Darien Insurrection correspondence, 1899-1903
Permanent ID:
5675Dates:
18991900
1903
Image Description:
In the summer of 1899, the black community of McIntosh County, Georgia organized a gathering at the Darien County Jail to prevent the lynching of convict Henry Delegale. While the peaceful protest was successful in protecting Delegale, the backlash from the local white authorities resulted in the arrest of dozens of black protesters and the deaths of two white authorities who attempted to arrest Delegale's sons. While the shooting of whites by blacks would normally excite local whites, instead a biracial effort led by prominent blacks and militia officers worked together to cool the volatile situtation. Ultimately, twenty-three rioters were convicted while the remaining forty-four were acquited. The convicted rioters faced stiff fines and long prison terms. The episode reflects the distinct characteristics of race relations in the coastal regions of Georgia: while the insertion of the state militia showed that the white community had ultimate authority, the organization and militancy of the coastal blacks showed whites that mob violence would not occur without protest.In addition to a typed summary of the events surrounding the riot in Darien, Georgia, this record contains correspondence from Mary (a formerly enslaved woman) and H. D. D. Twiggs, as well as correspondence to raise money for the convicted rioters.