A Ku Klux Raid, and What Came of It, Attacking Party

The following data is extracted from Trinity College Historical Society .

Out from the Negro circles the rumor spread that some of the attacking party had been recognized, and in this connection were mentioned the names of several young men of the aforesaid townships, among them the name of my brother, John 1). Pegram. This gave us little or no concern, for the whole family knew that he spent the night at home, and that we could easily prove for him an alibi. But the incident was not to be closed up in mere rumor. Busy hands were at work, the outrage machine was in full operation, and the demon of prejudice was for a season unchained. We did not know what was going on at the time, but subsequent events revealed to us what had been done. One or more of Prince's friends had gone to Raleigh, and had made affidavit before the U. S. Commissioner, A. W. Shaffer, who issued warrants for the arrest of twelve men of the aforesaid Buckhorn townships. The execution of the warrants was intrusted to a Deputy Marshal Bosher, who called to his aid a squad of Federal soldiers. They came down upon us Saturday, June 9th, piloted by Joe Dennis, a young Negro of unsavory reputation. Leaving Holly Springs early in the morning they reached Chalk Level, my father's home, in Harnett, about nine o'clock, where they apprehended brother John and myself. We found that they had already taken up John Stevens and David Stevens, of Wake county, and Dickson Stevens, a near neighbor, of Harnett county. Out upon the highway near home the posse paused for two or three hours, while the officer went to arrest Jas. H. Prince, whom lie did not find at home. Passing thence to the northwest they arrested William Truelove, of Harnett, Norman Johnson and Buck Sloan, of Chatham. Marion Cross and George Sloan were in demand, but were not at home, both having gone to Haywood on business for the day.

Towards sunset we had reached the aforesaid Avent's Ferry road, and had set our faces towards Raleigh. Reaching the residence of W. C. Norris, Esq., in Wake, our captors added his son, W. Carey Norris, to the number of prisoners. After dark we reached Collins' Cross Roads, where we paused an hour for refreshments; then continuing our journey till a late hour, we camped for the remainder of the night about twelve miles from Raleigh.

Source: Trinity College Historical Society

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