five shots at the negroes. Many of the rioters were returned rebel soldiers. I heard some of them boast of the services they had rendered in the rebel army. The rioters had absolute possession of the ground from the time the riot commenced 12. oclock until day light. I saw the sacking and burning of the col. people's tents, but the parties were all strangers to me. 

I heard during the night many regrets among the rioters that none of the d--d preachers had been shot and that none of the d--d white abolition Methodists had been killed, that they were not as good as the negroes. - With many other things, indicating that the design was to kill white people as well as black. 

This camp meeting was under the special charge of Rev. John Lanahan, Presiding Elder, who lives in this city, and Rev. Mr. Hawley, the minister in charge of the circuit where the camp was held, and Rev. Mr. Leach his assistant. The col. people were as much under their charge and supervision and the whites.

Charles A. Reid
Minister in the M.E. Church

Balt., Sept. 11th 1866