The Chain Gang was a form of penal labor system that was historically employed in the southern United States, particularly during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. Chain gangs were groups of prisoners who were forced to work on various public projects, such as road construction or maintenance, while physically restrained by chains. Historian Alex Lichtenstein wrote in his 1993 journal article Good Roads and Chain Gangs in the Progressive South: "The Negro Convict is a Slave"
The Progressive elements of convict road work are clear in their close relationship to the great wave of southern reform known as the "Good Roads Movement," which successfully melded agrarian discontent with urban Progressivism.
The establishment of chain gangs in the Southern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries served as an attempt to find common ground between the interests of the Southern merchant community and the concerns of taxpayers. The concept aimed to address the financial burden on taxpayers who perceived themselves as funding the imprisonment of individuals without any tangible contribution to the community. The State of Georgia and Henry County's Government recognizing these sentiments, implemented the Chain Gang in Henry County with ostensibly positive intentions in its legislative framework.
However, despite the purported good intentions, the system faced significant challenges and criticisms. Throughout the Southern states, including Henry County, there were numerous instances of abuse within the chain gang system. Some wardens and guards exploited the labor of these incarcerated individuals, making them work on personal properties rather than focusing on public projects as intended. Additionally, reports indicated the use of many abusive tactics to coerce higher work quotas from the chain gang laborers on personal properties of local commissioners.
One indelible episode in the annals of the Henry County Chain Gang unfolded on August 1, 1919, featuring the compelling tale of Charlie Usher. A convicted individual serving time on the chain gang for a burglary charge, Usher found himself laboring near the local railroad north of Hampton, under the watchful eye of the head guard, a man named Matthews. However, this routine day took a tragic turn when a passing train became the backdrop for an incident that would reverberate throughout the state.
As the train traversed the tracks adjacent to the work detail, Matthews seemed to unexpectedly discharge his firearm, striking Usher. The repercussions of this event were swift and widespread. As the train pulled into the Hampton Train Depot, alarmed passengers scattered in fear, frantically telegraphing their friends and relatives with the shocking news of a guard shooting a convict. The incident's details became a matter of intense speculation, leaving the state abuzz with uncertainty about the true nature of the events that transpired that fateful day.
Fast forward to November 7, 1919, when The Henry County Weekly published the Grand Jury Presentments for the October term. In these official documents, the Grand Jury provided their perspective on the shooting, shedding light on the circumstances that surrounded this perplexing incident. The revelations contained within these presentments aimed to unravel the mystery and address the questions that lingered in the public's mind regarding the tragic episode involving Charlie Usher and the enigmatic guard, Matthews:
"We have thoroughly examined into the alleged shooting of a negro convict by a guard of the convicts of said county, which alleged shooting has been given considerable publicity by the daily press of the State, and from the information at hand we believe that such alleged shooting was only an endeavor by said guard and convict to stage a melodrama for the benefit of certain passengers on a Central railroad train, and for his own amusement. The facts in the above stated case as we found them to be are as follows: A convict by the name of Charlie Usher, known to be what is commonly called “goosey,” was ostensibly fired on by a guard by the name of Matthews, whereupon said convict immediately fell to the ground, leaving the impression upon the passengers above mentioned on said train that said guard had wantonly and without provocation fired upon and wounded said convict, when as a matter of fact said convict (Usher) had not been shot and the guard in question had not intended to shoot him. We recommended that such practices as the above be discontinued, and that the Warden of Henry county see that same are discontinued.
In embracing the complexities of our past, the Chain Gang story becomes not just a historical footnote but a vital thread connecting us to the larger narrative of human struggle, resilience, and transformation within the contours of Henry County's evolving legacy.
