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About the middle of the afternoon before the riot, I was informed by a gentleman with whom I was conversing, but whose name I have forgotten, that the negroes intended to break up the Camp Meeting. This seemed to me so preposterous that I paid no attention to it, and did not think of it again till the riot commenced. I was then kneeling in the altar, where I remained till nearly every person had left it. I was convinced by what I saw and heard the shooting was almost entirely by the "whites", and probably mostly blank cartridges. In this, however, I may be mistaken. After I left the altar, I heard a person say that we could expect nothing else of the "blacks" when they had abolition preachers constantly preaching to them. I heard a white man say that he had fired seven shots, and was told that his name was Dorsey.

I know nothing more about the riot than what I have thus stated. My private opinion about is not testimony.

M. L. Hawley. P.C.
Elkridge Landing Circuit.

Sept. 18th 1866.

Transcription Notes:
Annette: Changed Eltridge to Elkridge and added Circuit. Annette: Added quotation marks around white and black as was in the original text. Abhinay : Changed me to on the fourth line.