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0588

business to have the negroes mixed up with them, others huzzaed for Andy Johnson, others said how about New Orleans, others said we give them franchise, others cursed, and damned the abolitionists & Preachers, I heard one young man wishing for the rifle he had in the army that he might gun after the negroes, this man had what is called a billy in his hand, others had clubs - In the morning when I was about leaving the ground I was approached by two or three men who asked my opinion about what had happened, one of them remarking that he was only sorry that the damn preachers didn't get the balls, this was about 7 O'clk in the morning

If I were allowed to give my own opinion of the whole affair, I would state the true cause of the riot was a deadly hate to the negros, and a desire to break up the Camp on account of our supposed abolition sentiments as a church, I will not attempt to describe the scene only stating it was most terrific

B.F. Parlett.