Following is a transcription of a Freedmen’s Bureau investigation into the 1867 shooting of freedmen Smart Chip and Albert Summers (Jones) by Charles Jones, an incident in which James Ross and (James) Dunwoody Jones were also involved. For a link to the original, see the citation at the end.
NOTES: Albert Summers was referred to as Albert Jones in related records. James C. Ross was a cousin of the white Charles Colcock Jones family through his marriage to Evelyn Anderson. He apparently died in a drowning accident later that year. Dunwoody Jones was likely James Dunwoody Jones, who later moved to Atlanta, and Charles Jones was probably Charles Marion Jones, son of Charles Berrien Jones. All were former C.S.A. officers.
Smart Chip Affidavit
State of Georgia }
County of Liberty }
Smart Screven, alias Smart Chip being duly sworn deposes as follows, that on Saturday about two weeks ago, while he was going along from the store on the Sunbury mail Road, he met James Ross, Dunwoody Jones, and Charles Jones. That they drove past him and Dunwoody Jones said “let me carry your bundle” that he (Smart Screven) said that he had some bottles in his bundle and that he was afraid that they would break, that they then went past him and just about a mile ahead of him he heard whooping and shooting that as he came up, Mr. Ross and Dunwoody Jones were sitting in the buggy. Ross asked him to hold his horse for him, and Ross and Dunwoody Jones jumped out of the buggy. Dunwoody Jones asked me if I had seen anything in the road. I stated him that I did not see anything down in the road at all. Ross asked me if I saw a boy in the road. I said that none came with me and that I did not meet anyone. Then Charles Jones came out of the woods with a pistol in his hand, and he stepped at the back of me and struck me lightly on the back of the head, Ross told him to quit and the three then went and sat on the side of the road and were talking but what they said I did not hear. They then came into the road and Dunwoody Jones and Ross, got into their own buggies and Charles Jones said let us walk keep the road, and while we were walking, I was walking fast and was ahead of him he Charles Jones snapped his pistol at me, the pistol missed fire and walking a further he snapped his pistol again at me, the pistol again missed fire. I then turned round and asked him if he intended to shoot me, he told me that “he was only funning” with me. I then jumped off to run and while running he then fired at me and hit me on the hip and then one of the men in the buggy hollered out “Great God what have you shot that nigger for” and then Charles Jones brought me out of the bush into the road, then Dunwoody Jones came up, and I told him that I had got shot and he asked me where. I told him that it was on my hip and that he could feel it bleeding. Charles Jones then snapped the pistol at me again four times and the last time it went off but did not hit me. After that Charles Jones handed the pistol to Dunwoody Jones to load it. I don’t know whether he loaded it or not. I then called Ross and begged him not to let Charles Jones kill me Ross then told me that he would try and beg me off. I then was with Ross on the side of the road Ross was sitting down and I was standing up. Charles Jones then went back to his buggy. I then told Ross that I wanted to put my bundle into his buggy Ross walked about 100 yards from the place were we were sitting down, Ross had hold of my hand and I thought that it was my only chance to get away I jerked myself away from Ross, and run away. I shall state that I do not know whether Ross or anyone else made any attempt to detain me I ran off without looking behind me and got away. There was no one present during the whole time but myself Dunwoody Jones, Ross, and Charles Jones except one man who passed on horseback after I was shot, and he did not stop.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 9th day of March 1867
Smart Screven alias Smart Chip (signed by mark)
H. T. Larson
2nd Lieut 16th US Infty
Albert Summers Affidavit
State of Georgia }
County of Liberty }
Albert Summers, being duly sworn deposes as follows. That about sunset on Saturday about two weeks ago, he started from Sunbury, Liberty County Ga and was coming to Delegalls plantation near Dorchester. That about 3 miles from Sunbury he met Dunwoody Jones, Charles Jones and James Ross. That Ross was in a buggy by himself and that Charles Jones and Dunwoody Jones were riding in another buggy. That on his coming up to them they both reined up. And that Ross asked him (Albert Summers) to lead his horse past the skeleton of a dead horse which was lying by the side of the road, of which his horse was afraid. That he (Albert Summers) led the horse as requested and that after he got through Ross called him to the side of his buggy and gave him a drink of whiskey. And as he (Summers) had the jug in his hand, Ross asked him to pass the jug to the buggy in which Charles Jones and Dunwoody Jones had been riding. Charles Jones was then standing near his buggy between the wheels. That after he handed the jug to Charles Jones, he Charles Jones struck him with the jug on the shoulder. That as he (Summers) then jumped away & ran into the woods, but that his hat fell off into the road, and that he then went behind a tree to wait for them to pass by so that he could then get his hat. Charles Jones then asked Dunwoody Jones to hand him a pistol, that Dunwoody Jones said, “no” he could not give him his pistol, that he (Albert Summers) then ran into the woods. and that as he ran he Charles Jones, fired three shots at him hitting him in the back and hand.
Albert (his X mark) Summers
Sworn & subscribed
to before me this
9th day of March 1866 }
H. Larson
2nd Lieut. 16th US Infty
Report from Lt. John Hosmer
[Page 1 – Image 0070]
Savannah Georgia
March 12th 1867
1st Lieut John E. Hosmer
Acting Assistant Adjutant General
Sub District of Georgia
Sir
I have the honor to report that in accordance with instructions from Head Quarters Dist of Georgia dated Macon Ga March 5th 1867 I proceeded March 6th with a detail of one N.C.O. and 7 privates to Station No. 3 on the Atlantic & Gulf R.R.
Deeming it expedient to temporarily hold the persons of the accused in consequence of the time I found it would take to obtain the affidavits of the wounded parties I proceeded immediately to the plantation of Dunwoody Jones near Dorchester, and afterwards to that of James Ross at Sunbury, finding that they were both from home. The whereabouts of Charles Jones I was unable to ascertain. While at Sunbury, James Ross & Dunwoody Jones came in & voluntarily surrendered, stating that they had heard I was in search of them & that they were innocent of the crime charged to them.
I then proceeded to the plantations on which the wounded negroes were staying & took their affidavits which are appended to this report, examining them particularly as to the circumstances connected with the affair with a view to ascertain if they were biased in their statements by the fear of any ulterior consequences I also examined them in private.
On consideration of the facts adduced in these affidavits I was of opinion that neither Dunwoody Jones or James Ross were directly connected with the shooting of the two negroes, nor did it appear that they either instigated or aided in the perpetration of the crime, and I accordingly released them.
The facts as narrated by the parties concerned appear to be that the perpetrator of the crime Charles Jones came lately from his home at Boston near Thomasville on the Atlantic and G. R. R. or vicinity, and engaged in planting with G. C. Handley near Walthourville, 18 miles from Dorchester. That he came on a visit to his cousin Dunwoody Jones & that the three parties named were drinking freely for some time. That while on the road between Sunbury & Dunwoody Jones plantation, they met the negro Summers. That Ross asked Summers to lead his horse past an object in the road which frightened him, afterwards giving him a drink of whiskey for his trouble, & asking him to pass the jug to the wagon in which the two Jones were riding. That Charles Jones when handed the jug by the negro, struck him with it and that they all laughed & were amused at his alarm. That the negro
ran behind a pine tree, that Charles Jones then obtained possession of Dunwoody Jones pistol & fired at the negro Summers several times pursuing him into the woods; That about this time the negro Smart Screven came up. That both Dunwoody Jones & James Ross tried to ascertain what he knew of the previous affair & tried to make him promise not to say anything of the matter. That then Charles Jones came out of the wood with a pistol in his hand & struck the negro on the head (which appears to have been disapproved of by Ross). That after talking with each other, Ross & Dunwoody Jones went away & got into their wagons. That Charles Jones invited Summers to walk up the road & while behind him fired at him. That Ross & Dunwoody Jones then came up & that Summers told Dunwoody Jones he had been shot. That while he was talking to him Charles Jones fired again without hitting the negro. That Charles Jones then gave Dunwoody Jones the pistol to reload, & that the negro then appealed to Ross to save him that Ross promised to do so & let him away a considerable distance & that the negro broke away & ran.
I would respectfully state that I examined the two negroes on each of the foregoing statements privately, they both agree as to the direct connection of Charles Jones in the affair, that they do not charge Ross with any intention to injure them, but that Alfred Summers stated that he was not quite sure as to the manner in which Dunwoody Jones obtained possession of the pistol though he heard Dunwoody Jones distinctly refuse to give it to him. The negro Smart (Screven) was also somewhat confused as to the time Charles Jones fired at him
the second time whether before or after the pistol was handed to Dunwoody Jones to reload. I believe that the affidavits taken & appended are as correct as it is possible to make them. having taken great care to that end.
I made every effort to ascertain the whereabouts of Charles Jones but without success. from the best information to be obtained, he disappeared.immediately after the occurrence & has not been seen since, but it was reported that he had left the country & finding that in any case he would have ample time to avoid and if such was not the case I judged it my duty to return to this Post which I accordingly did arriving here on the morning of the 12th inst. There did not appear to be any decision on the part of any one to assist the arrest of any of the parties who are engaged in farming operations they all were officers in the rebel army, and bear a character for hard
drinking.
In regard to the charges preferred against Ross for the assault upon Fortune James it appears that the case was examined before A. M. McIver Esq. as local magistrate and that Ross was committed & gave bond to appear before the County Court in April next.
Trusting that my action in the matter may be approved
I am very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
H.R. Larson
2nd Lieut 16th US Infty
Accompanying Paperwork
B.435.O.A.C. Vol 1. 1867
30
Savannah, Ga
March 12, 1867
Larsen, H.B.
2d Lieut 16th U.S. I.
Reports that in the case of Dunwoody Jones Chas. Jones & James Ross charged with shooting two freedmen, Smart Screven & Albert Summers (freedmen) he found on investigation that Chas. Jones was the guilty party and gives the particulars of the affair enclosing the affidavits of the wounded men etc.
All the papers enclosed relative to the affair
Headquarters, District of Georgia
Macon, Ga, March 16th, 1867
Respectfully returned to the Ass. Comss. Bureau R.F.A.L.
State of Georgia
Attention is called to the within report of 2d Lt. H.B. Larson, 16th U.S. Infy.
By command of Col. C.C. Sibley, U.S.A. [typed]
John E. Hosmer [signature in pen]
1st Lieut 16th U.S. Infantry, and A.A.A. Gen’l [typed]
Hdqrs Dist of Georgia
Macon, Ga March 5, 1867
Respectfully referred to the Comdg Officer Post of Savannah, who will comply with the request of the A. Coms. Bureau R.F. & A.L. and detail 2d Lt Larson and eight men to carry out the request of the A. Comiss.
By command of Colonel C.C. Sibley
John E. Hosmer
1st Lt 16th U.S. Infy
A.A.A.G.
Headquarters Post of Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
March 14th 1867
Respectfully returned with report of the officer detailed to carry out the within instructions.
G.R. Giddings
Lieut [word] 16th U.S. Infty
Commndg Post
Citation
Records of the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Abandoned Lands, Field Office Records for Georgia, Liberty County; digital database, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TZ-HS65-1 : 18 Feb 2026), images 76-86 of 898, image group number 007676413; citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M1903, Roll 83.