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Baltimore, MD. Sept. 25, 1866.

I was at the Camp meeting at Shipley Woods, on Thursday, Aug. 30, 1866.  I was seated in the rear of my fathers tent about 1/2 past 11 o'clock P.M. - when I was startled by a succession of pistol shots. I immediately ran into the inner circle of the white peoples tent. I saw a crowd of men and women rushing from the direction of the preachers stand - some of the women fainting and all very much frightened.  I also saw on the other side of the seats of the white people, a crowd of excited white men, and the cry came up from them that the negroes were assailing the whites - these men were called together and rallied around the upper part of the enclosure - their purpose being to organize some sort of a force to go and attack the negroes.  I went into the midst and talked to what appeared to be their leaders, although I did not know them and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose - and to defer for the sake of the women and children who were on the ground any further action until daylight, feeling satisfied that if that were done we should have no more trouble; these men were armed with clubs, axes etc. - one man by the name of John Janney, whom I knew, had a club in one hand and an axe in another - declared