United States, Georgia, Mitchell County, Camilla, 31.23129, -84.21046Howard, O. H.1868-09-26In this affidavit of George Thomas, Peter Massey, Gabe Jenkins, Harrison Clements and Henry Byrd taken in Albany, Georgia, September 26, 1868 by Freedmen's Bureau subassistant commissioner O.H. Howard, these freedmen, all employees on Francis Flagg Putney's plantation, give their account of the Camilla Riot. The riot occurred September 19, 1868, when Republicans, including Putney, together with freedmen attempted to hold a political rally in Camilla, Georgia and were met there with violent opposition from the townspeople. These men, none of them armed, state that they all saw a man advance from Maples's store and fire on the gathering. As they fled, they all saw the white townsmen with guns pursuing on horseback.Digital image and transcription created by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001 of a photocopy held by DeSoto Trail Regional Library of an original record held by the National Archives.image/jpegtext/htmlcam024Forms part of United States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Records held by the National Archives.http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/African Americans--Georgia--History--19th centuryAfrican Americans--Georgia--Social conditions--To 1964Freedmen--Georgia--Political activityFreedmen--Georgia--Violence againstFreedmen--Georgia--Personal narrativesReconstruction--GeorgiaPolitical violence--Georgia--CamillaMitchell County (Ga.)--Race relationsUnited States. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned LandsByrd, Henry, fl. 1868Clements, HarrisonJenkins, GabeMassey, Peter, fl. 1868Thomas, George, fl. 1868Affidavit of George Thomas, Peter Massey, Gabe Jenkins, Harrison Clements and Henry Byrd: Albany, Georgia, 1868 Sept. 26Text