The Heart Of Dixie - USGenNetparts of the county, anu tile brave sons and fair daugh- ters of Clarke...

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ordinance of secession from the Union. I n January of 1861 similar ordinances were passed by the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisi- ana; and in February Texas also passed a similar ordinance.

The following is the record of the vote of Clarke .county on the question of secession: as copied from the Clarke County Democrat.

" STATE uONVENTION-VOTE OF OLARKE.

0. S. Jewett. C PooZe. Grove Hill. . . . . . . . . . , . . . . , ,. . . ,185 . 5 Jackson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I02 0 Suggsville.. . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '73 0 Choctaw Corner.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 56 Coffeedlle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 84 Gainestown . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 3 Good Spring.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . 32 0 McLeod's.. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 12 2 Clarkesville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 8 7 Mitcham's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 0 Campbell's.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 0 Bashi'. . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 1 Walker Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4 Indian Ridge.. . . . . . . ,. . . . . . . . . . 18 0 Gates' . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6 Cane Creek.. . . . . . . . . . . ,. .. . . .. 11 2 Gosport . . . . . ... . . .. ... . . ... . . . 10 ' 0 - -

133 . * 110 . 1'70 -

Majority for secession. . . . . . . . . 563 W N o election held at Tallahatta Springs nor at'

Pleasant Hill.

TJ~E '~r,xoTIoN.-~he election in this county on the 24th. iiltimo, passed off ,in the most quieb manner,

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260 CLARKE A N D ITB E(URROUNDINQ5.

evincing the firmness and deep determination of our people in the consulnmation of the responsible duty devolving upon them. The result exhibits unwonted unanimity among our citizens in favor of separate State becession. "

It very soon becoming evident that civil war was riear at hand, the patriotic citizens of Clarke prepared at once to enter upon that stern conflict whith they ex-' pected would establish the independen- of the CON-

Some, howevc~.. there were, probably but a few, who entered upou the contest because they considered it t o be their duty, and not with any hope of ultitnate success. Volunteer companies .were raised in different parts of the county, anu tile brave sons and fair daughters of Clarke entered zertlouslp into the contest for independence.

The views, the feelings, and the spirit of this period, will appear vividly, and free from any suspicion of being colored, in the recorded words and deeds of that spirit- stirring era,which are here re-produced from the colurnris of the one patriotic publication of Clarke, THE CLARKE COUNTY DEWORAT.

" FLAG PRESENTATION.

This letter, Mr. ~di tor , ' ihould have reached you at an earlier period, but in the hurry of departure, it was neglected for ohher matters not more interesting but considered more momentous. I cannot let the occasion pass without thanking in the most .heartifelt manner, in the name of the volunteers, ihose fair ladies of Clioc- taw Corner, who presented them with their beautiful, banner, with i ts azure field, its bright stars and ex- pressiye motto. Brightly'and gallantly it waved in the breeze, borne by the fair hands of. beauty in the person of our charmitlg visitor, Niss Ern& Portis, *assisted by


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Miss Carrie Q-oodwin. After marching a short distance, from Mr. Poole's to Mr. Cleveland's building, (fre- quentlg used as st kind of town Hall) we were presented with our flag by Miss Carrie Goodwin, in a most grace- ful and patriotic manner. Many noble sentiments did she utter rnost felicitously, which caused an echoin: throb in manly bosoms and tears in many bright e ea One sentence recurs to my memory-"Go forbh, ~ n l if ier, to the field of fame, and we who present this banner expect it to be returned brightened by your chivalry and courage, or to become the shroud of the slain." One of 'our company, Mr. T. Cowan, received it in a brief but expressive manner. LLQneens of the South, Queens of our hearts," said he, LLwe will ovcrcorne our Nortllern enemiea. "

After the ceremonies were over, we were invited by our fair friends to partake of a rnost tempting and sumptuous dinner with a profusion of good things. By request of the ladies, the volunteers first participated. aud did ample justice to the good cheer. Afterwardk the table was filled many times; and yet there wae enough and .to spare. This was a Gala Day in our little village. Old men and matrons, youths ttnd maidens came to bid us God speed. Proud wore we to be in the first Company from our county to meet the invsder, while many vaunted patriots were willing to wait " for a more convenient season. "

A VOLUNTEER. "

According to the ,above letter and the following et i~- torial, the GROVE HILL GUARDS was the first voluntec~ company of the county.

L b T H E GROVE HILL GUARDS.

This aornpany left our town on last Monday-morning for Fort Morgan. The Choctaw Corner recruits came in oneSunday afternoon in fine style,with lr~artial music and the beautiful flag resented by the ladies of their village floating to the !I reeze. It contains the simple and, we doubt not, appropriate motto-"To the Brave."


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862 OLARKE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

The procession passed through our principal streets to the delight of our citizens many of whom beheld the interesting and imposing spectacle with emotions of pride and patriotic gratification.

The main Company started from this place early on Monday ~r~ornillg with the addition of another beautiful fla presented them by the ladies of this place, with the no f le motto-"Never Surrender."

Arriving at Jackson about 12 o'clock, the Company was cheered and greeted by a considerable concourse of the citizens of the town and vicinity, and where, by invitation of our liberal and atriotic fellow citizen, Isham KimbeU, Esq., they ha f ted .and partook of a splendid dinner prepared for the Company and accom- pan ing friends.

$he aocomrnoda,ting commander of the splendid steamer Cheerokee had awaited the arrival of the Com- pany about three hours. The Guards embarked on the above steamer about 1 o'clock, P. M., amid the most deafening shouts and cheers from boat and shore. As the beautiful fitearner moved majestically away we noticed many tearful eyes. Many prayers will ascend the heavenly throne for the health and lives of brothers, sons and hugbands among the gallant Grove Hill Guards. May they all be permitted an early return to their relatives and friends.

Well may Capt. Hall be proud of his Company, for in it are men worthy of any foeman's steel.

ROLL O F THE QRPVE HILL GUARDS.

J. M. HALL, Ca tain. E J. M. GOFB. 1st ieutenant. A. A. ALBTON, 2d Lieut. WM. M. Bo~ousas, 3d Lieut. GEO. B. HALL, 1st Sergeant. ROBEBT B. F L F ~ N ~ , 22 Sergea~it. R. H. WADE, 3d Sergeant. R. L. RIOHARDBON, 4th Sergeant.. W. F. W O O D ~ D , 1st Corporal.

'

&. R. JAUKSON,* 2d Corpbral.


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TIIE PERIOD OF CONFLICT. 263

0. G. S U N I ~ L . ~ ~ , 3d Corporal. W. B. \Vuo~s, 4th Corporal. 1T'rivates.-W. W. Allen, Ed. Allen, R. B. Ander-

son, Josiah Elnckwell, G. IT. Bettis, J. D. Blackwell, T. J. Boronghs, ,T. R. Boutwell, N. Boutwell, John C. Cha man, T. J. Cowan, John T. Clarke, B. A. Cobb, D. M. &rory, A. J. Drury. J. J. Dean, W. H. H. Davis, G. W. Davis, L. IV. Davis, Joshna A. Davis, Milo Deaton, T. J. Findley, W. I?. Fountain, W. O. Findle , H B. C. Foster, B. I. Goodloe, J. Q. Gardner, Chas. . Gil~nore, Jvlin W. Daffin, W. H. Grayson, W. 11. Gilmore, Jnrnes IIuglies, John C. Howze, Wm. J. llamilton, F. M. Harper, John >Iil. Harvey, G. W. Hudson, W. 12. Jackson, B. F. Jackson, J. J. King, W. M. Knight, 3 . V. Lafitte, E. Matthews, Jas. McKin- ney, J. S. Malden, J. M. Wilson, G. W. Nash, Jos. Overstreet, Richard Osborn, Charles Poole, W. H. Peeples, G. W. Rendalil, 7V. I;. Spi~,ks,++ Joseph G. Spinks, James A. Spinks, Jesse Stringer, John A. Stntts, C. A. Summers, J. Sheffield, James B. Sum- mers, A. V. Sanders, George Steed, E. W. Sims, Henry Sentell, Jerry M. Tucker, Jehu T. Woodnrd, T. A. Walker, Elias R. Wiggins, Geoi*ge A. Wade, M. I?. Woodard, Jol111 J. Wood; G. W. Williams, William Woodard."

Probably the second conipany was t . 1 ~ one named in the letter below.

'( SUOCSSTILLE, ALA., Marc11 4, 1861. Mr. Isaac Gra7at.

Dear Sir-You will find below a list of tlie Company called the c L Suggsville Grays," completed to day, and a report of which will be made to the Governor forthwith, with a resolution unanimously adopted re- questing immediate service. Two of our officers have gone to Mon tg~mel .~ to offer our services to the State, and as several have expressed a desire to join we will say that our list is yet open and a few more recruits will

* Excused by the Compnny,


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264 CLAICKX AND ITS SURI~OUNDINGS.

be received. We wishand expect to go to Fort Morgan or Pensscola forthwith, any how, in a week or two. Men incliiied to serve the country now l i ~ v e the cliance. Drill at Suggsville every Saturday at 10 o'clock, A . M . , until we leave.

S. J3. CLEVELAND, Captain. A. R. LANKFORD,. 1st Lieutenant. J. W. PORTIS, 2d Lieutenant. A. B. CLEVE:LANI), 3d Lieut. J. B. MOBLEY, 1st Sergeant. B. A. DAVIS, 2d Sergeant. E. M. PORTIS, 3d Sergeant. M. B. BABNES, 4th Sergeant. C. E. BUMICY, 1st Corporal. J. 8. M ~ a a r ~ s o x , 2d (!orgo~nl. J. H. HEARIN, 3d Corporal. R. B. RIVERS, 4th Corporal. M. J. Gonpo~, Clerk and Judge Advocate. JAMES ODOM, Treasurer and Collector. B. S. BARNES, Surgeon. A. B. DAVIS, Standard-bearer. JOHN EWINQ, Drummer. Privates.-J. A. Cleveland, Robert Allen, W. T.

Jones, J. S. Bracy, J. J. D?wson, \\'. A. Odom, W. J. Hearin, J. A . Smith, J. C. Kimbell: U. A. Forerr~an, A. M. Callier, John Lovett, TVm. Tolbird, .IT. P. Barnes, J. H. Dawson, J. E. Denny, Robert Smith, T. B. Saint, W. A. Myrick, J. Y. Xilpatrick, S. S. Lafitte, W. P. Hall, J. T;V. Taylor, J. W. McGill, R. F. Dolbear, W. L. Perry, R. D. Parker, T. Holt, R. P. Callier .

The following is a copy of a resolutiori offered by Sergeant J. B. Xlobley, which was ~~nanirnously adopted :

Whereas the Suggsville Greys have completed their organization, and have enlisted for the pnrpose of serving their country and not as holiday soldiers, and being for the want of necessary drilling inefficient' and


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inca able sl~orlld our country call upon us in our present con dl' ition, of rendering erective service, therefore-

Resolved, tliat when we report ourselves to the Gov- ernor as organized he be requested to order us to some

oi~i t where we can obtain proper nlilitary instruction, geing satisfied the lesson will be a valuable one should there be no war, and in the event of hostilities indiu- pensable. ?'

The following local items pertain to these two companies above named.

TIIAKRS.-At a n~eeting of the Grove Hill Guards on last Satnrday, Capt. J. M. Hall presiding, the thanks of the company were tendered D. Daffin, Escl., for liis vnluable services in their behalf. Also to tliose gentlemen wlio furnislied them the barbecue on that day, to Messrs. Cyrus Allen and Tho.. Cartela for superintending its prepilration, and to Mr. Q~pant for liis favorable notices in tlie Democrat." To those ladies uf G~*ove Hill and of Cl~octaw Corner who Ilonored the Clo~rlpany ~ v i t l ~ its two beautiful flags we were also requested to return lasting and heartfelt thanks.

The Suggsville Grays ~iumber now about fifty me11 -have tendered tlleil. services to Gov. Moore, and will be ready to lilarch ill a few days. The n~ilitary apirit of our gallant old county is becoming aroused and she will do her whole duty if war be forced upon as.

The following addresses will present very clea~ly and fully the views and feelings in the county at this time. They were delivered in either March or April, 1861.

FLAG PRESICNTATION - ADL)&ESS OF lliISS I4II%IA POR'rIS. 80Zdiers of the i3uggsuilZe Grays :

Valor, one of the most ennobling characteristics of your natiire, has prompted you to assemble here enlisted in the service of your country ; not from any


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2 66 CLARKE AND I'L'S S~~XROUNDMGF.

vain love of display, hut impelled by a sense of im- perative duty. Whilst others, wit11 equal opportnni- ties with yourselves and marly of them far better situated to make the sacrifice, have failed, refused or declined to accept the post of danger, the privilege has been reserved to the laclies gratefiilly to rnelco~~le you to the post of honor. And to my female friends, whose flattering kindness has co~nrllissio~led 111e t u represent them, I shall always feel deeply indebted, as it was rather their generosity than any superior merit of mine that selected me to address you at this tirne. Our feelings on this occasion are of coml~~ingled joy and sadness. It is but natural that we should feel a sigh of regret at the absence from our homes of the bold and ready nlen who have organized themselves to makc effectual that physical power and true coura e which is better in its demonstration tliarl its boast. 5 t is with joy we see men in onr midst worthy of being honored as our friends in peace and as our defenders in war. The sky of our political liorizon has for the last three months been overhung wit11 clouds of a dark and tl~reatening nature. The .unnecessary agitation of the slavery question has brought with i t a train of evils for which the most astute and talented crtates- Inan cannot find a ready cure. This absurd theory has broken up a government once the boast of freedom, but now despised as the nursery of tyranny. That once glorious Union, around which have clus- tered so many historical associations, the most stu- pendous monun~ent of the past, is now crumbled and fallen ; and that proud banner which so long floated triumphantly with the American eagle soaring aloft in his upward flight, is now rudely torn down and thrown to the reckle~s waves of despotism: and the genius of liberty, mantled for a season in gloom, wept despondently over the apparent doom of America. The South has long been the theme of Northern preju- dice and aggression. The principles which actuated tllose who threw the tea overboard in Boston harbor in 1176, shotted and fired the guns of Morris's Island


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into the Star of the West' in 1861. Great and uni- versal was the burst of exultant applause with which every true Southern heart ere-echoed the shouts of South Carolina's mothers at the gallantry of their sons, at that eventful period, in tones not to be misunder- stood by our Northern oppressors. The ladies of this place and vicinity, feeling a warm participation in that spontaneous glow of patriotism, and with an enviable hope that the men of this company may divide the honors of a war now about to be entered into in defense of tho great principles of free government, whilst cheering you by their smiles and encouraging y'ou by their prayers, have determine'd that you should carry with you into the tented field and upon the bloody plain of . the battle ground a memento .of the glad hearts who may welcome your honored return to your firesides, in this stand of colors. The horrol s of war, and the sufferings of the wounded and dying, are itlike calculated to inspire the fruits of victory with.a hallowed remembrance and to make men pause before entering upon its dreaded details, yet the consoling reflection supervenes that every signal advance of man from heathenish and savage barbarity to the highest civilization has heretofore been consecrated by the shedding of blood, and this progressive Independence which we so much admire and enjoy must in the present advance anticipate its gory page. This flag has on its blue field the bow of promise, the covenant of philsn thropic patriotism, that the rightff of Americans sl~nll never again be invaded by a ruthless and domi- neering people, who have enriched the capitalists and impoverished the laborers by their pseudo republican- ism. Under its beauteous rays the great purpose of our ~rlutual hearts is expressed in the simple motto, ' Our Omtry: '

' Od? Country I the loved, treasured home of the free ; Our Country I oh, shall it be said now,of thee, That fallen thou art from a pinnacle blgh, With none to defend ;- no aid for thee nigh ? .


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26$ CLARKE AND 11% BURROUNDINQb.

The legacy recions descenclecl to us, Far remove$ be the recreant false to the trust, - Who submissive would be to retain a loxr place, Mid traitors who dare the'lrtlme lineage ttlwc~,'

th the azure field of the oppasite side, the bright Con stellation, which has through time aided the benighted, the wearied and care-worn by its effulgent rays, is in- dicative of the seven nationalities we represent, wllicll have congregated themselves under the canopy of truth, justice and a constitution, to share each others fortunes and divide each otl~ers woes. The Confederate Stiates of America, alt l io~~gh beclouded and dimmed in their diurnal pro ress by the srnoke from the cannon of .a faithless an % detested enemy, must gleam fort11 In renewed brilliancy in the great galaxy of Heaven.8 nized .and eternal 'ewels. And to you, 'Sug i Q ays,' we confide t lis emblem of our zeal for trustin& that it will nerve your hands and !strengthell your .hearts in the hour of trial, and that ite presenca will forbid tho thougilt of seeking any other retreat than in duacii. Oh, let not its shining gloss 'and ample folds be ever dimmed. The gleaming words and bayonets of the :Suggsville Grays ' can never per- mit this flttg to trail in ignoble surrender ; but, that it may 'return fibom he green savannahs of oul. Soutl~ern battle fields wit11 its torn and tattered folds only faded by the leaden storm and the irou hail. Our Bovermmnt is insngurated, and must be main tainsd at every hazard.

The terrors of war a e far less than the degradation of ignoble submission. Go on, gallant '' Grays,' sus- tained by the reflection that yon are right, and by the remembrance of the continuous obligations .which our Xevolutionary ancest1.y entailed upon us by their deeds of self-sscrifice and noble daring. - Citizen soldiers, take u your line of march with a doublg uickstep to \ drive ack the invader from our .hills a,n % shares, re- mombering that a benevolent Providence will grow the grain aroulld your louglishares which you leave stand- 1 ing an Your pro uctive farms, in obedience to. the


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lW PERIOD OF CONFLICT. 269

promise that a righteous people shall never be for- saken. May the musical warblings of the forest minstrel greet you, and the' rich fruits and foliage of our farms pour forth their sweetest fragrance on your homeward return, to welcome you to the cordial con- gratulations of friends and families.

OAPTAIN 8. B. CLEVELAND'S REPLY.

Ladies:--The position which my cornpanions have flatteringly assigned ~rie, imposes upon me the grateful task of replying to the eloquent address of yoar fair re resentative, and of returning our thanks for this f to en of your regard - for this evidence of your appre- ciation of the motives by which we are actuated.

There are occasions in the lives of all of us when we find language impotent to convey a just conception of the deep feelings which animate our bosoms. Had 'I the eloquence of Chatham, were my lips touched with fire, I feel that I should fail to implless you with a just idea of the deep passions which at this moment agitate our breasts. To feel that we are abont to risk our lives in the defence of our country, calls forth some of the noblest sentiments of our nature. To know that we have the ap roval and the prayers of wives; mothers, sisters and $ aughters, those whom we hold the nearest and dearest of earthly relations, touches ,the tenderest chord of all our feelings. But when you add to these such a touching demonstration of that approval' and sympatl~y as is evinced in the address we have just heard - as is testified to by this gorgeous and expressive token, and as is hallowed by the moist eyes I see surrounding me - then, indeed, is language beggared and the t o ~ ~ g u e of eloquence itself mute. .

Ladies, truly have you declared it is not any vain love of display that sends us to our country'e rescue. If we 'court the post of danger, i t is in,-response to dnty's call.'- Reared amid scenes of peace and quiet, accustomed to the pacific duties of domestic life, enjoy- ing the blessings of happy h,omes, and receiving the


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tender cares and attentions of loving relatives and kind friends, strong indeed must be the incentive Find im-

erious the sense of duty, which could induce us to !orego all of these for the hardships, the trials and dangers of the life we are soon to lead. Our country demands the sacrifice, our love for you requires the peril, and our manhood seeks the hazard.

We do not enter upon the dischsr e of these new .duties without a roper conviction of t eir importance 1 f and a serious, re ection upon the hard experiences in store for as, nor are we so devoid of feeling as not to he touched, aye, deeply moved, at the near prospect of .separating for a time, we know not how long, from those whom we so tenderly love.- These familiar scenes, these much loved forms by which we are now surrounded, will go with us wherevm we may go. Oft shall memory revert to this place and these associations to live over again theinteresting ceremonies that are now enacting. Perhaps a sick son shall from the hard bed s f a hospital couch, in memory qeview the ,occui*rences =of this hour, here well he will remember the tear which he sees to-day glisten in a fond mother's eye. Perhaps a wounded husbaud 'shall vainly wish for the tender hands of a loving wife now with him to bind up a lacer- ated side. Or, percliauce, some absent lover in the peril of the hour of battle shall recur to these happy moments and again enjoy its cherished recollections. We are .proud to acknowledge such feelings - tis by the influence of such we are prompted to our missions. Oft shall they people the solitude of the lonely mid- ~ i g h t watch-oft relieve t6e fatigue of the weary noonday march, and when the hour of danger comes they shall stqengthen our hearts and nerve our arms to the daily strife.

To you, fair representatives. of the seven nationalities which compose. .our new government, allow me to ~ d d r 0 s s a word. . You are fit emblems of the sover- eigns you symbolize. Armed with the weapons of innoaenae, virtue and justice, history has-acknowledged You in every cause invincible. .So with the State4


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your tai)loaiix indicntes. In the sacred cause of freedom they have girded on the swnrd and buckler, and may safely defy the power of tyranny though the world combine against them. As sisters united hand in hand, they go forth to) nourish and protect the sacred tree of liberty. They are happy to share a common weal and are pledged to divide a common woe. Cali we doubt their success in such a mission ? Will not that Being whose divine promise is given to support the right and overthrow wrong, bring them safely throl~gll all the dangers that beset their path 8

Ladies : On the folds of this token of the zeal that animates ,YOU in behalf of the cause we go to defend, you have impressed the illadow of an emblem, itself a

well-sprin& of hope to the desponding of every con-

dition. -- pon this blue-field you have traced an image which holds out a promise never yet forfeited, that the darkest clo~ids which can o'erhang us will yet be rolled away and the vlootniest prospect be gladdened by returning snnshine. As the sign of the sacred covenant itself was to the faithful, when set in the Heavens, so shall its beautiful image in- scribed on this, be to us. Thougli misfortulles come, though pol tentous clouds envelope our cause ih gloom, though hope may waver twixt doubt and fear, yet will a view of this emblem renew our faith in the comillg sunshine.

By your motto, we are reminded of the priceless boon bequeathed us by the patriots and heroes of '76. '' Our Country ! " What a host of thrillingrecollections rush upon US at the mention of those words? Robbed of those rights which alone can'give us a country, we ~ h o u l d be a libel upon our ancestry and a disgrace to manhood.

That figurative constellation which so resplendently .shines on the other side of this banner, is typical of a cluster of govern-ments which have recently united in one. As we have shouldered oul* arms for the.

urpose of sustaining the position which these gtates have taken among the nations of the earth,


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272 OLARKE AND PCB SU KROUNDINOS.

and of asserting at the poir~t of- the bayonet if necessary, their right to throw off the oppressor's yoke, so, fair friends, do we p l e d ~ e onr fortunes, our lives and our sacred honor, to defend this offering of pours at the shrine of liberty, When next it meets Sour gaze, a deeper crilnson may die its folds - upon its blne-field you may trace a stain made by the bl'ood of its defenders - but I feel assured I may .pledge the lives of the gallant spirits, around' me that d i sho~~or ' s tarnish will not be tliere.

Grays : You have heard the pledges which you have authorized rrle to make. I charge you. see to it they are fulfilled. To ;your keeping I consign this sacred trust - watch over it as vigilantly as y . 0 ~ vould the well-being of those'who have presented it-guard it as you would the nearest ant1 dearest object of yonr life-- should any fall in its defence let their comrades be able to report to these fair donors, tlmt a soldier's fate has met with a soldier's llonor."

The third company, of which records appeals, bore the name of CLARKE COUNTY RANQI;RS.

ROLL O F (IAPTAIN CLEVELAND'S 01,AIZKE COUNTT CAVALRY.

S. B. bLavmmD, Captain. J . Y. KIL~ATRICIC, 1st Lieut. T. B. CRXAQH, 3d Lieut. J. C. CHAPMAH, Ord'erly Serg't. Priaates-R. J. .Allen, W. M. Bell, T. J. Bootll,

R. R. Rryars, Jerrold Byme, J. T. Clark, of Clarke, J. T. Clark, of Baldwin, G. T. Cox, Cf. W. Creagh, H i r ~ l n Creighton, J. .A. Culpep er, Martin Basey,. W. D. Cam bell, J. M. Davis, j. A. Davis, L. W. Davis, J. 2 Davidsoe, W. H. Doyle, A. J. Drury, U. L. Dnrant, W. J. Fannin , .B. E. German, J. E. Griffin, W. H. .Grayson, D. 8;. Gregory, Daniel Gil- more, Henry Hainmond, G. P. Eeybot, 0. S. Bol~neB, R- R- Born, 3. L. Howell, James Kennison, J.. W. Litchfield, Henry Lovet, E. G. Masters, Elijah Math- ews, B. H. Hexillan, R; D. McMillan, J. A. McKirr-


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ney , D, T. H o s e l e y , w. K. Mosely , V. Y. Nelson , J o h n Newton, W i l l 1 am P a i n t e r , Columbue P a i n t e r , William P o r t e r f i e l d , T. T. P resna l l , E. H. Ri tchie , J, M. R i v e r s , Lee Rober t s , J. A. Robinson, G. 1. Rob- inson, E, ~ o d g e r s , w. F. Sibley. A. s. S ib ley , N. B. S ingle tacy, E. C. Smith, J. H. Smith, E. M. Stapleton, 1. W. Summers, F r a n k T a y l o r , J o h n T y r e e , G. A. Wade, R. M. W a i n r i g h t , M. V. B. W a i n r i g h t , J. M. Williams, John S. Wood.

T h e f o l l o w i n g i e from t h e f i e l d .

MEMPHIS, TJWN., D c ~ . 20, 1861.

Mr. Grant: Herewith p l e a s e f i n d a l ist o f t h e names o f thoue

who f u r n i s h e d t h e C l a r k e County Rangers wi th h o r s e s and t h e i r appraised value: John L. ~ e f f r i e s 1 horse, appraised at.. $165 E. L. Marshall 1 " #I 200 R. L. Sewell 1 g a * 275 James Vimbish 1 " 44 * 215 Miel Ezell 1 " 175 Elber t awynn 1 " 44 225 Armisted C a l l i e r I " 4# * 225 Robert Brodnax 1 '* (4 * 225 8. W. Armistead 2 ( a t $250 and $165,) 415 Alex. Csmmack 1 " 84 190 8. D. Hamilton 1 #'

44 290 Frank Whatley 1 O4

44 175 James. Cleveland 1 " 44 225 Louis Pope 1 " 44 200 Wm. A. Morris 1 " H 175 W i l l i a m a a t e s 1 " 44 ' ' 240 Wesley Rodgers 1 " 64 = 200 Allen ddom 1 " 44 150

Norf le t Horn 1 " 4# 200

Abram Fanning 1 " #* 200

James ~ a n n i n g 1 " 44 * 225 Q i l e s Chapman 1 d4 225

I think t h e above is correct , but if a ~ o n e has Fr-

18


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274 CLARKE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

nished a ho r se whose name is omi t ted he w i l l p l ekse inform me by let ter .

Persons who have furnished horses w i l l p lease make m e one i n t h e Company an agent t o draw t h e h i r e md transmit t o t he i r order.

We a r e encamped about 4 m i l e s of emp phis await- ing t o be armed. s i x companies of our regiment have gone t o Kentucky; we w i l l go a s soon a s armed. I w i l l keep you advised of our movements.

Very respectfully yours,

S. B. Cleveland. A fourth Company was ca l l ed t he DICKINSON OUARDS.

"PLAO PRESENATION. - The ceremonies of a f l a g presen ta t ion t o t h e Dickinson Quards on l a s t Monday were highly in te res t ing . The Bap t i s t Church, a very large building, was crowded t o t he overflowing hy ladies and gentlemen eager t o witness t he proceedings, The ceremonies commenced by an a p p r o p r i a t e p r a y e r from the Rev. R. N. Thomas, then a nea t and beaut i fu l presentation speech was delivered by Miss Alice A. SaVaBe, of t h i s p l a c e - followed by a f e e l i n g and eloquent reception speech from Mr. T. A. Himbish of t he auards. A few remarks were then made by James S. ~ i c k i n s o n , Esu., a f t e r which t h e Dickinson Quards and o t h e r s repaired t o t h e grove a t t h e Yale Academy and Par - took of a barbecpe re pared for the occasion.

Tbe f l ag was a large and beautiful ,one, and r e f l e c t s much c r ed i t upon t he f a i r hands tha t executed it. I t s motto - "Victory o r death - is a sublime sentiment, and we a r e sure the Dickinson auards w i l l no t dishonor it. be the storm of ba t t le ever so high and destructive.

Dinner discussed, able and p a t r i o t i c addresses were de l ivered i n t h e Courthouse by R. B. Armistead and 0. S. Jewett, Eeqrs.

. The Quards, we learn, s t a r t f o r Mobile to-day. The good wishes and prayers of t h e i r re la t ives and friends, and of t he people of t he county generally, w i l l follow them in t h e i r absence, wherever t he i r country c a l l s thea.


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The Monday a b o v e m e n t i o n e d was O c t o b e r 1 4 t h . 1861. The fol lowing a r e t h e speeches then delivered.

" SPEM;H OF MISS ALICE A. SAVAGE Soldiers of t h e Dickinson Guards:

I n behalf of t h e l a d i e s o f t h i s p lace and v i c i n i t y , I P r e s e n t you t h i s f l a g . You have a g r e a t d u t y t o perform. 'you a r e engaged i n a g r e a t c a u s e - l i f e , l i b e r t y and every th ing we hold sacred and dear a r e involved i n t h i s c o n t e s t . You l e a v e your homes, your fa the rs , mothers, s i s t e r s , wives and chi ldren t o f l g h t f o r l i b e r t y and independence. Brave men1 Mw heaven s m i l e upon you. The women o f Lacedemon h a d t h e pleasure of knowing t h a t the prosperity of t h e i r country had been secured by t h e educat ion o f t h e i r ch i ld ren , and when t h e i r sons were going t o t h e f i e l d of b a t t l e t o dwell m i d s t t h e din of war and t h e t e r r o r o f arms, t h e i r charge t o them was - "(30, my sons, and r e t u r n v ic to r ious o r f a l l i n t h e cause of your country. ' The mothers o f our country , t h i s day, g ive you i n charge the noble sent iment - t h e burning and p a t r i o t i c words of t h e women o f Lacedemon - ' #GO, my sons , and return v i c t o r i o u s o r f a l l i n t h e cause of t h e South, ' and t h e i r f a i r daughters a r e he re i n v i t i n g you t o t h e con tes t ; and with one hand would g i r d on t h e flaming s m r d and b u c k l e r , and wi th t h e o t h e r p o i n t t o t h e invading foe.

I now p r e s e n t you t h i s f l a g . - on its f o l d s a r e inscr ibed t h e words, wVictory o r ~ e a t h , #' Take it, bear it t o t h e f i e l d o f b a t t l e - may i t never t r a i l i n t h e dust, Hay t h e name inscr ibed upon it, and t h e motto we have s e l e c t e d i n s p i r e you t o deeds o f n o b l e dar ing. When Cornel ia was asked f o r h e r jewels she pointed t o her sons. The mothers o f our country, when asked f o r t h e i r s , w i l l t u r n and p o i n t t o you, and such a s you, and exclaim: these a re they.

REPLY OF' GERGENEANT T. A. WIMBIH Ladies:

P e r m i t me, i n t h e name o f t h e Dickinson Guards, t o t b n d e r you our s i n c e r e thanks f o r t h i s b e a u t i f u l


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CLARKE AND IlS SURROUNDIWGS

banner. We receive it as an addi t iona l token of your approbation and good wishes f o r t h e comfort, pros- pe r i t y and success of u s who a r e now ready t o leave our homes and a l l t ha t we hold sacred and dear t o drive back the Yankee foe from th is , our once happy oountrg. A s you have t ru ly said, every thing we hold sacred and dear is involved i n t h i s contes t . Our l i b e r t y and independence, t he r i c h e s t boon bequeathed by heaven t o man, a re a t stake. And t h d mournful the task t o bid a long and perhaps a l a s t farewell t o our homes, our mothers, wives and l i t t l e ones, ye t t he same patr iot ism tha t burned in t he bosoms of our noble f o r e f a t h e r s , DmmOte us t o make t he sacr i f ice , and t o s t r i k e for the independence of our beloved South i n t h i s h e r day of t r i a l and d i s t r e s s . We know t h e l a s t r e s t i n g p l a c e for l i be r ty and freedom is i n t h e cons t i t u t i on of t h e southern Confederacy; and we a r e wi l l ing t o s a c r i f i c e ourselves and our a l l for our country.

We w i l l remember t h e a d v i s e o f t h e women o f Lacedemon t o t h e i r sons, and r e w i l l always che r i sh the sent iment o f t h e noble charge you have given U S

t h i s day. - Ever mindful t h a t we a r e the freeborn sons of i l l u s t r i o u s s i r e s t ha t braved the 'storm of ~ l b a n ' 8

m t h and l a i d p r o s t r a t e t h e Lion o r Eagland a t t h e f ee t o f t h e American Eagle. Pe owe a l l e g i a n c e t o nothing )tit duty, our country and ou r God. A t ou r countrg's c a l l we are ready t o march t o t he tented f i e ld and t o t he b a t t l e ' s din. And a s long a s valor may be esteemed a v i r t u e and necessary t o perpetuate t h e independence of a nation, base t imidi ty sha l l never f ind a r e s t i ng p lace i n our bosoms, but, r a t h e r wrapped i n the folds of t he s t a r s and bars committed t o our care, r e would p e r f e r an honorable dea th and a s o l d i e r ' s burial t o an ignoble l i f e secured by t he abandonment of the vir tues inher i ted from our forefathers. with full cmfidence i n the j u s t i c e of our cause and t he valor of our l i t t l e band, it sha l l ever be our pride, ladiea, so t o conduct ourseloes that, when our en= is driven back t o h i s Northern and our independence acknowledged


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PFXIOD OF CONFLICT. 277

by a l l t h e world, and we r e t u r n again t o you, you can t r u l y sw, a s d id Cornelia, t h a t we, your sons, a r e t h e jewels o f your country.

And now, fellow so ld ie r s , l e t u s go uni ted i n action, in s e n t i m e n t and i n h e a r t . Le t every e f f o r t of our souls be d i r e c t e d f o r our country and our God. Let u s leave determined t o teach t h e Yankees t h a t we have in- he r i t ed l i b e r t y , and t h a t every drop of our blood is of and f o r t h e South, and t h a t , tho ' t h e y have spoken contemptuously o f u s and have c a l l e d o u r f l a g t h e " r e b e l rag, ', we w i l l t e a c h them b e f o r e we ~ u i t t h e s t r u g g l e , t h a t we i n t e n d t o be a s f r e e a s t h e winds t h a t w i l l fan t h e S t a r s and Bars o f our b e a u t i f u l banner a s it waves on the shores of t h e Mexican Gulf. "

A f i f t h company was r a i s e d c a l l s d The E l i z a P l i n n Guards, T h e names o f t h e s e a r e n o t a t hand. T h i s company seems t o have been i n t h e ~ h i r t y - E i g h t h reg i - ment which was o r g a n i z e d i n 1862. W. J. Hear in was the f i r s t captain, and on h i s promotion he was succeeded by m i e l Lee.

Two o t h e r companies i n t h i s regiment a r e c r e d i t e d t o C l a r k e county. O f one G. W. F i l e s , John J. R. Jenk ins , and Ben jamin Anderson were c a p t a i n s ; o f the o the r Charles E. Bussey. ~ l s o i n t h e ~h i r ty -Second two companies; of one Alexander K i l p a t r i c k Captain; of t h e o the r John W. Bell.

I n t h e Twenty Second was one company from Clarke, James Deas N o t t f i r s t c a p t a i n , ~ o s e p h Re Cowan t h e second.

For t h e Thirty-Second Clarke wi th Wilcox fu rn i shed a company, John Creagh and George 1. Cox c a p t a i n s ; and Cla rke wi th Washington f u r n i s h e d one, J. C. K i m - b e l l and 8. T. .Taylor captains.

Ten companies, it thus appears, were ra i sed in c l a r k e county, and two p a r t s o f companies , making o f t h e


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volunteer t roops from Clarke about eleven hundred men going forth t o the s tern r e a l i t i e s of war.

"ROLL OF THE DICKINSON GUARDS. Daniel McLeoad, Captain John C. Kimbell, 1st Lieut. David E. Thomas. 2nd Lieut. 8. P. Chapman, 3 r d Lieut. F. N, Winn, 1st S e r e t. T. A Wimbish, 2nd s e r g t. Stephen Pugh, 3rd Se re t. N. W. Calhoun, 4th s e r e t. J. P. Chapman, 1st Corporal C. W. Calhoun, 2nd Corporal IA. B. Woods, 3rd Cor~ora l

Privates - James Anderson, E. B, Brown, P. I. Brown, I. Rn Brooks, J. P. Booth, N. J. Bumpers, B. razze ell. C. & Coate, J. A. Coate, J. A, Cammack, A. J. chapmas, N. M. Cslhonn, 1. W. Coleman. D. A. Calhoun, N. Crane, A. G. Coleman, C. C. Clarke, R. C. Dickinson, Thomas Dw, I. M. Daniels, A. Dykes, J. 8. Edwards,

J. W. Evans, 5. '8. Fluke r , Henry Q i g e r , T. F. G i l l , Z. S. Qardner, J. w. Quinn, J. L. Guinn, T. H. D. Hightower, Jo seph Hall, S. T, Johnson, T. I. Kimbell, A. C. Knight , R. Langlg, James Mc- Wugald, M. Mathers, J. Maulden, E. A. May, E. J. McVey, A. 3. MCVeY, R. H. ~ o t t , F. N. organ, J. A. More, M. Y. Merchant. J. %. Powers, J. C. Pugh, 4lonzo Pugh, 1. 6. Pugh, Abner Payne, J. P. Posey, P. H. .Poime,. F! M. Por t e r , W. S. Po r t e r , Wm. Perry , J* T* Quick, M. Rober t s , J. 1. Ray, John Roan, T. Q- Gkipworthy, .Dongald,Stewart, 8. H. Sheppard , Dr. T. B. Savage. E l i j ah Truett. Q. w. ~ a y l o r , El 8. mornton, D. M. Ur~uhart , 3. A. Wimbish, J. C. wiggins.-

Soan t h e ~ a l a Days were over. There came n e x t cmp-life, sickness, bat t le& deaths and imprisonmentg.

The fol lowfng list shows the beginning of these


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THE PERIOD OF CONFLICT. 279.

changes which+cannot , f o r want of t h e records , be presented in full upon 'these pages.

"LIST OF GROVE HILL GUARDS. L i s t o f members o f t h e company f r o n t h e 6 t h of

M a g . 1861, t o Jan. 1st. 1862. J. M. Hall, CaPtain J. M. Goff, 1st Lieut. Charles Poole, 2nd Lieut. T. J. Bett is , 3rd Lieut. 6. T. Woodward, 1 s t S e r e t. A. F. Hall, 2nd Serg t. ff. W. Hudson, 3rd Serg t. J. ..Creagh Howze, 4th Serg t. J, F. Hudson, 5th Gergt . J. W. Fleming. 1st Corporal M i l 0 Deaton, 2nd Corporal C. L. :Sissoa , 3rd Corporal J. 1. Daffin, 4th Corporal A. A- Alston, 'color Quatd

P r i v a t e s - I. 1. Allen, Ed. Allen, A. J. Ander- son, J* R. Boutwell, Wm. Boutwell, W. M. Boroughs, t. L, B r i t t , G. 99. Bet t i s , A. Y. ~ e t t i s , J. D. Black-

well* J. L. C l a n t o n , W. H. Champion, Burwel l D o n e y , a. W. Davis, W. H. H. Davis, D. M. D r U r Y ,

H. Duffs, 9. A. Daugherty, J. T. Daugherty, 3. J. Dean, R. L. Eze l l , B. C. Foster, H. G. Finley, 8. R. Gwsnn, J. W. Gilmore, C. ill, R. J. Green, G. 8. Ral ' l , J. 1. Hudson, I. H. all, 0, F. Hudson,

Harpe r , D. C. Harper , J . M. Harvey, W. Vl. Huggins, J. W. Harvel l , J. 1. Jo iner , W. M. Knight, W- H a Kennedp, J. w. L a n c a s t e r . J. V. L a f f i t t e , J- w* Lee, A. J. Langley, J. B. Malden, Jesse Mosely, To Uosely, J. C. ~ o t t , N. C. Morgan, w. P. M o ~ z ~ , J. B. Nixon, J. B. Nugent, Qeorge Newton, A. T. Noble, s* P. Noble, Hiram ozbornd, W. J., Peep le s , N. T. Pitaan, Allen Roberts, J. A. stutts, J. C. s t r i nge r , E. W* Simma, Henry Sentell , J. A. spinks, J. & minks, Geo. Steed, G.W. sheppard, J. B. summers, Csley A.


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280 CWRKE A??D ITS SLRROUNDINCS

Bummers, A. J. s a n d e r s , C. Sundblad, J. M. Tucker, If. W. Williams, R. H. Wade, Morgan Woodward, F. M. Woodward, W. F. Woodward, T. A, Walker, A. J. Wheeless, J. 8. Bimbish, J. J. wimbish, Jeaae R. Bettis.

Df ED J. F. Blackwell, Richmond, 19th June, typhiod fever.

J. D. Ruggins, Culpepper, C. A., August 3d. conges- t ion of the lungs. P, H. Dumas, i n camp, Union Mills, August ?th, typhiod pneumonia. ' J. T. Woodward, Char- l o t t e s v i l l e , ~ u g u s t 17. w. E. wil l i ams , cu lpepper , C H e , J u l y 26. R. E. Fleming, Richmond, Nov. 3d, t m h i o d fever. ~o lumbus W. Noble, Richmond, November 6th. t r p h i o d f e v e r . W. 3. Sheppard , Richmond, DeC- 13th. Henry Morgan, Richmond, Dec. 2d. pneumonia.

DISCHARaED J. W. Carter, Pensacola, MW 26th. T. J. Conan, vs July 1st. Wm. Woodward, Union Hills, Va., Aug. 2d. 1. F. Fontaine, 1) o

R. IL Anderson, 81 9)

U. H. [hr tsnel l , Aug. 15th R L. Richardson . ,, E. R Wiggins, Charlottesville, Aug. 29th. E. H. Bettis, Sangstei a '*.c Rbads, Sept. 9th. J, 0. Tranick, n *I B. F. Henderson, w n

J. Y. Nelson, Culpepper C. R, Sept. 24th. U. P. Hall, Richmond, November 6th. J b E. Gates, ' November 20th. 150% C. H. Ciilmore, Union Mills, Nov. n t h E l. Hamell, caap Walker, Dec. gd. R A- IFimit . Davis Wrd, va Dec. gth, COW. J. & Gardner Deo. 19th.


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nlE PERIOD OF CONF%ICl'. 281

The company now numbers ninety-f ive men, o f f i ce r s , and privates.

From the Tented field.

" RECRUITS wmm.

Am of the Potomac ) Fairfax Oounty, ~ u l y 8)

Mr. Grant: Lieut. Brom of t he Talladega Artill- erg, leaves to-night f o r Alabama by order of the Secre- tary of War, t o r ec ru i t f o r the companies of our regiment. We a r e r equ i r ed t o fill up our ranks t o 100 men f o r each company. I am anxious t h a t my r e c r u i t s sha l l come from Old Clarke, as no be t t e r f i gh t i ng ma- t e r i a l can be found in any p a r t of t he s tate . I under- stand t he re a r e many anxious t o be i n service. I f so, t h i s o f f e r s them some advantages they would n o t be e n t i t l e d t o i n any company n o t i n se rv ice . - They w i l l be received f o r t h e remaindex of our term, which is only 10 months. A s Lieut. ~ r 0 . m is ready t o start, I have no time t o give you fur ther information in refer- ence t o t he service, Thoae wishing t o en te r can have t h e i r way pa id by r e p o r t i n g t o Lieut . M, J. Brown, Montgomery, la. I oan take 25 o r 30 men.

Yours truly, J. M. HALL, " EDITORAL

"Capt. Not t , of Mobile, was i n town a few days s ince, hun t ing up a few more r e c r u i t s f o r h i s company - one of Col. Deas' regiment. A s most o f h i s company a r e Clarke men, we would be g lad t o s e e it f i l l e d up from t h i s county, and would remark t h a t a volunteer could no t get i n a be t t e r regiment nor in one be t t e r provided with everything t h s t a s o l d i e r needs. They have t h e En f i e ld R i f l e , a l s o knapsacks, haver- sacks, t en ts , and i n f ac t everything for use o r comfort in camp. Those wishing t o join Capt. ~ o t t ' s company can take t he Steamer Coquette a t ~ o s p o r t o r t h e Lower Peach Tree, on next Saturday night . Their expenses w i l l be paid t o Montgomery, where an of f i ce r w i l l meet them from the regiment.


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282 CLARKE ANll ITS SEJRMUNDINGS

Hospital s t o r e s being needed, and suppl ies o f various kinds f o r t h e vo lun tee r t roops , t h e GROVE HILL MILI- TARY A I D GOCIETY was organized i n t h e summer of 1861. Of t h i s S o c i e t y Mrs. E. H. Woodward was S e c r e t a r y . From t h e O f f i c a l r epor t f o r September and October t h e following is extract.

**Disbursements - Oct. 12, s e n t a box t o t h e Grove H i l l Guards containing s ix ty p a i r of socks, twenty-five blankets, t h i r t e e n p a i r gloves, fourteen f lannel s h i r t s , s i x t e e n towels , two handkerch ie f s , f i v e p a i r p a n t s , one bushel dried-peaches.

Thus wants began t o be supp l ied . p robab ly abou t the same t i m e was a l s o formed THE SUGGSVILLE SOL- DIER* S A I D SOCIETY.

D. Daffin was appointed Ass i s t an t ~ d j u t s n t ~ e n e r a l of t h e 22d B r i g a d e , a n d D r . L, L. A l s t o n ~ r i g a d e surgeon.

That a speedy t e rmina t ion of t h e c o n f l i c t was n o t expected, t h e following paragraph w i l l show.

* * A s t h e war i n which we a r e now engaged w i l l probably last durlng Lincoln's term, and it may be t h a t i t w i l l con t inue f o r 20 y e a r s , i t behooves US a l l t o economize i n every w a y it is possible, both ind iv idua l s aad S t a t e Cfovernments, and t o husband our resources i n every c o n c e i v a b l e way, i n o r d e r t h a t t h e o l d U. S. Qovernment m a y not be succeseful in its present policy, which seems t o be t o r e l y on wor ry ing u s o u t by a long p r o t r a c t e d war r a t h e r t h a n by whipping u s i n pitched bat t les . *' But hard fought b a t t l e s came.

Some of t h e men o f Clarke were in ~ i s s i s s i p p i , some were about Mobile, and some were i n Vi rg in ia , and did t h e i r p a r t on many a bloody f i e l d . some s u r v i v e d and others f e l l . But such records belongs t o a d i f f e r e n t history.


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W E PERIOD OF CONFLICT. 283

LIST OF CAPTAINS

This list m s y not be per fec t , but it has cos t some research.

In t he ~ i f t h Alabama Regiment, Clarke represented hy one company, Josephus Hall, promoted, succeeded bY Simeon T. Woodward.

I n t he ~ l e v e n t h , John James, k i l l e d at second Cold Harbor.

I n t h e wen ty - t h i rd , Oreene D. McConnel, captured a t Vicksburg.

I n t h e Twenty-fourth, Danie l McLeaod, Thomas I. Kimbell.

I n t h e Thirty-second, Clarke being represented i n four companies.

1. John Creagh, resigned, George W. Cox. 2. A. Kilpatrick, resigned. 3. J. C. Kimbell, promoted, S. T. TaJlor 4. John W. Bell, died. In the Thirty-eighth, in three companies. 1. 1. J. Hearin, promoted, Daniel Lee, 2- G. w. Files, resigned, John J, R, Jenkins, resigned

and Ben jamin Anderson , wounded a t Mis s ion Ridge. 3. Charles E. Bussey, wounded a t Chicamauga. I n t h e Second, Stephen B. cleveland, resigned, A.

R. Lankford. I n t h e Twenty-second, James Deas ~ o t t , k i l l e d a t

Chicamauga, Joseph R. Cowan, wounded nea r ~ a r i e t t a . According t o t h i s list Clarke furnished twenty-two

captains. Of o f f i c e r s higher i n rank t h e number has not been ascer ta ined

During these dark days fervent prayers were offered for p ro t ec t i on and success. The phiosophic skept ic


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284 CLARKE AND ITS SlJRROUNDINGS

might inqu i re , how s i n c e r e and e a r n e s t & r i s t i a n s , on d i f f e r e n t s i d e s o f such a mighty c o n f l i c t , could with any reaeon o r hope e x p e c t answers t o very d i f f e r e n t p rwers . And he of course would dec la re t h e whole eub- j e c t of answered prayers a delusion. Rut t h e Chr i s t i an a t t h e North dur ing those yea r s , i f p ray ing according t o i n s p i r e d i n s t r u c t i o n s , p resen ted h i s p e t i t i o n s i n submission t o t h e r i l l o f God. And t h e C h r i s t i a n s i n the South, o f whom t h e r e were multi tudes, - only a few fana t i c s claimed t h a t t h e r e could be no Chris t ian slave- holders , and t h e i r opinion had nothing t o do wi th t h e f a c t - t h e C h r i s t i a n s i n t h e South p r e s e n t e d t h e i r p e t i t i o n s i n t h e name of t h e Saviour, when t h e i r p r w - e r s were e a r n e s t and a v a i l i n g , i n submiss ion t o t h e same Divine W i l l . A l i t t l e poem, whether w r i t t e n i n the South o r North it mat ters not, f o r in each divis ion of t h e coun t ry t h e r e were j u s t such l o v e l y e a r n e s t , l i t t l e p leaders , - w i l l i l l u s t r a t e t h i s idea o f answers t o prayers. It is ca l l ed 14Cla r ibe l*s Prayer, *' and is is credi ted t o Ignde Palmer.

"The day witlr cold, gray feet, clung ullivuring to the hi l ld , While o'er the valley et ill nigllt'c! rain-fringed curtains fell. Rut waking Blao Eyen s.ulil4, 'Tis ever ~r Gttd wills, He knoweth best: and be it rain or shine, 'tis well, I't'rtise Qd,' cried always lit tle Claribel.

Then nank she on her kuees, wit11 eager l i k l h~11(19,

ller r c ~ y lips made I~aste eome dear request to tell ; ' 0 Fatlter, smile and save this frrire%t of all lands, An4 make her f r ~ , \vllaterer hearts rebel. Amen ! Praim Gad,' cried little Clarihel.

' And Father '-still arose mother pletuiing pmyer - '0 wive my brother in the rain of shot and shell, h t not the deatlt bolt with its horrid atreaming hair. Dnsh light fnw those sweet eyes I love a) well.-


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'HIE PERIOD OF CONFLICT. 285

But prtry you. soldier. wtrs I I I ~ brother in the tip111 ? And iu the Aery ratin V 0 foupl~t Ire brave and well ? ' ' Dear child.' the I~erald cricbtl, ' tlrore was no braver sip111 Then his young ti)rm, so grt~ritl 111id shot rrnd shell.' ' Prtrise Otd ! ' crictl trc~nrblirig litllv (!lari b b l .

' .itiil rides Ile Irow wit11 victors' p lu l~~es of red, While trumpets goldell tllroat~ hiri coining ntepn foretell 9' The llerald dropped n tear. ' Ilenr child,' Ilr sofCly wsid, ' Thy broUrer mcmccrre with ccutqtrmrrrr nl~all dwell.' * Praise God ! He heard nly prayer,' critxd Cltvikl.

' With victors wearing cn~tons and bearing pcrltrrr,' Ile strid. A snow of oudden fear upon the row l i p fell. ' 0 sweet<& herald sny my brother tim,' slre plead. ' Dear child he wnlk~ wit11 t~ugels who in etrcngtll excel. h i * GOMI who gave this glory, Clnribel.'

The cold, gray day (lied mbbing on the weary hills, While bitter mourniug on the night wind^ rose and fell. ' 0 clrild '-the herald wept -' 'ti8 tw thib dear Lad wills; He knowctt~ k s t , and be it life or death 'tin well.' ' Alne~r ! Pr~riw ~ c d ! * wcob~~~l little ('Inrikl."

Another b e a u t i f u l gem o f poe t ry i s so appropr ia t e fo r t h i s chapter t h a t it is here inserted.

" Two wldiere, lying as they fell Upon the reddened clay- In daytime, f m ; at night, In peace Breathing their lives away !

Hrave hearto had ~tirred each mauly brelut i Fate, only, made them foes; Ancl lying, (lying, dde b~ wjde, A wftened feeling mse.


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286 CLARKE AND ITS SURRO~INGS

Among New Hampshire's snowy hi l In, There pray for me to-night A woman, and r little girl With hair like golden light ; '

And at the thought, broke filrth, at Itrst, The cry of anguish wild. That would not longer be repressed-- *I) God ! 11ly wife, my cllild !'

'And,' mid the otller dying man, bAcrosv the Georgia plain, There watch mil wait for me loved oneu 1 ne 'er ~ l ~ a l l see again :

A little girl with (lark, bright eyes, Ench day waits at tl~a door; Her father's dey, her father's kiss, Will never greet her more.

To-da) we sought eacl~ other's lives; Death levels all that now ; For soon before God's mercy-seat Together we hall bow.

Forgive each other while we may ; Life's but a weary game, And. right or wrong. the morning sun, Kill tind ue dead the same.'

The dying lips the pardon breathe; The dying hands entwine ; The last ray fades, and over all The stars from benren shine ;


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llIE PERIOD OF CONFLICT.

And rllc little girl wit11 polden h ~ i r . And out- wit11 dnrk eyes Irripllt. On Il:rn~psl~irc's bills, and Ger~rpia's plain. \l--ere fntllerless tlltrt niplrt."

How many l i t t l e g i r l s l o s t t h e i r f a the rs and brothers in t h a t t e r r i b l e c o n f l i c t , how much t h e r e was, in those dark y e a r s , of t h e v a r i e t y o f t h e human angu ish a t which t h e s e two poems g lance , no one on e a r t h can. ever know. Must n o t a n g e l s have looked down w i t h astonishment and p i t y on man thus destroying h i s fellow- man, o f t h e same c o u n t r y and l a n g u a g e and k i n d r e d and blood!

Those s e a r s a r e o v e r , and may such n e v e r v i s i t ear th aga ia .

I l l u s t r a t i n g some o f t h e t r y i n g e v e n t s o f t h o s e years , t h e exper ience o f a boy o f twelve o r t h i r t e e n y e a r s o f age m a y f i t t i n g l y h e r e appear. H i s home was near t h e cen te r o f t h e county. H i s mother had a n t i c i - pated t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e approaching c o n f l i c t and had advised h i s f a t h e r t o dispose o f t h e i r colored people. But t h e fa the r t r u s t e d i n t h e f i n a l success o f t h e Con- f e d e r a t e cause , He i n v e s t e d i n bonds, and a s t h e months p a s s e d o b t a i n e d an abundance o f c o n f e d e r a t e money. He d ied , l e a v i n g one son i n t h e army, some daughters , and t h i s boy a s t h e manager o f a f f a i r s a t home. T i d i n g s came t h a t t h e b r o t h e r was s i c k with f e v e r i n a h o s p i t a l a t Mobile, and t h i n boy with an o l d e r s i s t e r went immediately down t o f i n d t h e Sick s o l d i e r and b r i n g him' home, The s i s t e r and b r o t h e r knew no t t o what h o s p i t a l t o go. They met an e l d e r l y m a n upon t h e s t r e e t s , who o f f e r e d t o go with them i n t h e search. While t h e s i s t e r and kind s t r a n g e r stood a t t h e ,door t h e b r o t h e r went i n t o i n q u i r e f o r h i s s i c k b r o t h e r . S c a r c e l y n o t i c i n g him t h e o f f i c a l s would t e l l him no such person a s he sought Was there,


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288 CLARKE kW ITS SUIiKOUNDINGS

and so , t h e y w e n t from p l a c e t o p l a c e . A t l e n g t h a young man i n one o f t h e h o s p i t a l s t o l f him where t o go t o make i n q u i r i e s , and t h e y f i n a l l y l e a r n e d i n which h o s p i t a l t h e i r b r o t h e r was. They c a r e d for him day a f t e r day, t h e young b r o t h e r e n t e r i n g the h o s p i t a l a t l eng th unquestioned, and then removed the invalid t o a boat t o go up t h e r iver . On board t h ~ boat t h e f e e b l e s o l d i e r needed some s t imulan t t o keep him a l i v e till he could ge t home, and h i s young brother went t o t h e ba r o f t h e boat t o procure some s p i r i t of some k i n d i n t h e room o f medicine . T h i s t h e b a r - keeper refused t o s e l l t o so young tl boy, but he was a t laat persuaded t o s e l l a p i n t fo r twenty f i v e do l l a r s ; trnd a t iast they reached t h e i r l a n i i n g and t h e i r home. With careful pursing t h e s o l d i e r recovered.

And now we p a s s t o t h e sp-ring of 1885. Our ener- get ic , h e r o i c boy was then about t h i r t e e n . The Con- federacy was b reak ing up. I t was rumored t h a t t h e Yankees were about t o pass through Clarke, and i t was expected with ' * f i r e and sword, Col lect ing eighteen colored men a n d mount ing them and h i m s e l f on good horses t h i s boy took them t o t h e wooded r e t r e a t s of t h e h i l l s . There they spent t h e day, while alarm spread a l l ar0UIId them. NO arrangement had been made f o r food in t h e hurry of t h e morning's departure, and when n i g h t began t o cur ta in t h e h i l l s the white boy, t h e leader of colored band, grew hungry, and with a p a r t of h i s force he determined t o v i s i t h i s home f o r food. Drawing near t o t h e house h i s quick eyes saw around it camp watch f i r e s , but h e r o d e boldly up till h a l t e d by a sent inel . And t h e f i r s t s a l u t a t i o n was, "Have you seen any of t h e Yankees to-day? ~ o t accustomed t o soldiers, not knorring the difference i n t h e unforms, t h e


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THE PERIOD OF OONFLIOT. 289

undaunted boy replied, to the man i n gray bqfore him, "No. You are the first I have seen." He did not know but the next tnolnent would be his last,but he was hungry and 'there was his h o w and he was the only white'man to guard it. But pre~enfiy the gray uniformed sentipel replied, " We ape no$ Zankees." A I I ~ the surprised boy found,quite to h?s.Hlief for that night, that a party of Uonfederate officers and soldiers, escaped from somo fort, was seeking safety at his home that night. Provi- sions were soon obtained and hunger appeased. .

But how soon the real, live Yankees would come none could tell. His mother had some nine jars of nice lard. IXe had that buried in the field and planted corn over it. The corn came up and was some two feet high before it was considered safe to remove i't, and he did not believe that even a Ya~lkee could find that. This lard when unearth'od .was sweet and good.'

Pictures, photographs, j&welry, were buried at and around Grove Hill, and some of the latter when brought again to the light of day was materially injured.

Little actual damagk was done in Clatke by the Un- ion soldiers. They crossed over at Gosport, burned a dwelling house, committed some havoc, but two hundred bales of cotton stored a mile from the river, sixty bales belonging to 001. Forwood, escaped their notice. This cotton brought a large supply of green-backs when the war was over. '

Let us glance at other events of these five years. The first session of the West Bend Academy %.the

new building opened September 2, 1861, 0. ~ . . ~ & z e r , M. A. f rincipal. Tuition, $25. to .$,40. Board $. 8. per

19


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290 ULARKE AND ITS SU~~ROUNDINGS.

month. E. S. Thornton, President of Board of Trustees.

Physicians in 1861. At Qrvve Hill, Dr. L. L. Als- ton, and Dr. A. P. Bettis. At Bashi, Dr. J. C. Aber- natlly, Dr. B. M. Allen, and Dr. James M. Davis.

R. H. Rawlings and W. P. Dickinson carrle to Grove Hill as lawyers in 1860 and left there in 1861. 0. S. Jewett, lawyer at Gainestown in 1861.

In June 1861 khe Grove Hill Baptist Chmch was organized.

officers of Clarke County in 1865. Z. L. Bettis, Probate Judge ; Thonlas Carter, Sher-

iff; D. Daffin, Clerk Circuit Conrt ; I. G. McCaskey, Tax Assessor ; Cyrus Allen, Tax Collector ; N. C. Booth, County Surveyor ; R. J, Woodard, Treasurer ; M. S. Ezell, Coroner.


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CHAPTER XII. .

THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 1805 TO 1876.

HE Surrender 'had taken place ; war was over. Gen- T eral Robert E. Lee, who with his brave and determined veterans had held Petersburg and Richmond against the forces of General Grant from June 1864 till Apl-il 1865, after General Sherman had marched from Atlanta to the Sea, seeing that it was hopeless for forty thousand men to contend longer against an army a full hundred thousand strong while Sherman'svarmy was also on its way from Savannah toward Richmond, on the ninth of April, 1865, at Appomattox Court-House, made a surrender of his forces to the army of the Union. On the twenty-sixth of April General J. E. Johnston surrendered his troops to General Sherman, at the city of Raleigh in North Carolina. When June of that year opened, the last Cbnfederate forces, those west of the i'ilississippi, having surrendered to General Candy.on the twenty-sixth of May, the Civil War was over, and tlie Confederacy itself mas ceasing to exist. Released from civil and from lrlilitary dnties in Virginia and in all other places, citizens of Clarke returned to their village and plantation homes. No special damage had been done by gunboats or by raiders within their bor- *ders; but before .them, as before other communities in the South, grave questions arose. The necessities of their position were apparent. The labor question was to be readjusted and renewed solGgovernment, under the Congress at Washington, was to be an experiment..


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292 U L A ~ E AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.

No one could tell how it would succeed. A civil war had long years before changed the condition of t l ~ e old Rotrlan world ; an English civil war, beginning in 1642, had led to the beheadingof Charles T, and to the Eng- lish Commonwealth under Orotr~well ; and a French civil war and revolution, including ti REION OF TERROR,

liad begun in 1'789, which opened tho way for the ca- reer of NapoSeon Bollaparte etldirlg with the battle of Waterloo in 1815. But the. results of nolie of these noted struggles would enable even sagacious s t a t c s ~ ~ ~ e n to foresee in what shape and with what results the A~nericnn. war would terminate. Wi!;le the Congress at Washington and President Johnson were endeavoring to stew the ship of state through the dangerous and unaounded channel of what was called re-construc- tion,- were considering, as that neat writer, the hist orian Tenable, expresses it, "how to reconstruct the shattered Union, on what terms to ~~eatoru the late bel- ligerent states to their former privileges,"-an effort and a question which brought the President and the Congress into violent conflict ; the' citizens of Clarke were quietly returning to their former octupsttions and resuming their old relationsllips. It soon became evident that the Emancipation Proclainatim in regard to the colored people, which -proposed to change their

, relation from slaves to freedmen, must be carried out ; and the change in Clarke county was quietly and peacefully effected. . ,The questions in regard to voting and .

office holding and post oEce and rnail facilities were all pressing forward for consideration.

The planting comlnunity and the men accustomed to public and civil life were entering upon a transiti~fi 3eSod- They were to pass from one form of social and


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THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 2 93

civil life to another and quite different form. To do - so rnight not be pleasant ; but persons sometimes make a virtue out of a necesuit,y.

The following editorial from the Clarke County Demecrat will show the view that was talcen at Grove nil1 in 1865 in regard to the first required steps for be- corning again citizens of the United States.

-We last week expressed the wish tliat the people of this county would properly qualify themselves arid vote for some good and sensible Inan to represent them in the Convention soon to assemble in the city of Montgomery. We reiterate that w i ~ h this week, and call upon every voter in Clarke county who has at heart the interests of his country and people, to attend to this matter prornptly and be at the polls on Thurs- day, the 31st of this montll-voting as a good and loyal citizen, and bowing meekly to the stern decree of that fate whiah, for four long ancl bloody years, we have vainly striven to set aside.

We know that the feeling of' hatred toward the dominant party of the North - engendered by long years of radical and exciting polit,ical differences - is hard to overcome; we 'know tliat the terrible conflicts through wliicli we have passed during the last four years, will live in tlie memory of this people for many long years to come ; but as the last, dread appeal -

. the appeal to arms-has been made and resulted against ns, what can we do but yield to the force of .circumstances which we have been unable to control ? It now becomes us, as a wise people, to look not to the

ast, but to endeavo~*, for tlie fiitnre, to control events for the security of our happi~less and prosperity under the laws of our State and Federal Government. We can do this only by voting ourselves and by seleeting pure and wise Inen as our law-makers.

We see na oint in the argument of those who object to taking t i e Amnesty Oath. I t is only taking an


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294 OLARKE AND ITS SURIIOUNDINGCS.

oath to do what we have to do, whether we take it or not. We have to support the Constitlitio~i and laws of tlie United States, even if we do not swear so to do. The negro is free whether we clioose to admit the fact or not. He is no less free by any of us refusing to take the oat11 or to vote. H e is free now by military power and will so remain until we see proper to return to the Union under a Constitution ackllowledgir~g that freedom. H e is then free by a law of our own luaking.

More than this, without taking the oath we are de- barred of the.deallest rights of freemen nnder tlie Gov- ernment. As by taking the oath and voting- govern- ing, as far as possible, our ow11 affairs in our own way, we have everything to gait) and notliit~g to lose, we hope every good citizen will cotne np to the standard of duty - ;yield to the stern logic of events and make the best of the ' situation.' "

In accordance witli these suggestions and holding thesa same views many, at least, of the returned soldiers became again ci'tizens of the whole country. Elections were held a'nd civil affairs were administered nnder the form of state government established by Congress.

The relations of debtor aud creditor had in the past two years been greatly changed, not always 'in the most satisfactory manner. The paper currency issued by the Confederacy although not made a legal tender for pri- vate debts was generally taken. When this currency became abundant, arid especially when it began to de- ,preciate, many debts were paid. As early as tlie fall of 1863 it is said that meat in tlie county waa sold at four dollars a pound, lard at six dollars ; and other things in the same proportion. Salt at ninety-five dollars a sack was hken from the salt woiqks and carribd to Demopalis. A bow, worth probably fifteen dollars, was sold by its


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THE TRANSITION PERXOD. 295

owner and a debt paid amounting to one hundred and twenty-seven dollars. During the depreciation the de- crease in value was so rapid that merchants could not turn over goods fast enough to save themselves from loss. A little property or a little labor would not procure m ~ c h real value ; but would pay a large debt. Merchar~ts were obliged to fail, as debts due to tlietn were paid in a currency that became worthless' before they could yay their own debts. Business Inen and capitalists who had money out at interest were not par- ticularly pleased to have their debtors come with large blindlea of this curl elicy and propose to take up their notes. But it was that or nothing ; and so the notes were given up with as good a grace as possible. The changed relations which thus took place, the loss of almost all their possessions by some who had thus far in life been wealthy, the debts which never could be paid with which some found tgemselves burdened, a~ ld the apparent hopelessness for working np again i n life of those already past rniddle age, nlade the social and business relations of many, far from being pleasant. The depression of spirits was so great with those in this period of life, that men of this class died'rapidly the first few jears after the close of the war. I t was with them as with Bernardo Del Carpio, after the crliel Spanish king had presented to h i m the dead body of his father. They could well say, '' There is no more to lift the sword for now." '( The glory aild the loveliness are passed away from earth. "

An extract from Ramsay's History of the United States in regard to the paper money of the days of ' the Revolution will be instructive in this connection.


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296 OLARKE AND ITS SURROUNDINQS.

' (The most extensive mischief resulted in the progress, and towards the close of the war, frotn the operation of the laws, which made the aper bills a tender in the discharge of debts, contracteg! payablein gold or silver.

When this measure was first adopted, little or no in'ustice resulted from i t ; for, at that tirne, the paper bills were equal, or nearly equal to gold or silver, of the same nominal sum. In the progress of the war, when depreciation took place, the case was materially altered. Laws, which were originally innocent, became eventu- ally the occasion of much injustice.

The aged, who had retired from the scene9 of active basiness, to enjoy the fruita of their itlduetl-y, found their snbstance melting away to a mere pittance, insuffi- cient for their support. The widow who lived comforta- bly on the bequests of a deceased husband, experienced a frustration of ail his well-meant tenderness. The laws of the country interposed, and compelled her to receive a shilling, where a pound was her due. The blooming virgin,who had grown u~ with an unquestionable title to a liberal patrimony, was leg~l ly stripped of every thing, but Ber personal charms and virtues. The help- less orphan, instead o& receiving from the hands of an executor, a co~npeterlcy to set out in business, was obliged to give a final cliscllarge on the payment of six- pence in the pound. In many instances, the earnings of a long life of care and dili ence were, in the space of a few years, reduced to a tri 8 mg sum. A few persons escaped these affectin calamities, by secretly transfer- % ring their boads, or y flying from the presence or neighborhood of their debtors."

L L Such were the evils which resulted f m paper money. On the other hand, it was the occasion of good to many. I t was at all times the poor man's friend; While its was current, all kinds of libor very readily foun'd their reward. In the first years of tile war none were i d l ~ : for want.of employment ; and none were em- ployed without having i t in their power to obtain ready


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THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 297

payment for their services. To that class of people, whose daily labor was their support, the depreciation was no disadvantage. Expending their money as fast as they received it, they always procured its full value. The reverse was the case with the rich, 'or those who

ewere disposed .to hoarding. No agraria~l law ever had a more extensive operation than Continental money. That, Eoi- which t l ~ e Gracchi lost their lives in Rome, was peaceably effected in the United States,by the legal tender of these depreciating bills. The poor became rich, and'the rich became poor. bloney lenders, and they whose circ~imstances enabled them to give credit, were essentially injured." "They who were in debt and possessed property of any kind, could easily make the latter extinguish the former. Every thing that was useful, when' brought to market,.readily found a pur- chaser. A few cattle would pay for a comfortable house; and a good horse for an improved plantation. A small part of the productions of a farm would discharge the long out-standing accounts, due from its owner. The dreams of the golden age were realized to the poor man and the debtor ; but unfortunately what these gained, was just so much taken from others. The evils of depre: ciation did not terminate with the war." " The iniquity of the laws estranged the minds of many of the citizens from the habits and love of justice. The nature of obligations was so, far changed, that he was reakoned the honest man, who, from principle, delayed to pay his debts." (Vol. 2, pages 316, 317.)

Like causes often produce like effects. And the planting comm unity of Clarke found perplexities and obstacles in their way in endeavoring to secure again* agricultural and business prosperity. The wealthy had become comparatively -poor, outstanding debts had been paid in a worthless currency, but they had remaining their houses, their lands, and their farming implements. Cotton was very high for sowe little time after the close


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298 CLARKE AND ITS SURROUNDINQG.

of the war s e l l i~~g at forty and fifty cents a pound ; the freedmen needed empldyment in order to gain food; and .therefore again the planters entered largely upon the production of cotton. The price of cotton however did not keep up to fifty cents n po~xnd, and as, year by year, its value in market decreased,debts again accumu- lated. To hire the freedmen and to pay them stated wages in money was found in most cases to be ruinous. Besides the natural result in a sliding scale of the price of cotton, this going lower year by year; the field han.ds were now found to be unreliable. Very likely at the most importailt times for vigorous and steady work they would take holidays, would hunt, or visit) or be idle, and the growing crop would be materially injured by this neg- lect of the planters' interests. To stop their wages at such times had very little effect, for they had already present supplies, and they had not then learned, and they have scarcely yet leanled, to provide for the future. I t was found needfu1,after the experience of a few years, either to cease hiring these freedmen, or to give thelfi a share in what was raised tnstead of any stated wages. Arid even in this way it was found to be difficult to in-

' duce them to perforrn good, regular, and reliable labor. The many difficulties that arose, in the adjustment of this lab6r question during this transition period, were entirely out of the range of experience of the farrning community on the great prairies of the West. Solr~e experience was gained year by year, and it may be considered that now a11 era of more profitable and mbre regular labor has com~nenced.

It was said that the change of relation from slaves to freedmen was quietly and peacefully effected in this county in 1865. The colored people remained, for.the


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300 .CLARKE AND 11% SURROUNDZNOB.

these new hands at domestic duties, they did not know the easier, lighter, and labor saving ways in which tlieir Northern sisters brought about the clesired results ; but could only follow the i l d ways in which the colored women had performed household work. These home labors therefore lmeqnired much time and no little strength ; and the transition period was abundantly hard on the women and girls who had never been accustomed to do their own work. But womanly energy knd courage and tact'proved equal to the necessities of the situation ; and then began to work steadily up those who were of the middle clasb, who had never been numbered among the "poor whites" in the old times, and who had not been alnorig the tnost wealthy. In general, neither class of the two extremes of society could adapt themselves to the demands of the new circumstances ; but the large middle class, accustomed to some effort, and possessing tnore energy and physical endurance, pressed bravely' and nobly onward amid their trying circumstances. Exceptions of conrse there are, but, for the most part, tliese constitute the prominent, prospering, useful, influential families of the present. I n the circumstances it could not well be other- wise.

The Grange movement which swept orer the country in 1873 and 1874 was an element of help in this transition time. It connected the farmers of the South with those of the North. It stimulated efforts for irnprovement in modes of agricultural work, I t brought women into social 01-ganizations along with men. I t aided in ennobli~lg labor, in setting forth the teaching, so prevalent and popular in the West, that LABOR is HONORABLE. While it did not lead to so muoh improve-


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THE TRANSITION PERIOD. 30 1

merit in tile use of agricultural implements as it might have done, it led to an increase of information on that subject and to an irnprovement in the varieties of hogs and sheep.

This period witnessed a niarked change in the vehicles osed in the county. The old family carriages were not replaced by new ones after the war. The carriage roads, worked so carefully in the spring and in the fall, were very much out of repair whet] in 1865 the war worn veterans returned. Travelling was again resumed, mostly on horseback. Plantation wagons drawn by oxen or mules were again useti. but soon lighter ones were introduced made after the style of Northern horse wagons, and then one horse buggies came into use here and there, and at length two horse buggies with two seats, and little one horse wagons, and also'top buggies. In 1874 there seemed to be few vehiclea in the county, but now light wagons and bug- ,

gies are quite abundant. And the time cannot 6e far distant when again elegant family carriages, like those used in the cities of the land, will pass from home to home and from place to place over the smooth, and again well-worked, carriage roads of Clarke.

During the war the wheei and the loom had been running busily by the hands of the trained house ser- vants, and now, in this period, white hands took hold of thread and shuttle and spun and wove and made garments. The women of Clarke, and doubtless else- where in the cotton belt, certainly deserve much credit for the earnest, resolute, and successful way in. which, they took hold of the various household, duties, amid the many discouraging circumstances around them.

And many of these mothers and daughters not only


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80.2 OLARKE AND ITS BGRROUNDMQ.~.

attended to home and household affairs, but went into the cotton fields to aid the fathers and sons in raising and gathering that product which was so needful in supplyirlg home comforts. While the labor question WRS seeking some favorable solution, beautiful white girls, unaccustomed to manual labor, took into their hands the heavy hoes of the plantations and performed, day after day, heavy field labor which had formerly been done by the colored women and girls. They also learned to pick the cotton with the hot sun shining full upon them. Cheerfully and with womanly energy and love they for years performed this heavy and toilsome work, that their fathers might have the means for paying debts and obtaining comforts. These resolute and loving hearts are now deservedly held among the honored treasures of Clarke.

Ten years of struggle and effort soon passed away, and when the centennial year of the nation came many experiments in new modes of living had proved' to be snccessful. This period of transition from slave labor to free labor has proved, however indolent and thrift- less the colored peopld may have been, that the white race, the American Anglo Saxon, can raise cotton snc- cessfully in Sooth ~ l a b a k a , can raise sugar cane and make excellent molasses, can perform housellold labor and field labor, and have as good 'health and as strong constitutions as in the older days of constant leisure.

Two obituary notices of 1868 are inserted here as showing the tinge which the dark years of the war gave in this period to this class of writing.

The first is dated Tallahatta, May 11 1868. The name of the writer is nnknown.


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THF, TRANSITION PERIOD. 303

Departed this life on the 5th ult., at. West Bend, Alabama, of Typhoid Pneumonia, Mrs. ELIZABETH F. PACE, aged 52 years, 2 montlls and 26 clays.

Tlie sickle of Death has again visited our country, and bereft us of one of our dearest earth1.y treasnres ; arld whilst we lament her loss, we can only offer here to 1101' lnemory the last tribute of respect.

Mrs. Pace possessed many affable traits of charac- ter. Kind in all the relations of life, she kas ever ready to offer a balm of corlsolation to the afflicted or to succor those in distress. She was a kind mother, an obliging neighbor, and a devoted Christian -for many years a consistent member of the Baptist Church at Ulconush. During lier illness she talked of her future destiny with a hope that buoys up the lone pil- grim about to be launched out irito tlie unkriown sea of eternity - ' 4 that bourne from whence no traveller re- turns." S l~e said the Grim Monster, Death, had no terrors for her, but dreaded the thougllt of being sepn- rated from ller dear children and loved ones.

Mrs. Pace had many trials to encounter here on earth. But a year or two previous to that un,just and crnel war which drenched in blood our orice happy counrty, she lost a husband and a son ; and but a short time afterwards, she was called upon to mourn the death of her youi~yest boy, who had fallen defending the most sacred rig%ts that belong to freemen.

111 her last moments, when her earthly tabernacle was dissolving, she tallied with her loved .ones of her approaching dissolution, and said she had bright hopes beyond this vale of tears. Son, daughters, relatives, friends, weep not for her, but be faithful followers of that meek and lowly Jesus of Nazareth, and you will one day meet her where there will be no se aration ; K where you will hear no more of wars, and '' w ere sidk- ness, sorrow, pain and death are felt and feared no more."

The second bears date July 23, 1868. It is probably an editorial notice.


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DEATH O F DR. NEAL SMITH.

Another one of our oldest citizens has fallen. Dr. Neal Smith died, at his residence, near Gainestown, this county, about two weeks ago, in the 85th year of his age.

He removed to this county, from North Carolina, between fifty-five and sixty years ago. H e was a prominent physician in the early llistory of this county, and for a number of years did most of its practice. On one occaaion he skilfully removed a ball from the body of the brave and renowned Sam Dale.

Dr. Smith was a prominent and influential member of the old Whig party, and, for a number of years ably and faithfully represented the people of this county in the Legislature of the State.

In the memorable Presidential contest of 1360, Dr. Smith sided with the frieuds of Douglas and Johnson. He was one of the most ardent lovers of the American Union and Constitution we ever knew ; and the fire of indignation would burn in the eyes of the old atriot, as he vtould speak bf the usurpations of the Ladical Congress, and their refusal to restore the Union and their efforts to aditto and take from that good old Con- stitntion under which he Yad lived so long and so hap- ply. We regret that the aged patriot cotild not have ived to see a better day ,for his country - to see a re-

turn to law and order, and a Congress in the American Capitol with some regard for Constitutional obligations, for olitical honesty and decency.

J u t he has left us forever, and we can only remember and endeavor to imitate his virtues, a ~ l d throw the mantle of forgetfillness over his faults whatever they may have been. How solemn i t is to see breaking, one by .one, the links of the chain which connect us with the early settlers- the dear old pioneers gf our county. Soon they will all be golle !

Only a few weeks ago, Mrs. A. Pugh, aivin $his place, was gathered to her fathers, in the 90 year of her age.

lfi Ilea=


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*- T l ~ u s 51i1r I)? ~ t ; ~ r tlcclirl~.;. 'Till itII l~avr ~ ~ i s s t ~ t l ii\\.xy."

That the dark war cloud which burst in such a fearfrll storrrl over the land should leave sliadows, after tlre sun has agaill corn~ne~~cctl to shine and the ~bainbuw of promise has spanned the heavens, is by no means strange. We of this generation. Iiowever bright may beco~ne around us t-he beams of a renewed sunshine of prosperity, must carry with us to our graves some sad and dark remembrances.

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The Heart Of Dixie - USGenNetparts of the county, anu tile brave sons and fair daugh- ters of Clarke...

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Transcript of The Heart Of Dixie - USGenNetparts of the county, anu tile brave sons and fair daugh- ters of Clarke...