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0577 2 his purpose to go and help to kill the negroes, they having attacked the white people. I used my influence to prevent his going, I afterwards encountered him in the neighborhood of the preachers Stand, going towards the colored peoples tents - he afterwards said to me, when questioned as to what he was after with the lantern - that some one had found a pistol down there and he was in hopes of finding more - a party of these men started off with the avowed purpose of getting more weapons and ammunition - the aim and object of this crowd seemed to be to involve the tent holders and other persons who were there for peaceable purposes - in the melee. About this time I was informed by my brother-in-law Mr. Benj. E. Gantt, that at his solicitation together with that of Mr. Hawkins, the colored people had been induced to leave the Camp Ground, for their own protection and that of the white women and children - So soon as this fact became known to the crowd of white men, who were engaged in the riot - they started in the direction of the colored peoples tents, which were located in the rear of the preachers stand - in a few moments I saw a bright light in that direction and the sound of axes as