The Daily Dispatch: November 2, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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A negro shot in Chesterfield.

--A difficulty occurred between the overseer and one of the slaves on the farm of Mr. Joseph T. Mason, in Chesterfield county, near Petersburg, on Tuesday last, which resulted in the seriously, though not fatally, shooting of the negro. It appears that the overseer had cause to punish the negro for some disobedience, and on ordering him into the barn, where he usually whipped them, the man peremptorily refused to obey. He furthermore told the overseer that it would take a better or stronger man than he was to make him go in the barn. He continued to use other insolent language to the overseer, and at the same time advanced upon him. Having his double-barrelled gun with him, loaded with bird shot, the overseer raised it to his shoulder and commanded the negro to stop; that if he advanced another step towards him he would shoot him. But the negro turned his side towards the overseer and quickened his pace upon him. The gun was fired, the whole load passing through the fleshy part of one of the negro's arms, inflicting a painful wound, and it is thought cut the blood vessels of the arm. After he was shot, the negro turned his other side to the overseer, and cursing him, told him to shoot his other arm. The name of the overseer could not be learned; but immediately after he had shot the negro he went to a Magistrate of the county and gave himself up. Upon hearing his statement (substantially as above) he was released.