To this expressive, but not over polite missive, Thompson returned a
somewhat defiant reply, proceeded at once to fortify his cotton
gin-house, in which he remained at night, and dared the Klan to come for
him.
During the month of September, 1871, matters had assumed such a position
in this man's case, that the Klan felt that Thompson must be annihilated,
or the "reign of terror," which they had inaugurated in the county, would
be broken--and a reaction take place among the people, inimical to
themselves.
Numbers of the band were accordingly detailed by the Commander of the Camp
of Clinch County, to put Thompson out of the way. They were headed by
Shimmie Timmerson, formerly sheriff of that county; a man notable for his
unusual brute force and personal resolution.
The Klan approached Thompson's gin-house on the night of the assault,
cautiously, and as they supposed, unobserved. Each one of them was well
armed, and disguised in black gowns, masks and hats.
Thompson, who had been constantly on the watch, discovered them upon their
first appearance. He relied upon the solid door of the gin-house, which he
supposed would withstand a much heavier shock than it did. It gave way
upon the first assault, which was made with a heavy piece of timber,
battered against it by the assailants; and which shivered it to splinters.
As the door crashed in, Thompson opened such a rapid fire upon the
marauders, as to lead them to suppose that the gin-house was full of armed
men. This belief had been strengthened, from the fact that its only
occupant shouted simultaneously with the discharge of his weapons: "Give
it to 'em, boys! Don't spare a man."
Timmerman (the ex-sheriff), who led this gang, fell at the first fire,
seriously though not mortally wounded. Several others of the party bit the
dust, and the entire band at once beat an ignominous retreat--bearing
with them their wounded; and leaving their single-handed and brave
opponent master of the situation.
The most singular and unexpected result of this was, that the band were so
thoroughly chagrined at their failure, that they had a quarrel among
themselves after leaving the place, and charged their defeat upon
Timmerman, who led the van--and whom they adjudged guilty of death on the
spot, on the ground that their defeat was due to his bad management.
This sentence would actually have been executed upon him, but for the
interposition of some of the Klan, who declared their belief that
Timmerman could not recover from the wounds he had already received, and
that he might as well be left to die in the woods; that they did not think
he was a traitor, and hence ought not to suffer a traitor's doom.
The ex-sheriff was greatly weakened from the loss of blood, caused by
these wounds, and was so thoroughly panic-stricken at the idea that he
might possibly be murdered by his associates, that he swooned, and his
body was carried nearly a mile into the wood, where his "brethren" of the
Camp threw it down, and left him.
On the following day Mrs. Timmerman, having missed her husband, employed a
gang of negroes to go in search of him. The hunt was successful, and the
wounded man was removed to his house; where, after the most careful
nursing, he was partially restored to health, but was so badly crippled as
to be unable ever again to perform manual labor.
The treachery and inhumanity of these men towards one of their own number
so enraged Timmerman that he declared himself ready to expose their whole
operations, their modes of working, and their secrets; and it was from him
and Mr. Thompson that the writer obtained the facts, as herein set forth.
This raid ended the operations of the Clinch County Ku Klux Klan, for
sometime, so far as the influential whites were concerned.
Outrages upon negroes were continued, however, but with less severity--the
subsequent vigorous action of the Government in enforcing the laws, in
other parts of the country, being felt to some degree in that place.