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FRIENDS, ROMANS,
COUNTRYMEN:

Help Yourselves!

This book has not been subjected
to the custom and formalities of
copyrighting. Persons who C07i-
sider parts of it worthy of repro-
duction are requested to make
suitable acknowledgment

IV.

EXPLANATION OF PICTURES ON "JACKET"

The "jacket" or paper cover which encloses the cloth cover of the
book is made up of the following pictures:

At the top, a panoramic view of Rome taken about ten years
ago from Myrtle Hill cemetery, showing the castle-like spires of old
Shorter College, the city clock and the Floyd County court house;
to the left, the Oostanaula River, and in the "foreground, the Etowah.
This picture was obtained through courtesy of the Central of Geor-
gia Railway Company.

At the bottom are: Rome in 1864, shortly after Gen. Sherman
had captured the town; the Confederate Soldiers' section in Myrtle
Hill cemetery; the North Rome Baptist church; Broad Street and
a column of Boy Scouts ready for a hike.

On the front are: The grave of the first Mrs. Woodrow Wilson,
in Myrtle Hill; the chapel of the Berry Schools; entrance to the
old Rome driving park and fair grounds, near DeSoto Park; Rome
boys enjoying a freshet; Col. Thos. W. Alexander, commander of
the Berry Infantry.

On the back strip is a silhouette of Col. Jos. Watters, a planter
and state senator in the thirties.

On the back are: Gen. Charles Floyd, father of Gen. John Floyd,
for whom Floyd County was named (in the uniform of the St.
Helena Guards, of Charleston) ; Gen. Charles Floyd assisted in re-
moving the Indians from Cherokee Georgia (he is wearing in his
hat a crescent bearing the words "Liberty or Death," which is in
posession of Wm. G. McAdoo, a grandson several degrees removed) ;
Donald Harper, of Rome and Paris (France) ; the Baptist par-
sonage; Steve Eberhart (or Perry), mascot of Floyd County Camp
368 of Confederate Veterans; Maj. Philip W. Hemphill, one of the
four founders of Rome; left to right, little Misses Elizabeth Mor-
ris, Eleanor Fuller and Juliet Graves; entrance to the Battey vault,
in Myrtle Hill.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

Biography is the only true history. — Carlyle.

History casts its shadow far into the land of song. — Longfellow.

Succeeding generations should tote their own historical skillets. —

COLEGATE.

History, like true intelligence, consists in old ideas wrought over.
— Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Each generation gathers together in history the imperishable chil-
dren of the past. — Bancroft.

Out of monuments, names, traditions, private records and passages
of books we do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time. —
Bacon.

This I hold to be the chief office of history, to rescue virtuous actions
from the oblivion to which a want of records would consign them. —
Tacitus.

God is in the facts of history as truly as He is in the march of the
seasons, the revolutions of the planets or the architecture of the
worlds. — Lanahan.

History maketh a young man to be old, without wrinkles or gray
hairs, privileging him with the experience of age, without either the
infirmities or the inconveniences thereof. — Fuller.

An historian ought to be exact, sincere and sympathetic, free from
passion, unbiased by interest, fear, resentment or affection, and faith-
ful to the truth, which is the mother of history. — Nai'OLEON.

THE CLOCK TOWER.

A HISTORY OF ROME
AMD FLOYD COUNTY

State of Georgia — United States of America

INCLUDING NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF
MORE THAN LOCAL INTEREST

1540 — 1922

Volume I.

By
George Magruder Battey, Jr.

AUTHOR OF -yO.OOO MILES ON A
SUBMARINE DESTROYER"

ATLANTA, GA.

The Webb and Vary Company

19 2 2

DEDICATION
To the Boy Scouts
and the Girl Scouts of
Rome and Floyd County, whose
youthful enthusiasm and helpful, un-
selfish spirit of service promise so much
for the development of civic enter-
prise and the advancement of in-
terest in the wholesome life
of the Great Outdoors,
this book is affec-
tionately dedi-
cated by
THE AUTHOR.

VIII.

Introduction

OW AND THEN a queen pawns her jewels to advance the
cause of civilization, and thus gives back part of what her
admiring subjects have offered up. Similarly has a queen who
wears no tiara or crown thrown herself into the breach and
made possible the completion at this time of the History of
Rome. Her rocking chair is "in soak" because she' believes
the enterprise is worth while. If we will redeem the chair
out of sales from the book, she will feel amply repaid, and can sit down
again. It will be possible through a little unselfish sacrifice on the part
of each and all of us.

One thousand copies of the book are included in the first l)inding.
More than half of these have been mailed to subscribers who spoke for
them in advance. Additional sheets have been printed so that other
Romans may have copies who desire them. Extra copies will be bound
in accordance with the demand, so that the total issue will be just what
Romans, former Romans and a select company of "innocent bystanders"
make it. The compiler hopes that many will avail themselves of the
opportunity to invest, for the double reason that the book contains a
wealth of material which everybody should have, and a subscription does
just that much to advance the interests of the town and section. He
does not urge any support in the expectation of making a profit, for he
has put far more into it these two years than he can possibly get out,
except in mental satisfaction. He wishes to sell the book not on personal
or sentimental grounds, but on the l)asis of whatever value the purchaser
may see in it. No doubt the edition will be cjuickly exhausted, because
material has been included which is expected to stimulate a heavy demand
outside of Rome. Then there will be no more copies, for the number is
strictly limited.

The excuse for this work was found in the fact that the historians
have systematically neglected the section known oi old as "Cherokee
Georgia." The compiler went back to his birthplace Oct. 21, 1920, to
supply whatever of the deficiency he could, realizing that he had had no
previous historical experience, but believing that the subject was worthy
of a literary masterpiece. He found a fertile field in which to labor ;
the legend of DeSoto's visit in 1540, the Indian occupation and removal,
the deeds of valor in war, the constructive enterprises following" the
war's wake, all supplied an inspiration that was irresistible. On begin-
ning his work, he saw the truth of the statement, "The South makes
plenty of history, but writes very little of it." His task, therefore, con-
sisted in laying a foundation as well as erecting a superstructure, and he
realizes the imperfections that such conditions necessarily impose, and
is fully conscious of his inability to handle the material as it deserves. He
only hopes that the work may be considered from cover to cover, and
thus criticized, rather than that any insignificant error of omission or
commission may be allowed to obscure the whole in the estimation of
the individual.

It is manifestly impossible here to devote much attention to the
entire Northwest Georgia section. Floyd's sister counties will no doubt
eventually write histories of their own. However, there are numerous
references to happenings elsewhere which are connected with cliaracters

IX.

or events in Floyd, and in certain instances the material is quite general
in its character and application.

Since the greater part of Rome's history existed in tradition and in
scrap books and old records, it has been deemed advisable to go back
as far as possible, and rescue the fragments of early Rome before they
are lost in the dust of the past. The story of Rome's part in the removal
of the Indians has never been adequately told, nor has the picture of con-
ditions just before the Civil War lieen fully presented. The subject
of Rome's part in the war of 1861-5 is all but ignored. The duty is man-
ifestly to revert to the dim beginnings, to give "right-of-way" to the '"'old
settlers," to suggest that the present generation keep newspapers and
records liberally so our contemporary history may not suffer likewise.

So much material has been developed that the necessity of a second
volume is api)arent. Volume I contains half of the complete narrative,
a great many pictures and a vast amount of miscellaneous data. Its
faulty arrangement is due to the uncertainty, up to the last moment, over
what was to be used. Volume 11, which it is intended should be pub-
lished when conditions are more favorable, will contain many additional
pictures and such biographical sketches and miscellaneous items as could
not be included in the first. These two volumes will in a measure tell
the romantic tale.

The history started with a series of articles in the Rojne News, fol-
lowed by "Rambles Around Rome." It has been augmented from many
sources, and particularly from the files of the old Rome Courier, which"
was the forerunner of Rome's daily newspaper, The Tribune-Herald.
Both of these present-day newspapers have been unflagging friends of
the history. In the collection of material, chiefly of a statistical nature,
the most consistent individual has l)een Richard Venable Mitchell, of
Rome. I\Ir. Mitchell, has worked with splendid spirit and without hope
of reward ; Romans are certain to appreciate the accurate data he gives,
them in his lists of the natural resources of Floyd, and of the state, city
and county officials, various important and interesting dates and a vast
quantity of odd information. ]\Irs. Harriet Connor Stevens has
contributed liberally of her time in order that some of the Cave Spring
pioneers might be remembered. ]\Iiss FVances Long Harper has also
helped substantially at Cave Spring. In forcing the history upon public
attention, the most valiant supporters have been H. H. Shackelton, presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce ; Robt. H. Clagett, editor of the Rome
News; W. S. Rowell, editor of the Tribune-Herald, and Lee J. Langley,
writing for both papers.

Thanks are due Hooper Alexander, of Atlanta ; W. R. L. Smith, of
Norfolk. Va. ; Mrs. Mabel Washbourne Anderson, of Pryor, Okla. ; S. W.
Ross, of Tahlequah, Okla. ; Judge Henry C. Meigs, of Ft. Gibson, Okla.,
and C. F. Hanke, chief clerk of the Indian Office, Washington, D.
C, for much of the Indian data. (The biographies of the Indian leaders
are omitted for further investigation of conflicting material). Substan-
tial assistance has been given by Miss Tommie Dora Barker, librarian of
the Carnegie Library. Atlanta, and by Miss Carrie Williams, of the ref-
erence department: Mrs. Maud Barker Cobb, state librarian, the Capitol,
Atlanta: Duncan Burnett, librarian of the library of the University of
Georgia, Athens; Dr. Lucian L. Knight, director of the State 'De-
partment of History, the Capitol, Atlanta, and Miss Ruth Blair, of the
same department. Dr. Knight's valuable books have been consulted
freely and credit generally given in each instance. Appreciation is like-

wise expressed herewith of aid rendered by the Daughters of the .Vmeri-
can Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and of
the interest shown by Henderson L. Lanham, president of the Board of
Education of the City of Rome, by Prof. B. F. Quig-g, City Superintendent,
and Prof. W. C. Rash, County Superintendent, in a plan for teaching- local
history in the public schools. While nothing definite has been done, the
suggestion that a condensed school history be written out of the His-
tory of Rome is being considered, and already has the moral support
of at least one large Eastern publishing house.

!Most of the maps are from Rand-McNally & Co., Chicago.

The artistic pictures of the Berry Schools were taken by D. W. Dens-
more, faculty member, and a number of pictures of landmarks by R. V.
Mitchell. Several pictures and some text do not appear because they
have been lost or misplaced ; a few typographical errors herein like-
wise prove the intensely human character of the work of man.

Loans negotiated through the assistance of John M. Graham and
Wilson M. Hardy greatly helped the work at the outset, and $100 received
near the close from a group of Rome business men, headed by E. R.
Fishburne, averted an almost certain postponement. Air. W'alter D. Carr,
of Silver, Burdett & Co., Boston publishers, loaned the cuts of John Ridge
and Major Ridge. To all others who have helped wnth friendly advice, data
or money the heartfelt thanks of the compiler are herewith given. Rome
will thank them in her ow'n way. The list is a long one, and it cannot
be extended here ; it will appear, perhaps, in the proposed Vol. H.

There is a great deal that is left over for another volume simply
because no funds were in sight to print it. Ample warning of this situa-
tion was given from time to time. If Romans make Vol. II possible by
an underwriting plan, or if a single Roman desires the opportunity of
doing that much for the town he loves, the compiler will dig into his
files again. Undoubtedly some Roman who wishes a send-off here below
and a welcome above will remember Vol. II in his will.

The rules governing the history campaign were very simple. Prac-
tically everybody who showed as much as a passing interest has been
given some notice in the book, either for themselves or their ancestors.
Those who have ignored letters, personal or circular, or both, or have
refused to "weep" while w^e "mourned," have erected a temporary barrier
between us. Fortunately, there have not been many of these, alth>ough
more have sat on the fence. They will have another chance if they want
it — for Vol. II. No considerations of friendship have caused us to over-
look a flagrant neglect of Rome and the history by those wlio in our opin-
ion could have helped. At the same time, we feel friendly and hold the
door open — for Vol. II. We consider it a duty to speak plainly so Romans
will understand, and that we may do better next time. Let us make \'ol.
II surpass Vol. 1.

The original plan called for sections of text devoted to the Berry
Schools, Shorter College, Ilearn Academy, the Georgia Sch(wl for the
Deaf at Cave Spring, and the Floyd County and Rome public schools.
Failure of the leading institutions in this group to pay a cost price for
the printing (due largely to the general economic conditions) has put
these sections over for further consideration.

A few words about quoted articles. Most of the items with dates
from 1920-22 affixed are from The Rome News, i)rior to that, after 1886.
from The 'JVibune of Rome or The Trilnitie-Hcrald. and from 1850 to 1887

XI.

frum The Runic Tri-Wcckly Courier or Weekly Courier. An understand-
ing of this scheme, it is believed, will assist the reader.

It is hoped that the history will please the sul)scribers as well as prove
of some use to them as a work of reference. A reading glass for aged
eyes is recommended where type and pictures are small. In practically
ail cases the biographies have been submitted to the families for correc-
tion and ap])roval. A committee of Romans has kindly gone over most of
the other data. Anecdotes are told — on our own clan, too — which we
hope will be received in good part, for there is no intention to offend
anyone. Romans are noted for speaking the truth fearlessly, and since
we arc all in one big family and are blessed with a sense of humor, we
can well afford to perpetuate the stories of our members for fireside en-
joyment. A colorless story of Rome would be of no good and would find
few willing consumers.

With this much said by way of introduction, we salute our sub-
scribers and friends, wish them a merry Christmas and a happy New
Year, and unreservedly place our literary fate in their tender hands.

GEO. M. BATTEY, JR.
81 W. 14th St.,
Atlanta, Ga.,
Friday, Dec. 1, 1922.

P. S. — Sinc-e the above was written, the decision was reached to include in
Vol. I. no biojjfraphical sketches. It was believed best to hold over for considera-
tion for Vol. II. all the 300 sketches rather than to print only a few to the ex-
clusion of the many. A little extra financial support would have made possible
the inclusion of all. Since it was not forthcoming, it seemed best to file this other
valuable material. The recent vote by mail, by the way, was overwhelmingly
in favor of holding the biogi'aphies for another time. The several persons who
advanced money for sketches will be reimbursed or given extra copies of the
present volume, as they prefer. We assure them and all others that we regret
our inability to use this excellent data, which can only be improved with age.
We will keep it intact in the confident hope that Romans will make its publication
possible at some day in the near future.

G. M. B.

XII.

Contents

Frontispiece: THE CLOCK TOWER— By Virginia Robert Lipscomb, Girl Scout.

Part I,

Chapter Page

I. The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 17

DeSoto lands at Tampa Bay. — Reaches the Savannah River. — Meets an
Indian princess. — Takes the princess along as a hostage. — She escapes. —
Arrival at Nacoochee. — Receives Indian dogs for his men to eat. — His
route discussed. — Spends 30 da,ys at Chiaha. — Enjoys pearl hunt.

II. John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians 22

Hostile Cherokees in massacre. — Sevier puts them to flight and burns
their towns. — Gen. Floyd defeats the Creeks in Alabama. — Early laws of
the Indians. — The "Widow Fool" and the ferry. — Wm. Mcintosh killed. —
Sequoyah's alphabet. — Missionaries imprisoned. — Pressure on the Indians.

Pari II.

I. Rome's Establishment and Early Days Zi

Three travelers decide to establish a town.- — A fourth pioneer.- — County
site removal from Livingston to Rome authorized by legislature.- — The
homes of Ross and the Ridges. — The gander pulling and other early
amusements. — The Green Corn dances. — Geo. Lavender, trading post man. —
Pioneer days at Cave Spring.

II. The Great Indian Meeting- at Rome 43

The Cherokees' biggest pow-wow at Running Waters. — Speeches by the
Ridges, Ross afnd the United States agents. — The Indians withdraw to the
woods. — Government men continue to speak. — Mr. Schermerhorn's determi-
nation to have a treaty. — Major Currey reports to Washington. — Ross fac-
tion supreme. — Ridge's men listed.

III. John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard-- 53

"Home, Sweet Home" author bears letters to prominent Georgians. — -
Loves an Athens belle. — Departs for Indian country. — Is arrested with
John Ross and guarded at Spring Place. — "Big John" Underwood, Rome
grocer, one of his captors. — Payne's own account. — His arrest causes sen-
sation. — "Old Hickory's" contribution.

IV. Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 75

"Rome Indians" in the Payne "picture." — Maj. Currey explains. —
Frelinghuysen, Everett, Polk, Calhoun, Bell and White active. — "Lumpkin
Press" lambastes Guard. — Legislature protests and Co). Bishop resigns. —
Payne's anonymous letter. — A tragedy at the Vann house.- -The Indians
removed and the Ridges and Boudinot slain. — A Payne memorial.

V. Growth from Village to Town 91

Pioneers establish bank, inn, newspaper, churches, schools and stage
lines. — John Ross converted to Methodism. — Alfred Shorter casts lot with
the new town. — William Smith and the scuttled steamboat. — E^arly political
campaigns. — Lumpkin, Miller, Underwood, Hackctt and Wright. — Pickett's
visit to Rome. — The Nobles, iron kings, aijpear.

VI. Views and Events Leading U]) to War 113

The slavery agitation and efforts to halt "gentlemen from the North." —
Warnings sounded by Dwinell and Stovall. — Mass meetings and resolu-
tions. — Trade boycott against the North. — Rome Light Guards active. —
Stephens, Iverson and Hill speak in Rome. — Secession strongly favored.

VII. Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 125

Feeling at fever heat. — Mayor thanks voters for "sober election." — Dr.
Word elected. — Guns for Light Guards arrive. — Judge Wright on the in-
auguration of Jefferson Davis.

XIII.

Part III.

I. Opening- of the Ci\"il War — First Manassas LV

Floyd companies depart.- Cannon and chvirch bells announce war. —

Casualty lists. — Incidents of the battle. — Capt. Matrruder and Jeff Davis. —

Death of Col. Bartow. — An illuminatinE letter from Richmond. — War
profiteers rapped by the "home gruard."

11. A Rome Rno-ine Chases the "General" 147

Andrews' "Wild Raiders" steal state road engine in dash to burn
bridges and tear up track. ^Fuller joins in thrilling pursuit. — "Wm. R.
Smith" takes up chase at Kingston and aids capture. — Fugitives abandon
engine.- — Are caught in woods. — Some are hanged and some escape.

HI. Activities of the Folks at Home 153

Women establish charity organization. — The Wayside Home. — A
young "Rebel" with smallpox spreads terror. — Hospitals removed from
Rome. — Hard times described back of the lines.

IV. Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 161

Federal commander tries foray of destruction. — Is engaged by Forrest
with inferior force, and surrenders. — "Rebel" leader's strategy denounced
by captive officers, who see Rome for first time. — Admiring women snip
locks of Forrest's hair. — The "Battle of Rome," and John Wisdom's famous
ride. — Forrest dodges Rome picnic.

V. Sherman's Army Captures Rome 175

Three forts are silenced and Davis, Vandever and Corse establish
headquarters. — "Miss Lizzie's" adventure on Shorter Hill. — Sherman enters
Rome twice and pursues Hood, who crosses the Coosa at Veal's ferry. —
Hood flits through Texas valley. — Only a fiddle is needed as Rome burns.

VI. Sherman's Movements asTuld by Himself 181

The campaign outlined. — Movements around Dalton, Resaea, Cassville,
Dajlas and Rome. — Sherman's narrow escape. — Why Johnston refused
battle. — Corse at Allatoona. — Sherman on Fourth Avenue.--His message
from Rome brings orders to march to the sea.

VII. Extreme Desolation I^ictured in Diary 197

Bridges burned by retreating Confederates. — Church pews used for
pontoons. — Famine and despair.— Citizen killed by scouts. — Letter tells of
Romans' plight.

\'HI. Depredations of the Independent Scouts 205

John Gatewood invades northwest Georgia. — Jack Colquitt's band. —
John and Jim Prior take seven scout scalps. — "Little Zach" Hargrove
to the rescue.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences 211

Miscellaneous 421

Map

The Heart of Cherokee Georgia 2)7

The World T 127

The United States of America 155

Rome in 1890 165

The State of Georgia 387

The Countv of Flovd 621

XIV.

PART I.

THE DIM BEGINNINGS

1540-1834

CHAPTER I
The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold

\XY years before the Eng-
lish settled the first perma-
nent colony in America at
Jamestown, Va., in 1607,
there existed a wild stretch of
country at the southwestern end of
the Appalachian Mountain chain,
encompassing' what is now Rome
and Floyd County, Ga., and which
was inhabited only by tribes of In-
dians who lived in wigwams made
of bark and skins, and huts of
rough pine and oak finished in red
clay mortar. The waters of this re-
gion, leaping through the moun-
tain gorges in slender, silken
streams, purled their way into the
valleys and found outlets in the
Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.
They were alive with fish, especial-
ly the upland streams with trout,
and it used to be said that had the
Indian possessed a hat, in many
places he could have scooped up a
hatful at a time.

Large black bears went grubbing
over the mountain tops in search of
worms and roots, occasionally
shambling into the fertile valleys
below ; hungry wolves leaped free-
ly through the forest trails ; deer
penetrated the thickets and slaked
their thirst at the sparkling brooks ;
panthers and Avildcats slunk se-
renely fr(im feeding ground tc^
cavernous lair ; snakes of huge size
and great number infested the
rocky fastnesses, the sun-baked
river banks and the grassy plains ;
wild turkeys clucked along the
leafy bowers and smaller birds of
l)eautiful plumage dotted the trees
of hillside, valley and swamp.

Upon this primitive stage at
some uncertain date had a])peared
the Indian, successor to the ill-
fated Mound Ikiilder of North
America. Agile, bloodthirsty and
possessing a keen appetite, the In-

dian pursued by foot and in his
swift canoe, with his trusty bow
and arrow, the animals, birds and
snakes, killed them and ate the
fiesh, sometimes cooked, some-
times raw, and made the skins into
rugs, wigwam covers, robes, ])a-
l>oose bags and numerous orna-
ments for his person. Idie Indian
painted his face and, his body with
a mixture of oil and clay, dressed
himself in a wampum l>elt from
Avhich depended a wildcat skin or
kilt of limljer grass or hair, and
with a headdress of feathers which
hung down to his waist he joined
in the big tril)al hunts or fared
forth to fight enemy tribesmen.
The Indian women, or squaws, did
the routine work about the hut or
wigwam settlements, took care of
the children and strung beads and
wove various materials into bas-
kets, rugs and articles of clothing,
and cultivated snirdl patches of
grain.

From the time when Christopher
Columbus discovered America in
1492 and took possession in the
name of the King and the Queen of
Spain, the Indian was forced to
count on tlie paleface as a po-
tential foe \\ho needed his himt-
ing grounds and his towns for col-
onization ])urposes. The Spanish
are regarded as the i)ioneer ex-
plorers of America through their
expeditions to Florida, the Land of
Flowers, whicli embraced vastly
more territory than tlie State of
Florida of the present day. juan
I '(Mice DeLeon explored the coast
of the Florida Peninsula in 151.\
])enetrate(l into the interior in
search of the Fountain of J'crpet-
ual Youth, engaged the savages
and was killed with a poisc^ied ar-
row. l'\)llowed the cruel Narvaez
to the west coast of the peninsula,

A History of Rome and Floyd County

where he set an example for the
savages hy loosing hloodhounds on
the aged mother of an Indian chief,
which tore her to pieces ; then he
cut off the chief's nose and sent
him to Cuba as a slave. The In-
dians avenged this atrocity by driv-
ing Narvaez to his ships ; a storm
hit the vessels and Narvaez and all
but fiiur '>\ his men were lost.

Next in importance was Hernan-
do (Ferdinand) DeSoto, who in his
search of the Chiahan Kldorado in
the hope of filling the treasure
chest (if the King oT Spain is sup-
posed to have spent nearly 30 days
on the present site of Rome.

DeSoto had fought successfully
in the Si)anish wars of conquest in
Central America and Peru, when
called by the king to cut a path
through Florida, to work the gold
mines and the pearl fisheries which
earlier explorers had assured the
king existed. Having recently mar-
ried Dona Isabel de Bobadilla,
member of tlie Spanish royal fam-
ily and his social equal, wdiose
father was his superior in wealth
if not in manhood, DeSoto set sail
from Spain on April 8, 1538, tak-
ing with him his wife, 600 soldiers,
200 horses and a herd of swine for
food. DeSoto's "noble vSix Hun-
dred" carried arquebuses, match-
locks, one cannon and a falconet
(small cannon in general use at
that time). The}' had plenty of
ammunition, and led by tethers
a pack of fierce bloodhounds. Plen-
ty of iron chains, collars and wrist-
lets were carried to put upon In-
dian prisoners. Swine and cattle
furnished a large part of the food,
-while pack mules bore the provis-
ions. The personnel was made up of
mechanics, l)uilders and smiths
monks, laymen and Catholic priests
in robes. (Juite a number of the
fighters wore light armor which
readily shed the sharp darts of the
red-skins. They landed at Havana.
Cuba, but after a sliort stay pro-

ceeded up Florida's west coast,
leaving Dona Isabel behind as gov-
erness of the island. On Friday,
May 30, 1539, DeSoto landed at
the present Tampa Bay, where he
took possession of Florida as Ade-
lantado (governor), and where he
wrote the city fathers of Santiago
de Cuba wdiat was supposed to
have been the only letter he sent
l)ack on his long and heart-break-
ing journey.

DeSoto immediately asked the
Indians where gold and precious
stones could be found ; they point-
ed northward. He fought and dip-
lomatized his way to the present
Georgia-Florida line, encountering
numerous physical difficulties ;
thence he proceeded northwest-
ward when told by a captured
scout* of a i)rovince ruled over by
a beautiful Indian princess, called
Cutifachiqui. where his beasts
might l)reak their backs under the
load of pearls and gold. The home
of the princess is supposed to have
been at Silver Bluff", Barnwell Co..
S. C, 25 miles sovitheast of Au-
gusta, Ga., on the Savannah river,
where George Golphin later lived.
Here DeSoto was jjresented with
a handsome string of large pearls
by the Princess Cutifachiqui ; he
(lug heaps of pearls and relics out
of Indian mounds, which the In-
dians did not like, but they main-
tained an appearance of acquiesc-
ence. On leaving, he forced his gra-
cious hostess to accompany the ex-
])edition as a guide and protection
against any possible attacks by her
tribesmen. The indian maid's
knowledge of trails and w'oodcraft
enabled her to escape in a few
days and return to her settlement.
DeSoto pressed northward in
forced marches to relieve his weary
and starving horses and men, and
to seize or unearth gold for the
king.

♦Juan Ortiz, who had been left by Narvaez
and had since lived among the Indians.

The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold

While accounts differ as to the
route DeSoto took through North
Georgia, the authorities generally
agree that after leaving Cutifachi-
qui, DeSoto went to the site of
Yonah Mountain, in Nachoochee
Valley, White County, where he
mined a while and the Indians gave
his troops many dogs to eat ; also
that he crossed the North Georgia
mountains to the Connasauga Riv-
er, thence followed the Oostanaula
River to the junction of the Etowah
River, where the Coosa forms, to
Chiaha province and town, the
modern site of Rome ; also that he
followed the Coosa southwestward
into Alabama, whence in time he
I)ushed on across West Tennesssee
and discovered the Mississippi Riv-
er, in which he was buried after
dying of fever in 1541.

It is possible to mention these
differences of opinion only in brief
here. James Mooney, a careful stu-
dent of the subject, held that De-
Soto followed the Chattahoochee
River headwaters down the val-
leys of Habersham County, sight-
ed Kennesaw (Kensagi) Moun-
tain in Cobb County, instead of the
Connasauga River, (passing near
the site of modern Atlanta), and
instead of visiting Chiaha, visited
Chehaw, a Creek town in Alabama
below Columbus. It may be signifi-
cant that Atlantans do not claim
that DeSoto passed near their land.

An understanding of the tojiog-
raphy of the country, the aims and
necessities of the expedition and
the reasonable probabilities arc
prerequisites to a reconciliation of
the viewpoints. Some aid may be
found in the reflection that DeSoto
often divided his force; inuloubt-
edly he let the main Ixxly follow
the rivers in tlic valleys, while
prospecting parlit-s i)enetrated
through the mountains. Thus it is
possible that his main force, with
the heavy equipment and pigs,
started down the headwaters of

the Chattahoochee in Habersham
County, bore to the northwest,
crossed the headwaters of the Eto-
wah and followed the Etowah to
Rome, discovering and exploring
the huge Indian mound on the
Tumlin i)lace three miles south of
Cartersville; also that the mining
group, after exploring the moun-
tains nearly to the Tennessee line,
came to the Connasauga River and
followed the Oostanaula River
down to Rome, where he joined
the other unit. Chiaha Town was
described by the early chroniclers
of the expedition as an island. That
impression might easily be made
on an explorer crossing the creeks
north of Rome whose headwaters
nearly touch, and passing on down
the peninsula to the water on all
sides.

It is quite possible, moreover,
that 382 years ago a canal con-
nected the Oostanaula and Eto-
wah rivers, passing through North
Rome and making an island of
the narrow neck of land between

FERDINAND DeSOTO, Spanish cavalier who
it is generally accepted visited the site of
Rome in 1510, searching for gold for his king.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

the streams at their junction. An-
other theory is that the DeSoto
district (now l)etter known as the
Fourth ward), which is sui)i)osed to
have been where the Spanish camp-
ed, was once an ishind, havinit>- l)een
cut off by a break in the Oosta-
naula near the mouth of Little Dry
Creek. which found its way
throui^h the lowlands and entered
the Coosa above Horseleg' Creek,
formings a l)ody of land of not less
than 250 acres.

JJoth of these suppositions hnd
encouragement in freaks of nature
Avhich are oliservablc in the life-
time of the average man. Less than
a decade ago Perkins Island, in the
Etowah River, near the foot of
Fifth Avenue, was yielding sand to
a concern which for many years
had sold to contractors who were
erecting the most substantialbuild-
ings in Rome. In 1920 suit was filed
in the Superior Court of Floyd
county by the Perkins heirs against
Mrs. J. Lindsay Johnson to prevent
her from removing the sand. Mrs.
Johnson's answer recited that the
island had stood opposite her East
Rome farm, separated from the
mainland by a narrow^ body of wa-
ter. Accretions of sand and silt had
filled up this channel and made the
island part of the mainland ; there-
fore, as she claimed, the former
island 1)elonged to her.

Another island A\hich has be-
come ])art of the mainland in like
manner was at Nixon's sand bar,
Coosa River, just below and across
from the mouth of llorseleg Creek.
There are no examples as con-
spicuous as these in which new
islands have been formed, but ex-
am])les are common elsewhere,
nota])ly in the Mississippi Valley.

Certain historians wdio do not
believe DeSoto camped at the pres-
ent site of Rome locate the island
down the Coosa in Alabama, near
the Georgia line. However, Pick-
ett, Jones, Knight and others hold

that Chiaha settlement and the
])resent site of Rome are identical,
and that the route proceeded down
the Coosa. It is worthy of note
that DeSoto resisted the suppli-
cations of his men to turn back
toward his ships and first landing
place, and insisted on striking re-
peatedly northward in search of
gold. Although he follow^ed a zig-
zag course, his trail was generally
northwestward, allowing for a con-
siderable zag toward Mobile, where
he won a great battle with the
Indians. At Chiaha he dispatched
two cavaliers on a ten-day journey
northward. There appears to have
been no point in his going below
Columbus, where in July it is much
hotter than the North Georgia
mountains.

The Indians all along the route
had told DeSoto of the rich prov-
ince of Chiaha, the Eldorado of
his dreams. To the principal
towns of this province De-
vSoto had sent scouts to de-
mand of the chiefs a tw^o months'
supply of maize (Indian corn). On
June 4, 1540, DeSoto entered Chia-
ha Town via the valleys of the
west bank of the Oostanaula Riv-
er, camped his cohorts along what
has for many years been known as
the DeSoto Road of the DeSoto
District of Floyd County, and
crossed the Oostanavda River
(prol)ably in canoes) with his ad-
vance guard. Here he w\as warmly
received by the young chief, who
spake substantially as follows as
he handed DeSoto a long string of
perfect ])earls :*

Mighty Chief: Into this beautiful
and beloved country which our fathers
have hunted for the beasts and birds
of the forest and handed down to us
a long time ago, and in which we wor-
ship the Spirit of the Sun with all the
strength of our natures, we welcome
you as friends and brothers. Stay

♦This speech is supposed to be more nearly typ-
icaJ of Indian nature and disposition than the
polished versions of the chroniclers, which are
unmistakably Spanish.

The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold

with us as long as you desire; live in
our houses, fish and hunt with us in
our choice places, and accept our gifts
offered you from our hearts. Tell us
at once your mission, that we may
serve you with the fidelity of the stars.
You have asked of my good people
supply of maize to sustain your power-
ful tribe two months. Here you will
find 20 barbacoas (barns) bursting
with our best grain. Welcome ! May
your people and my people enjoy a
peaceful friendship that will be as
strong as the mountains and last as
long as the sun shines warm and the
rivers of Chiaha run cold.

Through an interpreter DeSoto
thanked the chief cordially, then
gave to him some trinkets and
coins.

"Chocklestee !— Sit down !" in-
vited the chief, and turning to a
group of copper-colored warriors,

he said : "Talahi— chetawga — chis-
(|ua !" The men ran to a picketed
enclosure and brought many fowls
and dogs for the hungry Spaniards
to eat, after which the young chief
announced that DeSoto would stop
at "akwenasa" (my home).

DeSoto is supposed to have spent
26-30 days in Chiaha, after which
he went through Alabama and
Western Tennessee and discovered
the Mississippi River at Chicka-
saw Bluff, below Memphis. He died
shortly after and was buried in
the Mississippi to prevent the In-
dians from destroying his corpse.
His wdfe died in Cuba of a broken
heart, following her husband short-
ly. She had had no word from him
since his departure.

CHAPTER II.
John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians

\' SEPTEMBER, 1793, an
event was catalogued in
which the site of Rome was
l)rought to the attention of
the country. Gen. John Sevier* de-
scended upon Cherokee GeorQ-ia
from Tennessee, chasing with his
800 men 1,000 Indians who had
scalped and killed thirteen people
at Cavett's Station, near Knox-
ville, and had retreated southward.
Gen. Sevier swept out of his path
such resistance as was offered, and
burned a number of Indian towns.
Presently he arrived at Oostanau-
la, near the forks of the Coosa-
wattee and Connasauga rivers, and
after burning this village, divided
his force. With half he proceeded
dow^n the Oostanaula, while Col-
onel Kelly and Major Evans were
detailed to take the other half
down the Etow^ah river, and to de-
stroy such towns as they found.
On Oct. 17, 1793, the Battle of Eto-
wah was fought.

The Kelly-Evans force discov-
ered the main body of the fleeing
Indians at a rocky bluff across the
Etowah. Some say this was where
the Southern Railway now^ crosses
the river, about a mile above Rome,
while others hold it was quite a
distance farther down the stream.
The- Indians had felled numerous
trees and behind these had sought
protection, while a few hid in the
rocky fissures of the bluff". Many
others had been strung out down
the river bank to protect a ford.
A clever ruse dislodged the In-
dians and brought about their de-
feat. The two officers took their
force below the crossing point. Col-
onel Kelly and several others
plunged their horses in and swam
across. Thinking the wdiole force
was coming into the water and
hoping to shoot them with ar-

rows and guns before they could
get out, part of the Indians left
their protection and bore down
upon the Colonel and his squad,
who quickly dashed back into the
Etowah. In the meantime, Capt.
Evans had back-tracked his force
to the ford, and there crossing, fell
heavily upon the surprised foe, and
put them to flight with a heavy
loss. For many years later Indian
bones and relics could be found in
the crevasses of the hill.

Such of the Indians as escaped
-swam the river at Myrtle Hill
cemetery, and made a stand at the
western foot of it. Gen. Sevier hav-
ing come up with his force, the
frontiersmen inflicted terrible
slaughter upon the red-skins, and
drove them in contusion dowai
the Coosa Valley. Sevier is
also said to have destroyed Coosa
Old Town at this time. This was a
village which has been located by
certain people on the Nixon farm
and by others below it on the Coosa
River.

It so happened that most of these
Tennessee "squirrel hunters" were
volunteers who had had a friend or
relative killed at Cavett's Station,
and among them we find a youth
of tender years named Hugh Law-
son White.** Historians relate that
in this engagement the young pale-
face shot a minie ball into the
l)reast of Chief King Fisher, one of
the leaders of the Indian horde,
killing him instantly and causing
the Indian ranks to break in con-

*Gen. Sevier was a Tennesseean and the an-
cestor of the Underwoods, the Rowells, the
Novins, the Pattons. the O'Neills, the Wylys
and others of Rome. The Cherokees called him
"Nollichucky Jack." A monument glorifying
his exploit at the site of Rome was erected
at the western base of Myrtle Hill cemetery by
the Xavier Chat)ter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution.

**A kinsman of Dr. James Park, of Knox-
ville, and his descendants, including Mrs. B. I.
Hughes and Mrs. T. F. Howel, of Rome.

John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians

fusion. Forty-two years later Hugh
Lawson White became a noted man
in Tennessee — a_ judge, Senator
and friend and supporter of Presi-
dent Andrew Jackson, with many
of the Jacksonian attrilmtes. In
1835 he was nominated for presi-
dent by the Whigs, and carried his
own state over Martin Van Buren,
the Democratic nominee, by 10,000
majority. It was said that Jack-
son's support would have won for
judge \\'hite, but it was captured
by Van Buren.

A more complete account of the
Battle of Etowah is found in the
Tennessee Historical Magazine
(Nashville), 1918, Vol. IV, pages
207-9-10:

Finding the authorities powerless,
the patience of the Cherokees gave
v/ay, and the latter part of August,
1793, provided unmistakable evidence
of Indian hostility. The settlements
were put in a posture of defense. Gen.
Sevier was posted at Ish's station,
across the river from Knoxville, with
400 mounted infantry. . . . On the
evening of Sept. 24, John Watts, at
the head of a large body of Indians,
estimated at 1,000 men or more, com-
posed of Cherokees and Creeks, cross-
ed the Tennessee river below the mouth
of Holston and marched all night in
the direction of Knoxville. They avoid-
ed Campbell's station, passed within
three miles of Ish's, and daylight
found them in sight of Cavett's sta-
tion, eight miles west of Knoxville . . .

Col. Watts had with him some of
the most intractable chiefs of the na-
tion . . . The chiefs disputed whether
they should kill everybody in Knoxville
or only the men. Doublehead insisted
on the former. An altercation be-
tween Doublehead and Vann was long
and heated. Vann had a little boy, a
captive, riding behind him. Double-
head became so infuriated that he killed
the little boy. . . .

In sight of Cavett's station there
was a block house in which Alexander
Cavett and family of thirteen people
resided, only three of whom were gun
men. The three made a brave resist-
ance. Alexander Cavett, the father,
died with bullets in his mouth, which
he had placed there to facilitate load-
ing. Five Indians fell dead or wound-
ed before their rifles. This checked

the assaults and brought on a parley.
The Bench, Watts' nephew, who spoke
English, agreed with the besieged
that if they surrendered, their lives
should be spared, and they should be
exchanged for a like number of In-
dian prisoners. These terms were ac-
cepted and the little garrison sur-
rendered.

As soon as they left the blockhouse,
Doublehead and his party fell upon
them and put them all to death in
the most barbarous manner, except
Alexander Cavett, Jr., who was saved
by the interposition of Col. Watts,
though he . was afterwards killed in
the Creek towns . . .

Gen. Sevier being rernfoi'ced until
his army numbered about 700, he
marched rapidly southward until Oct.
14, 1793, when he reached the beloved
town of Estaunaula. The town was
deserted, but since it contained abund-
ant provisions, Sevier halted and rest-
ed his men. The Indians undertook
to disperse his camp at night, but the
attack was unsuccessful. From some
Cherokee prisoners taken at Estau-
naula it was learned that the main
body of the enemy, composed of Cher-
okees and Creeks, had passed the place
a few days previously, and were mak-

.^^
n

CKN. .JOHN SKVIKR, early jrovernor of Ten-
nessee, who in 1793 routed a band of Indians
on 'Rome's site and slew Chief KinBllsher.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ing for a town at the mouth of the
Etowah river. After refreshyig his
troops, Gen. Sevier followed the enemy,
reaching the confluence of the Etowah
and the Oostanaula rivers on the eve-
ning of the 17th.

The Creeks and a number of Cher-
okees had intrenched themselves on
opposite banks of the Etowah, to ob-
struct its passage. A happy mistake
on the part of the guides, Carey and
Findleston*, saved the day for the
whites. They carried Col. Kelly's
force half a mile below the ford,
where he and a few others immediate-
ly swam the river. The Indians, dis-
covering this movement, abandoned
their intrenchments and rushed down
the river to oppose Col. Kelly. Capt.
Evans, discovering the error, wheel-
ed, and straining his horses back to
the ford, dashed into the river. The
Indians at the ford, under the com-
mand of King Fisher, a Cherokee
chief of the first consequence, saw
their mistake, and, returning, received
Capt. Evans' company furiously at
the crossing of the bank.

The engagement was hot and spirit-
ed. The King Fisher made a daring
sally within a few yards of H. L.
White, afterwards the distinguished
jurist and statesman. He and some
of his comrades discharged their rifles,
the King Fisher fell and his warriors
abandoned the field. The whites lost
three men in the engagement. This
campaign ended the war and closed
the military careers of Col. Watts and
Gen. Sevier.

Gen. Sevier's official report of
the battle follows :**

Ish's Mills, Tenn., 25 Oct., 1793.
Sir:

In obedience to an order from Sec-
retary Smith, I marched in pursuit of
the large body of Indians who on the
25th of last month did the mischief
in Knox County, Grassy Valley. . . .

We directed our march for Esta-
naula*** on the Coosa**** river, at
which place we arrived on the 14th
instant. . . . We there made some
Cherokee prisoners, who informed us
that John Watts headed the army late-
ly out on our frontiers; that the same
was composed of Indians more or less
fi'om every town in the Cherokee na-
tion; that from the Turkey's Town,
Sallyquoah, Coosawaytah and several
other principal ones almost to a man
was out, joined by a large number of
the upper Creeks, who had passed that

place on their return only a few days
since, and had made for a town at the
mouth of Hightower river.*****

We, after refreshing the troops,
marched for that place, taking the
path that leads to that town, along
which the Creeks had marched, in five
large trails.

On the 17th instant, in the after-
noon, we arrived at the forks of Coosa
and Hightower rivers. Col. Kelly was
ordered with a part of the Knox reg-
iment to endeavor to cross the High-
tower. The Creeks and a number of
Cherokees had intrenched themselves
to obstruct the passage. Col. Kelly
and his pai'ty passed down the river
half a mile below the ford and began
to cross at a private place, where
there was no ford. Himself and a
few others swam over the river. The
Indians, discovering this movement,
immediately left their intrenchments
and ran down the river to oppose their
passage, expecting, as I suppose, the
whole intended crossing at the lower
place.

Capt. Evans immediately w'ith his
company of mounted infantry strained
their horses back to the upper ford
and began to cross the river. Very
few had, got to the south bank before
the Indians, who had discovered their
mistake, returned and received them
furiously at the rising of the bank.
An engagement instantly took place
and became very warm, and notwith-
standing the enemy w^ere at least four
to one in numbers, besides the advan-
tage of situation, Capt. Evans with
his- heroic company put them in a short
time utterly to flight. They left sev-
eral dead on the ground, and were
seen to carry others off both on foot
and on horse. Bark and trails of
blood from the wounded were to be
seen in every quarter.

The encampment fell into our hands,
with a number of their guns, many of
vvhich were of the Spanish sort, with
budgets, plankets and match coats, to-
gether with some horses. We lost
three men in this engagement, which
is all that have fell during the time
of our route, although this last attack
was the fourth the enemy had made
upon us, but in the others repulsed
without loss.

*Richard Finnolson.

**Sevier's report was evidenth' made to Gov.
Wm. Blount. It is here presented from Ramsey's
Annals of Tennessee, ps. .587-8.

'**Several miles east of Resaca.

****Now Oostanaula.

*****Site cf Rome.

John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians

After the last engagement we cross-
ed the main Coosa, then proceeded on
our way down the main river near the
Turnip' Mountain,* destroying in our
way several Creek and Chei'okee
towns, which they had settled together
on each side of the river, and from
which they have all fled with appar-
ent precipitation, leaving almost every-
thing behind them. Neither did they
after the last engagement attempt to
annoy or interrupt us on our march,
in any manner whatever. I have got
reason to believe their ardor and spirit
was well checked.

The party flogged at Hightower
were those which had been out with
Watts. There are three or four men
slightly wounded and two or three
horses killed, but the Indians did not,
as I heard of, get a single horse from
us the time we were out. We took
and destroyed nearly 300 beeves, many
of which were of the best and largest
kind. Of course their losing so much
provision must distress them very
much.

Many women and children might
have been taken, but from motives
of humanity I did not encourage it to
be done, and several taken were suf-
fered to make their escape. Your Ex-
cellency knows the disposition of many
that were out on this expedition, and
can readily account for this conduct.

The National Encyclopedia of
American Biography, Vol. II, page
395, gives Hugh Lawson White
credit for the death of the Indian
chief mentioned above : "A war
Avitli the Cherokees breaking out,
he volunteered under Gen. Sevier.

. . and at Rtowah shot and mor-
tally wounded the Cherokee chief,
King Fisher, thus ending the bat-
tle.''

The next military event of im-
portance to Cherokee Ge(jrgia
was the invasion of Alabama by
Gen. John Floyd in 1814. Gen. Floyd
was a native of Sotuh Carolina and
a descendant of noted fighting men.
He owned Fairfield Plantation,
Camden County, where he died
June 24, 1839, after having served
in the State Legislature and in
Congress. He defeated the Creek
Indians, allies of the I'.ritish, at

*Site of Coosa villaRe.

Autossee, Fort Defiance, and Chin-
ibee, Ala., and so complete was the
rout that the warlike Creeks as
a nation never afterward became
dangerous along the border, and
the comparatively peaceful settle-
ment of Northwest Georgia was
made possible.

Another civilizing intluence
about this time was the invention
of the Cherokee alphabet of 85
characters by Sequoyah (George
Guess or Gist), an uneducated In-
dian who lived at Alpine, Chattoo-
ga County, and who was a fre-
quent visitor to Major Ridge's at
his home on the Oostanatila. Se-
cjuoyah wrote on bark with poke-
berry juice, instructed his little
daughter and any Indian who
wished to learn. He went west to
the Indian country in a few years,
and presently his alpliabet was
adopted by the Cherokee Nation
and was used along with English in
copies of the Cherokee Phoenix,

GEN JOHN KLOYD, Indian fiKhter and Con-
gressman, after whom in 1832 Floyd County
was named.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

the paper edited at New Echota by
Elias Boudinot.

Several glimpses into Indian and
frontier life are given in "The Laws
of the Cherokees," published by
the Cherokee Advocate at Tahle-
quah. Okla., in 1852. One of these
if contained in an order from the
chiefs and warriors in National
Council at "Broom's Town," Sept.
11, 1808. (Broom's Town was
probably Broom Town, Cherokee
County, Ala., in Broom Town Val-
ley, and about five miles from
Cloudland, Chattooga County, Ga.).
The order forms "regulating com-
panies" of one captain, one lieu-
tenant and four privates each, at
annual salaries of $50, $40 and $30,
respectively, for the purpose of
arresting horse thieves and pro-
tecting property. The i)enalty for
stealing a horse was 100 lashes on
the bare back of the thief, be he
man or woman, and fewer lashes
for things of less value ; and if a
thief resisted the "regulators" with
gun, axe, spear or knife, he could
be killed on the spot.

SEQUOYAH (Geo. Guess), inventor of the
Cherokee Alphabet, who was born in Chat-
tooga County, near Alpine.

This law was signed by Black
Fox, principal chief; Chas. Hicks,
secretary to the Council ; Path
Killer and Toochalar. These offi-
cials and Turtle at Home, Speaker
of the Council, drafted the follow-
ing law Apr. 10, 1810, at "Oostan-
nallah," a town supposed to have
been located about three miles east
of Resaca, Gordon County, on the
east bank of the Connasauga
(sometimes known at that point
as Oostanaula) River, near the
mouth of Polecat Creek :

Be it known that this day the various
clans and tribes which compose the
Cherokee Nation have agreed that
should it happen that a brother, for-
getting- his natural affection, should
use his hand in anger and kill his
brother, he shall be accounted guilty
of murder and suffer accordingly; and
if a man has a horse stolen, and over-
takes the thief, and should his anger
be so great as to cause him to kill
him, let his blood remain on his own
conscience, but no satisfaction shall
be demanded for his life from his rel-
atives or the clan he may belong to.

"Echota" was the Cherokee term
for "town." The first capital is said
by some authorities to have been
originally in Virginia, the second
in North Carolina and the third in
East Tennessee. Prior to 1825, it
appears, John Ross, principal chief,
lived at Ross' Landing, Tennessee
River, now Chattanooga. The first
mention in the Cherokee laws of
New Town (or New Echota) was
under date of Oct. 26, 1819. This
place was situated on the south
l)ank of the Oostanaula River, in
Gordon County, Ga., just below
the confluence of the Coosawattee
and the Connasauga Rivers and
presumably three miles south of
Oostanaula village.

On Oct. 28, 1819, at Newtown
the following order was passed:

This day decreed by the National
Committee and Council, That all citi-
zens of the Cherokee Nation establish-
ing a store for the purpose of vend-
ing merchandise shall obtain license
for that purpose from the clerk of the

John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians

National Council, for which each and
every person so licensed shall pay a
tax of $25 per annum, and that no
other but citizens of the Cherokee Na-
tion shall be allowed to establish a per-
manent store within the Nation. And
it is also decreed that no peddlers not
citizens of the Nation shall be permit-
ted to vend merchandise in the Nation
without first obtaining license from
the Agent of the United States for the
Cherokee Nation, agreeably to the laws
of the United States, and each and
everyone so licensed shall pay $80 to
the treasurer of the Cherokee Nation
annually.

This law was signed by John
Ross, President of the National
Committee ; Path Killer, Chas. R.
Hicks and Alex McCoy, clerk.
Three years later George M. Lav-
ender encountered its provisions
by establishing the first trading
post near Rome, at the old home
of Major Ridge up the Oostanaula
River.

The first reference to the pres-
ent site of Rome appears in a law
passed Oct. 30, 1819, at New Town,
as follows :

Whereas, the Big Rattling Gourd*,
Wm. Grimit, Betsey Brown, The Dark,
Daniel Griffin and Mrs. Lesley hav-
ing complained before the Chiefs of a
certain company of persons having
formed a combination and established
a turnpike arbitrarily, in opposition
to the interest of the above-named
persons, proprietors of a privileged
turnpike on the same road, be it now,
therefore, known

That said complaint having been
submitted by the Council to the Na-
tional Committee for a decision, and
after maturely investigating into the
case, have decided that the said new
company of the disputed turnpike shall
be abolished, and that the above-named
persons are the only legal proprietors
to establish a turnpike on the road
leading from Widow Fool's (ferry) at
the forks of Ilightower (Etowah) and
Oostannallah Rivers to Will's Creek by

*Tho Rigr Rattline Gourd wns a snl)-chief
whd lived at r.n«' tinip at Cave Si)ring. His wife
proved unfaithful to him and in a moment of
antjer he hit otf her nose and otherwise ro
maltreated her that she died. AccordinR to Mrs.
Harriet Connor Stevens, of Cave Sprinpr, Bho
was buried on the spot where th^ Cave Spring
postofRce now stands.

**General route of thp present Alabama
Road. Turkey Town was in P^towah County, Ala.

v.ay of Turkey Town;** and the said
company shall be bound to keep in re-
pair said road, to commence from the
first creek east of John Fields, Sr'a
home, by the name where Vann was
shot, and to continue westward to the
extent of their limits; and that the
Widow Fool shall also keep in repair
for the benefit of her ferry at the fork,
the road to commence from the creek
above named to where Ridge's Road now
intersects said road east of her ferry,
and that the Ridges shall also keep in
repair the road to commence at the
Two Runs, east of his ferry, and to
continue by way of his ferry as far
as where his road intersects the old
road, leading from the fork west of
his ferry, and that also the High-
tower Turnpike Co. shall keep in re-
pair the road from the Two Runs to
where it intersects the Federal Road,
near Blackburn's.

This law was signed by Ross,
Path Killer, Hicks and McCoy.

In 1820, also at New Town or
New^ Echota, a law was passed di-
viding the Cherokee country of
Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee
into eight territorial and judicial
districts : Amoah, Aquohee, Chal-
loogee, Chickamaugee, Coosewa-
tee, Etowah, Hickory Log and
Tahquohee. In a description of
the Coosewatee District the ferry
of the Widow Fool is again men-
tioned.

It would a])pear that for about
six years, from 1819 to 1825, the
Cherokee National Committee and
Council held their meetings at New
Echota. On Nov. 12, 1825, it was
resolved to establish a town with
suitalde buildings, wide streets and
a park :

That 100 town lots of one acre
square be laid off on the Oostannallah
River, commencing below the mouth
of the creek (Town), nearly opposite
to the mouth of Caunasauga River, the
public square to embrace two acres of
ground, which town shall be known
and called I]chota. There shall be a
main street of 60 feet, and the other
streets shall be 50 feet.

That the lots when laid off be sold
to the highest bidder, the second Mon-
day in February next, the proceeds

A History of Rome and Floyd County

to be appropriated for the benefit of
the public buildings in said town.

That three commissioners, Judge
Martin. George Saunders and Walter
S. Adair, superintend the laying off of
the lots.

That all the ground lying within the
following bounds, not embraced by the
lots, shall remain as commons for the
convenience of the town: beginning
at the mouth of the creek, opposite the
mouth of Caunasauga, and up said
creek to the mouth of the dry branch
on which Geo. Hicks lives, up said
branch to the point of the ridges, and
thence in a circle around along said
ridges, by the place occupied by the
Crying Wolf (lately occupied by War
Club), thence to the river.

Signing; tliis document were John
Ross, President of the National
Committee ; Major Ridge,* Speak-
er of the Council ; Path Killer.
Chas. R. Hicks,** A. McCoy, clerk
of the National Committee, and
Elias Boudinot, clerk of the Na-
tional Council.

Thus we see the Cherokees, driv-
en from j)illar to post by the en-
croaching pale-faces, marshaling'
their forces for a last ditch stand.
Their first expedient Avas to estab-
lish "a nation within a nation,"
hence the concentration of power
in a Principal Chief, a National
Committee and a National Coun-
cil, and a regular seat of govern-
ment at New Kchota ; their second
expedient was resort to such force
as they could command — highway
assassination, attacks on isolated
families, tribal uprisings — and
finally, when state and federal gov-
ernment pressure became too
great, non-intercourse and passive
resistance. Their newspaper pr(n'ed
a feeble weapon.

As far back as the presidency of
George Washington (1794) we 'find
pow-wows in Philadeljihia (then
the national capital) with the Cher-
okees and other tribes of the va-
rious states in the east and the
southeast. In 1803 Thos. JeiYerson,
then President, suggested a gen-
eral movement westward. In 1817

and in 1819, during the Presidency
of James Monroe, important trea-
ties were signed with the Chero-
kees, involving cessions of land. In
1802, during the administration of
Mr. JelTerson, Georgia had ceded to
the United States government all
the land she owned westward to
the Mississippi River, now the
states of Alabama and Mississippi,
in exchange for the government's
promise to extinguish the Indian
title to land within Georgia's pres-
ent boundaries. Twenty years
passed ; nothing having been done,
(jOv. Geo. M. Troup pressed the
matter upon the attention of Presi-
dent James Monroe, and the Presi-
dent called a meeting in 1825 for
Indian Springs. Here the Lower
Creeks, led by Gen. Wm. Mcintosh,
ignored the hostile Alabama
Creeks, who did not attend, and
signed away their Georgia lands.
This act infuriated the Alabama
Creeks, and 170 men volunteered to
kill Gen. Mcintosh, who lived at
"Mcintosh Reserve,"onthe Chatta-
hoochee River, five miles southwest
of Whitesburg, in what is now Car-
roll County. The band lay in the
woods until 3 o'clock one morning,
;ind proceeded to the Mcintosh
home with a cjuantity of pitch pine
on the Ijacks of three warriors.
Presently the pine knots were ig-
riited and thrown under the house,
and the structure blazed up
brightly. From the second story
Mcintosh fought ofif his enemies
with four guns, but eventually the
heat forced him to descend, and
when he exposed himself he was
shot, then dragged into the yard
and killed with knives.

The Alabama Creeks having
claimed the Indian Springs instru-
ment was "no treaty," the incom-

*Major Ridge was a powerful orator, but it
is said he was uneducated and could not write
his name. The state papers of the Cherokees
usually have after his name "his mark." Path
Killer also signed by touching the pen.

**Chas. R. Hicks became the first principal
chief after the Cherokees had set up their re-
vised structure of government at New Echota.
He was succeeded in 1828 by John Ross.

John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians

ing president, John Quincy Adams,
took their side and ordered Gov.
Troup not to survey the lands just
cedecl. The Georgia Governor de-
fied Mr. Adams and told him if
United States troops invaded Geor-
gia soil, Georgia troops would put
them off. Trouble was averted by
a new agreement in which the In-
dians were given about $28,000.

The Creek settlement furnished
a suggestion for the agents who
ten years later negotiated with a
minority faction of the Cherokees,
as will be told more fully herein
hereafter. Farther down, in South
Georgia and Florida, were the

such establishment. Samuel A.
Worcester, a native of Worcester,
Mass., had charge of a mission
at New Echota. Missionary
Station, at Coosa, Floyd Coun-
ty, was in the care of Rev.
and Mrs. Elijah Butler, who were
sent out from South Canaan, Conn.,
by the American Baptist Commit-
tee on Foreign Missions. In 1831
Dr. Worcester, Dr. Butler and nine
others were sentenced to a term of
four years in the Georgia peni-
tentiary, at Milledgeville, and
served a year and four months.
They were charged with pernicious
activities among the Indians. 'IMieir

KsovJ du rthti^nv (3)wj Hyo e\)s.

THE CHEROKEE ALPHABFT

Seminoles, who gave considerable
trouble, but were generally less of
a bone of contention than the
Creeks and the Cherokees.

The clan system among the
Cherokees was abolished about
1800. The clans were W\)lf, Deer,
Paint, Longhair, Bird, Blind Sa-
vannah and Holly. Jno. Ross was
a Bird, Major Ridge a Deer and
David Vann a Wolf.

Prior to 1820 Congress appro-
priated $10,000 yearly toward the
maintenance of missions and mis-
sionaries among the Indians of
Cherokee Georgia and contiguous
territory. The P)rainerd Mission
was located on Missionary Ridge.
Tenn., and was pro])ably the first

release was brought al)out when
they agreed to lca\c tlic Slate.

Pressure on the IncHans may be
said to have been exerted from two
directions ; it proceeded from the
oldest section of the State, the
neighborhood of Augusta, Savan-
nah and Darien, in a generally
northwesterly direction, and from
South Carolina, in a westerly di-
rection. Various land si)eculators,
adventurers, criminals and good,
substantial ])eo])le began to over-
run the Ciierokee country. Under
letter date of Aug. 6, 1832, from
the Council Ground at Red Clay,
Whitfield County, the following
red-skins ])roteste(l to Lewis Cass,

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Secretary of War, against the pale-
face encroachments :*

Richard Taylor, President of Com-
mittee; John Ridge.

Major Ridge, his x mark, Geo. M.
Waters, Executive Council.

Wm. Roques, clerk of committee.

John Ross, Going Snake, speaker of
committee; Joseph Vann, David Vann,
James Daniel, Thos. Foreman, Alexan-
der McDaniel, his x mark; Fox Bald-
ridge, Samuel Gunter; Chincumkah,
his X mark ; Young Glass, hix x mark ;
John Foster, Te-sat-es-kee, his x mark;
Ed. Duncan, John Watts, his x mark;
John Wayne, his x mark; Sit-u-akee,
his X mark; Bean Stick, his x mark;
Walking Stick, his x mark; N. Connell,
Richard Fielding, John Timson, Wm.
Doling, George Still, his x mark; Hair
Conrad, his x mark; Sleeping Rabbit,"*
his X mark; Archibald Campbell, his x
mark; The Buck, his x mark; White
Path, his X mark; John R. Daniel,
Ruquah, his x mark; James Speaks,
his X mark ; Sweet Water, his x mark ;
Peter, his x mark; Soft Shell Turtle,
his X mark; A. McCoy, George Lowry.
U. S. Agent Elisha W. Chester, wit-
ness.

It was not until Oct. 23, 1832,
however, that the situation became
so acute as to call for the most
delicate diplomacy from national
and state governments. Then it
was that the lottery drawings for
the Cherokee lands were held, and
the influx of settlers became gen-
eral. Like a plague of locusts the
new-comers alighted on the choice
hunting grounds of the Cherokees.
The territory was broken up into
counties, and thus was also broken
the friendship between the con-
tending parties, Avhich for so long
had been hanging by a slender
thread. John Ross directed a pro-
test to his tribesmen which caused
tliem to fast for several days. The
Indians assumed an ugly attitude,
])ut it availed little, as we shall
]^resently see.

*American State Papers, Military Affairs,
Vol. 5, ps. 28-9.

**It was at his one-room log cabin, in Ten-
nessee, that Jno. Ross and Jno. Howard Payne
were arrested Nov. 7, 1835.

<^i^

111

3 9 ? a J g f

PART II

'ANCIENT ROME
1834-1861

CHAPTER I.
Rome's Establishment and Early Days

X THE spring of 1834 two
lawyers were traveling on
horseback from Cassville,
Cass County, to attend
court at Livingston, the county
seat of Floyd. They were Col. Dan-
iel R. Mitchell, a lawyer of Canton,
Cherokee County, and Col. Zacha-
riah B. Hargrove, Cassville attor-
ney, formerly of Covington, New-
ton County. The day was warm
and the travelers hauled up at a
small spring on the peninsula which
separates the Etow^ah and the Oos-
tanaula rivers at their junction.
Here they slaked their thirst and
sat down under a willow tree to
rest before proceeding on their
way.

Col. Hargrove gazed in admira-
tion on the surrounding hills and
remarked : "This would make a
splendid site for a town."

"I was just thinking the same,"
returned his companion. "There
seems to be plenty of water round
about and extremely fertile soil
and all the timber a man could
want."

A stranger having come up to
refresh himself at the spring, and
having overheard the conversation,
said: "Gentlemen, you will par-
don me for intruding, but 1 have
been convinced for some time that
the location of this place offers ex-
ceptional opportunities for l)uild-
ing a city that would become the
largest and most prosperous in
Cherokee Georgia. I live two miles
south of here. My business takes
me now and then to George M.
Lavender's trading post up the
Oostanaula there, and I never pass
this spot l)Ut T think of what could
be done."

The last speaker introduced him-
self as Maj. rhilip Walker Hemp-

hill, planter. Learning the mission
of the travelers, he added : "The
court does not open until tomorrow
afternoon. You gentlemen are no
doubt fatigued by your journey,
and it will give me great pleasure
if you will accompany me home
and spend the night. There we can
discuss the matter of locating a
town at this place."

Col. Mitchell and Col. Hargrove
accepted with thanks. The three
left the spring (which still runs
under Broad street at the south-
east corner of Third Avenue),
crossed the Etowah River on John
Ross' "Forks Ferry," and proceed-
ed with Major Hemphill to his
comfortable plantation home at
what is now DeSoto Park. Here
they went into the question more
deeply. A cousin of Maj. Hemp-
hill, Gen. James Hemphill, who
lived about ten miles down Vann's
Valley, had recently been elected
to the Georgia legislature, and
could no doubt bring about a re-
moval of the county site from
Livingston to Rome ; he was also
commanding officer of the Georgia
Militia in the section.

After court was over, Col. Mitch-
ell and Col. Hargrove spent an-
other night witli Maj. llcmphill,
;ind the next morning Col. Wm.
v'^mith ^vas called in from Cave
Spring, and l)ecame the fourth
member of tlie company. It was
there agreed that all availal^le
land would be acquired immediate-
1\'. the fcrr\- rights would be
!)ought and the ground laid olt in
lots. Gen. Hemphill was requested
to confer witli his compatriots at
Milledgcvillc and draw up a l)ill
for removal. The projectors wcnild
give sufiicient land for the imblic
l)uildings and in time would make
the ferries free and cause neces-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

sary bridges to be built, as well as
to lay out streets at once. A con-
tract along- these lines was signed
with the Inferior Court of Floyd
County. Since Col. Mitchell and
Col. Ilargrove were fairly well es-
tablished elsewhere, and it would
be some time before they could
move, they agreed to leave the le-
gal matters in the hands of John
II. I<uni])kin, of Oglethorpe Coun-
ty, who was ready to resign as sec-
retary to his uncle, Governor Wil-
son Lumpkin, and to grow uj) with
the new town.

These five i)ii)neers put five
names into a hat, it having been
agreed that the name drawn out
should be the name of the city
they were to build. Col. Smith
put in the name Ilillsboro, typify-
ing the hills, and this later became
the name of the suburb he develop-
ed. South Rome ; Col. Hargrove
suggested Pittsburg, after the iron
?nd steel metropolis of Pennsyl-

DANIEL R. MITCHELL, lawyer and one of
four founders of Rome, who gave to the
young city its name.

\ania ; Col. Hemphill preferred
Hamburg, after the great commer-
cial city of Germany ; Col. Mitch-
cll, recalling the seven hills of an-
cient Rome on the Tiber, wanted
Rome ; and Mr. Lumpkin favored
Warsaw, after the city of Poland.
The name Rome was extracted and
became the name of the town.

Among other early settlers of
Rome or Floyd County were the
following :

Col. Alfred Shorter, who came
from Society Hill, Ala., to finance
the o])erations of William Smith,
on a half interest basis ; Joseph
Watters and John Rush, of the
Watters District ; John Ellis, Jos.
B'ord. judge W. H. Underwood,
Alford B. Reece, Thos. G. Watters,
Thos. S. Price, Wesley Shropshire,
Edward Ware, Thos. and Elijah
Lumpkin, Micajah Mayo, Elkanah
Everett, of Everett Springs; A.
Tabor Hardin, Wm. C. Hardin,
Nathan Bass, Thos. Selman, Rev.
Genuluth Winn, Dr. Alvin Dean,
Isaac and John P. Bouchillon, Wm.
Ring, John Smith, Shade Green,
Dr. Jesse Carr, Jno. W. Walker,
Henry W. Dean, Jno. Townsend,
Jeremiah L. McArver, Sam Smith,
Wm. Mathis, G. T. Mitchell, Fletch-
er Carver, J. W. Carver, J. D. Alex-
ander, Col. Jno. R. Hart, Gilbert
Cone, Dr. IL V. M. Miller, Thos. W.
Burton, A. D. Shackelford, Thos.
C. Hackett, James McEntee, Wm.
T. I 'rice, R. S. Norton, C. M. Pen-
nington, Rev. Shaler (i. Hillyer,
\\\u. E. Alexander, W. S. Cothran,
A. B. Ross, Jobe Rogers, Jno. and
Wm. Dejournett, Judge Jno. W
Hooper, Ewell Meredith, Col. Jas.
Liddell (or Ladelle), Alfred Brown,
James Wells, Jesse Lamberth, Ter-
rence McGuire, Dennis Hills, Dr.
Thos. Hamilton, Samuel Mobley,
Wm. Montgomery, Fielding Hight,
Green Cunningham and Samuel
Stewart.

Jackson County appropriately
bears the name "Mother of Floyd,"

Rome's Establishment and Early Days

l)ecaiise of the number and promi-
nence of her citizens who settled
i;i Cave Spring, Vann's Valley or
Rome. Among these might be men-
tioned Mrs. Alfred Shorter, Major
Philip W. Hemphill and his brother,
Chas. Jonathan Hemphill ; Col. and
]\rrs. Wm. Smith and her brother,
)no. Willis Mayo, and her kinsman,
Micajah Mayo, after whom the
Mayo Bar lock was named ; Col.
Smith's brothers, Chas., John and
Elijah A. Smith ; Gen. Jas. Hemp-
hill, Walton H. Jones, Peyton Skip-
with Randolph, Newton Green,
Col. James Liddell (or Ladelle),
and Wm. Montgomery. Most of
these settled in Vann's \^alley or
Cave Spring and thus furnished the
inspiration for Rome. Generally
they hailed from Jefferson, home of
Dr. Crawford W. Long.

In 1828 the Georgia Legislature
liad passed a law extending juris-
diction over the Cherokee country,
thus ending the "nation within a
nation" dream. On Dec. 3, 1832, less
than two months after the lottery
cu-awings, the Legislature passed
an act providing for a division of
Cherokee Georgia into ten large
counties : Floyd, called after the
Indian fighter, Gen. Jno. Floyd,
of Camden County ; Cherokee, For-
syth, Lumpkin, Cobb, Gilmer. Cass,
Murray, Paulding and Lnion.
Roughly speaking, this territory
lay northwest of tlie Chattahoo-
chee River, and was bounded on
the north by the Tennessee line,
nnd on the west b_\- the Alabama
line. Graduallv more and more di-
visions were made, until today the
territory is composed of the fol-
lowing additional ccranties : Dade,
Walker, Catoosa. Chattooga, ]^>ar-
tow, (jordon, Polk, Haralson, Car-
roll, Douglas, Milton, Dawson,
White, Fannin, Pickens, Rabun,
'J'owns and Habersham, and parts
of Hall, Heard and TroU]).

*Acts, 1833, ps. 321-2.
**Acts, 1834, ps. 250-1.

Floyd was surveyed by Jacob
M. Scudder, who in 1833 was em-
ployed by the United States gov-
ernment to ap])raise Indian lands
and improvements near Cave
Spring. Mr. Scudder's name ap-
pears on the early records at the
Floyd County courthouse in a real
estate transaction, but there is no
evidence that he ever lived at Rome.
Livingston, a hamlet located on
the south side of the Coosa River
at Foster's Bend, about 14 miles
below^ Rome, was chosen by legis-
lative act of Dec. 21, 1833* as the
county seat, and a log cabin court-
house was erected at which one or
more sessions of court, presided
over ])y Judge Jno. W. Hooper,
were held, and in which quite a
numl)er of Indians appeared as
jjrosecutors and defendants.

The removal of the county seat
from Livingston to Rome took
place under authoritv of an act
passed Dec. 20, 1834>* and was

PHILIP WALKER HEMPHILL, planter and
one of Rome's projectors, who in 1846 moved
to Mississippi.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

consummated in 1835. However,
a considerable settlement had
sprung up prior to this in Vann's
Valley. On the "pale-face side" of
the Chattahoochee a large and
restless element had been held back
by the existing conditions, but
when encouragement was given by
the Georgia authorities to en-
croachments on the Indian lands,
this tide overflowed into the Cher-
okee country.

The countv site was removed
to Land Lot 245, 23rd District, 3rd
Section, Head of Coosa, Floyd
County, the new place to be known
as Rome.* The first Saturday in
February, 1835, was set as the date
for selecting five commissioners
for one-year terms.** Parts of
land lot 244, east of the Oostanaula
and 276, north of the Hightower
(Etowah), were also reserved for
the growth of the town. The act
further stated that nothing therein
was to be considered in conflict
with a contract made previously
by Wm. Smith, ct al., with the In-
ferior Court.

An amendment*** to the act of
1834, passed Dec. 29, 1838, provided
for creation of the office of "in-
tendant," which means "superin-
tendent" l)y the dictionary, but
probably meant "mayor" in those
days; also included were commis-
sioners, clerk, marshal, etc., and
some salaries were fixed.

David Vann, a Cherokee sub-
chief, had settled near Cave Si)ring
in the valle_\' wliicli was given his
name, and in this valley between
the present Rome and Cave Spring
people began to "squat" several
years before there was a Rome.
In 1828, Major Armistead Rich-
ardson, father-in-law of the late
Judge Augustus R. Wright, of
Rome, removed to Vann's Valley
from Augusta and with the as-
sistance of a number of enthusi-
astic associates began preparations

for the establishment of Cave
Spring in 1831.

Ridge Valley, seven miles north
of Rome, had been settled simul-
taneously with the Vann's Valley
settlement. This valley was named
after another Indian leader, Major
Ividge. \vho is supposed to have
lived in it. at the present Rush
place, at Hermitage, a number of
years before moving to the Oosta-
naula near Rome.

The period of John Ross' resi-
dence in DeSoto (Rome's present
Fourth ward) has not been deter-
mined accurately. However, a sat-
isfactory conclusion may be drawn
from the fact that the Cherokee
chiefs had been meeting at the
New Echota Council ground since
1819. that New Echota had been
the capital since 1825, and Mr. Ross
found DeSoto ("Head of Coosa")
a central point to reside.**** Un-
doubtedlv Mr. Ross was influenced

*Acts. 1834, ps. 2.50-1.

**Jas. M. CunninKham's place, at or near the
present DeSoto Park, had been designated in
the act of Dec. 21, 1S33, as the place to hold
county elections.

***Acts of 1838.

****Persistent search has been made to reveal
who it was that turned John Ross out of Jiis
home, but his identity has net been estab-
lished to a certainty. However, it is on record
in the Secretary of State's office. State Cap'tol,
Atlanta, and an old book knowTi as the Cher-
okee Land Lottery says the Ross home site land
(Land Lot 237. 23rd district, 3rd section) was
drawn by Hugh Brown, of Beavour's district,
Habersham County. Floyd County Deed Record
D, page 40, recites that Brown sold the 160
acres Nov. 23, 1835, to Samuel Headen, of
Franklin County, for $.500 ; and on page 4.5
it is set down that Samuel Headen sold it
Feb. 21. 1844, for $3,000 to John B. Winfrey,
of Hall. John B. Winfrey was the father of
Jas. O. Winfrey, of Floyd. He sold 80 acres
of it to Col. Alfre<I Shorter and SO to Daniel
R. Mitchell. The part on which the Ross
house stood is now between Mrs. James M.
Bradshaw's home and Hamilton park, and in-
cludes the home of County School Superin-
tendent W. C. Rash. It is an eminence where
a large sugar berry tree and a walnut are
growing. Here, according to a memorial Ross
and others sent to the United States Senate in
183(5, was where one of his babies and his
beloved father, Daniel Ross, were buried. Since
Hugh Brown sold the land in November and
Ross was dispossessed in April, 1835, it is
likely that Brown was living there at the time
the Indian leader and his family were turned
adrift. Mr. Ross lived at Ross' Landing, Look-
out Mountain, now Chattanooga, Tenn., and
at Rossville, Walker County, Ga. He was
born Oct. 3, 1790 : some authorities say at
Rossville, some Turkeytown. Etowah Co., Ala.,
and some Tah-nee-hoo-yah ("Logs in the Wa-
ter"), Ala., which last place and Turkeytown
were on the Coosa.

Rome's Establishment and Early Days

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THE HEART OF CHEROKEE GEORGIA.

(Scale of miles, 18 miles to one inch.)

by the fact that Major Ridge was
living about a mile away, and they
could hold their conferences much
more easily, jolm Ridge, son of
the Major and also a leader, lived
about three miles from Ross, at
"Running Waters," later the John
Hume place. New Kchota was
some 30 miles, and the Council
Ground at Red Clay, Whitfield
County, was 60 miles northward,
as the crow flies. Seciuoyah, the

man of letters and knowledge, was
25 miles aw;iy. Klias B'.)udinot,
Stand Watie and David Vann were
readily available. Assuming that
Ross moved to DeSot(-i in 1825, he
resided there ten years, until fmally
dispossessed of his home, lie used
to start his letters "Head of Coo-
sa."

It will be seen, therefore, that
the site of Rome was probably of
nitirc inii)ortancc between 1825 and

44G036

A History of Rome and Floyd County

the final removal in 1838 than even
the capital itself; but at best the
Indians were a nomadic race, liv-
ing here today and there tomor-
row, and their leaders hopped Avith
alacritv between Rome, New
Echota, Red Clay and Washing-
ton.

r.ut let us return to the pioneer
pale-faces.

Col. Mitchell surveyed the sec-
tion between the rivers and made
a map, dated 1834, copies of which
are in existence today. This work
was done from Third Avenue
northward, since the farm below
was owned by Col. Smith and at
that time was considered unsafe
for building on account of the high
waters ; furthermore, it was re-
served for race track and tourna-
ment purposes. Col. Smith was a
lover of horseflesh and he built a
half-mile cinder track around the
banks of the rivers, and placed his
grandstand near the spring alluded
to in tlie foregoing. There were
special races between the best
riders of the surrounding counties ;
the Indians, who usually rode bare-
back, carried off many a prize.
Tournaments were held now and
tlien, in which the riders, going at
full s])eed on their mounts, ran
tlicir lances through rings held
lightly by a projecting wooden
arm — the man who got the most
rings in the fewest runs av(mi the
contest.

Another diversion, of a highly
humorous nature, was the "gander
pulling." The neck of a live gander
was greased thoroughly and the
bird hung up by the feet to a limlj.
The game was to pull the gan-
der's neck oft* or Ijring him down
"whole." This was a (lifiicult feat
because the gander dexterously
dodged his head when the horse-
man was about to "pull." Still an-
other was the "greased pole." Any-
body who could climb 15 feet to
the top could have the bag of

money suspended therefrom. The
pole was of skinned hickory or
oak and would have been sleek
enough without any grease. If the
boys could not make it to the top
in a reasonable time they were al-
lowed in put sand on their cloth-
ing; then they went home to their
"maws." "Catching the greased
])ig" was another sport.

In 1833 occurred an event which
made Indians and many supersti-
tious folk believe the world was
coming to an end. One night the
stars "fell." Such another display
of pranks in the skies had never
l)een seen ; for c^uite a while the
stars shot this way and that, in
graceful curves, then in uncanny
zig-zags, until it appeared that the
feeble little people of earth would
surely be covered in a shower of
stars. Indian mothers rushed about,
gathering up their oft'spring, and
rum old negro mammies and uncles
hid under beds and houses, shout-
ing, "Oh, Lordy! Oh, Lordy ! Dis
nigger's soul am pure !"

The task of forming the Rome
l)ar fell to Col. ]\Iitchell, who pro-
ceeded with a nucleus composed
of himself, Mr. Lumpkin and two
or three others. Tresently, in 1835,
fluids were raised and a brick
courthouse erected at Court (East
First) Street and Bridge Street
(East Fifth Avenue). Removal of
the courthouse did not exactly suit
Jackson Trout, who had built the
first wooden dwelling at Living-
ston. He kept up with the proces-
sion by skidding his house down
to the Coosa River, putting it on
a barge and polling it to Rome,
where he set it up again as the first
dwelling there. Others followed
suit, and they had considerable
trouble when they reached Llorse-
leg Shoals, which required "mule-
hauling" of a high order, to use a
nautical expression.

Rome at this time was a "forest
primeval." Everywhere were

Rome's Establishment and Early Days

woods except at the forks, and
that was swampy and full of wil-
lows, with an occasional sturdy
tree and hungry mosquito. The
rivers were still alive with fish ;
wild turkeys and deer were often
seen ; snakes were numerous ; quail
were abundant and squirrels skip-
ped in their native element where
Broad Street now extends ; the
bushes were alive wnth wild birds
of beautiful color; on Mt. Alto
and Lavender Mountain, five miles
away, bears could be found ; and
at night the fiery gleam from the
eye of a wolf was a common sight.
It was a wild country, with trails
for roads, and few conveniences.

Squatters and Indians alike
pitched their tents in suitable spots
waiting" for some new word to
"move on" or "move ofif." Small
squads of Georgia Guardsmen, es-
tablished by act of 1834, or of Unit-
ed States soldiers, watching Guards
and Indians alike, camped a while
and then went on to other duty.
Trappers and traders did a thriv-
ing business ; so did the ferry-
men who set people across at the
forks or elsewhere. Everybody
seemed to be going or coming, de-
spite the efforts of the Town Com-
pany to halt them at Rome. The
Indians were unusually restless.

Along would come a white fam-
ily on horseback, carrying all their
worldly goods. They had traveled
from some neighboring county, or
perchance as far as from North
Carolina, ho])ing to better their
material condition. The man would
lead, the children would follow, and
the mother bring up the rear, rid-
ing sidewise. Any old port in a
storm looked good.

Many had definite ()l)jectives.
many did not and would "scjuat"
anywhere that looked like it held
promise for the future. Others
were definitely attracted by the
prospect of pioneering in a live
town. It is fair to sav that Rome

and Floyd County received, along
with many "floaters," a highly sub-
stantial and even aristocratic cit-
izenship. The founders were men
of character and iron will — accus-
tomed to blazing their way through
one kind of forest or 'another. They
started with little and made out of
it much. There were no luxuries to
be had, hence they worked with
the things of nature, and fashioned
out of them whatever they could.

The old Alabama Road forked
where the Central Railroad trestle
now crosses it. One fork led to
Major Ridge's Ferry opposite the
Linton A. Dean place, and the other
bent southeast to the Ross ferry at
the confluence of the rivers. At
the Ross ferry a man from Ala-
bama could gain the Ilillsboro side
or the Rome side, as he pleased.
A little later the traffic became so
heavy that Matt and Overton
Hitchcock built for Col. Smith a
covered wooden bridge at Fifth
Avenue (over the Oostanaula), and
from that point connected with the
Alabama Road. Agricultural busi-
ness gradually grew prosperous.
George Lavender's trading post did
a land office business. It used to be
said that Lavender kept his money
in a barrel or keg which was al-
ways fairly well filled with gold
and silver coin ; and that when his
partnership with Afajor Ridge and
Daniel R. Mitchell was dissolved,
thev cut a melon estimated at
$250,000 in 1922 coin.

Perhai)s 5.000 Indians patronized
this establishment, and they paid
an}' j^rice for \\hat they \vantcd.
They were especially fond of calico
garments, and would buy extrava-
gantly for their women, and often
include enough for an odd waist
^vhich the women would make for
them. They wore outlandish
clothes, never matching in an_\- par-
ticular; buckskin or woolen trous-
ers, well worn or ])atched ; hats
that suggested the liat of today on

A History of Rome and Floyd County

a Chinaman, often with a squirrel
tail tacked on it and hanging ilown
the side or hack; some hats made
entirely of skin, and therefore very
warm in cold weather; moccasins
or discarded white man shoes cov-
ering their feet, but many l)are-
foot ; cheap jewelry and trinkets
whenever they could get it, which
was often ; sometimes a ([ueer tur-
han in place of a hat; usually no
coat or jacl'.et, except in winter.

The Indian was fond of tobacco
and liquor, but as soon as the lead-
ers saw what terrible inroads were
being made on Indian territory by
pale-face profiteers of various
kinds, a strong Indian organization
was formed to stamp out the evils.
Liquor was obtained from stores
that had a provision shop in front
and a barroom or "doggery" in the
rear, the entire establishment be-
ing dignified by the name "gro-
cerv." (ireen wooden screens ob-
scured the occupants of the bar-
room until a state law caused them
to be abolished, and then every-
body could peek in and see who was
getting "lit up." Around these
])laces loafed a gang of shiftless
Indians and whites, bent on satis-
fying their aI)normal appetites, and
fit subjects for whatever mischief
might be suggested by the Demon

MA.IOR RIDGE, Cherokee chief, who, with
his son John, was murdered June 22, 1839,
in Indian Territory by vengeful redskins.

Rum. These gangs were extremely
j)rofane, and poisoned the atmos-
])here for such a distance that
ladies and young ladies would nev-
er venture closer than across the
street. Knife and pistol scrapes
were frequent, especially late at
night after the more peaceful in-
habitants had retired to their beds.
A calaboose soon became a crying
necessity, and with it a town mar-
shal who managed to keep it full,
except when the inmates escaped
and turned the thing over on its
side. It was a log afifair, near West
Second Street and Sixth Avenue.

There is no certainty as to just
what the early city government
was like. Doubtless in the begin-
ning every man was a law unto
himself. Gradually, however, local
laws were passed and irresponsi-
l)le persons made amenable to
them. In the thirteen years that
Rome remained unincorporated it
is likely that the intendant or the
marshal acted as the executive ma-
jor domo, and certain that local or
inferior court judges meted out
justice.

Col. IMitchell, surveyor, evidently
had in mind a future instrument
like the automobile when he laid
out the streets of the town. He
made Broad Street and Oostanaula
Street (Fourth Avenue) 132 feet
wide, all other streets 66 feet w'ide
and lanes 33 feet. Some modifica-
tions of that scale, notably with
regard to Fourth Avenue, have
since been made, and a lawsuit of
some imi)ortance and interest has
resulted.

A few more stores and shops
s])rang up which carried every ar-
ticle that could be ol)tained in such
a limited market. The groceries
would also ofl^er a line of retail dry
goods, small farming implements,
plug and smoking tobacco, pipes,
lanterns and lamps, wax tapers,
matches, candles, novelties for the
Indians, snufif for the women, suits,

Rome's Establishment and Early Days

hats and slioes, horse collars and
harness, nails, hand tools, occa-
sionally musical instruments. There
were no soda water, ice, silver ciga-
rette cases, bon-bons or chocolates,
nail files, lip sticks, rouge, hair nets
or beaver hats. Drug stores, banks
newspapers, steamboats, crocker-
ies and bakeries, schools and
churches were to come along later.

Gentlemen blacked their own
boots and cut out of the forest with
great cross-cut saws the wood that
went into their homes. The}' wore
the uniforms of the frontier and
assumed the manners of frontiers-
men. Rome was to 1:»e Iniilt, and it
could not ])e l)uilt with kid gloves.

The social life was very restrict-
ed at first. It consisted of calls
from neighbor on neighbor, afoot,
on horseback or by ox-cart ; or
maybe a country break-down on a
rudely improvised platform. Since
the Indians had no city to l^uild —
since they needed only to get a
little something to eat every day
and keep out of the way of land-
grabbers and the "state police"^
they had more time for frolics than
the early whites. Around bonfires
in their villages the red-skins made
merry, rending the nights hideous
with their A\ar-whoops ; and on
these special occasions they put
aside their semi-civilized garb and
donned the ])uckskin, the flaming
headdress of feathers and all the
paint they could daul) on.

Each year in summer came the
Green Corn Dances at the various
villages. The late Mr's. Robert
Battey recalled one at Major
Ridge's, held when she was about
seven years of age. A large com-
pany of Inchans gathered, and one
thing that impressed lier j^articu-
larly was that some of tlie men
had mussel shells tied around tlieir
ankles and Idled with gravel that

'From this description it is evident that the
games were played on the low, level spot which
now comprises the campuses of Hearn Academy
and the Georgia School for the Deaf.

rattled when they danced. She re-
membered that several remained
over night until Sunday, and kick-
ed up their heels in George Laven-
der's store. Her impression of the
Indian was the same as that ob-
tained by anybody who knew his
nature ; he Avas a silent, taciturn
individual, deeply religious in his
own way, ever faithful to the pale-
face who befriended him and ever
ihe foe of one who played him
false. He seldom, if ever, broke a
promise.'

From Montgomery M. Folsom,
\vriting in The Rome Tribune Nov.
20, 1892, we have the following
contribution on the pioneer days :

I drove with Mr. Wesley O. Connor
out to see Mr. Wright Ellis, one of the
last of the old settlers of the Cave
Spring region, and Mr. Ellis told many
interesting stories of the early days.
Mr. Ellis came to Cave Spring with
his father as a little boy. Near his
house at the end of Vann's Valley
stood an old fort which pi'otected the
settlement. He told me of a wolf
found dead in the cave; it had lain
there several years, and the mineral
qualities of the cave had preserved
it perfectly, until one day a band of
Indian boys dragged forth the carcass
and tore it to pieces.

David Vann lived on the hill above
the spring and the Indians used to
congregate near his place for their an-
nual ball play, as they called it*. They
came from miles away to enjoy the
sport. They would also form in two

JOHN RIDC.K, who was also active in oppo-
sition to John Ross's attempt to block re-
moval of the Cherokeos from Georgia soil.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

lines (sides) and shoot arrows at
rolling stones. The side which scored
the most hits would win.

A short distance west of Cave Spring
was where the Indians of that neigh-
borhood held their Green Corn dances.
Mr. Ellis said he had seen crowds es-
timated at 1,000 to 5,000. Out in the
nearby mountains Capt. John Ellis,
his father, went with a small party
and captured two Cherokee chiefs who
were giving trouble during the re-
moval, and threatening a massacre.
The chiefs were sent west. As the
raiders approached, a sentinel cried,
"Eastochatchee soolacogee!" meaning
"much white man!"

These were the days of the "pony
clubs," whose members blacked their
faces and stole horses from whites and
Indians alike. A party of the law and
order element, known as the "slick-
ers," once caught two thieves and gave
them lashes on their backs with a
whip.

Mr. Ellis also told how Col. Wm.
Smith, known to the Indians as "Black
Bill," because of his dark complexion,
routed a crowd of drunken red-skins

at Major Wm. Montgomery's spring in
July, 1832. "Black Bill" lit into them
with a hame, knocked them right and
left and put them to flight.

Capt. John Townsend, Maj. Armi-
stead Richardson, William Simmons,
Jackson Trout, W. D. Cowdrey, W. K.
Posey, Carter W. Sparks, Major Wm.
Montgomery and Gen. Jas. Hemphill
were among the pioneers who possessed
the Cave Spring land ere the print
of the moccasin had faded from the
soil.

Life with the rugged settlers of
Rome was just one murder, liorse
theft or incendiary fire after an-
other. The country was overrun
with vigilance committees, out-
la\vs, land speculators, soldiers, un-
ruly Indians and plain people of
respectability who wanted to farm
and conduct their shops in peace.
Peace and the social order that
thrives in it was not to be attained,
however, until the Indians were
sent west lock, stock and barrel.

JUL

CHAPTER II.
The Great Indian Meeting at Rome

THE following item from the
Georgia Constitutionalist,
of Augusta, July 24, 1835,
(Guieu & Thompson, pro-
})rietors), announced the date and
place of the important meeting of
Ridge and Ross forces and Geor-
gia Guardsmen and United States
troopers near Rome. This meet-
ing was vital because it paved the
way for the Council pow-wow at
Red Clay in October, which in turn
brought about the New Echota
meeting and treaty signed Dec. 29,
1835, the instrument by which the
Cherokees were removed :*

The Cassville Pioneer says John
Ridge and his friends will hold a Coun-
cil in Floyd County six miles north of
Rome 20th of July inst. It is expected
this Council will be numerously at-
tended. The cause of Ridge and his
party is going ahead.

The meeting actually opened on
the 19th, a day ahead of schedule.

The gathering was supposed,
prior to discovery of the above
item in an old newspaper file in
the Library of the University of
Georgia, to have been held at the
home of Major Ridge on the Oosta-
naula, but since the item says it
was to be held six miles north of
Rome, and several authorities as-
sert the place was "Running Wa-
ters," the conclusion is inevitable
th?t it was held at the home of
John Ridge, son of the Major, three
miles north of Rome, at the ])lanta-
tion later owned by John Hume,
and now the property of F. L. Fors-
ter. A bold spring at this domicile
caused the name "Tantatanara,"

♦Allowing for women and children, Georpria
Guardsmen, United States troops, officials and
onlookers, it is probable that .3.000 peoide at-
tended this meetinpr. It was estimated that
600-800 attended the Red Clav Council in Oc-
tober, 1835, and 300-.500 the New Echt.ta meet-
ing in December, 183.5, when the treaty was
accepted.

**Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835). ps. 390-2.

the Indian for "Running Waters,"
to be applied.

All authorities agree that the
Running Waters pow-wow was the
largest the Cherokees had held up
to that time, and its importance
could not be overestimated. Major
Currey's special correspondence is
here given.

**Cherokee Agency East,
Calhoun, Tenn.,
July 27, 1835.
Elbert Herring, Esq.,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir : The people composing the
council called for the purpose of ob-
taining the sense of the nation on the
subject of the annuity convened on the
day before the period appointed. There
were between 2,500 and 2,600 Indian
men present. This number could not
by any previous measures or meetings
have been anticipated. Mr. Schermer-
horn was present and obtained their
consent to address them on the next
morning. The first day was consumed
in discussions, explanations and vot-
ing on a proposition to divide the an-
nuity among the people by ayes and
nays.

When the next morning arrived, Mr.
Schermerhorn had a stand erected, so
that he might by his elevation be the
more generally heard ; aided by the Rev.
Jesse Bushyhead, he went into a full
explanation of the views of the Gov-
ernment, and the relation in which
the different delegations stood to one
another; their people, the States and
the general Government; which was
listened to with much attention for a
period of three hours. In order to
insure attention, this resolution had
been so worded that it would not dis-
pose of the question further than the
single proposition was concerned; and
by addressing them before the vote
was finished, Mr. Schermerhorn had,
perhaps, the largest red audience of
adult males ever before assembled to-
gather in this nation at one time.

The Cherokees had, until a few days
before, been advised not to attend, but
when Ross found that the money would
be paid to the order of the majority

A History of Rome and Floyd County

attending, his head men were called
together at Red Clay, when I am in-
formed he told them the agents of
Government, and the disorganized at-
tached to Ridge, must be put down;
and in order to do this, all the men
of the nation must rally, and be there
to sustain their nation and treasury.

They came, some starving, some half
clad, some armed, and scarcely any
with provisions for more than one or
two days. Under these circumstances,
having a desire to be heard, Mr.
Schermerhorn promised them rations
for one day, on condition they would
hear him as commissioner. On exam-
ination, I found they might, under the
iJth section of the regulations for pay-
ing annuities, be furnished at public
expense, if circumstances rendered it
necessary. Arrangements were accord-
ingly made, and requisitions drawn on
Lieut. Bateman to meet the same.

I took occasion to say to the Cher-
okees, as they came up by districts,
that let them vote the money in what
way they would, it could not save their
country; that their party had been in-
vited to express their views and wishes
freely; instead of doing this they had
withdrawn themselves from the
ground, and been counselled in the
bushes. Why was this so? Were their
chiefs still disposed to delude their
people, when ruin demanded entrance
at the red man's door, and the heavy
hand of oppression already rested upon
his head?

To say the least of it, there was
something suspicious in their with-
drawal. The officers of Government
were bound to report their speeches to
the Secretary of War, and the chiefs
had shown contempt to the United
States by withdrawing themselves and
their people into the woods beyond
their hearing. If this was not the
proper construction to be placed upon
such a proceeding, the chiefs had cer-
tainly carried them off to feed their
feelings on false hopes and false prom-
ises once more.

When the resolution presented by
Smith' was disposed of, which stood
114 for and 2,238*'^ against, Gunter's
resolution to pay to the Treasury was
next in order. The whole people were
called up and the resolution read. Mr.
Gunter made a few remarks in its sup-
port, when Major Ridge offered an
amendment, directing that none of this
money should be paid to lawyers. This
was seconded by John Ridge, which
gave both these latter gentlemen a full

opportunity to be heard. They went
into a most pathetic description of na-
tional distress and individual oppres-
sion; the necessity of seeking freedom
in another clime; the importance of
union and harmony, and the beauties
of peace and of friendship; but said
if there were any who preferred to
endure misery and wed themselves to
slavery, as for them and their friends,
they craved not such company.

The Indians had, by districts, in
files four deep, been drawn up to vote
on Gunter's resolution, that they might
hear it read, and be counted the more
conveniently. But when the Ridges
were speaking, all the previous prej-
udices so manifestly shown by looks
appeared to die away, and the be-
nighted foresters involuntarily broke
the line and pressed forward as if at-
tracted by the powers of magnetism
to the stand, and when they could get
no nearer, they reached their heads
forward in anxiety to hear the truth.
After the Ridges had procured the de-
sired attention, they withdrew their
amendment, and the vote was taken
on Gunter's resolution, and carried by
acclamation. Mr. Schermerhorn then
requested each party to appoint com-
mittees to meet him and Governor Car-
roU*'''* at the agency on the 29th in-
stant. Ridge's party complied. If
the other party did, it has not been
made known to the commissioner.

By the next mail we will be able
to give information of a more sat-
isfactory nature, having reference to
the future.

I have no doubt, although the money
went into the treasury of the nation,
(as might have been expected from
a general turnout), still, the informa-
tion communicated in the discussions
growing up on the occasion will be
attended with the most happy conse-

*Archilla Smith, one of the leaders of the
RuIko Treaty party. He is referred to in Gov.
Wilson Lumpkin's book "Removal of the
Cherokee Indians from Georfria" as Asahel R.
Smith, of Lawrenceville, father of the well-
known Roman, Maj. Chas. H. Smith ("Bill
Arp"), but members of the "Bill Arp" family
state this was an error. The Smith resolution
sought to divide the annuity among the tribes-
men.

**Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (18.^5), ps. 399-447, lists the voters,
with their numbers, to a total of 2,27.3, but a
printer's note states there are only 2,200 names,
suggesting that duplications may have crept in.
This list gives all who supported the Smith res-
olution and 2,1.'J9 who voted against it, which
would make a total of 2,270. The difference
of three in two of the totals is the difference
between the Currey estimate of 114 aye votes
and the table's record of 111 votes.

***Wm. Carroll, of Tennessee, co-commis-
sioner with Mr. Schermerhorn, whom illness
and a political campaign kept from acting.

The Great Indian Meeting at Rome

JOHN ROSS, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Indians from
1828 to his death in 1866, who fought with admirable courage more than
25 years to keep his people in the hunting grounds of their forefathers.

-A History of Rome and Floyd County

quences to the Cherokees, and great-
ly facilitate a final adjustment of
their difficulties.

It is a matter worthy of remark
that so great a number of persons of
any color have seldom if ever met and
preserved better order than was ob-
served on this occasion.

Most respectfully, I have the honor
to be, your very obedient servant,

BENJAMIN F. CURREY.
Supt. of Cherokee Removal and Act-
ing Indian Agent.
P. S. — The report required by the
regulations will follow this, so soon
as it can be made out.
Yours,

B. F. C.

*Cherokee Agency East,
Calhoun, Tenn.,
July 29, 1835.
Elbert Herring, Esq.,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: Enclosed I have the honor to
transmit copies of a report made by
Col. C. H. Nelson and Col. Nathaniel
Smith, who were appointed in June
last by me to take the census of the
Cherokees east, in conformity with a
verbal request from the Honorable
Secretary of War, as well as to com-
ply with the requirements contained
in a "circular" dated War Depart-
ment, Office Indian Affairs, May,
1835, addressed to me a short period
before this duty was commenced.
Runners were sent over the country,
and some of Ross' messages were seen
and read by the census-takers, direct-
ing the Cherokees not to allow their
numbers to be taken.

In 1819 John Ross notified the In-
dian agent that he had determined to
reside permanently on a tract of land
reserved within the ceded territory for
his use; and in contemplation of the
treaty, took upon himself all the re-
sponsibilities of a citizen of the United
States. Has he not, then, subjected
himself to the penalties of the 13th,
14th and 15th sections of "An Act to
regulate trade and intercourse with
the Indian tribes," etc., approved June
30, 1834?

One thing is very certain, that by
sending his messages and holding his
talks in the Cherokee settlements, he
more effectually disturbs the peace, and
defeats or delays the measures of the
Government of the United States, than
he could if he were the citizen of a

foreign Government, and much better
than one of our own citizens possibly
could do?**

Very respectfully, I have the honor
to be, your very obedient servant,
BENJ. F. CURREY.

***Cherokee Agency East,
Calhoun, Tenn.,
July 30, 1835.
Elbert Herring, Esq.,
Commissioner Indian Affairs,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: Enclosed, I have the satisfac-
tion to transmit to you a certified his-
tory of the proceedings of the Run-
ning Waters Council, held on the 19th,
20th and 21st instant, to determine
how the annuity of the present year
should be disposed of.

The names are recorded as the votes
were presented on Smith's resolution.
But all who were present did not vote
on either side, and many of those who
were in favor of dividing the money,
finding that their wishes could not be
caified, voted it to the treasurer.
Some of the voters in favor of a
treaty, having claims on the Cherokee
nation, voted, and influenced many
others to vote, in the same way; so
that the vote on Smith's resolutio»n
can not, properly, be considered a fair
test of the strength of the parties.

Ridge's party is increasing rapidly,
and will, by raising the proper means,
reach the majority of Georgia, Ala-
bama and Tennessee, long before the
adjournment of the next Congress.

Most respectfully, I have the honor
to be, your very obedient aervant,

BENJ. F. CURREY,
Superintendent, etc.

p, s. — Ross has failed to meet the
commissioners, for Jesuitical reasons
assigned. The commissioners address-
ed him a communication which has
produced a proposition in writing from
him on the Ridges to bury the hatchet,
and act in concert for the good of their
country, and inviting them to a cori-
vention, to be composed of the intelli-
gent of all parties, for the purpose of
considering their natural condition.
To this proposition Ridge's party have
yielded their assent; but in the mean-
time they are determined to redouble

*Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), p. 392.

**Apparently the first open attempt to cause
the arrest of Ross.

*»*Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), p. 395.

The Great Indian Meeting at Rome

their zeal and diligence to accomplish
the removal of their people.

BENJAMIN F. CURREY.

*Running Waters Council Ground,

Floyd County, Ga.,

Monday, July 19, 1835.

At an adjourned meeting, held pur-
suant to notice from the acting agent
of the United States for the Chero-
kees east of the Mississippi river, for
the purpose of ascertaining from the
Cherokee people their wishes as to the
manner and to whom their present
year's annuity should be paid, by com-
mon consent it was agreed and re-
solved that the meeting be opened with
prayer, and the Rev. Mr. Spirit and
David Weatie'"* (Cherokees) officiated
accordingly.

After the solemnities appropriate
to the occasion were performed, Benj.
F. Currey, United States Agent, aid-
ed by Lieut. Bateman, of the United
States army, fully explained the ob-
ject for which this meeting was call-
ed; all of which was again fully ex-
plained, in the Cherokee language, by
Joseph A. Foreman, the interpreter.

John Ross made some remarks in
reply; said he was sorry that the
agent had taken occasion to be per-
sonal in his remarks, but that he was
not disposed to take any notice of
these personalities at this time; that
he was aware that there was among
us a description of persons who were
called by party names; this he had not
discouraged; that as for himself he
was not disposed to quarrel with
any man for an honest expres-
sion of opinion, for the good of the
people (for the truth and sincerity
of which he called Heaven to wit-
ness) ; and that if gentlemen were
honest in their professions of benev-
olence, he was ready, at any time, to
co-operate with them, when it would
appear that they were right and he
was wrong.

John Ridge, in reply, stated that
so far as he was concerned he, too,
discarded party views and sinister
motives; that so far as he and those
with him acted different from Mr.

♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835). ps. 396-8.

**David Watie (or Oo-wat-ie), full-blood
Cherokee and only brother of Major Ridge;
father of Elias Boudinot, editor of The Cher-
okee Phoenix, and of Stand Watie, only Indian
Brigadier General of the Confederate army,
who did not surrender until June 23, 1865,
nearly three months after the surrender of
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston. Authority : "Life of Gen.
Stand Watie," bv Mabel Washbouriie Anderson,
Pryor, Okla., (1915).

Ross and his chiefs, he had done so
from an honest conviction that it was
the only way in which the integrity
and political salvation of the Cher-
okee people could be preserved and
effected, and that he was at any mo-
ment ready to acknowledge Ross as
his principal chief when he (Ross)
could or would prove to him a better
plan. But till then, as an honest man,
sensible as he was of the difficulties
and hazards of the crisis that sur-
rounded them all, he must act on the
-suggestions arising out of the case,
though it should cost him the last
drop that heaved his breast; that he
had not understood the agent to in-
dulge in or intend personalities, but
his explanations, directed by the law
and instructions from the executive,
necessarily involved the actors them-
selves; that he had and at all times
would be open to conviction, when bet-
ter and more conclusive arguments
than his own were adduced on the
points of difference. But he did not
understand why it was, if Mr. Ross'
declarations were sincere, that large
bodies of Indians had been withdrawn
by their chiefs from the ground, and
were not permitted to hear. As for
his part, he wanted the whole na-
tion to learn, and be able to know their
true situation; that he was ready to
co-operate with Mr. Ross, or anybody
else, for the salvation of his bleeding
and oppressed countrymen.

The Rev. Mr. Schermerhorn, com-
missioner on behalf of the United
States, took occasion, after being in-
troduced as such, to rise; read his
commission and expressed his satis-
faction and gratification at the pros-
pect of an amicable reconciliation of
all party strife and animosity, and so
far as he might be concerned in their
affairs, he did not intend to know any
party or distinction of parties; that
he only meant to know the Cherokee
people east of the Mississippi as one
party in this case; and that he would
avail himself of the present occasion
to request that during this meeting
they would select from among them-
selves a number of delegates, at least
twelve or more, or any other number
they might deem expedient, to meet
him and Gov. Carroll at the Chero-
kee agency on Wednesday, the 30th
instant, to arrange preliminaries neces-
sary to a convention for the adjust-
ment of their whole difficulties by
treaty; the basis of which had already
been fixed by Ridge, Ross and others,
which he presumed they were all ap-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

prized of; and suggested the impor-
tance of naming Ross and Ridge first
on said committee. The commissioner
then apprized the conductors of the
election that he would, with their con-
sent, occupy their time on tomorrow
morning, so far as to read over and
fully explain the treaty to be offer-
ed the Cherokee people for their ap-
proval, which was consented to by the
agents and the chiefs present; where-
upon, Commissioner Schermerhorn re-
tired.

The following resolution was then
introduced by Archilla Smith and sec-
onded by John Ridge :

"Resolved, by the council of the
Cherokee nation, that in consideration
of the poor condition of our people,
the aged, the infirm of both sexes,
men, women and children, that the
present annuity of $6,666.67 be now
divided equally to the people, and to
the poor particularly, as it is their
money, accruing from old treaties with
the United States. It is now a great
many years since they have received
the same."

In support of this resolution. Major
Ridge, John Ridge and Archilla Smith
spoke at considerable length, to the fol-
lowing purport : The people make a na-
tion; no nation ever existed without a
people. The annuity is payable to the
nation, and Congress has given to the
people full power to dispose of it as
they may think proper. Have the peo-
ple been benefited by the use made of
the money heretofore, by their chiefs?
Have those chiefs saved the country?
Have they restored to you your fields?
Have they saved your people from the
gallows? Have they driven back the
white settlers? No; but on the other
hand, have you not lost your laws and
government? Have you not been im-
poverished and oppressed? And are
you not bleeding and starving under
these oppressions? If this be the fact,
is it not time to take that which will
give you some relief from want, rather
than to vote it to those who can not,
or, if they can, will not afford you
relief?

All that we insist on is that you ex-
ercise your own choice in disposing of
this money. It was in our power not
long since, when but few attended at
the call of the General Government,
(last May council, held at Running
Waters) to have done as we pleased
with this money, but we would not
condescend to take advantage of that
absence which had been procured by

the other chiefs. We preferred to
have a full meeting of the people, if
practicable, and leave the question to
the majority. At that time our ap-
plication was made to this effect, and
agreed to by the agent for the Gen-
eral Government, which has been read
to you by him, and interpreted by Mr.
foreman. It is the will of our peo-
ple and not my will which it is now
wished should control this money.
While we make this declaration we
wish the yeas and nays taken and
registered, that all may have an op-
portunity of understanding the res-
olution; and that each and every one
may vote as Cherokees should learn
to vote, independently.

Edward Gunter then offered the
following resolution:

"Resolved, That the present annuity
now due to the Cherokee nation be
paid to John Martin, treasurer of the
Cherokee nation."

In support of this resolution he
' made the following remarks: That
the nation was in debt; that their
faith as a nation was pledged for
money; that they had none wherewith
to redeem that pledge; that they could
not resort to taxation, for in that case
the State laws would interfere. He
hoped, therefore, they would vote the
money to the national treasury.

At this time a general call for the
vote from the crowd (consisting of up-
wards of 2,000 Cherokees) was made.

The Government agents then opened
the election to take the vote on Smith's
resolution; those in favor, in the af-
firmative, and those against, in the
negative.

(Here is omitted list of Indians and
how they voted. — Author).

The voting on Archilla Smith's res-
olution being gone through, and on
counting the state of the polls, it ap-
pears that 114 voted in the affirma-
tive, and 2,159'' in the negative; and
consequently, Smith's resolution was
carried.'-'*

Edward Gunter then called up his
resolution. It was agreed by the
agents of Government, as well as by
the Cherokee people present, that the
vote on this resolution be taken by ac-
clamation. Before the vote was taken
on Gunter's resolution. Major Ridge
offered the following as an amend-

*.Tohn Ross and his associates said 2,225 ; the
voting table, 2,273.

**"Losf' was evidently intended for "car-
ried."

The Great Indian Meeting at Rome

ment of Gunter's resolution: "And that
the treasurer of the nation pay the
same to such persons of our nation
as we owe for money borrowed, and
not to the lawyers, which the nation
has employed, who can be paid at some
other time." In the discussion on this
amendment, Major Ridge and John
Ridge displayed their usual strain of
eloquence, making a deep impression
on a large portion of the crowd, if
we take for evidence the rivetted at-
tention and the press forward to catch
the words that dropped from them,
and more particularly that in the
course of that evening and next morn-
ing, the number who deserted from
Ross's ranks and enrolled themselves
with John Ridge and his friends for
the western country.

During the course of their remarks
they spoke of the false hopes excited
and the delusive promises held out by
their lawyers ; the obligations they
were under, first, to discharge debts
contracted, for which a valuable con-
sideration had been received by the
people, and then afterwards and last,
those which had been created without
the hope of returning benefits. But
discovering that the people had deter-
mined to vote down their proposition,
it was withdrawn.

After these individuals had spoken
generally of the causes which induced
them to secede from Ross and his
party, and the necessity of an early
removal of the tribe, the vote on
Gunter's resolution was taken, and
decided by acclamation in the affirm-
ative.

Cherokee Agency East,
July 30, 1835.
The foregoing is a correct state-
ment, so far as my memory serves
and my knowledge extends, founded
upon a constant attention, conjointly
with Benjamin F. Currey, Indian
agent, to the proceedings of the meet-
ing, as one of the managers.

M. W. BATEMAN,
1st Lieut., Inf., Disbursing Agent.
Cherokee Agency East,
July 30, 1835.
As Indian agent, under the direc-
tions of the War Department, I su-
perintended the foregoing election and
proceedings, and do hereby certify that
the election was as fairly conducted
as the situation and circumstances of

♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835). ps. 449-50.

the Cherokee tribe would admit of,
and that the proceedings and speeches
by the chiefs are substantially cor-
rect, as detailed by D. Henderson,
secretary to the meeting.

BENJAMIN F. CURREY,
Indian Agent for the Eastern Cher-
okees.

Cherokee Agency East,
July 30, 1835.
I certify upon honor that in the
foregoing transcript, detailing the pro-
ceedings at the council called and held
at Running Waters council ground,
Floyd County, Ga., on the 19th, 20th
and 21st instant, the votes are cor-
rectly recorded and the speeches cor-
rectly detailed as to substance.

DANIEL HENDERSON,
Clerk for Managers of the Said Elec-
tion.

The enclosures of Maj. Currey
to the Commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs end here. To Washington Mr.
Schermerhorn wrote :

* Cherokee Agency,
Aug. 1, 1835.
Hon. Elbert Herring,
Commissioner Indian Affairs,
Washington, D. C.

Sir : I have the honor to inform
you that I attended the meeting of
the Cherokee council at Running Wa-
ters on the 20th ultimo, and my pro-
ceedings there I will transmit to you
by the next mail. At the close of
that council I requested a committee
of the principal men from the Ross
and Ridge parties to meet the com-
missioners at the Agency on the 29th
ultimo, to see if they could, in con-
ference with each other, agree upon
some modification of the proposed
treaty which would be satisfactory to
all concerned. Ross and his friends
did not attend, and the commission-
ers wrote him immediately to know
whether he and his principal men
refused to meet them at the place
appointed, and also whether they were
determined not to accept the award
of the Senate, viz.: $5,000,000 in full
for the settlement of all matters in
dispute between them and the United
States, and for the cession of their
country. He evaded the last question
(as will be seen by his letter, a copy
of which will be forwarded to the de-
partment), and prevaricated in say-
ing that no notice was given of the
meeting at the agency, although it was
done in open council. He may, how-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

WHERE THE GREEN CORN DANCES WERE HELD.

»u u^**^ *'*l'''ill'''"^'n°," ^^^ Oostanaula river road, two miles north of the court house, was
the home of Major Ridge, and his lawn was the gathering place of hundreds of red-skir

The Great Indian Meeting at Rome

ever, have meant he had no official
notice of the meeting in writing. He
sent a letter also to Major Ridge and
John Ridge, inviting them and their
friends to a conference with him and
his friends to settle all the difficul-
ties between them, and unite in pro-
moting the common good of their peo-
ple. This is an omen for good and I
have been laboring while here to ef-
fect this object. No doubt Ross has
been hard pushed on this subject by
his friends, and he is convinced that
unless a reconciliation takes place, and
a treaty is soon made, he will be for-
saken by them, and a third party arise,
who will unite with Ridge and carry
the proposed treaty. I can not now
go into detail, but will simply state
overtures have been made by several
of Ross's friends to unite with Ridge's
party if Ross refuses to come to terms
on the award made by the Senate of
the United States.

The best informed here entertain
no doubt but that a treaty will be per-
fected in the fall, if not sooner.

It has been thought best by the com-
missioners not to call a meeting by
the nation until November, unless
both parties should be brought to agree
to articles of the treaty to be sub-
mitted to the nation for their adop-
tion. Ross's council meets in Octo-
ber, and many of his principal men
have agreed, if he does not come to
terms by that time, they will leave him
and treat without him.

I have the pleasure to acknowledge
the receipt of several communications
from the Secretary of War, forward-
ed to me at New Echota in May and
July, and especially the last, contain-
ing the letter of Mr. William Rogers,
with the answer to it. I respectfully
suggest to the Department, should any
similar letters be received, whether it
would not be best to send them to the
commissioners, with such instructions
in reference to them as may be deemed
necessary, and refer the writers to the
commissioners for an answer. I make
this suggestion merely to prevent be-
ing embarrassed by the crafty policy
of the men we have to deal with. It

♦Written June 28, 1835, from Chattahoochee,
and sugKested that "Mr. Ridge" was not the
only man of his party who could arrange a
treaty.

**With duplications omitted ; 114 was the
total. Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835). ps. 390-147.

***Near Calhoun, Gordon County.

****Site of Rome.

*****Coosa.

is believed Rogers' letter was written
at the suggestion and the knowledge
of Ross.*

With respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN F. SCHERMERHORN,

Commissioner.

The following 92** Indians lined
up with the Ridge party in support
of Arcliilla Smith's resolution,
which if passed would have dis-
tributed the $6,666.67 annuity
among the common Indians in-
stead of placing- it in the national
treasury :

Challoogee District — James Field, R.
Raincrow, Beans Pouch, Na-too, Stay-
all-night, Robin, Daniel Mills, Stand-
ing, Tac-ses-ka, Archy, Trailing, Hog
Shooter, Tais-ta-eska, Milk, Dick Scott,
Hair Tied, Uma-tois-ka, Dick, George,
Se-nah-ne, Owl, Chicken, Buffalo,
Parch Corn, Jim Bear Skin, Coo-los-
kee. Bread Butter, Stephen Harris and
Elijah Moore. Total, 29.

Cooseivattie — Charley Moore, Ham-
mer, Nathaniel Wolf, Baesling, Tara-
pin Striker, Te-ke-wa-tis-ka, John
Ridge, Carnton Hicks, In Debt, Day-
light, Matthew Moore, Standing
Lightning, Wake Them, Morter, All-
day, Bear Meat, Waitie, Mole Sign,
Wat Liver, Huckleberry, Coon, Isaac,
Ave Vann, Walter Ridge, Jac Nichol-
son, Six Killer, John, Collin McDan-
iel. Stand Watie, and Major Ridge.
Total, 31.

Hightowcr (Etoivah) — Ground Hog,
Ezekiel West, Spirit, Hammer, Jac
West, Catcher, Rib, Scou-tike, Road,
Chwa-looka, Standing Wolf, Dave
Scoute, John Wayne, Tookah, Frozen
Foot, Ease, Nelson West, Red Bird,
Wat Huskhe, and John Eliot. Total,
20.

Anioah — Jos. Foreman, Jac Bushy-
head, Wm. Reed and Jay Hicks. To-
tal, 4.

Aqnohee, ChirkcDi'ciiign avd Trihqun>
hee — None.

Hickory Log — Charles and Buffalo
Pouch. Total, 2.

Miscellaneous — D. J. Hook, Turkey
Town; J. L. McKay, Will's Valley;
Tesataesky, Springtown; Black Fox,
Oothcalouga**-; Henderson Harris,
Forks of Coosa*'"-'^' ; Jno. Fields, Sv..
Turnip Mountain''^ '"•"■"■'. Total, (5.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

THE CENTRAL CHURCHES OF ROME

The "Hill City" has long been noted for the influence of its religious institutions, and
practically all denominations are represented. 1 — The new First Christian edifice. 2 — The

First Methodist. 3 — The First Baptist, in snow of January 27, 1921, minus steeple demolished
by lightning stroke in 1920. 4 — St. Peter's Episcopal. 5 — First Presbyterian.

CHAPTER III.
John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

OHN HOWARD PAYNE,
author of the famous song,
"Home, Sweet Home," and
a number of plays, got into
a peck of trouble when he came
to Georgia in 1835. He was plainly-
unaccustomed to frontier life and
the cruel ways of the Avorld. In
August, 1833, he had sent out from
New York, N. Y., to the newspa-
pers of the country (including
Georgia) a prospectus of a new
weekly magazine to be published
at London and to be known by the
old Persian title "Jam Jehan Ni-
ma/' or "The World From the Pn-
side of the Bowl." He had an-
nounced that he would visit every
state in the Union to collect ma-
terial on the wonders of nature,
and also to collect such subscrip-
tions as he could for this depart-
ure in journalism. His funds were
ample and the newspapers in many
instances carried his announcement
on their front pages, and com-
mented editorially upon it. He
traveled in style, and his own story
shows that he was not a partner
to rough treatment.

His song having been written a
decade before in Paris and sung
in his play, "Clari, or the Maid of
Milan," at the Covent Garden The-
atre, London, he was given quite
a reception on his return from the
old country to New York ; and in
certain of the larger cities on his
"experience jaunt" he was received
with a rousing acclaim — notably
at New Orleans. Into seven states
he went before he reached Geor-
gia; he came to Macon from the
Creek Nation in Alabama, and on
Aug. 9, 1835, wrote from that city
to his sister a long letter, elegantly

*Mr. Payne was then a bachelor of 4.3, far
from the ajie of insensibility to feminine charms.

**Also author of the Dickens-like book of
side-splitting comedy called "Georgia Scenes."

expressed and describing a green
corn dance held by the Creeks, at
which a strong fascination was
flung upon him by the beautiful
daughter of an Indian chief.*

At Macon he purchased a horse
and traveled toward Augusta, there
to confer with Judge Augustus B.
Longstreet,** editor of the States'
Rights Sentinel, with regard to
furnishing stories of his travels.
On the way he stopped at Sanders-
ville, Washington County, and Dr.
Tennille, a brother of Wm. A. Ten-
nille, then secretary of state, ad-
vised him to study the Indian re-
moval problem. First he went by
horseback to see the wonders of
North Georgia — the Toccoa Falls,
in Stephens County, and the Ami-
calola Falls, in Dawson County ;
visited Tallulah Falls and gazed
on Yonah Mountain (White Coun-
ty), from Clarkesville, in Haber-
sham ; inspected the gold fields of
Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, and
finally went to Cass (Bartow)
County and explored the Salt Peter
cave near Kingston.

It may be that Payne touched
Floyd County on this trip. An old
tradition has it that he and John
Ross spent a night or so at Rome,
and departing for New Echota,
camped in a beech grove at Pope's
Ferry, Oostanaula river ; and that
here Payne carved his name on a
beech tree. Also that they were
entertained in the home of Col.
Wm. C. Hardin, across the river.
It is known that Payne stayed with
the Plardins and played on the
piano for the little girls of the
family while they were stationed
at New Ivchota, but nothing yet
establishes that he visited Rome
and Pope's Ferry.

For a time it was l)clievcd he
attended the July liuhan meeting

A History of Rome and Floyd County

at "Running Waters," near Rome,
but since he did not enter the
state until early August, this was
impossible. He had a letter of in-
troduction from an Athens mer-
chant to a Floyd County lawyer,*
but evidently never presented it.
Presently, in September, he
shook the dust from his boots and
clothes in Athens, Clarke County,
having been taken there by a let-
tor to Gen. Kdward Harden, who
as a resident of Savannah some
time before had entertained Gen.
I.aFayette. Payne was received
into the Harden home, and quickly
fell in love with the General's
beautiful brunette daughter, Mary
Harden, to whom he gave some
handsome Indian relics from his
portmanteau, and later wrote a
number of impassioned letters tell-
ing of his love. Strange to say,
neither married, but that is an-
other story. The University of
Georgia was in session and Payne
and ]\Iiss Harden mingled among
the students on the campus.

Tu company with Gov. Lump-
kin, Gen. Harden and Col. Sam-
uel Rockwell, Payne set off for
the Indian country in the general's
two-horse carriage, and was ready
for the opening of the Red Clay
Council of Oct. 12 a day or two be-
fore it convened. John Ross
pressed them to stay with him,
and they did so. On Sept. 28
Payne rode into Tennessee, and
spent some days at the cabin of
Ross. Then he proceeded back to
Red Clay, arriving Sunday, a day
prior to the council opening.

Here it was that the well-inten-
tioned "Tray" got into company
of none too good standing, as the
Georgia authorities viewed it, and
with Ross was subjected to the
humiliation of arrest.** He was
taken in custody Saturday at II
p. m., Nov. 7, 1835, and released
Friday morning, Nov. 20, 12 ^/^ days
later. Ross was freed Monday

at 4 p. m., Nov. 16, hence had been
detained 9 days. The Red Clay
Council had adjourned Oct. 30,
after a session lasting 19 days.

Immediately after he reached
"civilization" (Calhoun, McMinn
County, Tenn.), Mr. Payne issued
the following statement to the
press, under date of Nov. 23, 1835 :

John Howard Payne to His Coun-
trymen — The public is respectfully re-
quested to withhold their opinion for
the few days upon the subject of a
recent arrest within the chartered
limits of Tennessee, by the Georgia
Guard, of Mr. Payne, in company with
Mr. John Ross, principal chief of the
Cherokee nation.

Mr. Payne can not of course iden-
tify the state of Georgia with this
gross violation of the Constitution of
the United States, of the rights of
an American citizen, and of the known
hospitality of the South to strangers.
But as he is conscious that every act
which can be devised will be resorted
to for the purpose of endeavoring to
cover such an act from public indig-
nation, he thinks it due to justice to
premise that a full and honest state-
ment shall be submitted the moment
it can be prepared.

Payne's own story of his trials
and tribulations is best told by
himself. So far as is known, this
account has never been reproduced
in any publication except the news-
papers and journals that carried it
at the time. It was found at the
University of Georgia Library,
Athens, in the Georgia Constitu-
tionalist (Augusta) of Thursday,
Dec. 24, 1835, having been reprint-
ed from the Knoxville (Tenn.)
Register of Dec. 2, same year. It
sets at rest certain discussions
l)caring on historic fact, and here
it is:

At the instance of Mr. Jno. Howard
Payne, I hand for publication his ad-
dress to his countrymen in the United

♦Believed to have been Judge Jno. H. Lump-
kin, nephew of Gov. Wilson Lumpkin, of Ath-
ens.

**At the one-room log cabin of Sleeping Rab-
bit, an Indian underling of Ross. The spot is
located at Blue Spring (Station), Bradley Co.,
Tenn., five miles southwest of Cleveland and eight
miles north of Red Clay.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

States, giving an account of his ab-
duction from the State of Tennessee
and of his imprisonment and brutal
treatment in this state by the Geor-
gia Guard. To none of his country-
men is it so important as to those of
Georgia to be acquainted with the
facts of this outrage. Every man of
patriotic feeling within its feel will
regret that any power with the sem-
blance of state authority should have
acted in such a banditti-like manner
toward the amiable and talented au-
thor of "Home, Sweet Home" and for
the credit of the state will desire that
the principal actors may be made to
suffer the punishment of crimes so
flagrant and disgraceful to the coun-
try.

ROBERT CAMPBELL.
Augusta, Ga., Dec. 18, 1835.

(From the Knoxville,* Tenn., Regis-
ter, Dec. 2, 1835.)

John Howard Payne to His Country-
men. — A conspiracy has been formed
against my reputation and my life.
From the latter I have just escaped,
and very narrowly. I would protect
the former, and therefore hasten to
acquaint the public with the truth re-
garding this extraordinary affair.

It has long been known that in Au-
gust, 1833, I published proposals at
New York for a literary periodical.
The prospectus stated as a part of
m^; plan that I would travel through
the United States for the double pur-
pose of gathering subscribers and ma-
terial; and especially such informa-
tion regarding my own republic as
might vindicate our national charac-
ter, manners and institutions, against
the aspersions of unfriendly travel-
ers from other countries. In the pur-
suit of these objects I have for up-
wards of a year been upon my jour-
ney. I have visited Ohio, Kentucky,
Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, Louis-
ana and Alabama. In each of these
states I have been honored with the
most flattering hospitality and sup-
port. Some time in August last I
entered Georgia on my regular course
northward through the Carolinas and
Virginia. I was induced by the de-

*JudKe HukH Lawson White and David A.
Deaderick led a committee for a Payne mass
meetinK at Knoxville, but Payne declined ap-
pearing. He later attended a public dinner. He
went to Knoxville via Calhoun and Athens,
Tenn.

**Wm. A. Tennille, ancestor of the Savannah
Tennilles.

scriptions I had heard of the beauty
of its mountain region to turn some-
what aside from my road in order
to seek the upper parts of the State;
for I was anxious in anything I might
write hereafter to leave nothing which
deserved admiration untouched. I went
to Tellulah, Tuckoah, the cave in Cass
County, the Gold Region and the Falls
of Amacaloolah. A mere accident led
me among the Cherokees. The acci-
dent was this:

In the course of my rambles I met
Li. Tennille, of Saundersville, a broth-
er to the Georgia Secretary of State.**
This gentleman spoke to me of the
Cherokees. He suggested that their his-
tory for the last 50 years, could it
be obtained, would be one of extreme
irterest and curiosity, and especially
appropriate to a work like mine. I
knew next to nothing then of the Cher-
okees. I had been in Europe when
their cause was brought so eloquently
before the public by Mr. Wirt, Mr.
Everett and others. The hint I speak
of led me to ask about them. The more
I heard, the more I became excited.
T obtained letters to their leading men
and went into the nation. Circum-
stances, however, had induced me to
relinquish my first purpose of pro-
ceeding so far as the residence of Mr.
Ross, their Principal Chief. But I
was told Mr. Ross possessed a series
of letters which had been sent to him
by his predecessor in office, Chas. R.
Hicks, detailing memoranda for the

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, author of world-
famous song, "Home, Sweet Home," who
was arrested by the (JeorKia Guard in 1835.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

earlier history of his country, and that
he himself had taken up the narra-
tive where it was discontinued by the
extending of it to the year 1835. I
was encouraged to believe that were
I to call on Mr. Ross he would not
only readily allow me the use of these
manuscripts, but be gratified in an
opportunity of seeing them made pub-
lic. I therefore resumed my original
intention and on the 28th of last Sep-
tember rode into Tennessee to the res-
idence of Mr. Ross.

By Mr. Ross I was received with
unlooked-for cordiality and unreserve.
I felt the deeper sympathy for him be-
cause I found him driven by the hard
policy against his nation from a splen-
did abode to a log hut of but one sin-
gle room, and scarcely proof against
the wind and rain. He had a part
of the letters by Mr. Hicks, but of
a continuation by himself I had been
misinformed. He told me, however,
that any or all of the documents he
had were at my service. I thought if
he were disposed to let me take these
with me and transcribe them at my
leisure, he would have proposed it;
but as he did not, I began to make
copies where I was — intending to con-
fine myself to very few. My first
calculation was to limit my visit to
a day, but I thought I should now be
warranted in prolonging it three or
four; my task, however, detaining me
longer than I expected, Mr. Ross urged
me to remain until the meeting of the
Council. He told me that he could
then show me all their leading men.
He thought besides that two gentle-
men who have made valuable re-
searches into the antiquities and the
language of the Cherokees would be
present. To the arrival of the Reve-
rend Commissioner, Mr. Schermerhorn,
I also looked with interest. I believed
him to be the same Mr. Schermerhorn
who was in an upper class when I
entered college' ; we had been intimate
there; I had not met him in five and
twenty years, and was solicitous to talk
over things long past. In addition to
these inducements, I felt a deep at-
traction in the opportunity of witness-
ing the last days on their native soil
of the nations of the red men. I de-
termined to see the opening of the
Council.

My stay with Mr. Ross having been
so unexpectedly protracted, of course
the range of my collections was ex-
tended. In addition to the literature
and the anecdotes of the nation I

involuntarily became well acquainted
with its politics, because I had tran-
scribed nearly all the documents rel-
ative to the recent negotiations for a
treaty. I thought these curious, not
only as historic evidence, but as spec-
imens of Indian diplomacy, more com-
plete than any upon record in any
age or country. I confess I was sur-
prised at what these papers unfolded
regarding the system used by the
agents and pursued by our govern-
ment, and I thought if the real posi-
tion of the question were once under-
stood by our own country and its rul-
ers, their ends would be sought by
different and unexceptional means.
Though no politician, as a philanthro-
pist I fancied good might be done by
a series of papers upon the subject.
I conceived as an American that it
was one of the most precious and most
undisputed of my rights to examine
any subject entirely national, espe-
cially if I could render service to the
country by such explanations as pecu-
liar circumstances might enable me to
offer. For this purpose I commenced
such a series as I have spoken of, but
having written one number, I thought
I would lay it by for reconsideration,
and forbear to make up my mind
finally until I saw how matters were
carried on at the Council then ap-
proaching. The number in question
was subsequently put aside and no sec-
ond number ever written. It was sign-
ed "WASHINGTON." The mention
was brief and incidental. It was such
a paper as we see hourly upon our pub-
lic affairs, only somewhat more gen-
tle and conciliatory. Among other
things, it mentioned of necessity the
Georgia Guard. It spoke of their out-
ward appearance as more resembling
banditti than soldiers, and alluded to
the well-known fact of an Indian pris-
oner who had hanged himself while
in their custody, through fear that they
would murder him. I wish the reader
to bear this paper in mind, for it will
be specifically noticed more than once
again ; and at the same time let it
be remembered that it was never print-
ed** nor made known in any way, but
kept among my private manuscripts
until the proper season for publica-
tion had gone by. Indeed, the very
plan of which it was meant for the
beginning was ere long merged in an-

*Union, Schnectady, N. Y. Mr. Schermerhorn
fjraduated in 1809. Payne entered in 1807, pre-
sumably in the Class of 1811. and left after
two terms and without completing his course.

**Mai. Currey claimed it was printed by the
Knoxville Register prior to the arrest.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

other. It had been suggested that
great service might be done by an ad-
dress to the people of the United States
from the Cherokees, explaining fully
and distinctly all their views and feel-
ings. I was told that no one had ever
possessed such opportunities as mine
had been for undertaking these. I
took the hint, and felt gratified in the
opportunity of enabling the nation to
plead its own cause. I promised to
prepare such an address, and if ap-
proved, it was to be sent around by
runners, for the signature of every
Cherokee in the country. I confess I
felt proud of an advocacy in which
some of the first talent of the land
had heretofore exulted to engage. I
only lamented that my powers were
so unequal to my zeal.

The Council assembled. One of the
first inquiries of the Reverend Com-
missioner was for his former friend;
and I felt happy to recognize in the
wilderness one whom I had known
so early in my life. I accompanied
him by his invitation to his cabin. I
found him strongly prejudiced against
Mr. Ross. He introduced me to Ma-
jor Currey, the United States' agent.
Major Currey, as well as Mr. Scher-
merhorn, proffered any documents or
books or other facilities which might
aid me in my search for information.
They urged upon me to read some pa-
pers they were preparing against Mr.
Ross and the Council. I did read
them. I entered into no discussion, but
then, as at all other times, briefly as-
sured Mr. Schermerhorn with the free-
dom of an associate in boyhood that I
conceived his course a mistaken one,
and that I was convinced that it could
not lead to a treaty. The same thing
had been said to him by many. He
replied in a tone of irritation that he
"would have a treaty in a week."

"John Ross was unruly now, but he
would soon be tame enough," and on
one occasion he asked a gentleman con-
nected with the then opposition party
in the nation "if the wheels were well
greased," and informed me that an
address in Cherokee was coming be-
fore the people, which I inferred from
his words and manner was expected
to produce a sudden influence fatal to
the cause of Mr. Ross. He also in-
troduced me to Mr. Bishop, captain
of the Georgia Guard, whose manner
then was perfect meekness. A few
half-jocose words passed between Mr.

*New Echota, Gordon County, where The
Phoenix was printed, was about 45 miles.

Bishop and myself. He asked me how
long since I "arriv," named the Cher-
okee question, and I replied that I
differed with him in opinion.

"That is the case of most of you
gentlemen from the north," he replied.

"It is not that I am from the north
that I think as I do," said I, "but
because I am jealous of our national
honor and prize the faith of treaties."

"You would feel differently if you
had the same interest we have."

"I should hope I would forget my
interest where it went against my
principles," I observed.

Mr. Bishop laughed and so did I,
and thus we parted. After this I ab-
stained from visiting the quarters of
Mr. Schermerhorn, not wishing as the
guest of Mr. Ross to expose myself
to the necessity of being drawn into
irritating discussions. The proceed-
ings took the very course I apprehend-
ed. Mr. Schermerhorn's plan defeat-
ed himself, and when I next saw him
it was upon the council ground; Lieut.
Bateman, of the United States army,
was standing with me when he came
up. The conversation necessarily turn-
ed upon the treaty. I repeated my
doubts as to the policy of his course,
and he again declared he would have
a treaty — and forthwith. I asked him
for some documents he had promised.
He said he would gather them and
send them to New York. I pressed
him for them at once, because I had
already everything from the other side
and wished the entire evidence, for I
meant to write a history of the Cher-
okees; and added I, laughing, "Don't
complain if I use you rather roughly."

I saw that he was chafed, although
he forced a smile. "No," replied he,
"and don't complain if I return the
compliment."

"Certainly not," said I; "if you can
show that I deserve it;" and he de-
parted in apparent good humor, and I
saw nothing more of the Reverend
Commissioner.

The negotiation was broken off. The
Council adjourned. Mr. Ross pressed
me to return to his house, which I did
for the purpose of awaiting the jour-
ney of a messenger whom he had prom-
ised to send some 80 miles across the
country'"' for a complete file of the
Cherokee Phoenix newspaper, which,
after long search, I had made the dis-
covery and had obtained the offer.
During the absence of the messenger
I renewed the transcriptions of docu-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

merits. I also completed the address
for the Cherokee nation. It was ap-
proved, and measures were to be taken
for obtaining the signatures of all the
people. It was now Saturday evening,
Nov. 7. I had determined on Monday
morning to depart, taking in on my
road back through Athens the Stone
Mountain of Georgia, a view of which
had been one of the leading objects
of my journey. Some bustle had taken
place that afternoon with a person
from whom Mr. Ross had purchased
his present place of refuge." The
man had returned to plant himself
within the boundaries of the estate
with which he had parted. Mr. Ross
sent out all his negroes and other men
to throw up a worm fence and mark
his limits; and some dispute was ap-
prehended. It was supposed that the
measure was a preconcerted one, for
the purpose of showing the Indians
that the threat of harrassing the In-
dians more and more was real. All,
however, seemed quiet enough. Mr.
Ross and myself were engaged the
v.-hole evening in writing. My papers
were piled upon the table, ready to be
packed for my approaching journey.
About 11 I was in the midst of a
copy from a talk held by George
Washington in 1794 with a delega-
tion of Cherokee chiefs. Suddenly
there was a loud barking of dogs, then
the quick tramp of galloping horses,
then the rush of many feet, and a
hoarse voice just at my side shouted
"Ross, Ross!" Before there was time
for a reply, the voice was heard at
the door opposite, which was burst
open. Armed men appeared.

"Mr. Ross."

"Well, gentlemen?"

"We have business with you, sir."

Our first impression was that there
had been a struggle for the boundary
and that these men had come to make
remonstrance; but instantly we saw the
truth. The room was filled with
Georgia Guards, their bayonets fixed,
and some, if not all, with their pis-
tols and dirks or dirk knives. An
exceedingly long, lank man with a
round-about jacket planted himself
by my side, his pistol resting against
my breast.

"You are to consider yourself a
prisoner, sir!" said he to Ross.

"Well, gentlemen, I shall not re-
sist. But what have I done? Why
am I a prisoner? By whose order am
I taken?"

"You'll know that soon enough. Give
up your papers and prepare to go with
us."

And then a scramble began for pa-
pers. I had not moved from my place
when the long, lank man, whom I after-
wards found was Sergeant Young,"'*
leader of the gang, began to rummage
among the things upon the table.

"These, sir, are my papers. I sup-
pose you don't want them," I observed.

Young, his pistol still pointed, struck
me across the mouth.

"Hold you damned tongue!" he vo-
ciferated. "You are here after no
good. Yours are just what we do
want. Have your horse caught and
be off with us. We can't stay."

It was useless to reply. I asked
for my saddlebags. They said I might
take them if there were no arms in
them. I said there WERE arms, and
my pistols were required. The ser-
geant took them and was at a loss to
manage the straps which confined them
under my vest.

"How the devil are these put on?
Come, put them on me!" he exclaimed.

This was too much. I turned upon
my heel and this unfortunate ci'ea-
ture seemed for a moment to feel the
reproof, and blundred into the para-
phernalia as best he could. A person,
whom I afterward learned was mere-
ly an amateur in this lawless affair,
Mr. Absalom Bishop, a brother of the
captain of the Guard, the one com-
monly called Colonel, was exceedingly
officious with Mr. Ross. He insisted
on the correspondence, especially the
recent letters of the Principal Chief,
and was peculiarly pert and peremp-
tory in handling the contents of Mr.
Ross's portmanteau. There was an-
other amateur in the affair, Mr. Joshua
Holden, a big, sanctimonious-visaged,
red-skinned man, whose voice I never
heard, but who, from the evening of
our capture I saw busy, moving to and
fro on all occasions, apparently as a
sort of factotum for the dirty work of
the establishment.

We set away. The greater num-
ber of the horses had been left at a
distance in the road. When we were
all mounted, our cavalcade consisted, I
believe, of six and twenty, Mr. Ross
and myself included, and we two were
permitted generally to ride together,
the Guard being equally divided in

*Sleeping Rabbit?

**His first name was Wilson.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia'Guard 59

HOME OF JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S SWEETHEART

"Harden Hoine," Athens (reconstructed), where Payne visited Gen. Edward Harden in
1835 and fell in love with Miss Mary Eliza Greenhill Harden. In the oval are Indian mocca-
sins, a beaded purse and a shark's tooth presented the young lady by her middle-aged lover.
One of the moccasins has been donated to Rome by Miss Evelyn Harden Jackson, of Athens.

front and i-ear of us. The earlier
part of the night was bright and beau-
tiful, but presently a wild storm arose,
and then rain poured in torrents. The
movements of our escort were ex-
ceedingly capricious; sometimes whoop-
ing and galloping and singing obscene
songs, and sometimes for a season
walking in sullen silence. During one
of these pauses in the blended tumult
of the tempest and of the travellers
I chanced for a while to find myself
beside the smooth and silky Mr. Ab-
salom Bishop. My mind was absoi'bed
in recollections of the many moments
when abroad I had dwelt upon my in-
nocent and noble country. I remem-
bered that in one of those moments
I had composed a song which has since
met my ear in every clime and in ev-
ery part of every clime where I have
roved. At that instant I was startled
by the very air on which I was mus-
ing. It came from the lips of my
companion. I could scarcely believe
my senses. It almost seemed as if he
had read my secret thoughts.

"What song was that I heard you
liumming?"

"That? Sweet Home, they call it,
I believe. Why do you ask?"

"Merely because it is a song of my
own writing, and the circumstances
under which I now hear it strike me
as rather singular."

My partner simply grumbled that he
was not aware that I had written the
song; but added knowingly that it was
in the Western Songster, and the
verses generally had the authors'
names annexed.

We halted at Young's. It happened,
curiously enough, that the Western
Songster was the first object that
caught my view upon the table, stand-
ing open at "Sweet Home," and for-
tunately for my character, with the
"author's name annexed." I pointed
it out to Mr. Ross, and we both smiled.
This man Young, at whose house we
halted, like others connected with the
Guard, keeps a tavern. Excursions of
this nature present favorable opportu-
nities for taxing the state for ex-
penses, and I am told they are seldom
overlooked. Our band of six and twenty
took supper at Young's. They had
scarcely entered the room when some-
one struck up :

"We're crosfiing over Jordan,
Glory Hallelujah!"

And our sergeant landlord sprawled
before the fire and began to talk liter-
ary. He reckoned I had heard tell of
Marryboy. I assured him I did not
remember any such author.

"What! Not his system of nater?"

I replied that perhaps he might
mean Mirabeau.

"Ah, yes, that might be. He and
Wolney and Tom Paine were great
authors. Was Tom Paine any kin
of yourn?"

Something was said of the Bible,
but of that our friend disclaimed much
knowledge. He didn't believe he had
ever read fifteen chapters, but Marry-
boy he liked of all things.

It was announced that we had lin-
gered long enough, and the horses
were brought out. Young himself re-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

mained at home, but most of the resi-
due dashed recklessly onward. Our
four and twenty miles through the
forest was completed by daybreak. All
were drenched in the heavy showers
and covered with mud. As we enter-
ed the enclosure, the Guard were or-
dered into line; their musquets were
discharged in triumph for their splen-
did crusade against one little goose-
quill, and we were directed to dis-
mount. We went to our prison; it
was a small log hut, with no window
and one door. At one end was what
they called a bunk, a wide case of
rough boards filled with straw. There
were two others on one side of the
room, and opposite to them a fireplace.
Overhead were poles across, on which
hung saddlebags, old coats and various
other matters of the same description.
In one corner sat an Indian chained
to a table by the leg, his arms tightly
pinioned. We found it was the son
of the Speaker of the Council, Going
Snake. They had charged him with
refusing to give in his name and the
number in his family to the United
States Census Taker. He denied the
accusation, but his denial went un-
heeded. He smiled and seemed pa-
tient; they removed him and left us
the only prisoners, but never alone.
The door was always open; the place
was a rendezvous for the Guard and
all their friends. Two sentinels with
musciuets loaded and bayonets fixed
kept us always in view. The place of
one was on the inside and the other
on the outside. I was wet to the skin,
fatigued and unconsciously sighted. At
that moment I saw two of the young
men exchange looks and laugh.
Throughout the day I heard dark
phrases which seemed to betoken some
intended mischief. Several people
came in to look at us and we were
shown the largest bunk, which was set
apart for our use, and there we tried
to sleep. Presently my saddlebags
were demanded, examined and after
a while returned.

I heard a guard say that not a soul
ought to leave the lines that day, that
all were bound to remain as witnesses.
Another asked a companion what he
would be doing were it not Sunday.
The companion made a motion of
wielding a scourge and with a grin
declared, "That, and glad of a chance,
too!"

"Where's Tom?" asked one.

"Gone to preachin'," was the reply.

"Oh, hell!" rejoined a third, and a

hoarse laugh followed. Then someone
struck up

"Jenny, will your dog bite?
No, sir, no!"

Which was responded to by
"Jesus the Glorious
Reigns here victorious!"

And from another side came
"I'll not go home 'till morning, 'till
morning,

"I'll not go home 'till ynorning!"

And then there would be a hud-
dling off to fire pistols, and thus pass-
ed the Sabbath. I ought not to forget
that in the course of the day I saw
Mr. Absalom Bishop talking to some
strangers. All stared frowningly to-
wards me and I heard Mr. Absalom as
I passed muttering low, "best leave
the country."

Towards evening I asked who was
the officer in command. I was told
the quartermaster. I sent for him,
and he answered that he was busy,
but would come by and by. When he
appeared I asked if he would send
a letter for us to an officer of the
United States troops at the agency,
provided we would pay the cost of an
express. He asked why we wanted to
send. I said perhaps a message would
be returned which might set our af-
fairs right. The quartermaster mut-
tered "That would be rather contrary
to o}'ders," gave a puff or two of his
pipe and walked away, all the rest in
the room following and leaving us for
the first time a moment by ourselves.

The long night came. Some ten
or twelve remained in our room, the
floor being paved with sleepers. I
heard an order spoken of that night
that nobody was to be allowed to en-
ter that room; but that when the drum
was tapped at daybreak, every man
was to fly to his gun. Long before
morning several got up and sat around
the fire, smoking and talking.

"Ah!" said one; "there must have
been some beautiful slicking* done last
night!"

"First one timber fell, and the fam-
ily tumbled on their knees."

"Ha, ha, ha!"

"And one began to beg."

Here was another roar.

"And the little ones squalled 'Mam-
my! Mammy!' "

Now they all mimicked crying chil-
dren.

♦Refers to summary punishment administered
by vigilance committees.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

"And then the old woman fell to
praying."

Here was a deafening shout of
laughter, which was so long continued
that they became exhausted, and we
had some repose. Somewhere about
this time a house in the town had been
attacked, as far as we could gathet
by a mob, and violence committed; but
all knowledge of the rioters was de-
nied by the Guard among themselves,
though the attack was a constant theme
of conversation, and all the particu-
lars connected with it detailed.

The time dragged on most drearily.
In a day or two Young returned. He
seemed in better humor. He brought
me a couple of volumes of Gil Bias
and the "Belgian Traveller." He also
brought some clothes for Mr. Ross.
He said, too, he had my pistols, and
I could take them when I liked. He
told me he wanted to subscribe for
my periodical. He hoped if I ever
mentioned him I would speak well of
him. I assured him I would speak as
well as I could, but I must tell the
truth.

"Ah," said he, "you've abused us
already. We've got a letter where you
say the Guard look like banditti."

I replied that the letter was never
published, and of course could form
no part of the excuse for my arrest.

"No matter," added he, "you oughtn't
to have abused the Guard."

I need not remark that this was the
letter I have alluded to before. I
pressed Young to let us know on what
grounds we were arrested.

"Why," he said, "I can tell you one
thing they've got agin you, only you
needn't say that I told you. They say
ycu're an Abolitionist."

I could not help laughing at the ex-
cessive absurdity of this, and consid-
ered it as a mere dream of the man,
whose brain often seemed in the wrong
place. At the same time, he told Mr.
Ross that the charge upon him was
that he had impeded taking the Cen-
sus. Mr. Ross repelled the accusa-
tion vigorously, and required to be
heard, and to know his accuser. Young
said all he could tell was that Major
Currey gave him the order for our ar-
rest; that he had not only a written
but a verbal order, and upon that we
were taken. What the verbal order
was he would not tell to anybody. We
asked how long we were to be con-
fined. He said till Col. Bishop re-

*Wm. Carroll.

turned from Milledgeville. We re-
quested to know when that would be.

"About Christmas."

I then asked to write the President
of the United States. It was refused.
I asked to write to the Governor of
Tennessee. It was refused. I asked to
write to the Governor of Georgia. It
was refused. I was also denied my
request to communicate with my
friends at home. I asked Young if
he was an officer of the United States.
He replied that he was not. Mr. Ross
then asked him if he were not an of-
ficer of the United States, how he
came to obey the order of Major Cur-
rey by passing over the boundaries of
Tennessee. He replied that in Geor-
gia it was not law, it was all power.
I then observed that the rights of an
American citizen were sacred. They
were secured to him by the Constitution,
and that to trample upon them thus
wantonly would render his, or any
man's situation, a very dangerous one
with the people of a country like ours,
who must look upon it as their com-
mon cause.

"Pooh!" replied he; "that mignt
have done very well once, but Lord!
don't you know that's all over now?"

This was of course unansw'erable.

In the meantime, a suggestion was
made to us in a very unexpected way
of a plan of escape. We looked upon
it with suspicion, and thought it best
not even through curiosity to give it
encouragement. It appeared to us
that it might be a ])lan that, even
should it succeed, would make us seem
in the wrong; and we knew that at-
tempts of that nature, which had not
succeeded, had been fatal. We thought
it safer to be patient.

I contrived, however, to elude the
vigilance of our watchers. I found
among my clothes a letter of intro-
duction from one of the first mer-
chants in Athens to a lawyer in Floyd
County, Ga. There was blank room
enough in it to allow me to turn the
sheet and to write inside. I had a
pencil in my pocket. While pretend-
ing to read a newspaper I scribbled
by snatches an appeal to the Gover-
nor of Tennessee.* It was conveyed
out of the lines to a friend who inked
the superscription and made a copy
from the inside, which he afterwards
gave me, but I have mislaid it. An
express with the most kind friendship
flew across the country with this let-
ter to the Cherokee Agency, and thence
it was forwarded by another express

A History of Rome and Floyd County

to Nashville. I have not yet learned
the result.

We now heard that a brother of Mr,
Koss and another gentleman had in
vain sought to see us. We next ob^
tamed information that a son and a
friend of Mr. Ross had arrived. After
much demur Mr. Koss was allowed to
speak with his son, provided he only
conversed on family affairs. The
father and son met at the steps of
one entrance to the enclosure. The
steps were filled with curious listen-
ers. When attempting to utter a syl-
lable of domestic incjuiry to his son in
Cherokee, Mr. Joshua Holden sudden-
ly interdicted Mr. Ross from proceed-
ing.

Une afternoon subsequently there
was an arrival which gave great joy
to Sergeant Young. Some guards re-
turned from furlough with Governor
Lumpkin's valedictory message, with
news that Mr. Bishop had got the bet-
ter of an old enemy in a street affray
at Milledgeville, and that a sort of
patron of Young, by the name of
Kenan,* had been elected Judge of
the Supreme Court of Georgia. At
this last intelligence, Young frisked
about like a lunatic. He drew my
pistols and fired them off in triumph.
He whooped, he laughed, he capered.
He ran into our room.

"Aha!" exclaimed he. "He's the fel-
low that will bring down the consti-
tution!"

I replied that I thought it would
have been much better to have found
a fellow that would bring it up — it
was down low enough already. But
Young seemed to look upon this elec-
tion, especially when coupled with the
appointment of two of his family con-
nection to high places in the state,
as a source of great hope for his own
advancement, and was perfectly be-
wildered with exultation. In the eve-
ning, a newspaper was produced, con-
taining Gov. Lumpkin's valedictory
message. There were some envenomed
passages in it against Mr. Ross. Young
had already put it into the hands of
Mr. Ross, and then desired me to read
it aloud. I objected. I appealed to
his own sense of decency, but he per-
sisted and when Mr. Ross united with
him, I read the passage and gave the
hearers full benefit of this petty
triumph over a prisoner in their power.

The next change which occurred was
the determination of the Sergeant to
post off to Milledgeville. When he
communicated this to us, Mr. Ross
asked to be conducted with him thither,

that he might learn from the Governor
of the State why he was detained,
and answer his accusers. This was
denied, but the sergeant promised he
would take a letter. Soon afterwards
the polished Mr. Absalom Bishop made
his appearance. He had understood
from Mr. Young that Mr. Ross wish-
ed to address the Governor. If on
seeing the latter, Mr. Absalom Bishop
should find it might facilitate the set-
tlement of the Cherokee question, he
would himself be the bearer. This
seemed to me, especially in an unoffi-
cial position, a piece of the most ar-
rant impertinence I had ever heard. I
took occasion myself at the same time
to repeat my request for leave not
only to write to the Governor of Geor-
gia, but to the Governor of Tennessee,
to the President and to my friends.
I received this extraordinary reply:

"Your fate will be decided and the
result made nublic before you can
reach either of the persons you have
named."

I pressed to know on what charge
I was imprisoned. Mr. Absalom Bish-
op remarked that I would learn ere
long from the proper authority, and
added with a simper. "Yon are not in
so bad a fix as Arthur Tappan, for
I see by the paners that they are
parading him with a halter around
his neck."

Mr. Ross, with some warmth, ex-
claimed, "I hope, sir, you do not com-
pare our case with his!"

"Indeed, sir," smiled the gentle Mr.
Absalom, "Mr. Payne has for some
time been under suspicion as an Abo-
litionist." And still the charge seem-
ed to me so ridiculous that I could
not but join Mr. Absalom Bishop in
his smile, and I answered:

"Oh, if that's all, it can soon be
settled!"

"No," replied my comforter, "that's
not the only charge, but you will know
in time, and a fortnight can not make
much difference."

Mr. Ross was now supplied with
paper, and Mr. Absalom Bishop re-
mained to watch him. When the let-
ter was completed, the Guards were
already crowding the doorway, their
eyes and ears and mouths distended
with curiosity. Mr. Ross folded the
letter and handed it to Mr. Absalom,
who very deliberately opened and read
it, and replied he thought it might
do; he then went out, followed by
Sergt. Young. After a while, both

*Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, judge of the
Tallapoosa Circuit, Superior Court.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

returned. Mr. Absalom Bishop ob-
served that he wished a postscript,
more distinctly assuring the Governor
that he was desirous of making a
Treaty speedily, and that he urged a
release forthwith, merely in order to
accompany the delegation to Washing-
ton and accelerate the treaty. Mr.
Ross pointed out a part of his letter
Vi'hich already stated as much; but Mr.
Absalom Bishop thought a postscript
desirable, and so the postscript was
added and pronounced satisfactory,
and the letter and its bearer disap-
peared. I could almost fancy the
genius of this country exclaiming after
him, "Oh, Absalom, my son, my son!"

The departure was fixed for the
next day, but in the meantime there
arose trouble in the camp. Sergt.
Young heard a guard complaining of
him, and rushed at him with a club.
The guard struggled and Young drew
my pistol on him. The rest of the
troop caught Young's arm and saved
their comrade. Young afterwards
was grumbling at his failure. "I have
paid $1,500 already," said he, "for
shooting and stabbing, and I think I
can raise another .$1,500." He next
entertained us with a story of revenge
upon a negro slave of his whom he had
caught stealing. He had shaved the
fellow's ear off close with a razor,
"and the damned rascal," added he,
"said he never could hear after that,
and it was a damned of a while before
the place healed up."

I confess it somewhat annoyed me
to find my pistols in the constant
wearing of this person. I had fre-
quently given him hints after he had
promised to return them, but he took
no notice. One morning I remarked,
"Those pistol straps will be worn out
before I have a chance of putting them
on." "I reckon not," said Young,
"they'll last till spring, I take it."

But now that he was preparing for
a long journey and an indefinite ab-
sence, I thought it expedient to re-
quest their return explicitly. He de-
murred; would take it as a great favor
if I would lend them to him. He would
be back long before I could get out;
he would do as much at any time for
me. Then suddenly recollecting him-
self, he said: "I know I've behaved
like a damned mean man to you."
"Yes, you have," replied I; "you struck
me." "I know I did, and I've hated
it ever since." "I never named it,"
I replied, "but I never forgot it." "But
you'd better let me have the pistols.
I'll buy them — what did they cost?" I

named the cost and he cried, "I'll leave
'em. I'll give 'em to the quartermas-
ter to keep."

The pistols were eventually sent out
of the lines to a son of Mr. Ross, from
whom I have since obtained them; but
their withdrawal seemed to sink deep
mto the Sergeant's mind. In speak-
ing of it to him I remarked: "My
own things may as well be under my
own command. I did not seek the pis-
tols because I thought them of any
great importance as a defense; what-
ever may chance, I suppose our lives
are safe enough."

"Maybe not," observed the Sergeant.

Soon afterwards, another conversa-
tion arose. "Did I understand you
rightly," observed I to the Sergeant,
"or were you only joking when you
said a while ago that our lives were
m danger here? You surely could
not mean that we are in danger."

"You see the sort of company you've
got into," replied he; "I can't an-
swer for anybody when I'm once away.
However, there's one honest man here
and I'll put you under his charge.
Riley Wilson's an honest man. I've
plenty of enemies in these lines, but
I'll not be made an instrument of by
any man. When I go away now, I'll
wash my hands of the whole concern.
No man shall make me an instrument.
I'll not bear the whole brunt of this
affair, I'll assure you."

I made a very serious appeal to him,
but he took no heed of it, nor did he
recall his words, but left us thus for
Milledgeville. He had not long been
gone when I chanced to fall into con-
versation with a young man of the
party, and asked him if there was any
prejudice afloat against us. If there
was, I should be glad to know what
it was and whence it arose. He in-
quired why I made the question. I told
him Young's assertion of our being in
danger. It flew like wildfire through
the lines. The room was filled in an
instant and I told the whole story,
which was confirmed by Mr. Ross.
Some proposed to pursue Young im-
mediately, tie him to a tree and "give
him the hickory." Others threatened
to fling him over the lines whenever
he should return. I assured them I
did not believe he meant more than
to annoy us; but they declared he was
too fond of tormenting prisoners; that
there was no person there at all in-
clined to impose on a prisoner but
Young, and it was time he be taught
better or withdraw. They asserted

A History of Rome and Floyd County

there was not a man on the hill but
respected both of us, and we might
rely on their support. The burst of
good feeling that appeared on this oc-
casion convinced me that most of
those persons, in conscientious hands,
might be moulded into valuable char-
acters. It is their misfortune to be
governed by men whose fitness may be
gathered from the facts I have detail-
ed, and youths, as many of them are,
of unformed principles and habits, can
not but be endangered by such direc-
tors, especially as their captain, for
electioneering purposes, cajoles them
into a blind devotedness to him and
to anything he may propose, no mat-
ter how outrageous.

They now seemed for a moment to
feel how much their reputation had
been darkened by their leaders. "Yes,
this is the way that that Indian lost
his life. He was told by a man that
talked Cherokee that the Guard meant
to come in during the night and cut
his throat, so he hanged himself on
the pole there that crosses at the foot
of your bed."

In the afternoon of this day there
came a great and unexpected revolu-
tion in the affairs of our little world.
There was a sudden announcement of
the arrival of the Captain-Colonel
Bishop. An express was instantly sent
off to recall Young and Absalom
Bishop, with their letter, from Mil-
ledgeville. Next morning at breakfast
time the mighty chieftain appeared.
He is a dapper and well-dressed and
well-made little man, with a gray head
and blue coat, well brushed, and bright
yellow buttons. I had already remark-
ed that this Bucephalus seemed train-
ed to curvet and plunge like circus
horses, with a great show of mettle,
but perfect safety to the rider. In
manner his grandeur was somewhat
melodramatic.

I have seen Napoleon Bonaparte, I
have seen the Duke of Wellington,
I have seen the Emperor Alexander,
the Emperor Francis, the King of Eng-
land, the King of Prussia; I have seen
Ney, Rapp, Blucher, Swartzenburg —
in short, I have seen most of the con-
temporary great men of Europe, as
well as America, but I have never yet
seen quite so great a man as the Tav-
ern Keeper, Clerk of the Court, Post-
master, County Treasurer, Captain,
Colonel W. N. Bishop. He was now
no longer the meek Moses of the Coun-
cil Ground. He was all emphasis and
frown to the poor prisoners in his
power, but with a peculiar affection

to his men of bonho)Ji))ue. He came
into the mess room, exclaiming, "Ah,
boys!" (for boys is the cant word by
which they speak to and of each other
in the lines). "Ah, boys, how are
you?" and he walked around shaking
hands with each of the boys, but to
both of us he was especially cold and
formal; to me he scarcely even deigned
a specific nod.

Mr. Ross expressed a wish, through
one of our sentries, for an interview,
but no notice was taken of the re-
quest. On the evening of that day,
as I was walking to and fro before
my prison, reading, a voice bawled
out, "Mr. Payne, that was a mistake
of yours about what I said," and I
saw Young bearing down upon me,
flourishing a club. Someone called to
the sentry, "Guard your prisoner!"
and the sentry closed up towards me
on one side, putting his gun in readi-
ness for action, and about 30 of the
Guard now drew nigh on the other.
I did not conceive that there was any
intention on the Sergeant's part to do
mischief, although the Guard thought
otherwise, and declared if he had
struck, it would have been the un-
luckiest blow of his life. He attempted
to deny a part of his words and then
to explain them away, but he saw it
was of no use, and so the matter
ended.

The Sergeant's revenge, however,
was rather amusing. He said Mr. Ross
and I should turn out of the bunk of
which he was part owner. The men
laughed and gave us one of theirs.
Here is another instance of their su-
periority to their officers. If we were
state prisoners, however, we ought not,
for our miserable straw, to have been
dependent, either upon the men or
upon the Sergeant.

Somewhere about this time a very
extraordinary incident took place. A
Dr. Farmer came into the room with
one of the Guard. After sitting a
while, he looked at me and said:

"Parlez vous Francais, Monsieur?"

"Qui, Monsieur," I replied.

The doctor and the Guard now ex-
changed looks, and both smiled.

"Je parle Francais," continued I,
"mais Je suis Americain."

The doctor mused for a while and
then departed with the Guard, leav-
ing Mr. Ross and me alone. I ob-
served, "This is a strange business. I
think that man has something to com-
municate which may be important, and
he wished to know if I could speak

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

French that he might tell me his er-
rand more freely."

Mr. Ross asked me what he had
said. I replied that he only asked if
I understood French, and I answered
that I did, but was an American. Mr.
Ross observed that he knew nothing
of the man, but had heard bad stories
of his connections. It then occurred
to me that the doctor had merely
meant to try his French upon me, and
had soon got to the end of his stock.
Nor did the scene return to my mem-
ory until I heard, on my liberation,
that he had become one of my most
formidable accusers; that he had said
I confessed to him that my parents
were French, and that I myself was
an Abolitionist! The doctor must be
within reach of this narrative. If he
is innocent of the falsehood, it is due
to himself to seek and expose the in-
ventor.

The next thing we heard, Mr. John
Ridge was in the enclosure and closet-
ed with Col. Bishop. It was said that
he was at first denied an interview
with Mr. Ross, but at length Mr.
Ross was sent for to meet Ridge and
Bishop. After a few words. Bishop
suddenly arose and left them together.
When Mr. Ross returned, he exclaim-
ed, "It's all out now; we are both
Abolitionists and here for a capital
offense. We are the agents of some
great men, Mr. Clay, Mr. Calhoun,
Judge White, Mr. Poindexter, and the
Lord knows who; and we have both
plotted in concert with them to raise
an insurrection among the negroes,
who are to join the Indians against
the whites!"

I could not even yet regard the
charge as having been made seriously,
but Mr. Ross was assured it had been,
and he added:

"Bishop wishes to screen Currey
and take the arrest upon himself, so
we had better say nothing about that."

In the evening Mr. Ridge had an-
other interview, and on Monday, Nov.
16th, all were closeted for some hours.
About four, Mr. Ross entered the room
with a bundle in his hand.

"I've got my papers!" exclaimed he,
and dashing them into the bunk, we
went to dinner. Bishop and his broth-
er sat opposite. They were silent,
and all the party appeared nettled. I
will do the brace of Bishops the jus-
tice to own that they both, from first
to last, seemed in their hearts ashamed
to meet my glance, notwithstanding
much outward swagger. When dinner

was ended. Col. Bishop, giving a sort
of menacing look at me, exclaimed to
the sentinel with an emphatic gesture,
"Mr. Ross is discharged."

I walked back to my prison. Mr.
Ross, after some time, came for his
things. He said he was under the
necessity of getting home that night;
told me to make myself easy — all
would come out right.

"You have never published anything
about Bishop or the Guard in Lumpkin
County, have you?" was his only re-
mark.

"Not a syllable," replied I, "either
in Lumpkin County, or any other
county in Georgia or elsewhere."

"So I said," added he, "and you may
as well explain that when you see Col.
Bishop."

Mr. Ross seemed in haste. I imag-
ined he had been interdicted from com-
municating with me, and therefore
asked no explanations, especially as
the sentry was watching; nevertheless,
I requested he would solicit an inter-
view for me with Bishop, and ask a
speedy examination of my papers. He
went out and after some conversation
with Bishop came back, and stated
that Bishop had business that after-
noon which would prevent his attend-
ing to me, but the next day (Tues-
day) he would see me; and then my
companion mounted his horse and left
me alone and with feelings and un-
der a suspense and doubt by no means
to be envied. This event, I observed,
produced an instantaneous effect upon
the manner of the Guard towards me;
but ere long some of them seemed to
feel a deeper sympathy than ever, and
were marked, though silent, in their
civility. Others were unusually rude.
One man in particular, who was to
have been a sort of ruler during
Young's intended stay at Milledgeville,
became very coarse.

"Here!" he bawled one day across
the yard to me, after I had been for-
gotten at the first table for dinner.
"Here, you old prisoner you, come
along and eat!"

At one time I apprehended an in-
tention to increase the rigor of my
treatment. I heard one of the officers
calling for the Indian chain. "Where's
the Indian chain?" This is a chain
they keep expressly for the Indians,
and" the captive we found there, hav-
ing been dismissed, as he was taken
without law or reason assigned, the
chain had been thrown under one of
the bunks of our room and had been

A History of Rome and Floyd County

^^ •^ ^1 111

INDIAN RELICS FOUND ON FLOYD COUNTY FARMS

The bludgeon, axes and short shaft spear at the top were used for war and other pur-
poses. The pestles in the center were employed to grind corn in wooden mortars. The bowl
was unearthed on the E. J. Moultrie farm in the Coosa Valley and the arrow heads picked up
in bottom lands and on hillsides here and there.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

a while without an occupant. But my
impression was not realized. The chain
was undisturbed.

Although friends and acquaintances
were rigorously excluded from my
prison, there seemed no exclusion of
any one who came out of mere cu-
riosity. A drunken countryman stag-
gered in one day. I was reading.

"I've spent all my money," said he,
"waiting in this town to see John
Ross and that other fellow."

I told him John Ross was gone.
After a while he gave me a knowing
wink and touched my elbow. "Aye,
aye, mighty good books — I like 'em,
too. I'm all for the ablutions." I ask-
ed him what he meant. He then hint-
ed that he had heard that John Ross
was one of the ablutions, and so was
he. I interrupted him; told him he
was mistaken in John Ross; that I
presumed I was "the other fellow,"
and that the story he had heard against
us was all an invention, and if he
wanted ablutions, as he called them,
he must look for them elsewhere.

He begged a thousand pardons. The
Guard then said it was against or-
ders to talk to the prisoner, and my
friend of the ablutions reeled out,
bowing and hoping he "hadn't given
no offense to nobody, only he did just
want to have a look at the ablutions."

The time began to drag on more
drearily than ever. I had read up
all the books. I had no pen nor ink,
nor paper to write with. My only
amusement was parading before the
door and mentally composing a dog-
gerel description of my captivity, of
which even the little that I remem-
bered is not yet committed to paper.
Scenes of extreme confusion were oc-
curring hourly in my den. The eve-
nings were almost insupportable. The
room was thronged. A violin was tor-
mented into shrieks and groans which
were nicknamed music; there was
dancing and singing until tattoo; and
after that, conversation which ex-
ceeded in vulgarity, profanity and filth
anything I ever could have fancied.
Almost the only exceptions which in
the least could amuse were these :

"Where's that St. Helena," said the
Sergeant, "that Kill Blast belonged
to?"

"St. Helena," replied I, "is the place
where Bonaparte died. Gil Bias be-
longed to another part of the world ;
Santillane in — "

"Ah yes; well, you remember most
everything. I wish you'd remember

that I'm to take a dose of salts to-
morrow morning at four, and tell me
of it."

"Are you anything of a silversmith?"
asked one of the young men. "I want
to get some silver work fixed."

"Where's New York?" inquired an-
other; "England, ain't it?"

"No, it's the largest city in our own
country."

"But you must go to it over the
ocean, mustn't you?"

"You may if you go the right way
to work," I replied.

One day the sentry who was guard-
ing me in a ramble round the grounds
made a sudden halt, and dropping his
musquet abruptly, stared me fiercely
in the face.

"What do you follow when you're at
home?"

I paused, returned the fierce stare,
and replied, "Literature."

The man looked astounded. He stood
a while motionless, then took up his
gun. "Go on!" cried he, and we pro-
ceeded in silence, he no doubt imag-
ining that I had made a full confes-
sion of my sins.

One evening the importance of
knowing how to spell was discussed.
"There's no use in it at all," said the
oldest of the party, "because there's
two ways to spell everything."

"Yes," I observed, "there's a right
way and a wrong one."

"Come now," exclaimed one guard
to another. "How would you spell
axe? We'll leave it to the man (mean-
ing me) to say which way's right."

"Oh, that's easy enough : A-X."

"No," was the reply, doubtingly, and
with a glance at me. "There are three
letters," observed I, "in the word."

"I know," said a third: "W-A-X."

"That spells ivax!" exclaimed the
first in triumph.

"E-A-X!" cried a fifth.

"That's eax," called out the third,
with a laugh, and they all looked at
me.

"There's the number of letters and
the proper letters if they were only in
the proper places. The E is at the
wrong end," I observed.

"Ah, I know!" replied two or three,
clapping their hands. "A-X-E." And
so the contest ended.

The remainder of Monday, and then
Tuesday, and then Wednesday passed
off in the Colonel's paying arrearages

A History of Rome and Floyd County

to the men and settling accounts; and
the men themselves were engaged in
trafficking and settling up their lit-
tle bills among themselves, and swap-
ping. From first to last they had
been wishing to swap for everything
I had — my knife, my pistols, my horse,
my saddle, my watch; in short, every-
thing seemed to tempt them, but above
all, a buffalo hide which I used over
my saddle. My watch was a perpetual
torment to me. Every five minutes,
sometimes for hours, I was teazed to
tell what o'clock it was; and at night
I was desired to hang up my watch
that the two sentinels might regulate
their movements by it. Some of the
Guards borrowed money from me, but
except for a trifle, which was only
withheld, probably because my sortie
was unforeseen, all was punctually
repaid. During all the remainder of
the time, Bishop and his brother avoid-
ed meeting me at table or elsewhere.
And now all pretense of business
appeared at an end. Everything of
that nature seemed to wind up with
an auction, in which the Captain-Col-
onel performed as Auctioneer to his
men. Some rifles belonging to Indians
who had been shot in attempting to
escape capture were bid off; then a
coat; then the "boys" were asked if
they had anything else which they de-
sired to sell, and then the "gentlemen"
were thanked for their attention, and
dismissed. After this the Captain-Col-
onel seemed closeted upon secret busi-
ness. I inferred from some circum-
stances that he was making copies
from among the manuscript documents
I had transcribed regarding Cherokee
affairs. They were mostly the same
with the papers returned to Mr. Ross,
but fairly written and arranged in or-
der and therefore most convenient for
a transcription. During this employ,
a fine of $20 was proclaimed against
any guard who should approach the
door of the sanctum sanctorum, and a
sentinel was ordered to keep watch
and prevent intrusion.

All that I heard from without dur-
ing the week was that Mr. Ross had
sent a messenger, who was prevented
from seeing me; and a guard apprised
me that he had been requested by this
messenger to say "my friends had not
forgotten me; in a few days all would
come right."

I learned afterward that this in-
formant had proffered to convey to
me letters or papers, and a note was
consequently given to him, but it never
came to hand. I had been told that

Mr. Schermerhorn was expected about
this time, and I knew that if we met,
decency would have rendered it im-
perative on him to bring about my
release. I asked Young, and he pre-
tended not to know when the Rev-
erend Commissioner would appear, but
observed "he knew all about it, for
news was sent off to him at once."

On Friday morning, Nov. 20th, Ser-
geant Young told me he was going to
his home. I had already understood
that Col. Bishop was preparing for
a trip to Milledgeville. Young had
several times bantered me about "when
I expected my furlough" and "why I
didn't get on my horse and ride off."
He repeated his jeers this morning.
He asked me if I had not seen the
Colonel yet. I replied no; expressed
a wish to see him and desired Young
to name my wish.

"The Colonel's got nothing agin you
that I know of, except something you
writ about us in Lumpkin." I replied
I had written nothing in Lumpkin.
"Well, then, in Habersham, when you
was up there at Clarkesville."

I said that was equally a slander
and asked as a point of common jus-
tice, at least, to be shown the articles I
was accused of having written. But
Young evaded the request by saying,
"At any rate, you wrote a letter where
you called the Guard banditti, for we
found that among your papers; and
you ought not to have wrote such a
letter."

"Have I not a right to make what
private notes I please? The paper you
speak of was never published. Even
though it had been, no one can be
justified in complaining of me for only
exercising a privilege guaranteed to
me by the constitution of my native
country. But it was not published and
could form no part of the cause of
my arrest, nor of the pretext for my
detention."

"I mean to keep them letters," said
Young, "in case you should ever print
anything if you ever git out, so as to
prove it agin you. I don't give them
up. You oughtn't to have said the
Guard looked like banditti."

It was not above half an hour after
this when I perceived preparations for
something unusual. The men were all
summoned to be ready at the roll of
the drum. My horse was ordered out,
as I understood, to be taken to water.
But I was convinced from many signs
that I myself was the object of the
mysterious movements. A son of the

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

Colonel kept staring around at me
with intense curiosity, and many oth-
ers looked on in silence, as persons
look upon any one about to under-
go some terrible ordeal. The Colonel's
horse was saddled and put in read-
iness, and another horse was also pre-
pared, and Mr. Joshua Holden ap-
peared, equipped for a campaign. At
length the drum beat. I heard the
sergeant say, recommending some one
to the Captain-Colonel, "He may be
trusted."

And now one of the Guard ran to
me: "Your saddlebags, your saddle-
bags." "Why?" "You're going out."
I went to the bunk. "Is there not
some mischief intended?" asked I. "I
can't tell, but you'd better make me
a present of that buffalo hide." "No,"
answered I; "it was given to me and
has been too good a friend to me in
trouble." The guard took the saddle-
bags and buffalo skin, and with it
a very large and cumbersome cloak
and some loose clothes. I found them
heaped upon my horse. "The straps
to fasten these are not here." "I
can't help it," was the answer. "Get
on, get on!" "I can not over this
pile of things." "You must." "This
is not my bridle; mine was a new one
and double. Where are my martin-
gales, my straps?" "Get on, get on!"
I was compelled to mount, and the
m.ass of unfastened things was piled
up before me; the saddle was loosely
girted, and the horse was startled, and,
as if on purpose, covered with mud.
I still claimed my bridle, but was con-
ducted in front of the paraded Guard,
he who led my horse muttering as he
went, "That's the bridle they said was
yours."

The Captain-Colonel stood in front
of his men. "Halt your horse there,
sir, and beware how you speak a
word." I attempted to speak, but he
shouted :

"Be silent, sir; look upon them men.
Them's the men you in your writings
have called banditti."

Whether the eloquent Captain-Col-
onel imagined I meant to reply, I can
not say, but he repeated eagerly:

"Don't speak, sir!"

And I did not speak, but I did look
upon the men, and if ever I compared
them in appearance to banditti, the
glance of that moment made me feel
that I ought to ask of any banditti
the most respectful pardon. Spirit of
Shakespeare, forgive me too! For if
thy Falstaff and his ragged regiment

came into my mind at such a moment,
it was my misfortune, not my fault.
But I will proceed.

"You've come into this country to
pry, ever since you arriv, into things
you've no business with. You're a
damned incendiary, sir! You've come
into this country to rise up the Cher-
okees against the whites. You've wrote
agin these worthy men (pointing to
the Guards). You've wrote agin the
State of Georgia. You've wrote agin
the gineral Government of the United
States. Above all, sir, you've wrote
agin me! Now, sir — "

Then turning with an aside speech
to some bystander, I think it was Mr.
Joshua Holden, "Hand the things,"
said the Captain-Colonel, and a bun-
dle with a loop, carefully prearranged
so as to let the arm through, was
given to me.

"Now, sir, take your papers; haug
'em on your arm, sir, and I order you
to cut out of Georgia. If you ever
dare agin show your face within the
limits of Georgia, I'll make you curse
the moment with your last breath.
With your foul attacks on me you've
filled the Georgia papers."

I could not well endure to hear as-
sertions so utterly unfounded, and took
advantage of the pause of the elo-
quent Captain-Colonel for breath, and
exclaimed rather vehemently:

"Upon my honor, no, sir!"

"Hold your tongue, I say," resumed
my jailor. "The minute you hear the
tap of the drum, I tell you to cut out
of this yard, and I order you never
while you exist to be seen in this state
of ours any more, for if you are, I'll
make you rue it! Let this be a lesson
to you, and thank my sympathy for
a stranger that you've been treated
with such extraordinary kindness; and
now, sir, clear out of the state forever,
and go to John Ross, God damn you!"

I looked on this pitiable exhibition
with more of passion than resentment,
and it seemed to me as if most of the
Guard felt sorry for their leader.
Never before did I so forcefully re-
alize the truth of that beautiful' pas-
sage —

Frail man, frail man,
Drcst in a little brief authority
Plays such fantastic tricks before high

Heaven
As make the angels weep !

I claimed my bridle again, but in
vain, and I then moved of necessity

A History of Rome and Floyd County

slowly from the place, because I had
great difficulty in retaininp: the things
that had been piled upon my horse.
When I got outside the lines, some of
the affairs dropped off, and I stopped
to ask a person to hand them to me,
and at the same time to inquire the
route to Big Spring.* On turning a
corner a stranger told me I had bet-
ter stop and dismount and arrange my
baggage; and just then a gentleman
called to me that he wished a word
with me, and approached. He said he
had a letter for me. I asked him the
direction towards the residence of Mr.
Ross. I saw that the letter he hand-
ed me was from Mr. Ross, and related
to my route. At that moment Col.
Bishop and Mr. Josiah Holden dashed
up like fiends. Bishop cursed me,
threatened me, if I dared speak to
any "damned Nullifier," and menaced
to make an example out of me if I
did not get out of the State. I paused
to return the letter and to ask the
I'oad, but my pursuers continued to
execrate and to roar. I went on and
for the last time had the honor of
again hearing the Colonel's eloquence,
in a volley of oaths as he passed back
towards the camp, threatening my life
as a "damned old rascal" if he ever
caught me daring to speak to another
man in Georgia.

I turned abruptly, entirely ignor-
ant of the way, into a little wood.
Descending a slippery spot, my horse,
which had been startled by the rush-
ing of the pursuers, stumbled. The
saddle, which had been scarcely girt-
ed on, turned, the large cloak caught
around his legs and I found myself
equally entangled in its folds with the
horse, one of whose fore hoofs was
planted on my breast. He snorted and
stood in a sort of stupor of amaze-
ment, his mouth open and almost
touching mine, his ears erect, his nos-
trils distended, and his eyes staring
wildly into my eyes, for at least a
minute. It is singular enough that I
felt not the slightest sense of danger
or even uneasiness; I only thought it
best to remain quiet until I found
what the horse meant to do ; and then
I took his hoof, lifted it aside, dis-
engaged myself, arose and with some
difficulty got my cloak from around
his limbs. He did not even stiffen a
joint when I lifted his foot from my
breast, nor did I feel, while it was
planted there, the slightest pressure,
although the form of the hoof was by
the red clay in which he had been
tramping, so strongly defined upon
my shirt bosom that it might in New

England have answered for a sign to
keep away the witches. But no sooner
was the danger wholly past than I
felt feeble and faint and perfectly
unmanned. I had never, from the be-
ginning to the end of my misadven-
ture, experienced any sensation like
that which now came over me.

I could scarcely move. Before me
there was a muddy streamlet across
which there arose a hill with a hut
at its top. I determined to walk up
to that hut and there seek assistance
in adjusting my things for a journey,
and purchase cords or straps of some
sort. But I could scarcely drag my
horse through the stream. He was
ravenous for water and kept me stand-
ing in the middle of it while he drank.
The woman of the house was much
agitated by my appearance. She ask-
ed, trembling and in tears "if the
Guard would not come to her and hurt
her for speaking to me." She seemed
exceedingly anxious for me to get out
of sight. I answered that I could not
think they would be so brutal. I now
found that my buffalo hide was miss-
ing. I promised to pay another wom-
an for going back to look for it, as
it must have fallen close at hand. She
returned presently and said it was not
there.

I had by this time secured my things
with ropes. In paying the one woman
I gave silver to pay the other. I
could not help being struck by the cir-
cumstance, under all this alarm at
the hut, of my being called to by
the one of these people who had fail-
ed to accomplish her errand, to know
whether I had left any money for her
too.

It so chanced that I got upon the
direct road to McNair's, some 15 miles
off and within the chartered limits of
Tennessee. It is an Indian family.
Nothing could be kinder or more cor-
dial than my reception and treatment,
notwithstanding the strong probabil-
ity they fancied of my being still pur-
sued thither for fresh torment by the
Guard. They looked upon me as one
risen from the dead. At McNair's I
was for the first time fully apprised
of the dangers which had beset me and
which were still to be dreaded. I found
that during my thirteen days' captiv-
ity the most industrious efforts had
been made to excite the country against
me as an Abolitionist and a Foreign

��Now in Meigs County, Tenn., 25 miles north
of Blue Spring. He was trying to reach the
latter after he was liberated, hoping to rejoin
Ross.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

Emissary. The most important step
had been already taken. The minds
of the country people had been fa-
miliarized to the expectation of my
being hanged, and they only waited
for notice to assemble and enjoy the
execution. The wife of a tavern keeper
at Spring Place was reported to me
by a traveller as having been heard
to say I was a "very bad man," I was
"sure to be hung," and one man had
been hung thereabouts before for much
less than I had done. I deserved the
gallows and she herself would see me
swinging with much pleasure — that
she would, "wicked thing that I was!"

This may be taken, I presume, as a
fair specimen of the sort of excite-
ment which had been got up. Those
best acquainted with the neighborhood
and with the spirit prevailing looked
upon my situation from the first as
the more perilous of the two; but when
I was found to have been detained
after Mr. Ross, it was considered as
altogether desperate. That this was
no idle belief may be inferred from
a fact of which I was afterward ad-
vised. A paper, belonging, as I un-
derstand, to a friend of Bishop in
Cassville — the only paper of the re-
gion through which it was my long
avowed plan to return — had sent forth
the following tissue of impudent false-
hoods, during the earlier days of our
captivity, and the poison had taken
effect :

"Report," says the Cassville Pioneer
of Nov. 13th, "has just reached us
of the apprehension by the Georgia
Guard of John Ross, together with a
gentleman from the North. They were
pursued by the soldiers stationed at
Calhoun, Tenn., as far as the line of
this state, where the chase was taken
up by the Guard, who succeeded in
overtaking them at an Indian's by the
name of Sneaking Rabbit. The crime
with which they are chai-ged seems
to be an effort, making by them, to
arouse the Cherokees and negroes to
the commission of hostilities on the
white citizens of the Cherokee coun-
try. If information be true, the pa-
pers found in their possession go far
to prove the hostility of their designs.
Their communications had in a great
measure been carried on in the French
language. For want of a knowledge
of that language, the Guard was un-
able to comprehend fully their designs.
Time alone can develop the truth of
the report, but we trust for the peace
of the community at large that it may

*A long but harmless exhortation and appeal.

not prove as true as present appear-
ances seem to indicate."

On discovering these reports, I felt
some anxiety to examine the papers
myself, wondering what could have
created the French part of the charge.
I looked among the manuscripts re-
turned. The French papers which
have puzzled the Captain, Colonel and
the rest seem to have been these: A
numeration table, in Cherokee, by
George Gist, the native inventor of
the Cherokee alphabet ; a specimen of
Gist's handwriting in Cherokee and in
the characters he had invented ; an ac-
count of his life, also in the same lan-
guage and characters, and written by
his relation, George Lowry, second
principal chief; and a literary com-
position by Mr. Lowry, in Cherokee
words, but English letters, which I
preserved as a remarkable curiosity,
because Mr. Lowry had never learned
to read or write in any way, until
after he had attained in age nearly
half a century.

These were the French letters. This
was the French plot. And I have rea-
son to believe that in their eagerness
to get some evidence against us the
wiseacres by whom we had been kid-
napped sent far across the country for
some learned Theban to translate the
aforesaid French out of the original
Cherokee!

My other papers consisted of tran-
scripts of public documents, a book of
private memoranda, some specimen
copy books from the Missionary School
at Brainerd, appeals, the latter already
mentioned and never printed, signed
"Washington," and the address which
I had drawn up for the Cherokee Na-
tion to the people of the United States.
The former of these was not returned
to me. If stolen, I can not conjec-
ture wherefor. If it had been re-
turned, although the publication had
not been intended, events would have
induced me to have enabled the public
to judge of it, as I now enable them
to do of the other paper''', which was
meant for circulation, and only re-
strained by its seizure and our deten-
tion from being sent round for sig-
natures by all the people. My coun-
trymen will find it annexed. It will
show them how far my accusers have
been justified in attempting my de-
struction as an exciter of the Cher-
okees to rise and murder the whites !

I must not omit here to mention
that often and often since this affair
have I blessed the chance which kept
out of my reach any of these aboli-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

tion pamphlets which have been so
much talked about. I have never seen
any and have had some desire to see
one for I am in the habit of gather-
ing scraps of that sort as curiosities,
and if one had come in my way I
should certainly have preserved it, as
valuable for a future illustration of
our times; and that would have sealed
my fate, for had the slightest docu-
ment of such a nature been discovered
in my possession, no explanation could
have saved me. A pretext, and not
the truth, was wanted; and such an
accident, and by no means an un-
likely one, could ere this have cost
my life upon a scaffold.

Before I close my list of escapes,
let me mention one more. Mr. Ross
had told me during our ride when first
captured how glad he was of the pre-
cautions which had been taken a long
time before to prevent any resentment
on the part of the Indians of any
wrong whatever to their nation or its
chiefs. Some indignity to him had
long been expected and he felt satis-
fied that the Cherokees would be dis-
creet. I learned afterwards, however,
that the indignation of some of them
at this enormity almost overpowered
the efforts of their leaders to keep
them patient. Had they attacked the
camp for our rescue I am convinced
that as a first step of the defenders,
we should have been shot. A scheme
was also on foot, I have been told, in
the bordering counties of Tennessee, to
raise a force and bring us and the
Guard back over the line, and there
punish the intruders. This attempt
would equally have exposed our lives,
and in either case we should have
been branded as having caused a civil
war, and the first bloodshed might
have been made an excuse to extermi-
nate the Indians. In more than one
instance during our imprisonment I
remarked some uneasiness in the camp,
but have only since learned whence
it probably arose.

But to resume my story. I sent a
messenger across the forest to Red
Clay, for the purpose of knowing what
had become of Mr. Ross. With the
messenger next day Mr. Ross and his
Assistant Principal Chief'' and Dr.
Butler** came to congratulate me on
my escape. Of Dr. Butler I ought to
make some special mention. He was
one of those who had been imprisoned
in the Georgia penitentiary under the
famous attack upon the Missionaries.
He had deeply felt my danger, had
written to my friends, though a

stranger to them, in order that the
result he secretly apprehended might
not come upon their knowledge too
suddenly, and had travelled a long road
through a dreary night to seek influ-
ence in my favor. His little family
had implored Heaven for me with their
prayers, and when I met them again,
welcomed me with a touching enthu-
siasm, which told the story of the peril
I had escaped. It was when I went
back with my visitors to the house
of Mr. Ross that I saw them, and
soon after, Mr. Ross and Mr. Lowry
accompanied me as far as the agency.
There the venerable Eena-tah-naah-eh,
commonly called Going Snake, speaker
of the Council, and one or two of its
other members were in waiting to con-
gratulate me. Old Eena-tah-naah-eh,
though he could not speak a syllable
of English, was eloquent with looks of
joy. He had told Mr. Ross when he
first called to see him after his eman-
cipation, "It makes me happy to find
you here. . But I am only half happy.
I do not see our friend. I look at the
chair where he used to sit, and it is
empty. I look at the door and he does
not enter. I listen for his voice, but
all is silent."

On hearing I was to be at the
agency,*** the old man hastened thither.
There, too, the officers of the United
States army hailed me with the cor-
diality of compatriots and gentlemen,
feeling that the republic had been in-
f:ulted in the treatment I had received,
a spirit which appeared to prevail
wherever I happened to pass people in
my lonely ride to Knoxville, where I
have had ample proof that Tennessee
disdains the baseness of which I have
been the victim within her sway.

It may be asked whence this high-
handed outrage of which Mr. Ross and
myself have been the victims arose.
There must have been some cause for
it. The only cause I can guess for
it is this : There was a wish to get
possession of certain documents re-
garding the treaty discussions from
Mr. Ross, which had been asked for
by the government agents and not
given. It was known that I had made
copies of all the recent public docu-
ments of the Cherokee nation. The
seizure of the papers of both Mr. Ross
and myself would probably supply all
that had been asked. Thei-e was no

* George Lowrey.

**Rev. Elijah Butler, who had charge of Mis-
sionary Station at Coosa, and who had spent
a year and four months in the penitentiary at
Milledgeville for "interfering" with the Indians.

***Calhoun, Tenn.

John Howard Payne's Arrest by the Georgia Guard

force sufficiently lawless to undertake
this but the Georgia Guard. Having
adventured on the step, it was re-
quisite to invent a pretext, and to
cover themselves from indignation by
keeping us out of view until the coun-
try could be excited against us. The
mad-dog cry of the day is Abolitionist.
That was the most obvious mode of
strangling complaint against the in-
jury, for it was the most certain to
get the injured themselves strangled,
and "dead men tell no tales." Besides,
if a mob rould be raised, mischief
could be done without responsibility.
In order to make "assurance doubly
sure"* the slander was heightened
by the imputations of a French and
Indian, connected with a negro plot, for
universal massacre. The scheme, how-
ever, did not take the effect expected.
Then was Mr. Ross set free, under the
plea, probably, that he had more
friends than I. He was even treated
at the dismissal with a show of court-
liness, that his story might discredit
mine.

I was probably detained after him
for two reasons. My papers contain-
ed fair copies of all such among his
as might be wanted. Mine were fair-
ly written and arranged and could
more easily be made use of by the
transcriber. It was convenient to keep
me until copies could be made of what-
ever Cherokee documents the parties
concerned might think useful.

The other reason appears very like-
ly to have been this : Alone and a
stranger in a strange place, I might
be made the readier victim could a
stir be raised against me, either with-
in the camp or within the neighbor-
hood. The frequent mention by the
officers of my having "abused the
guard" was intended to spirit them
to do me an injury. I heard one of
them intimate with some indignation
one day that he himself so understood
it. To them and to all, my continued
imprisonment was doubtless meant to
convey the idea of proven guilt. The
mode of my dismissal was evidently
intended to be understood as an en-
couragement to any violence that the
"boys" within might choose to perpe-
trate, and the hostile pursuit by threats
as an excitement to the "boys" with-
out. By crushing me, my persecutors
might crush a witness and prevent
future inquiry. Perhaps I was only
saved by taking a road which no one

*A favorite expression used by Woodrow
Wilson.

**So far as is known, Ross remained silent.

expected I w-ould take, though, in
truth, as I said before, I think the
"boys" considerably better than their
leaders.

But whatever the pretext for this
enormity, there can be no excuse. If
my visit to the house of Mr. Ross
was objected to by the government
agents, a hint would have been enough.
If doubt were entertained of the na-
ture of my memoranda, a request
would have opened them to examina-
tion. Violence would have been early
enough when a disposition had been
shown to respect gentleness. But that
I was re-ally engaged in any plot of
any sort, I am persuaded never was
believed by those who have commit-
ted this outrage. What could I gain
by the Cherokees? Every moment that
I have passed in their country has
been a loss to me and an inconven-
ience. Nothing which they can offer
can render me services, and men do not
contrive treason when they can gain
no advantage. I have been swayed in
the very little I have gathered re-
garding the Cherokees by a pure and
distinterested wish to render my own
country service, in leading it to be
simply just to theirs, and I have wish-
ed to' supply myself with such mate-
rial that the fairness which it might
be impossible for me to excite for them
from present legislation, I might my-
self bestow on them in future history.
In party questions I take no interest.
I repeat again and again that I have
looked into this matter as a philan-
thropist, not as a politician.

Mr. Ross will presently tell his own
story.** His affairs have prevented
him' from joining me here in time to
give it to the world with mine. I have
wished to put my portion of the facts
on record as speedily as possible, be-
cause I am aware that great false-
hood must be resorted to by my op-
pressors in order to prevent public in-
dignation against a great wrong. In-
deed, with such foes and such modes
as they adopt for gaining ends and
such a" long and lonely road to travel,
who knows how soon the complaincr
may bo yet silenced? It is but a week
since I was a prisoner. But whatever
may be the risk, I deem it a duty to
my' country not to shirk from speak-
ing the entire truth.

People of Tennessee, to you I appeal !
I was a peaceful visitor to your state.
I had dwelt in it some weeks. A band
of armed men, who, in overpassing the
limits of their own region, surely ren-
dered themselves felons and banditti.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

burst into my retreat at midnight,
dragged me four and twenty miles
through a forest and during a drench-
ing tempest. I was denied to com-
municate with friends, with your gov-
ernment, with our common protector,
the President of the Union. I was
denied a knowledge of the charge
against me, or my accuser. After
nearly two weeks of imprisonment I
was insultingly and without examina-
tion ordered back into Tennessee by
the Captain of the outlaws who had
laughed at your power of protection,
your own chartered boundaries to
scorn. People of Tennessee, will you
bear these things? Will you see your
hospitality thus dishonored? Will you
know that the stranger who comes to
visit you can not be safe, even in his
blamelessness, from injury and in-
sult within your domain?

People of Georgia, I appeal to you!
I came among you as a fellow coun-
tryman. I came to make myself ac-
quainted with your history and your
character and with the numberless
natural beauties and with the count-
less riches of your domain. I came
under the guarantee of the compact
between the sister states of the Re-
public, which secures to the citizens
of each unobstructed communication
with all. I came relying upon the
spirit of hospitality which has distin-
guished the South. I have told you
how I have been treated. If any mem-
ber of the Republic has been especially
remarkable for her resistance to the in-
trusion of one state upon the rights
of another, it is Georgia. How, then,
can I believe that she will uphold her
officers, who have in the most glar-
ing and the coarsest manner been
guilty of such an intrusion? I do not,
therefore, identify the state with the
wrongs. I can not again enter the
state until the people do the justice
to tell me that I have judged them
fairly in believing they feel themselves
insulted by the insults which have
been heaped in their name upon a
neighboring power and upon the con-
stitution, our common protector — in
the person of a stranger, a country-
man, a friend.

My fellow citizens throughout my
native land! To all of you alike I
appeal, for there is not one in our
Republic to whom this case is not of
vital import. It is not a party, but
a universal question, and I doubt not

but that the Chief Magistrate of the
Republic, whose government has been
prophaned by being made by subal-
terns to seem the source of the wrong,
will be foremost in declaring this
enormity. Insulting inquisitions, dom-
iciliary visits, midnight intrusions into
the sanctuary of homes, seizure by
armed men of private papers, the im-
prisonment and secreting of citizens,
without the disclosure either of the
charge or the accuser, contempt of the
boundaries of the states, mockery of
the hallowed privileges of the consti-
tution — all these the worst deeds of
the basest despotism have been per-
petuated already in the instance now
before you, and if you do not rise like
men and declare such things shall not
be suffered, not a citizen among you
can say he sleeps in safety!

This is no idle declamation. It has
happened to me and it may happen to
any one of you. The Rubicon has
been passed. But think of me, think
of yourselves, think of those most dear
to you, to whom you would bequeath
the freedom you inherited. Not for
personal chagrin, but for the honor
of our country I will tell you, and oh!
let not posterity echo the assertion
as a prophecy, if tamely you look on
and see these things, unmoved ! I care
not for proscriptions nor for bayonets;
neither the Guards of Georgia nor the
denunciations of reckless and wily and
insidious hirelings shall frighten me
into silence; for I will tell you and
with my last breath, if tamely you
behold these things you are only slaves
— heartless, abject slaves, and un-
worthy of the immortal ancestors who
bravely fought and nobly died to make
their country free. But for this, I am
satisfied, you will give no cause. The
spirit of your fathers is not dead with-
in you. My country will not see even
the humblest of her sons oppressed.
JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.

Saturday, November, 1835.*

♦Evidently Nov. 28. Since he was released
Friday, Nov. 20. he could not have reached
Knoxville, 125 miles, in less than four days.
Payne was born June S, 1792, at 33 Pearl St.,
New York, N. Y., and died at 60 years of age
Apr. 10. 1852, while serving as United States
consul at Tunis, Morocco. He lay buried there
until W. W. Corcoran, of Washington, D. C,
brought his body back to his native land late
in March, 1883, and reinterred it in George-
town, a suburb of Washington. He corre-
sponded with such literary lights as Washing-
ton Irving (who also died a bachelor), Samuel
Taylor Coleridge and Chas. Lamb, and roomed
with Irving in Paris for a while.

CHAPTER IV
Aftermath of the Payne- Ross Affair

THE arrest of Payne and
Ross stirred up a "hornet's
nest" in Georgia and Ten-
nessee and to a less extent
at Washington and throughout
the country. Governor William
Schley had just come into of-
fice at jMilledgeville as the suc-
cessor of Wilson Lumpkin, and
he was bombarded with protests.
President Jackson was bombard-
ed at Washington. A volunteer
force of soldiers was organized in
Tennessee to patrol "the border"
and keep the rambunctious Geor-
gians on their "own side." Con-
gress and the Georgia Legislature
prepared to review the case. The
Georgia Guard began to "spew
out."

Major Currey explained to Presi-
dent Jackson through Elbert Her-
ring, commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs, and called Payne a prevari-
cator. He was supposed to have
ordered the arrest, or at least to
have inspired it. Some said the
order came from Milledgeville.
Schermerhorn contended that he
was at Tuscaloosa, Ala., when he
heard the news ; had nothing to do
with it. l)ut \v(iuld have had Payne
arrested had he knoAvn of his de-
signs.

Two Indians from near Rome
figured in the afifair. Payne's ac-
count mentions that one of them
hung himself in the guard house at
v^pring Place, which became his
own "home" for nearly a fortnight.
Combatting Payne's statement that
the Indian was driven to despera-
tion by the Georgia Guard, Major
Currey offered this cxj^lanation :

*The Howling Wolf was oC the Chickamaugra
District, which included part of Rome. He was
no dout)t identical with Crying Wolf. Rohbin
was a member of Challoogee district, which in-
clude<l half of Floyd County. Goth attended the
Running Waters council in .luly, and Robbin
voted with the faction U'<l by Ridge.

The HowHng Wolf, charged with
stabbing an Indian for supporting the
treaty, and Lowny, or Robbin, charged
with killing and robbing a white man,
were being held at Spring Place. An
old man named Trigg was arrested
and confined with the Indians; he
told them their own people would shoot
them through the cracks of the cala-
boose in the early morning. Lowny,
or Robbin, tried to persuade the Howl-
ing Wolf that they should hang them-
selves. The latter refused, but the
former committed suicide by hanging
from a rafter with a small cord that
had been tied loosely to his arms.*

The occurrence was avcII calcu-
lated to inflame public oj^inion.
John Ross knew this, and he tact-
fully refrained from rusliing into
the discussion. Theodore Freling-
huysen, Edward Everett, Jas. K.
Polk, Jno. C. Calhoun, Sam Hous-
ton, John Bell, Plugh Lawson
White and other leading" friends
of the Indians took up the cudgels
at Washington. Mr. Bell, who be-
came the candidate of the Constitu-
tional Union party for President
in 1860 (with Mr.^ Everett in the
minor position) undertook to
bring abcutt a Cmigressional in-
vestigation.

The Georgia Journal, of Mil-
ledgeville, a consistent opponent of
CjOV. Lumpkin and his "strong-arm
gang," ])rinted tlie following pro-
test under date of Tuesdav, Nov.
24,1835:

A rumor reached us sometime since
of another outrage committed by the
Georgia Guard. It was vague and
uncertain, however, and as we did not
wish to array in the catalogue of vio-
lations of law committed by this arm-
ed force a single outrage that was not
.stated on good authority, we hesitated
to give it publicity. This rumor has
l)roved true.

It seems that this Guard, under the
command of one of the subalterns,
crossed the line of the State and kid-
napped from the State of Tennessee
John Ross, the principal chief of the

A History of Rome and Fi.oyd County

A FEW THINGS THE INDIANS LEFT BEHIND.

Here is part of Wesley O. Connor's collection of relics at Cave Spring. These articles
were mostly uncovered on the Moultrie farm, Foster's Bend, Coosa River, in the freshets of
1881 and 1886. Included among the more obvious articles are a bone necklace, Indian money,
spear points and arrow heads, pipes, pestles and bits of pottery. The skulls are undoubtedly
Indian.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

Cherokees. They also arrested John
Howard Payne, a gentleman of great
celebrity in the literary world.

The pitiful reason urged to palliate
this gross enormity seems to have been
that Mr. Payne "was conspiring
against the welfare of Georgia." Mr.
Payne's real offense, in the eyes of
these vandals, was his copying certain
documents relative to the manners and
customs of the Indian tribes, which
their wiseacre of a leader construed to
be high treason against the State.

It was indeed time that this scourge
to the peaceful citizens of Murray
County was removed ; it is high time
the military rule and despotism was
made to give place to the authority of
the laws. We should like to inquire
of the Governor by what legal author-
ity these arrests were made, and why
on the receipt of information orders
were not immediately given for the re-
lease of the prisoners?

The officious members of this armed
force ought to be made to smart in
damages; an action on the case for il-
legal arrest and false imprisonment
will clearly be made against them.*

John H. Underwood, Rome gro-
cer, who was a member of the
Guard in the arrest, did not give
any interviews to newspaper ed-
itors, so all he observed is lost save
what little he told Bill Arp, wdiich
is to 1)6 found elsewhere herein.
Rut a number of others "writ upon
time's immortal scroll."

Thatcher T. Payne, a brother of
John Howard, penned the follow-
ing letter :

**New York, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1835.
Hon. Lewis Cass,
Secretary of War,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have just received informa-
tion that my brother, John Howard
Payne, on the night of the 10th of
November,'^** inst., while in company
with John Ross, the Cherokee chief, at
his dwelling in the Cherokee nation,

♦Payne's effort to have something definite done
at Washington failed, and in a letter from
New York to C.en. Harden at Athens in 1S36, he
said he would try to proceed against Col. Bishop,
Major Currey and Sergt. Wilson Young.

*'Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), ps. 488-9.

***.]ohn Howard's own statement says it was
Saturday, Nov. 7, near midnight.

****The brother estimated 21 miles. Blue
Spring, Bradley County, Tenn., where the ar-
rest took place, is eight miles north of the
Georgia line, and about 10 miles from Spring
Place as one would travel by horseback in 1835.

was seized by a party of about 25 of
the Georgia Guard, and conducted by
them to their headquarters, at about
20**** miles distant from the place of
seizure, where, as I am informed, he
is now imprisoned.

Mr. Payne's general object, in a
tour through the western and south-
ern states, has been partly to obtain
subscribers to a periodical work in
which English and American writers
may meet upon equal ground, and
partly to collect such materials for his
own contributions to the woi'k as a
personal acquaintance with the various
peculiarities of our diversified country
may supply. To one acquainted with
his pacific disposition and exclusive
literary habits, the supposition of his
entertaining any views politically dan-
gerous, either in reference to Georgia
or the United States in their respec-
tive relations to the Cherokees if it were
not accompanied with results pain-
ful and perhaps perilous to himself,
would seem ludicrous. My informant,
a stranger, states that "it is there re-
ported that he is considered by the of-
ficers of Government to be a spy."
Whether by officers of Government is
meant those of Georgia or of the Unit-
ed States I am not informed. He like-
wise states that "Mr. Payne is sup-
posed to have had some influence in
producing the failure of a late treaty
v/ith the Cherokees."

In the present excited state of feel-
ing in that section of the country, on
subjects connected with the Indian re-
moval, there may, perhaps, be serious
danger to the personal safety of one
coming under suspicions of the char-
acter above alluded to, however
groundless.

I take the liberty, I hope not un-
warrantable, to request and urge a
speedy inquiry into the circumstances
of the case, and the use of the means
within the province of your depart-
ment of the Government to procure his
release, if, as will undoubtedly ap-
pear upon investigation, he shall be
found to have been wrongfully de-
tained.

I am, with great respect, your obe-
dient servant,

THATCHER T. PAYNE.

Payne himself was making (luill
and ink fly, to such an extent that
Col. ilishop resigned his commis-
sion in December. Soon thereafter
the Standard of I'nioii threw Bish-
op this l)ou([Uct :

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Col. Bishop at Home. — Aftei' all the
abuse that has been heaped upon Col.
Bishop as a man and a public officer,
the people of Murray have given an
additional proof of their confidence in
his capacity and integrity to serve
them. From the returns of the elec-
tion in that county on the first Mon-
day in January last (1836), Col. Wm.
N. Bishop received for the office of
clerk of the superior court 158 votes,
and his opponent 12. We are sincere-
ly gratified at the support which Col.
Bishop has received from his country-
men, and hold it as the highest evi-
dence of his value as a private citizen
and a public officer. Well done, Mur-
ray County; you know you are right
— go ahead!

As for Georgia, "Never again !"
exclaimed the outraged playwright
and budding historian in a letter
of Dec. 5 from Knoxville to Gen.
Harden :*

My Dear Sir: You have no doubt
ere this heard of my adventures. I
sent you the statement by last post.
Have you ever known of a more im-
pudent enormity? There has been a
public meeting here, spirited and dig-
nified. The proceedings will, I hope,
be printed at Athens. This example
ought to be followed throughout the
Union ; I hope especially, for these
measures offer the only opportunity he
has of casting the blame upon the de-
linquents who deserve it.

I have no time to write now, but
could not allow myself to depart on
my way homeward without a card of
remembrance. It will perhaps be as
well for me not to make my line of
march generally known, but I want to
go to Hamburg''* because my trunks
are all in Augusta, Ga. I shall never
enter again without a formal public
invitation. I will go to the border and
look in.***

It would give me sincere pleasure to
find a line from you at the Augusta
postoffice.

Mr. Ross and many of the delega-
tion are here. Many have made for-
mal protest against their mission from
Currcy, but of this they take no heed.

Mj way must be made alone and on
horseback. I should not wonder if
these scoundrels made my journey a
longei one than I have intended. But
no matter if the worst happens — I shall
not be the first who has not lived out
his time in a free country, and unless

the nation awakens, shall not be the
last!

Pray offer my best remembrances
to Mrs. Harden, your daughter, son,
to Col. Hamilton and family, to Judge
Clayton, in short, to all.

From Knoxville, Dec. 2, Payne
had written S. L. Fairchild, of Phil-
adelphia, Pa. :****

(Private.)
Dear Fairchild :

I write to you in great haste, and
enclose the statement of a great wrong
I have suffered. I wish you to exert
your talent on this affair, not because
I have been personally insulted, but
because it is only by a strong expres-
sion of feeling that any man's liberty
can be secured. There is no freedom
in America if these things can be tol-
erated.

If I reach Charleston, S. C, in
safety, I shall be there just in time
to have your answer, provided you
wish further information. At any rate,
it will afford me sincere pleasure to
hear of you and your fortunes.

With regards to all at home, and
believe me, most truly yours,

JOHN HOWARD PAYNE.

In a communication from Wash-
ington on Mar. 3, 1836, to Secre-
tary of War Lewis Cass, Mr.
Schermerhorn commented as fol-
lows on the Payne-Ross af-

Permit me also to make a few ob-
servations in reference to the arrest
of Messrs. John Howard Payne and
John Ross by the Georgia Guard,
which, I perceive from the public pa-
pers, they charge or insinuate was
done by the direction of the commis-
sioner and agent of the Government.

Although the statements of Mr.
Payne in reference to myself were ex-
ceedingly unjust and incorrect, I could
not condescend to a newspaper con-

*Courtesy of Miss Evplyn Harden Jackson,
of Harden Home, Athens, a cousin of Miss Mary
Harden and author of an interesting booklet on
the love affair between the college beauty and
Mr. Payne.

♦♦Hamburg, Aiken County, S. C, across the
Savannah river from Augusta.

***Miss Jackson is authority for the state-
ment that Payne came back in 1842 to Athens
to "re-press his suit," but that he had no bet-
ter success than before.

****Courtesy of Mr. G. H. Buek, vice-presi-
dent of the American Lithographic Co., New
York, N. Y., and owner of the old Payne home
(and collection) at Easthampton, Long Island.

*****Report of Secretary of War on Chero-
kee Treaty (183.5), p. ,5.38.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

troversy with him; therefore, I have
passed it by in silence; but lest my
silence should be interpreted by some
of the members of the Senate, as I
find it has been by some others, as
a tacit acknowledgement of the truth
of his statement, I now say that I
had no knowledge or agency, directly
or indirectly, in this matter.

The first information I received on
this subject was through the Geor-
gia newspapers, while I was at Tusca-
loosa, Ala.; and immediately on hear-
ing it I left there, to use my best en-
deavors to obtain their release, and I
arrived at the agency only a few days
after Mr. Payne had been liberated.
It was owing to my interference that
Mr. Ross was not taken by the Geor-
gia Guard last July,''^ for some vio-
lations of the laws of that State.

I must, however, say that it is evi-
dent from Mr. Payne's own state-
ments, which he has given to the pub-
lic, that he did interfere at Red Clay
in a very improper and unwarrantable
manner with the negotiations then
pending between the Government and
the Cherokee Indians, and I should
have been perfectly justifiable to have
had him arrested and removed from
the treaty ground; and if I had known
what he has since disclosed of the part
he acted there, I should have done it.

A Legislative conmiittee severe-
ly scored the C.uard :**

The committee to whom were refer-
red the several communications of His
Excellency, the Governor, on the sub-
ject of the establishment of the Geor-
gia Guard in the Cherokee Circuit,
have had the same under considera-
tion, and beg leave to make the follow-
ing report:

. . . Your Committee beg to proceed
now to the further discharge of their
duty, by enquiring, first, as to the con-
duct of the Guard in the recent arrest
and detention of John Howard Payne.
. . . Your Committee greatly regret
that they have not all the facts in
such a shape that implicit credit might
be given to them. They are compell-
ed then, in the investigation of this
branch of the subject, to discard all
the contradictory statements found in
newspapers, and to decide only from
such facts as have been legitimately
brought before them, in the commu-
nications of the Governor.

It is, however, admitted on all hands

♦Concurrently with the pow-wow near Rome.
**House Journal (1835), ps. 427-433.

that the recent arrest of Mr. Payne
was made in the State of Tennessee.
Your Committee conceives that the
Guard transcended their power in
crossing the line of the State of Geor-
gia to arrest an individual out of the
limits of this State. And your Com-
mittee believes that it was an act of
which the sovereign State of Tennes-
see has just right of complaint against
the authorities of Georgia. The only
testimony before your Committee rel-
ative to the arrest of Mr. Payne will
be found in the communication of His
Excellency, William Schley, of the 10th
instant. ... It appears then to your
Committee that the Georgia Guard, in
the recent arrest of John Howard
Payne, trampled under foot the Con-
stitution of the United States. . . . How
long he was kept under guard before
the arrival of Col. Bishop at Spring
Place your Committee are uninform-
ed. . . . But the commander of the
Guard says, after examining his pa-
pers, and finding him guilty of no
offense for which he was answerable
in our courts, I, the commander of the
Guard, kept him in custody a few days
and then discharged him.

Your Committee would ask with
feelings of mortification, why he was
kept in custody one minute beyond the
time when it was ascertained he had
committed no offense. Was it to pun-
ish him for his indiscreet statements
in relation to the Georgia Guard? Per-
haps so. But in so doing the Guard
have violated every principle of the
Constitution, which guarantees liberty
and equal rights to the citizens of
this country. They have jeopardized
the character and reputation of the
state of Georgia abroad, by this act
of wanton and uncalled for vandalism,
and will bring down upon the people
of the State the inevitable and odious
charge of inhospitality and cruelty to
the stranger. . . .

Resolved, That the Legislature high-
ly disapproves of the conduct of the
Georgia Guard in the recent arrest
and confinement of John Howard
Payne in the Cherokee Nation.

Tlic ])n )-a(lministrati(>n press
sounded a diUc-reiil note tm tlie in-
cident. .\. Nashville Uaniier view
proved good enougli lor the Geor-
e-ia Telegraph (Macon) of Thurs-
day, Dec. 24. lS.i\ and The Tele-
graph reprinted it Ncrhatini :

Mr. John Howard Payne, who, to-
gether with John Ross, the Cherokee

A History of Rome and Floyd County

chief, was lately seized at the house
of the latter by the Georgia Guard, has
availed himself of the occasion to in-
flict upon the public eight mortal col-
umns of the dullest, most fatiguing
narrative it was ever our fortune to
encounter. A concise statement of the
principal facts connected with the out-
rage, if given in about half a column
of an ordinary newspaper, would have
been read with interest ; but to wade
through this mass of verbiage merely
to learn that Messrs. Ross and Payne
were seized by a party of desperadoes,
called the Georgia Guard, carried over
the Georgia line, kept under duress
for a day or two and then released,
would be paying quite too much for
the whistle.

If Mr. Payne succeeds in making
his intended "literary periodical" as
uninteresting as he has this account
of his capture, it will certainly be a
remarkable work!

Governor Lumpkin's explanation
admitted the illegality of the seiz-
ure, but gave Payne very much of
a left-handed vindication :*

It was while these efforts were mak-
ing to induce the Cherokees to emi-
grate that the literary pursuits of the
celebrated John Howard Payne led
him to visit the Cherokee people and
country. He was known to be strong-
ly opposed to the views of the Gov-
ernment in regard to Indian emigra-
tion and this led to his arrest by Col.
Bishop, the State's agent. The arrest
was both premature and illegal, but the
impertinent intermeddling of Payne
was very unbecoming a stranger, a

"BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD, Rome grocer,
who was one of the Georgia Guard detail
which arrested Payne.

gentleman, or an author professedly
collecting facts for history. He was
the partisan, if not the agent, of North-
ern fanatics, whose avocation is to re-
pent for the sins of everybody except
themselves.

The charge made by Payne that
President Jackson (through his
agents) had offered Ross a bribe
stirred Washington as mtich as the
arrest itself.** This charge was
carried in an anonymous commu-
nication printed by several news-
papers in the "Pr.yne Free-Serv-
ice Syndicate," and is believed to
h.ave been played up especially by
the Knoxville Register, wi;h whose
editor Payne's liaison was com-
I'lete.*** The sum and substance
was that Ross could have had
$50,000 if he had stood out of the
way of the Cherokee removal ; a
Creek chief is said to have offered
it to him, and to have been ordered
from the wrathy presence of Ross.

Here is the anonymous communi-
cation attributed to Payne. It was
undoubtedly written from the Red
Clay Council ground in Whitfield
County, one day before the council
convened with Payne prominently
present :

****Cherokee Nation,
Tennessee Border,
Sunday, Oct. 11, 1835.

Sir : I am no politician. Of this
you are aware. I generally avoid, if
possible, even thinking upon what are
called political questions. Their dis-
cussion is apt forthwith to become
personal, and instead of eliciting truth,
to produce brawls. But there are
points of policy upon which we are
sometimes forced to think; and when
we are called upon to detest the Mus-
sulman for his tyranny over the Greek,
and to pity the exile from what once
was Poland, we are at a loss to be-
lieve that there are scenes passing in
our free country at this very moment,

*Removal of the Cherokee Indians from Geor-
gia (Lumpkin), Vol. 2, p. 265.

**Authorities: Letter of Apr. 16, 1836, Major
Currey to Elbert Herring, Commissioner of In-
dian Affairs, and Exhibit 14 as inclosure of
Bame, both included in Report of Secretary of
War on Cherokee Treaty (183.5), ps. 549-590.

***Payne asserted it was never published, but
Maj. Currey's report to Jackson claimed The
Register editor used it anonymously.

****E.xhibit 14 of Currey inclosures.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

to which both the Turk and the Rus-
sian might triumphantly appeal, for a
sanction to the despotism at which all
have shuddered. Shall I tell you what
they are?

In travelling through Georgia I, of
course, heard frequent mention of the
Cherokees; but I took little heed of
what I heard. I considered the Cher-
okees as they had been represented,
as but the miserable remnant of a
broken race, given up to all sorts of
degradation; and I thought the sooner
they could be transported beyond the
bounds of civilization, the better for
the world. Accident, however, brought
me to some very different views of the
question. I inquired more thoroughly.
I determined to judge them with my
own eyes. I purchased a horse, trav-
ersed the forests alone and went among
them.

Still I was perplexed. I was desir-
ous of seeing the head men of the na-
tion ; I was particularly desirous of
seeing John Ross. Some Georgian told
me I ought not to see him, that he
was a selfish, and a sordid, and a si-
lent man, in whom I should take no
interest, from whom I should obtain
no information. At one moment I had
turned aside from my purpose, and
was proceeding homeward. But I felt
as if my errand would be a fruitless
one if I went away. So, little instruct-
ed, I changed my course, and travelled
the wilderness for three days to the
abode of Mr. Ross.

I found Mr. Ross a different man
in every respect from what I had heard
him represented to be. His person is
of the middle size, rather under than
over; his age is about five and forty;
he is mild, intelligent and entirely un-
affected. I told him my object. He
received me with cordiality. He said
he regi-etted than he had only a log
cabin of but one room to invite me to,
but he would make no apologies. If
I could put up with rough fare, he
should be glad if I would stay with
him.

From a visitor I afterwards learn-

*Fourth Ward, site of Rome.

♦♦Lavender or Alto.

***Al)out 10 o'clock, according to Ross.

****SilaK and (um). W. R<jss were undoubtedly
born at Rome, and an infant died there and
was buried on the lot, as was Daniel Ross,
father of John.

*****Land Lot 237, Twenty-third, District
Third Section (160 acres) was drawn by Hugh
Brown, of Deavour's District, Habersham Co.,
Ga. The office of the Secretary of State, the
Capitol, Atlanta, has the date Nov. 11, 183.').
Most of the lottery drawings were held in Oc-
tober, 1H32. Land lot 244 was drawn by
Stephen Carter, of Robinson's District, Fayette
County. (The Cherokee Land Lottery, p. 288).

ed how the principal chief happened to
live in such discomfort. The story con-
tains the story at this moment of the
whole nation. Last winter he was
delegated with others to Washington,
in order to attempt a treaty upon
available terms — such terms as his
people would accept. He could not
obtain such. It was evening when he
had arrived, on his returning way,
within twenty miles of the dwelling he
had left, then a beautiful abode at the
head of Coosa'% upon a rising ground,
overlooking a luxuriant plain below,
and rivers running through it, and in
the distance a noble mountain.^'''' A
friend desired him to remain all night.
No, he was approaching home after a
long absence; he was impatient to see
his family. He hurried on. In the
dead of night''' ''''•' he aroused the house;
strange voices answered him. His fam-
ily had just been turned from the spot
where his children were cradled.****
and it was occupied by a Georgian.
The land was drawn in the Georgia
lottery,***** and though not claim-
able until the Indians should be remov-
ed by treaty, was seized in his absence
to petition Congress for his country —
seized under the delusion of that way-
ward and selfish policy which has led
Georgia to defy the General Govern-
ment and all its solemn pledges to pro-
tect the Indians and vindicate its
honor, in not swerving from its treat-
ies.

It was this hard conduct which had
driven the principal chief to one of
the humblest dwellings in his nation.
But he made no complaint, even after
I had grown familiar with him. I
learned this wrong from other lips.

Some of your readers may have
glanced, but lightly, as I did, at the
real position of the Cherokee case.
Though so often and so eloquently
stated, I will recapitulate it in brief;
disputes between the General Govern-
ment and Georgia were a long time ago
compromised by an arrangement for
certain advantages for Georgia, in re-
turn for advantages given by her to
the General Government; and as a part
of the compensation from the Govern-
ment, Georgia was to receive the
Cherokee lands, as soon as the Indian
title could be peaceably extinguished,
and upon reasonable terms. But the
Cherokees are proverbial, and have
been so for ages, for a peculiar devot-
edness to their native soil.

"The Cherokees, in their disposition
and manners, are grave and steady;
dignified and circumspect in their de-

A History of Rome and Floyd County

portment; rather slow and reserved in
their conversation, yet frank, cheerful
and humane; "tenacious of the liber-
ties and natural rights of man; secret,
deliberate and determined in their
councils; honest, just and liberal, and
ready always to sacrifice every pleas-
ure and gratification, even their blood
and life itself, to defend their terri-
tory and maintain their rights." — Bar-
haiii's* Travels, 1791, London Edi-
tion, Page 483.

"It may be remarked that the Cher-
okees differ in some respects from
other Indian nations that have wan-
dered from place to place and fixed
their habitations in separate districts.
From time immemorial they have had
possession of the same territory, which
at present they occupy. They affirm
that their forefathers sprung from
that ground, or descended from the
clouds upon those hills. These lands
of their ancestors they value above all
things in the world; they venerate the
places where their bones lie interred,
and esteem it disgraceful in the high-
est degree to relinquish these sacred
repositories. The man who would re-
fuse to take the field in defense of
these hereditary possessions is regard-
ed by them as a coward and treated
as an outcast from their nation." —
Historical account of the rise and
progress of South Carolina and Geor-
gia, Vol. II, 201, London, 1777.

This was known to the Georgians.
This has been felt by the General Gov-
ernment in the extreme difficulty
which it has experienced in the at-
tempt to persuade the Cherokees to
part with their lands. Millions after
millions of acres were reluctantly
wrung from them, until at length
they came to a pause: "We have not
lands enough," exclaimed they, "for
ourselves; we part with no more land!"
A Creek chief endeavored to tamper
with their councils and offered a
bribe from the United States of many
thousand dollars to their principal men,
if they would countenance the sale of
the country to our Government; but
their principal men repelled the bribe,
and drove the Creek from their terri-
tory with scorn.

Threats and gold and persecution
and sufferings unprecedented have
been equally incapable of overpower-
ing their sacred love for the wild
wood of their birth and the resting-
place of their ancestors. Other Indians
have been lured away, but the Chero-
kee remains inflexible. And when the
Georgian asks, "Shall savages infest

our borders thus?" the Cherokee an-
swers him, "Do we not read; have we
not schools, churches, manufactures;
have we not laws, letters, a constitu-
tion; and do you call us savages?"

The Georgian can only reply by
pointing to a troop of border cavalry
whose appearance reminds one of ban-
ditti more than of soldiers, and ex-
claiming "dare prate to us and these
men's muskets shall be our spokes-
men!"

And true enough it is that they are
not savages. Never has a tribe of the
aborigines made such advances in civ-
ilization. They have even produced
among themselves an alphabet and let-
ters of a fashion entirely original, and
they have books among them printed
with their own letters in their own
language, and with this alphabet they
daily communicate from one end of
the nation to the other; they clothe
themselves in stuffs of their own man-
ufacture ; they have made roads,
bridges, established a seat of Govern-
ment. But Georgia has hated them
the more because of their civilization;
she has made it treason for them to
keep up their courts and councils and
laws; she has broken down their turn-
pikes and bridges, and denies them the
right of appearing to testify in her
courts against any insult or injury
they may receive. They have conse-
quently removed their seat of internal
government beyond her borders to the
corner of another State,** and the de-
crees issued thence are obeyed with rev-
erence even by the offender, who
knows if he were to resist, he would be
upheld by the stronger power, to which
he never will appeal, because he re-
gards it as the irreconcilable foe of
l;is country.

This state of things has convinced
all parties of the necessity for a set-
tlement of the question, by the re-
moval of the Cherokees from the neigh-
borhood of those whose interests will
not let them understand the Chei'okee
rights. The Cherokees themselves at
length acknowledge that it is better
for them to remove. "But let us not
remove," say they, "till we can be
assured of a kindlier dwelling place.
The Government of America has given
us no reason to confide in its power
to protect us against Georgia, and
therefore, we must remove, for if we
do not, we must perish. If we do re-

*Bartram's.

**Reference is to Tennessee, but the capital
after New Echota was wherever John Ross
happened to be.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

move, then let us remove not only
from the country where we are
wronged, but from the Government
where we can not get our rights."

The United States, on the other
hand, wish the Cherokees to go to a
country of their selection; they wish
the Cherokees to sell their own coun-
try (in which the United States are
solemnly pledged to protect them, un-
til they choose to select) upon such
terms as the United States think fit
to offer.

"Take our price for your land," says
Gen. Jackson, "and I will not insist
on governing you; buy another coun-
try with it." "We can not buy an-
other country and be indemnified for
our owTi by what you offer," says
the Cherokee; "give us our price and
you may have our land, if we must
go; but we do not wish to go; no
money can pay us for our homes."
"You ask too much," answers Gen.
Jackson; "you can not have your
price." "Then let us remain," replies
the Cherokee; "keep your money, and
give us your protection ; take all the
rest of the land we have, and leave
us such portions as are connected,
and incorporate us in counties with
the states on which these poor frag-
ments, which we ask to retain for our-
selves, border; and let us belong to
your nation, and send our representa-
tives, like other countries, to Congress;
and satisfy Georgia as you may for
her disappointment, from the impos-
sibility you find of purchasing all our
land from us, on such terms as we can
sell it for. Georgia has no fathers,
mothers, children buried in the land.
She has never seen it. She has no na-
tion to establish. She would rather have
money than the land. You can not
give her the land. Give her the money."
To this Gen. Jackson answers with a
peremptory "No!"

What is the next step taken? The
agents of Government tamper sepa-
rately with the Indians. They get to-
gether a few unauthorized Cherokees ;
make up a scheme of a treaty upon
their own terms, and endeavor to in-
veigle the men who possess the entire
confidence of the nation: First, they
withhold the annuity to the nation on
frivolous pretexts, thus taking away
their only resource for defiance in the
courts of law, and for remonstrance
in the House of Congress. A party
is attempted to be conjured up in the

*At Runnins Waters, near Rome.
**Refert'nce to Mr. Schermerhorn's harrangue
at Running Waters.

nation by the acts of the Government
agents; and twice attempts have been
made to parade that little and reluc-
tantly gathering party, and on both
occasions the people, the great body of
the people, have looked them down;
on the last, especially, not three months
since, when they poured their thou-
sands upon a plain, upon which the
agents of Government, with all the
magic of their promises and their pat-
ronage, could bring against them
scarcely more than a miserable hun-
dred.*

The immediate position of the na-
tion is this: The Government treaty
has been exhibited to the Cherokees,
and rejected. It has been attempted
to shake their confidence in their prin-
cipal chief, but in vain. The council
established a newspaper, and the Gov-
ernment agents have seized their press,
avowedly for the purpose of changing
it to a Government vehicle, for sway-
ing the people to such a treaty as Gen.
Jackson longs for. Here at once is an
acknowledgment how base is the pre-
tense that the Cherokees ought to be
dealt with as a separate tribe! Were
they truly looked upon as savages,
would any importance be attached to
their press? Were they not known to
be much advanced in civilization, would
the agents of the Administration have
entered upon the perilous extravagance
of seizing an instrument over which
they had no legal power, for selfish and
corruptive purposes? But the Jackson
myrmidons have the press; and pos-
session in law is like power in poli-
tics—it takes the place of reason and
of right.

Then let us leave our Government
the Cherokee national paper, however
disreputably obtained, and proceed to
the next point. Having juggled the
written power into their hands, the
agents are now seeking the oral power ;
they are wandering about with inter-
preters to talk up their cause. "You
may speak, if you like," say the In-
dians, "but must we listen?" "Let us
speak," is the reply; and the commis-
sioner rises, and the people walk away
and leave him to listen to himself.'-
The next measure is force; arrests
are made upon the most absurb pre-
texts; influential Indians are seized by
the Georgia Guard and detained, and
then set free, no reason being as-
signed either for the capture or for
the release. Some laugh and defy
their fate; some are driven to de-
spair, for the arrest is so often made
a punishment that an innocent Indian

A History of Rome and Floyd County

a few days ago actually hung himself
in the guard house* to escape the
torture apprehended from the guard.

But all the Indian hater's hate is
concentrated against the inflexible
chief of the Cherokees, John Ross. In-
timidation has been attempted against
him to no purpose; so has seduction.
He has resisted bribery in every in-
stance, even in one amounting to $50,-
000; rather than enrich himself by his
country's ruin, he will remain poor,
but honest. The agents insult him;
still he goes on. The Georgia guard
watches for a pretext to make him
l)risoner, but the pretext is not to be
found, and in some cases, where they
would not be deterred by the fear of
wrong, they are understood to have
been held back through the fear of the
people. It is rumored, however, that
some attempt of the sort is, even at
this moment, in contemplation.

Even the President himself has now
and then lost his temper because he
cannot shake Mr. Ross, and has called
the impoverished and discreet patriot
of the wilderness "wicked and selfish,"
and has swo n if he does not forego

JOHN ROSS at age of (;:>, a lew years l>,-fore
he died in WashiriKton, D. C. (Picture loaned
by S. W. Ross, Tahlequah, Okla.).

his policy and do as Andrew Jackson
bids him, that Andrew Jackson will
never listen to the Cherokees, but give
them up to ruin. With internal dis-
sensions attempted to be fomented by
the agents of Government, and v/ith
incessant external attacks from Geor-
gia, and not only undefended by their
legitimate protector, the United States,
but threatened by the Chief Magis-
trate of those states, the Cherokee na-
tion now stand alone, moneyless, help-
less, and almost hopeless, yet without
a dream of yielding.

With these clouds around them, in
their little corner of Tennessee,*''' to
which they have been driven fi'om
Georgia for shelter, their national
council holds its regular annual con-
vention tomorrow. I can not imagine
a spectacle of more moral grandeur
than the assembly of such a people
under such circumstances. This morn-
ing offered the first foretaste of what
the next week is to present. The
woods echoed with the trampling of
many feet; a long and orderly pro-
cession emerged from among the trees,
the gorgeous autumnal tints of whose
departing foliage seemed in sad har-
mony with the noble spirit now beam-
ing in this departing race. Most of
the train was on foot; there were a
few aged men, and some few women,
on horseback. The train halted at
the humble gate of the principal chief;
he stood ready to receive them. Every-
thing was noiseless. The party, en-
tering, loosened the blankets which
were loosely rolled and flung over
their backs, and hung them with their
tin cups and other paraphernalia at-
tached, upon the fence.

The chief appi-oached them. They
formed diagonally in two lines, and
each, in silence, drew near to give his
hand. Their dress was neat and pic-
turesque; all wore turbans, except
four or five with hats; many of them
tunics and sashes; many long robes,
and nearly all some drapery; so that
they had the oriental air of the old
scripture pictures of patriarchal pro-
cessions.

The salutation over, the old men
remained near the chief, and the rest
withdrew to various parts of the en-
closure; some sitting Turk fashion
against the trees, others upon logs

*At Spring Place, where Payne was im-
prisoned a month later.

**Red Clay was so near the line, and the line
30 poorly defined, that the impression was often
given that it was in Tennessee. Ross had a hut
there as well as at Blue Spring, eight miles to
the north.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

and others upon the fences, but with
the eyes of all fixed upon their chief.
They had walked sixty miles since
yesterday, and had encamped last
night in the woods. They sought their
way to the council ground. It was
explained to them. At one moment
I observed a sensation among them,
and all arose and circled around their
chief. Presently an old man spoke
above the rest; each one went for his
pack, and all resumed their way. There
was a something in the scene which
would have subdued a sterner spirit
than mine. All who gazed stood rooted
to the spot with involuntary awe.

"Oh!" cried an old negi'o woman,
wringing her hands and her eyes
streaming with tears, "Oh ! the poor
Cherokees, the poor Cherokees; my
heart breaks and wnll not let me look
on them!"

Parties varying from 30 to 50 have
been passing the main road, which is
somewhat distant from the residence
of Mr. Ross, all day. All seem to con-
template the approaching meeting as
one of vital import. I myself, though
a stranger, partake in the general
excitement. The first movements,
which will probably be the most im-
portant, I will communicate to you;
perhaps I may find leisure to do more,
for I wish our countrymen to under-
stand this subject.* It becomes us
as Americans, devoted to our coun-
try's glory, not to slumber over the
wrongs of a nation within our power.
This people does not approach us de-
nouncing vengeance; they do not, like
the ferocious spirits we would repre-
sent them, avoid lingering extermina-
tion as exiles in the desert, by spring-
ing up in a mass, and inscribing them-
selves with a terrible lesson of blood
among the illustrious martyrs to in-
sulted liberty; but in the patient and
meek spirit of Christians they come
again, and again, and again, and
again, imploring humanity, implormg
justice, imploring that we will be hon-
est to ourselves.

Americans, turn not away from such

*Here is a hint that Tayne mado arranfce-
ments with certain editors to print his articles.

**Paync claimed this original article was
signed "Washington."

***This is still standing in a good state of
preservation. It was literally a "House of Trag-
edies." On Sunday, Nov. S, 183.->. John How-
ard Payne and John Ross arrived as prisoners
of the Gua^d, and occupieii an outhouse used to
quarter troublesome Indians. On Dec. 16, 1836,
Major Henj. F. Currey, who had been active
against Payne and Ross, died in the house of
Vann or at a nearby house.

a spectacle; be not deaf to such a
l^rayer!

(No Signature).**
A true copy :
Dyer Castor.

The wilds of Cherokee Georgia
were getting more and more dan-
gerous as tlie whites sf|uatted upon
the Indian lands. Murders and
robberies were things of almf)st
every-day occurrence. Spencer
Riley, a sort of constable, formerly
of Bibb County, then of Cass, had
an exciting experience in 1835 with
Col. Wm. N. Bishop and the Geor-
gia Guard. It seems that Riley had
a lottery claim on the Vann
house*** near Spring Place, and
Bishop sought to dispossess him.
The Georgia Journal (Milledge-
ville) of Tuesday, Apr. 7, 1835,
printed Riley's side of the affair:
March 11, 1835.
To the Public: There being many
erroneous reports concerning the trans-
action detailed in the following state-
ment, I have deemed it necessary to
present to the public a succinct ac-
count of the facts. I can not for a
moment believe that this flagitious
outrage upon the rights of the citi-
zen under color of the law and under
pretense of executive sanction can be
viewed with indifference by my fel-
low citizens, or approbated by the Gov-
ernor. The facts are these:

I became a boarder of Joseph Vann,
a Cherokee residing near Spring Place,
in Murray County, in October last,
and continued to board with him up
to the 2d March inst., when the out-
rage hereinafter stated took place.

On the 23d of February last, Mrs.
Vann, in the absence of her husband,
received a written notice to quit the
possession of the lot, from Wm N.
Bishop, one of the agents of the State
of Georgia, appointed by the Governor
under the law of 1834. This was done
without the request of the drawer or
any person holding or claiming under
him. It was known that one Kinchin
W Hargrove, brother to Z. B. Har-
grove, had obtained a certificate from
Wm N. Bishop with the view of ob-
taining the grant from Milledgeville.
in consequence of which the grant is-
sued some time in February upon his
application. This lot on which Joseph
Vann lived is an Indian improvement

A History of Rome and Floyd County

and his right of occupancy is not for-
feited by any provision of the laws of
Georgia. It is known as Lot No. 224,
9th district and 3d section, and was
drawn by a Mr. Turley of Warren;
it contains a spacious two-story brick
house and many outhouses and is very
valuable, particularly as a public
stand. It had been returned as a
fraudulent draw by Major Bulloch,
■whose scire facias had obtained pref-
erence by being first filed. It was
also returned by Z. B. Hargrove as
informer in a second scire facias.

Such was the situation of the lot
on the 2d of March, when W. N,
Bishop, as agent and acting under the
state's authority, summoned some 20
men and placed in their hands the
muskets confided to him by the Gov-
ernor for another purpose, and fur-
nished them with ammunition, came
over to Mr. Vann's at the head of
his guard, resolved to clear the house
and put his brother, Absalom Bishop,
in possession, who afterwards opened
a public house. Some articles of Mr.
Vann were allowed to remain in the
house and he was permitted to occupy
at sufferance a small room. I occu-
pied a room on the second floor at
the head of the stairs. This armed
force was accompanied by one Kinchin
W. Hargrove, a sort of deputy to
Bishop. When they approached the
house, I inquired of W. N. Bishop
what all of this meant, and stated
to him that he had given Mrs. Vann
until Saturday, the 7th, in which to
move. He replied that Joshua Holden
was the agent. This man Holden is
notorious in the upper part of the
state for his vices and subservience
to Bishop. Upon receiving this re-
ply from W. N. Bishop, I inquired
of Holden if he was the agent for
the drawer. He replied, "No, I am
agent for Mr. Hargrove, and have a
power of attorney from him." Mr.
Hargi'ove did not claim to have any
right or title to the lot as derived
from or through the drawer. Con-
vinced as I was that this was all a
trick to get Vann out of the house,
and to put him out unlawfully and
fraudulently, in order to get posses-
sion for Absalom Bishop, I demanded
of W. N. Bishop to see the plat and
grant and his authority for thus act-
ing. He stated that Holden was seek-
ing possession, but exhibited no au-
thority, and there was no agent of the
drawer or person claiming under him
seeking possession.

W. N. Bishop rushed into the house

with his guard and commanded them
to present arms. Having some things
in the room I occupied, I went up to
take care of them. I heard Bishop
demand possession of Vann, who an-
swered that he considered himself
out of possession from the Monday
previous. "Where is that damned
rascal Riley?" inquired Bishop. The
reply was, "He is in his room." By
this time I had got to the head of the
stairs* and called out to Bishop that
there was no use for any violent meas-
ures or for bloodshed, for if he would
acknowledge he had taken forcible
possession from me, he could throw
my things out of doors. His reply
was, "Hear that damned rascal; pre-
sent arms and march upstairs, and the
first man that gets a glimpse of him,
shoot him down." Upon hearing these
orders given to his guard, I thought
it high time to defend myself as best
I could, and exclaimed, "The first
man that advances to obey Bishop's
orders I will kill!"

One man named Winters, an itiner-
ant carpenter, advanced upstairs with
a loaded musket, and his valiant com-
mander behind him. As soon as they
saw me they fired upon me and fell
back ; I then fired, too. Their shot
slightly wounded me in my hand and
arms, and immediately after, ten or
twelve muskets were fired at me, but
being protected by the stairs, the shots
did not take effect. I being out of
sight, they aimed at the spot where
they supposed I was and shot the ban-
isters to pieces. I then presented a
gun in sight to deter their further ap-
proach, and prevent if possible the ac-
complishment of their murderous de-
sign. Then a rifle was fired by Ab-
salom Bishop; the ball struck my gun
and split, one part of it striking me
glancingly on my forehead just above
my right eye, and fragments of it
wounding me on several other places
on my face. I desired them to bear
witness to who shot that rifle, for I
had been severely wounded. Wm. N.
Bishop called out tauntingly, "The
State of Georgia shot the guns!"
After I was thus wounded and bleed-
ing freely, I opened the door of the
room and called out to them that I
was severely wounded, and they could
come and take my arms. As soon as
I showed myself, several more mus-
kets were fired on me. One shot struck
me on the left cheek, another wound-
ed me severely on the head and one

*A curious, winding architectural contraption
with no visible support.

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

went through the dooi' over my head.

During this extraordinary outrage,
W. N. Bishop was heard frequently
exclaiming, "Kill the damned rascal ;
we've got no use for nullifiers in
this country!" and K. W. Hargrove
also often exclaimed I should come
down dead or alive. W. N. Bishop
procured a flaming firebrand and
threw it upon the platform of the
stairs, exclaiming that he would burn
him out or burn him up. After the
fire had made some progress, and
probably recollecting that if the house
was destroyed, Absalom Bishop would
have no house to occupy, Vann was
requested to go up and extinguish the
fire.

Being much debilitated by the loss
of blood, I laid down on the bed. They
soon after entered my room and seized
my desk and papers as if I had been
a malefactor. I desired them to per-
mit me to put up my papers in my
secretary and to lock it. Hargi'ove
replied, "Let him put what he pleases
in the desk, but don't let him take
anything out." I had $10 in money
in the desk. After I had locked it,
they took the keys from me and the
desk also, under the pretext that they
would secure the costs. The money I
never saw afterwards.

Just before the close of the con-
flict, Hargrove called out to me and
asked if I did not know that there
was an officer who had a warrant
against me. I answered, no, but if
such were the case I would submit to
the laws of my country and surrender
to the sheriff. Bishop then abused the
sheriff and cursed him. In a short
time the sheriff, Col. Humphreys,
came, and I was asked to show my-
self, which I no sooner did than sev-
eral muskets were levelled and fired at
me, but happily without much injury.

It afterward appeared that in order
to give their conduct the semblance
of law, they had procured this tool of
Bishop, Holden, to make an affidavit
to procure a warrant for forcible en-
try and detainer. Both affidavit and
warrant, upon being produced, proved
to be in the handwriting of Z. B. Har-
grove, and dated first in February,
but that month was stricken and 2nd
March inserted. It is believed that
this notable proceeding was planned in
Cassville, 4.5 miles oft', and given to
Kinchin W. Hargrove when he went
up to Spring Place.

After my surrender to the sheriff,

*SprinB Bank, the country estate of Rev.
Chas. Wallace Howard.

I was taken out of his custody, con-
veyed before a magistrate, also under
the control of Bishop, charged with
an assault with intent to murder, and
immediately ordered off in my wound-
ed condition, 45 miles, in a severe snow
storm under a strong guard, my
wounds undressed, and filched of the
little change I had in my pockets, and
lodged in the Cassville jail in the
dungeon. The guard received their or-
ders from Bishop and Hargrove not
to allow me to have any intercourse
with my friends, and so rigidly were
these orders observed that when I ar-
rived at Major Howard's" in the neigh-
borhood of my family and desired him
to inform them of my situation, and
not to be alarmed, the guard threat-
ened to use their bayonets if I did not
proceed. Bishop even designated the
houses at which we were to stop on
our way. I was placed in a dungeon
until my friends at Cassville, hearing
of my situation, relieved me on bail.

The foregoing statement can be at-
tested by many respectable witnesses,
and is substantially correct. The
transaction has created a great sen-
sation in Murray County, and must
have received the unqualified condem-
nation of every law-abiding citizen.
SPENCER RILEY.

In the same issue The Journal
commented editorially :

We had flattered ourselves that the
State had drained the cup of humili-
ation to the dregs and had suffered
all it could suffer from violence, fraud,
proscription and misgovernment. But
unhappily we were mistaken ; low Jis
we had sunken, we find that there is
a point still lower. The letter of
Spencer Riley, Esq., in this paper dis-
plays a state of things in a part of
the country where the dominant fac-
tion has had full sway that is abso-
lutely appalling.

We have personally known Mr.
Riley twelve years as a freeholder and
citizen, as deputy sheriff and high
sheriff of Bibb County, where they
have had no officer we know of whose
l)ublic services were more generally
approved. Since then, we understand,
he has held a commission of the peace
in Cass County, and his word, we
think, will hardly be doubted by any
to whom he is known. His statement
presents a picture at which the most
careless and the most thoughtless man
must pause. It is one of the consc-
(luenecs of subverting the judicial au-
thority throughout one whole circuit
in a new country.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Finally the toe hold of the Indian
bei?an to s^ive way. For a decade
the Indian^s had been going west in
small detachments, under the dip-
lomatic urge of the Ck)vernment. At
the slow rate of moving, it was cal-
culated that half a century would
be required to be rid of them all.
In 1829, the old records show, quite
a number of Indians enrolled with
the Government agents to go west,
received their bounty and then
failed to go, thinking, perhaps, that
they might successfully pass
around the hat again. Many of
these Indians appeared in 1835 at
the council at Running Waters and
voted for the annuity measure
proposed by John Ross.

But the patience of Federal and
State authorities was threadbare.
If the Indians would emigrate
peaceably, all well and good ; if
they balked, bayonets would move
them. The white man's necessity
under the program of civic and

DANIEL ROSS, Scotch father of John Ross.
He died in DeSoto (Rome) and was there
buried.

commercial progress was the red
man's misfortune. Gen. Winfield
Scott, of the United States army,
was selected to gather the Indians
in stockades.

Under the pressure from Gov.
Lumi)kin, Alajor Currey, Mr.
Schermerhorn and others, 2,000 of
the Indians prepared to depart by
Jan. 1, 1837; but the death of Ma-
jor Currey, Dec. 16, 1836, at Spring
Place, set the movement back se-
riously. Hence the general round-
up did not get under way until
May 24, 1838.

Numerous Indians submitted
without protest ; many others se-
creted themselves in the mountains
and in caves, and were vigorously
hunted out. A few resisted and
shot or were shot ; some commit-
ted suicide rather than leave the
lands they had learned to love and
the sacred bones of their departed
ancestors.

'i'he Rev. George White tells as
follow^s of the removal in his His-
torical Collections of Georgia (ps.
152-3) and incidentally, defends the
troopers who had this unpleasant
duty to perform :

Gen. Scott called upon the Governoi'
of Georg-ia for two regiments, to which
call there was an immediate response.
On Friday, the 18th of May, 1838, a
sufficiency of troops had arrived at
New Echota, the place of rendezvous,
to organize a regiment and warrant
the election of officers. On the morn-
ing of the 24th of May, the regiment
took up the line of march for the
purpose of collecting the Indians, Five
companies, viz. — Capt. Stell's, Dan-
iel's, Bowman's, Hamilton's, Ellis'
were destined to Sixes Town, in Cher-
okee County; two companies, Capt.
Story's and Capt. Campbell's to Rome;
Capt. Vincent's to Cedartown; two
companies, Capt. Horton's and Capt.
Brewster's, to Fort Gilmer.

The collecting of the Indians con-
tinued until the 3rd of June, 1838,
when they started for Ross' Landing,
on the 'Tennessee River, numbering
about 1,560, under the immediate
command of Capt. Stell. They arrived
at Ross' Landing at 10 o'clock, the
10th of June. The Georgia troops re-

Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair

turned, and were afterwards regu-
larly dismissed from the service of the
United States. Both regiments were
commanded by Gen. Chas. Floyd.*

In small detachments, the army be-
gan its operations, making prisoners
of one family after another, and gath-
ering them into camps. No one has
ever complained of the manner in
which the work was performed.**
Through the good disposition of the
army and the provident arrangements
of its commander, less injury was
done by accidents or mistakes than
could reasonably have been expected.
By the end of June, nearly the whole
nation was gathered into camps, and
some thousands commenced their
march for the West, the heat of the
season preventing any further emigra-
tion until September, when 14,000
were on their march. The journey of
600 or 700 miles was performed in
four or five months. The best ar-
rangements were made for their com-
fort, but from the time — May 24 —
v/hen their removal commenced, to the
time when the last company completed
its journey, more than 4,000 persons
sank under their sufferings and died.

A tragic sequel followed the re-
moval and the stirring events pre-
ceding it. The anti-treaty or Ross
party of Indians did not bury in
the red hills of Georgia with the
hallowed dust of their ancestors
the resentment they felt toward
the men who had signed away their
lands. A band of several hundred
Indians took a secret oath to
kill Major Ridge and his clan
brother (nephew by blood) Elias
Lioudinot,*** and John Ridge, his
son. They bided their time, and
June 22, 1839, killed all three.

Major Ridge was wa}'laid on the
road 40 or 50 miles from home, and
shot. His son was taken from his
bed early in the morning and near-
ly cut to pieces with km'ves. Air.
Botidinot was decoyed away from
a house he liad ])een erecting a
short distance from liis residence,

*The father of Gen. .lohn Floyd, for whom
Floyd county was named.

**Numerous complaints are of record today.
The route has been called "The Trail of Tear^.'"

***A native of Floyd county.

****Stand Watie lived at Coosawattie Town,
and later near Rome.

*****Assuminf; that Ridge was born in 1771,
as usually stated, he would have been 68.

and then set upon with knives and
hatchets. One version lias it that
Boudinot was a sort of doctor, and
that several Indians came to him in
a friendly way and asked him to
get some medicine for a sick com-
rade. Thrown off his guard, he
A\'as an easy prey.

Mrs. Mabel Washbourne Ander-
son, of Pryor, Okla., daughter of
John Rollin Ridge, grand-daughter
of John Ridge and great-grand-
daughter of Major Rulge, tells on
ps. 11-12 of her Life of General
Stand Watie**** of this shocking
tragedy :

A demon spell now enveloped the
Cherokee country, as is ever the case
when feuds and factions arise within a
nation. The members of the former
Treaty party, headed by Ridge and
Boudinot, were called traitors by the
Ross party, and this continued "accu-
sation became the platform of strife
and bloodshed, turbulence and suffer-
ing for a newly-divided people in a
new land. Had bitterness and disa-
greement been forgotten and a united
effort made toward rebuilding the
broken fortunes of a broken people
the cruel history from 1838 to 1846
might never have been written.

If history had preserved for us a
record of the ''Secret Council" of
the anti-Treaty party, said to have
been held at Double Springs, near
Tahl.equah, in the spring of 1839,
much that will forever be a question
to the searcher for truth would be re-
vealed.

Passing hastily over this black page
of Cherokee history, so closely allied
with the life of Gen. Watie, it must
be mentioned that secret police forces
of 100 men each soon after this coun-
cil were organized by the Ross party,
with a commander for each company,
whose purpose was to extinguish the
leading men of the Ridge i)arty. And
the pages of Cherokee history will for-
ever be shadowed by the atrocious
tragedy that took place in the assassi-
nation in one night of Major Ridg",
an aged man of 75;***** his son, John
Ridge, and Elias Boudinot, three of
the most powerful and inlluential men
of the Treaty party. The murders of
these three men, which took place
within a few hours of each other, were
most systematically carried out,
though tliey were widely separated at
the time. John Ridge was slain on

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Honey Creek, Cherokee Nation, near
the Missouri line; Major Ridge was
slain in the Cherokee Nation near Cin-
cinnati, Ark.; and p]lias Boudinot
near Park Hill, Cherokee Nation.

This opened an international wound
of sorrow and bloodshed for the Cher-
okee people, extending over a terrible,
dark period of eight or ten years, and
whose influence lasted for decades upon
this nation. Stand Watie, Jack Bell
and Walter Adair were slated to die
at this same time, but were absent
from home the night these foul mur-
ders were committed. Thereafter they
were constantly on scout and guard
against some hidden plot to take their
lives. A short time after this horrible
event. Stand Watie organized a mili-
tai'y force, stationed at Beattie's
Prairie, to oppose the Ross police
force.

Despite opposition and oppression,
Watie became after the assassination
of his kinsmen the most influential
man and the conceded leader of the
Ridge party. Among the incidents
current among his people today of the
bravery of Stand Watie is one con-
nected with this terrible tragedy.
When his brother, Elias Boudinot, lay
dead in the midst of his foes, Watie
silently rode up unarmed. The crowd
of his enemies suddenly drew back,
making way for this grim horseman.
Removing the sheet that covered the
face of his murdered brother, he
looked down long and earnestly upon
the still features. Then turning to
the crowd, he said in a voice that each
could hear, "I will give $10,000 to
know the name of the man who struck
that blow!"

All who knew Stand Watie were
aware of his ability to pay this lee-
ward, but not one in that guilty crowd
answered him, and he rode away as
fearlessly as he had oome, though
there were fully 100 men in that same
company who had sworn to take his
life the night before.

Thos. Watie and James Starr were
killed by the Ross party in 1845, but
the old tradition among the full-blood-
ed Indians that "No weapon was ever
made to kill Stand Watie," seemed
verily to fulfil itself, and he success-
fully passed through the dangerous
and trying years from 1838 to 1846.

A PAYNE MEMORIAL.— A patri-
otic service was performed Saturday
morning, Oct. 7, 1922, by the Old Guard
of Atlanta in the unveiling of a hand-
some marble tablet at Spring Place

to John Howard Payne. The exercises
had been planned for Friday, Oct. 6,
but bad roads delayed the party, trav-
eling in automobiles, and it was neces-
sary to postpone the aff'air a day. The
speaker of the occasion was Col. Geo.
M. Napier, attorney general of Geor-
gia and a member of the Guard. He
was introduced by Jos. A. McCord,
commandant of the Guard and Gov-
ernor of the Federal Reserve Bank in
Atlanta. Prof. Ernest Neal, school
superintendent at Chatsworth, Murray
County, recited his poem, "The Rivers
of Cherokee Georgia;" the poem will
be found in the poetry section herein.

The Payne tablet stands within 200
yards of the Vann house, at a con-
spicuous road crossing where it will
be beheld by thousands of tourists
yearly. It is of rough gray Elbert
County granite, mined at a place near
which Payne journeyed in 1835 on
horseback from Augusta to inspect the
natural wonders of Northeast Georgia.
It is sunk deep in concrete, and a
concrete platform six feet in radius
surrounds it. The inscrption follows :

"John Howard Payne, author of
'Home, Sweet Home,' suspected as a
spy of the Cherokee Indians, was im-
prisoned here in 1835, but released.
Erected by Old Guard of Atlanta, Oct.
G, 1922; Jos. A. McCord, command-
ant."

The Old Guardsmen were the guests
of Mr. McCord at his apple orchard
twelve miles to the north. Prominent
in their entertainment was the Gov-
ernor John Milledge Chapter of the
D. A. R., of Dalton, and Dr. T. W.
Colvard, at whose estate they enjoyed
a barbecue. Prior to the exercises they
inspected the home of Jos. Vann, the
Indian chief, near which, in a log hut,
Payne was incarcerated. It is said
this hut now stands in the park at
Chatsworth, near the L. & N. railroad
station, having been removed from
Spring Place.

Other Old Guard members who at-
tended were Robt. A. Broyles, Ossian
D. Gorman, Jr., Sam Meyer, Jr., H.
M. Lokey, G. A. Wight, W. E. Han-
cock, Dr. L. P. Baker, Henry C. Beer-
man, Fred J. Cooledge, E. H. Good-
hart, W. M. Camp, Peter F. Clarke,
W. S. Coleman, W. B. Cummings, Dr.
Thos. H. Hancock, W. T. Kuhns, Ed-
mund W. Martin, M. L. Thrower, Jas.
T. Wright, A. McD. Wilson, G. G.
Yancey, Jr., and Walter Bennett.
Others included Jos. A. McCord, Jr.,
Walter Sparks, and J. A. Hall, of De-
catur, formerly of Calhoun, an author-
ity on Indian lore.

CHAPTER V.
Growth From Village to Town

NCE the Indians were out
of the way and their lands
thrown open to the white
settlers, Rome and Floyd
County began to grow with a vim.
As early as 1837, according to a
report from Capt. J. P. Simonton,
disbursing agent of the Cherokee
Removal, sent from New Echota
to the Commissioner of Indian Af-
fairs, and dated Sept. 27, 1837, Col.
Wm. C. Hardin was president of
the Western Bank of Georgia, of
Rome.* Col. Hardin and Andrew
Miller, agent of the Bank of Geor-
gia, of Augusta, loaned the Govern-
ment $25,000, transmitted through
the Rome bank, toward the re-
moval of the Cherokees.

The Western was undoubtedly
the first bank in Rome, and Col.
Hardin its first president. It was
located at the southwest corner of
Fifth Avenue and East First Street.
An old $10 bank note shows that
William Smith was president on
July 13, 1840, with R. A. Greene
as cashier. Zachariah B. Hargrove
had been connected with it prior
to his death in 1839. The Bank of
the Empire State, which also got
into financial difficulties and was
forced to suspend, was organized
much later. In 1851 the Rome
Weekly Courier expressed the hope
that a bank would soon be formed
at Rome.

The first inn was kept by Wil-
liam Quinn at "Cross Keys," as
the local neighborhood at the pres-
ent "Five Points." North Broad
Street, was then known. A Mrs.
Washington, descended from

*Report of Secretary of W^r on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), p. 995.

**Destroyefl in 1864 by soldiers of the Union
Army, accordintr to the late Mrs. Robt. Battey.
No reason can be assigned for the destruction
of this property except that Ross was in bad
odor with the United States Government at the
time.

George, kept the Washington Ho-
tel. The McEntee House was in
operation in 1845 when Rev. and
Mrs. J. M. M. Caldwell stopped
over in Rome on their way to Sel-
ma, Ala., where Dr. Caldwell had
been ofifered the pastorate of the
First Presbyterian church. James
McEntee, the proprietor, and oth-
ers persuaded the newdy-married
couple to remain in Rome, and
they taught one of the first schools
of any pretensions in a part of
their dwelling, the old John Ross
House,** in which they had been
temporarily settled by the owner.
Col. Alfred Shorter. Aftei* as-
suming charge of the Rome Fe-
male College on Eighth Avenue
in 1856, they taught on East Second
Street.

Another early hotel was the
Choice House, built l^y John
Choice, probably prior to 1850. This
was conducted from 1855 to 1857
by Wm. Melton Roberts, father of
Frank Stovall Roberts, of Wash-
ington, D. C. It was located where
the Hotel Forrest now stands. For
several years around 1857 it had
six colonial columns of white in
front.

The Ijuena Vista, at the south-
cast ct)rner of Broad Street and
vSixth Avenue, was built in 1843 b}'
an Irishman named Thos. Burke,
who soon got into a serious diffi-
culty and turned the property over
to Daniel R. Mitchell as a fee for
re|)resenting liim.

.\l)out 1850 Will. Kctcham was
pr(iprietor of the Ivtowah 1 louse,
scjutheast corner of I'.ro.iil Street
and Second Avenue, and in 1863
the pi"oprit.lor was (icn. Geo. S.
r.lack.

The Tennessee llouse was start-
ed at the end of the Civil War 1)V

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Jas. A. Stansbury. It stood at the
northeast corner of Broad Street
and First Avenue, and later be-
came the Rome Hotel.

The first newspaper, according
to The Weekly Bulletin of Thurs-
day, Jan. 8, 1876, was the Western
Georgian, published by Gen. Jas.
Hemphill and Samuel S. Jack.* It
was started in 1837, and Mr. Jack
was the first editor. The location
was at 602 East First Street, wdiere
a hand ])rcss was installed. This
was (Ml tlic s])()t where Mrs. Naomi
P. Bale now lives.

Pisgah Baptist church at Coosa
is the oldest religious institution
of its kind in the county. It was
organized in the spring of 1833 by
Rev. Hugh Quin and associates.

The First Presbyterian of Rome
was founded at Livingston Oct.
29, 1833, and removed to Rome
Apr. 17, 1845, by Rev. J. M. M.
Caldwell.

The First Baptist is the oldest

REV. J. M. M. CALDWELL, Presbyterian
minister and for about 40 years teacher of
young women at Rome.

church in Rome, having been
founded May 16, 1835.**

The First Methodist was organ-
ized at Rome in 1840 by Mrs. Sam-
uel S. Jack, Mrs. James Hammet.
Mrs. Daniel R. Mitchell, Mrs'
Jesse Lamberth, Mrs. Samuel
Stewart and Miss Ernily McDow.
The location was the southwest
corner of Sixth Avenue and E. Sec-
ond Street. The circuit of which
Rome was an appointment in 1836
extended from Knoxville, Tenn., to
the Chattahoochee River, and Rev.
J. B. McFerrin, of Tennessee, stood
every four months on a stump at
Fifth Avenue and W^est First Street
(now the courthouse property) and
preached to mixed crowds of In-
dians, negroes and wdiites.*** On
one of these occasions Dr. McFer-
rin converted John Ross, wdio
thereafter spread the doctrines of
Methodism among his tribes-
men.**** It is considered w^orthy
of note in this connection that
Sam P. Jones, the Methodist evan-
gelist, went to preaching 40 years
later four blocks from this spot
and two blocks from the Fourth
W^ard home of Ross.

St. Peter's Episcopal church was
first located at Fifth Avenue and
E. First Street, and w^as establish-
ed Mar. 31, 1854, by Rev. Thos.
Fielding Scott, of INIarietta, and
associates.

The First Christian church was
organized Feb. 13, 1896.

Sardis Presbyterian church at
Livingston and churches in Ridge
Valley and Vann's Valley (such as
the Baptist, the Methodist and the
Episcopal at Cave Spring) and at

*Mrs. Naomi P. Bale states that Mr. Jack's
daughter, Amanda (the first white child born
in Rome), said it was the Rome Enterprise.
.J. O. Winfrey calls it the Northwest Georgian,
and says Miles Corbin was associated with Mr.
Jack. Mr. .Jack's father was a soldier in the
American Revolution.

**According to Acts, 1S37, p. 48, the trustees
of the corporation on Dec. 25, 1837, were Wes-
ley Shropshire, Elijah Lumpkin, Jobe Rogers,
Thos. W. Burton and Alford B. Reece.

***Directory, First Methodist Church, His-
torical sketch by Mrs. Naomi P. Bale, 1918.

****Authority : Belle K. Abbott in The At-
lanta Constitution, 1S89.

Growth from Village to Town

Armiichee, Chulio, Everett Springs
and the other pioneer districts o-f
the county are also very old. Some
folks say Sardis Presbyterian is
older tlian Pisgah Baj)tist ; others
say it ain't.

The Episcopal church at Cave
Spring", by the way, was built
through the generosity of Francis
S. Bartow and his parents, Dr. and
Mrs. Theodosius Bartow, of Sa-
vannah, who maintained a summer
home there a number of years be-
fore 1860. The land for this church
was given by Maj. Armistead Rich-
ardson.

The Baptist church of Cave
Spring stands on the Hearn Acad-
emy campus. The brick it contains,
still in a fine state of preservation,
were made of Floyd County clay
by the slaves of Alaj. Armistead
Richardson, Alexander Thornton
Harper and Carter W. Sparks.

The Prospect Baptist church,
near Coosa, was foundefl in 1856.

Undoubtedly the oldest religious
agency in the county (now only
a memory) was the mission at Coo-
sa (then known as Missionary
Station). This was established
in 1821 by Rev. Elijah Butler and
his wife, Esther Butler, of the
North, who were succeeded in the
work by Rev. Hugh Ouin, about
1827.

Such business e.staljlishmcnls as
might be expected in a growing
town sprang up between 1834 and
1861. C<il. Alfred Shorter began to
trade in cotton, merchandise and
real estate, and was recognized as
Rome's leading financier ancl l)usi-
ness man. Col. Cunningham M.
Pennington, a civil engineer, ap-
peared on tlic scene as Col. v^hor-
ter's agent, and also gave consid-
erable attention to railroad enter-
prises. Chas. M. Harper, a ne])hew,
likewise was early associated with
Col. Shorter.

A postoffice was set u]) at a con-
venient s])ot in the center of t<nvn

and all the folks came for their
mail. Tlie streets were bad for
many years, and pigs and cattle
roamed over them at will, and
many a Roman of the period kept
a pig-sty in his yard. The thor-
( ughfares were lighted at night
with oil lamps and the homes
v/ith lamps or candles, and early re-
tiring was the rule, and early ris-
ing, too.

Stage coach lines were estab-
lished, with thrice a week service,
leading to Cassville through North
Rome, to New Echota via Oosta-
naula River road, to Jacksonville,
Ala., and Cave Spring via the Cave
Spring road, to the towns of Chat-
tooga County via the Summerville
road, and to Livingston and points
beyond through the r)lack's B>luit'
road.

Practically all these roads of the
present were originally Indian
trails, notably the Alabama road,
which was the old Creek path from

MRS. J. M. M. CALDWELL, of the old Rome
Female CoIIokc, who taught Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson and many others.

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Alabama through northwest Geor-
gia. These stages were joggling,
rickety affairs, pulled by four
horses. As we view it now, it was
worth a man's life to undertake
a long journey, but somehow they
always reached their destination
and the trouble of getting there
was forgotten in a delightfully
long sta}'. Mail was carried in
pouches and the stage driver was
res])onsil)le for its safe delivery.
To facilitate this object, the driver
usually went armed, and was sel-
dom molested. Among the early
drivers and proprietors might be
mentioned John H. Wisdom, who
in 1863 warned Romans of the
approach of Col. Streight's raid-
ers, and Esom Graves Logan, J.
R. I'owell, Jos. H. Sergeant and
other old timers.

Connections were made by stage
with more remote points, such as
Athens, Covington, Milledgeville,
Macon and Augusta. Atlanta did
not appear until Dec. 23, 1843, when
it was incorporated as Terminus.*
Her name was changed to Marthas-
ville, and then by an act approved
Dec. 29, 1847, it became Atlanta.**
Nine years before a village sprang
u]) on the site of Atlanta, Romans
had had a vision of a "terminus"
on their own jmrticular spot. Rome
was the frontier outpost of Chero-
kee Georgia, as far as the rest of
the state was concerned. It was
the connecting link between "Old
Georgia" and "Old Tennessee," the
clearing house for the cotton, corn,
wheat and produce of the rich Coo-
sa Valley and the northeastern
Alabama towns.

Rome's strategic position was
])erhaps l)cst realized jjy William
Smith, who in 1836 was elected to
the State Senate with the idea that
he might have a bill ]xissed at Mil-
ledgeville which would cause the
proposed State Railroad io stop at
Rome instead of at some ])oint in
Tennessee, which later became

Chattanooga. The people were not
ready for such a radical step, how-
ever. The Steamboat Coosa had
ccMne all the way up from Greens-
port, Ala., had given the natives a
good fright, and this was enough
of transportation improvements for
a long time. When Col. Smith of-
fered for re-election, he was de-
feated by James Wells. Col. Smith
bided his time, unloosed a new sup-
ply of political thunder and defeat-
ed Mr. Wells in 1838. Success still
did not come, and in 1839 he was
defeated by Jos. Watters, who
served two years and then was
defeated by Col. Smith in 1841. For
tliree years, through 1843, Col.
Smith pushed this project and oth-
ers. He was given strong assur-
ance that Rome would be made
the terminus of the road, which
would certainly have caused the
place to boom like a mining town
of the far West. vSuch a strong
fight was made by Col. Smith dur-
ing these years that an association
of citizens at Chattanooga invited
him to come there to live in a hand-
some home that would cost him
nothing. He was too strongly com-
mitted to the place of his adoption,
and continued the fight for Rome.

When success seemed certain.
Col. Smith and another founder of
the town, Maj. Philip W. Hemp-
hill, built a steamboat in anticipa-
tion of the tremendous trade that
would be created. The hull of the
boat was made by William Adkms,
father of Wm. H. Adkins, of At-
lanta, formerly of Rome. It was
eased into the Oostanaula with ap-
propriate ceremonies and her flag
raised, bearing the name of ^er
projector, William Smith. The iv.a-
chinery was not installed for a
time, possil)ly due to a delay in
delivery, or the desire of the ovvn-

*Acts, 1843, p. S3.

**Acts, 1847, p. .50. It was by this act that
Rome advanced from the status of town to that
of city, and the city limits were extended to
include all territory in a radius of half a mile
from the courthouse.

Growth from Village to Town

ers to see the l)ill pass before they
should increase their investment.

Something- went wrong at Mil-
ledgeville. The Whiteside interests
at Chattanooga, augmented by a
faction in Georgia who thought
better of the Chattanooga termi-
nus, proved too strong for the
Cherokee Georgia contingent. Tb.e
bill as passed included Chattatioo--
ga. Rome was to be isolated to
some extent ; the road was to pass
16 miles away, through Cass Coun-
ty, from Marthasville northwest-
ward.

Col. Smith smiled his acquies-
cense, but there was no estimating
his disappointment. One night the
William Smith sank, at the point
wiiere tlie Central of Georgia tres-
tle crosses the Oostanaula. Prat-
tling tongues said Col. Smith bored
holes in her bottom. He would
never talk about it much, l)e-
} ond saying that the action of the
Legislature had greatly crippled
Rome. He did not try to raise the
boat, and up to 25 years ago her
muddy hull could still l)e seen at
"low tide."

In these days of slave labor, lim-
ited transportation facilities, heavy
crops and lack of industrialism,
the thoughts of the upper classes
naturally turned to politics. The
newspapers printed four pages of
six columns each once or twice a
week. The advertisements were
usually small and the other space
must be filled up. When people
married, they remained married,
and a divorce was a rarity and con-
sidered a disgrace. There were a
good many fights witli knives in
grog shops, and an occasional duel,
but news-gathering facilities had
not ])een developed, and the papers
were consequently filled with
"views." Every editor was a savior
of the countr}', and spread-eagle
literary efiforts readily found their
way into the newspapers from ])()li-
ticians or statesmen. Presidential
and Gul)ernatorial messages were

DR. ELIJAH L. CONNALLY, Atlantan, Floyd
County native, who as a baby was nursed
by Indian Chiefs Tahchansee and Turkey.

printed in full and were considered
choice morsels for the head of the
house. Greer's Almanac furnished
weather predictions for everybody.
Politics often consumed a page
or two, and communications on
topics that toda}- are of nnich less
consequence often ran into two or
three columns. As for the women,
tliey religiotisly read "("lodey's La-
dies' IU)ok," an eastern ])ul)lica-
tion which met needs like tlie La-
dies' Home Journal of today.

It is not necessarily a reflection
on Rome that in the lirst 26 years
of her existence, Irmn 1834 to 1860,
she elected more men to Congress
than has the Rome ot the S7 years
from 1865 to 1922. .V new country
always develops rugged leadership
and the fearless expression of opin-
ion that goes with a daily light
for existence, in this i-arly ])eriod
l^ome sent fonr men ti> Congress.
They were, in order, judge John
It. Lum]:)kin, who had ]>reviously
served his nncle, (lox'ernur Wilson

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Lumpkin, as secretary, and had
gone to the legislature in 1835;
Thos. C. llackett. judge Lump-
kin's law partner, ^vho succeeded
him; Judge Augustus R. Wright,
who had removed to Rome in 1855 ;
and Judge ju". W. M. Underwood
who was a member of the Georgia
delegation which walked out of
Congress early in 1861 without
taking the pains to resign. Only
two men living in Rome at the time
of their election have since been
sent to Congress — Judson C. Clem-
ents and Judge Jno. W. Maddox.
Judge Lumpkin came near put-
ting Rome on the map as the resi-
dence of the Governor of Georgia ;
that is, assuming he could have
h.een elected over the eloquent and
])olished Benjamin H. Hill. Also, it
is likely he would have been the
War (governor. On June 24, 1857,
the Democrats met at INlilledge-
ville to nominate a candidate to
oppose the new American or Know-
Nothing part}-. Lumpkin led the
balloting for some time, but he
could not get the necessary two-
thirds, and in a stampede, the nom-
ination went to Jos. E. Brown.
Alfred IT. Col(|uitt, later Governor,
also missed it narrowdy. In the
election held later, Brown defeated
Hill, the American party nominee,
by about 10,000 popular votes.

This convention attracted the
leading men of the state, and
Rome's re])resentatives were Judge
Augustus R. Wright, who on one
ballot received five votes ; Judge
Jno. W. H. I'nderwddd and Daniel
S. Printup. At all such gatherings
Rome was prominently ]nit for-
w^ard. Her leading men went to the
national conventions on an equal
footing with tlie large cities of the
state; and on numerous occasions
Governors, Senators and Congress-
men came to Rome to seek the ad-
vice of these noble Romans. Among
the Governors were Chas. J. Mc-
Donald, Llerschel V. Johnson and
Jos. E. Brown. When judge Lump-

kin died in the summer of 1860 at
the Choice House, he was in com-
pany with a group of statesmen.

Quite often the Romans suited
the convenience of their political
friends ; quite often also they wrote
a note saying, "Come up and let
us talk it over." The Choice House
veranda was a capital place for
these gatherings, but occasionally a
dignitary accepted an invitation to
a private fireside and was treated
t(^ social courtesies which had
nothing to do with ])olitics.

A contemporary writer said of
Rome's "quartette" and Dr. H. V.
M. Miller, United States Senator
elected in 1868 while residing in
Atlanta :

John H. Lumpkin was the candidate
of North Georgia, which section vig-
orouf.ly claimed the right to have the
Governor. Lumpkin had been a con-
gresFman and a judge of the Superior
Court and was a gentleman of excel-
lent ability.

Dr. Miller, though a physician,
won the soubriquet of "The IDemosthe-
nes of the Mountains" in his innumera-
ble political encounters, for which he
had the same passion that the Irish-
man is popularly believed to have for
a "free fight." Deeply versed in con-
stitutional law and political lore, a
reasoner of rare power and as fine an
orator as we have ever had in Geor-
gia, capable of burning declamation
and closely-knit argument, he was the
peer on the stump of any of the great
political speakers of the last half-
century in Georgia.

Unfortunately for him, he had two
perilous peculiarities — a biting sar-
casm that delighted in exhibition of
its crushing power, and that spared
neither friend nor foe, and a contempt-
uous and incurable disregard of party
affiliations. He never in his life
worked in harmony with any party
or swallowed whole any single party
platform. And no man ever had more
stubborn independence and self-asser-
tion.*

Judge Wright, of Eome, was one of
the brightest thinkers and most spark-
ling orators we had, but an embodied
independent."*

Judge Underwood was a racy talker,

♦History of Georgia, 1850-1881, by I. W.
Avery, p. 40.
**Ibid, p. 33.

l^!>'^MSk^^

LITTLF, TEXAS^VALLEY— by Lillian Page C.ulrer

Growth from Village to Town

a fluent, eff^ective speaker and a ^ood
lawyer, with a portly, fine presence
and manner; he would have made a
far more commanding figure in Geor-
gia politics, even, than he has with
the possession of a greater quota of
stability.*

An evidence of the manner in
which Romans kept pace with the
poHtical trend is furnished in the
following letter, dated at Rome,
Jan. 18, 1854, from Judge Lump-
kin to Howell Cobb :**

Dear Cobb: — I was with McDon-
ald*** a good deal while he was
here, and he was in fine health and
most excellent spirits. In fact, I have
never seen him when he was on bet-
ter terms with himself and the most
of the world. He has not much fancy
for our friend. Col. Underwood, and
I think he has not a great deal of re-
spect for Dr. Singleton. I had no con-
versation with him in regard to the
position of United States Senator, nor
did he give me any intimation that he
expected to go into Mr. Pierce's cabinet.
But William Fort, of this place, a
nephew of Dr. Fort, and who is the
intimate friend and supporter of Gov.
McDonald, informs me that Jefferson
Davis is in correspondence with Mc-
Donald, and that McDonald informed
him confidentially that he would go to
Milledgeville immediately this week,
and if he could conti-ol some three or
four of his friends and induce them
to go into your support for United
States Senator, that he would then
tender back to the party the nomina-
tion and go in publicly for your elec-
tion; and if this was successful, he
had no doubt of your election to the
United States Senate,**** and that
he would be appointed Secretary of
War in the place of Jefferson Davis,
would would also go into the Senate
from the State of Mississippi. He
further informed me that Brown was
an applicant for the Senate from Mis-
sissippi, and that this difficulty would
have to be accommodated by provid-
ing for Brown in some other way. I
feel confident that this arrangement
will be carried out, and if so, the i)arty

*Avery's History of Gcortria, p. ^2.

**Georgia Historical Quarterly, .June, 1922,
ps. 148-9.

***Chas. J. McDonald, Governor from ls:V.)
to 1843.

****The election was held .Jan. 23, 18.54.
Wm. C. Dawson, Whig incumbent, McDonald
and Cobb were lieaten by a Southern Ritjhts
Democrat, Alfred Iverson. of Columbus.

*****GeorKia's Landmarks, Memorials and
Legends, Vol. IL i>. 1.5.

in Georgia will be once more thor-
oughly united and cemented.

Locally, politics was active, but
it was not confined to local offices
or questions. The newspaper ed-
itors saw to it that their readers
were well posted on national mat-
ters and characters. To inspire
Georgians and Romans there stood
the examples of Wm. H. Craw-
ford, United States Senator and
minister to France, who might
have occupied the Presidential
chair except for an unfortunate
stroke of paralysis ;***** Howell
Cobb, Georgia Governor, speaker
of the National House, and Sec-
retary of the Treasury; John For-
syth, Governor of Georgia, United
States Senator and Secretary of
State ; Wm. H. Stiles, minister to
Austria ; Benj. C. Yancey, minister
to Argentine ; John E. VVard, min-
ister to China ; Herschel V. John-
son, United States Senator' and
candidate for vice-president on the
ticket of Stephen A. Douglas
against AI)raham Lincoln in 1860;
and a number of others Avho bore
Georgia's banner in the front of
the procession. Georgia did not
|)lay "second fiddle" to any state or
the village of Rome to any city.

Few of Rome's early records
\vere kept, and apparentl}' no news-
paper files before 1850 are in ex-
istence. Several copies of the Rome
Weekly Courier of 1850-51-52 were
made available through the cour-
tesy of IT. 11. \\'imi)ee, of South
Rome, and from these we get the
best view of the political condi-
tions up to that time, and looking
ahead into the dark days of 1861-5.

P.y 1850 wc lind the old Whig
party beginning to disintegrate,
but its adherents lighting grimly.
Tn that year its last President. Mil-
lard Fillmore, was inaugurated.
Democrats were holding their own ;
after iMllniore they elected I'rank-
Im I'ierce and James lUichaiian.
The Republican party was rising in
])o\\er. The American 1\irty

100

A History of Rome and Floyd County

JOSEPH WATTERS, a member of the State
Legislature in the forties, for whom the
Watters District was named.

sprang up at the expense of the
Whigs ; they were the "middle of
the road" host, or "Know Noth-
ings." The States Rights Demo-
crats, often called "Fire-Eaters,"
were a wing of the Democratic
jjarty, in the main. The Constitu-
tional Unionists were formidable,
North and South. Smaller factions
likewise existed.

An idea of the intense heat issu-
ing from the political pot may be
gained from the statement that
meetings at this time were at-
tended ^^y 10,000 to 20,000 people.
The slavery and states' rights is-
sues were fast coming to a head.
Elections held in Georgia showed
a large majority of people favora-
ble to maintaining the Union. On
Oct. 24, 1850, Jos. Watters and
Edward W^are received 882 and 809
votes, respectively, and Dr. Alvin
Dean 121 votes, in a Floyd County
election for two delegates to the
state convention Dec. 10, 1850, at
Milledgeville. Dr. Dean represent-
ed the disunionist element, or
"fire-eaters." The vote of the del-
egates on secession measures w^as
heavily in favor of preserving the
status quo. The eyes of the nation
were focused on Georgia, and a
difi^erent result, it is believed,
would have hastened the Civil War
by a decade.

The following political letters
were published in A. M. Eddie-
man's Rome Weekly Courier on
Thursday morning, Oct. 24, 1850:

Hermitage,
Floyd County, Ga.
Oct. 15, 1850.
To Messrs. H. V. M. Miller, Jno. H.

Lumpkin and W. T. Price, Union

Party Committee:

Gentlemen: Your letter of the 10th
inst., notifying me that at a very
large meeting of the citizens of Floyd
County, held in Rome on the 10th, I
was unanimously nominated as one of
the candidates to represent the coun-
ty in the convention which is to as-
semble in Milledgeville, Dec. 10, has
been received. You enclose a copy of
the resolutions adopted by the meet-

3
O

O
Ui

O
H

H
iz;
P
O

Growth from Village to Town

103

ing, expressing its opinion on the pend-
ing issues, and calling my attention to
them.

I have carefully examined the reso-
lutions and do approve of them as
adopted by the meeting. As such, I
accept the nomination received, and
should I be elected by the voters of
the county, I will oppose any measure
leading to a dissolution of the Union.

Should Congress at any time exhibit
its purpose to war upon our property
or withhold our just constitutional
rights, I as a Southern man stand
ready to vindicate those rights in the
Union as long as possible and out of
the Union when we are left no other
alternative.

Respectfully yours,

JOSEPH WATTERS.

^Courtesy, Floyd Co., Ga.,
Oct. 16, 1850.
To Messrs. H. V. M. Miller, Jno. H.
Lumpkin and W. T. Price, Union
Party Committee :

Gentlemen : I received your polite
note of the 10th inst. yesterday eve-
ning, informing me of my unanimous
nomination by a large and respectable
meeting of the citizens of Floyd Coun-
ty as one of the two candidates to
represent them at Milledgeville Dec.
10. I consent to represent them if I
should be elected.

I am requested by your honorable
committee to give a pledge to support
the resolutions submitted to me for my
consideration. I pledge myself to suu-
port no measure leading to a violation
of the Constitution of the United
States or dissolution of the Union.

Gentlemen, I have the honor to be
your most obedient servant,

EDWARD WARE.

Editor Kddleman was a staunch
Union man himself, and his views
were shared by many, as the fol-
lowing- editorial item from the
same issue of his paper will show :

Kivgston Maf<s Mcetivrj. — Let no one
forget the gathering of the friends of
the Union at Kingston on Nov. S. Am-
ple accommodation will be provided for
20,000 persons, and we hope to see at
least that number in attendance. The
noblest fabric of government ever
purchased by the blood of patriotism
or formed by the wisdom of man is
threatened with destruction. Is there
public virtue enough in the hearts of

♦Supposed to have been located at Six Mile
Station, Vann's Valley.

the people to save it? If the assault
were made by a foreign foe, 100,000
bayonets in Georgia would bristle in
its defense. Shall the enthusiasm be
less warm, the determination less firm,
to hazard all in its protection, because
the enemy is in our midst?

Come out, then, to the meeting at
Kingston, and let us mingle our voices
in loud and long huzzas for the glo-
rious old government of our ancestors,
endeared to us as it is by the remi-
niscences of the past, the incalculable
blessings of the present and the bright
anticipations of the future — spreading
before the imagination a career of
prosperity, of greatness and grandeur,
to which all history affords no parallel.
Let us meet and firmly resolve at any
cost to maintain it pure and inviolate,
as we received it. Come, people of
Cherokee Georgia, and partake of the
hospitality of your fellow citizens of
Cass and Floyd. Come and listen to
the eloquence of Stephens, and Cobb,
and Toombs, and Andrews, and Petti-
grew, and a host of others who are to
be there to address you. Come and
enjoy a "feast of reason and a flow of
soul." Let the wisdom of age be there
to moderate and control the fire and
impetuosity of youth. Let the pres-
ence and the smile of woman, as in
every contest of patriotism the world
over, be ready to cheer and encourage
the hardier sex in the performance of
its duty.

Let no one stay away because of
the supposed weakness of our adver-
saries. They are more numerous than
many suppose. They have talents,
courage, cunning and money, and
evince a determination to spend them
freely in the desperate cause in which
they have embarked. Come and show
by your spirit and numbers your res-
olution to permit no sacrilegious hand
to render asunder the Glorious Flag
of your Country. It has formed the
winding sheet of many of your patriot
ancestors. It has been to Americans
in every land and on every sea, as far
as human foot has trod, the Aegis of
Safety. Proudly has it waved over a
thousand bloody but victorious battle-
fields, and it is for you to say whether
it shall be transmitted unsullied to
your posterity. Let there be for cen-
turies no stain upon it, no erasure;
but on its bright field let every STAR
and every STRIPE forever shine re-
splendently in glorious equality!

'I'hns were the war clouds as-
suming;- shape. The next ten years
was to l)e a period of preparation

104

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ill tliuught and to a considerable
extent at its close i)reparation in
arms and munitions of war. Some
years before this, statesmen and
military leaders saw the prospect
clearly! In 1844 Lieut. Wm. T.
Sherman, just out of West Point,
was ordered to go by horseback
from Charleston to Marietta to
assist in hearing claims of Georgia
volunteers in the Seminole War for
lost horses and equipment. After
finishing at Marietta, he passed
through Cass (now Bartow^)
Cdunty. and examined the Tumlin
Indian mound near Cartersville
with Col. Lewds Tumlin ; then pro-
ceeded to Bellefonte, Jackson Co.,
Ala., to continue his duties. He
made a thorough study of the
country from the military stand-
point, especially Kennesaw Moun-
tain, Allatoona Pass and the Eto-
wah riv^er.* After spending two
months at Bellefonte, he returned
to Ft. Moultrie, Charleston Har-
bor, on horseback via Rome, Alla-

COL. ALFRED SHORTER, whom William
Smith induced to come to Rome from Ala-
bama, and who gave Dixie Shorter College.

toona. Marietta (and Kennesaw),
Atlanta, Macon and Augusta, fol-
lowing closely parts of the route
he took 20 years later on his
"March to the' Sea."**

x\nother distinguished gtiest of
Rome who came on a different
mission was Jefferson Davis;***
and still another, on Tuesday, Oct.
29, 1850, was Col. Albert J. Pick-
ett, of Alabama, concerning whose
mission the Rome W'eeklv Cotirier
of Thursday, Oct. 31. 1850, printed
the following notice :

Col. Pickett On DeSoto's Route. —
Col. Albert J. Pickett, of Montgomery,
Ala., author of the History of Ala-
bama and incidentally of Georgia and
Mississippi, entertained a large num-
ber of our citizens for two hours Tues-
day evening at the courthouse, giving
an interesting account of the invasion
of Georgia by DeSoto, more than three
ctnturies ago. Col. Pickett is in pos-
session of a more minute account of
this remarkable adventure than any
man we have ever seen. Upon the site
of our city, he asserted, DeSoto en-
camped with 1,000 men for 30 days,
during which time a battle was fought
between the Spaniards under his com-
mand and the Indian tribes then in-
habiting this country. Evidences of
this battle still exist in the shape of
human hones dug out of a mound near
the junction of the Etowah and the
Oostanaula.

From 1840 to 1861 Rome grew
fast. Tn this period Wm. R. Smith
(called "Long l»iH" because he
wore his hair in a queue down his
back). Col. W^ade S. Cothran and
Col. Daniel S. Printup appeared.
All engaged in railroad enterprises,
and in addition. Col. Printup at-
tended to a large law business, and
Col. Cothran acc^uired an interest
in the steamboat lines, for wdiich
Capt. F. M. Coulter had built a
number of handsome and service-
able boats.

*Sherman's Memoirs, 1875, Vol. 11.

**U. S. Senate Documents, Vol. 40, "Sher-
man — a Memorial Sketch."

***AccordinK to Mrs. Hiram D. Hill, Mr.
Davis visited her parents, Col. and Mrs. Danl. R.
Mitchell. Mrs. Mitchell was a member of the
Mann family, to whose members Mr. Davis was
also related. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Mitchell were
second cousins, according to Mrs. Hill.

Growth from Village to Town

107

The Rome Railroad (originally
the Memphis Branch Railroad and
Steamboat Company of Georgia)
was chartered Dec. 21, 1839, and
the whole town turned out several
years later when the first train
pufifed in from Kingston, 16 miles
and a good hour away.* In 1855 the
Nobles came from Reading, Pa., to
give Rome a decided boost in iron
manufactures. The LeHardys ar-
rived from Belgium to found their
Belgian colony, an experiment
which added much to the agricul-
tural interest and the social, edu-
cational and cultural importance
of Rome. Major Chas. H. Smith
("Bill Arp") moved over from
Lawrenceville in 1851, and thus
Rome accjuired a literary expound-
er who could proclaim her glories
abroad, a sweet-voiced singer who
could put her wonders into type
and an artist who could paint her
rude characters in the colors of
their native abode.

Rome soon acquired a case of
"growing pains." The editors began
to call for better things than what
Rome had had. The flickering
street lamps and the house lamps
and candles were an al)omination.
An enterprising firm advertised
"camphine" as better than any light
except the sun ; ten years later, in
1860, a local firm started selling
machines to make gas out of pine
logs.

In 1850 a volunteer fire company
was formed, with a reel that would
carry buckets of water. Robt. Bat-
tey was president and David G.
Love secretary. "Water, water"
was everywhere, but there were no
pipes to carry it in. and there was
no ])um]) to send it into a gravity
tank. Luckily, the early fires were
usually small, exccjit one in 1858,
which took most of the block on
the west side of Broad Street be-
tween Fourth and Fiftli Avenues.

The volunteers called for extra ap-
paratus, but none was forthcoming
for a while. Rome was not to be
built in a day.

Soda water and ice cream ap-
peared in 1850, and created a sen-
sation. There was no great de-
mand for them ; the people needed
such money as they had for more
urgent necessities ; most of all, per-
haps, they were new and untried.
In 1860 the druggists attempted to
make soda water go again, and
gave away quantities to introduce
it. The name of it at that time
was soda pop. The two drug stores
were conducted by Dr. J. D. Dick-
erson and Battey & Brother. The
senior member of the latter was
Dr. Geo. M. Battey, and the junior
member Robt. Battey. Dr. Dick-
crson not only ran his drug store,
but found time to act as the first
mayor, which position he filled two
terms, until December, 1850, when
he retired in favor of Jas. P. Per-
kins. Mr. Perkins was followed by
Nathan Yarbrough in 1852. Other
early mayors, of uncertain date,
were Wm. Cook Gautier Johnstone
and Jas. M. Sumter. In 1857 Judge

*JudKe John W. H. Underwood used to say
it was the only railroad in the country that a
man could ride all day for a dollar.

MRS. ALFRED SH0RTP:R, lonsr prominent in
the work of the 1st Baptist Church, and an
able assistant to her remarkable husband.

108

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Robt. D. Harvev was mavor. and
in 1859-60 H. A. Gartrell,' lawyer
and uncle of Henry W. Grady.* Old
newspapers state that Dr. Thos.
Jefferson Word was elected mayor
in 1861 and succeeded liimself in
1862.

The proprietor of The Courier,
an occasional traveler, informed his
readers as follows, Jan. 30, 1851 :

Mail Change. — We are informed by
Thos. J. Perry, Esq., postmaster at
this city, that he has received a com-
munication from the Department at
Washington giving assurance of a
speedy and salutary change in the
transportation of the mail and pas-
sengers between this place and Gun-
tersville, Ala. A four-horse stage
coach will soon take the place of the
spring wagon. Very well.

And he piped this summarizing
panegyric to the young city under
date of Feb. 5, 1851 :

Rome, Its Prospects. — It is grati-
fying to watch the gradual but certain
growth of our young and vigorous city.
Buildings of various kinds are rap-
idly going up and valuable accessions
are being made to our population.
Since the completion of the "Rome
Railroad," business has steadily in-
creased, and under a wise and liberal
policy will be largely augmented dur-
ing the next few years. If we are not
greatly deceived, Rome will double its
population of more than 3,000 in the
next four years, provided its resources
are properly directed and its inter-
ests prudently fostered. Its popula-
tion with the exception of some 20 or
30 very clever doctors and lawyers,
(who, we are happy to say, have but
little to do), is made up mostly of sub-
stantial business men who are per-
manently identified with the place and
deeply interested in its prosperity and
reputation.

Surrounded by a country of unsur-
passed beauty and fertility, occupied
by an unusually dense and valuable
agricultural population — at the ter-
minus of railroad and steamboat
transportation — Rome is and must even-
continue to be a place of considerable
commercial importance.

We hope before the commencement
of another business season we shall be
able to record the establishment of a
bank in our City.** Such an institu-
tion under proper regulations will
greatly promote the convenience and

prosperity of every class of our citi-
zens. Our business men should take
this matter under immediate consider-
ation, or a large and profitable interior
trade may be forever diverted from
their control.

"Ye call us a small town?" cpioth
Editor Melville Dwinell Mar. 3,
1860. "Harken ye!":

A person living in Middle or Lower
Georgia, who has never visited the
"Metropolis of Cherokee," has an idea
that it is like all other up-country
towns, composed of a courthouse in the
center of a square, surrounded by two
taverns, a variety store, a ten pin al-
ley, a blacksmith shop and three gro-
ceries. He therefore expresses great
surprise on coming to our City for the
first time, to discover what an egregi-
ous mistake he has made. One eye is
opened slightly when he arrives at the
depot and beholds those city institu-
tions, church steeples, and an omnibus,
and by the time his baggage is seized
and violently tugged at by zealous
drummers, from our two large rival
hotels, that eye is wide open. The lids
of the other begin to part company, in
order to give a better view of the long
line of fine brick stores, stretching
away up Broad Street, at the head of
which, upon an eminence overlooking
the city, is the handsome residence of
our Ex-M. C.,*** and the imposing
building of "Rome Female College."

At night, when our stores and street
are illuminated with gas, the rays of
enlightenment begin to shine in upon
his benighted mind.

If he be here on the Sabbath, and is
not a "heathen or a publican," he at-
tends one of our four churches, and
finds it filled with an intelligent and
attentive congregation, and hears a
sermon that would be listened to with
interest and profit by any similar as-
sembly in the State. On Monday
morning, his curiosity being aroused,
he strolls down one side of Broad
Street, and up the other to observe the
style and extent of our business. While
he stands wondering at the number of
cotton and produce wagons "coming
to town," and our energetic business
men hurrying to and fro, if it be a
pleasant day, and he an unmarried
man, his heart leaps as he hears tiny

*This list of before-the-war mayors is the
completest and most accurate that it has been
possible to obtain.

•''Several small banks of a fly-by-night char-
acter had been established and had gone out of
business prior to 1851.

***Judge John H. Lumpkin.

BARNSLEY GARDENS (Bartow County)— by Lillian Page Coulter

Growth from Village to Town

111

heels, (bless their little soles), patter-
ing on the pavement behind him. He
turns, and his gaze is fixed upon a
sweet and intelligent face, just as far
in advance of "a dear love of a bon-
net" as the most enthusiastic admirer
of "beauty when unadorned" could
wish.

If not transfixed, he, like one of
Dame Nature's loyal subject.^, obeys
her "supreme law," and immediately
steps off the sideivalk, to make room
for the widest circles of fashion that
are "trundling" his way. Drawn ir-
resistibly, he follows, and entering one
of our many large dry goods houses,
he sees several industrious and smil-
ing clerks, energetically employed in
pulling down and unrolling, and then
rolling and putting up again, an ex-
tensive assortment of calicoes, bereges,
silks, satins, muslins, delaines, etc.,
etc., to accommodate the fair custom-
ers, who throng the counters "only to
see the latest spring styles." All doubts
that may have been excited by the in-
formation that Rome has furnished the
last three Congressmen from the Fifth
District* are dispelled, and he is
"convinced against his will" that we
have reached the highest point of civ-
ilization.

But he has yet to learn the impor-
tance of Rome, in a business point of
view; for although he has iobserved
that we have a number of fashionable
dry goods establishments, various
clothing stores, large grocery houses,
three livery stables, two extensive
hardware and four drug stores, also
one of jewelry, another of crockery and
a third of "books and stationery," he
is surprised to learn that besides the
"college," we have a "Cherokee In-
stitute" for boys and girls together, a
high school for the former by them-
selves, and two or three others, where
the younger ideas are just taking aim;
that we have two "carriage reposito-
ries," where fine buggies and other ve-
hicles are made, and that two cabinet
shops, with steam motive power, giv-
ing employment to about 50 hands,
are daily manufacturing on an exten-
sive scale neat and durable furniture
of the latest and best styles.**

Upon enquiring the cause of so
much blowing and whistling of steam
engines, some one of our obliging citi-
zens takes his arm and conducts him
down to the foundry*** and shows

*No\v thd seventh.

**Mayor Sumter conducted one of these.
***Nobles'.

****In 1847 it was 3,000.

*****From the Southerner and Advertiser of
alx)ut Aug. 26, 1860.

him a large number of mechanics
busily engaged in the manufacture of
machinery of all kinds.

He is informed that they built the
first, and one of the best locomotives
in the State, besides numerous engines
for mines, mills, steamboats, etc. He
is then taken to the "Nonpareil Mills,"
and sees meal and flour in large quan-
tities, ground by machinery, set in mo-
tion by one of these same engines.

He is still unprepared for the most
astounding discovery of all. When told
that Rome, away up in the northwest
corner of the State, surrounded by the
mountains of Cherokee, is situated at
the confluence of two streams, upon
one of which, and upon the river which
they form, four steamboats are con-
stantly arriving and departing, he
smiles and shakes his head incredu-
lously. In order to convince him, it is
only necessary to take him down to
the wharves, and point with honest
pride to the floating witnesses. Three
of them, he is informed, make weekly
trips down the Coosa river, to Greens-
port, Ala., and the fourth, three times
a week, up the Oostanaula to Calhoun,
Gordon County. Each leaves her wharf
with a heavy cargo of merchandise,
and returns laden with cotton, grain,
lumber, etc., etc.

The "chief among us taking notes,"
walks thoughtfully away with the con-
viction that Rome is "no mean city,"
and if in the course of a year or two
he returns and hoars the "Iron Horse"
snorting through Vann's Valley, bring-
ing its living freight from Mobile and
New Orleans, on their way to the
Northern cities, he will find that it is
making rapid strides to the position of
influence and importance to which the
hand of Nature points.

The Tri-Weekly Courier of .Vti.s:
8, 1860, stated that the population
of Floyd County in 1840 was 4.441,
and presented the following census
table ci)mi)arisons :****

Year. Whites. Slaves. Free. Total
18,50 5,202 2,999 4 8.205

1860 9,200 5,927 K? 15,233

James I. Teat, Floyd Comity tax
receiver, presented the tolU)\vinj:;'
county tax return figures for 1859
and 1860:*****

Number of polls in 1859, 1,651 ; in
1860, 1,738— gain, 87.

Legal voters over 60 years of age,
118.

Total number of voters, 1,856.

112

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Lawyers and physicians in 1859, 57
in 1860, 56.

Free persons of color in 1859, 13
in 1860, 16.

Value of land in 1859, $2,652,003
in 1860, $2,807,435.

Town property in 1859, $446,680; in
1860, $537,951.

Value of slaves in 1859, $4,454,207;
in 1860, $3,755,184.

Amount of money, etc., in 1859,
$1,937,849; in 1860, $2,104,490.

Merchandise in 1859, $309,559; in
1860, $340,565.

Capital in steamboats in 1859, $6,-
400; in 1860, $14,910.

All other capital invested in 1859,
$23,776; in 1860, $11,784.

Household, etc., in 1859, $35,283; in
1860, $36,805.

All other property in 1859, $496,365;
in 1860, $524,667.

Total aggregate, 1859, $9,363,132;
in 1860, $10,133,791— total gain, $770,-
669.

Average value of land per acre,
$9.30.

Average value of slaves, $651.70.
Number of men over 60 years of age
in proportion to polls, 14%.

CHAPTER VI.
Views and Events Leading Up to War

LTHOUGH Floyd had been
overwhelmingly a "Union
county," her citizens, al-
most to a man, were willing
to go with the majority in any sit-
uation affecting the interests of the
South. Thus we see the local sen-
timent gradually changing, until
in 1860 the anti-secession forces
had lost considerable ground. This
was brought about in general by
the drift of the times, in particular
by the abductions of slaves, the
propaganda of traveling emissa-
ries, and the literary efforts of
Northern leaders opposed to
slavery. The w^ritings of Wm.
Lloyd Garrison, who edited an abo-
litionist paper, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's
Cabin," and Hinton Rowan Helper,
author of "The Impending Crisis,"
greatly inflamed sentiment and
tended to knit i)nl)]ic opinion more
closely.

The Rome Tri-Weekly Courier
gives a good view of some of these
influences and the incidents which
were the outgrowth of them. Says
Capt. Dwinell in The Courier of
Jan. 10, 1860:

Loolc Out For Him.— The Knoxville
Whig gives the following description
of an abolition emissary who, it says,
intends "spending the winter at the
South." His ostensible business seems
to be selling and putting up gas burn-
ers, and as Rome will very soon have
need of such articles, he may honor
us with a visit.

He is about 23 or 25 years of age,
weighs about 135, has light hair, sort
of gray> or blue eyes; his height is
about 5 feet, 6 inches; he is fond of
music, is a scientific fiddler; goes about
as an agent for gas burners; is an in-
cessant talker; is well informed for a
man of his age, talks up freely on all
subjects. Has letters addressed to
him at different points, sometimes Jolm

*John Brown ; hanged Dec. 2, 1S59, at Charles-
town, Va., for raid on Harper's Ferry.

Jenkins, at other times to J. P. Jen-
kins, and again to J. W. P. Jenkins.

The Whig says he spent some time
in Jacksboro, Tenn., and on his return
to his home, Brooklyn, N. Y., he wrote
a long letter on the subject of slavei-y
to a citizen of the former place. We
subjoin an extract, and hope a strict
watch may be kept for him:

"Depend upon it, when Brown* dies,
the ghost will haunt many that may
gloat upon the sight, or imaginary one
of Brown and his party, as they see
them dangling on the scaffold paying
their desire of revenge! And ere long
there will be a howling in their ears,
with thunder tones the snappings and
crackings of those long-forged chains,
until they awake as from a dream at
last, in which they shall see their folly
in having executed men for their feel-
ings of iDcnevolence.

"I see that the institution is getting
very sick. It has the ague in its worst
form in Virginia. It has the consump-
tion, and almost a galloping one, in
Missouri. So it has in portions of Ken-
tucky and many parts of the South.
The seeds of discontent are being
sowed broadcast, even to the most re-
mote regions. Not through the in-
fluence of emissaries from the North
particularly, but by the force of the
power of emigration and civilization."

There are too many of these scoun-
drels prowling about through the
Southern states. Their object is the
same as is proclaimed in the "Impend-
ing Crisis," and attempted to be car-
ried out by John Brown and his con-
federates—emancipation of our slaves
— attended by murder, arson and all
that is terrible and revolting in a ser-
vile war. We are no advocates of mob
law, but we believe in the first law of
nature, and in such instances as these,
freciuently our only safety is in sum-
mary proceedings.

We learn from the Atlanta i)aper9
that last week in that city one of these
vile incendiaries, named Newcomb, a
clerk in a dry goods house, drank a
toast to the health of John Brown, and
eulogized his character. He was al-
lowed to escape without just punish-
ment for his temerity. We are op-
posed to rashness and precipitancy in
such cases, but when guilt is fully es-
tablished, these fellows should hv dealt

114

A History of Rome and Floyd County

with in such manner as will cause them
to remember the lesson the balance of
their days, and enable them to recite
it with earnestness and eloquence to
such of their friends as may seem in-
clined to embark on similar enter-
prises.

The Impendmg Crisis. — We find the
subjoined extract from this notorious
book in one of our exchanp,-es. South-
erners can infer from it the purpose
and character of the work :

"So it seems that the total number
of actual slave owners, including their
entire crew of cringing lick-spittles,
against whom we have to contend, is
but 347,525. Against the army for the
defense and propagation of slavery, we
think it will be an easy matter — in-
dependent of the negroes, who in nine
cases out of ten would be delighted
with an opportunity to cut their mas-
ters' throats, and without accepting a
single recruit from the free states, Eng-
land, France or Germany — to mus-
ter one at least three times as large
and far more respectable, for its utter
extinction. We are determined to abol-
ish slavery at all hazards — in defiance
of all opposition of whatever nature,
which it is possible for the slaveocrats
to muster against us. Of this they

CAPT. MELVILLE DWINELL, native of Ver-
mont, bachelor and noted Rome newspaper
editor, who gave Henry Grady his first "job."

may take due notice, and then govern
themselves accordingly."

It is nothing more nor less than a
declaration of war against the South
and her institutions, in which we are
warned to "take due notice" that our
slaves will be given the opportunity
of cutting our throats. And this trea-
sonable document is recommended by
68 Northern men, including Congress-
men, Governors and clergymen. It is
endorsed by leaders of the Black Re-
publican party, among them John
Sherman, of Ohio, their speaker of the
House of Representatives ; Wm. H.
Seward.* Senator from New York,
says of it:

"I have read 'The Impending Crisis'
with deep attention. It seems to me
a work of information and logical anal-
ysis."

And Mr. Seward will in all proba-
bility be the candidate of his party for
the presidency. These facts will do for
Southerners to ponder well.

The Courier of Jan. 19. 186C, re-
prodticed the following from the
Montgomer}' Mail as embodying
its own sentiments:

Somefhivg, Something, Anything! —
Now that the state convention of the
dominant party has adjourned, the gen-
eral hope is that the Legislature will
do something — anything — by way of
preparing to meet the requirements of
the war that is almost upon us. Let
no man accuse us of disunion purposes.
The question is not, will not be, left
to the South for decision. The forces
of Abolition intend to leave us no op-
tion but to fight for our firesides, or
do as cowards do. As they moved at
Harper's Ferry, so they are prepar-
ing to move all over the South. Plots
have already been detected and stifled
in Missouri. "Irrepressible Conflict"
means the knife at your throat and
the torch at your house, reader, and
both at the dead of night. Whenever
you take up and drive off^ an Abolition-
ist fi'om your neighborhood, he goes
to the next county, and another takes
Ins place. The dead ones cease to act.

The following of Jan. 24, 1860.
illustrates a habit of traveling
salesmen from the North :

The Latest Dodge. — The Yankees are
never at a loss for expedients. During
this "impending crisis" they have se-

*Mr. Seward became Lincoln's Secretary of
War. As a young man ne taught school a
while at Milledgeville.

Views and'^Events Leading up to War

115

■'-r^^.^i.^i^^

:mm.

A PAGE DEDICATED TO THE HORSE.

as a^'res'^Ht^ o?^h*l°"''' '""Z '''^ "'-/«V«^d predecessor, the ox. might become practically extinct
pfctures herewith ^ "?\ "'• '^^ ^^ton^obile and the flying machine, we present these

livin/ till in th. H °"r """^'•'"t'"" t° the perpetuation of his fame. No doubt men now
on'e^ode one of thos""'""' ""'"' °"* *° *''"'' '*'"''''^" ^"""^ '"''''■ "'^'' '""^ ^^•"^'■'^- "'

116

A History of Rome and Floyd County

cured a large amount of Southern cus-
tom by sending out their drummers
dressed in homespun! The ruse pays,
and as drummers are generally expect-
ed to be an accommodating set, per-
fectly free and perfectly persuasive,
they never lose an opportunity to talk
humorously conservative, as if the po-
litical hubbub now rampant was all a
meaningless fudge, and the North and
the South are as firmly linked as ever.
But yet, when a serious discussion
arises they are intensely Southern, and
their homespun is proof positive! —
Petersburg Express.

The Courier of Jan. 26, 1860, ap-
prizes us of an attack on "The Im-
pending- Crisis" from the floor of
tlie House by a Roman :*

The following is an extract from the
speech of the Hon. John W. H. Under-
wood, of Rome, in the House of Rep-
resentatives, Washington, on the 16th
inst. It places John Sherman's rela-
tion to the Helper book in a new and
strong light: "Mr. Clerk, when we as-
sembled in this hall on the first Mon-
day in December last, we found upon
the floor of this House 40 members who
had 'cordially endorsed' Helper's 'Im-
pending Crisis of the South,' a book
which proposes arson, murder, rapine,
insurrection and servile war. Among
the signers of that 'coidial endorse-
ment' is the honorable gentleman from
Ohio, Mr. Sherman, the candidate of
the Black Republican party for speak-
er. .. . That man Helper,
some months prior to this 'cordial en-
dorsement,' was exposed by the honor-
able Senator from North Carolina in
the Senate, and denounced as a thief,
and this was put into the records of
Congress; and not only that, this same
Helper assaulted a member of this
House (Mr. Craige, of North Caro-
lina) in his seat, about this same work;
and I respectfully submit, the hon-
orable gentleman from Ohio was too
careless, too unmindful of public events
when he endorsed this author's work
without knowing the contents of the
book. Sir, if ever there was a clear
case of criminal negligence, this is the
one, if it were a crime to endorse cor-
dially that Helper work!"

Judg^e Underwood shortly passed
throu.g'h Athmta :

We find the following in the
Atlanta Intelligencer and cheer-
fully transfer it to our columns as a
merited compliment to our immediate
representative and fellow townsman.

We commend the concluding paragraph
J to the consideration of the Floyd Cav-
alry, "quorum ille magna pars," and
also to those interested in the organi-
zation of the new foot company:

"Hon. John W. H. Underwood, the
representative of the Fifth Congires-
sional District, passed through our city
yesterday morning. He was looking
in fine plight, and so far as looks are
concerned, is an ornament to the Geor-
gia delegation in CongTess. But he has
mental ability as well as looks. More-
over, we find from his conversation that
he is fired up with a just sense of
the perils impending over the South.
He is in favor of arming the South,
and advocates on the part of Georgia
a preparation to meet the 'irrepressi-
ble conflict' which he says must sooner
or later come upon us. We cordially
respond to his recommendation. Let
the State of Geoirgia arm her military
forces, encourage volunteer companies, '
provide arms and ammunition, and in
times of peace prepare for war. This
is what prudence demands. We are
for peace as long as we can preserve
our rights by adherence to it, but when
forbearance ceases to be a virtue, we
say let the fight come on. We have no
fears of the final result of such a con-
flict."— Courier, Feb. 9, 1860.

While the polemics of stump and
I^rinting- press were raging, the
boys were busy currying their
mounts and polishing their old
squirrel guns :

Floyd Cavalry — An Infantry Corps.
— The Floyd Cavalry, under command
of Capt. W. S. Cothran, paraded in
our streets on Saturday. We are glad
to see that notwithstanding the dis-
couragements this company have met
with, they have persevered in their de-
termination to succeed. Their ranks
were not very full, but we hope the
election of Col. Cothran to the cap-
taincy will excite additional zeal. We
a're rejoiced to learn that an infantry
company is about being organized in
this place.

We call the attention of all the citi-
zens interested in the safety of the
country to the fact. In the name of
patriotism and in view of the exigen-
cies of the times we entreat them to
render all the aid they can. The spies
sent out by the Abolition leaders of
the North to pry into the conditions of
our military system speak in the most

*Since this was launched a week before the
Georgia delegation left Congress, quite likely
it was Judge Underwood's parting shot.

Views and Events Leading up to War

117

contemptuous terms of them. They
have doubtless thereby been embolden-
ed in their attacks upon our rights.
An ample preparation for the worst is
the surest way to avert it. Let us not.
be behind the rest of the state in the
work, but let us place these two com-
panies in a position second to none. —
Courier, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1860.

Failure to recognize the South
as the "white man's country"
caused keen embarrassment to a
.sojourner in Rome, as told vmder
date of Feb. 9, 1860:

An Excitement. — An individual who
claimed to be a drummer for a New
York house arrived here from Mari-
etta Tuesday afternoon. He was un-
derstood by passengers on the car to
utter heretical sentiments on the sub-
ject of negro equality; and upon in-
formation being given to this effect to
some of our citizens, he was waited
upon and none too politely requested
t(t leave. He seemed to be very earn-
estly desirous of complying immediate-
ly, but was left by the evening train
and compelled to wait over until yes-
terday. At one time he was in im-
mediate danger of being roughly
treated, and was so badly scared that
he was heard to express a preference
for a climate usually considered much
warmer than the tropics. He evidently
thought Rome too hot for him!

It is a most astonishing thing to us
that a Northern man at this juncture
will permit an anti-slavery opinion to
escape his lips in the South. They must
be most stupid folks if they cannot
learn under the experience of such
teachings as they have had.

This incident suggested to the
citizens of Rome a mass meeting
two days later to pass resolutions
outlawing Northern-made goods.
The Courier account and its edito-
rial comment of Saturday, Feb. 11,
1860, are herewith presented:

Non-Interconrse Meeting. — In an-
other column we publish the proceed-
ings of this meeting held in the City
Hall on last Thursday. It is an impor-
tant step in the onward march of the
South to independence and greatness.
Now the question arises, do
we intend to abide by these resolu-
tions? Or will the persons, compris-
ing a large number of our wealthiest
and most intelligent citizens, who
adopted them with such unanimity,
utterly disregard them, as was inti-

mated in the meeting, whenever they
can save a few dimes by giving the
preference in the purchase of thein
goods to those merchants who may
bring them from the North? If so, the
whole affair will be a most absurd fail-
ui-e, a ridiculous farce. We have
greater confidence in the sincerity and
the self-sacrificing patriotism of the
people of Floyd County than to enter-
tain such a thought for a moment.

Citizens' Non»Intercourse Meeting. —
Pursuant to a call from a committee
made up of W. S. Cothran, J. H. Lump-
kin, J. R. Freeman, J. M. Spullock, W.
A. Fort, C. H. Smith, J. B. Underwood,
F. C. Shropshire, Alfred Shorter, Dr.
J. King, T. W. Alexander, Dr. T. J.
Word, Thos. G. Watters and J. H. Mc-
Clung, a portion of the citizens of
Floyd County met at 11 o'clock at the
City Hall, and on motion of Dr. Alvin
Dean, his honor the mayor, Henry A.
Gartrell, was called to the chair. The
chairman then stated the object of the
meeting to be to assert our Commer-
cial Independence of the North. On
motion of Hon. J. W. H. Underwood.
Dr. Alvin Dean and Col. Jos. Watters
were named vice-presidents, and J. W.
Wofford and Geo. T. Stovall were re-

MAJOR and MRS. CHAS. H. SMITH— "Bill
Arp's" "open letter to Abe Linkhorn" in
April, 1861, proved a sensation in the South.

118

A History of Rome and Floyd County

quested to act as secretaries. The
chairman appointed the following to
act as a steering committee: Thos. E.
Williamson, D. B. Hamilton, F. C.
Shropshire, J. R. Freeman, Green T.
Cunningham, J. F. Hoskinson, B. F.
Hooper, J. P. Holt, Jos. Ford, C. P.
Dean and B. F. Payne.

While the committee were out, Col.
Underwood set forth in an able and
eloquent speech the relations existing
between the two sections of the coun-
try — the aggressive and unconstitu-
tional policy of the North on the one
hand and the degrading dependence of
the South on the other, and earnestly
urged upon those present the duty and
importance of throwing off the finan-
cial shackles by which the South is
bound.

The following resolutions were
passed:

"Resolved, first. That the merchants
and mechanics of this city and county
be requested to patronize Southern
manufacturers. Southern markets and
direct importations to Southern ports,
to the exclusion of all others.

"Resolved, second. That in the pur-
chase of our dry goods, groceries, hard-
ware and other merchandi.se we will
support and sustain those who comply
with the foregoing resolutions.

"Resolved, third. That while we have
an abiding confidence in the patriotism
and fidelity of some of our Northern
friends, yet duty to the South requires
that we should stand to and abide by
the foregoing resolutions until the
Northern states demonstrate at the bal-
lot box their fidelity to the Constitu-
tion and the laws, by driving from our
national councils the leaders of that
demoniac crew known as the Black Re-
publican party, and by repealing all
their local laws which militate against
the common Constitution of our coun-
try.

"Reso/ved, fourth. That the people
of the whole country, irrespective of
party affiliation, are requested to meet
at the City Hall on the first Tuesday in
March, next, for the purpose of ratify-
ing the foregoing resolutions."

The resolutions were adopted with
only one dissenting vote. Mr. C. H.
Smith then offered the following res-
olution:

"Resolved, That all persons who
voted for the foregoing resolutions sign
the same."

Unanimously cai-ried. Messrs. W.
B. Terhune, R'. D. Harvey, G. S. Black,
H. Allen Smith, F. C. Shropshire, T.

E. Williamson and J. W. H. Undei--
wood had discussed certain features of
the matter. Meeting then adjourned
after thanking the officers.

On Thursday, May 10, 1860, Capt.
Dwinell sounded this warning,
which, by the way, was highly
prophetic of 1922 :

There has, perhaps, been no time
since the organization of our govern-
ment when the public mind has been
so completely in confusion as it now is
throughout this section of the country.
The great party that has for years
claimed to be the only national one in
existence is disrupted and thousands
of its members now stand aghast, in
confused amazement and know not
what to do. A fearful struggle be-
tween love of party and patriotism is
going on in their breasts, and cow-
ardly demagogues with timid haste and
pale-faced alarm are clambering up on
the neutral fences and getting ready
at the first safe moment to jump to
the stronger side. The people should
mark these miscreant polti'oons who
now with cringing cowardice sneak be-
hind; they will soon appear upon the
side of the majority and ask to be made
leaders of the victorious hosts.

A fearful responsibility now rests
upon the shoulders of every citizen of
the South. Political parties are to a
great extent broken up and disorgan-
ized and every individual now has to
advise himself without the aid of po-
litical leaders. Under these circum-
stances every man should be cautious
and prudent, but unwaveringly deter-
mined to do right and perform his
duty whatever that may be. Old party
names and distinctions should be
thrown to the dogs, and, actuated by
pure patriotism, all men should buckle
on their armour and volunteer to fight
for our unmistakable constitutional
rights and the permanent prosperity
of our most sacred institutions.

In these times of political excite-
ment there is danger that the people,
being exasperated, may be carried to
extremes; therefore be on your guard,
and "let all the ends thou aimest at be
thy country's, God's, and truth's." Bear
in mind that you are now at least com-
pletely untrammelled, and it is your
most imperative duty, with patriotic
zeal, boldly to contend for justice and
the rights of your section. Think not
too much of "choosing between evils,"
but rather make a determined choice
between right and wrong. "If the Lord
be God, serve Him, if Baal, serve him."

Views and Events Leading up to War

119

120

A History of Rome and Floyd County

The election of President of the
United States was to be held Tues-
day, Nov. 6, 1860. The tickets in
the field were Abraham Lincoln, of
Illinois, and Hannibal Hamlin, of
Maine, nominated by the Repub-
licans, or "Black Republicans," as
they were called at the South ;
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and
Herschel \'. Johnson, of Georgia,
put forward by the "Squatter Sov-
ereignty"* hosts ; Jno. C. Breckin-
ridge, of Kentucky, and Jos. Lane,
of Indiana (a native of Buncombe
County, N. C), running on the
American or "Know Nothing" plat-
form ; and John Bell,** of Tennes-
see, and Edward Everett, of Mass-
achusetts, representing the Consti-
tutional Union party.***

The Courier supported Bell and
Everett and carried Floyd County
for them ; the rival newspaper, the
Southern & Advertiser, backed
Breckinridge and Lane and got
them second place. Douglas and
Johnson were a poor third; they
split the Democratic vote of the
United States with Breckinridge
and Lane, else Lincoln might have
been defeated.

On Monday, Apr. 23, 1860, the
various factions held a national
convention at Charleston, S. C.
This proved to be a hot session for
the delegates; the disunionists
\vithdrew, and it was voted to ad-
journ the convention to Baltimore
Md., for June 18, 1860. Editor
Dwmell attended the Charleston
meeting, and sent back to his read-
ers some vivid accounts of the tur-
nioil and strife.

The Romans, always ready with
mass meetings and resolutions, met
Tuesday, May 3, 1860, to adopt a
policy. Here is an account of the
proceedings, as presented in The
Courier of two days later :

Democratic Meeting. — We publish
in another column the resolutions
adopted by the Democratic party of
Floyd County on last Tuesday. They
fully sustain the seceders from the

Charleston Convention and deal a
death blow to Squatter Sovereignty in
this county.

F. C. Shropshire, Esq., offered a
substitute, according honesty and pa-
triotic motives to the seceders, but re-
fusing to say whether they acted right
or wrong. Hon. J. H. Lumpkin re-
viewed the history of the party for
four years past; from the adoption of
the Cincinnati platform to the deser-
tion of Douglas ; from the rise of
Squatter Sovereignty to the adjourn-
ment of the Charleston Convention. He
gave a succinct, clear and correct re-
cital of the action of this body; the de-
termination of Judge Douglas' friends,
the enemies of the South, to force him
upon us, and repudiate the Constitu-
tional rights of the South so clearly
defined by the Supreme Court, and pre-
sented in the majority platform by
seventeen Democratic States — fifteen
of which were slave states. He showed
that no course was left for Southern
men who respected the rights and
equality of their section but to with-
draw from the Squatters.

Mr. Shropshire followed in support
of his resolutions. He exhorted Dem-
ocrats to harmonize. He told them
that the party had been pledged since
1847 to abide by the principles of non-
intervention by Congress with slavery
in any way, and they should be faithful
to their pledge, and stand by their
Northern friends who had stood by
them. He wound up with a most af-
fecting appeal. He assured them the
party would be ruined unless there was
a compromise; he begged his friends
opposed to him to yield a little — just a
little — and the great Democratic party
would once more unfurl its proud ban-
ner, etc., etc.

W. B. Terhune, Esq., made a few
pointed remai-ks in favor of the ma-
jority report; read the resolution
adopted by the December convention;
said the seceding delegates had acted
in accordance with the principles there-
in laid down and they should be sus-
tained by the party. He moved to lay
Mr. Shropshire's substitute on the ta-
ble, which was carried by an over-
whelming vote.

*According to Avery's History of Georgia,
p. 103, the "squatter sovereignty doctrine
claimed the right of territorial legislatures to
determine the question of slavery in the terri-
tories."

**As a member of Congress in 1835, Mr. Bell
was requested by John Ross to call for an in-
vestigation of the arrest of Ross and John
Howard Payne by the Georgia Guard.

***It appears from this line-up that a delib-
erate effort was made to split the vote of the
South and throw the plum to Lincoln.

Views and Events Leading up to War

121

The report of the committee was
then adopted with only four or five
dissenting voices.

We observed the same distinction
between the speeches of Messrs. Lump-
kin and Terhune on one side and Mr.
Shropshire on the other, which char-
acterized the debate in the Charleston
convention and the letters of distin-
guished Democrats in reply to the Ma-
con committee.

The two former spoke for principle,
for the Constitution and Southern
equality, while the latter spoke for
party and nothing but party.

Resolutions Adopted. — First. That
the protection of all the rights, both
of person and property of all citizens,
is the sole legitimate purpose for which
Grovernments are instituted.

Second. That the Federal Govern-
ment of the States of the Union is
bound, to the full extent of the powers
delegated to it by them, to protect all
citizens of all the states, in all
their rights of person and property,
everywhere, and more especially upon
the public domain, their common prop-
erty.

Third. That a large and increasing
majority of the people, under the
name of Black Republicans, of the
Eastern, Middle and Northwestern
States, are striving to get control of
the Federal Government, with the
avowed purpose of withholding this
protection from more than three thous-
and 7nillions of Southern property, and
of thus putting this property in a state
of outlawry, in a government which
derives from it more than two-thirds of
all its revenues.

Fourth. That, therefore, the demand
made by the Southern delegates to the
Charleston convention of a distinct
recognition of the equal right of South-
ern citizens and property to protection
by the Common Government, upo(n
common soil, was highly expedient,
reasonable and just.

Fifth. That the obstinate refusal of
the delegations from the sixteen States
now under the control of the Black
Republicans, to make this recognition,
demanded by the seventeen Democratic
States of the Union, and recognized
as just by many individual delegates
from all the States, gives painful evi-
rip.ric.e that a majority of those delegy
tions already sympathize with the
Black Republicans in their unrelenting
hostility to our Constitutional rights.

Sixth. That the withdrawal of a
large portion of the Southern delegates
from the convention upon this une-

quivocal manifestation of sectional
hostility to our rights was tvise, manly
and patriotic, and entitles them to the
thanks of the tvhole Southern people.

Seventh. That we will appear by our
delegates in the convention, to be' held
at Milledgeville, on the 4th day of June
next, to deliberate upon the course to
be pursued by the Democratic party of
Georgia, in the present condition of po-
litical affairs.

Eighth. That if a majority of that
convention shall deem it expedient that
Georgia should be represented at the
adjourned meeting of the Charleston
convention, to take place at Baltimore,
on the 18th of June next, we will con-
sent to it for the sake of harmony, but
upon the express condition that we will
not be bound by the action of that
body unless it shall give its assent in
sincerity of purpose and good faith to
the principles contended for by the
Democratic states at Charleston, and
give us in addition a sound candidate.

The lightning-rod salesman was
another "gentleman from the
North" for whom Floyd County
citizens kept peeled an eager eye.
The Courier of Aug. 30, 1860, stat-
ed that a correspondent of The Sa-
vannah News, writing under date
of Aug. 10 from the Steamship
Montgomery, declared a man on
board by the name of John Owens,
of Erie County, N. Y., who had been
putting up lightning rods in Geor-
gia and West Florida, had asserted
that John Brown died in a good
cause, and he (Owens) would be
\villing- to lay down his life for the
same ; also that he announced his
intention of returning to the South.

"Last year a man by the name
of Owens, selling patent lightning
rods, passed through this county
and met with considerable success,"
continued The Courier. "He had
much to say against abolitionists,
wdiich was a suspicious circum-
stance. Let us be on the watch for
him, and when he returns, have an
investigation, ^^'ill not The Savan-
na li News olitain from its corre-
spondent a description of John
Owens, in order that he may be
identified on his return?"

122

A History of Rome and Floyd County

MINIATURE PORTRAITS OF TWO 'OLD TIMERS."

Dr. and Mrs. Jno. Wesley Connor, the parents of Prof. W. O. Connor, of Cave Spring.
Mrs. Connor was Henrietta Mayson, of Ninety-Six, S. C. As a girl she met Gen. LaFayette,
who pronounced her the prettiest young lady he had seen in America. She lies buried in
the Cave Spring cemetery.

A "Lincoln defeat" was seen by
The Courier of Thursday, Sept. 1,
1860:

Lincoln's Defeat Certain. — Hereto-
fore we had little hope that the Black
Republican candidate could be defeat-
ed. With the opponents of that party
divided and belligerent we saw no pos-
sible chance to avoid the disgrace of a
Black Republican Administration. But
our fears have vanished, for the defeat
of Lincoln is now fixed.

The Rome Light Guards received
their caps by July 4, 1860, and by
Sept. 22, 1860, one of the l)rilliant
sample uniforms appeared. This
uniform was of blue cloth, scarlet
fimmings and gold buttons, and
made the boys of the other com-
panies extremely envious of the
wearers.

The desire of the political lead-
ers for the Cherokee Georgia vote
was emphasized in the autumn of
1860 by the appearance in Rome of
some of the "biggest guns" in the
state and section. No such an ar-

ray of orators has ever declaimed
against Rome's mountain slopes.

On Thursday, Sept. 20, 1860,
Wm. L. Yancey, of Alabama, whose
speeches did as much as any other
agency to stir the war spirit in
the South, spoke at Kingston, and
a large crowd of Romans went on
a Rome Railroad excursion to hear
him.

On Thursday, Sept. 27, 1860, Sen-
ator Alfred Iverson, of Columbus,
addressed a crowd at the City Hall.
Alexander H. Stephens sat on the
platform at this meeting, but de-
clined to make a speech. He spoke
on the day following at a barbecue
at Floyd Springs, after an intro-
duction by Judge Augustus R.
Wright.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 1860, Benj.
H. Hill spoke at Sloan, Berry &
Company's warehouse. On Mon-
day. Oct. 22, 1860, Mr. Hill spoke
again. On this latter occasion he
was proceeding to Cedartown to

Views and Events Leading up to War

123

assist in the defence of Col. J. J.
Morrison, charged before the Polk
Superior Court with kilHng Thos.
W. Chisohn on the day of the last
general election.

On Monday, Oct. 29, 1860, Steph-
en A. Douglas ("The Little Gen-
eral"), spoke for his presidential
ticket at Kingston, and was heard
by many from Rome.

The county was on the brink of
the war precipice, ready for a head-
long tumble in.

From the Tri-Weekly Courier
of Tuesday morning, Dec. 4, 1860,
we quote to illustrate the rising
war sentiment :

"Georgia's Only Hope of Safety Is in
Secession.'' — A large portion of this
paper is devoted to an extract from a
letter with the above heading. We
publish this instead of the speech of
Judge Benning, believing that it pre-
sents a clearer and stronger argument
in favor of secession than the speech
alluded to. In the statement of our
grievances the writer makes out a very,
very strong case and proves very con-
clusively — what we believe most peo-
ple are ready to admit — that Georgia
ought to resist abolition encroachmerits.

Our Legislature in calling the con-
vention state that fact and we have
heard no man deny it; and the appro-
priation of a million of dollars, which
everybody favors, confirms the pur-
pose of a firm, deterfuhied resistance
on the part of Georgia. Now, if we
admit what the writer's argument
seems to imply, viz: that the entire
North is irredeemably demoralized and
not at all worthy to be trusted, then
how is it that separate State action is
to be more effectual against them than
the united strength of all the parties
aggrieved by their hostility? We are
as much in favor of )-esista}ice as this
letter writer or any one else, but for
our life we can see no sense in each
one of the fifteen States that have been
aggrieved, setting up a separate and
independent viode of retaliation; nor
any propriety in separately running
heiter skelter from the common enemy.

As the matter now stands, the entire
South is arraigned in solid columns
against the North. There are fifteen
independent brigades on our side and
eighteen of the enemy. The enemy
have been practicing a garilla warfare
upon us until "forbearance has ceased

to be a virtue," and now along our en-
tire lines there is such a state of con-
sternation and excitement as was never
before witnessed in trying to deter-
mine "what shall be done." Two or
three brigades seem determined, re-
gardless of the action of the others, to
break ranks and retreat immediately.
Nearly every brigade has called a coun-
cil of war, while all are arming them-
selves for a fight.

What say you, men of the Georgia
brigade? Will you retreat at once, and
without even consulting the other brig-
ades of this great army — those that
have protected your right and left
wings, that have been your "front
guard and rear ward" during a cam-
paign of 84 years? Most surely you
will not. The generous bravery that
swells the bosoms of Georgia's noble
sons would not allow them to be
treacherous to an enemy; then how
niuch less to true and long tried
friends.

This vexed slavery question must
and will be speedily settled, in some
way or another. But whatever is done,
let us not have a divided South. "A
house divided against itself cannot
stand."

Floyd County Meeting. — The follow-
ing are the resolutions passed in the

i^H>^

HISHOP THOMAS FIEI.DINC SCOTT, of Ma-
rietta, who was the leadinK light in the es-
tablishment of St. Peter's Episcopal church.

124

A History of Rome and Floyd County

meeting of citizens at the City Hall,
on Monday the 3rd instant:

Resolved, That the time has arrived
when it becomes the duty of every
friend of Georgia to discard partizan
feelings and purposes, and unite in an
earnest effort to maintain her rights,
secure her liberties, and vindicate her
honor.

Resolved, That this Union of South-
ern heads and hearts being an indis-
pensable pre-requisite to efficient ac-
tion, v^^e pledge ourselves to do every-
thing in our povi^er to promote, estab-
lish and maintain it.

Resolved, That we recognize the
clearly expressed will of a majority of
the people of Floyd county as the rule
of action, binding upon their represen-
tatives, in any convention of the peo-
ple of Georgia.

Resolved, That we hereby request
our Senator and Representatives in the
General Assembly of this State' to pro-
cure the following demands by said
General Assembly to be made by joint
resolutions or otherwise, upon the Nor-
thern States, viz:

First. To repeal all personal liberty
bills and other Legislative enactments
to defeat the rendition of fugitive
slaves.

Second. The enactment in lieu there-
of of "efficient laws to facilitate such
recovery in accordance with their plain
constitutional obligations."

Third. The prompt and faithful sur-
render of all fugitives from justice and
violators of the laws of the slavehold-
ing states.

Fourth. The immediate release of all
Southern citizens unjustly imprisoned
for seeking to recover their fugitive
slaves.

Fifth. A distinct acknowledgement
and faithful observance of the right of

Southern citizens to settle with their
negro property in any territory of the
United States, and there hold it like all
other property under the protection of
just laws faithfully administered so
long as the territorial condition shall
last.

Sixth. The repeal of all laws giving
to free negroes the privilege of voting
for members of Congress or for Elec-
tors of President and Vice-President
of the United States.

Seventh. The co-operation of the Sen-
ators and Representatives of said
State in the Congress of the United
States in procuring the repeal of a
pretended law to prevent the slave
trade in the District of Columbia.

Resolved, That in the event the
states upon which these just and rea-
sonable demands shall be made by the
Legislative Assembly in the name, and
on the behalf of the people of Georgia,
shall give unmistakable evidence of a
determination to accede to them, in
good faith, by or before the 16th of
January next, Georgia shall abide in
the Union, otherwise secession is the
only adequate remedy left her for the
maintenance of her interests, rights,
liberties and honor.

Resolved, That this Assembly will
now proceed to select by general ballot
three candidates to represent the peo-
ple of Floyd County in a general con-
vention of the people of Georgia to be
convened at Milledgeville on Wednes-
day, the 16th of January next.*

The above resolutions, we are in-
formed, were unanimously adopted. In
accoi'dance with the last, the following
gentlemen were nominated, viz: Col.
Simpson Fouche, Col. James Word and
F. C. Shropshire, Esq.

*It was at this convention that Georgia se-
ceded from, the Union.

CHAPTER VII.
Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities

HIC following" accounts from
The Courier set forth elo-
quently the final act pre-
ceding the war drama of
1861-5. They were written partly
by Mr. Dwinell, wdio had just re-
turned to the editorial sanctum
after a vacation at East Poultney,
Vt., and partly by his brilliant as-
sociate, George Trippe Stovall ;
and they are arranged chronolog-
ically as an aid to the reader. Mr.
Lincoln was elected Tuesday, Nov,
6, I860.'

It has been suggrested that the 11
O'clock service on Sunday, the 4th of
November next be devoted to repent-
ance, humiliation, and prayer to Al-
mighty God, in all the churches of the
land — that the country may be deliver-
ed from the terrible crisis which
threatens us, and that peace and har-
mony may be restored to all sections.—
Oct. 27, 1860.

A Final Appeal. — Before the next
issue of The Weekly Courier will be
printed, the die will be cast, and the
fate of this Union, it may be, will be
doomed forever. All our efforts for a
fusion in Georgia have failed, and now
there is no patriotic course left for
Union men but to concentrate their
strength, so far as they possibly can,
upon the best Union candidate that is
offered for their suffrages. Is there
any doubt but that this man is John
Bell of Tennessee?

Surely no candid and reasonable
man will allow himself to be deceived
by the numerous false and ridiculous
charges as to Mr . Bell's soundness
upon the slavery question. He is a
Southern man, and a large slave hold-
er, and a calm and impartial study of
his true record, while it shows him to
be a man of moderate and discreet
counsel, it demonstrates that upon the
question of slavery and Southern in-
terests he is unquestionably safe,
sound, firm and reliable.

We appeal to Democrats, why can-
not you vote for John Bell? We a.sk
you to support him not as a Whig, a
Know Nothing, nor as a representa-
tive of any of the old defunct parties,

but as a Constitutional man and a pa-
triot. "The Union, the Constitution
and the Enforcement of the Laws," is
the motto inscribed upon his banner.
Apart from his record it is his only
platform. And what more do you de-
sire than this? We know that politi-
cians try to ridicule and have sought
to throw contempt upon this platform.
But does it not contain all the South
has ever asked or desired? Such were
the principles on which the early Pres-
idents of the Republic were elected.
They had no long-winded platforms to
gull and to deceive the people. Why
should we want them? For 50 years
the Government was administered with-
out platforms, and all portions of the
country were harmonious and happy.
On the contrary, since the adoption of
platforms by party conventions, sec-
tional animosities have continually
harrassed the people, thousands of
demagogues have sprung up like mush-
rooms upon the body politic, the peace
of the country is destroyed, and 30,-
000,000 of people stand today trembling
in view of the impending crisis which
hangs like a muttering storm cloud
above them, threatening to pour out
upon the country at any moment all
the appalling horrors of civil war,
bloodshed and ruin!

This is no false picture, but an
alarming reality. Lincoln may, and
probably will, be elected, and in tliree
ueeks from today, little as you now
think it, we will probably witness the
outburst of the smouldering flames of
one of the most awful civil conflagra-
tions which the world has ever seen!

Voters of Georgia, Look to Yo2(r hi'
terest. — On next Tuesday, November
6th, by far the most important elec-
tion since the organization of our gov-
ernment is to take place. In former
strifes party success was the stake con-
tended for; but now the very existence
of the (jovernment is in jeopardy. The
question as to how a man shall vote,
always important, is now freighted
with fearful responsil)ility. Every
man should bring the question serious-
ly home to himself and vote from his
own conscientious convictions of duty,
just as if he knew the fate of this Re-
public depended on his individual ac-
tion.

The success or defeat of the Union
ticket, will — if civil war should hinge

126

A History of Rome and Floyd County

upon this fact, as it may — make a dif-
ference of at least 20 per cent in the
value of all kinds of property througrh-
out the country. A man then worth
$1,000 has at stake a pecuniary inter-
est of $200; if worth $10,000 he risks
$2,000. If a man is largely in debt he
will be utterly ruined; for, after the
depression of property he cannot pos-
sibly pay out. A laboring man will
find his wages reduced from a dollar
and a half a day to one dollar, and the
chances for getting work at all will
be greatly reduced.

It may be said that pecuniary con-
siderations are beneath the notice of
patriots. This may be true or it may not.
Interest should not be weighed against
principle. But that is not the case
now. We now have principle, patriot-
ism and interest all on one side of the
scales and on the other side, party ism,
sectional strifes and animosities, and it
may be civil war itself. No reasona-
ble man in his senses has a shadow
of a doubt but that John Bell, if elect-
ed, would restore peace and harmony
to the country by giving their consti-
tutional rights to all sections; and this
is all the South wants, or has ever
asked for. It is almost certain that
three-fourths of the Southern States
will cast their votes for this noble pa-
triot and pure statesman. Georgia can
be carried the same way. Union men
of Cherokee Georgia, what say you? In
other sections of the State our friends
ai-e striving earnestly and hopefully.
Let us faithfully perform our duty and
all may yet be well.

Judge Doufjlas at Kingston. — On last
Monday a large crowd, probably 3,000
men, assembled to hear the celebrated
"Little Giant" upon the political issues
of the day. The very crowded state of
our columns today prohibits any ex-
tended notice of his speech. We be-
lieve all parties were well pleased with
the entertainment as an exhibition of
popular oratory, were deeply impressed
with the greatness of the man, and de-
lighted at the beauty of his wife, who
accompanies him in his Southern tour.

The distinction between Squatter
and Popular Sovereignty, the latter of
which only he advocates, he made very
clear. His whole argument sustaining
his peculiar doctrines was, to say the
least, very ingenious and plausible,
and in many respects unanswerable.
Douglas' speeches are everywhere es-
sentially the same, and those who
would know his position should read
them in full.— Thursday, Nov. 1, 1860.

Let Not Rash Councils Prevail. — If
the election that takes place today re-
sults in the choice of Abraham Lincoln,
of Illinois, for President for the next
four years, there will then rest upon
the shoulders of every individual citi-
zen duties of fearful magnitude and
vital importance, both to himself and
the commonwealth. There will, in that
event, doubtless be a diversity of opin-
ion as to what the South ought to do.|
and every good citizen should calmly
and coolly investigate the whole subject
and decide for himself the proper
course of action. There will be no
need for hairbrained demagogues to
be attempting to "fire the Southern
heart." The chivalrous and patriotic
citizens of the South are not stupid
dolts that have to be "fired" up to a
realizing sense of their own rights,
honor or interests. The people need
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
hut the truth, in order to arouse them
to any reasonable course of conduct.

The people should beware of rash
counsels, and not suffer themselves to
be inveigled into the support of im-
practical and foolish movements, or
"precipitated" into a revolution. If
revolution must come, let us go into it
deliberately, with clear heads and
steady nerves, and because we know it
to be our patriotic duty to do so. But
if Lincoln should be elected, he will not
have so much power as some people
suppose, and it is reported that he is
already tremendously frightened lest
he should he elected!— Nov. 6, 1860.

Fo)- Tax Receiver. — We are request-
ed to announce the name of H. P.
Lumpkin as candidate for Tax Re-
ceiver of Floyd County at the ensuing
January election.

For Solicitor General. — We are au-
thorized to announce the name of M.
Kendrick, of Newnan, Coweta county,
as a candidate for the office of Solic-
itor General of the Tallapoosa circuit.
Election first Wednesday in January
next.

H. A. Gartrell, Esq.— Mr. Editor:
Please allow us to announce the above
named gentleman as a candidate for
Solicitor General of the Tallapoosa
Circuit. MANY VOTERS.

Rome Market Nov. 7. — Cotton is a
little dull — 10 VL' cts. may now be con-
sidered the top of the market.

Unofficial Vote of Floyd Co.— The
following statement, though not offi-
cial, will probably not vary more than
two or three votes from the exact re-
sult:

Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostitities

127

128

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Precincts. Bell. Breck. Doug.

Rome 462 360 160

N. Carolina 55 66 21

Barker's 15 41 6

Livingston 26 50

Flat Woods 22 8 5

Cave Spring 64 60 34

Wolf Skin 63 60 34

Watters 70 39 6

Chulio 51 22 10

Dirt Town 4 35 13

Etowah 18 1

Total 848 756 286

We have compared the above with
the official vote and find it accurate.

A Card. — Mr. Editor: I desire
through the city papers to return my
sincere thanks to the merchants for
refusing to sell spirituous liquors on
the day of the election, but more espe-
cially to those gentlemen engaged in
the retail business. They closed their
doors and did no business whatever. It
was asking a great deal of all, it being
a public day and a good one for that
trade, but they made the promise and
adhered to it with fidelity. To them
we are mainly indebted for the peace,
quiet and good order that prevailed
throughout the entire day. Respect-
fully. H. A. GARTRELL,

Mayor City of Rome.

Polk County. — A gentleman who left
Polk County on Wednesday morning
informs us that all the precincts but
two had been heard from, and Bell was
66 votes ahead of Breckinridge. Doug-
las' vote would probably be 100.

Chattooga County. — Sufficient re-
turns have been received to make it
certain that Bell will carry this county
by a large plurality, probably 100 or
more.

Delegates. — F. C. Shropshire, Z. B.
Hargrove and M. Dwinell have been
appointed to represent the Rome
"Light Guards" in the Military Con-
vention to be held in Milledgeville on
next Monday.

The Evd. — The contest is over and it
may be that the destiny of this gov-
ernment is sealed. It now becomes us
to hope for the best, but at the same
time be making preparations for the
worst. We do not wish to intimate
that it is necessary to be organizing
military companies, or enrolling minute
men in case Lincoln is elected, with the
expectation of immediately fighting
our Northern enemies; but our prepa-
rations should be constitutional and
latvful in their character with a deep
and unswerving determination to

maintain our rights in the Union if
possible, out of it if we must. The
course pursued by the South should be
firm and determined, but so clearly
right and unavoidable for the main-
tenance of her honor and essential in-
terests that there shall be no division
among her own people, but that all as
one great harmonious whole shall in
thunder tones demand not only of the
North but of the entire civilized world
a recognition of her clearly defined and
unmistakable rights.

While no spirit of base submission
should be encouraged or even tolerated,
yet at the same time any course of
rash or precipitating conduct would be
equally reprehensible and injurious to
the prospects of our section. There
are many men in the South who have
for a long time believed that our sa-
cred rights and untarnished honor
cannot be maintained in the Union;
and that it is both the interest and
duty of the South to effect a separation
as soon as possible. Many of these
men are among our most wealthy, tal-
ented and most highly respected citi-
zens, and they are as conscientious in
their convictions of duty as any class
of men in the country.

This class of persons, however, we
believe is comparatively small and that
the great mass of the people still cling
to the Union, firmly believing that the
Constitution will be enforced and the
rights of the South maintained. This
being the case and it being well knovim
to all that these differences exist, it be-
comes the representatives of each of
these classes of opinions to be courte-
ous and kind to the other and studi-
ously avoid anything like crimination
or the impugning of their motives. No
class can rightfully arrogate to them-
selves all the patriotism or chivalry or
that they are more ready to make per-
sonal sacrifice upon the altar of our
section than others who do not agree
with them as to the best plan of se-
curing the greatest permanent good
of us all.

We have said this much to be, per-
haps, of service in case that Lincoln is
elected, because, if that is the case, we
desire above all things to see a united
South, and that the deliberations of
our section should be characterized by
high-toned statesmanship that may re-
sult in cool deliberations and harmo-
nious action.*

As it Should Be. — The election in this
place passed off as quietly and peace-

*This editorial and others like it caused Geo.
T. Stovall to resign as associate editor of The
Courier and buy the Southerner and Advertiser.

Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities

129

ably and with as much good nature as
possible. Every grocery was closed,
and we did not hear of an angry quar-
rel or see a drunken man in Rome on
that day. Many men were much ex-
cited but their deep interest was ex-
hibited rather by their calm but firm
determination than by noisy outbursts
and senseless criminations of their op-
ponents. The beautiful quiet that pre-
vailed in our city was indeed a fact to
be proud of, and we most sincerely hope
that the same good sense and high ap-
preciation of dignity and decorum will
always prevail on similar occasions.

There were nine hundred and eighty-
two votes polled at this precinct, which
is nearly two hundred more than at
any previous election. — Nov. 8, 1860.

To Whom it Concerns. — All indebted
to us must pay immediately or be sued.
JONES *& SCOTT.

The Vote in Ga. — Of the 44 counties
heard from, the vote stands: For Bell,
20,483; for Breckinridge, 18,863, and
for Douglas, 6,918.

The Presbyterian Sabbath School
will hold its anniversary next Sabbath
afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Presby-
terian church. Exercises — short ad-
dress and singing. All are respect-
fully invited to attend.

Gordon Co. Vote.—BeW, 481; Breck.,
874; Doug., 97.

( Communicated. )

Notice.- — All men, without distinc-
tion of party, who are opposed to Abo-
lition domination, and in favor of re-
sisting the same in such manner as the
sovereignty of Georgia may order and
direct, are requested to meet at the
City Hall in Rome on Monday, the 12th
inst., at 2 o'clock to consider what
course interest, duty and patriotism
require them to pursue as good citizens
and triie Soiithemers.

We are requested to publish the fol-
lowing ticket for Mayor and Council-
men :

FOR MAYOR

DR. T. J. WORD

FOR COUNCILMEN

First Ward

FRANK AYER

J. C. PEMBERTON

Second Ward

O. B. EVE
A. J. PITNER

Third Ward

WM. RAMEY

JOHN R. FREEMAN

The Die Is Cast. — The great strug-
gle is over and our worst fears are re-
alized. Abraham Lincoln, the sectional
candidate, who was nominated and
supported to a large extent because of
his hostility to the institutions of the
South, has been elected by a fair ma-
jority. The present indications are
that he will surely get 158 votes, and
possibly 169, whereas 152 would elect
him.

And now this state of circumstances,
for which the great mass of the people
are almost entirely unprepared, sud-
denly bursts upon them, and demands
at their hands an immediate solution
of a most difficult political problem
and one that will probably forever fix
the destiny of all this fair land of
ours. The idea of Lincoln's election
has been frequently talked about, it is
true, but it has always seemed to be
at vague distance with its hideous de-
formities, and has rather existed as a
creature of the imagination than as
one that could possibly have a reali-
zation in the practical working of our
Government.

But hard as it may be to appreciate
the hateful truth, yet it is a fact, and
with unmistakable sternness it stares
us in the face. The issue is upon us
and we have got to meet it. Every
man in Georgia has got a solemn duty
to perform and it is one that by its im-
mense magnitude makes small all the
other acts of his life. What shall be
done? is now the question of awful im-
port that hangs upon the mind of every
thoughtful man. Various plans for
relief have already been proposed and
they each have their advocates who ap-
ply themselves with zeal and earn-
estness. Discussion is altogether right
and proper, and is probably the most
effectual method of bringing out the
truth and correct principles. But there
is one thing that should always actu-
ate men in the discussion of any sub-
ject if they would be profited — that
they should be as willing to receive
truth as to impart it. Our relations
to the general government are very
complicated and few men can at a
glance take in all its various bearings
and dependencies and it may be that a
course of conduct supposed to be ad-
mirably adapted to our present exi-
gencies would be proved to be entirely
impractical because of the want of
some necessary element that had been
overlooked. Let us then not be rash
or inconsiderate, but calm, cool and
deliberate and in a free and friendly
manner counsel with one another in
regard to these momentous questions.

130

A History of Rome and Floyd County

The recommendation that has al-
ready been made, that a State Con-
vention should be called immediately,
we most fully approve and hope the
Legislature will at once issue a call
for delegates from every county. We
would suggest the number of delegates
be the same as the number of Senators
and Representatives in the Legislature.
Let such men as Joseph Henry Lump-
kin, Chas. J. McDonald, Alex H. Ste-
phens, Wm. Law, Robt. Toombs, Her-
schel V. Johnson, Hines Holt, Hiram
Warner and others of experience and
wisdom compose this Convention and
the people vdll be almost sure to rat-
ify their action, whatever it may be.

Things He Can't Do. — Bad as he
may be to our institutions, there are
many important things Lincoln can-
not do. As the Congress now stands,
there is a majority of eight against
him in the Senate, and, if the recent
telegraph reports are correct, 23 in
the House. It will be remembered that
all the appointments of Cabinet offi-
cers, Ministers to foreign courts, Con-
suls, Custom House officers, and all
other offices of any considerable trust
or profit in the United States have to
be filled "by and with the advice of the
Senate." The President recommends
men for all these various places, but
their appointment is not complete until
confirmed by the Senate.

The Black Republicans will not be
able, of their own strength, to carry a
single bill through either House of the
next Congress and it is thought by
some that in less than a year, even if
Lincoln should be allowed to go on
with his administration, that his party
would be torn to pieces by its own in-
herent fanaticism and corruptions. But
yet it may be better to secede than
to suffer the disgrace of a Black Re-
publican rule. If Georgia so decides in
her sovereign capacity we shall go with
her, heart and soul.— Nov. 10, 1860.

Mr. Dwinell: — Please announce the
following as the People's Ticket for
Mayor and Aldermen for the ensuing
year, and oblige,

MANY VOTERS.

FOR MAYOR

Z. B. HARGROVE

FOR COUNCILMEN

First Wa7-d

N. J. OMBERG

J. W. WOFFORD

Second Ward

O. B. EVE

JOHN NOBLE

Third Ward

A. W. CALDWELL*

A. R. HARPER

FOR MAYOR**

DR. T. J. WORD

FOR COLNCILMEN

First Ward

W. F. AYER

N. J. OMBERG

Second Ward

J. H. M'CLUNG

C. H. SMITH

Third Ward

A. W. CALDWELL

J. G. YEISER

—Nov. 13, 1860.

(From the Rome Southerner.)

Meeting of the Citizens of Floyd
County. — Below we publish resolutions
and preamble passed at the citizens'
meeting held in Rome on Monday, the
12th inst.

The attendance was large and very
general from all parts of the county.
We believe every district in the coun-
ty was represented. We never saw
resolutions pass more unanimously or
more enthusiastically. To some of the
resolutions there was one or two dis-
senting voices. Most of them, however,
passed unanimously. We were sorry
to see even a single person in that
large assembly who withheld his as-
sent. If there ever was a time when
the people of the South should be unit-
ed, now is the time. If the Southern
States, as one man, or even one or two
of them, will show unanimity of senti-
ment in opposition to Black Republi-
can rule, and even if they withdraw
from the Union as the last alternative,
no gun of coercion will ever be fired
by any power upon the face of the
earth. Horace Greeley has already said
in his paper, the N. Y. Tribune, that if
any of the Southern States leave the
Union by a vote of her people, he is
in favor of letting her alone!

Every man in the land, old and
young, great and small, rich and poor,
is interested in this question. Think
of it. And if you can't go with your
section, for Heaven's sake, and for the
sake of your country, don't go against
it! '

The resolutions:

Whereas, the abolition sentiment of
the Northern States, first openly man-
ifested in 1820, has, for the last 40
years, steadily and rapidly increased

*Jno. M. Quinn was later substituted.
•*Dr. Word was elected.

Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities

131

in volume and in intensity of hostility
to the form of society existing in the
Southern States, and to the rights of
these States as equal, independent and
sovereign members of the Union ; has
led to long-continued and ever-increas-
ing abuse and hatred of the Southern
people; to ceaseless v^ar upon their
plainest Constitutional rights; to an
open and shameless nullification of that
provision of the Constitution intended
to secure the rendition of fugitive
slaves; and of the laws of Congress to
give it effect; has led many of our peo-
ple who sought to avail themselves of
their rights under these provisions of
the laws and the Constitution, to en-
counter fines, imprisonment and death;
has prompted the armed invasion of
Southern soil, by stealth, amidst the
sacred repose of a Sabbath night, for
the diabolical purpose of inaugurating
a ruthless war of the blacks against
the whites throughout the Southern
States ; has prompted large masses of
Northern people openly to sympathize
with the treacherous and traitorous
invaders of our country, and elevate
the leaders of a band of mid-night as-
sassins and robbers, himself an assas-
sin and a robber, to the rank of a
hero and a martyr; has sent far
and wide over our section of the Un-
ion its vile emissaries to instigate the
slaves to destroy our property, burn
our towns, devastate our country, and
spread distrust, dismay and death by
poison, among our people; has disrupt-
ed the churches, and destroyed all na-
tional parties, and has now fully or-
ganized a party confined to a hostile
section, and composed even there of
those only who have encouraged, sym-
pathized with, instigated or perpetrat-
ed this long series of insults, outrages
and wrongs, for the avowed purpose of
making a common government, armed
by us with power only for our protec-
tion, an instrument in the hands of
enemies for our destruction.

Therefore, we, a portion of the peo-
ple of Floyd County, regardless of all
past differences, and looking above and
beyond all mere party ends to the
good of our native South, do hereby
publish and declare:

First. That Georgia is, and of right
ought to be, a free, sovereign and in-
dependent State.

Second. That she came into the Un-
ion with the other states as a sover-
eignty, and by virtue of that sover-
eignty, has the right to secede when-
ever, in her sovereign capacity, she
shall judge such a step necessary.

Third. That in our opinion, she
ought not to submit to the inaugura-
tion of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal
Hamlin, as her President and Vice-
President, but should leave them to
rule over those by whom alone they
were elected.

Fourth. That we request the Legis-
lature to announce this opinion by res-
olution, at the earliest practicable mo-
ment, and to communicate it to our
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress, and to co-operate with the Gov-
ernor in calling a Convention of the
people to determine on the mode and
measure of redress.

Fifth. That we respectfully recom-
mend to the Legislature to take into
their immediate consideration the pas-
sage of such laws as will be likely to
alleviate any unusual embarrassment
of the commercial interests of the
State consequent upon the present po-
litical emergency.

Sixth. That we respectfully suggest
to the Legislature to take immediate
steps to organize and arm foi-ces of the
State.

Seventh. That copies of the forego-
ing resolutions be sent without delay
to our Senators and Representatives
in the General Assembly of the State,
who are hereby requested to lay them
before the House of which they are
respectively members.

Obstructions in the Streets. — If it is
not the duty of the City Marshall, it
ovght to be, to see that the rubbish
about new buildings, old boxes about
the stores, and wood piles everywhere
in the streets, should not be left to
discommode the public, but should be
removed in a reasonable time. There
are a lot of old casks in front of Mor-
rison & Logan's stable that ought to
have been removed long ago, and there
seems to be unnecessary delay in re-
nioving fragments and other obstruc-
tions on the sidewalks about several
new buildings on Broad Street.

Good Gnns. — The arms for the "Rome
Light Guards" were received on last
Saturday. The guns are the Minie
Rifle, that has, we believe, the highest
reputation as an efficient weapon in
actual service of any gun that has been
tried. Only fifty guns are received,
and if there are men in this commu-
nity who desire to join the company
they will do well to make early appli-
cation. The company now numbers
45, and is, in every way, in a prosper-
ous condition. — Nov. 24, 1860.

132

A History of Rome and Floyd County

On Jan. 16, 1861, the Georgia
counties sent delegates to tlie fa-
mous secession convention at Mil-
ledgeville. On Jan. 18, Judge Eu-
genius A. Nisbet, of Macon, intro-
duced a resolution calling for the
appointment of a committee to re-
port an ordinance of secession. This
brought on a fight and a test of
strength between the union and
disunion factions. The resolution
passed by a vote of 166 to 130.* At
2 p. m., Jan. 19, 1861, the secession
ordinance was passed by a vote of
208 to 89, 44 anti-secessionists vot-
ing for the measure to give it force,
and realizing that further resist-
ance was useless. On this ballot
Benj. H. Hill voted for secession,
Ijut Alexander H. Stephens and his
brother, Judge Linton Stephens,
Herschel V. Johnson, Gen. W. T.
Wofford, Hiram Warner and oth-
er leaders opposed it.

South Carolina had seceded Dec.
20, 1860; Mississippi Jan. 9, 1861;

JUDGE JAMKS M. SPULLOCK. ,,nc,. mijhi--
intendent of the W. & A. railroad and a
power in North Georgia politics.

Alabama and Florida Jan. 11, 1861.
Consequently, it was felt that
Georgia's action would either split
or cement the South. The forensic
giants were there — a galaxy never
seen before or since. Col. Isaac W.
Avery gives us in his History of
Georgia (ps. 149-50) a correct
])icture of the scene, and incidental-
ly, emphasizes the opposition to
secession among the more con-
servative t3'pe of citizens :

The eyes of the whole Union were
upon this most august body. There
was an interest in its deliberations
that was both profound and wide-
spread. It was felt to be the turning
point of the real commencement of the
revolution. If staid, self-poised, delib-
erate, powerful Georgia held back from
the woi"k of disintegration, it would
have been such a substantial check to
the destructive movement as would
have done much to stop it. Georgia's
co-operation rendered the revolution,
sure. The Federal administration
looked anxiously to our State as the
crucial agency of the agitation. The
people of the North focalized their at-
tention upon this arbiter of an impend-
ing and incalculable convulsion.

It was known that a majority of the
people favored secession, but the mi-
nority in favor of co-operation and de-
lay was a very large and powerful
body of public sentiment, ably and pa-
triotically headed. The vote taken in
the election for members of the con-
vention showed an aggregate of 50,243
for secession and 37,123 against, giv-
ing a majority of only 13,120 for im-
mediate disunion, out of 87,366. This
was a much smaller majority than Gov.
Brown had obtained in his last elec-
tion.

In many counties the anti-secession-
ists had heavy majorities. Such strong
counties as Baldwin, Floyd, DeKalb,
Cass, Franklin, Gordon, Gwinnett,
Lumpkin, Murray, Walker, Walton
and others went some of them over-
whelmingly against disunion. In many
counties it was the closest sort of a
shave, giving either way only a vote
or two. The most one-sided secession
county in the whole state was Cobb,
Vv'hich gave 1,035 votes for and only
7 against disunion. Chatham was also
nearly unanimous for secession. In a
very few counties no opposition can-
didate to secession was run. In Tal-

♦Avery's History of Georgia, p. 153.

Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities

iaferro and Tatnall no secession can-
didate was put up.

These figures will show how much
the people were divided on this issue,
and yet, in the crazy fever of the war
excitement and the more noisy demon-
strations of the secession champions,
the opposition was almost unheard and
absolutely impotent. A few brave
spirits spoke out fearlessly, and cour-
ageously endeavored to stem the rush-
ing and turbulent tide of disunion.
But the generality of conservative men,
feeling powerless to do anything, and
unwilling to incur a certain odium that
clung to men alleged to be lukewarm
or opposed to Southern interests, went
quietly along simply voting in the op-
position.

The secession convention was the
ablest body ever convened in Georgia.
Its membership included nearly every
leading public man in the State, the
leaders of all parties and shades of
political opinion.

As for Georgia's contribution in
men to the Confederate cause, Col.
Avery's history (p. 267) states :

The Second Auditor at Richmond
published the following statement of
soldiers' deaths to Dec. 31, 1863: Geor-
gia, 9,504; Alabama, 8,987; North
Carolina, 8,261; Texas, 6,377; Vir-
ginia, 5,943; Mississippi, 5,367; South
Carolina, 4,-511; Louisiana, 3,039; Ten-
nessee, 2,849; Arkansas, 1,948; Flor-
ida, 1,119.

It was an old custom in Geor-
g-ia to illuminate houses brightly
at night on the receipt of good
news of a national or sectional na-
ture. Consequently, the houses of
Rome were Ht up, guns discharged
and the church bells rung merrily.
A few Northern families compro-
mised by lighting their candles,
and Mrs. Robt. Battey was said
to have been the only Southerner
whose house was dark. Gen. Brax-
ton Bragg soon passed through
Rome on a tour of inspection, and
meeting Mrs. Battey on Broad
Street, said : "I understand Mrs.
Battey is a Union woman."

"So I am, General," she re]:)lied
promptly. "I believe in fighting
this war under the United States
flag. Southerners were largely in-
strumental in foundino- our Gov-

ernment, and if anybody must get
out of it, I say let not the first oc-
cupants be the ones to go !"

"You are not far from right, Mrs.
I)attey," observed Gen. Bragg as
he hurried on about his business.

There were many such incidents,
and they showed the inherent in-
dependence of thought and action
of Georgians and the State of Geor-
gia — an independence that has al-
ways enabled Georgia to assume
the initiative among her sister
states, and to occupy a conspicu-
ous and respectable position in the
forum of the nation. Georgians
can always be depended upon to
fight among themselves (like Bill
Arp's Romans — old man Laub and
his wife and family), and to get
together at a moment's notice to
repel any foreign foe, such as In-
dians, Yankees, Spaniards, Ger-
mans or what not.

During three terms, covering the
Civil War, Gov. Jos. E. Brown, one

MRS. .lAMK.S .M. SrUl.LUCK, who assisted
her husband in the entertainment of some of
the most noted men in Georgia.

134

A History of Rome and Floyd County

of the most ])ci)i)ery "Rebels" on
earth, occupied the gubernatorial
throne.

"Cherokee" or Northwest Geor-
gia had not long before staged a
miniature war with the Indians,
and it is significant that the dele-
gates from the 21 counties in the
Cherokee nation voted 35 against
secession to 14 in favor, or 2%
votes to one :*
County. Yes. No.

Cass 3

Catoosa 1 1

Chattooga 2

Cherokee 3

Dade 2

Dawson 2

Fannin 1 1

Floyd 3

Forsyth 1 1

Gilmer 2

Gordon 2 1

Hall 3

Lumpkin 2

Milton - 2

Murray 2

Pickens 2

Polk 1 1

Union 2

Walker 3

White 1 1

Whitfield 1 2

14 35

It will be noticed by the above
table that Floyd and her neigh-
boring counties of Cass, Chattooga
Gordon, Polk and Walker voted
six for and ten against. The dele-
gates and the way they voted are
given below :

Cass— W. T. Wofford, No; H. F.
Price, No; Turner H. Trippe, No.

Chattooga — Wesley Shropshire, No;
L. Williams, No.

Floyd — Col. James Word, Yes; Col.
Simpson Fouche, Yes; Frank C. Shrop-
shire, Yes.

Grordon — Wm. H. Dabney, Yes; Jas.
Freeman, No; R. M. Young, Yes.

Polk— W. E. West, Yes; T. W. Du-
pree. No.

Walker— G. G. Gordon, No; R. B.
Dickerson, No; T. A. Sharpe, No.

A lively glimpse of the inaugu-
ration of Jefferson Davis as presi-
dent and Alexander H. Stephens
a'j vice-president of the Confeder-
acy was given by Judge Augustus
R. Wright, one of the organizers
of the Government, in a letter of
F'^b. 21, 1861 from Montgomery,
Ala., to his daughter, Mrs. Mary
Wright Shropshire, of Rome :

My Dear Daughter: — We had a gay
time at the President's inauguration.
The President and Vice-President rode
in a most superb carriage, glittering
all over with silver and drawn by six
iron gray horses driven by two coach-
men on the same seat. They** were
fiery and impatient and beautifully
caparisoned. The military companies
with full bands preceded the several
committees in fine carriages, and then
followed the crowd.

The Zouaves performed most won-
derfully their new military exercise of
vaulting, lying down and firing, falling
on their backs and loading, and divers
other most wonderful gymnastics.

The oath taken by the President in
the presence of that vast concourse
was most solemn. When Mr. Cobb,
who administered the oath, said, "So
help me God," the President lifted his
face to Heaven in the most solemn
and energetic manner and said, "So
help me God!" The band then played
the Marseillaise hymn, after which the
vast crowd gave three cheers for "Jeff
Davis and Alexander Stephens," and
began to disperse.

"Sic transit gloria mundi!" How
the mind turns from those pageants
and panoplies of war to that peaceful
reign of our King "when the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary
are at rest."

Affectionately your father,

AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT.

*Georgia"s Landmarks, Memorials and Leg-
ends, Vol. II, ps. 567-570.
**The horses.

PART III

THE CIVIL ^ArAR PERIOD
1861-1865

CHAPTER I.
Opening of the Civil War^First Manassas

T IS memifestly impossible
in a work of this size to
present more than a
gHmpse here and there of
the wartime activities of Floyd's
military companies and life of the
people at home. All that can be
done is to hit the "high spots" and
trust that a historian will come
along some day who will devote
to the period an entire book.

The principal events of the 1861-
65 ])eriod herein treated are the
First Battle of Manassas (Va.),
July 21, 1861 ; the chase Apr. 12,
1862, after the Confederate engine
General, in w'hich a Rome locomo-
tive was used at Kingston ; the
capture of Streight's Federal raid-
ers Sunday, May 3, 1863, by an in-
ferior force under command of
Gen. Forrest ; and the defense and
occupation of Rome May 18, 1864,
by Gen. vSherman.

Rome itself was a concentration
point for recruits from Northwest
Georgia. Broad Street was a drill
and parade ground. The newspa-
pers and the churches were used to
inflame the war spirit, and we
have it on the authority of Hilliard
Horry Wimpee,* who was then a
boy of ten, that stump speakers
sought to dissipate the impression
of small numbers in the South by
the flamboyant declaration that
one "Reb" could whip ten
"Yanks." In some of these speech-
es the "Reb" could even suffer his
left hand to be tied behind him.

More than 2,000 men of Floyd
County (including an occasional

*Mr. Wimpce relates how he saw blood-drip-
ping freight cars come into Rome with hundreds
of wounded soldiers after the fall of Ft. Donel-
son.

**Co. G, First Ga. Cavalry. The name was
undoubtedly taken from a company which op-
erated under Gen. Jas. Hemphill and Maj. Chas.
H. Nelson in 1835 and captured Chief Fosach
Fixico.

contingent from an adjoining
county) went out to protect their
homes during the period of 1861-
65. Including the home guard of
ten companies (five of which were
from Floyd) there was a total of
20 companies of an average of
more than 100 men, including re-
cruits and replacements. The com-
panies went to the front in ap-
proximately the following order:

Floyd Infantry, commanded by
Capt. Jno. Frederick Cooper, who
died at Culpepper Courthouse, Va.,
several weeks after he had received
a serious wound at First INIanas-
sas; Rome Light Guards, Capt.
Edward Jones Magruder ; Miller
Rifles, named after Dr. H. V. M.
Miller, Capt. Jno. R. Towers;
Floyd Sharpshooters, Capt. A. S.
Hamilton : Flovd Springs Guards,
Capt. M. R. Ballenger; Co. D, 65th
Ga. Infantry, Capt. W. G. Foster;
Berrv Infaiitrv, named after Capt.
Thos'. Berry, Capt. Thos. W. Alex-
ander ; Sar'dis Volunteers, 6th Ga.
Cavalrv, Capt. Jno. R. Hart ; Fire-
side Defenders, Capt. Robt. H.
Jones ; Mitchell Guards, named
after Danl. R. Mitchell, Capt.
Zachariah B. Hargrove ; Co. G,
1st Confederate regiment, Ga. Vol-
unteers, Capt. Jno. B. Bray; Co.
A, 8th Georgia Battalion, Capt. W.
H. H. Lumpkin; Floyd Cavalry,
Capt. Wade S. Cothran ; Gartrell's
Cavalry (in 1863 a part of Forrest's
command), Capt. Henry A. (.ar-
trell; Cherokee Artillery (later
Corput's battery), Capt. Marcellus
A. Stovall, Lie'uts. Jno. H. Law-
rence, Max Van Den Corput, J. G.
Yeiser and Thos. W. Hooper , sur-
geon. Dr. Robt. Battey, orderly
sergeant. T. D. Attaway ; High-
land Rangers (Cave Spring). Capt.
M. H. Haynie ; Highland Rangers**

138

A History of Rome and Floyd County

(Rome), Capt. J. L. Kerr; Booten
and Harkins' Cavalry Company,
Capt. Daniel F. Booten, Lient. Jno.
Harkins. The Rome Volunteers
was a company in existence before
tlie war.

When the fighting at Chatta-
nooga in 1863 threatened Rome,
five home-guard companies were
formed, and they were command-
ed by Capt. J. H. Lawrence, Jack-
son Trout, S. D. Wragg, Marcel-
lus L. Troutman and C. Oliver
Stillwell.

Few survivors came back from
any of the front line companies,
and the valor in no war of history
exceeded that of the Boys in Gray,
who fought wath extreme despera-
tion against overwdielming odds
in men and resources. The Floyd
Sharpshooters surrendered ten
men at Appomattox, whereas 110
had gone out. Of 24 Cherokee
Artillery members imprisoned at
Indianapolis, onl}^ eight answered
the roll call at Rome just after the
war, and most of the others are
supposed to have died in prison.
Jas. E. Mullen, late cemetery sex-
ton, was one of this command.

The Rome Light Guard organi-
zations kept going many years,
and the Hill City Cadets sprang
into existence and was active dur-
ing the Spanish-American war dis-
turbance.

The Floyd Cavalry was prob-
ably the first to ofi'er its services
to Gov. Jos. E. Brown. This was
done Friday, Nov. 9, 1860, as soon
as the members could hold a
meeting after the election of Abra-
ham Lincoln to the Presidency.
Three days before the First Bat-
tle of Manassas, the oflr'er having
gone by the board, the company
met and passed resolutions as fol-
lows :

Whereas, the Floyd Cavalry ten-
dered its services to His Excellency,
Jos. E. Brown, Commander-in-Chief of

the State of Georgia, on Nov. 9, 1860,
and

Whereas, the services of the com-
pany have not yet been called for, be it

Resolved, That in view of active hos-
tilities that the company renew their
tender with the assurance that it holds
itself in readiness to meet any emer-
gencies whenever and wherever they
may arise.

The officers at this time w^ere
Jno. R. Towers, captain ; E. W.
Hull, first lieutenant ; Dunlap
Scott, second lieutenant, and J. H.
Walker, third lieutenant. Contin-
ued inactivity caused the three
first named to transfer to the Mil-
ler Rifles in the same offices. Arm-
istead R. Harper took the place of
Lieut. Walker.

The Floyd Infantry left Rome
first; it went away May 10, 1861.

The Light Guards left Rome
Monday morning, May 27, 186L
after having heard on the day be-
fore an inspiring speech at the
First Presbyterian church by the
pastor, the Rev. John Jones. They
marched to North Rome and
caught their train, and half the
town marched with them, scatter-
ing flowers in their way and bid-
ding them God-speed \vith fervent
prayers from the women and lusty
huzzas from the "home guard."
Capt. Magruder, of this company,
was the first man in Rome to don
the blue cockade of secession. He
was among the first to marry,
choosing as his bride several days
before the departure the beautiful
Miss Florence Fouche, daughter of
Col. Simpson Fouche. When the
Guards left Rome, Mrs. Magruder
marched with her husband at the
head of the column, appropriately
rigged out for the occasion — pistol
and dagger in her belt, and a stride
full of belligerency. Let Miss Bes-
sie Moore (Mrs. Lawrence S
Churchill) describe the wedding:

It was a novel and inspiring cere-
mony, from all descriptions. The
handsome groom was in full dress mili-
tary coat, and his trousers were of

Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas

139

PROMINENT IN REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS.

At left is Brig. Gen. Jno. E. Wool, U. S. A., of Troy, N. Y., who had charge of car-
rying out government policies prior to the exodus. In the center is Lewis Cass, Secretary
of War in Andrew Jackson's cabinet, who was the storm center of the diplomatic negotia-V
tions. Next is Gen. Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican War and later adviser of the Union
War Department, who gathered up the red-skins in stockades at New Echota and Sixes Town
to facilitate removal.

white silk, brought from the Orient
by his friend, Col. Chas. I. Graves, in
a naval cruise. The blushing bride
was dressed in snow white, including
her veil. They rode up to the First
Baptist church (which was located at
the same site as today) in a carriage
pulled by two spirited white horses.

Descending from their conveyance,
they passed through an arch of up-
lifted sabres of 80 members of the
Guards. As the couple reached the
church door, they stood aside a mo-
ment; the Guards came in and formed
a second column, through which the
two again passed to the altar. Rev.
Chas. H. Stillwell, pastor of the church,
then made them man and wife.

Mrs. Magruder accompanied Capt.
Magruder to Orange County, Va., the
place of his birth, and took up her
lesidence with his people at "Fres-
cati" (the Italian for "Green Fields"),
the ancestral home. This mansion was
converted into a hospital for sick and
wounded Light Guards and other Con-
federate soldiers.

Orderly Sergeant Jim Tom
Moore, member of the Light
Guards and grand-father of Mrs
Churchill, was married shortly be-
fore the command left to Miss Le-
titia Hntchinsfs. The ceremony

was performed at the old Buena
Vista, which for a time was Rome's
leading hotel. Theie were numer-
ous other military marriages, and
some of the husbands came back
to their wives, and some did not.

The Rome \\'eekly Courier of
Friday, April 26, 1861, announced
the opening of the Civil War as
follows :

Glorious Neirs — Virginia Seceded. —
Gen. Scott resigns, and fighting at
Harper's Ferry and Norfolk!

The news of the secession of Vir-
ginia was received in Rome at 11:30
o'clock on yesterday, together with the
announcement that (Jen. Scott had re-
signed and was in Richmond and that
the Virginians had attacked the army
at Harper's Ferry and the United
States fort and navy yard at Norfolk.

This news caused the greatest ex-
citement we have ever seen in our city.
Cannons were fired and small arms
without number, and all the church
bells were rung, and all possible dem-
onstrations of extreme joy were every-
where to be seen. Not a few eyes
were moistened by the joyous overflow
of grateful feelings. The eighth star
was put upon it and the flag raised.

140

A History of Rome and Floyd County

On Tuesday morning-, May 28,
1861, the Tri- Weekly Courier bade
farewell to the Light Guards as
follows :

This company left our city yesterday
evening' at 6 o'clock. The muster roll
may be found in another column. Our
heart fails us as we attempt to write
upon the subject. The company is
made up almost entirely of young men
— only five married, and, with two ex-
ceptions, these quite recently. Most
of the members have lived in the city
or in the immediate vicinity; they are
connected with the best families and
of course are greatly beloved.

We are sure there will not be in the
army a more gallant company of brave
men than compose this corps. They are
armed with the Windsor rifle. They
have no accoutrements, but in all else
they are fully provided. The pro-
visions for health and comfort in camp
are quite complete. That they may all
safely return is the fervent and earn-
est prayer of the entii-e community.

The Courier Thursday morninq-.
May 30, 1861, gave the' Miller Ri-
fles this send-oft":

This company left yesterday at 11
o'clock on a special train for Richmond.
It consists of a larger number than
either of the other companies that
have left.* It is made up of the best
kind of fighting men, mostly from the
country, and though but little used to
drill at present, they are inured to
many hardships that will enable them
to drop into camp routine with com-
parative ease; and Capt. Towers is
just the man to make this company
one of the most efficient in the serv-
ice.

And now the author again steps
aside and l)o\vs to pens that are
more trenchant than his own. The
quotations are from The Courier,
with the dates as indicated :

Northern Men's Sacrifice. — Those
citizens of Northern birth who enlist
in our army and who demonstrate on
the battlefield their fidelity to our
cause are entitled to the lasting grat-
itude and remembrance of our people.
To the foreman and others in charge
of The Courier, it is a source of grati-
fication to hear on frequent occasions
the name of Mr. Melville Dwinell, now
in the army, who participated in the
recent glorious achievement at Manas-
sas, spoken of in terms of the warmest

respect and regard. He was in the
hottest of the column led by the la-
mented Bartow. We hope that he
escaped death.

We grieve to learn that Frank La-
throp, our young friend and fellow
citizen, from the house of Sloan, Har-
per & Co., is no more. He, too, was a
Northern man, and fell at Manassas,
battling for our rights.

Floyd Companies' Loss. — As there
has been no official report publkshed of
the killed and wounded of the Eighth
Georgia Regiment in the First Battle
of Manassas, we are only enabled to
give the following report from a list
sent by Rev. John Jones, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church of Rome,
who has been visiting the companies
and is now at Richmond:

Rome Light Guards — Killed: Chas.
B. Norton, Geo. T. Stovall, D. Clinton
Hargrove, Jas. B. Clark and Dr. J. T.
Duane ; badly wounded, M. D. McOs-
ker, J. H. Anderson (Ringgold), J. A.
Stevenson (Jacksonville) ; slightly
wounded, Capt. E. J. Magruder, G. L.
Aycock, A. J. Bearden, J. Dunwoody

Jones, J. F. Shelton, Shackleford

and Jett Howard; missing, John J.
Black, Wm. A. Barron, M. A. Ross and
John R. Payne.

Miller Rifles— Killed, Thos. Mobley,
Frank Lathrop and Lewis Yarbrough;
badly wounded, O. B. Eve, Thos. J.
Hills and Wm. A. King; slightly
wounded, John M. Berry, B. F. Cornut,
W. D. Corput, S. H. Chambers, M. D.
Funderburk, N. S. Fain, Maj. John
Minton, Jourdan Reese, T. C. Sparks,
J. H. Silvey, W. P. Trout, W. W. Ware,
the two Easons and D. C. Harper; sick,
W. J. Barrett, G. Carroll, R. F. Car-
roll, B. F. Price and T. R. Glenn.

Flovd Infantry — Killed, George
Martin, W. J. Chastain, A. W. Har-
shaw and J. H. Dunn; badly wounded,
Capt. Jno. F. Cooper. Full list not re-
ported.

Manassas Battleground Camp, Tues-
day, July 23, 1861, 8 p. m.
Dear Courier: Since writing this
morning I have gathered some particu-
lars of the glorious victory of July 21.
As the facts are made known, the com-
plete rout of the enemy and the utter
confusion into which they were thrown
becomes more and more evident. In-
stead of getting 42 of their cannon, 64
have already been brought in, and
there is reason to believe still more

*The Floyd Infantry, under command of Capt.
Jno. Fretlerick Cooper, is referred to here with
the Light Guards. It is supposed to have left
several days ahead of any other company.

Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas

141

will be found, provided this number
does not include all they had. Our
troops detailed for that purpose have
been finding them all day, run off in
concealed places by the roadside. In
addition to the cannon, it is reported
that the road leading- to Alexandria is
literally lined with muskets, rifles, etc.,
etc. This morning 27 of Lincoln's com-
missioned officers, including several of
the stafi:', were sent to Richmond as
prisoners of war.

The sneaking cunning and perfidious
meanness of our enemies was exhibited
on the day of battle by their use of a
flag, one side of which represented the
colors of the Confederate States and
the other those of the United States.
It was by the use of this that our regi-
ments were so badly cut up. The col-
umn that flanked us showed the Con-
federate flag until they got to the po-
sition where they could do us the great-
est possible injury, then turned to us
the Federal side of the flag. For doing
this when they sent a flag of truce to
Gen. Beauregard, asking for the privi-
lege of gathering up and burying their
dead, it was denied them. How can
they expect any courtesy when they
thus set at defiance all the rules of
civilized warfare? The low spirit that
governs them and their miscreancy
was also exhibited on the 18th, when
they made use of the truce in throwing
up barricades and breastworks.

A. J. Bearden was taken prisoner
and carried some four miles from the
battleground. This was after our reg-
iment had fallen back. He was car-
ried to the headquarters of the ene-
my, and there saw a large number of
gentlemen from Washington City, New
York and other places, drinking and
carousing over "their" victory. Not
long after, news came that their army
was retreating, with our cavalry in hot
pursuit. Then ensued a scene of in-
describable confusion among this white
kid gentry in their efforts to secure
their personal safety by flight. When
our cavalry came up, Bearden claimed
his own freedom, and took captive the
captain who had been guarding him.
Chas. M. Harper, of the Miller Rifles,
was taken prisoner, and with two or
three others was guarded by six of the
Hessians. After a while, more pris-
oners were put in care of the same
guard, so that their number exceeded
that of the hirelings holding them. Our
boys watched their opportunity,
snatched their guardians' guns and
took them all pi'isoners. Another in-
stance in which the tables were turned
occurred with a member of our com-

pany, Robt. DeJournett. He was on
the retreat when a mounted officer,
supposed to have been a colonel, rode
up to within 15 or 20 paces and cried
out, "Your life! Your life, you young
rebel!" DeJournett turned, raised his
gun and shot him through while the
officer was attempting to draw his pis-
tol. DeJournett made a hasty retreat
in safety, though a volley of muskets
was fired at him.

It is now certain that John J. Black,
Marcus A. Ross and John Payne were
taken prisoners and carried off. Mc-
Grath came in today, unharmed. This
accounts for all the Light Guards. No
prisoners were carried off from the
Miller Rifles. Seven of the Federal
prisoners have told us they expected to
be hung as soon as the battle was over.
They have been taught to believe that
the Southerners are a set of complete
barbarians. Geo. Martin, of the Floyd
Infantry, died last night. Howard Mc- .
Osker and Anderson, of our company,
have been sent to Gordonsville. They
were doing well.

Our regiment has not yet reorgan-
ized, and we did not move today, as
was anticipated. We were all very glad
to see Rev. John Jones when he came
into camp today. It is said that the

CE0H(;K TlillM'K STOVAI.l,. .'.iilor and
Methodist Siindjiy School superintendent who
was killed at l'"iisl Manassas.

142

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Lincolnites have taken Washington
City. They certainly hold no place
this side of Alexandria. — Courier,
Aug. 1, 1861.

Thos. J. Hill'^. — History will delight
to honor the heroes of Manassas and
the bravery of our boys; "in the dead-
ly thicket" long will be a fireside
theme !

In our exultation over the great vic-
tory at Manassas it is well to pay a
passing tribute to the memory of those
who freely gave their lives to gain it.
He whose name heads this article was
not among those whose life sped ere
victory was won; lingering until Fri-
day night, he died peacefully in the
full realization of the promises so
sweet to the Christian heart.

Of modest, unassuming manner, he
was well known only to his intimate
friends, who knew him but to love him.
As superintendent of the Sabbath
School at Running Waters (the Hume
place north of Rome), he had re-
cently entered upon a life of Christian
usefulness, where he was becoming
better known and more widely appre-
ciated. In him we mourn a devoted
son, an afl'ectionate brother and faith-
ful friend. Truly, death loves a shin-
ing mark, and in the loss of our prom-
ising young men we see God's ways
are past finding out. — M., Aug. 9,
1861.

Rehirned.— Gen. Geo. S. Black, Col.
W. A. Fort, H. A. Gartrell, N. J. Om-
berg, R. S. Norton and G. R. Sandefer
returned home a few days ago from
Manassas, where they had gone to visit
their sons and friends.

Wm. Higginbotham, a well-known
free man of color, also returned on
Saturday morning. He reached Ma-
nassas on the morning of the battle,
but was denied the privilege of taking
a gun and falling into the ranks. He
then assisted in removing the dead and
wounded, amid the shower of balls that
fell around. Such deeds are highly
meritorious and deserve much credit.

Accide7it on Rome Railroad. — On
Tuesday evening last, as the down
train reached a point about two miles
this side of Kingston, it struck a cow
on the track, which threw the engine
and part of the train off. The engi-
neer saw the cow, but too late to stop
the train, and fearing the result,
jumped off and broke his leg. This is
the only serious accident that has oc-
curred on this road for several years.
A number of the Cherokee Artillery,
vho were home on furlough, were

forced to walk from the spot to King-
ston, as their train from Rome could
not pass. They were going to Camp
McDonald, and thence will go to Vir-
ginia. — Aug. 9, 1861.

Soldiers Returned. — John M. Berry,
of the Miller Rifles, who had two of
his fingers shot off at Manassas, and
who received an honorable discharge,
returned a few days ago. M. A. Ross,
of the Light Guards, who received a
wound in his arm and hand, was taken
prisoner and escaped, arrived Thurs-
day on a two months' furlough. L. G.
Bradbury belonged to no company,
though fought with the rest of the
boys. He went out for the purpose of
joining the Light Guards, but was not
received on account of being a cripple,
it.— Aug. 16, 1861.
He went to see the elephant and saw

A survivor's account of the First
Battle of Manassas has l)een
gleaned from the records of the
United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy :*

It was on a bright, beautiful Sun-
day morning that one of the world's
most remarkable battles was fought.
Gens. Gustave T. Beauregard and Jos.
E. Johnston were the Confederate
leaders, and Gen. Winfield Scott com-
mander of the Northern army. Jef-
ferson Davis was on the field, cheer-
ing the hosts in gray. It was here
that Gen. Thos. J. Jackson got his nick-
name "Stonewall." Francis S. Bartow,
colonel of the Eighth Georgia Regi-
ment, had our command, and Gen. Ber-
nard E. Bee was also there, with his
South Carolina battalions.

Predictions had been made by the
Washington contingent that the flag
that carried in its folds the love of
these hotly patriotic Southerners would
be furled forever. A large crowd of
spectators came out from Washington
in their fine carriages, with nice
lunches and plenty to drink in cele-
bration of the expected Union victory,
and the festivities were to be continued
that night in the capital.

The tides of battle surged back and
forth. Units of the Southern army
were cut to pieces, and the remnants
retreated. Seeing some men turning
to the rear, the gallant Bee shouted,
"Look at Jackson there; he is stand-
ing like a stone wall!" The men ral-
lied. Reinforcements for us came up,

♦Related by Virgil A. Stewart. He and B. J.
Franks, of Armuchee, are the only survivors
of the Rome Light Guards.

Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas

143

FOUR INTREPID CONFEDERATE LEADERS.

At top, left to right, are Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy, who
was captured near Irwinville, Ga., in 1865, after a flight from Richmond with Colonel and
Mrs. C. I. Graves, of Rome; and Gen. Jos. Eccleston Johnston, famed for his well-ordered
retreat from Chattanooga through Rome. At the bottom are Gen. Jno. B. Gordon, who
attended Hearn Academy, Cave Spring, and Gen. Jno. B. Hood, commander in the Atlanta
campaign, who crossed the Coosa River at Veal's ferry, Coosa Village.

and by 3 o'clock in the afternoon the
rout of the Union army was complete.
Beauregard and Johnston wanted to
push on to Washing:ton in the hope of
ending the war, but Davis said no.

Practically half of the Eighth's
1,000 Georgians fell dead or wounded,
or were captured or lost. The Fourth
Alabama was also well decimated. Bar-
tow led his men to an exposed emi-
nence which was too hot to hold.

When the command to retire was
given, I did not hear it, and soon found
mvself with none but dead and wound-

ed around me. I fell back to a thicket
and met Jim Tom Moore, who said he
did not know where were the rest of
the men. Ike Donkle sang out, "Rally,
Rome Light Guards!" About a dozen
came out of the thicket and were im-
mediately fired upon by a regiment in
a protected position. The Romans re-
turned the fire, then fell back to cover.
My hat and coat were well riddled,
but my skin was untouched.

Among our dead were Jas. B. Clark,
Dr. J. T. Duane, a native of Ireland,
who had come to Rome only a few

144

A History of Rome and Floyd County

years before and opened a dental of-
fice; Geo. T. Stovall, a bachelor, su-
perintendent of the First Methodist
Church Sunday School, and perhaps
the most beloved young man in the
town; Charles B. Norton, a clothing
merchant, and D. Clinton Hargi'ove, a
lawyer, my uncle and a brother of Z.
B. Hargrove. Charlie Norton was the
eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben
Norton and a brother of Mrs. Wm. M.
Towers. Among our wounded were M.
D. McOsker and L. T. ("Coon") Mitch-
ell,* son of Dan'l. R. Mitchell, one of
the four founders of Rome.

When Charlie Norton was shot, he
pitched forward and fell across me,
for I was on my knees firing. He was
the first Light Guard member to be
killed. It was a horrible sight; men
falling all around, some dying quickly
and the others making the day hideous
with their groans. Considering that
so many were our boyhood friends, it
v/as all the harder to bear.

Bartow fell mortally wounded, and
was attended by Dr. H. V. M. Miller.
A short time previously he was at-
tempting to rally his men. Frenzied
at his heavy loss, he seized a flag from
the hands of a color bearer. It hap-
pened that these were the colors of a
South Carolina unit under Bee. The
incident was noticed by Bee, who
rushed up and snatched the colors from
Bartow. Bee also lost his life in this
fight. Had he and Bartow been spared,
it is quite likely they would have
fought a duel.

As the Eighth Georgia marched off
the field at the conclusion of the battle.
Gen. Beauregard saluted and cried:
"I salute the Eighth Georgia with my
hat off. History shall never forget
you!"

Capt. Magruder received two wounds
at First Manassas. Later, at Gar-
nett's farm, near Richmond, he was
wounded twice on the same day. Part
of his nose and right jaw were torn
away, and his shoulder was badly shot.
Having had his face bandaged, he was
rushing back to the front when a mid-
dle-aged man in homespun suit and
broad-brinnned hat stopped him and
said:

"Major, you are more seriously
wounded than you realize. You must
take my carriage and go to the hos-
pital."

Capt. Magruder pushed on abruptly,
telling the man to mind his own busi-
ness. A soldier who saw the meeting
asked Capt. Magruder a moment later
if he knew it was Jefferson Davis he

was talking to. Capt. Magruder turned
quickly and apologized, explaining that
nearly all the officers had been inca-
pacitated or captured, and that he
must take command. He went through
the thickest of the fight, fainted and
was borne from the field. After a while
he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
At Petersburg he was wounded twice;
once slightly and suffered a broken
arm. Surgeons insisted on amputa-
tion but he refused and his elbow was
always stiff thereafter. He was sent
to "Frescati," the Magruder home-
stead in Virginia, which he had helped
put in order to receive his wounded
comrades.

Judge Augustus R. Wright,
Federal and Confederate Congress-
man, contributed the following to
the discussion of intrigue at Rich-
mond :

Richmond, Va., Feb. 26, 1862.

Francis C. Shropshire,

Rome, Ga.

My Dear Frank: On Saturday last
we had the ceremonies of the inaugu-
ration. Imposing, very. A gloomier
day never settled upon the capital of
Virginia. The rain fell in torrents.
Notwithstanding, the crowd was im-
mense. President Davis made his
speech and took the oath at the eques-
trian statue of Washington. The com-
mending of himself and his country
into the hands of God at the conclu-
sion of the ceremony was a sublime
scene. Emaciated and careworn, with
a deep feeling of sadness pervading
his pale, intellectual features, there
v/as anearnestness and solemnity in
his mannr that satisfied the beholder.
His spirit was even then in deep com-
munion with his God. There were
no Christian doubts that he had prayed
before in the deep humility of a trust-
ing and faithful heart.

Mr. Davis, in my opinion, is a Chris-
tian President, and if he is, Grod will
take care of him and the young suf-
fering country which he rules for the
next six years.

The vileness of our race is being ex-
hibited here every day in the efforts
of some of those who were first to
overthrow the old Government,** to
shake the confidence of the people in

*Mitchell told later how Stovall had men-
tioned to him the night before the battle a
premonition of death. Stovall was humming
at the time his favorite song, "Jesus Lover of
My Soul." His last words were, "Tell my
mother I have gone to Heaven."
**Presuniably at Montgomery.

Opening of the Civil War — First Manassas

145

their rulers in the hour of misfortune
and public calamity, the time when of
all others we should stand by the Gov-
ernment with the most heroic forti-
tude, and strengthen by every means
in our power the confidence of our peo-
ple in our rulers.

Some already declare Congress is
bound by no Constitution in time of
war, others that we must change the
organic law again ; the best way to
get clear of incompetent rulers is for
the people to rise in their might and
overthrow them.

It is fearful to hear the talk in Con-
gress and out of it. If we are not
careful, and meet with a few more re-
verses, we shall have the revolution
all over again.

I shall stick to the President because
it is right, because he is worthy, and
because it is the only course to secure
law and order and any Government
at all.

There are a great many currents
and undercurrents here — demagogues
v^orking like maggots on the body pol-
itic; the body of the people are like a
seething caldron — traitors in great
evidence that glory in the news of our
defeat. Upon requiring the office-
holders to take the oath of allegiance,
I understand there were 40 who re-
fused.

The situation at this time: The
Federal army numbers 500,000, the
Confederate army about 350,000. Mill
Spring surrendered Feb. 6; Gen. Jolli-
coffer, a favorite Southern general,
killed. Fort Donelson, on line of Mis-

sissippi River, surrendered Feb. 16,
with about 15,000 men.

"God is my refuge and my
sti^ength;" out of the darkness He will
bring light, and upon these shadows
His spirit will move in strength, and
we shall have a new Government to
shed its blessings, I hope, upon a free,
intelligent and Christian people.
Yours truly,
AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT.

The Civil War, like every other
war, was not free of profiteering.
Occasionally the boys at the front
would write back their opinions of
money grubbing and hoarding, and
as early as a year after the open-
ing the home folks were sniping
at its pudgy form. The Tri-Week-
ly Courier of Tuesday, Apr. 8, 1862,
printed the proceedings of a county
mass meeting at the City Hall, in
which strong resolutions were
passed against extortionate prices
which were crippling the men on
the firing line and working a hard-
ship on non-combatants. Col.
James Word was chairman of the
meeting and R. D. Harvey secre-
tary. The resolutions were drawn
by a committee composed of Dan-
iel R. Mitchell, H. Aycock, B. F.
Hawkins, Kinchin Rambo and J.
W. Dunnahoo, and they were
I)assed unanimously.

146

A History of Rome and Floyd County

FINE DWELLINGS OF HILL AND COUNTRYSIDE.

The elegant simplicity of Rome homes has often been remarked. Here we see a few of
ihe finer structures in their artistic settings. At top, the Second Avenue home of C. Wm.
King; next, "Beverly Hall," the country estate of J. Nephew King, near DeSoto Park; center,
the Fourth ward dwelling of the late J. A. Glover. The two bottom pictures are of "Hill-
crest," East Rome dwelling of Jno. M. Graham.

CHAPTER II.
A Rome Engine Chases The "General

ALTHOUGH the story of
"Andrews' Wild Raid" of
Apr. 12, 1862, is well known
to followers of Civil War
history, the part played by a Rome
engine in the chase and capture
of this band of desperate men has
remained buried in oblivion. This
engine was the "Wm. R. Smith,"*
a small, "wood-burning" affair
named after Col. Wm. R. ("Long
Bill") Smith, first president of the
Rome Railroad. Her engineer was
Oliver Wiley Harbin,** and the
conductor of the Rome Railroad
train to which she was attached
and which awaited the arrival of
the Atlanta train at Kingston was
Cicero A. Smith, also of Rome, son
of Jacob Smith, an uncle of "Bill
Arp."***

The following account is taken
partly from an illustrated folder
issued in 1903 under direction of
W. L.. Danley, of Nashville, Tenn.,
general passenger agent of the N.
C. & St. L. railway, lessees of the
Western & Atlantic (state) rail-
road, and partly from "Georgia's
Landmarks, Memorials & Leg-
ends," Vol. H, ps. 230-234.****

James J. Andrews, a Union spy and
contraband merchant of Flemingsburg,
Ky., was commissioned by Gen. O. M.
Mitchel to lead a raid into Georgia and
burn the railroad bridges between Big
Shanty (Kennesaw, Cobb County),
and Chattanooga, Tenn. Gen. Mitch-
el's division of Buell's Union army
was in camp near Shelbyville, Tenn.,
and it was from this point that An-
drews took 21 men in civilian clothes
and made his way through the Confed-

*Georgia's liandmarks, Memorials & Legends,
Vol. n. p. 233.

♦♦Authorities : Judge Jno. C. Printup, Mrs.
Susan Cothran Smith, of Birmingham, daugh-
ter of Col. Wade S. Cothran, superintendent of
the road ; H. H. Wimpee, of Rome.

*** Authority : Mrs. Smith. Cicero A. Smith
was a brother of Miss Mollie Smith, Henry A.
Smith and James Smith, of Rome.

****Contributed by Willier (i. Kurtz, of Chi-
cago, who married a daughter of Capt. Wm.
A. Fuller, one of the principals in the es-
capade.

erate lines to Mar-ietta, seven miles
south of Big Shanty. Mitchel was to
capture Huntsville, Ala., on the same
day that Andrews' raiders were tear-
ing up the road, and supplies being cut
off from the South for the Confed-
erate garrison at Chattanooga, Mitchel
was to march from Huntsville on re-
ceiving word from Andrews, and over-
whelm the Tennessee town. Reinforce-
ments sufficient to hold Chattanooga
were to be rushed to Mitchel's aid.

Andrews was familiar with the road,
but heavy rains delayed him a day and
he decided to make his dash Apr. 12
instead of the 11th, reasoning that
the rains would hold up Mitchel's force
a day as well. Consequently, he did
not reach Marietta until the night of
Apr. 11. At Marietta the presence of
this group of strangers attracted some
attention, but they explained that they
were Southerners who had made their
way through the Northern lines and
wanted to join the Confederate army.

At 6 o'clock on the morning of Apr.
12 Capt. Wm. A. Fuller, conductor of
the northbound passenger train, pulled
the bell cord that sent the engine puff-
ing out of the Union Station in At-
lanta. This was the engine "General,"
built by the Rogers Locomotive Works
at Paterson, N. J., in 1855, a trim
wood-burner with a sharp cowcatcher
and bellows stack, which for some
years has been on exhibition at the
Union depot, Chattanooga. The en-
gineer was Jeff Cain, and Capt. An-
thony Murphy, well-known Atlantan
and superintendent of the W. & A.
shops, went along. Three empty box
cars were carried next to the engine
to bring commissary stores from Chat-
tanooga to Atlanta.

When the train reached Marietta, 20
miles northwest of Atlanta, two of An-
drews' party for some reason failed
to get aboard, but the other twenty
clambered on, having bought tickets
for various points l)eyond Big Shanty.
It was customary foi- this train to stop
20 minutes at Big Shanty so the train
crew and passengers could get break-
fast at Lacey's Hotel. This was done
on this occasion, and Capt. Fuller sat
with his face toward his engine, where
he could see through an ojien window,
40 feet from the train.

In Andrews' party were four en-
gineers and firemen, some couplers and

148

A History of Rome and Floyd County

others familiar with railroad work, and
practically all of them were armed
with pistols, and several carried pliers
for cutting: telep:raph wires. Although
Big Shanty had 3,000 Confederate sol-
diers in training (at Camp McDon-
ald), it did not boast a telegraph sta-
tion. The commanding officer had i*e-
quested Capt. Fuller to take in tow
several deserters who might board his
train, hence when the conductor saw
the strangers uncouple the engine and
the three empty box cars from his
train and start off, he thought they
were Confederate undesirables.

"Some one who has no right to do so
has gone off with our train!" shouted
Capt. Fuller. The sixteen men in the
last box car waved defiantly as they
turned a curve and were lost to view.
The alarm was sounded through vil-
lage and camp.

A bugler called together the High-
land Rangers, a horse troop com-
manded by Capt. J. L. Kerr, a Rome
tailor, which was Co. G, of the First
Georgia Cavalry, commanded by Col.
J. J. Morrison, of Polk County. The
horsemen dashed away in hot pursuit.
Among them were four Roman broth-
ers, M. A. J. (Matt), Wm., George and
Dave Wimpee.*

Capt. Fuller used the tools at hand.
He pitted leg power against steam.
Mr. Cain and Capt. Murphy followed
closely. At Moon's Station, two miles
away, they got a hand car off a side-
track. The men at the station had
had their tools taken forcibly by the
raiders. They reported that the
strangers had cut 100 yards of wire
from the telegraph poles, and carried
it with them. Capt. Fuller then com-
prehended the design, and put new de-
termination into his efforts. He had
arrived here ahead of his companions,
so pushed the hand car back and picked
them up. Two of them shoved the rude
conveyance while the third rested and
kept a sharp lookout ahead. Rain was
falling in a gloomy drizzle.

Capt. Fuller figured that the down-
grade to Etowah Station, at the Eto-
wah river, would probably enable him
to get to that point (fifteen miles from
Moon's) by the time "The General" had
climbed the grade thence to Kingston,
and that at Kingston freight trains
were due to hold up the raiders a while.
A pile of crossties was removed from
the track a mile north of Moon's. At
Acworth they got pistols and wei-e
joined by Steve Stokely, of Cobb Coun-
ty, and a Mr. Smith, of Jonesboro,
Two rails had been removed just be-

fore reaching Etowah, so the hand-
car had to be lifted along some 75 feet.

After a heroic effort, Etowah was
reached, and there, justifying the
hopes of Capt. Fuller, stood the old
engine "Yonah," the property of the
Cooper Iron Works. The engine was
standing on a sidetrack near the Eto-
wah trestle, and the tender, detached,
was on the turn-table. The tender was
turned around and attached to the en-
gine, and off they went. No further
impediments were encountered up to
Kingston, fifteen miles from Etowah.
By this time the countryside was in
a fever of excitement. Andrews was
telling curious station masters and
trainmen that he was running an am-
munition train to the relief of Gen.
G. T. Beauregard, at Corinth, Miss.
He also stated that Capt. Fuller's pas-
senger train was coming along behind ;
but when the people saw Capt. Ful-
ler's bedraggled crew, they knew the
truth.

The "Yonah" pawed up sparks as
her wheels slipped in starting; then
she made record speed to Kingston.
Andrews had just left. He had per-
suaded the freight engineers to give
him right of way, and was off with a
mocking laugh. The "Texas" found
the freights so arranged that she was
hopelessly pocketed, but on the left-
hand prong of the "Y," pointed toward
Rome, was the "Wm. R. Smith," steam
up and waiting for the Atlanta trans-
fer passengers. Capt. Fuller pressed
this engine into service, and her en-
gineer, O. Wiley Harbin, ran her a
distance of five miles, faster than the
"stringers" and flat rails of the Rome
railroad would have stood. In the cab
of the Rome engine were also seated
the Rome train conductor, Cicero A.
Smith, Capt. Fuller, Mr. Cain, Mr.
Murphy, Mr. Stokely and Mr. Smith.
Four miles south of Adairsville (Cass
County), 60 yards of track was found
to have been torn up. The "Smith"
was stopped with a jerk and Capt. Ful-
ler and his four companions ran ahead
after thanking the crew from Rome.
The Romans remained behind to look
after their engine, and slowly steamed
back to Kingston and took up their
previous position.

Capt. Fuller pressed on two miles as
fast as his legs would carry him, again
leading his crowd by several furlongs.
After half a mile Murphy was the
only one he could see. Presentb?^ an
express freight train came puffing
along with 20 cars. Capt. Fuller stood

♦Authority : H. H. Wimpee.

A Rome Engine Chases the "General"

149

on the track, brandished his pistol and
brought the train to a stop. The en-
gineer, Peter Bracken, recognized him
?nd heard his hastily-told story. They
waited for Capt. Murphy to arrive,
then backed up the road as fast as pos-
sible, Capt. Fuller standing on the last
box car, 20 lengths away, and giving
signals so the engineer could tell how
to run. Others now on the train were
Fleming Cox and Henry Haney, fire-
man of the freight, and Alonzo Mar-
tin, wood passer. Smith and Stokely
had been left behind. The train was
now being pushed by the Danforth and
Cook engine "Texas."

When within 200 yards of the switch
at Adairsville, Capt. Fuller jumped
down, ran ahead and changed the
switch so as to throw the 20 cars on
the sidetrack. He then reversed the
switch and hopped on the "Texas,"
which sped on her way. So quickly
had this change been effected that en-
gine and cars ran side by side for near-
ly 1,000 feet. The "Texas," it should
be borne in mind, was still running
backward, whereas the "General" was
pointed ahead. This gave the "Gen-
eral" quite an advantage because the
instability of a tender running fast
ahead tends to throw it off the track.
Calhoun, Gordon County, ten miles
from Adairsville, was reached in
twelve minutes. Here Edward Hen-
derson, 17, telegraph operator at Dal-
ton, had arrived on the morning pas-
senger train, to see what was the mat-
ter with the telegraph wires. Running
at 1.5 miles an hour, Capt. Fuller
stretched out a hand to him and pulled
him aboard the engine.

While they sped along as fast as an
engine with 5 feet, 10-inch driving
wheels could run, Capt. Fuller wrote
the following telegram to Gen. Ledbet-
ter at Chattanooga, handed it to young
Henderson and told him to hop off
quick at Dalton and put it through:

"My train was captured this morn-
ing at Big Shanty, evidently by P^ed-
eral soldiers in disguise. They are
making rapidly for Chattanooga, pos-
sibly with an idea of burning the rail-
road bridges in their rear. If I do
not capture them in the meantime, see
that they do not pass Chattanooga."

Two miles north of Calhoun the fly-
ing raiders were sighted by the pur-
suers for the first time. They de-
tached the rear freight car at a point
where they had made a fruitless effort
to tear up a rail with a crow-bar. This
car was coupled in front of the "Tex-
as" without stopping, and Capt. Fuller
mounted it and signalled to the en-

gineer, who could not see ahead. The
end of this car had been punched out
so crossties could be strewn along the
tiack, ties having been taken from the
roadbed at various points. Two and a
half miles farther, Capt. Fuller en-
countered another loose freight car.
This was taken on in front, and the
gallant captain moved up a car length.
The bridge over the Oostanaula River
was crossed safely and at Resaca Capt.
Fuller left the two cumbersome freight
cars on a siding, and sped onward with
the "Texas" only. At a short curve
tw^o miles north of Resaca a T-rail
diagonally across the track was seen
too late to stop. Capt. Fuller was
standing on the tender, and he clung
to the side and closed his eyes a mo-
ment in anticipation of a crash. The
right fore wheel swept the rail off the
track like it had been a straw, and
they were safe again. They were said
to have been making 55 miles an hour.
This was undoubtedly one of the rails
whose removal halted the engine from
Rome. It was probably dropped off
the third and last box car, hence there
was no time to place it straight across.
Only two or three times were obstruc-
tions met with between Resaca and
Dalton, a distance of fifteen miles;
these were quickly removed. At Dal-

COl.. WADI-: S. COTHKAN. banki-r an. I pro-
moter, who, with John Hume, caused the
Nobles to move to Rome.

150

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ton the telegraph operator was drop-
ped, and he managed to get his mes-
sage on the line a few seconds before
the wires were snipped up the road.
The customary acknowledgment at the
end of the message was not received
from Chattanooga because the pliers
had been used so quickly.

Two miles north of Dalton the des-
perate fugitives were seen frantically
attempting to tear up a rail. Col. Jesse
A. Glenn's regiment was camping
nearby, and its members also noticed
the work of Andrews' men. Before
the soldiers could come up, the An-
drews band had made off again. The
fifteen miles from Dalton to Ringgold
(Catoosa County) was made in faster
time than Capt. Fuller had ever made
it in his 22 years as a conductor. At
middle distance between these two
points stood the long tunnel at Tunnel
Hill, Whitfield County. Here was a
fine opportunity for the pursued to
wreck the determined pursuers. Had
they stopped a short distance beyond
the tunnel and sent their last box car
into the dark passageway, a shocking
tragedy might have been enacted.
However, they were too hotly pursued
to try such an experiment.

The intervening distance had been
eaten up by the "Texas" until, half
way between Ringgold and Graysville
(a mile and a half north of Ringgold),
the "General" was only a quarter of
a mile in the lead. The "General" was
weakening perceptibly, due to complete
exhaustion of her wood and water sup-
ply. The last splinter had been shoved
into the firebox and the last drop of
water squeezed from her tank. The
once white smoke belching from her
clumsy but business-like stack had
been transformed into a hot breath.
The 20 reckless mutineers who had
commandeered her would have chucked
in their hats, shirts and shoes except
for the job of tearing through bram-
bles and streams. Several pine knots
had been passed back to the box cars
to set them on fire and send to the rear
a flaming messenger of death. Had
this sortie been successful, the chance
of escape might have been greatly
heightened, for the flames would have
closed around the chugging "Texas"
like a snare. A small fire was started
in the car, but the dampness madd the
attempt a failure. It was probable
that the plan was to fire the car and
leave it on the next bridge, but the
"General" could not pull the grade,
and the car was cut loose. Capt. Ful-
ler picked it up, and put out the fire.
The fugitives now abandoned the

"General" and ran through the woods
to the west. "Every man take care of
himself!" shouted Andrews, and they
scattered in squads of three or four.

At Ringgold Capt. Fuller had sight-
ed 50 or 75 soldiers and had shouted
word for them to mount their horses
and come forward in the chase. At a
fork in the Chickamauga near Grays-
ville four of the raiders were captured,
and one of them was forced to tell who
they were. The neighborhood was
thoroughly awakened, and within a
fortnight all of the 22 had been round-
ed up, including the two who had failed
to take the train at Marietta. Although
badly tuckered out, Capt. Fuller, Capt.
Murphy, Fleming Cox and Alonzo
Martin took to the woods in pursuit of
the raiders, but soon left the chase to
the men on horseback. Some of the
pursued hid out in mountains and
canebrakes, but were turned up when
they applied at farm houses for food.

The following Kentucky and Ohio
men participated in the raid:*

Jas. J. Andrews, leader, citizen,
Flemingsburg, Ky. ; Wm. H. Campbell,
citizen, of Kentucky.

Marion A. Ross, sergeant major;
Wm. Pittinger, sergeant. Company G;
Geo. D. Wilson, private, Company B;
Chas. P. Shadrach, private. Company
K, all of Second Ohio Infantry.

Elihu H. Mason, sergeant, Company
K; Jno. M. Scott, sergeant. Company
F ; Wilson M. Brown, corporal. Com-
pany F ; Mark Wood, private, Com-
pany C; Jno. A. Wilson, private, Com-
pany C; Wm. Knight, private. Compa-
ny E ; Jno. R. Porter, private, Com-
pany G ; Wm. Bensinger, private, Com-
pany G ; Robt. Buff um, private, Com-
pany H, all of 21st Ohio Infantry.

Martin J. Hawkins, corporal. Com-
pany A; Wm. H. Reddick, corporal.
Company B ; Daniel A. Dorsey, coi'-
poral. Company H; John Wollam, pri-
vate. Company C; Samuel Slavens, pri-
vate. Company E ; Samuel Robertson,
private, Company G; Jacob Pari-ott,
private, Company K, all of 33rd Ohio
Infantry.

Eight of these men, whose names ap-
pear below, were executed by the Con-
federate authorities at Atlanta, Ga., in
June, 1862; Andrews on June 7, and
Campbell, Ross, Geo. D. Wilson, Shad-
rach, Scott, Slavens and Robertson on
June 18. On Oct. 16, 1862, the eight
following named made their escape
from prison at Atlanta: Brown, Wood,

'•'Letter, Feb. 18, 1903, from F. C. Ainsworth,
chief of Record and Pension office, Washing-
ton, D. C, to W. L. Danley, Nashville, Tenn.

A Rome Engine Chases the "General'

151

John A. Wilson, Knight, Porter, Haw-
kins, Dorsey and WoHam. The re-
maining six members of the raiding
party were paroled at City Point, Va.,
March 17, 1863. Their names follow:
Pittinger, Mason, Bensinger, Buffum,
Reddick and Parrott. Congress gave
medals to all the survivors, who erect-
ed a monument to their comrades in
the National cemetery at Chicka-
mauga, Ga. The N., C". & St. L. rail-
way erected tablet stones at the points
where the "General" was captured and
was abandoned. The "Texas" stands
in the southeastern part of Grant
Park, Atlanta, defying the wind and
the weather. The "Yonah" and the
"Wm. R. Smith" are supposed to have
been scrapped.*

Sergt. Pittinger testified at his
trial that wlien the "General"
"broke down," they were burning
oil cans, tool boxes and planks
ripped off the freight car. As they
abandoned her they reversed her
in order to bring on a collision with
the "Texas," but in their haste and
excitement they left the brake on
the tender, and there was not suf-
ficient steam to back the engine.
In his book, "Capttiring a Locomo-
tive," he says :

We obstructed the track as well as
we could by laying on crossties at dif-
ferent places. We also cut the wires
between every station. Finally, when
we were nearly to the station where
we expected to meet the last train,
we stopped to take up a rail. We had
no instruments but a crowbar, and
instead of pulling out the spikes, as
we could have done with the pinch
bars used for that purpose by rail-
road men, we had to batter them out.
Just as we were going to relinquish
the effort, the whistle of an engine in
pursuit sounded in our ears.** With
one convulsive effort we broke the

♦Georgia's liandmarks. Memorials & Legends,
Vol. II, p. 234, says Andrews was hanged at
Ponce DeLeon Avenue and Peachtree Street,
followinp: his conviction at Chattanooga as a
spy : that the seven others hanged were tried
alt Knoxville, and were talten from the old jail
at Fair and Fraser Streett-, Atlanta, and
hanged near Oakland cemetery, on land now
owned by the street railway company ; and that
the eight escai)ed the Atlanta jail in l)road
daylight and made thei^ way to the Union lines.

'*The whistle they heard was on the Rome
engine, the "Wm. R. Smith." According to the
N., C. & St. L. booklet, p. 9, 60 yards of track
was torn up at that point.

***N., C. & St. L. booklet, ps. 21-23.

****P^ather of Robt. F. Maddox, former mayor
of Atlanta.

rail in two, took up our precious half
rail and left.

We were scarcely out of sight of the
place where we had taken up the half
rail before the other train met us.
This was safely passed. When our
pursuers came to the place where the
broken rail was taken up, they aban-
doned their engine and ran on foot
till they met the freight train, and
turned it back after us.

We adopted every expedient we
could think of to delay pursuit, but as
we were cutting the wire near Cal-
houn, they came in sight of us. We
instantly put our engine to full speed,
and in a moment the wheels were
striking fire from the rails in their
rapid revolutions. The car in which
we rode rocked furiously and threw
us from one side to the other like
peas rattled in a gourd.

I then proposed to Andrews to let
our engineer take the engine out of
sight, while we hid in a curve, after
putting a crosstie on the track; when
they checked to remove the obstruc-
tions, we could rush on them, shoot
every person on the engine, reverse it
and let it drive backward at will.

The vSouthern Confederacy, a
paper published in Atlanta at the
time, wrote :***

The fugitives, not expecting pur-
suit, quietly took in wood and water
at Cass Station, and borrowed a
schedule from the bank tender on the
plausible pretext that they were run-
ning a pressed train loaded with pow-
der for Beauregard.

They had on the engine a red hand-
kerchief, indicating that the regular
passenger train would be along pres-
ently. They stopped at Adairsville
and said that Fuller, with the regu-
lar passenger train, was behind, and
would wait at Kingston for the freight
train, and told the conductor to i)ush
ahead and meet him at that i)()int.
This was done to produce a collision
with Capt. Fuller's train.

When the morning freight reached
Big Shanty, Lieut. Cols. R. F. Mad-
dox**** and C. D. Phillips took the en-
gine, and with 50 picked men, follow-
ed on as rapidly as possible. Capt.
Fuller on his return met them at Tun-
nel Hill and turned them back. Peter
Bracken, the engineer on the "Texas,"
ran his engine 50 '^ miles — two miles
backing the whole freight train up to
Adairsville; made twelve stops, cou-
pled the two cars dropped by the fu-
gitives, and switched them off on sid-

152

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ings — all in one hour and five min-
utes."

The ])ai"t ])la\e(l l)y the Rome en-
j^'ine and her ere\\- was Avarmly
l)raise(l I)y the citizens and the
military authorities. Indeed, not
only was an important link sup-
plied, l)ut tile api)earance of the en-
gine at the point of broken track
no doubt prevented a wreck of the
southbound freight piloted by En-
gineer Bracken. Ihul a wreck oc-
curred, Capt. Fuller would have
]Hished on to Adairsville afoot, and
the raiders would probably have
been able to carry out at least a
part of their design.

Out on his farm in North Rome
Col. Wade S. Cothran, superin-
tendent of the Rome Railroad,
always took note of the time when
the train passed the Rome brick
3^ard, not far to the southeast. On
this occasion no train came, and
Col. Cothran remarked to his fam-
ily that something must have hap-
pened. Next morning a messenger

arrived with news of the capture
and Col. Cothran announced with
a great deal of pride at the break-
fast table that Wiley Harbin and
'"Little Cis" Smith had written
their names on history's everlast-
ing scroll.

As for the Highland Rangers
and the Wimpee brothers, of
Rome, they made a praiseworthy
dash through the hills by horse
but could not keep up with the fly-
ing Fuller and his daredevil pace-
makers.

Frustation of this daring sally
and plot postponed until August
1863, the capture of Chattanooga
by the Federal general, Wm. S.
Rosecrans.

*It appears that the total distance traveled
by Capt. Fuller was about 85 V^ miles: afoot
two miles to Moon's, 12 miles by handcar to
Etowah, 14 miles by the "Yonah" to Kingston, .5
miles beyond Kingston on the "Wm. R. Smith,"
two more afoot, and then 50 1-> miles on the
"Texas." Although practically all the partici-
pants were armed, there is no evidence that
any shots were exchanged. The Tri-Weekly
Courier recorded the fall of Huntsville Apr. 11,
but did not mention the Andrews Raid.

CHAPTER III.
Activities of the Folks at Home

WHILE there was such a fe-
verish activity at the front,
what were the "Home
(iuarcl"and the women do-
ing far from the sound of musket
and drum ?

Mrs. Mary Turnley Reynolds,
historian of the Rome Chapter,
United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy, contributed the following
to the archives of that institution
m 1900:

The woi"k accomplished by the ladies
of Rome for the gallant men who sac-
I'ificed the comforts of home and fire-
side, donned the suit of gray to fight
for native land and Southern rights,
is a part of the history of our South-
land that is too noble to be for-
gotten ; and the names of the heroines
who figured behind the lines must be
recorded along with the names of the
heroes who sacrificed their all for
Southern rights.

Of those who were prominent in the
work for their country during those
troublous times, your historian finds
many who have passed into the beau-
tiful and far-away land. Some have
removed their homes to other states.
Some are living at a ripe and happy
old age among the families and friends
of their youth. Included in these
might be mentioned Mrs. J. G. Yeiser,
widow of Col. Yeiser, who also served
in the Mexican war; Mrs. J. M. Greg-
ory, widow of Dr. Gregory, once mayor
of Rome and a surgeon in Company
A, Eighth Georgia Regiment; Mrs.
Martha Battey, widow of Dr. Robt.
Battey, a surgeon in the 19th Geor-
gia Regiment; and Mrs. P. L. Turn-
ley, wife of Dr. Turnley, the drug-
gist. From the above-named ladies
and Mrs. Eben Hillyer, wife of Dr.
Eben Hillyer, your historian has gath-
ered valuable data which gives us a
vivid picture of the times.

The first thing to cheer the soldier
to duty was an illumination of the
town at night. This was very gen-
eral in Rome. An exception was made
by Mrs. Battey, who, with her native
d( cision of character, refused to "light
up," saying, "We should fight under
the Stars and Stripes." But loving
her country and her people, she soon

joined in the serious part of the
diama.

Our first charity organization for
war purposes was the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Association. Mrs. Nicholas J.
Bayard, mother of Mrs. John J. Seay,
was made president, and Mrs. Wm. A.
Fort secretary. Unfortunately, the
minutes kept by Mrs. Fort have been
destroyed.

The vice-president was Mrs. Wade
S. Cothran.

Among the members were Mesdames
J. M. Gregory, Jno. W. H. Under-
wood, Robt. T. Hargrove, J. J. Cohen,
Wm. Ketcham, Hollis Cooley, Eben
Hillyer, Dan'l S. Printup, D. Mack
Hood, H. V. M. Miller, Jas. Noble,
M. A. Pearson, A. G. Pitner, O. B.
Eve, Thos. W. Alexander, Thos. Haw-
kins, Chas. H. Smith, Reuben S. Nor-
ton, Nicholas J. Omberg, J. M. M.
Caldwell, Mary Sullivan, Wm. Moore,
Jas. W. Hinton, W. I. Brookes, M. H.
Graves, Mrs. Booten, Mrs. Lawrence
and Mrs. Johnson.

The society was founded in Jan-
uary, 1861, at the suggestion of Rev.
Jas. W. Hinton, then pastor of the
First Methodist church. Its main pur-
pose at first was to make garments
and attend to other physical needs of
the soldiers. Edward C. Hough, a na-
tive of the north, who had volunteer-
ed for field service, was exempted in
order that he might direct the making
of these garments at home; Nicholas
J. Omberg, another tailor, who was
killed by a scout band in 18G4, as-
sisted him.

The city hall, southwest corner of
Broad Street and Fifth Avenue, was
occupied for garment making. How
valiantly the ladies went at their task
is thus told by Editor Dwinell in The
Courier of May 17, 1861:

"The Ladies at Worh:— The ladies
of Rome are now engaged at the city
hall in m.aking uniforms and articles
of clothing for the volunteer compa-
nies. Some 20 or 30 are there all the
time; they work as their circum-
stances will admit; some in the after-
noon, some one day, others next, while
still others are there early and late
every day. Such zealous patriotism
is worthy of the highest commenda-
tion, and men who would not fight for
tho defense and protection of such la-

154

A History of Rome and Floyd County

dies ought to be forever banished from
the pleasures of their society."

Another little notice reads thus:

"The Work Goes Beautifully On. —
There is quite a large number of la-
dies still daily engaged at the city hall
ir, the manufacture of clothing for the
volunteers. They have a number of
patent sewing machines, yet it is
patent ('how Mr. Dwinell loved to
pun!') to every susceptible gentleman
that those with black or blues eyes,
whose almost continuous chatter is
like the soft, silvery tones of sweetest
bells, are incomparably more interest-
ing. We are requested to state that
any lady wishing to assist in this
patriotic work is expected to report at
the city hall at once."

Mrs. Underwood and Mrs. Fort were
the first to remove their sewing ma-
chines to the city hall, and others fol-
lowed. The association did fine work
among the poor, and furnished work
for many women who would have
suffered when winter came.

On Aug. 19, 1861, a call was sound-
ed for an organization of broader ob-
jects and service, since it was seen
that the war would be long and bloody.
Four days later a meeting was held
at the city hall and the Ladies' Aid
Society formed. Rev. Chas. H. Still-
well, pastor of the First Baptist
church, was made president; Mrs.
Geo. P. Burnett, Mrs. M. H. Graves,
Mrs. N. J. Bayard, and Mrs. Booten,
vice-presidents; and Rev. James W.
Hinton, pastor of the First Methodist
church, secretary and treasui'er.
Among the members were the follow-
ing:

Mrs. Dr. Anderson, Mrs. Attaway,
Mrs. J. W. M. Berrien, Mrs. Robt.
Battey, Miss Florida Bayard, Mrs N.
J. Bayard, Mrs. Billups, Miss Mol-
lie Billups, Miss Mary Billups, Mrs.
A. W. Caldwell, Mrs. J. J. Cohen, Mrs.
Hollis Cooley, Mrs. Wade S. Cothran,
Mrs. Wm. A. Fort, Mrs. Jno. R. Free-
man, Mrs. Simpson Fouche, Mrs. A.
E. Graves, Miss E. W. Graves, Mrs.
M. H. Graves, Mrs. Dennis Hills, Mrs.
Jno. W. Hooper, Miss Malinda Har-
grove, Mrs. Robt. T. Hargi'ove, Mrs.
Hale, Mrs. A. R. Harper, Mrs. Jno.
Harkins, Mrs. John Hume, Mrs. D. M.
Hood, Mrs. Jesse Lamberth, Mrs. C.
H. Lee, Mrs. Lilienthal, Mrs. Morris
Marks, Mrs. C. W. Mills, Mrs. L.
Magnus, Mrs. Morrison, Miss M. E.
Murphy, Miss V. A. Murphy, Mrs. J.
H. McClung, Mrs. Wm. Moore, Mrs.
Wm. T. Newman, Mrs. Jas. Noble,
Mrs. Reuben S. Norton, Miss Mary

W. Noble, Miss Parks, Mrs. M. A.
Pearson, Mrs. C. M. Pennington, Mrs.
A. G. Pitner, Mrs. Pepper, Mrs. Wm.
Quinn, Mrs. Dr. Chas. Todd Quin-
tard, Mrs. Wm. Ramey, Mrs. Jane
Russell, Mrs. Rawls, Jr'., Mrs. Rawls,
Sr., Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs.
A. M. Sloan, Miss Martha B. Spullock,
Mrs. Samuel Stewart, Mrs. Samuel J.
Stevens, Mrs. Chas. H. Stillwell, Miss
Savannah E. Stillwell, Mrs. Mary Sul-
livan, Mrs. Chas. H. Smith, Mrs. Jno.
R. Towers, Miss Lizzie Underwood,
Mrs. Jno. W. H. Underwood, Mrs.
Jas. Banks Underwood, Mrs. Jos. E.
Veal, Mrs. James Ware, Mrs. C. Wat-
ters, Mrs. Whittesey, Mrs. Thos. J.
Word, Mrs. Augustus R. Wright, Mrs.
J. G. Yeiser.

This society adopted a constitution
and by-laws, and the members paid $1
a year membership dues. Three wom-
en in each county district solicited
contributions. Mrs. Jas. Ware made
some blankets that were very fine.
Among things sent in were wool,
socks, vegetables, red peppers, pepper
sauce, tomato catsup, blackberry wine
and cordial ; in fact, everything of a
useful nature poured into headquar-
ters, and was despatched as fast as
limited transportation facilities would
allow. Five carloads were sent to the
front and training camps before the
first year closed.

Auxiliaries were formed in each
district, and a Children's Aid Society
came into being in September, 1861.
Mrs. Easter, wife of the Episcopal
rector, had charge. The children were
a great help in running errands, and
some of them could knit and sew. They
sent many sheets, pillow cases and
bandages to the Savannah hospital.

Quite a number of beautiful tab-
leaux were presented at the city hall
under the management of Mrs. Daniel
S. Printup and Mrs. D. Mack Hood,
and the sum raised was $137.70. One
of the scenes showed Kentucky in
chains held by Lincoln, and another
Maryland prostrate, and Lincoln bend-
ing over her with a sword. Twenty-
four girls in homespun from Rev.
Chas. W. Howard's school at Spring
Bank, Bartow County, attended this
tableau.

The Soldiers' Aid Association decid-
ed in August, 1861, that a relief room
was needed for the wounded soldiers
who were coming back from the front
as the excess from the crowded army
hospitals. Mrs. Robt. Battey was
elected president of this new organi-
zation, and on Aug. 23 the "Wayside
Home" was onened at the southeast

Activities of the Folks at Home

155

156

A History of Rome and Floyd County

corner of Broad Street and First Ave-
nue, opposite the Hamilton-Shorter
block, and quite convenient to the
Rome railroad station, just across the
street. Drs. T. J. Word and J. M.
Gregory had charge as managers, and
the committee on arrangements was
made up of Col. Wade S. Cothran, J.
M. Elliott, Robt. T. Hargrove, C. W.
Mills and Daniel R. Mitchell. The
v/omen's committees follow: Mrs. Fort,
Mrs. Rawls and Mrs. Bayard for
Monday; Mrs. Battey, Mrs. Sloan
and Mrs. Yeiser, Tuesday; Mrs. Noble,
Mrs. Marks, and Mrs. Hargrove, Wed-
nesday; Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Hills and
Mrs. Stillwell, Thursday; Mrs. Smith,
Mrs. Hooper and Mrs. McClung, Fri-
day; Mrs. Towers, Mrs. Freeman and
Mrs. Russell, Saturday; Mrs. Roberts,
Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Rawls, Sr., Mrs.
Ramey, Mrs. Lilienthal and Mrs.
Cohen, Sunday.

A great deal of medicine, bandages
and everything needed in a first-aid
station, including considerable cloth-
ing, was put at the Wayside Home for
the use of doctors and committees, and
quite a number of sick and wounded
soldiers were served satisfactorily.
Presently came a sick soldier who was
little more than a boy, named Wil-

MARTHA BALDWIN SMITH, 18, just after
her marriage in 1849 to Dr. Robt. Battey.
She died Sunday, Feb. 5, 1922, aged 91.

liam Lynch, of Louisiana. During the
days before a complete diagnosis could
be made by Dr. Word, the lad was at-
tended by Mesdames Smith, Harper,
Stewart, Underwood, Spullock, Cooley,
Harkins, Stillwell, Hale, Rawls, Sr.,
Lilienthal, Cothran, A. E. Graves, At-
taway, Norton, Sanders, Moore and
Quinn. After a week. Dr. Word said
it was smallpox. That was Tuesday.
Necessarily there was a great deal
of alarm. The women were isolated
at once; everybody was afraid to go
near them.

On Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Battey
went to the room, having heard the
news. She was warned by Dr. Greg-
ory that a smallpox patient was on
the inside, but she insisted on going
in, and there she found the lad crying.
She told him not to be troubled, that
he would be cared for. Having en-
countered the advanced stages, Mrs.
Battey was requested to keep company
with herself. Three or four days later
she took sick, and she says the only
person in town who was brave enough
to come to her relief was Col. W. A.
Fort. Col. Fort treated her for a se-
vere cold and she was up again pres-
ently.

When Mrs. Battey fell ill, William
Howe volunteered to take charge of
William Lynch. Here is an extract
from a letter written by Mr. Howe
from the sick room:

"Thinking that the public would
like to hear what is going on in this
dreaded chamber of disease, I feel a
desire to gratify it. My friends may
think that time rolls heavily with me,
but such is not the case. However,
the room is under martial law and I
am monarch of all I survey. His
Honor the Mayor (Dr. Thos. J. Word)
has created me military dictator.

"I have two patients to nurse, two
of the most patient, gentle sufferers
that were ever afflicted. I really love
them. The boy who has smallpox is
Wm. Lynch, who is only 17 years old
and has been in six battles. He had
been discharged on account of feeble-
ness caused from a long spell of ty-
phoid fever, and was on the way to
his hoine in Louisiana when he took
smallpox here. The boy soldier will
yet be a man if careful nursing on
my part and the skill of the doctor
can save him.

"God bless our women! Here their
true worth is felt. Every comfort, ev-
ery appliance to the wants of the sick
is within my reach ; and when I have
occasion for a clean pillow slip, sheet

Activities of the Folks at Home

157

or towel, the closet is crammed full
of them, and I involuntarily exclaim,
'God bless them!'

"I can not close this letter without
furnishing a g^rateful acknowledgment
to Col. Penning-ton, His Honor the
Mayor, Dr. Gregory, Mrs. Wm. A.
Fort, Mrs. Dr. Battey, Mrs. Dr. Un-
derwood and Mrs. Omberg."

The plight of the women and
their sense of duty is expressed in
the following card to The Courier :

While we all lament the existence of
this horrible war, shall we leave our
brave defenders to suffer alone? Shall
we not bravely endure our portion of
the toil and danger? Oh, yes; let us
not shrink from the duty that lies
before us; and while we make use of
every precaution for the safety of our
families, go steadily forward trusting
in God, thankful that we have only
disease to contend with and have been
spared the barbarous treatment which
our bloody and deceitful enemies have
inflicted on other parts of our country.
It sometimes happens that those who
flee are the first to perish, while God
protects the faithful.

As the Mayor of the City has taken
charge of the Soldiers' Relief room,
no more appointments will be made by
the committee of ladies, who will now
withdraw until again called upon by
the gentlemen to perform their duties.

The boy recovered ; two negroes
contracted the disease from him,
and one of them died. He soon
left for his home, his heart grate-
ful to the kindly Romans. As if
echoing the prophetic words of
Mr. Howe he used to lie on his
cot and repeat, "Once a man, twice
a child!"

Airs. Re^'uolds continues:

The doors of the Wayside Home
were never opened again, and the con-
tents were burned to prevent a spread
of the disease. What the destruction
of all this meant to those whose fin-
gers had worked so ceaselessly to make
it can scarcely be imagined. For sev-
eral months the women contributed as
individuals. An earlier donation by
Mrs. Thos. J. Perry will give an idea
of the extent: 1 quilt, 10 i)airs of
woolen socks, 10 of cotton dravvers, 1
of suspenders, 2 of gloves, 3 towels, 2
pillow cases, 3 nubias, 1 bundle of
bandages, G cakes of salve, 8 of soap,
1 bottle of black pepper, 1 bunch of

red pepper, 1 bundle of sage, and 6
candles. In addition to the societies
mentioned the St. Peter's Hospital As-
sociation (of the Episcopal church)
had been organized by Dr. Easter, and
it sent forward a vast amount of hos-
pital supplies. Prominent in the or-
ganization were Mrs. Jos. E. Veal,
Mrs. Geo. R. Ward, Mrs. Jno. W.
Noble, Miss Mary W. Noble and Miss
Palmer.

On February 16, 1862, Fort Donel-
son, Mississippi River, fell after a ter-
rible battle, and hospitals in the South,
already well filled, were taxed be-
yond their capacities. This fact sug-
gested that Rome open hospitals. The
first was on Broad Street between
Fourth Avenue and the old city hall,
at Fifth; Dr. Fox had charge, and the
matrons were Mrs. Reeves and Mrs.
Merck. Several hundred injured were
taken into Rome residences, but these
were removed when the churches were
converted into places of operation,
treatment and convalescence.

A hospital association was formed
at the court house with Mrs. Nicholas
J. Bayard president and Mrs. Wm.
A. Fort secretary and treasurer. As
usual, the entire county was canvass-
ed for members and supplies. Mrs.
J. G. Yeiser received much praise for
her tireless efforts with the sick and
the wounded. Part of the time of
the women was spent cutting ban-

MRS. ALFRED SHORTER, from an old minia-
ture in the possession of Mrs. Waller T.
Turnbull.

158

A History of Rome and Floyd County

dag-es out of old sheets and the like,
and in combing old table cloths for lint.
Dr. Robt. Battey was in charge of
the hospitals at this time.* Gradually
the Northern army came closer to
Rome, and the hospitals were moved
to Macon and elsewhere farther
south.**

Again, in 1867, we see our noble
women rally with grateful and loving
hearts in a tribute to their dead. The
"Ladies' Memorial Association" was or-
ganized with Mrs. N. J. Bayard as
its first president; Mrs. D. Mack
Hood was the second president, Mrs.
Thos. W. Alexander the third, until
her death; and then Mrs. Henry A.
Smith — all kept bright like burning
incense the deeds of our beloved broth-
ers, scattered posies and twined the
evergreen where our heroes lie. The
Daughters of the Confederacy must
not let such efforts go unsung. As
long as time lasts we will weave gar-
lands of myrtle and ivy for their head-
stones, and moisten their graves with
our tears.

The struggle for food further
exemplified the splendid fortitude
and spirit of self-sacrifice among
the women. It must be remem-

MR. AND MRS. I. D. FORD, a beloved couple
of Rome, the parents of the first Mrs. Joseph
L. Bass.

bered that the blockade of South-
ern ports was almost "water
tight," and that the absence from
farm and shop of nearly all the
younger men curtailed production
enormously.

Spinning wheel and loom were
recalled to make thread so that
socks might be sent the soldiers,
and worn at home.

Alany of the articles of food
that had been abundant were ob-
tainal^le no more, and various sub-
.'ititutes were employed. For cof-
fee they used rye, wheat, okra
seed, dried apples, sweet potatoees
and persimmon seed ; the rye and
okra seed were simply parched and
ground, and sweet potatoes were
cut into small pieces, dried and
parched.

Salt was so scarce that it was
priced the same as sugar in Con-
federate money in 1862 — $10 a
bushel. The salt from meats in
smoke houses was used. This was
obtained by wetting smoke house
earth, and boiling' down the drip-
pings until nothing but salt re-
mained. Presently this gave out.

Sorghum syrup made a poor
substitute for sugar.

People dipped tallow and made
candles, or poured hog fat into tin
moulds. Wicks were put in first,
and when cold, the candles were
drawn out.

Dyes for clothing were cop-
peras, bark stain and pokeberry
extract.

All the leather went into shoes,
saddles and pistol holsters for the
soldiers. Women's shoe tops were
made of coarse duck and dyed
l)Iack with oil and soot. Shoe
strings were made of hard twisted

*In 1863 Dr. Battey had charge of the Bell
hospital, and it is presumed this was on Broad
between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. He also
had charpre of the Polk hospital, on the west
side of Broad Street between Second and Third
Avenues. Polk hospital was moved to Macon.

**Accordinff to the war diary of the late
Reuben S. Norton, the last hospital was moved
from Rome Dec. 8, 18G3.

Activities of the Folks at Home

159

A GROUP WHICH SUGGESTS THE LONG AGO.

At the top is Mrs. T. J. Simmons, for a ;number of years, with her husband, the head
of Shorter College; beside her are Dr. and Mrs. Robt. T. Hoyt; on the left at the bottom
is Mrs. W. I. Brookes, then come John Locke Martin, journalist and poet, and Mrs. Mary>
Eve, of Eve Station.

thread. Squirrel skins made good
shoe tops and caps.

Good toilet and laundry soap
were "manufactured" from lye
extracted from ashes.

For soda, corn cobs Avcre burn-
ed intd aslies and lye made there-
from, and this was mixed with
sour milk. Butter l^ean hulls were
used in the same war.

I)urin^' the autumn, when the
sorghum was being ground,
]ieaches, apples, wild grapes and
wild clierries furnished the "base"
for jams and jellies. The sorg-
hum was used as sweetening, ami
the product after eooking was
called preserves.

If the invaders shot down sheep
in tlie pa'-ture, the g(^(Ml woman

160

A History of Rome and Floyd County

went to the spot with her shears
and got enough wool for socks
and stocking's.

Serviceable women's hats were
fashioned out of corn shucks, and
in fact, every product of nature
was utilized in some way, and the
people learned indelibly just what
is necessary to sustain life, and
just what contributes to "high
life."

The situation was helped with
some families when the Northern
troops captured the country. "We
have the shelter," invited certain
householders. "We have the
food," responded many of the boys
in blue ; so those who could not
be accommodated in tents moved
into homes, and shared their food
with the occupants. Cooking was
done in common.

When the corn was gathered in
the fall of 1864, it constituted the
principal article of food. Families
lived through the winter on lye
hominy, grits and sorghum and
what little bread they could find.

Eventually the soldiers left and
all semblance of authority col-
lapsed. Little food was to be had,
and blood-thirsty, plundering van-
dals stalked through the prostrat-
ed communities, robbing and mur-
dering the defenseless inhabitants.

The final surrender in the spring
of 1865 brought the men home,
and they agreed that the front was
little worse ; so all set to work to
make something out of little or

nothing. How heroically and well
they repaired their broken for-
tunes is a story that furnishes one
of the .most helpful chapters in
the history of Dixieland.

Many cases of extreme dan-
ger and acute suffering were re-
ported from the country districts,
where women often stepped into
the places of the men in the fields.

"The most novel thing I have
seen in some time u-as a woman
l^lowing yesterday, with a pistol
buckled around her," wrote "R.,"
a Courier correspondent, May 5,
1863, from Bridgeport, Ala. ; and
he continued :

She is an intelligent woman, and her
husband is in the army at Shelby-
ville. I asked her why she carried
a pistol and she said she knew the
thieving disposition of the Federals,
and had been dispossessed of every-
thing but one horse and corn barely
sufficient to make a crop, and she was
determined to defend what was left
to the last. One of our men, a noble-
hearted farmer from Floyd County,
was on picket, but being off post at
the time, took hold of the plow and
assisted her in laying off her corn
rows.

Sir, with such women, starvation is
out of the question, and subjugation
impossible. This woman, with her
child sitting in the field, toils away,
knowing that justice is God's empire.
Let the faint-hearted and effeminate
take courage at such examples.

News of Forrest's great victory near
Rome has just reached us and dis-
appointment is seen in the countenance
of every man of this battalion, be-
cause we were not permitted to go
on and participate in the brilliant af-
fair so near our homes.

CHAPTER IV.
Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

Ax LXCIDENT of the war
which vied in spectacularity
with the Andrews' raid was
the Hathaway-Streight in-
cursion into /\lal:)ama and Georgia
from Tennessee, in April and May,
1863, and the capture of the com-
mand by Forrest's force, less than
one-third as large. Indeed, this
incident was not surpassed by any
similar occurrence during the con-
flict, yet we find the historians
(especially outside of the South)
complacently sleeping on their
pens with regard to it.

There were two circumstances
which called for proper exploita-
tion from the native historians and
for a degree of silence elsewhere ;
410 men captured 1,466, and the
event developed a hero whose ride
in certain respects outstripped the
well - sung Paul Revere — soldier,
silversmith, electro-engraver and
manufacturer of cannon.

John H. Wisdom, stage coach
driver and rural mail carrier,
warned Rome of the enemy's ap-
proach, and Gen. Forrest captured
them almost at the city's gates.
That was Sunday, May 3, f863—
the first Union troops Romans had
seen. Gen. Sherman later com-
plimented Forrest with the state-
ment that "his cavalry will travel
100 miles while ours travels ten."
It had been left to the intrepid
Confederate general to demon-
strate how a small band could
pursue such a superior force
through tlie mountains and over
the streams of two states and
make them lay down their arms.
The feat was accomplished
through strategy as well as force.
After Forrest had sent in a flag of
truce, demanding surrender. Col.
Abel D. Streight, of the 51st In-
diana Volunteers, asked the terms.

"Unconditional surrender, your
officers to retain their side arms
and personal efifects," was the re-
ply. "I have reinforcements and
it is useless for you to sacrifice
your men."

Forrest met Streight at the
meeting place. Streight wanted to
argue, and Forrest wanted an an-
swer. Capt. Henry Poynter dash-
ed up, and Forrest gave him or-
ders for the disposition of certain
imaginary units of men ; the order
had previously been given to
march the artillery around a hill,
then out of sight, and to keep them
circling the brow. vStrcight was
so impressed that he capitulated.
The place was in Alabama near
the Georgia line, about 20 miles
below Rome.

From the Tri-Weekly Courier,
with dates as indicated, we get
other details :

Great Victory— Great Joi/!—The
Yankees in Rome at last! Sunday
morning last opened at half past two
o'clock a. m. with an alarm. Mr.
John H. Wisdom, of Gadsden, Ala.,
and a former resident of this city,
reached here after riding with hot
haste for eleven hours, and gave in-
formation that the enemy wer€ at
Gadsden when he left, and were bound
for Rome.

Preparations were begun with de-
spatch, and by 9 o'clock in the morn-
ing our soldiery and citizens were pre-
pared to give them a warm reception.
Two pieces of artillery were placed in
position, commanding the roacl and the
l)ridge, cotton barricades erected at
all the defiles of the city, videttes
sent out to watch the enemy's ap-
proach. Everything was got in read-
iness for determined resistance. Dur-
ing the morning several couriers with
despatches from (Jen. Forrest arrived,
urging our commander here to hold
them at bay for a few hours if possi-
ble, at all hazards. About 2 o'clock
another despatch from Gen. Forrest,
saying he was fighting them at Gay-
lesville, Ala., with an int'i'rior force.

162

A History of Rome and Floyd County

About 9 o'clock a. m. a small body
of the enemy's advance (about 200)
reached the environs of the city, and
were actually bold enough to dismount
and feed their horses almost in sight
of the city. They picked up all the
horses and mules in the neighborhood,
took some citizens prisoners and re-
connoitered the defenses of the city.
Learning that we were prepared with
artillery, they bivouacked, and seemed
to await the arrival of the main body.
For some cause they retreated about 3
o'clock down the Alabama road. They
were pursued by a small but resolute
band of citizens, who were determined
that the affair should not end thus.

In the meantime. Gen. Forrest had
overtaken the main body near Gayles-
ville, and not far this side of Cedar
Bluff. After some slight skirmishing.
Gen. Forrest demanded a surrender.
An interview was held under flag of
truce and the terms of surrender
agreed upon. The entire Yankee force,
consisting of 1,800 men, were made
prisoners of war, and as this included
the bold adventurers who had looked
with insulting eyes upon the church
spires of the city, they, too, were turn-
ed into disarmed infantry. They were
met by Gen. Forrest's advance, about
the same time that our citizen cavalry
overtook them in the pursuit.

Gen. Forrest arrived in the city
with all the Yankee officers and the
small body of troops alluded to on
Sunday evening about 6 o'clock p. m.
The rest of both forces reached here
yesterday morning. But mark what
remains to be told.

Gen. Forrest accomplished this bold
feat with less than 700 men, though
the rest of his command were in sup-
porting distance. Thus terminated the
last Sabbath. Such a jubilee Rome
has never experienced! Such raptures
over Gen. Forrest and his brave men !

When it is considered what a dar-
ing raid the enemy aspired to — what
an extensive circuit they contemplated
— what irreparable damage they had
deliberately planned (being the burn-
ing of the bridges on the State road,
and the destruction of government
property at Round Mountain, Dalton
and Rome) it is wonderful how Gen.
Forrest has managed to prevent the
consummation of their designs. With
more than 100 miles the start of him,
he nevertheless has pressed them so
hard with hot pursuit as to prevent
material damage being done; except
the destruction of the Round Moun-
tain Iron Works in Cherokee County,

Ala., they have done but little dam-
age. Gen. Forrest has lost not exceed-
ing 20 men in this glorious work. He
killed and wounded about 300 of the
enemy, among them Col. Hathaway, of
Indiana. Col. Streight, of Indiana,
was commanding the Federal forces.

Heavy reinforcements arrived hei'e
yesterday at noon from Atlanta, but
owing to the peculiar nature of exist-
ing circumstances, they will have noth-
ing to do but guard duty. — Tuesday
morning. May 5, 1863.

The Greatest Cavalry Achievement
of the War — We had hoped to have
been able to furnish our readers with
the full particulars of the brilliant and
successful achievement of Gen. For-
rest in this issue of our paper, but
our own business engagements and the
constant occupation of the General
with his official duties have rendered
it impossible for us to obtain all the
facts necessary for the preparation of
such an article. Our readers may ex-
pect a full history in our next issue,
and until we can give a full and suc-
cinct account of this brilliant cam-
paign and glorious victory, we will
refrain from further comment. — May
7, 1863.

Picnic to Gen. Forrest and His
Brave Men on Saturday Next — Con-
tributions expected from all the citi-
zens of the county who feel able and
willing to give honor to whom honor
is due. Bring sufficient supplies, ready
cooked and prepared; bring for 20
men if you can, or for 10 men, or for
5, besides a sufficient supply for your
own family who attend. Report your
name, with the number you will pro-
vide for, to one of the undersigned:
A. G. Pitner, T. G. Watters, C. H.
Smith, A. M. Sloan, T. McGuire; Rome,
Ga., May 4, 1863.

We learn that the number of
Yankees paroled (by Gen. Forrest in
the capture of Streight) was 1,466 —
officers and men. They were all sent
off on Tuesday last.

Rumor, with her thousand tongues,
has got every one of them going, and
there is no end to the wild reports
that are in circulation. Report is hav-
ing it that all North Georgia and
Alabama are swarming with Yankees.

A large number of horses were in
the streets on Tuesday, many of which
were identified as having been stolen
by the Yankees in their recent raid
through the country.

The Yankees captured by Gen. For-
rest are said to have been the pick

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

163

of Rosencrantz's army, and were really
mounted infantry, having been drilled
in both services. It is reported that
Rosencrantz had offered them a boun-
ty of $300 apiece and a discharge from
the service to accomplish their object,
which was to destroy Rome and the
State road bridges. And better sub-
jects for such infernal designs could
scarcely have been selected, for a more
villainous-looking set of scoundrels it
has never been our misfortune to have
seen before, and that, too, with scarce-
ly an exception. What an escape a
merciful Providence has vouchsafed to
Rome!

We noticed a telegram stating that
the citizens of Rome met and fought
the Yankees here on Sunday last. The
only fighting was done by a few in-
dependent scouts and videttes, who
tried a round or two at them. But
we learn that they were much sur-
prised, as they expected to march in
without any opposition.

Tory Band — A citizen of Jackson
County tells us that a number of
Tories have banded themselves to-
gether in Sand Mountain (Ala.) to
resist conscription and the arrest of
deserters — that they worsted a com-
pany, more or less, of Confederate cav-
alry who went there to arrest desert-
ers and conscripts, some eight or ten
days ago; that the facts have been
reported to Tullahoma headquarters,
and a force has been detailed suffi-
cient to overcome the Tories. (Hunts-
ville Confederate.) — Thursday, May
7, 1863.

The Most Brilliant Feat of the War
— Soon after the fight between the
Federals and Col. Roddy near Tus-
cumbia, Ala., a column of 2,000 Fed-
eral cavalry, all under command of
Col. Hathaway, of the 73rd Indiana
Cavalry, consisting of the 73rd and
51st Indiana, 80th Illinois, and 3rd
Ohio, diverged south, with two moun-
tain Howitzers, with a view to cross
the Sand Mountain and strike the
Coosa River at Gadsden, Ala.; thence
pass the Round Mountain and Chat-
tooga River Iron Works, to Rome;
thence to Dalton, Ga. ; thence through
East Tennessee and join Rosenci'antz
with a view to destroying the towns,
bridges, iron foundries, railroads, com-
missary supplies on this entire route,
making a raid of some 1,500 miles.

This was a daring, well-planned,
well-executed expedition, as far as it
went. The troops and commanders
were regarded as select, and the in-

ducements to success were strong and
overwhelming with the well-known
Yankee character. The plunder and
stealage belonged to the capturers. In
the event of success, each member of
the raid was to receive a gold medal,
$300 in gold, and a discharge from
the service during the war. To ac-
celerate their movements they seized
every valuable horse and mule that
they could find, taking them from
wagons, buggies, stables or plows, and
as their surplus increased, dropping
out their own weak and broken-down
stock, and by this means always keep-
ing mounted on fresh stock.

On Wednesday, the 29th, Gen. For-
rest, with 500 mounted men and two
brass cannon, started in pursuit, the
Federals having taken a lead of about
80 miles. On Thursday night he over-
took them, fought and repulsed them
on Sand Mountain; in this fight Gen.
Forrest had his horse killed under him.
From that time onward, until Sunday,
the 3rd of May, the time of the final
surrender of the Federals, he fought
and drove them back, or rather, for-
ward, about three times every 24
hours.

As they passed through Gadsden
they destroyed part of the town and
the depot, always destroying every

GEN. NATJIAN i;i:pI(ii:ii i (ii;i;i-.< i', whose
locks were cut li.v udniiiinK wniiuii when he
saved Rome from Streight's raiders in '63.

164

A History of Rome and Floyd County

bridge behind them and otherwise ob-
structing the road as best they could.
P\)rrest fought them near Major
Blount's plantation Friday evening or
Saturday morning. Here their com-
mander-in-chief, Hathaway, was kill-
ed. The command then devolved on
Col. Streight, of the 51st Indiana. As
they passed onward they destroyed the
Round Mountain Iron Works. Cross-
ing Chattooga River, they destroyed
the bridge. Some time during Sat-
urday night. Gen. Forrest succeeded
in crossing the river, and fell on them
Sunday afternoon at Mrs. Lawrence's,
about five miles east of Gaylesville,
and here after a short fight, terms of
capitulation for the entire Federal
forces was agreed upon, and the Fed-
erals stacked their arms.

During Saturday evening a detach-
ment of 200 had been sent ahead to
reconnoiter and attack Rome, as cir-
cumstances might indicate.

The first intimation the people of
Rome had of the raid was the arrival
of Mr. John H. Wisdom, from Gads-
den, giving information of the rapid
approach of the Federals. Tremendous
excitement, and be it said to the dis-
credit of some, much liquor was wast-
ed, doubtless to screw up their cour-
age to the fighting point. By 8 p. m.
two cannon, with barricades of cotton
bags, were mounted and placed in po-
sition on the river bank. The citi-
zens from the country flocked in with
their rifles and squirrel guns, and
there soon were enough to make a
pretty formidable fight, if they had
been under any sort of organization.
But the organization amounted to as
near none as possible. About half past
8 some pickets and videttes went out
and a short distance from the city en-
countered the enemy's advance pick-
ets. Here some skirmishing for sev-
eral hours took place between the
enemy and these pickets and some
citizens who had advanced on the
enemy. About 2 p. m. the enemy very
suddenly and apparently in a great
hurry mounted and retreated down the
road, followed by our skirmishers.
They met Gen. Forrest and his party
about 8 or 9 miles below Rome, Col.
Streight and all the Federal officers
being their prisoners. It is said the
reason of the sudden departure of the
Federals from Shorter's was a cour-
ier from Col. Streight, their com-
mander, informing them that they
were prisoners of war, and had been
for eight hours.

About 6 p. m. Gen. Forrest, with
120 Federal officers and this detach-

ment reached the city, under such
booming of cannon and rejoicing as
has never been seen in Rome, and may
never again. Indeed, it was right and
just to him and his brave men. But
for the noble and gallant Forrest and
his equally noble and gallant men, who
had pursued and fought this band of
outlaws, robbers and murderers for
five consecutive days and nights, al-
most without eating or sleeping, our
beautiful little Mountain City would at
this hour be in ashes, and many of
our best citizens robbed and murder-
ed. A thousand blessings upon them,
and a thousand prayers for them!

In their vanity and folly some of
our vain and swaggering people are
trying to claim credit to themselves for
this glorious success of the truly in-
domitable and noble Forrest. If we
did anything, it was clumsily done.
Forrest has justly won for himself
by this almost superhuman effort a
title to a major generalship, and if he
is not promoted, he will not have jus-
tice done him, especially when it is
remembered that with a picked force
of Federals, four to his one, he dash-
ed on them by day and by night, and
in chasing them a little over 200 miles,
he killed or captured the last one of
them, with all their cannon, arms,
horses, stores, etc., killing outright
their leader and 300 men, with a loss
of only 10 killed and 40 wounded. And
he thereby saved millions of dollars
worth of property from destruction by
the hands of the cowardly scoundrels
and vandals.

We of North Alabama and North-
western Georgia will cheer him and
reiterate our cheers for him, and never
cease until he shall receive a major
general's commission. We have but
one complaint to make. We thought
he was a little too lenient to the im-
pudent, boasting, threatening, coward-
ly Federal officers.

A CITIZEN OF ROME.

To Arms! To Arms! — The citizens
of Floyd and surrounding counties are
requested to meet in Rome on Thurs-
day next at 11 o'clock a. m.. May 14,
to form a military organization for
repelling the thieving, house-burning
and vandal foe that may venture on
our soil. Let everybody come and go
to work in earnest.

Defend Your Homes and Your Pro})-
crty. — It will be seen from a notice in
this issue of our paper that the citi-
zens of Floyd and the surrounding
counties are called on to meet at the
court house in this city on Thursday

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

165

A MAP OF ROME IN 1890. (Scale, one mile to the inch).

night, the 14th inst., for the purpose
of forming a military organization for
the protection of their homes and
their property. This is a highly im-
portant movement and we give it our
most cordial and hearty endorsement.
Let every boy and man from 15 to (>()
years old fall into line and stand up
for the protection of their mothers,

wives and sisters. If the love of coun-
try does not move you, these sacred
claims will surely spur you to action.
It is plain now that the enemy, be-
ing foiled and routed ui)on every field
of general engagement, has determined
to tui-n loose liis army in maraud-
ing hands, to dash through our coun-
try with torch and sword, to burn and

166

A History of Rome and Floyd County

plunder our citizens and homes, mur-
der our men and dishonor our women.

We are advised that good arms will
be furnished to all who are not able
to supply themselves.

Let all the people in this and the
surrounding counties meet in this city
on next Thursday; and the ladies will
do well to encourage this movement by
their presence — they are all wanted.
Come, ladies, and bring your sons and
your husbands. — May 9, 1863.

The Yankee Prisoners at Rome. —
Among this batch of thieves and mur-
derers was found two companies of
North Alabama Tories; and amongst
them a man by the name of Funder-
burk, who was born and raised with-
in three miles of Rome. This villain-
ous whelp had a gallant brother in
the Eighth Georgia who fell covered
with honor and glory at the First Bat-
tle of Manassas, July 21st, 1861. This
scoundrel, with his widowed mother,
moved to the Sand Mountain in 1852,
and since the death of his brother has
been here trying to get a share of
his honored brother's estate. He ad-
mits he piloted the Yankees to this
place. He is safely under lock in jail.
There was also found among them a
man by the name of Phillips, who was
raised in Forsyth County, Georgia.
He is alleged to be a Confederate de-
serter. He is with Funderburk, to-
gether with a Methodist preacher, who
says his name is Brown, who the
Yankees say also piloted them, and
many years ago was a circuit rider
in Floyd. But no such a man ever
rode the circuit in this county.

The prisoners generally were re-
markably impudent and insulting, es-
pecially the officers. One of their of-
ficers, a major, publicly cursed Gen.
Forrest on the streets for a scoundrel
and a rascal, stating that when For-
rest demanded a surrender the Yankee
negotiators were trying to get the best
terms possible, and Forrest suddenly
appeared to get very mad. Swore he
would wait no longer, that he would
rather kill the whole of them than
not; ordered his couriers immediately
to direct the commanders of four sep-
arate batteries to place them on sep-
arate points of hills; and ordered the
commanders of four separate regi-
ments to be formed immediately at
particular points in line of battle, and
that the couriers absolutely dashed
off, as though they were going to
have these orders executed. And as
they dashed off, Forrest told them his
signal gun would be fired in ten min-

utes, when in fact (he said) the ras-
cal had but two little cannon, and not
more than a half regiment all told.
Finally, that Forrest was nothing but
a damned swindler.

The impudent whelps, openly on the
streets, avowed their intention to be
back here in less than three months,
burn up the town and hang every
man in it because, they say, they were
bushwhacked. This, of course, is an
idle boast of the poor cowardly devils,
to cover up their shame and disgrace.
They said they did not come into Rome
just as they expected; that they could
stand all that; but such a number of
them to be gobbled up by a little squad
of "dirty, snotty-nosed butternuts"
was past endurance.

We regret to learn that Capt. For-
rest, a brother of the General's, com-
manding a company in his old regi-
ment, was severely and it is feared
mortally wounded in the recent run-
ning fight with the Yankees from
Courtland to Rome.

Gen. Forrest has received a dispatch
from Col. Roddy, announcing that the
Yankees have evacuated Tuscumbia.

The Steamer Laura Moore blew her
whistle off yesterday morning as she
was about signalling her departure.
Her steam escaping prevented her de-
parture.— Saturday, May 9, 1863.

"BILL ARP" ON ROME "BATTLE"

(Southern Confederacy, Atlanta).
Rome, Gorgy.
Mr. Adeer & Smith:

So many onreliable persuns will be
sirkulatin spewrius akkounts of the
"Grand Rounds" tuk by the infernal
Yankees in these Roman-tik rejuns,
that I think it highly proper you
should git the streight of it from one
who seed it with his eyes, and hearn
it with his years, and a piece of it
fell on his big toe.

More than 200 years ago Genrul D.
Soto had a big fight with the Injuns
on or about these consekrated grounds.
Since that time an oninterrupted peece
hav rained around these classic hills
and hollers. Flowers hav bloomed
sweetly, lambs hav skipd about, dog
fennel hav yallered the ground, and
the Coosa river, which were then a
little spring branch, hav grown both
wide and deep, until now the majestik
steamboat can float upon its bosom,
and the big mud cat gobble up the
yearthworms what chance to fall into
its watters.

But rollen years will change a pro-
gram. Anno domini will tell ! Jest

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

167

afore the broke of day, on Sunday,
the third of May, 1863, eighteen hun-
dred and 63, the cityzens of the eternal
city were arowsed from their slumbers
with the chorus of the Marsales hymn,
"To arms, to arms, ye brave! Abe
Linkhorn are pegging away, and the
Yankees are ridin to Rome on a raid!"
Ah! then were the time to try men's
soles! But there were no panik, no
skedadlin, to shakin of nees — but one
universal determynation to do sum-
thin. The burial squad organized fust
and foremost and begun to inter ther
money, and spoons and 4 pronged
forks, and sich like about the prem-
ises. Babies were sent to the rear.
Hosses hid in the cane brake. Cows
milked oncommon dry. Cashiers and
bank agents carried off their phunds
in a pair of saddle bags, which very
much exposed ther facilities and the
small compass of ther resources. It
were, however, a satisfactory solushun
of ther refusin to discount for the last
3 months. Skouts were sent out on
every road to snuff the tainted breeze.
Kotton bags were piled up across ev-
ery high way and low way. Shot
guns and cannon and powder and ball
were brought to the front. The yeo-
manry and the melishy jined a squad
of Confederate troops and formed in
line of battle. They were marched
across the Oustanawly River, and then
the plank of the bridge torn up so
that they couldn't retreat. This were
done, however, at ther own valyunt
request, because of the natural weak-
ness of the flesh. They determined
jintly and sevrally, firmly by these
presents, to do sumthin.

Two cracked cannon, what had holes
in the ends, and two or three on the
side, were propped up between the
kotten bags, and pinted dead straight
down the road to Alabam. They were
fust loaded with buckshot and tacks,
and then a round ball rammed on top.
The ball were to take the raid in front,
and the bullets and tacks to rake 'em
in the phlanks. These latter it was
supposed would go through the cracks
in the sides and shoot around gener-
ally. Everybody and everything de-
termined to die in their tracks, or do
sumtlmi.

The steamboats dropped quietly
down the river to get out of the thick
of the fight. The sharp shooters got
on top of semmetery hill with ther re-
peaters and pokit pistols. The videttes
dashed with spy glasses to the top of
the court house to see a fur off.
Dashin Comanchy couriers rode on-
ruly steeds to and fro, like a fiddler's

elbow. Sum went forward to rekenoy-
ter as skouts. Everybody resolved to
do sumthin.

At this critical junkture, and pre-
vious and afterwards, reports were
brought into these Head Quai-ters, and
all other quarters, to the effeck that
10,000 Yankees were kummin, and 5,-
000 and 2,000, and any other number;
that they were ten miles from town,
and 6 miles, and 2 miles, and any
other number of miles; that they were
on the Alabam road, and the Cave
Spring road, and the River road, and
any other road; that they were cross-
in the river at Quin's Ferry, and Wil-
liamson's Ferry, and Bell's Ferry, and
any other ferry; that they had tuck
the Steembote Laura Moore, and Chi-
rokee and Alfaratta, and any other
steembote; that they had shot at a
Comanchy rider, and hit him in the
coat tail, or his hosses tail, or any
other tale; that they had seezed Sis
Morris, or Bill Morris, or Jep Mor-
ris, or any other Morris. In fak, a
man could hear anything by gwine
about, and more too.

Shore enuf, however, the important
crisis which were to have arriven did
actually arriv, about 10 o'klock in the
mornin, a. m., on May 3rd, 1863. I
am thus portikler, Mr. Editurs, bekaus

JUDGE JNO. W. MADDOX. who entered the
Confederate Army at 15, and served several
terms in Congress from the Seventh District.

168

A History of Rome and Floyd County

it are to be entered on next year's
almynak as a remarkabul event. The
head of the raid did aktully arriv at
the suburban vilhi of Mr. Myers, and
thar it stoped to rekonnoiter. Thar
they learned as how we had 600 head
of artillery, and 6,000 kotton bags, and
a permiskous number infantry taktix,
and we were only waitin to see the
whites of their eyes. Also that the his-
tory of Gen. Jackson at New Orleans
wer red in publik, and that everything
were inspired to do si())itliin; where-
upon the head of the raid turned pale,
and sent forward a picket. At this
onspishus moment a foot skout on our
side let fly a whistlen bullit, which
tuk effek somewhat in those rejuns.
It were reasonably suposed that one
Yankee were killed, and perhaps two,
for even to this time sumthing dead
can be smelt in those parts, tho' the
buryal squad had not been able to find
it up to yestiddy. After right smart
skirmishin, the head of the raid feii
back down the road to the Alabam,
and were persued by our mounted
yeomanry at a respectabul distance.

Now Mr. Adeer & Smith, while all
these vaylunt feets were going on
hereabouts. Gen. Forrest had been
fighting the body and tail of the raid
away down at the Alabam line. Final-
ly he proposed to the raid to stop
fightin and play a game or two of
poker, under a cedar tree, which they
aksepted. But the Ginerul were not in
luck and he had a pore hand, and had
stalked his last dollar. The Yankees
had a Streight, which would hav tuk
Forrest and raked down the pile, but
he looked on rite in the eye and sed
he would see 'm, and "4,000 better."
The raid looked at him, and he looked
at the raid, and never blinked. The
raid trembled all over it boots, and gin
it up. The Generul bluffed 'em, and
ever since that game was played, the
little town hard by has bin called
Cedar Bluff. It were flush times in
the Alabam, that day, shore!

Well, Mr Editurs, you know the
sequil. The Generul bagged 'em and
broght 'em on. The planks were put
back on the bridge. The river bank
infantry countermarched and fired a
permiscous volley in token of jew-
bilee. One of the side-swipin cannon
went off on its own hook, and the ball
went ded through a house and tore a
buro all to flinders. Sum sed it were
a Niter Buro, but a potash man who
examined sed he reckin not, for ther
weren't no ashes in the drawers, nor
naro ash hopper on the premises.

By and by the Comanchy Skouts and

pickets all kum in, and shuk ther am-
brosial locks and received the congrat-
ulations of ther friends. Then begun
the ovashun of fair women and brave
men to Gen. Forrest and his gallant
boys Bokays and tears were all mixed
up promiskous. Big chunks of cake and
gratitude were distributed generally
and frequent. Strawberries and cream,
eggs and inyuns, pies and pancakes —
all flew aroun amazin, for everybody
was determined to do sKnithin. Gen.
Forrest subsided, and General Jew-
bilee tuk command, and Rome her-
self again. The 4 pronged forks and
silver spoons ros from the dead and
even the old hen what one of our city
aldemen had hurried with her head
out, was disinterred and sacrificed im-
mediately for the good of the koun-
try.

Thus hav ended the raid, and no
loss on our side. Howsumever, I sup-
pose that Mr. Linkhorn will keep "peg-
gin' away."

Yours truly and immensely,

THE ORTHOR,
Adjective Generul of Yeomanry.

The Yankee cavalry roamed a little
too far from home when they ventured
a journey to Rome. The citizens there-
of were Romans enough to meet them
in battle array, and Forrest, at Rome,
was the "noblest Roman of them all."
—Rebel.

Proclamation. — To the Citizens of
Rome: A little more than a week ago
our city was beleaguered by the most
lawless band of incendiaries that ever
disgraced humanity. This enemy came
with "lust in his eye, poverty in his
purse and hell in his heart. He came
a robber and a murderer." But at our
very threshold he was arrested by the
Lord God of Hosts. Thus we were de-
livered, and thus our city was saved
from destruction. Under such circum-
stances it is right, proper and our
bounden duty as a people to bow down
in adoring thankfulness to that kind
F'ather whose everlasting arms have
been around, about and underneath
us, to protect us from harm, and it is
our duty and privilege to ascribe to
him all the honor of our deliverance.

Now, therefore, I, John M. Gregory,
mayor of the City of Rome, do issue
this, my proclamation, setting apart
Wednesday, the 13th inst., as a day of
thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty
God for the great mercies vouchsafed
to us, and I do therefore earnestly in-
vite the people of the city to assemble
at their respective places of worship

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

169

on that day, and to unite in render-
ing thanks and praise to God. Given
under my hand and seal of office, this
May 11, 1863. J. M. Gregory, Mayor
of the City of Rome. — Tuesday, May
12, 1863.

Gen. Forrest and the Citizens of
Rome — As a slight appreciation of the
services of the gallant Forrest in sav-
ing our beautiful city from sack and
flames, at the hands of the ruthless
vandals, who lately came to lay our
homes in desolation, a suggestion was
made that it would be expressive of
our gratitude to present the General
with a fine horse, and in the course
of an hour or two over $1,000 was con-
tributed for this purpose. But. Col.
A. M. Sloan, anticipating the move-
ment, on his own private account pre-
sented Gen. Forrest with his splendid
saddle horse, for which he would not
on any other account have taken the
best negro fellow in the State. This
was an appropriate and magnificent
offering on the part of Col. Sloan.*

We are advised that the money
which had been contributed by the
citizens for this purpose was turn-
ed over to Gen. Forrest to be used for
the benefit of the sick and wounded of
his command.

The Alabama Traitors. — We have
had the pleasure of reading a letter
from Gov. Shorter, of Alabama, to
Surgeon P. C. Winn, in regard to the
Alabama traitors captured by Gen.
P"'orrest in North Alabama, in which
the Governor says he has demanded
"under the order of President Davis,
all the officers taken in Alabama,
found serving with armed slaves," etc.

We greatly admire the spirit of Gov.
Shorter in this matter and hope to see
his example emulated in every state.

Perhaps no event of the war has
caused more profound regret through-
out the Confederacy or more real sat-
isfaction to the Yankees than the
death of glorious old Stonewall Jack-
son. After having made such hair-
breadth escapes from Yankee bullets
he has died at last at the hands of his
own men. His memory is embalmed
in the hearts of the people, and his
name will live through all times.

Some of our contemporaries are de-
termined that the royal ape of Wash-
ington shall have his proper cognomen
of "Hanks," and "Hanks" let it be,
and thereby free the respectable name
of Lincoln from the odium attached to

*A. M. Sloan, banker and warehouseman,
formerly of Columbus.

it from his bearing it. It is said that
old Hanks has started the old pegging
system of tactics. If so, we suppose
the recent raid to Rome was one of
the pegs driven in and broken off. —
Thursday, May 14, 1863.

The Meeting on Thursday — A large
number of the citizens of Floyd and
the surrounding counties met in this
city on Thursday last to consult to-
gether on the best means of defending
our city and the approaches to the
State road, against raiding parties of
the public enemy. Major John Rush
was chosen president and Mr. John M.
Berry secretary. Col. Fouche explain-
ed the object of the meeting, and
moved the appointment of a commit-
tee of five, who were himself. Col.
D. R. Mitchell, Maj. J. G. Yeiser, Rev.
J. W. Glenn and Col. Alfred Shorter.
During the absence of the committee,
Hon. John W. H. Underwood was in-
vited to address the meeting, but de-
clining to do so, called on Dr. P. C.
Winn, of Alabama, who entertained
the audience with a spirited plea for
home defense. The committee report-
ed stirring resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted.

We would appeal to every boy and
man who has the pluck to defend his
home, to join some military company.
We know of but three excuses which
any man could offer for not joining:
utter physical inability, innate, incur-
able cowardice and old age. But the
man should be so old that he would not
think of maiTying again if his wife
should die. If any man will come out
and establish his right to plead any of
those three excuses, let him be perpet-
ually exempt from all military serv-
ice;" but let all others shoulder arms
and fall into ranks for the defense of
their native soil. — Saturday, May 16,
1863.

To Arms, Ye Romans! — We find the
following astounding telegram to the
Associated Press, which, if true, it is
time Romans were looking to their lau-
rels :

Atlanta, May 16.— Quartermaster
Polk's Corps arrived and passed
through this morning. We have re-
l)orts that 7,000 or 8,000 of the enemy
are approaching Rome. All the avail-
able force here is ordered to be held
in readiness.

There is a grape-vine telegram
afloat that Jackson, Miss., has iK^en
taken by the enemy, and that our
forces have them surrounded and cut
off.— Tuesday, May 19, 1863.

170

A'^HisTORY OF Rome and Floyd County

NINETEEN DWELLINGS OF MANY TYPES.

1 — Wilson M. Hardy; 2 — old A. R. Sullivan home; 3 — old Goetchius home; 4 — Dr. J. C.
Watts (C. N. Featherston) ; 5 — part of old Battey infirmary; 6 — J. W. Rounsaville; 7 —
Eliza Frances Andrews; 8 — A. B. S. Moseley; 9 — T. J. Simpson (J. L. Sulzbacher)S 10 —
Ed. L. Bosworth; 11 — O. L. Stamps (C. Rowell) ; 12 — S. F. Magruder; 13 — old Harper home;
i^ ii^ Reynolds (R. D. VanDyke) ; 15 — Hood-Cumming-Featherston (Rixie); 16 — Dr.

T. R. Garlington (J. D. Hanks); 17 — Unknown; 18 — VanDyke-Maddox; 19 — Henry Stoffregen.

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

171

To All People Who Are Able to Bear
A^rms! — The question can no longer be
blinked. You must either fight, run
or take the oath of allegiance to Lin-
coln. This call is made to the fight-
ing men, young and old. If there be
any of the other classes, we don't want
them; the sooner they take care of
themselves, the better. Daily develop-
ments convince all thinking men of the
immediate necessity of a strong mili-
tary organization for self-defense. The
people are invited, perhaps for the last
time, to meet at the court house in
Rome on Tuesday morning next, May
26 at 10 o'clock a. m., to learn what
has been done, and to determine, un-
der a proper organization, what they
will do in defense of their property,
their wives and their children. We
beseech you to come and to come ready
to make all needed sacrifices for your
country! — J. M. Gregory, mayor; S.
Fouche, D. R. Mitchell, "j. G. Yeiser,
A. Shorter, J. W. Glenn, Committee. —
Tuesday, May 26, 1863.

Rev. Georg'e Pierce, son of the
bishop of that name who served
the Rome district after the war,
had intended to preach at one of
the IMethodist chtirches on the
Sunday Forrest appeared, but he
quickly caught the war fever and
shouldered a gun.*

According to William Hardin
and Jas. O. Winfrey, the well-
known Confederate veterans. Col.
Streight cried over his plight, and
it was said on good authority at
the time that he tried to get a pis-
tol to shoot himself. He was de-
scribed by all who knew him as
an intrepid soldier.

Reminiscences by the late Dr.
P. L. Turnley, presented to the U.
D. C, add this information :

Col. Hathaway, original commander
of the raiders, was shot through the
neck and killed at the foot of Owl
Mountain, near Turkeytown, Etowah
County, Ala., while eating breakfast.
Two young sharijshooters, brothers
named Hall, had climbed to the top of

♦Authority : 20th Contiiry Rome, Tribune In-
dustrial Edition, Oct., 1902.

**Accordin!j to Mrs. Robt. Battey, several
younpr women snipped ofT lonK raven locks.

***Authority : Edward C. Peters, of Rome.
Since the total casualties are 1,T•>A^ by this esti-
mate, there is a discrepancy of 453 men, the
number at the start having been 2,000.

the spur above the invaders and crack-
ed down on the officer. Streight was
then placed in command.

The news that Streight was ap-
proaching spread like prairie fire, and
more activity was shown in Rome than
for a long time. By noon the town
was fairly well garrisoned by men and
boys of all ages. The bridges were
blocked with cotton bales, and the
floors covered with straw saturated
with oil. Every cellar and garret had
been ransacked for arms and weapons
of any kind. Col. J. G. "Yeiser obtain-
ed two old honey-combed cannon, and
placed the dangerous ends toward the
enemy. These, with old rusty flint-
lock rifles and a few pistols, were all
the defenders had, but they were suf-
ficient to turn back Streight's advance
guard.

Rome was so hilarious that Gen.
Forrest could hardly attend to his du-
ties; and it has been said by one who
was present that the brave general
would have been bald had he given
locks of his hair to all the ladies who
made the request.**

Forrest's losses were said to
have been ten killed and 40 wound-
ed. Streight's losses from Apr.
27 through May 3, 1863, from Tus-
cumbia to Rome (including Day's
Gap, Apr. 30, Black Warrior Creek,
Mav 1, and Blount's Farm, May 2)
were twelve killed, 69 wounded.
1.466 captured. The captives were
the 51st and 73rd Indiana Volun-
teers, the 3rd Ohio, the 80th Illi-
nois Mounted Infantry and two
companies of the First Alabama
Cavalry who were mostly desert-
ers from the Confederate ar-
my.*^=*

Streight's men were worn out
from their forced marches and
loss of sleep, and when Forrest
came up, many whtc sleei)ing on
their arms, and their commander
could make them hght no longer.

In or<ler to get the facts of Wis-
dom's ride. Ca])t. W. P. Pay. of
Gadsden, visited Mr. Wisdom at
Hoke's l-.luff, Ala. Capt. Lay re-
lated the story to Walter Harper,
who i)resented it July 29. 1909. in
the Gadsden Daily Times-News,
a (lav after Mr. Wisdom dicil :

172

A History of Rome and Floyd County

John H. Wisdom, long a citizen of
Etowah County, Alabama, and for-
merly of Rome, Ga., died at his home
at Hoke's Bluff, ten miles east of
Gadsden, on July 28, 1909. He was
89 years of age and one of the sub-
stantial citizens of the county. He
was extremely modest and for that
reason but little has ever been said
or known about the crowning exploit
of his life, which saved a city, result-
ed in the capture of a host of Federal
soldiers and placed him in the class of
heroes of the Civil War.

John H. Wisdom and Emma Sanson
were jointly responsible for the saving
of Rome, Ga., and the capture of Col.
Abel D. Streight's raiders by Gen.
Nathan B. Forrest, yet neither of these
heroes was aware of the part the other
was playing at the time.

Shortly after Emma Sanson had di-
rected Gen. Forrest over Black War-
rior Creek, Mr. Wisdom, then a mail
carrier and 43 years old, left his home
at Gadsden on a mail trip, and after
crossing the Coosa river went several
miles beyond. In the afternoon of the
same day he returned to Gadsden, to
find that the Federals under Col.
Streight had been in the town and
were proceeding toward Rome. The
enemy had cut a hole in the bottom
of the ferry boat of which he was the
proprietor and had set it loose to
drift down the Coosa. Consequently,
Mr. Wisdom did not recross the river,
but called to a neighbor to tell his
family that he had gone to warn Rome
of its danger. Still in his trusty buggy,
he dashed toward Rome. This was at
3:30 p. m. By changing steeds he
made the 67 miles a few minutes be-
fore midnight, or a little less than
eight hours and a half. Deducting an
hour and a half for changes of horses
and other delays, he negotiated the
hilly, river-crossing journey in about
seven hours, or at the rate of 9.6
miles per hour.*

In the early Revolutionary days
Paul Revere rode from Boston to Con-
cord, Mass., a distance of 18 miles, to
warn the citizens of the approach of
the British soldiers.** His act has been
the subject of song and story for more
than 100 years, while the much more
difficult and daring feat of John H.
Wisdom is known to but a comparative
few in Alabama and Georgia.

Following is the story in Mr. Wis-
dom's own words, beginning when he
returned to the Coosa River at Gads-
den on the afternoon of Saturday, May
2, 1863:***

"It occurred to me at once that I
could beat them to Rome and sound
the alarm. I called across the river
that I was going, and whipped my
horse toward Rome. This was about
3:30 p. m. I dashed by Hoke's Bluff,
Gnatville, Goshen and Spring Garden,
and at the last-named place turned
into the Rome and Jacksonville stage
road, which I had traveled often as
driver of a stage from Rome to the
Alabama town.

"The first 'lap' of the ride was from
the east bank of the river at Gadsden
to Gnatville, 22 miles, which I drove
in my buggy in a little more than two
hours. Here my horse became ex-
hausted and I left him and the buggy
with the Widow Hanks,**** who offered
me a lame pony on my promise to ride
it only five miles, to Goshen, where I
thought I could get another horse. On
account of the pony's condition, I was
obliged to leave him at Goshen, where
I found Simpson Johnson coming in
from his farm. He saddled two horses
and let me ride one, and sent his son
with me on the other horse to bring
both back. I was delayed at Goshen
only a short while, but it was not dark
and I realized I must lose more time
changing steeds.

"We rode the Johnson horses in a
swift gallop eleven miles to the home
of Rev. Joel Weems, above Spring
Garden, Ala., where I was delayed
some time, but finally managed to get
a fresh horse.

"On the next 'lap' I stopped several
times, trying to get a new animal. At
one place I woke up a farmer and told
him what I wanted. He replied gruffly
that I couldn't get any of his horses,
so I rode eleven miles farther to John
Baker's, one mile south of Cave Spring,
and after a short delay mounted an-
other horse and asked him to keep for
the owner the one I had discarded. I
was now in Georgia, and Cave Spring
loomed ahead, then I raced through
Vann's Valley. While going down a
long hill in a sweeping- gallop, Mr.
Baker's horse stumbled and fell, throw-
ing me in an ungraceful sprawl ahead
of him. I got up quickly, remounted
and made off. After proceeding
twelve miles, to within six miles of

*The Courier account stated that Wisdom
arrived at 2 :3() a. m., after a ride of eleven
hours.

** Revere was bound for Concord, hut was
held up about half way, at Lexington, by
British soldiers.

'**Mr. Wisdom lived prior to the war in a
cottage with his mother at Second Avenue and
East Third Street, where B. T. Haynes" home
now stands.

****Her first name was Nancy, it is said.

Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest

173

Rome, I changed horses for the last
time. A gentleman whose name I do
not remember loaned me a horse and I
lost little time entering on the last
'lap.' This horse carried me safely
into Rome, where I arrived at four
minutes before midnight, May 2, 1863.
I thus made the ride of about 67 miles
in slightly less than eight and a half
hours, including delays. Lost time
amounted to about an hour and a
half.

"On arriving in the city I galloped
to the leading hotel, the Etowah
House, then kept by Mr. G. S. Black,
and told him the Yankees were com-
ing. At his request, I rode through
the streets, sounding the alarm and
waking the people. Everybody jump-
ed out of bed, and the excitement was
great. The people ran in all direc-
tions, but under the command of their
leader got down to the business of pil-
ing cotton bales in breastwork style on
the Rome ends of the bridges.

"There were few men in Rome at
the time, most of them having gone
away to war, but those who were left
soon hauled out all the old squirrel
rifles, shot guns and muzzle-loading
muskets that could be found, and di-
vided them among those able to bear
arms.

"The little railroad from Rome to
Kingston fired up the engines and ran
them every 30 minutes in and out of
the city, carrying the news into the
country districts and bringing to town
the farmers with their old battle
pieces.

"The handful of convalescent Con-
federate soldiers in Rome took charge
of the home guard and lined them up
behind the breastworks of cotton. The
Bridge Street (Fifth Avenue) bridge
across the Oostanaula River, a wooden
structure, was filled with hay which
was saturated with turpentine so it
could be fired in case of defeat and
a retreat.

"About sunrise next morning. May
3, (Sunday) six hours after my ar-
rival, Streight's advance guard ap-
peared on Shorter's Hill, one mile west
of Rome. Through their field glasses
they saw the 'fortifications' and the
bustling activity in the town. An old
negro woman, asked if there were any
Confederates around, replied, 'Yassir,
boss, de town am full of sojers!'

"So impressive was the scene that
the advance guard retreated without
any attempt to take the bridge. A few
shots were fired between the sharp-
shooters.

"About 3 or 4 o'clock that after-
noon Forrest marched into Rome with
Streight's command as prisoners.
When the Yankees found out there
had been no real soldiers in Rome, and
that they had been captured by For-
rest's inferior force, they became very
angry, and it was feared that they
would revolt, but Gen. Forrest's fore-
sight in separating officers and men,
imprisoning the officers in the court
house and putting the privates under
guard at the forks of the rivers,
averted trouble.

"It has been erroneously stated that
I was sent to Rome by Gen. Forrest.
I knew nothing of Gen. Forrest's pur-
suit of the raiders until he marched
into Rome with them.

"The people of Rome made me a
present of a silver service valued at
$400, which I now have and prize very
highly. They also gave me $400 in
money and sent the Widow Hanks
$400 for giving me the use of her lame
pony."

According to the oflficial reports of
Col. Abel D. Streight. made after his
escape from Libby prison to Union
headquarters, Aug. 22, 1864, John H.
Wisdom was directly responsible for
his surrender to Gen. Forrest. The
following from Col. Streight's report
is significant:

"After some maneuvering, Forrest
sent in a flag of truce, demanding sur-
render, so I called a council of war. I
had previously learned in the mean-
time, however, that Capt. Milton Rus-
sell had been unable to take the bridge
at Rome. Our condition was can-
vassed, and although personally op-
posed to surrender, and so expressing
myself at the time, yet I yielded to the
unanimous voice of my regimental
commanders, and at about noon of
May 3 we surrendered as prisoners of
war.

Col. Streight continued with the
statement that he had dispatched Capt.
Russell with 200 picked men to take
the Rome bridge, and this officer had
reported that it was held by a formi-
dable force of Confederates, and in
his opinion could not be captured by
the forces available.

Tn one ])art df :in orio-inal ac-
count in his own liatul-writini^-, Ct^l.
Wisdom staled tliat in addition to
five horses, he used one mule. He
recited that Miss l\mma Sanson,
daus-hter of the W'itlow Sanson,
\\h(") lived near T.lack Warrior

174

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Creek l)ridi^e, two miles west of
Gadsden, got up behind Gen. For-
rest on his horse and directed him
to ford the creek after Streight
had burned the bridge. Streight's
rear guard sent a fusillade of bul-
lets tow^ard the double-mounted
horse, and Forrest and Miss San-
son were forced to dismount and
hide behind a bank. The general
finally rode back to the farm house
with the brave girl, then crossed
the ford with his men.

During the delay, Streight's
men had entered Gadsden and be-
gun burning and plundering. They
discovered Col. Wisdom's smoke
house, in which had been stored
a quantity of bacon by a crowd of
refugees from Tennessee. While
Streight's men tried to find the
key to the smoke house and made
preparations to batter down the
door, Forrest's men arrived,
chased them and devoured the ba-
con.

According to Col. Wisdom,
Streight surrendered at Law-
rence's Spring, four miles east of
Cedar Bluff, Cherokee County,
Ala., and 24 miles west of Rome.
He confirms the statement that
spirituous liquor flow^ed pretty
freely in Rome that Sunday : "I
thought a lieutenant would ride
his black mare to death. He kept
riding up and down the Oosta-
naula from Battey's Shoals to
towai and back, to keep the
Yankees from crossing. They
said he w^as 'tight.' "

Gen. Forrest hurried down into
Alabama to engage in a new chase,
w^ithout waiting to attend the pic-
nic Romans had planned for him.
While awaiting orders in Rome for
about four days, Forrest maintain-
ed headquarters at the Choice
House, wdiere the Hotel Forrest
now stands, and the hospitality of
the Temple of Justice a block to
the east was enjoyed by the of-
ficers he had corralled.

TWO FAMOUS RIDES COMPARED.

John H. Wisdom's famous ride, mentioned in the foregoing, is here
compared with Paul Revere's :

PAUL REVERE'S RIDE.

Date— Apr. 19, 1775.

War — Revolutionary.

Starting Point — Charlestown, Mass.

Destination — Concord, Mass.

Place Reached — Lexington, Mass.

Distance — Nine miles.

Time — Two hours, 15 minutes.

Miles per Hour — Four.

How Traveled — Horseback.

Object to Save — Lex. and Concord.

Start of Ride — About 11:45 p. m.

End of Ride— Two a. m.

Horses Used — One.

Road Condition — Fair.

Riding by Dark — Two hours, 15 min.

Riding by Light — None.

Country — Undulating.

JNO. H. WISDOM'S RIDE.

Date— May 2, 1863.
War— Civil.

Starting Point — Gadsden, Ala.
Destination — Rome, Ga.
Place Reached — Rome, Ga.
Distance^Sixty-seven miles.
Time — Eleven hours (814 riding).
Miles per Hour — Eight.
How Traveled — Buggy, horseback.
Object to Save — Rome, Ga.
Start of Ride— About 3:30 p. m.
End of Ride — Two-thirty a. m.
Horses Used — Five (one mule).
Road Condition — Rough.
Riding by Dark — Seven hours.
Riding by Light — Four hours.
Country — Hilly.

CHAPTER V.
Sherman's Army Captures Rome

HE climax to Rome's mili-
tary successes and failures
was Gen. Wm. Tecumseh
vSherman, United States ar-
my, of Ohio. In a chase after Gen.
Jos. E. Johnston from Dalton and
Resaca, the right wing of his ar-
my (14th and 16th corps), under
command of Gen. Jas. Birdseye
McPherson,* also of Ohio, sent its
scouts into Rome May 17, 1864,
after an artillery duel for a day
with Gen. Stuart's defenders.**

Virgil A. Stewart, a sharpshoot-
er wdio helped defend Rome, states
that a spirited resistance was
maintained for a day through the
artillery but the superiority of
the Federal force was so great
that the Confederates were forced
to retire, burning the Fifth Ave-
nue and Broad Street bridges as
they went. From him, Horry
Wimpee, Wm. M. Hardin and
others we get the following gen-
eral description of activities :

Gen. Sherman had sent Garrard's
Cavah-y*'''* dotwn the Oostanaula
River from Resaca, and Gen. Jefferson
C. Davis' division of McPherson's Ar-
my of the Tennessee in support of it.
The Federals were advised that only
a small garrison defended Rome, so
they chose to go against the point of
greatest resistance rather than lose
the time involved in circumvention.
They proceeded down the right or
north bank of the river to Armuchee
creek, where they found the Confed-
erate skirmishers. Shots were ex-
changed and one man was killed, prob-
ably a Confederate.

Cannon had been placed on Fort

*KilIpd while reconnoitericiK near Atlanta
some three months later by a Confocleratc
sharpshooter named McPherson.

♦♦Authority: Virpril A. Stewart. This Stuart
was undoubtedly not Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The
Weekly Courier of Thursday, Aug. .■?!, 18G5,
says May 17 was the day of ;nv<^tment. The
diary of Reuben S. Norton says May 18. It is
likely that the main body of ttie troops entered
on the latter date.

♦♦*The famous Black Horse Troop.

♦♦♦*A trench two or three feet deep can still
be found on the southeastern slope of the water-
works hill : picture of it is shown herein.

Jackson, the city pumping station site,
on the top of a high hill in North
Rome, then known as Fort Norton; on
the ridge crossing the Summerville
road one mile northwest of the court-
house, at the rock quarry, then known
as Fort Attaway, overlooking Little
Dry creek; and on the crest of Myrtle
Hill cemetery, then known as Fort
Stovall. At the foot of Fort Norton
a redoubt was built to impede the
progress of the enemy in any attempt
to scale the heights for a hand-to-
hand encounter. In front of the pres-
ent Second (or Fifth Avenue) Baptist
church, on a slight ridge where John
Ross used to live, was a trench to
which the Confederate infantrymen
fell back after their outposts had been
driven in and Ft. Attaway silenced.****
The second fort to withdraw its fire
was Fort Norton, and its garrison unit
withdrew to points in the city and as-
sisted the remaining unit on Fort Sto-
vall (cemetery hill) to hold out.

Gen. Davis had planted his artillery
on the ridge above and southwest of
Shorter's Spring, being the site of the
new Shorter College, and particularly
the location of the Selkirk home, now
known as "Maplehurst," the residence
of the president of the institution.

The cannonading had started about
daybreak. A column of Confederate
cavalry had skirmished with the Fed-
erals around Little Dry creek, but
these retired before the hosts of Gar-
rard. All but 42 of the non-combatant
population had taken bag and baggage
and selves away from Rome. The
others preferred to remain and em-
brace whatever fate awaited them, for
it might be worse farther down, and
home was home. One of those who
remained was as staunch and militant
a "Rel)cl" as ever lived — Mrs. Lizzie
Roach Hughes, dressmaker and mil-
liner and resident of the P\)urth Ward.
"Miss Lizzie," as she was called all
over Rome, used to do a lot of sewing
for the soldiers, and the day was never
too wet or cold or the night too dark
for her to go foraging ifor "sumpin'
t'eat." Her activities caused many a
gray-jacketed heart to throb grate-
fully. However, there were always
people of low enough conscience and
purpose to tell the invaders what Ro-
mans were the most unflagging in
support of the Southern cause, and

176

A History of Rome and Floyd County

those who were informed upon were
forced to suffer. The Union troops
cultivated "Miss Lizzie," and nuide
life unbearable for her. Their first
meeting: came when the soldiers en-
tered West Rome. Gen. Davis and
several officers "requested" "Miss Liz-
zie" to go with them to the top of the
hill to see if any more Confederates
were on cemetery hill. The Confed-
erates recognized "Miss Lizzie"
through their field glasses, and waved
a flag at her.

"Thank you, 'Miss Lizzie/ " said Gen.
Davis.

In a minute there came a cannon
ball screeching overhead, too close for
conxfort. "Miss Lizzie," mad as a wet
hen, shouted, "So THAT was why you
invited me up here ! Evidently, Gen.
Davis, some of our men ARE left,
and they have the nerve to express
themselves!"

Grabbing up her skirts, "Miss Liz-
zie" ran home, there to find that the
invaders had ransacked everything
had stolen her fowls and her eggs,
and made her brother-in-law a pris-
oner. The man was placed in the cus-
tody of "Miss Lizzie" on her assurance
that his wife was very ill, and on her
promise to make him behave. After
the occupation of Rome, "Miss Lizzie"
got even with the "Yankees" by
charging them top prices for fancy
hats and flowers to send home to
their wives. From an astute old wom-
an of Rome "Miss Lizzie" had learned
to make feathers into artificial flow-
ers. Hidden out at Coosa were a few
white ganders and at Floyd Springs
some guineas and a peafowl or two,
so "Miss Lizzie" went to these places
after material. If she could get a
horse, all right, and if not, she would
walk, five miles, ten miles — it made
no difference. Once she indignantly
refused to let a Northern soldier help
her mount a steed. This exhibition of
lese majeste caused the soldier to call
the corporal of the guard, who es-
corted her with an armed squad to
Gen. Davis' headquarters on Fourth
Avenue. Some more of her privileges
were taken away, including her lib-
erty for a day, but this only served
to make her increase the price of her
wares.

"Miss Lizzie" was also suspected of
furnishing "underground telephone"
information to the Confederates; she
was undoubtedly guilty, as were most
of the other women, and proud of it,
but the "Yankees" couldn't get a thing
on her, so she remained a privileged

character and added greatly to the
drab camp life of the uninvited guests
of Rome.

The cannon of the enemy were
trained almost exclusively on the de-
fending forts, and practically all the
buildings and houses escaped destruc-
tion at that time. No doubt many a
shell could be found buried in the va-
rious hills.* The figures as to losses
are not available, but it is believed
that the casualties were few. While
the bombardment was at its height, B.
G. Salvage, foreman of The Courier
composing room, who had succeeded
Capt. Dwinell as editor while the lat-
ter laid aside editorial pellets for the
real kind, was busy grinding out the
last issue of the paper that Romans
were to receive before Aug. 31, 1865.
The makeshift editor pied his type and
took to swamps and hills. The May
16, 1864, issue is not available, hence
much that took place on that stirring
occasion is forever lost.

However, we are told by the sur-
vivors mentioned above that the Con-
federates withdrew from the last fort
(Stovall) under cover of the dark-
ness of May 16, and took up sniping
positions on Cantrell's Ridge, South
Rome; on Tubbs' Mountain and other
vantage points; also that the invading
skirmishers cautiously entered on May
17 after having crossed the Oosta-
naula at or near Battey's Shoals, and
by noon had advanced their line to
Maiden Lane (now Third Avenue).
On the following day. May 18, after
awaiting orders and packing up, Gen.
Davis' hosts, said to have been parts
of the 14th and 16th Army corps,
numbering pei-haps 30,000 men, cross-
ed the Oostanaula at Printup's wharf,
midway between the Second Avenue
and Fifth Avenue bridges, six abreast
and on pontoon bridges made partly
of church pews. Their heavy wagons
and artillery went over safely. Gen.
Wm. Vandever tarried a short time,
but soon pushed on to Kingston, and
left Gen. John M. Corse in charge of
the garrison of 1,054 men.

The most serious infantry and cav-
alry engagement took place at Fort
Attaway, lasting from 3 to 5 p. m. of
May 16. As the Confederates with-
drew, they took with them everything
that could possibly be used, and de-
stroyed all that might benefit the ene-
my. A Texas regiment is said to have
removed $150,000 in provisions and
clothing from Broad Street stores.

*C. L. Kins, cemetery sexton, has several
which were dug out of graves in Myrtle Hill.

Sherman's Army Captures Rome

177

A PAIR OF GENERALS WHO "DROPPED IN" ON ROME.

At the left is Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, commander of the Garrison, and at right
is Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who spent several days on Fourth Avenue,

The new "tenants" finished the job.
The few pigs, chickens and cows that
were left were eagerly seized and
killed, and it was "every Roman for
himself." Things of no military value
were smashed or burned. "Bulls" got
into the "china shop" of the Buena
Vista Hotel and had a lively time.

Dr. J. M. Gregory had been mayor
the year before. He had refugeed,
but his good wife and her mother,
Mrs. Hutchings, the kindly proprie-
tress, wrung her hands vainly in pro-
test.

Mrs. John Choice remained behind,
cheering the retreating Confederates
as they passed. For the offense of
keeping two buckets of water sitting
at the front of her place to slake the
thirst of the boys in gray, Mrs. Greg-
ory's home was set on fire. The flames
spread over the lower floor, and her
aged mother had to be carried down a
ladder from the second story. The
colored maid, later a resident of Chi-
cago, followed her just as the fire was
entering the room.

Mrs. Samuel Stewart's home on
Eighth Avenue could be seen from
afar, and clothing hung up in a cei--
tain way on the back porch gave sig-
nals to the Confederates. Union sol-
diers went to this home and carried
away everything of value, and poured
ink on Mrs. Stewart's wearing ap-
parel.

A lot of munitions of war and a
cannon or two were thrown into the
Oostanaula above Fifth Avenue by the
Federals, who had more than they
could carry. A little gunpowder and
a few shells found in the arsenal at
Myrtle Hill were destroyed. Zach
Mooney, who had been employed to
help make cannon at the Noble Foun-
dry, took two old pieces and did away
with them; one went "kerchug!" into
the Etowah nearby, and another
splashed into an old well.

The Lumpkin-Holmes-Morris home
on Eighth Avenue was used as a hos-
pital for the wounded Union men. The
Spullock home was made the head-
quarters of Gen. Corse, and Gen. Van-
dever occupied first the Hood-Cum-
niing - Featherston - Rixie home on
Broad, and then the Chas. H. Smith
("Bill Arp") home on Fourth Ave-
nue, which was used successively by
Gens. Jefl'erson C. Davis and Wm. T.
Sherman. A Gen. Cox is also men-
tioned as having had charge foi- a
short time at Rome.

Horry Wimiiee and many others
unite in praising Gens. Vandever and
Davis as kind - hearted gentlemen
whose treatment of Ronuins was all
that could have been expected. Gen.
Sherman ajipears not to have engaged
in any atrocities at Rome. As for
Gen. Corse, he was not possessed of
the amenities bestowed upon the oth-
ers; early in his career at Konie he

178

A History of Rome and Floyd County

caused the handsome Hawkins home
on the Lindale road to be burned be-
cause a crowd of his foragers were
ambushed at that spot. He was a
stubborn fighter, however; when near-
ly overwhelmed by Gen. S. G. French
at Allatoona, he signalled Gen. Sher-
man: "I am short a cheek bone and
part of an ear, but am able to whip
all hell yet!"

Gen. Sherman entered Rome from
Kingston Oct. 12, 1864, on a chase
after Gen. Hood, who, after the fall
of Atlanta Sept. 2, rambled all over
the old Cherokee nation in Georgia,
Alabama and Tennessee, and proved
as elusive as a Jack-o-Lantern. Hood
had marched down the south bank of
the Etowah, passing through or close
to Cave Spring, and crossing the
Coosa at Veal's Ferry, near the vil-
lage of Coosa. He flitted through
Texas Valley on the northwestern side
of Lavender Mountain, with the pur-
pose of destroying the W. & A. railroad
and cutting off Sherman's supplies
from Chattanooga. Part of Hardee's
corps went to Mt. Pleasant Methodist
church (now Oreburg) , turned to the
left at Farmer's bridge, Armuchee
Creek, and then went through Floyd
Springs to Chattooga County, and
hauled up near Dalton ; Gen. Stuart's*
corps penetrated Robinson's gap, Lav-
ender Mountain, then went through
Texas Valley and crossed Little Ar-
muchee Creek at Echols' Mill. A junc-
tion of some of the units was ef-
fected near Resaca and Hood demand-
ed the surrender of the garrison there,
but was refused.

Hood had crossed the Coosa Oct. 10
and left a part of Harrison's Brigade
(being the 8th and 11th Texas Regi-
ments, the 3rd Arkansas and the 4th
Tennessee) strung from Lavender Mt.
to Veal's Ferry; also Stuart's corps of
four regiments at Sardis church,
Coosa. A feint on Rome Nov. 12 from
1,200 to 1,500 of these troops so alarm-
ed Gen. Sherman that he wired At-
lanta that Hood was turning back on
the Hill City, and ordered 50,000 men
from At'anta rushed to his aid!** This
order was countermanded later when
Sherman learned that Hood's main
force was bearing down on Resaca.
Sherman went on to Resaca the night
of Oct. 12 and left Corse in charge at
Rome; and Corse scouted into the
Coosa Valley and brought back some
prisoners and guns.

Gen. Sherman returned to Rome the
night of Oct. 28 with his staff, and
again perched himself on Fourth Ave-
nue ; and for four days and a half,

until the morning of Nov. 2, directed
operations from that point. On this
occasion he was returning after a
chase with Hood which had taken him
down the Chattooga Valley to Gayles-
ville, Ala. The grizzled West Pointer
exhibited considerable chagi-in that he
had been unable to corner the South-
ern army and wipe it out with his
superior force. On the retreat from
Dalton, Gen. Johnston had scarcely
lost a prisoner or a gun, nor had he
left behind many loaves or fishes for
the Federals to feed upon. As for
Hood, his baggage was so light that
he moved like the wind. Finally Sher-
man gave up the chase, and set his
course for the sea. The evacuation of
Rome started Nov. 10, 1864, and was
completed by 9 a. m. of Nov. 11. Act-
ing on orders from Sherman, then at
Kingston, Gen. Corse burned all the
mills and factories and some other es-
tablishments that might be of use to
the Confederates.

The burning took place on the night
of November 10. Never had a scene
of such wantonness and misery been
presented to Rome. Dry goods boxes
and trash were piled high in stores
and set off, and the crackling of the
timbers furnished a melancholy echo
to the wails of women and children.
Soldiers ran from place to place with
fii-ebrands in their hands, setting the
places designated here, and perfectly
harmless places there. Necessarily
the stores and shops next to the con-
demned improvements went up in
smoke. With hundreds of bayonets
bristling, the 40 steadfast male Ro-
mans could do nothing but watch and
allow their souls to fill with regret.

Here are some of the Broad Street
or central establishments which were
destroyed; both depots, Cunning-
ham's cotton warehouse, the bank,
David J. Meyerhardt's store house,
Daniel R. Mitchell's houses, the Eto-
wah Hotel (then at Howard Street,
or Second Avenue). Cohen's gr'jst
mill on Silver Creek, between East
Rome and South Rome burnt mer-
rily. The great brick smoke stacks
of the Noble Foundry were blown
up with powder blasts, and the build-
ings then fired. Only isolated struc-
tures escaped, until there was
no place much to do business, and
less business to do than places. A
livery stable caught, and the odor of
burning horseflesh could be detected
for several blocks. The whinnies of
the horses told of their awful plight.

*Not J. E. B. Stuart.
♦♦Authority : Wm. M. Hardin.

Sherman's Army Captures Rome

179

With this kind of a gesture, Gen.
Corse bade farewell to Rome. . Had
he fiddled as well, the picture could
have been little less complete. There
was more work for him to do. As
Sherman left Kingston, he said:
"Corse, the torch." It was not always
Corse who happened to be convenient.
Gen. Davis was hard by when Gen.
Sherman on Nov. 21 found himself on

*Gen. Sherman no doubt traversed after tlie
war a considerable part of his course throii-jh
Georgia., to verify data for his book. He was
interested in the Tecumseh Iron Works at Te-
cumseh, Cherokee Co., Ala., two miles north of
Borden-Wheeler Springs, and the manager of
that concern. Gen. Willard Warner, a member
of Gen. Sherman's staff, used to buy largj quan-
tities of goods through the wholesile grocery
house of IBerrys & Co. (later Montgomery, IVIe-
Laurin & Co.), of Rome. On one occasion,
about 18S0, Gen. Sherman came indnnounced
to Rome, and spent some little time waiting to
change trains at the Rome Railroad depot,
going to or coming from Tecumseh. Several
Romans recognized him by his stubby chin dec-
orations and shook hands with him. It was
too soon after the war, however, and most of
the little crowd contented themselves with a
look and grunt from a distance, and voted him
the ugliest mortal they had ever daen.

the Howell Cobb plantation in middle
Georgia. Hardly a scrap of that place
was spared, becau.se Cobb had just
left a cabinet position at Washington.
Although it is popularly accepted
that Sherman's March to the Sea
started at 7 a. m., Nov. 15, from At-
lanta, the preliminaries were staged
at Rome, Kingston, Cartersville and
other points north of the capital.

The stern injunction, "Leave
not a blade of grass that a grass-
hopper could subsist upon !" was
likewise applicable to the conduct
of the army in the upper section
of the state.

It was a devastating scourge,
this march ; it left many a wrecked
fortune, bleeding heart and broken
spirit, but it was also the forerun-
ner of a new era of development
and progress for the entire South-
land.

180

jA History of Rome and Floyd County

CHAPTER VI.
Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

X DEFERKNCR to the
feelings and preferences of
a large majority of readers,
an effort was made to ob-
tain a complete and accurate ac-
count of the troop movements
around Rome, written from the
Southern viewpoint. Gen. Jos. R.
Johnston's story was consulted,
but it contained such a scanty ref-
erence to Rome that it was con-
sidered unavailable for the pur-
pose. Other works that have fal-
len under the notice of the author
have likewise failed to satisfy the
curiosity for details, hence the ac-
count by Gen. Sherman is present-
ed herewith, in the belief that the
fairness and accuracy of it will
commend it to all. The extracts
are from the "Memoirs of Gen.
Wm. T. Sherman, Vol. II (D. Ap-
pleton & Co., New York, N. Y.,
1875).

On the 18th day of March, 1864, at
Nashville, Tenn., I relieved Lt. Gen.
Ulysses S. Grant in command of the
Military Division of the Mississippi,
embracing the Departments of the
Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and
Arkansas, commanded respectively by
Maj. Gens. Schofield, Thomas, Mc-
Pherson and Steele. General Grant
was in the act of starting east to as-
sume command of all the Armies of
the United States, but more particu-
larly to give direction in person to
the Armies of the Potomac and James
operating against Richmond.

In the early part of April I was
much disturbed by a bold raid made
by the rebel General Forrest between
the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers.
He reached the Ohio River at Padu-
cah, but was handsomely repulsed by
Colonel Hicks. He then swung
down toward Memphis, massacring
a part of its garrison, composed
wholly of negro ti'oops. No doubt
Forrest's men acted like a set
of barbarians, shooting down the help-
less negro garrison, but I am told that
Forrest personally disclaims any
active participation in tiie assault and
that he stopped the firing as soon as

he could. I was told by hundreds of
our men, who were at various times
prisoners in Forrest's possession, that
he was usually very kind to them.

Writing' from Nashville head-
quarters Apr. 10, 1864, Gen. Sher-
man outlined to Gen. Grant at
Washington some of the plans for
his campaign against Atlanta, via
Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Rome,
Cartersville, Kingston, Allatoona
and Marietta :

McPherson will have nine divisions
of the Army of the Tennessee; if A. J.
Smith gets here he will have full 30,-
000 of the best men in America. He
will cross the Tennessee at Decatur
and Whitesburg, march toward Rome
and feel for Thomas. If Johnston
falls behind the Coosa, then McPher-
son will push for Rome, and if John-
ston falls behind the Chattahoochee,
as I believe he will, then McPherson
will cross over and join Thomas.

On Apr. 28, Gen. Sherman re-
moved his headquarters to Chatta-
nooga, and on May 5 he took the
field personally and marched with
about 100,000' men into Georgia
against Gen. Johnston, who re-
treated from rX'illini after a brief
skirmish stand.

On May 11 the Federal com-
mander, then at Tunnel Hill. Whit-
field County, ordered Gen. McPher-
son, in Sugar Valley, to anticipate
Gen. Johnston's evacuation of Dal-
ton by sending On. Garrard by
Summerville to threaten Rome antl
that flank. Instead of taking the
small Confederate garrison at Re-
saca. G.ordon County, Gen. Mc-
riicrson fell back into a defensive
position in Sugar X'alley. on the
Resaca side of Snake Creek Gap.
Sherman continues :

Johnston, as 1 anticipated, had
abandoned all iiis weil-pri'pared de-
fenses at Dalton and was found inside
(.f Resaca with tlie bulk of his army,
holding his divisions well in hand,
acting purely on the defensive, and

182

A History of Rome and Floyd County

fighting well at all points of conflict.
A complete line of entrenchments was
found covering the place, and this was
strongly manned at all points. On the
14th we closed in, enveloping the town
on its north and west, and during the
15th we had a continual day of battle
and skirmish. At the same time I
caused two pontoon bridges to be laid
across the Oostanaula river at Lay's
Ferry, about three miles below the
town, by which we could threaten Cal-
houn, a station on the railroad seven
miles below Resaca. I also dispatched
Oen. Garrard with his cavalry di-
vision down the Oostanaula by the
Rome road, with orders to cross over,
if possible, and to attack or threaten
the railroad at any point below Cal-
houn and above Kingston.

During the 15th, without attempt-
ii'.g to assault the fortified works, we
pressed at all points, and the sound
of cannon and musketry rose all day
to the dignity of a battle. Toward
evening McPherson moved his whole
line of battle forward, till he had
gained a ridge overlooking the town,
from which his field artillery could
reach the railroad bridge across the
Oostanaula. The enemy made several
attempts to drive him away, but in
every instance he was repulsed with
bloody loss.

Hooker's Corps had also had some
heavy and handsome fighting that aft-
ernoon and night on the left, where
the Dalton road entered the entrench-
ments, capturing a 4-gun entrenched
battery, with its men and guns; and
generally all our men showed the finest
fighting qualities. Howard's Corps
had followed Johnston dovvm from
Dalton and was in line; Stoneman's
Division of Cavalry had also got up,
and was on the extreme left, beyond
the Oostanaula. On the night of May
15 Johnston got his army across the
bridges, set them on fire and we en-
tered Resaca at daylight. Our loss
up to that time was about 600 dead
and 3,375 wounded.

That Johnston had deliberately de-
signed in advance to give up such
strong positions as Dalton and Resaca,
for the purpose of drawing us farther
South, is simply absurd. Had he re-
mained in Dalton another hour it
would have been his total defeat, and
he only evacuated Resaca because his
safety demanded it. The movement
by us through Snake Creek Gap was
a total surprise to him. My army
about doubled his in size, but he had
all the advantage of natural positions,
of artificial forts and roads, and of

concentrated action. We were com-
pelled to grope our way through for-
ests, across mountains with a large
army, necessarily more or less dis-
persed.

Johnston having retreated, imme-
diate pursuit was begun. A division
of infantry (Jefferson C. Davis') was
at once dispatched down the valley
toward Rome, to support Garrard's
Cavalry, and the whole army was or-
dered to pursue — McPherson by Lay's
Ferry, on the right, Thomas "directly
by the railroad, and Schofield by the
left, by the old road that crossed the
Oostanaula above Echota or Nevrtown.
We hastily repaired the railroad
bridge at Resaca, which had been par-
tially burned, and built a temporary
floating bridge out of timber and ma-
terials found on the spot, so that
Thomas got his advance corps over
during the 16th, and marched as far
as Calhoun, where he came into com-
munication with McPherson's troops,
which had crossed the Oostanaula at
Lay's Ferry by our pontoon bridges
previously laid. Inasmuch as the
bridge at Resaca was overtaxed,
Hooker's Twentieth Corps was also
diverted to cross by the fords and
ferries above Resaca, in the neighbor-
hood of Echota.

On the 17th, toward evening, the
head of Thomas' column, Newton's Di-
vision, encountered the rear guard of
Johnston's Army near Adairsville. I
was near the head of the column at
the time, trying to get a view of the
position of the enemy from an eleva-
tion in an open field. My party at-
tracted the fire of a battery; a shell
passed through the group of staff of-
ficers and burst just beyond, which
scattered us promptly. The next
morning the enemy had disappeared,
and our pursuit was continued to
Kingston, which we reached during
Sunday afternoon, the 19th.

From Resaca the railroad runs
nearly due south, but at Kingston it
makes junction with another railroad
from Rome, and changes direction due
east (west). At that time McPher-
son's head of column was about four
miles to the west of Kingston, at a
country place called "Woodlawn;"
Schofield and Hooker were on the di-
rect roads leading from Newtown to
Cassville, diagonal to the i-oute fol-
lowed by Thomas. Thomas' head of
column, which had followed the coun-
try roads alongside of the railroad,
was about four miles east of Kingston,
toward Cassville. About noon I got
a message from him that he had found

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

183

the enemy drawn up in line of battle
on some extensive, open gi'ound, about
half-way between Kingston and Cass-
ville, and that appearances indicated
a willingness and preparation for bat-
tle.

Hurriedly sending orders to Mc-
Pherson to resume the march, to
hasten forward by roads leading to
the south of Kingston, so as to leave
for Thomas' troops and trains the use
of the main road, and to come up on
his right, I rode forward rapidly over
some rough gravel hills, and about six
miles from Kingston found Gen.
Thomas with his troops deployed ; but
he reported that the enemy had fallen
back in echelon of divisions, steadily
and in superb order, into Cassville.

I knew that the roads by which
Gens. Hooker and Schofield were ap-
proaching would lead them to a sem-
inary near Cassville, and that it was
all-important to secure the point of
junction of these roads with the main
road along which we were marching.
Therefore, I ordered Gen. Thomas to
push forward his deployed lines as
rapidly as possible, and as night was
approaching, I ordered two field bat-
teries to close up at a gallop on some
woods which lay between us and the
town of Cassville. We could not see
the towTi by reason of these woods,
but a high range of hills just back of
the town was visible over the tree tops.
On these hills could be seen fresh-
made parapets and the movement of
men, against whom I directed the ar-
tillery to fire at long range.

The stout resistance made by the
enemy along our whole front of a
couple of miles indicated a purpose to
fight at Cassville, and as the night
was closing in. Gen. Thomas and I
were together, along with our skirmish
lines near the seminary, on the edge
of the town, where musket bullets
from the enemy were cutting the
leaves of the trees pretty thickly
about us. We went back to the bat-
tery, where we passed the night on
the ground.

*The wonderful cave visited in 1835 by John
Howard Payne. Col. Mark A. Hardin, mem-
bei- of Morgan's Cavalry, had houjrht it in
IKGl, and with several hundreds of slaves work-
inpT, had sent (luantities of nitre to Knoxville
to make (gunpowder for the Confederate Army.
He refused an offer of .$100,000 for the cave,
and shortly afterward, it was seized by the
Confederate Covernment, which was in charge
when (ien. Sherman captured it. Authority:
Miss Virginia Hardin, of Atlanta. It is said
this cave's tributaries extend several miles, and
that they have never been thoroughly explored.
The place is visited yearly by thousands, nota-
bly by the Boy Scouts.

During the night I had reports from
McPherson, Hooker and Schofield. The
former was about five miles to my
right rear, near the "nitre caves;""
Schofield was about six mils:, north
and Hooker between us, within two
miles. All were ordered to clos'i down
on Cassville at daylight, and to attack
the enemy wherever found. Skirmish-
ing was kept up all night, but when
day broke the next morning. May
20th, the enemy was gone, and our
cavalry was sent in pursuit. These
reported him beyond the Etowah Riv-
er. We were then well in advance of
our railroad trains, so I determined
to pause a few days to repair the rail-
road.

Nearly all the people of the coun-
try seemed to have fled with John-
ston's Army, yet some few families
remained, and from one of them I pro-
cured a copy of an order which John-
ston had made at Adairsville in which
he recited that he had retreated as
far as strategy required, and that his
army must be prepared for battle at
Cassville. The newspapers of the
South, many of which we found, were
loud in denunciation of Johnston's
failing back before us without a se-
rious battle, simply resisting by his

COL. THOMAS W. ALEXANDKR, once M.iyor
of Rome, in the uniform he wore as a Con-
federate Army officer.

184

A History of Rome and Floyd County

skirmish line and rear guard. But
his friends proclaimed that it was all
strategic, that he was deliberately
drawing us farther and farther into
the meshes, farther and farther away
from our base of supplies, and that
in due season he would not only halt
for battle, but assume the bold offen-
sive.

Of course it was to my interest to
bring him to battle as soon as possi-
ble, when our numerical superiority
was at the greatest; for he was pick-
ing up his detachments as he fell
back, whereas I was compelled to make
similar and stronger detachments to
repair the railroads as we advanced,
and to guard them. I found at Cass-
ville many evidences of preparation
for a grand battle, among them a
long line of fresh entrenchments on
the hill beyond the town, extending
nearly three miles to the south, eii-
bracing the railroad crossing. I was
also convinced that the whole of Polk's
corps had joined Johnston from Mis-
sissippi, and that he had in hand three
full corps, viz.. Hood's, Polk's and Har-
dee's, numbering about 60,000 men,
and could not then imagine why he
had declined battle, and did not learn
the real reason till after the wai: was
over, and then from Gen. Johnston
himself.

In the autumn of 1865, when in
command of the Military Division of
the Mis.souri, I went from St. Louis
to Little Rock, Ark., and afterward
to Memphis. Taking a steamer for
Cairo, I found as fellow passengers
Gens. Johnston and Frank Blair. We
were, of course, on the most friendly
terms, and on our way up we talked
over our battles again, played cards,
and ouestioned each other as to par-
ticular parts of our mutual conduct
in the game of war. I told Johnston
that I had seen his order of prepara-
tion, in the nature of an address to
his army, announcing his purpose to
retreat no more, but to accept battle
at Cassville. He answered that such
was his purpose; that he had left
Hardee's corps in the open fields to
check Thomas and gain time for his
formations on the ridge, just behind
Cassville; and it was this corps that
Gen. Thomas had seen deployed, and
whose handsome movement in retreat
he had reported in such complimenta-
ry terms. Johnston described how he
had placed Hood's Corps on the right,
Polk's in the center and Hardee's on
the left. He said he had ridden over
the ground, given to each corps com-
mander his position and orders to

throw up parapets during the night;
that he was with Hardee on his ex-
treme left as the night closed in, and
as Hardee's troops fell back to the
position assigned them for the intend-
ed battle of the next day; and that
after giving Hardee some general in-
structions he and his staff rode back
to Cassville. As he entered the town,
or village, he met Gens. Hood and
Polk. Hood inquired of him if he had
had anything to eat, and he said no,
that he was both hungry and tired,
when Hood invited him to go and share
a supper which had been prepared for
him at a house close by.

At the supper they discussed the
chances of the impending battle, when
Hood spoke of the ground assigned to
him as being enfiladed by our (Union)
artillery, which Johnston disputed,
when Gen. Polk chimed in with the
remark that Gen. Hood was right;
that the cannon shots fired .by us
at nightfall had enfiladed their gen-
eral line of battle, and for this reason
he feared they could not hold their
men. Gen. Johnston was surprised at
this, for he understood Gen. Hood to
be one of those who professed to crit-
icize his strategy, contending that, in-
stead of retreating, he should have
risked a battle. Gen. Johnston said
he was provoked, accused them of
having been in conference, with be-
ing beaten before battle, and added
that he was unwilling to engage in
a critical battle with an army so su-
perior to his own in numbers, with
two of his three corps commanders
dissatisfied with the ground and posi-
tions assigned them. He then and there
made up his mind to retreat still far-
ther South, to put the Etowah River
and the Allatoona Range between us;
and he at once gave orders to resume
the retrograde movement.

This was my recollection of the sub-
stance of the conversation, of which I
made no note at the time; but at a
meeting of the Society of the Army
of the Cumberland some years after,
at Cleveland, O., about 1868, in a short
after-dinner speech I related this con-
versation, and it got into print. Sub-
sequently, in the spring of 1870, when
I was at New Orleans, en route for
Texas, Gen. Hood called to see me
at the St. Charles Hotel, explained
that he had seen my speech reprint-
ed in the newspapers and gave me his
version of the same event. He stated
that he had argued against fighting
the battle purely on the defensive, but
had asked Gen. Johnston to permit him
with his own corps and part of Polk's

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

185

to quit their lines and to march rapid-
ly to attack and overwhelm Schofield,
who was known to be separated from
Thomas by an interval of nearly five
miles, claiming that he could have de-
feated Scho^'ield and got back to his
position in time to meet Gen. Thomas'
attack in front. He also stated that
he had contended with Johnston for
the "offensive-defensive" game, instead
of the pure "defensive," as proposed
by Gen. Johnston; and he said it was
at this time that Gen. Johnston had
taken offense, and that it was for this
reason that he had ordered the retreat
that night. As subsequent events es-
tranged these two officers, it is very
natural they should now differ on this
point; but it was sufficient for us that
the rebel army did retreat that night,
leaving us masters of all the country
above the Etowah River.

For the purposes of rest, to give
time for the repair of the railroads
and to replenish supplies, we lay by
some few days in that quarter — Scho-
field with Stoneman's cavalry holding
the gi'ound at Cassville Depot, at
Cartersville, and the Etowah Bridge;
Thomas holding his ground near Cass-
ville, and McPherson that near King-
ston. The officer intrusted with the
repair of the railroads was Col. W.
W. Wright, a railroad engineer, who,
with about 2,000 men, was so indus-
trious and skillful that the bridge at
Resaca was rebuilt in three days, and
cars loaded with stores came forward
to Kingston on the 24th. The tele-
graph also brought us the news of the
desperate and bloody battles of the
Wilderness, in Virginia, and that Gen.
Grant was pushing his operations
against Lee with terrific energy. I
was therefore resolved to give my
enemy no rest.

In early days, 1844, when a lieu-
tenant of the Third Artillery, I had
been sent from Charleston, S. C, to
Marietta, Ga., to assist Inspector Gen-
eral Churchill to take testimony con-
cerning certain losses of horses and
accoutrements by the Georgia Volun-
teers during the Florida War; and
after completing the work at Mainetta
we transferred our party over to
Bellefonte, Ala. I had ridden the dis-
tance on horseback, and had noted well
the topography of the country, espe-
cially that about Kennesaw, Allatoona
and the Etowah River. On that oc-
casion I had stopped some days with
a Colonel Tumlin," to see some remark-
able Indian mounds on the Etowah
River, usually called the "Hightower."

*Lewis Tumlin.

I therefore knew that the Allatoona
Pass was very strong, would be hard
to force, and resolved not even to at-
tempt it, but to turn the position by
moving from Kingston to Marietta via
Dallas; accordingly, I made orders on
May 20 to get ready for the march
to begin on the 23d. The army of
the Cumberland was ordered to march
for Dallas, by Euharlee and Stiles-
boro; Davis's Division, then at Rome,
by Van Wert; the Army of the Ohio
to keep on the left of Thomas, by a
place called Burnt Hickory; and the
Army of the Tennessee to march for
a position a little to the South, so as
to be on the right of the general army
when grouped about Dallas. The move-
ment contemplated leaving our rail-
road, and to depend for 20 days on
the contents of our wagons; and as
the country was very obscure, mostly
in a state of nature, densely wooded
and with few roads, our movements
were necessarily slow. We crossed
the Etowah by several bridges and
fords, and took as many roads as pos-
sible, keeping up communication by
cross-roads, or by couriers through
the woods. I personally joined Gen.
Thomas, who had the center, and was
consequently the main column, or "col-
umn of direction." The several col-
umns followed generally the Valley of
the Euharlee, a tributary coming into
the Etowah from the South, and grad
ually crossed over a ridge of moun-
tains, parts of which had been work-
ed over for gold, and were conse-
quently full of paths and unused
wagon roads or tracks.

A "cavalry picket" of the enemy at
Burnt Hickory was captured and had
on his person an order from Gen.
Johnston, dated at Allatoona, which
showed that he had detected my pur-
pose of turning his position, and it
accordingly became necessary to use
great caution, lest some of the minor
columns should fall into ambush, but,
luckily, the enemy was not much more
familiar with that part of the coun-
try than we were. On the other side
of the .\llatoona Range, the Pumpkin-
Vine Creek, also a tril)utary of the
Etowah, flowed north and west; Dal-
las, the point aimed at, was a small
town on the other, or cast side of this
creek, and was a point of concentra-
tion of a great many roads that led
in every direction. Its possession would
be a threat to Marietta and Atlanta,
but I could not then venture to at-
t(>mpt either, till I had regained use
of the railroad, at least as far down
as its debouch from the Allatoona

186

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Range of mountains. Therefore, the
movement was chiefly designed to com-
pel Johnston to give up Allatoona.

In his description of the "drawn
battle" of New Hope Church at
Dallas, Paulding County, May 26,
Gen. Sherman notes that Gen. Jef-
ferson C. Davis' Federal Garrison
or Division of the Fourteenth Ar-
my Corps had left Rome and come
to his assistance. He says he or-
dered Gen. Hooker to capture the
New Hope position the night of
the 25th, if possible, and goes on:

The woods were so dense and the
resistance so spirited that Hooker
could not carry the position, though
the battle was noisy and prolonged
far into the night. From the bloody
fighting there for the next week it
was called by the soldiers "Hell-Hole."
The night was pitch-dark, it rained
hard and the convergence of our col-
umns toward Dallas produced much
confusion. I am sure similar confusion
existed in the army opposed to us, for
we were all mixed up. I slept on the
ground without cover, alongside of ;.
log, got little sleep, resolved at day-
light to renew the battle. The battle
was renewed, and without success. A
continual battle was in progress by
strong skirmish lines taking advan-
tage of every species of cover, and
both parties fortifying each night by
rifle-trenches, with head-logs. Occ;
sionally one party or the other would
make a dash in the nature of a sally,
but usually it sustained a repulse with
gTeat loss of life. I visited personally
all parts of cur lines nearly every
day, was constantly within musket
range, and though the fire of mus-
ketry and cannon resounded day and
night along the whole line, I rarely
saw a dozen of the enemy at one
time, and these were always skirmish-
ers, dodging from tree to tree, or be-
hind logs on the ground, or who oc-
casionally showed their heads above
the hastily-constructed but remark-
ably strong rifle-trenches. On the oc-
casion of my visit to McPherson on the
30th of May, while standing with a
group of officers, among whom were
Gens. McPherson, Logan and Barry,
and Col. Taylor, my former chief of
artillery, a Minie ball passed through
Logan's coat sleeve, scratching the
skin, and struck Col. Taylor square
in the breast; luckily, he had in his
pocket a famous memorandum book in
which he kept a sort of diary, about
which we used to joke him a good deal;

its thickness saved his life, breaking
the force of the ball.

Next are chronicled the bat-
tles before the fall of Atlanta,
Sept. 2, 1864. Gen. Johnston had
now been succeeded in command
in Georgia by Gen. John B. Hood,
and Hood led Sherman a merry
chase back toward Rome and over
a considerable part of the terri-
tory that had been traversed on
the drive down. Atlanta was or-
dered evacuated by the civilian
population, and in reply to pro-
tests. Gen. Sherman wrote Gen.
H. W. Halleck, chief of staff, at
Washington :

If the people raise a howl against
my barbarity and cruelty, I will an-
swer that war is war, and not pop-
ularity-seeking. If they want peace,
they and their relatives must stop the
war.

By date Sept. 28, 1864, Gen. Hal-
leck wrote Gen. Sherman, "I
wotdd destroy every mill and fac-
tory within reach that I did not
want for my own use. This the
rebels have done, not only in Ma-
ryland and Pennsylvania, but also
in Virginia and other rebel states,
when compelled to fall back before
our armies. In many sections of
the country they have not left a
mill to grind grain for their own
suffering families, lest we might
use them to supply our armies. We
must do the same."*

Hearing that Gen. Joe Wheel-
er's Confederate Cavalry was
threatening the railroad commti-
nications in Middle Tennessee and
that Gen. Forrest was coming up
from Mississippi to join him, Gen.
Sherman ordered Newton's di-
vision of the Fourth Army Corps
back to Chattanooga, Corse's di-
vision of the Seventeenth Corps
back to Rome, and warned other
commands to watch out.

"I take it for gi'anted that Forrest
will cut our road, but think we can
prevent him from making a serious

*This message was received at Rome.

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

187

lodgment," wired '^•en. Sherman Sept.
29, 1864, to Gen. Halleck. "His cav-
alry will travel a hundred miles where
ours will ten. I have sent two divis-
ions up to Chattanooga and one to
Rome. Our roads should be watched
from the rear. I prefer for the fu-
ture to make the movement on Mil-
len, Milledgeville and Savannah. Hood
now rests 24 miles south, on the Chat-
tahoochee, with his right on the West
Point road. I can whip his infantry,
but his cavalry is to be feared."

The Union army under com-
mand of Gen. Sherman had been
radically reconstituted, and he
claimed 60,000 infantry and artil-
lery, with two small divisions of
cavalry, in the pursuit after Gen.
Hood, whose forces he estimated
at 35,000 to 40,000 men, including-
abotit 3,000 of cavalry under Gen.
Wheeler.

"We had strong railroad guards at
Marietta and Kennesaw, Allatoona,
Etowah Bridge, Kingston, Rome, Re-
saca, Dalton, Ringgold and Chatta-
nooga," continues the Sherman nar-
rative. "All the important bridges
were likewise protected by good block
houses, admirably constructed, and
capable of a strong defense against
cavalry or infantry We crossed the
Chattahoochee River during the 3rd
and 4th of October, rendezvoused at
the old battlefield of Smyrna Camp,
and the next day reached Marietta
and Kennesaw. On the 4th of Octo-
ber I signalled from Vining's Station
to Kennesaw, and from Kennesaw to
Allatoona, over the heads of the enemy,
a message to Gen. Corse at Rome, to
hurry back to the assistance of the
garrison at Allatoona, which was held
by a small brigade commanded by
Lieut. Col. Tourtelotte, my present
aide de camp, who had two small re-
doubts on either side of the railroad,
overlooking the village of Allatoona
and the warehouses, in which were
stored over a million rations of bread."

Here he comes to the Big Shan-
ty neighborhood :

Reaching Kennesaw Mountain about
8 a. m. of Oct. 5 (a beautiful day),
I had a superb view of the vast pan-
orama to the north and west. To the
southwest, aboiK Dallas, could bo seen
the smoke of camp-fires, indicating
the presence of a large force of the
enemy, and the whole line of railroad
from Big Shanty up to Allatoona (full
fifteen miles) was mai'ked by the fires

of the burning railroad. We could
plainly see the smoke of battle about
Allatoona and hear the faint reverber-
ation of the cannon.

The signal officer on Kennesaw re-
ported that since daylight he had fail-
ed to obtain any answer to his call
for Allatoona; but while I was with
him he caught a faint glimpse of the
tell-tale flag through an embrasure
and after much time he made out
these letters: "C," "R," "S." "E,"
"H," "E," "R," and translated the mes-
sage, "Corse is here."

Later in the afternoon the signal
flag announced that the attack at Al-
latoona had been fairly repulsed. The
next day my aide. Col. L. M. Dayton,
received this characteristic despatch
from Gen. Corse at Allatoona : "I am
short a cheekbone and an ear, but am
able to whip all hell yet! My losses
are very heavy. A force moving from
Stilesboro to Kingston gives me some
anxiety. Tell me where Sherman is."

Inasmuch as the enemy had retreat-
ed southwest and would probably next
appear at Rome, I ordered Gen. Corse
to get back to Rome with his troops
as quickly as possible. Gen. Corse's
report of his fight at Allatoona is
very full and graphic. It is dated
Rome, Oct. 27, 1864; recites the fact
that he received his orders by signal
to go to the assistance of Allatoona on
the 4th, when he telegraphed to Kings-
ton for cars, and a train of 30 empty
cars was started for him, but about
ten of them got off the track and
caused delay. By 7 p. m. he had at
Rome a train of 20 cars, which he
loaded up with Col. Rowett's Brigade
and part of the Twelfth Illinois In-
fantry; started at 8 p. m., reached
Allatoona (35 miles) at 1 a. m. of
the 5th and sent the train back for
more men; but the road was in bad
order and no more came in time.

The gallant Major Gen. S. G.
French, commanding some 4,000
Confederates, surrounded the 2.0(X)
Federals under Gen. Corse and Col.
Tourtelotte, and sent in a demand
for surrender "to avoid a needless
effusion of l)loo(l." Gen. Corse re-
fused to surrender ; he was badly
wounded ; Gen. French withdrew
at the approach of a superior force
from Sherman's army. A bullet
cut across Gen. C(irse's face and
pimctured one of his ears ; Col.
Tourtelotte was shot through the

188

A History of Rome and Floyd County

hips, but continued to command ;
Col. Redlield, of the 39th Iowa
regiment, was killed, and Col.
Rowett, also of the Union army,
was wounded. Corse's casualties
were 707, or more than one-third
of his command, (icn. Sherman's
account continues :

In person I reached Allatoona on
the 9th of October, still in doubt as
to Hood's immediate intentions. Our
cavalry could do little ag:ainst his in-
fantry in the rough and wooded coun-
try about Dallas, which masked the
enemy's movements; but Gen. Corse,
at Rome, with Spencer's First Ala-
bama Cavalry and a mounted regi-
ment of Illinois Infantry, could feel
the country south of Rome about
Cedartown and Villa Rica, and report-
ed the enemy to be in force at both
places. On the 9th I telegraphed to
Gen. Thomas at Nashville, as follows:

"I came up here to relieve our road.
The Twentieth Corps remains at At
lanta. Hood reached the road and
broke it up between Big Shanty and
Acworth. He attacked Allatoona, but
was repulsed. We have plenty of bread
and meat, but forage is scarce. I want
to destroy all the road below Chatta-
nooga, including Atlanta, and to make
for the seacoast. We can not defend
this long line of road.

And on the same day I telegraplied
to Gen. Grant at City Point, Va.:

"It will be a physical impossibility
to protect the roads, now that Hood,
Forrest, Wheeler and the whole patch
of devils are turned loose without
home or habitation. I think Hood's
movements indicate a diversion to the
end of the Selma & Talladega road, at
Blue Mountain, about 60 miles south-
west of Rome, from which he will
threaten Kingston, Bridgeport and De-
catur, Ala. I propose that we break
up the railroad from Chattanooga for-
ward, and that we strike out with
our wagons for Milledgeville, Millen
and Savannah. Until we can repopu-
late Georgia, it is useless for us to oc-
cupy it; but the utter destruction of
its roads, houses and people will crip-
ple their military resources. By at-
tempting to hold the roads we will lose
a thousand men each month, and will
gain no result. I can make this march
and make Georgia howl! We have on
hand over 8,000 head of cattle, and
.3,000,000 rations of bread, but no corn.
We can find plenty of forage in the
interior of the state."

Meantime, the rebel Gen. Forrest
had made a bold circuit in Mid-
dle Tennessee, avoiding all forti-
fied points, and breaking up the rail-
road at several places; but as usual,
he did his work so hastily and care-
lessly that our engineers soon repair-
ed the damage — then retreating before
Gen. Rousseau, he left the State of
Tennessee, crossing the river near
Florence, Ala., and got off unharmed.

On the 10th of October the enemy
appeared south of the Etowah River
at Rome, when I ordered all the ?irm-
ies to march to Kingston, rode myself
to Cartersville with the 23rd Corps
(Gen. Cox) and telegraphed from
there to Gen. Thomas at Nashville:

"It looks to me as though Hood was
bound for Tuscumbia. He is now
crossing the Coosa River below Rome,
looking west. Let me know if you can
hold him with your forces now in Ten-
nessee and the expected re-enforce-
ments, as, in that event, you know
what I propose to do. I will be at
Kingston tomorrow. I think Rome is
strong enough to resist any attacks,
and the rivers are all high. If he
turns up by Summerville, I will get
in behind him."

And on the same day to Gen. Grant
at City Point:

"Hood is now ci'ossing the Coosa,
twelve miles below Rome, bound west.
If he passes over to the Mobile &
Ohio railroad, had I not better execute
the plan of my letter sent you by Col-
onel Porter, and leave Gen. Thomas,
with the troops now in Tennessee, to
defend the state? He will have an am-
ple force when the re-enforcements or-
dered reach Nashville."

I found Gen. John E. Smith at Car-
tersville, and on the 11th rode on to
Kingston, where I had telegraphic
communications in all directions. From
Gen. Corse, at Rome, I learned that
Hood's army had disappeared, but in
what direction he was still in doubt;
and I was so strongly convinced of the
wisdom of my proposition to change
the whole tactics of the campaign, to
leave Hood to Gen. Thomas, and to
march across Georgia for Savannah
or Charleston, that I again telegraph-
ed Gen. Grant:

"We can not now remain on the de-
fensive. With 25,999 infantry and the
bold cavalry he has, Hood can con-
stantly break my road. I would in-
finitely prefer to make a wreck of the
road and the country from Chatta-
nooga to Atlanta, including the lat-
ter city; send back all my wounded

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

189

190

A History of Rome and Floyd County

and unserviceable men, and with my
effective army move through Georgia,
smashing things to the sea. Hood may
turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but
I believe he will be forced to follow
me. Instead of being on the defensive,
I will be on the offensive. Instead of
my gTjessing at what he means to do,
he will have to guess at my plans. The
difference in war would be fully 25
per cent. I can make Savannah,
Charleston or the mouth of the Chat-
tahoochee (Appalachicola). Answer
quick, as I know we will not have the
telegraph long."

I received no answer to this at the
time, and the next day went on to
Rome, where the news came that Hood
had made his appearance at Resaca
and had demanded the surrender of
the place, which was commanded by
Col. Weaver, reinforced by Brevet
Brig.-Gen. Raum. Gen. Hood had ev-
idently marched with rapidity up the
Chattooga Valley by Summerville. La-
Fayette, Ship's Gap and Snake Creek
Gap, and had with him his whole
army, except a small force left behind
to watch Rome. I ordered Resaca to
be further reinforced by rail from
Kingston, and ordered Gen. Corse to
make a bold reconnoisance down the
Coosa Valley, which captured and
brought into Rome some cavalrymen
and a couple of field guns, with their
horses and men. At first I thought
of interposing my whole army in the
Chattooga Valley, so as to prevent
Hood's escape south; but I saw at a
glance that he did not mean to fight,
and in that event, after damaging the
road all he could, he would be likely
to retreat eastward by Spring Place,
which I did not want him to do; and
hearing from Gen. Raum that he still
held Resaca safe, and that Gen. Ed-
ward McCook had also got there with
some cavalry re-enforcements, I turn-
ed all the heads of columns from Re-
saca, viz., Gen. Cox's from Rome; Gen.
Stanley's from McGuire's, and Gen. O.
0. Howard's from Kingston. We all
reached Resaca during that night, and
the next morning (13th) learned that
Hood's whole army had passed up
the valley toward Dalton, burning the
railroad and doing all the damage
possible. On the 12th he had demand-
ed the surrender of Resaca in the fol-
lowing letter :

Headquarters Army of Tennessee,
In the Field, Oct. 12, 1864.

To the Officer Commanding the Unit-
ed States Forces at Resaca, Ga.:
Sir: I demand the immediate and

unconditional surrender of the post

and garrison under your command,
and, should this be acceded to, all
white officers and soldiers will be
paroled in a few days. If the place
is carried by assault, no prisoners will
be taken.

Most respectfully, your obedient ser-
vant,

J. B. HOOD, General.

To this. Col. Weaver, then in com-
mand, replied:

Headquarters Second Brigade, Third

Division, Fifteenth Corps, Resaca,

Ga., Oct. 12, 1864.

To General J. B. Hood: Your com-
munication of this date just received.
In reply I have to state that I am
somewhat surprised at the concluding
paragraph, to the effect that if the
place is carried by assault, no pris-
oners will be taken. In my opinion,
I can hold this post. If you want it,
come and take it.

I am, general, very respectfully,
your most obedient servant,

CLARK R. WEAVER,
Commanding Officer.

This brigade was very small, and
as Hood's investment extended only
from the Oostanaula, below the town,
to the Connasauga, above, he left open
the approach from the south, which
enabled Gen. Raum and the cavalry of
Gen. Edward McCook to re-enforce
from Kingston. In fact, Hood, admon-
ished by his losses at Allatoona, did
not attempt an assault at all, but lim-
ited his attack to the above threat and
to some skirmishing, giving his atten-
tion chiefly to the destruction of the
railroad, which he accomplished all
the way up to Tunnel Hill, nearly 20
miles, capturing en route the regiment
of black troops at Dalton (Johnson's
44th United States, colored). On the
14th I turned Gen. Howard through
Snake Creek Gap, and sent Gen. Stan-
ley around by Tilton, with orders to
cross the mountain to the west, so as
to capture, if possible, the force left
by the enemy in Snake Creek Gap. We
found this gap very badly obstructed
by fallen timber, but got through that
night, and the next day the main army
was at Villanow (Walker County). On
the morning of the 16th, the leading
division of Gen. Howard's column, com-
manded by Gen. Chas. R. Woods, car-
ried Ship's Gap, taking prisoners part
of the 24th South Carolina Regiment,
which had been left there to hold us in
check.

The best information there obtained
located Hood's army at LaFayette,

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

191

•near which place I hoped to catch
him and force him to battle; but by
the time we had got enoug^h troops
across the mountain at Ship's Gap,
Hood had escaped down the Valley of
the Chattooga, and all we could do
was to follow him as closely as pos-
sible. From Ship's Gap I dispatched
couriers to Chattanooga, and received
word back that Gen. Schofield was
there, endeavoring to co-operate with
me, but Hood had broken up the tele-
graph, and had thus prevented quick
communication. Gen. Schofield did
not reach me until the army had got
down to Gaylesville, Ala., about the
21st of October. We quietly followed
him down the Chattooga Valley to the
neighborhood of Gadsden, but failed
the main armies near the Coosa River,
at the mouth of the Chattooga.

On Oct. 19 I telegraphed Gen. Amos
Beckwith, chief commissary in At-
lanta :

"Hood will escape me. I want to
prepare for my big raid. On the 1st
of November I want nothing in At-
lanta but what is necessary for war.
Send all trash to the rear at once, and
have on hand 30 days' food and but
little forage. I propose to abandon
Atlanta and the railroad back to Chat-
tanooga, to sally forth to ruin Geor-
gia, and bring up on the seashore. I
will go down the Coosa until I am sure
that Hood has gone to Blue Moun-
tain."

On the 21st of October I reached
Gaylesville, had my bivouac in an open
field back of the village, and remained
there until the 28th. At Gaylesville
the pursuit of Hood by the army un-
der my immediate command may be
said to have ceased. During the pur-
suit the Fifteenth Corps was com-
manded by its senior major general
present, P. J. Osterhaus, in the ab-
sence of Gen. John A. Logan; and the
Seventeenth Corps was commanded by
Brig. Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, the senior
officer present, in the absence of- Gen.
Frank P. Blair. Gen. Ransom was a
young, most gallant and promising of-
ficer, son of the Col. Ransom who was
killed at Chapultepec, in the Mexican
War. He had served with the Army
of the Tennessee in 1862 and 1863 at
Vicksburg, where he was severely
wounded. He was not well when we
started from Atlanta, but he insisted
on going along with his command. His
symptoms became more aggravated on
the march, and when we were encamp-
ed near Gaylesville I visited him in
company with Surgeon John Moore,
who said the case was one of typhoid

fever, which would likely prove fatal.
I few days later, viz., the 28th, he
was being carried on a litter toward
Rome; and as I rode from Gaylesville
to Rome I passed him by the way, stop-
ped and spoke to him, but did not then
suppose he was so near his end. The
next day, however, his escort reached
Rome, bearing his dead body. The of-
ficer in charge reported that shortly
after I had passed, his symptoms be-
came so much worse that they stopped
at a farm-house by the roadside,
where he died that evening. His body
was at once sent to Chicago for burial,
and a monument has been ordered by
the Society of the Army of the Ten-
nessee to be erected in his memory.

It had become almost an ob-
session with Gen. Sherman that
be should take up his proposed
"March to the Sea," and now the
opportunity was to be given him.
Up to this time he had been kept
pretty busy by Johnston, Hood,
Wheeler and Forrest, and for them
all had acc[uired a considerable ad-
miration. He respected Johnston
for his strategy and tenacious
fighting against heavy odds; he

JAMES NOBLE. SR., hoad of the Noble fam-
ily, which added to Rome's advancement and
later established Anniston.

192

A History of Rome and Floyd County

gave left-handed praise to Hood
for his elusiveness ; he worship-
ped the boldness of Wheeler's cav-
alry ; and he took off his hat to
Forrest May 3, 1863, when For-
rest's handful of men captured
Streight with a force three times
as large and marched the captives
into Rome.

Sherman reports that on Oct. 31,
1864, "Forrest made his appearance
on the Tennessee River opposite John-
sonville (whence a new raih-oad led to
Nashville), and with his cavalry and
field pieces actually crippled and cap-
tured two gunboats with five of our
transports, a feat of arms which I
confess excited my admiration. There
is no doubt that the month of October
closed to us looking decidedly squally;
but somehow I was sustained in the
belief that in a very few days the tide
would turn."

Oct. 28, 1864, found Gen. Sher-
man quartered in the comfortable
two-story frame dwelling of Ma-
jor Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"),
where the handsome modern home
of Mrs. Chas. A. Hight now stands
at 312 Fourth Avenue, Rome. The
general was an exceedingly busy
man. He did not have time for
social entertainments, assuming
that any of the "natives" felt in-
clined to be sociable. He was
busy writing some dispatches, de-
livering others orally, penning tel-
egrams to Grant, Halleck and
Thomas, snatching a hasty meal
here and there and dashing away
on his trusty charger. Assuming
that he arrived in Rome the night
of Oct. 28 and that he remained
until the morning of Nov. 2, when
he left for Kingston, he spent
three and a half days on this oc-
casion in the City of Seven Hills.
He had first visited Rome as a
3^oung army lieutenant in 1844, go-
ing to Bellefonte, Ala., from Ma-
rietta and back two months later
by horseback, presumably follow-
ing the same route both ways ; and
again, Oct. 12, 1864, he mentions
that he went to Rome from King-
ston, and on the 14th was before

Resaca, hence on that visit proba-
bly stayed several hours. Gen. Jef-
ferson C. Davis, having been sent
down the Oostanaula River from
Resaca toward Rome, May 16,
probably arrived at Rome May 17,
and made his headquarters at the
Smith home on Fourth Avenue
until he executed orders issued
May 20 by Sherman to March
May 23 for Dallas via Van Wert,
a dead town of Polk Cotmty. Per-
haps 20,000 men and nearly 1,000
wagons in Davis' command
marched on Rome, which was gar-
risoned by a small Confederate
force. After firing on the invaders
from a fort on Myrtle Plill Ceme-
tery, the Confederates evacuated
the town, and the invaders crossed
the Oostanaula River at the old
Printup Wharf, midway between
the present Second and Fifth Ave-
nue bridges, on pontoons partly
constructed of pews taken out of
the churches of Rome.

The plan of Sherman's advance
had been this : The Army of the
Ohio (Gen. McPherson) made up
the left wing, and marched south-
ward from Resaca on the left-hand
side of the Western & Atlantic
(state) railroad ; the Army of the
Cumberland (Gen. Thomas) made
up the center and marched along
the track and right-of-way; the
Army of the Tennessee (Gen.
McPherson) made up the right
wing, and took the right-hand side.
Davis' Division and Garrard's Cav-
alry, dispatched to Rome, evident-,
ly were a part of the right wing,
or Army of the Tennessee. In view
of the fact that Gen. Sherman was
traveling with his center and left
in the close pursuit of Johnston
through Bartow County (Adairs-
ville, Kingston, Cassville and Car-
tersville) it is probable that dur-
ing this period (May 18-20) the
Federal commander did not come
to Rome.

"On the first day of November,
1864," wi'ites Gen. Sherman in his

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

193

Memoirs, "I telegraphed very fully to
Gen. Grant at City Point (who must
have been disturbed by the wild ru-
mors that filled the country), and on
the second of November (at Rome) re-
ceived this dispatch:

" 'City Point, Va., Nov. 1, 1864, 6 P. M.
'• 'Major-General Sherman:

" 'Do you not think it advisable,
now that Hood has gone so far north,
to entirely ruin him before starting on
your proposed campaign? With Hood's
army destroyed, you can go where you
please with impunity. I believed and
still believe if you had started south
while Hood was still in the neighbor-
hood, he would have been forced to
go after you. Now that he is far
away he might look upon the chase as
useless, and he will go in one direc-
tion while you are pushing in another.
If you can see a chance of destroying
Hood's army, attend to that first, and
make your other move secondary.

" 'U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.'

"My answer is dated:

"Rome, Georgia, Nov. 2, 1864.
"Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, City

Point, Virginia :

"Your dispatch is received. If I
could hope to overhaul Hood, I would
turn against him with my whole force;
then he would retreat to the southwest,
drawing me as a decoy away from
Georgia, which is his chief object. If
he ventures north of the Tennessee
River, I may turn in that direction,
and endeavor to get below him on his
line of retreat; but thus far he has
not gone above the Tennessee River.
General Thomas will have a force
strong enough to prevent his reaching
any country in which we have an in-
terest; and he has orders, if Hood
turns to follow me, to push for Selma,
Alabama. No single army can catch
Hood and I am convinced the best re-
sults will follow from our defeating
Jeff Davis's cherished plan of making
me leave Georgia by maneuvering.
Thus far I have confined my efforts to
thwart this plan, and have reduced
baggage so that I can pick up and
start in any direction ; but I regard
the pursuit of Hood as useless. Still,
if he attempts to invade Middle Ten-
nessee, I will hold Decatur and be pi'c-
pared to move in that direction; but
unless I let go of Atlanta, my force
will not be equal to his.

"W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen."

By this date, under the intelligent
and energetic action of Col. W. W.

Wright, and with the labor of some
1,500 men, the railroad bi-eak of fif-
teen miles about Dalton was repaired
so as to admit of the passage of cars,
and I transferred my headquarters to
Kingston as more central. (Note: By
this last statement it is inevitable that
his headquarters had been at Rome,
and he was not there merely on one
of his "rounds"). From that place
(Kingston) on the same day (Nov. 2)
I again telegraphed to Gen. Grant:

"Kingston, Ga., Nov. 2, 1864.
"Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant,
City Point, Virginia.

"If I turn back, the whole effect
of my campaign will be lost. By my
movements I have thrown Beauregard
(Hood) well to the west, and Thomas
will have ample time and sufficient
troops at Chattanooga and Atlanta,
and I can stand a month's interruption
to our communications. I do not be-
lieve the Confederate army can reach
our railroad lines except by cavalry
raids, and Wilson will have cavalry
enough to checkmate them. I am clear-
ly of the opinion that the best results
will follow my contemplated movement
through Georgia.

"W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen."

J. A. (iLGVER, banker and loadintr citizen,
for many years closely identilied with the
commercial development of Rome.

194

A History of Rome and Floyd County

That same day I received, in answer
to the Rome dispatch, the following:

"City Point, Va., Nov. 2, 1862, 11:30

A. M.
"Major-General Sherman:

"Your dispatch of 9 a. m. yesterday
is just received. I dispatched you the
same date, advising that Hood's army,
now that it had worked so far north,
ought to be looked upon now as the
'object.' With the force, however, that
you have left with General Thomas,
he must be able to take care of Hood
and destroy him. I do not see that
you can withdraw from where you are
to follow Hood, without giving up all
we have gained in territory. I say,
then, go on as you propose.

"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen."

Sherman's word to "go" was
thus received while he was head-
quartered at Kingston, and came
in response to his urgent appeal
from Rome, and in consequence
of recommendations before. There
is an evident error in the Grant
message just above, dated Nov. 2
and referring to Sherman's Rome
message, also dated Nov. 2, as
"your dispatch of 9 a. m. yester-
day." The Grant dispatch date
undoubtedly should have been
Nov. 3.

This was the first time that Gen.
Grant assented to the "March to the
Sea" and although many of his warm
friends and admirers insist that he
was the author and projector of that
march, and that I simply executed his
plans. Gen. Grant has never, in my
opinion, thought so or said so. The
truth is fully given in an original let-
ter of President Lincoln, which I re-
ceived at Savannah, Ga., and have at
this instant before me, every word of
which is in his own familiar hand-
writing. It is dated —

"Washington, Dec. 26, 1864.

"When you were about leaving At-
lanta for the Atlantic Coast, I was
anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling
that you were the better judge, and
remembering 'nothing risked, nothing
gained,' I did not interfere. Now, the
undertaking being a success, the honor
is all yours; for I believe none of us
went further than to acquiesce; and,
taking the work of Gen. Thomas into
account, as it should be taken, it is
indeed a great success. Not only does

it afford the obvious and immediate
military advantages, but, in showing
Lo the world that your army could be
divided, putting the stronger part to
an important new service, and yet
leaving enough to vanquish the old op-
posing force of the whole. Hood's
army, it brings to those who sat in
darkness to see a great light. But
what next? I suppose it will be safer
if i leave General Grant and yourself
to decide.

"A. LINCOLN."

On the 2nd of November I was at
Kingston, Ga., and my four corps —
the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Four-
teenth and Twentieth — with one divis-
ion of cavalry, were strung from Rome
to Atlanta. Our raih-oads and tele-
graph had been repaired, and I de-
liberately prepared for a march to Sa-
vannah, distant 300 miles from Atlan-
ta. All the sick and wounded men
had been sent back by rail to Chat-
tanooga; all our wagon trains had
been carefully overhauled and load-
ed, so as to be ready to start on an
hour's notice, and there was no se-
rious enemy in our front.

Gen. Hood remained still at Flor-
ence, Ala., occupying both banks of
the Tennessee River, busy in collect-
ing shoes and clothing for his men
and the necessary ammunition and
stores with which to invade Tennessee.
Beauregard was at Corinth, hastening
forward these necessary preparations.
Gen. Thomas was at Nashville, with
Wilson's dismounted cavalry and a
mass of new troops and quartermas-
ter's employes, amply sufficient to de-
fend the place.

On the 6th of November, at Kings-
ton, I wrote and telegraphed to Gen.
Grant, reviewing th'3 whole situation,
gave him my full plan of action, stated
that I was ready to march as soon as
the election was over, and appointed
Nov. 10 as the day for starting. On
the 8th I received this dispatch:

"City Point, Va., Nov. 7, 1864, 10:30

P."M.

"Major-General Sherman :

" i our dispatch of this evening re-
reived. I see no present reason for
changing your plan. Should any arise,
you will see it, or if I do I will in-
form you. I think everything here is
favorable now. Great good fortune
attend you ! I believe you will be emi-
nently successful, and at worst, can
only make a march less fruitful than
hoped for.

"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen."

Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself

195

Meantime, trains of cars were whirl-
ing by, carrying to the rear an im-
mense amount of stores which had ac-
cumulated at Atlanta and at the other
stations along the railroad; and Gen.
Steedman had come down to Kingston
to take charge of the final evacua-
tion and withdrawal of the several
garrisons below Chattanooga. (Enter
another "villain!" — Author.)

On the 10th of November the move-
ment may be said to have fairly be-
gun. All the troops designed for the
campaign were ordered to march for
Atlanta, and Gen. Corse, before eva-
cuating his post at Rome, was order-
ed to burn all the mills, factories, etc.,
etc., that could be useful to the enemy
should he undertake to pursue us or
resume military possession of the
country. This was done on the night
of the 10th and next day Corse reach-
ed Kingston. Maj. Gen. Jefferson
Davis commanded the 14th Corps of
the left wing, and Corse a division of
the 15th Corps.

On the 12th, with a full staff, I
started from Kingston for Atlanta,
and about noon of that day we reach-
ed Cartersville and sat on the edge
of a porch to rest, when the telegraph
operator, Mr. Van Valkenburg, or Ed-
dy, got the wire down from the poles
to his lap, in which he held a small
pocket instrument. Calling "Chatta-
nooga," he received a message from
Gen. Thomas.

Gen. Sherman records that just
after the message from Gen.
Thomas had come, and he had an-

swered "Dis])atch received — all
right," some of the marchers burnt
a bridge, which severed the tele-
graph wire and cut all communi-
cation with the rear.

As we rode on toward Atlanta that
night, I remember the railroad trains
going to the rear with a furious speed;
the engineers and the few men about
the trains waving us an affectionate
adieu. It surely was a strange event
— two hostile armies marching in op-
posite directions, each in the full be-
lief that it was achieving a final and
conclusive result in a great war; and
I was strongly inspired with the feel-
ing that the movement on our part
was a direct attack upon the rebel
army and the rebel capital at Rich-
mond, though a full thousand miles of
hostile country intervened, and that,
for better or worse, it would end the
war.

Thus started the ruthless cru-
sade of this modern Attila the
Hun, in which all rules of war
touching the destruction of prop-
erty and the treatment of human
beings in the broad swath of war
were suspended. Thus did ^^^m.
Tecumseh Sherman write his name
in fire and blood across the pages
of Georgia history ; justified, as
he claimed, by the objects in view,
l)Ut indelibly, as Georgians of to-
day still attest.

196

A History of Rome and Floyd County

A NOTED SCHOOLHOUSE AND SEVEN DWELLINGS.

At top left, is No. 6 E. Ninth Avenue, where Prof. Hay Watson Smith, brother of Dr.
ij"u- '-""'^ Smith, president of Washington and Lee University, taught schooL Next is the
old Hines Smith home; the homes of W. H. Pickling, Mather D. Daniel, Ed. L Bosworth J P
Malone, Dr. J. D. Moreland and Mrs. Martha Battey, follow from left to right

CHAPTER VII.
Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary

Till'". Rcmic Chapter of tin-
L'nited Daughters oi the
Confederacy has preserved
ill its archives a choice Ht-
erary morsel in the form of ex-
tracts from the diary of Reuben v^.
Norton, which was placed at its
disposal by Mrs. Wm. M. Towers,
his only daughter, and which sheds
a flood of light on the dark days
between September, 1863, and the
Confederate surrender in April,
1865. These extracts follow :

Mary Norton, then twelve years of
age, was sent with friends of the fam-
ily in 1863 to points of safety farther
South, but her mother and 1 decided
to remain in Rome and meet whatever
fate might befall us.

The autumn of 1863 found our citi-
zens in a great condition of uneasiness
because raiding parties had moved on
Rome from various directions; and so
the people began sending their fam-
ilies and negroes to safer places.
Heavy reinforcements came in fi-om
Virginia and Mississippi, but as the
Yankees were now in possession of
Chattanooga, the worst was feared for
Rome. In October, 1863, the com-
mands of Gens. Walker and Grist
passed through Rome, and having no
means of transportation, impressed all
the wagons and teams they could find
v/ithin ten miles, leaving the people
with no stock to make a crop. Such
were the terrible straits to which our
army was reduced at the time.

On Dec. 8, 1863, all the government
hospitals were removed from Rome.
The people realized the town would
soon be in the hands of the enemy, and
numerous families left every day. Pro-
visions were exceedingly high and
scarce, and were preferred to money
in all trading. Conditions grew stead-
ily worse in January, 1864. All the
schools were closed, and the Rome Fe-
male College was moved away by the
Caldwells.

Four months later, on May 17, our
forces began to evacuate the town to
escape the heavy cannonading. About
dark the men in gray drew into the
town and began to move out. Think-
ing the enemy would capture the
available stores, clothing and food-

stuffs, they cari-ied off whatever they
could. Several Texas regiments sack-
ed the stores of about .$1.50,000 in cit-
izens' property.

Early on the morning of May 18
our men burned the Oostanaula River
l)ridge. The Etowah bridge had also
been burned. About 11 o'clock the
Yankees pushed their outposts into
town, but our battery on Myrtle Hill
continued to fire throughout the day.
The town was now at the mercy of
ihe invaders, who started burning
houses and making themselves com-
fortable. Certain wooden structures
were torn down so the lumber could
be used to make temporary shacks for
the Union soldiers. The home of Dr.
Hicks in DeSoto (now the Fourth
Ward) was burned because it was
charged Mrs. Hicks had insulted
Streight's men when they were
brought in the year befoi'e as prison-
ers by Gen. Forrest. Mrs. Choice's
home also went up in smoke, and the
family had a narrow escape. Several
attempts were made to burn the Nor-
ton home and barn, but the fire was
put out each time. Many more fam-
ilies left town in haste and confusion.
Pillaging day and night was comnion.
The Confederates were scattered
through the country, and Yankee
wagon trains on foraging expeditions
were handled roughly. Scores of ne-
groes were sent North by the Union
army leaders; they were not only of
no help to our people, but in the way.
Free transportation North was given
such people as wished to go, and a
few took advantage of the opportu-
nity; I think there were eight or ten,
whom we could well spare.

Homes were quickly turned into hos-
pitals. Only three male members of
the Presbyterian church were left:
Nicholas J. Omberg, H. G. Peter and
myself. The authorities took up the
carpets of the church, and moved the
furniture and i)rayer books; pews were
removed and used to float ponttwn
bridges across the rivers. The First
Presbyterian was used as a store
house." The Methodist church was fill-
ed with anununition and the Baptist
and Episcopal structures were con-
verted into hospitals.

A provost marshal's establishment
was set up, and the civilians were vir-
tually i)risoners. No mails were re-

198

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ceived or sent, and no person could
pass the lines going' or coming with-
out a permit. Thus four dreary
months passed.

On Sept. 18 the Confederates fired
on the Yankees on the Cave Spring
road, killing eight or ten and wound-
ing others. The Federals, fearing a
surprise attack, dug additional rifle
pits. The people, in the meantime,
remained in their homes as much as
possible.* They were moved about, as
their ch filings were needed for mili-
tary purposes. They lived on what-
ever they could hide out; sometimes
cooked for the enemy and thus fed
themselves. Miss Joe Stewart (later
Mrs. J. A. Stansbury) told how she
penned up a lot of chickens in her
basement, and how their feathers were
missing when they were finally turned
out after the departure of the enemy.

Oct. 29 was noteworthy as the date
Gen. Sherman and his staff came into
town. They entered at night. On
Nov. 10 at 5 a. m. it became evident
that the invaders were preparing to
evacuate, for they started burning the
places of military value. Several ad-
ditional citizens went North. The last
of the Federals left at 9 o'clock, a. m.,
Nov. 11, 1864, and they destroyed such
stores as they could not take along.
Two days later there was not a sol-
dier of either army to be seen. The
streets were entirely deserted. Every-
thing was as still and quiet as if no
war were in progress. The business
section was dead; only a little drug
store was left, and that kept by Dr.
J. H. Nowlin. The 40 men left be-
hind organized a patrol force for the
protection of their homes. They were
as follows:

A. Tabor Hardin, postmaster; Dr.
J. H. Nowlin, Geo. P. Burnett, mayor;
Jas. Lumpkin, Wm. Quinn, A. M.
Kerr, Lewis D. Burwell, Terrence Mc-
Guire, Jesse Lamberth, M. Marks,
Green Stewart, S. G. Wells, C. W.
Mills, Reuben S. Norton, John De-
Journett, Nicholas J. Omberg, Peter
Omberg, Wm. Lumpkin, Solomon Mc-
Kenzie, Jas. Langston, Jas. Noble, Sr.,
J. G. Dailey, A. P. Neal. Ben Thorn-
ton, Lee Lumpkin, O. Wiley Harbin,
Logan Graves, Peter M. Sheibley, C.
H. Morefield, John B. Jenkins, Dr.
Wm. Farell, Jno. T. Riley, Jas. Lee,
Joe Norris, Dr. Brown, Mr. Porter,
Mr. McGinnis, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Raw-
lins, Mr. Galceren.

Of these. Judge Burwell, Mr. Quinn
and Mr. Lee were unable to bear arms.
The ages of the men left were 18 to
70. Among the women who remained

at home might be mentioned Mrs. Liz-
zie Roach Hughes, Mrs. J. M. Greg-
ory, Mrs. Robt. Battey, Mrs. John
Choice, Mrs. Peter M. Sheibley and
Mrs. R. S. Norton.

Different sections were assigned to
the civilian guard. Mr. Omberg and
Mr. McGuire were on duty in the
Broad Street neighborhood north of
the Buena Vista hotel (Sixth Avenue).
Early one night they heard the shrill
voice of a woman, calling for help.
They rushed forward and discovered
it was old Mrs. Quinn. Before they
reached her, a ruffian of a Scout band
held them up at the point of a pis-
tol. Another ruffian placed them un-
der guard. Conversation between the
two robbers revealed that they had
been hanging Mr. Quinn by the neck
to make him give up money and val-
uables. He surrendered what he had,
so they did not kill him. Mr. Mc-
Guire and Mr. Omberg were ordered
to follow the gang leaders, who would
'fix them' out of town. The two ran
for their lives. A dozen shots were
fired at them, one taking effect in
Mr. Omberg's leg. Mr. OmTserg's vdfe
was dead, and he and his children were
living with his sister-in-law, Mrs.
Thos. J. Perry. Mrs. Perry was in
her yard when she discovered Mr.
Omberg coming up lamely with his
hat in his hand, and without a weapon.
He told her he thought he was done
for, and begged her to hide him, for
he knew the marauders would follow.
She got him upstairs into an attic**
and ran to the nearest neighbor's to
get aid for him. The neighbors were
afraid to venture out, so Mrs. Perry
returned to the sufferer and did the
best she could.*** Later she went to
the home of her neighbors and implored
them to go for Dr. Nowlin. The doc-

*This probably refers to an ambuscade at the
Hawkins place, on the Lindale road one mile
north of Lindale, by Colquitt's Scouts. Some 25
wagons manned by soldiers and drawn by
horses and mules were held up by fire from the
bushes. The beasts broke into a wild stampede,
several overturning the wagons. Colquitt's men
escaped into the hills. Gen. Jno. M. Corse, com-
manding at Rome, sent ambulances out and
brought in the wounded, several of whom had
been taken into the home of Mrs. Tom Hawkins
and given first aid. Gen. Corse held Mrs. Haw-
kins, her absent husband and her father, Roland
Bryant, responsible for the attack, and burned
her home while she looked on.

**Some say it was a hay loft.

***Judge John C. Printup is authority for the
statement that Mr. Omberg was shot near
Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, and died at
the home of his brother-in-law, Thos. J. Perry,
at the northwest corner of Eighth Avenue and
E. First Street. It is generally accepted that this
job was done by Colquitt's Scouts, and it is
said that several young men of Rome were
recognized in the crowd. Mrs. Judge Jno. H.
Lumpkin was also robbed.

Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary

199

tor finally came, but could do little,
and Mr. Omberg died about 9 the next
morning.

Getting him buried was just as dif-
ficult. Everybody stayed cooped up
in their homes for fear of being shot
down by a hidden foe. Presently the
men ventured forth, made a coffin out
of pine boards and laid him away.

Judge Burwell and Mr. Cohen were
hung up until they agreed to hand
over their valuables. '*'

These robbers were deserters from
both armies, and they banded together
to prey upon defenseless citizens. They
committed many atrocities in the coun-
try, but did not come to Rome again.

The steamboat (probably the Laura
Moore) arrived from Gadsden to see
how things were getting along at
Rome, but went back the next day.
Many country people came to town
to avoid the Scouts; they crossed the
rivers in batteaux.

Postmaster Hardin arranged to get
mail through the country in a buggy,
and gradually the people began to cir-
cumvent Sherman's army and to re-
turn home. After the final surrender,
the refugees came in large numbers
and turned willing hands to the res-
toration of their premises and their
fortunes. Rome cotton that had been
hid out was brought to town and
made a little trade; it brought 25 to
30 cents in greenback.

On May 13, 1865, the condition of
affairs was dreadful; negroes trouble-
some, food scarce, very little specie in
the country. Not a yard of cloth could
be bought. There were no shoes, no
groceries, no anything except a few
drugs at Dr. Nowlin's, and they could
not be eaten. All was used up, wast-
ed away. That our people rose above
these conditions is a splendid tribute
to their stamina and light-heartedness.

The Federal authorities came into
Rome on June 20, 1865, and announced
to Mayor Jas. Noble, Jr., that his of-
fice was vacant and the town was un-
der military rule. The Freedmen's
Bureau was established with Capt. C.
A de la Mesa in charge, and thus
began the rule of the carpetbagger,
under which our people endured life
calmly until their country was once
more restored to their keeping.

The following- letter, sent from
Rome Nov. 17- 1864, (one day aft-
er Sherman started his March to
the Sea from Atlanta), by Mrs.

*Mr. Cohen's people deny he was hung up ;
he may have been forced to give over his money.

Rol)ert P>attey to her husband,
then presumably at Selma, Ala.,
contains a graphic description of
the privations endured by the few
people left at home :

My Darling: I have just received
your letter from Selma. I am so
sorry that you could not come home
for a few days. I feel as if you are
so far from me now; it may be a long
time before I see you again, if ever.
I'm feeling sad tonight. I have had
a hard time for the last two months.
The negroes all left me and went to
the Yankees, and when the Yankees
left, the negroes all had to "foot it" to
Kingston, Aunt Cheney carrying her
clothes and Belle the baby; Bill car-
rying himself the best he could. Pagey
got along very well, but old Mary had
a hard time walking so far and by the
time they reached Kingston they were
sick of the Yankees and turned and
came home.

Two miles this side of Kingston a
man took Belle and carried her to his
home. Day before yesterday the ne-
groes all returned except Belle. I
heard that she was at Mr. Sheibley's
place, so Mr. Sheibley went up, found
her and brought her home today. Now

MRS. WILLIAM SMITH (later Mrs. Anderson
W. Redding, of Jamestown, Lee County,
Ga.), mother of Mrs. Robert Battey.

200

A History of Rome and Floyd County

I have them all home. They lost all
their bedding' and clothing. They have
treated me very badly, left me sick;
Bessie to nurse; cow^s to milk, cook-
ing to do, washing and everything
else. No one to help but George. We
had a hard time.

Willie went with Mrs. Hawkins to
Columbus. I look for them back Sun-
day. I need him very much. We
have no wood, and no one to get it
for me. My fences are all gone. You
would not know our home.

I was ready to go South when Mr.
Maupin came home. He told me that
you thought it best for me to stay at
home, even if I had to live in one side
of the house and burn the other, so I
concluded to stay. I had no one to
help me out with my children. I felt
that I could not carry Bessie, so I
hope it will all be for the best.

I don't know how the negroes will
treat me when I take to my bed. I
miss poor old Coyle. I wrote you that
he was dead. He died two or three
months ago.

Should I ever see you I will tell
you what I have to go through. Don't
have too much confidence in all of the
negroes; some of them are mean.

The Yankees are gone, I hear, to
Macon. They have 60 days' rations.
I fear we have no force there, and am
so anxious to know what they are go-
ing to do. I feel more discouraged now
than I ever have before.

Our people are doing so badly. They
are in hei-e robbing and killing. They
robbed old Mr. Burwell a few nights
ago, and again last night they hung
him until he was almost dead, for his
money. They have it all now. They
killed Mr. N. J. Omberg last. He was
out in the yard, he and Mr. McGuire,
and they heard somebody cry out, and
ran to old Mrs. Quinn, and found they
were hanging Mr. Quinn. They met
Mr. Omberg and he asked them who
they were. They replied, "Friends."
Mr. Omberg put down his gun and
they walked up to him and took all
his greenbacks, then shot him. He
lived until today. They robbed Mrs.
Lumpkin of everything she had, and
Peter Omberg, too. I look for them
all night.

I don't undress for fear they will
come. I have no money for them to
get, and hope they will spare me.
Such a life to lead! No rest night or
day! I had expected that when the
Yankees left I would get to sleep some
at night, but it is worse than ever.
You don't know anything about it.

The night the town was burned I
was all alone, except for my little chil-
dren. I can not describe my feelings.
I did not know what to do, so I went
to washing, and washed two or three
dozen pieces. I had not had any done
for four weeks. I passed the night
away somehow and am still alive. But
I must not write you all these things.
I hope you will excuse me, as I can
not think of anything else.

Dear Grace, I am glad to hear she
is well and wish so much I had her
with me. The poor child would not
feel at home here now; everything is
so changed. I will write her tonight.
She had better come home if I stay
here. Oh, how I long to see you, to be
near one who feels an interest in me!
I don't know what I will do while I
am sick, but I hope that you will be
here or that something may happen
to help me.

Don't bother about money; if you
can't get it you can do without it. I
owe some greenback, but they will
have to wait for it. I have tried to get
along the best I could since you left.

The children are all well. Little
Bessie is well, but cannot walk; I feel
very anxious about her and fear she
never will. Reddy looks delicate, but
keeps up and is a good little thing.
George, Mary and Henry are well and
help me all they can. They want to
see their dear father very much.

Mr. Norton and family are well.
Aunt Cooley is not in good health.
Georgia and Mary are well. Where is
Mrs. Stillwell? I heard from Bailie;
he was well but needed money. He
wrote Mr. Moore for some. I sent
him $5, all I had, but don't know
whether he got it or not. I would
write to Mrs. Stillwell if I knew
where to write. Mrs. Lee and children
are well. Some of their negroes are
gone — old Annie, Richmond and Hay-
good. Jack's wife has not gone. She
had a baby and is doing well. I hope
Mrs. Graves will get home soon now.

I might write you a more interest-
ing letter and tell you how I fared
with the new commander we had here.
I will write again when I feel more
cheerful. I will finish this in the
morning.

Your devoted wife,

M. BATTEY.

Mrs. Naomi P. Bale (Rome's
venerated "Grandma Georgy"),
tells in a contribution to the U.
D. C. this graphic story of war

Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary

201

trials and tribulations in Dirttown
Valley, Chattooga County, about
fifteen miles from Rome:

The first real sorrow that came to
me during the Civil War was when
my only brother was brought back
home in his coffin from Cumberland
Gap, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1862. It had never
occurred to me that his home-coming
would be so sad, that with my dear
old father, whose life was bound up
in his promising son, and whose heart
never recovered from this stroke, and
with the broken-hearted young widow
and the five little children, I would
stand beside the form of a strong
young soldier, cut down in the hey-
day of his youth.

Nearer and darker grew the war
cloud in 1863. Marching and coun-
ter-marching was the order of the day.
Wheeler's and Forrest's cavalries
dashed in and out of our quiet little
Dirttown Valley. Thousands of cav-
alry camped on my father's extensive
plantation; the commanding officers
quartered in our home, and often sat
at our table.

In the latter part of the summer of
1863 nearly every family of promi-
nence in our neighborhood refugeed. On
Sept. 20 and 21, 1863, the thunders
of artillery from Chickamauga battle-
field startled us, and from then until
the capture of Kennesaw mountain
the roar of cannon reverberated over
this section of Georgia day and night.
Then came the lull before the storm.
For six long weeks everybody in our
neighborhood kept close at home; not
a human outside our own family did I
see, save my step-brother-in-law as he
passed twice a day going to and from
his mill.

One bright moonlight night I was
awakened by a low, rumbling sound;
the sound came nearer and nearer
until I recognized the hoof beats of
cavalry. In a short time the noise
increased and I heard the command,
"Halt!" given. Instantly the quiet
became intense. I raised up in bed
and peered through my window. The
whole front grove seemed full of
mounted soldiers, whether friend or
foe I could not tell. In a few moments
a trim, soldierly fellow rapped loudly
on the front door. I threw uj) a win-
dow and asked, "Who knocks?" He
replied, "I am Capt. Harvey, of Mis-
sissippi, and I have been ordered by
Gen. Johnston to his rear to tear u])
the railroad between Chattanooga and
Kingston. I am here in command of
100 men. We have ridden 100 miles

out of our way just to forage on
Wesley Shropshire's farm."

In the meantime, my father remain-
ed in his room listening to the con-
versation. His life had been threat-
ened often, and for this reason we
never allowed him to appear at the
front door until some of the family
had first reconnoitered. I said to the
captain, "Step out into the moonlight
and let me see your uniform." He
jumped lightly over the bannisters
and jocularly remarked, "Are you sat-
isfied?" I made him promise on his
honor as a soldier and a gentleman
that my father should suffer no vio-
lence from him or his men. He sol-
emnly gave his word, and I then di-
rected him to a window in my father's
room. He and father had quite a
chat; he gave father several Confed-
erate newspapers and father presented
him with a number of Northern pa-
pers that a neighbor had secured in
Chattanooga. Father then directed
Capt. Harvey where he could find corn
and fodder for his horses.

Capt. Harvey and his command re-
mained in our neighborhood six weeks
or more, raiding the railroads up about
Ringgold and Dalton, and capturing
many Federal prisoners, many of
whom could not sceak a word of Eng-

Ri:V. (;. A. NUNNALLY. Baptist minister
who once ran for Governor of (leorRia on
a liquor prohibition platform.

202

A History of Rome and Floyd County

lish intelligibly — these were foreign-
ers imported by wealthy Northerners
as substitutes in the Federal army.
The prisoners were taken to Cedar
BluflF, Ala., and as a member of Capt.
Hai-vey's command told me, "were lost
in the Coosa river."

I can say that Capt. Harvey was a
gentleman, and we suffered no violence
from him or his command. He was
very fond of music and liked to play
whist, and was a frequent guest in
our house. Thus he whiled away his
time with my step-sister and myself.
Once when I sang "The Officer's Fu-
neral," he leaned his head on the table
and sobbed aloud. He begged me to
overlook his apparent weakness, for
he had a wife and a little boy in Mis-
sissippi, and the chances were he
would never see them again.

On Sept. 15, 1864, we met a different
band of men. These were the "Inde-
pendent Scouts." Yes, write the name
in blood, drape it with the pall of
death, trace it with fire, and then you
cannot conceive the full meaning of
the term. A horde of these marauders
made their camp in our neighborhood,
committing the most outrageous atroci-
ties on old and feeble men. A gang
of perhaps a dozen came to our home,
and took everything they could carry
away. Before leaving they laid violent

MAX MEYERHARDT, once judge of the City
Court and for many years prominent in
Masonic and civic affairs of Rome.

hands on my father, swearing he
should be hung unless he gave them
money, either gold or silver. A rope
was thrown over his head, and with
an oath one of them started to drag
him off to a limb. I threw up my
hands and begged for my father's life
with all the fervor of a pent-up soul,
assuring them he had no specie. The
ring-leader looked me steadily in the
face and said, "I believe you are tell-
ing the truth." I answered, "On my
honor as a lady, as sure as there is a
God, I am!" The rope was removed
from my father's neck, the leader re-
marking, "Old man, you owe your life
to your daughter; but for her we
would have hung you as high as Ha-
maan."

On Oct. 10 and 12 Hood's weary
horde appeared and passed in hot re-
treat. It was ragged, worn, foot-sore
and dejected in spirit. Yet they plod-
ded on their weary march, some bare-
foot, others with raw-hide tied over
their bleeding feet. "Lost Cause" was
stamped on every face. I knew then
the Confederacy was doomed.

On Oct. 14 and 15 the center of
Sherman's army passed, following
Hood. I think this part was com-
manded by Gens. Slocum and Frank
Blair. What the "Scouts" left was
appropriated by the Federals. Again
our home was pillaged from founda-
tion to attic. Large army wagons
were loaded to the brim vdth corn,
fodder and wheat; cows and hogs were
driven off or shot, smoke houses strip-
ped, pantries cleaned of every mova-
ble article, and such as could not be
carried off was broken or damaged.
The negroes huddled together in their
houses, like sheep among wolves,
scared out of their wits and fright-
ened almost white.

P'ather and several neighbors had
left a few days before for Blue Moun-
tain, Ala., to procure salt, all of this
commodity having been exhausted
some time before from the smoke
houses. My step-mother, a woman of
unusual courage, was so prostrated
with fear that she took to her bed.
Thus I again had to run the household.
Capt. Hall, of Kentucky, kept guard
over us for four hours, and after he
left we were at the mercy of "wagon
dogs." Three of these prowlers shut
my step-sister, Em White, and myself
in a room, swearing they would
search us. Em collapsed in a large
rocking chair. One of the marauders
stood with his back to the door, while
another ransacked bureau drawers,
wardrobes, turned up the mattress,

Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary

203

etc. I engaged the third in conversa-
tion, holding in my hand a heavy
wrought iron poker, with which I oc-
casionally poked the fire, but really
kept in readiness to give the fellow
a whack if he dared lay hands on me.
That "dog" never made a movement
to touch me, although he said he had
"stripped many as damned good-
looking women as I was and searched
them." One jerked Em from the
rocker and pretended that he would
strip her. I begged for her and he
let her go. They left very much dis-
appointed that they found little of
value.

Hoop skirts were in vogue then, and
so were full skirts. I had several
thousand dollars in Confederate money
in a bustle around my waist, and my
small amount of jewelry and a few
keepsakes in huge pockets under my
hoops. Em had her jewelry and sil-
ver forks and spoons in pockets under
her hoop.

After the Federals had passed, des-
olation was writ throughout the val-
ley. For three weeks a hundred in
our family (including slaves) literally
lived from hand to mouth. We picked
up scraps of potatoes left in the fields,
small scattered turnips and meat from

*JudKe John W. Maddox declared in a speech
early in 1921 at the City Auditorium that all
the Yankees left in Chattooga County was a
broken-down steer that was not fit to be eaten
by man or beast.

**Mr. Lincoln's proclamation was issued in
1S63, but news of it evidently hadn't reached
Georgia.

the carcasses left by the Yankees and
dragged in by the negroes. The new
corn left was sufficiently soft to be
grated on graters constructed from
mutilated tinware.*

Oh, those were strenuous, perilous
times. I will say in justice to our
faithful slaves that only four left us;
they stood by us nobly until my father
came in from Rome and announced
that Lee had surrendered. My father
called them all up and told them they
were all free.** He employed some;
others "spread wing." None went
away empty-handed. Father helped
them to the extent of his ability.

When Gen. Lee furled the Stars and
Bars, sheathed his sword and shook
hands with Gen. Grant, I did the same
and on that day I buried every feeling
of animosity, never to resurrect the
dead past. With thousands of other
Southern women I had my baptism of
fire and blood that tears cannot efface.

Standing on this mountain-top of
three-score and eleven years (she is
now well around 80), and looking back
through the vista of time, I see how
lovingly my Heavenly Father led me

"Sometimes through scenes of deepest

gloom,
Sometimes through bowers of Eden

bloom."

I exclaim with the Psalmist, "Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not
all His benefits."

204

A History of Rome and Floyd County

SS«L

PRESENT-DAY ROMANS IN STRIKING ATTITUDES

1 — Rev. J. E. Sammons. 2 — E. E. Lindsey. 3 — Rev. H. F. Saumenig. 4 — W. C. Rash.

5 Rev. E. F. Dempsey. 6 — F. W. Copeland. 7 (Top) — Judge Moses Wright, addressing Easter

crowd, Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Sunday, March 26, 1921. 8 — B. F. Quigg. 9 — Mrs. Bessie B.
Troutman. 10 — Wm. A. Patton. 11 — Mrs. Robt. Battey at 90. 12 — Young folk in Washington s
Birthday fete. 13 — Virgil A. Stewart. 14 — Miss Lilly Mitchell. IS — Miss Martha Berry.
16 — E. P. Treadaway. 17 — Miss Marion Moultrie. 18 — Burnett Norton. 19 — Miss Helen Knox
Spain.

CHAPTER VIII.
Depredations of the Independent Scouts

ARTOUS roving- bands, or-
o-anized for good purposes
and bad, added substantial-
ly to the misery which hov-
ered like a spectre over the people
at the close of the Civil War. Pri-
marily, these bands separated
themselves from the main body of
the Confederate forces in order to
impede the i)rogress of the Union
troops (or they were cut ofT), and
to this extent their existence Avas
justified. P\arts ot the forces ot
Gen. Johnston and Gen. Hood had
been forced steadily back into
Georgia by the driving power of
Sherman's army, and they never
rejoined their regular commands,
but carried on a bushwhacking
campaign from the hills. As long
as opposition to the invaders re-
mained their object, they acquitted
themselves with l^ravery and
credit, but once the Union army
had passed, certain of these bands
fell behind and plundered the coun-
tryside ; they stole, destroyed and
murdered, and for a time the peo-
ple were completely at their mer-
cy.

These organizations were usu-
ally made u]) of liorsemen, 30 to
50 in number, l^'xcellent riders
thev were, and well heeled. They
had a rather definite range, but
no ])articular headquarters. When
the men l)ecame hungry, they
would swoop down upon a ])lan-
tation or small house and take
v^ hat tliey could find : they were
always looking for saddles and
riding boots as well as mone\' and
food, v^ometimes they paid tor
things ai)propriate(l, but this was
not often.

Now and then the scout organi-
zations clashed with each othor
to determine which crowd should
subsist on a certain section. As a

general rule, however, they were
content to prey upon the defense-
less.

In the "uj) ccjunties" near the
Tennessee line, perhaps the best-
known gang was Gatewood's
Scouts, organized and led by John
Gatewood, of Tennessee, assisted
by his brother, Henry Gatewood,
who kept the books and accounts
of the company. John (kitewood
was an illiterate mountaineer
whose red hair fell In long fronds
down his back, like Daniel Boone
and David Crockett ; and when he
wished to escape detection in a
tlaring dash, he would cram his
locks into the crown of his soft
felt hat. He was a man of won-
derful physique, tall and angular,
with the fire of \'ulcan in his eye ;
and it used to be said that while
galloping" on his horse he could
shoot a partridge off a rail fence
with his pistol in either hand. His
reason for taking the saddle inde-
pendently against the Union men
was that the>' had killed his old
father in Tennessee, and he was
pledged to vengeance, .\fter the
Federals had left, however, his men
terrorized llie country from
Gaylesville. Ala., as far northeast
as LaFayette. Walker Co., Ga., and
touching Al])ine, Summerville and
Trion. Chattooga County, Ih--
tween. it was nnchnibtedly (".ate-
wood's Scouts who visited the
W'eslev Shroi:)shire ])lantation in
Dirttown X'alley. Chattooga Coun-
tv, Sept. 15. 1864: but so far as is
Ivuowii tliey ]iai(l only one \isit to
i\( inie.

bihn ('latt'wood had an Indian
who looked after his horse. One
lav he sent the Indian to a grist
mill near Trion, to have some corn_
ground into meal. .\ band of
"scouts favorable to the Union, led

206

A History of Rome and Floyd County

I y John Long', killed this Indian
by way of defying Gatewood. The
challenge was accepted, and a
pitched battle was fought near
the spot at night. Later Long
was convicted of kilHng Blev. Tay-
lor in Alabama near Frix's Mill,
McLemore's Cove, Chattooga Co.,
and died in an Alalxima peniten-
tiary camp near Wetumpka while
serving a life sentence.

Gatewood is said to have killed
Green Cordle, another independent
scout leader and a man of some
years, in Walker County, after
running him out of a house where
he was enjoying a meal. It was
Gatewood's policy to exterminate
the other leaders and bands wher-
ever he could, but in several in-
stances he found strong opposi-
tion. His gang gradually broke up
and he left Gaylesville on horse-
back, riding over Lookout Moun-
tain to Texas, where he established
himself on a ranch. Maj. John T.

,<5«i»*»

-w \., kM '

WM. SMITH, one of the four founders of
Rome, who contributed much to the young
city's growth and progress.

Burns, of Rome, state comptroller
general in 1869, who also went to
Texas, once ran across Gatewood
after the war, and found him en-
gaged in peaceful pursuits.

Gatewood's Scouts participated
in one of the most spectacular
events of the war at Chattanooga,
probably early in 1864. They rode
boldly into the Northern army
camp at night (this time with no
less than 100 men) and stampeded
and drove away 2,000 cattle and
horses which they took to Gayles-
ville and sold or turned over to the
Confederate army.

The scout band best known to
Rome was that of Capt. Jack Col-
quitt, a member of a Texas regi-
ment who remained behind in
1864 and married a daughter of
Jerry Isbell, of Polk County, near
Etna and Prior's Station. Its clash
with the Prior boys and its daring
incursion into Rome in November,
1864, will long be remembered by
the older Romans. Reference has
already been made to the gang's
murder of Nicholas J. Omberg and
its hanging of Judge L. D. Bur-
well and Wm. Ouinn to make them
give up their money and valua-
bles ; also of its robbery of Mrs.
[no. H. Lumpkin and J. J. Cohen.

Judge Burwell was keeping a
c[uantity of gold (said to have been
at least $1,800) for a Jewish mer-
chant named Wise, of the firm of
Magnus & Wise. He was afflicted
with some physical deformity that
caused him to bend far forward
when he walked, and the scouts
told him if he didn't give up the
gold they would "straighten him
out." He didn't surrender it until
the noose began to cut into his
neck. They said "We've got
Wise's gold ; now tell us where
yours is, or we'll hang you up
again." As it happened. Judge
Burwell had entrusted $500 in gold
to Mrs. Robt. Battey, who had put
it in her stockings. When the scouts

Depredations of the Independent Scouts

207

came to her house the same night,
they stole a lot of small things,
but did not get the money. They
also intended to hang up James
Noble, Sr., on Howard Street, but
were scared off by the determined
attitude of his daughters.

There appear to be two versions
as to what brought the Priors into
conflict with Colquitt's Scouts,
with such disastrous results to the
latter. One says that Capt. Jack
Colquitt was killed by the Priors
in the presence of Hayden Prior,
the father, near Prior's Station,
because he had driven off some of
the cattle of the family when he
stocked the farm of his father-in-
law, Jerry Isbell. The other, more
generally accepted, is that Col-
quitt's men first killed Hayden
Prior, better known as "Hayd"
Prior, and the sons then took up
the feud and accounted for seven
r»f the scouts, including their
leader. At any rate, Hayden
was shot oft' his mule between Cave
Spring and Prior's Station, and
fell face forward into a branch
where the animal was drinking. A
brother of Capt. Jack Colquitt is
supposed to have been in this am-
bushing party, as well as the ca])-
lain himself.

Capt. Col(|uitt was found one
day in 1864 in Cedartown by the
brothers, John T. and James j\I.
Prior. He was in a grocery store,
and pretty well loaded with mean
liquor as well as his brace of ])is-
tols. The brothers took him by
surprise and got his pistols away
by covering him with their own. It
was apparently their intention to
put him under arrest and get him
a trial, but he showed fight.

"Cimme a chance with my gun
nnd I'll clean all of yer up, one at
a time !" he roared, at the same
instant drawing a long Bowie
knife out of his right boot.

Quick as lightning Jim Prior
shot Colquitt over John's shoul-

der, and the two pumped bullets
into his chest until there were
eight. John explained as follows
to a friend and hunting companion
some time later :

"I was so close when I fired my
first shot that I saw smoke come
out of his mouth."

The men in the store removed a
ham and box of baking powder
and stretched Capt. Jack Colquitt
otit on the counter. He wore a
red-spotted calico shirt ; the white
spots were now dyed deep in the
red of his own blood.

The Prior boys went quietly oft'
and were not arrested, nor did they
ever answer in court for taking
seven scout scalps. They had
sworn to exterminate the Colquitt
gang as a service to the commu-
nity.

John Prior was a man of iron
will and nerves in a knotty bundle.
He had little beady, black eyes
that danced as he talked, and he

JOS. L. BASS, merchant and i)r(imuter. who
was head of the old dummy line at Rome
and a constructive fo- ce in many ways.

208

A History of Rome and Floyd County

^vasn't afraid of the devil. He was
loval to his friends and an impla-
cable foe to his enemies. Men who
hunted with him said he was the
deadest shot for miles around; he
could lay his double-barreled shot-
gun on the ground, flush a covey
of partridges, pick up his gun and
kill two every time. Jim was of
more even temper, regular build,
but he also took no foolishness
from any man, and he contributed
his part toward a genuine pair in
those stormy days.

The brothers quit the corn and
cotton fields and hunted scouts. A
man named Tracy and several oth-
er friends joined them at various
times. Tracy later went to Texas
to live. The Priors came upon Col-
quitt's Scouts in camp near Ball
Play and Turkeytown, Etowah
County, Ala., on the Coosa River ;
gave them a surprise at night and
put them to flight. The scouts
scattered and the Priors found
two of them eating at a
house by the road. John
killed one as he hopped oft the
near end of the porch and the other
as he left the far end. On their
persons w-ere found a number of
$20 gold pieces (Wise's money cap-
tured in November, 1864, at
Rome) ; when things had quieted
down John Prior sent one of these
coins to New York and had a cav-
alry battle engraved on the ob-
verse side, and wore the trinket
as a watch charm.

Near Cave Spring the Priors
came upon two scouts riding along
the road. Surrender was de-
manded. One young fellow held
up his hands and came in. The
other wheeled about, dug his spurs
into the flanks of his horse and
sped away like a flash. John was
carrying the shotgun his father
had used so long. As the fugitive
turned a sharp curve in the road,
he cracked down. It was impos-
si1)le to tell the result, and the

young captive said :

"I believe you missed him."
"We'll see," responded the
marksman; "if I missed him. Til
turn you loose !"

The poor devil was dying in the
bushes ; his horse kept going. Sev^
tral buckshot had entered the
man's back, and several the base of
the saddle. It is supposed, but not
definitely known, that the fellow
taken captive met a violent end.

The next victim was a farnier
of the neighborhood. John Prior
walked up to this man's house and
asked his wife where he was. The
woman replied that he was plow-
ing in the bottom. John went
down there and told the farmer to
unhitch his horse and send him in
a canter to the house; to say his
prayers if he w^anted to, because
he was going to be killed. The man
begged for his life ; he w^as re-
minded that old man Prior was
shown no mercy. A shot in the
breast finished him.

The hunter next heard that one
of the marked men was living in
the West, maybe Arkansas, maybe
Texas. He went to the man's
residence and executed his design.
After living a while out there.
Prior returned to Prior's Station,
and later removed to the territory
of Washington, on the Pacific
coast, where he died. Jim died
at his Prior Station home.

A farmer named Ritchie, killed
on the Carlier Springs road about
five miles east of Rome, was
charged up to Colquitt's Scouts.
Isoni Blevins, a young Texan, was
killed at night by a Rome crowd
at Flat Rock, where the Southern
crosses the N., C. & St. L. (or
Rome) Railroad. His boots and
spurs were removed and his body
w^as thrown some 50 feet off the
blufl: into the Etowah River. Sev-
eral days days later the body w^as
found lodged against a willow
snag at the foot of Myrtle Hill

Depredations of the Independent Scouts

209

cemetery, and was buried on the
river bank. A scout, sometimes
known as "The Lone Soldier," was
waylaid and killed on the Ala-
bama Road between Coosa and
Beech Creek, and lies buried on
the Rogers place, near the road,
about five miles west of Rome. The
grave is surmounted by a head-
stone, and residents of the neigh-
borhood have kept it green for 57
years, and have maintained around
it a neat picket fence.

In these fierce depredations
Romans were reminded of the
lawlessness of the Indian days ;
and as if to answer their prayers,
a local scout organization was
formed by "Little Zach" Har-
grove. Many people thought "Lit-
tle Zach's" crowd would prove to
be as bad as the test, but Horry
Wimpee and others testify that it
was organized for protective pur-
poses, and did much to drive the
camp - followers and deserters
away. It was reported that "Little
Zach" attracted the attention of
John Gatewood, and that Gatewood
brushed by Rome with an invita-

tion to fight ; but the result is not
known.

The Ku Klux was also active
soon after this period, especially
around Coosa, so the anxiety of
the civilian population, who were
bent on making crops and a liv-
ing, can well be imagined. One
night the Ku Klux called on Prof.
Peter J\I. Sheibley, a Northerner
by birth and a non-combatant in
the war. When Mr. Sheibley
opened his front door, a wooden
coffin fell into his arms.

The political views of Judge Jno.
W. H. Underwood caused the Ku
Klux to play a gruesome joke on
this sparkling humorist. A young
fellow well disguised by a turned-
up coat collar and a turned-down
hat walked up to Judge Under-
wood after dark and ofifered him
a cordial greeting. The extended
hand was left with him, and it was
made of wood !

Such incidents added a piquant
touch to the lives of Romans,
wrung the hearts of many, and
brought a strong desire for peace,
ci. helpful understanding and a con-
structive program.

210

A History of Rome and Floyd County

WHEN MAN TAKES HIS PADDLE IN HAND.

Batteau and canoe trips on the rivers of Rome afford endless pleasure. Dr. Hugh I. Bat-
tey of Atlanta, native son of Rome, here forgets incisions and bandages. His "voyage" was taken
in October, 1920, from Carter's Quarters, Murray County, down to "Head of Coosa," 105 miles,
and was made leisurely in three nights and two days. He brought a string of pearls for the
Home-coming queen, Miss Penelope Stiles.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

ROSS-RIDGE FACTIONS FIGHT.
— The following item from the Georgia
Constitutionalist (Augusta) of Friday,
Aug. 21, 1835, will give an idea of the
feeling between the factions repre-
sented by Ross and Ridge:

More Indians Murdered. — The Cass-
ville Pioneer of the 7th inst. says:

"We have just learned of another
murder having been committed in this
country on the 3d of August, inst. The
names of the Indians killed were Mur-
phy and Duck. It occurred, we un-
derstand, at an Indian dance on the
Oostanaula river, where a considerable
number of the town or clan had col-
lected to enjoy the customary pastime.

"Sometime within the night the In-
dians murdered were seen standing
conversing in apparent friendship. A
few minutes later Murphy exclaimed
that he was stabbed, and expired im-
mediately.

"Duck was heard to say at the time
that there was but one other Ridge
man on the ground, and that he would
inherit the same fate if he did not
leave the place instantly.

"Duck was found dead on the en-
suing morning, murdered, it is be-
lieved, by the friends of Murphy.
Neither man, it is thought, was drunk.

"Is it not manifest from the many
outrages of the kind that it is the set-
tled determination of Ross' myrmidons
to silence opposition by the knife of the
assassin, and unless they are kept in
awe by the Guard will go far to ex-
ecute their hellish purpose?"
* * *

In 1835 (or 1837) an atrocity that
was typical of the others committed in
the section occurred in Floyd County
near the Polk line. The body of Eze-
kiel Blatchford (or Braselton), a land
trader from Hall County, was discov-
ered in a lime sink; he had been mur-
dered, it was believed. A single gold
button was found on one of his coat
sleeves, and it was of odd design, pi'ob-
ably having been worked out of a nug-

*Authority : Hilliard HoiTy Wimpee. Virgil
A. Stewart statetl that the name of the In-
dians' victim was White. Mrs. Robt. Battey
stated his name was IJraselton. The name Eze-
kiel Buffinston appears on the real estate rec-
ords of that period at the courthouse. The name
Blatchford war- taken from an account in 1H89
by Belle K. Abbott, written for The Atlanta
Constitution.

**At Rome: Cherokee Indians, ConKi-essional
Documents (1835-6), Doc. 120, p. 593.

get extracted by the wearer from a
gold mine in Hall. With the button
as a clue, the local authorities and
friends of the deceased went to work.
The police in Indian Territory arrest-
ed two Indians wearing bottons similar
to the one found on the sleeve. Bar-
ney Swimmer and Terrapin were
brought back to Rome, were given a
fair trial at the old court house, found
guilty of murder and sentenced by
Judge Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, to
die by hanging. This was the first
capital punishment meted out to In-
dians in Floyd County, and it was a
coincidence that a cousin of the mur-
dered man, Wm. Smith, who was serv-
ing temporarily as sheriff, should
have met the duty of sending them to
their happy hunting grounds. The
hanging took place at a tree at Broad
Street and Ninth Avenue, and was wit-
nessed by practically everybody in the
town, and by hundreds from the coun-
ty. Several hours before the Indians
were due to have been hung they re-
quested permission to take a last swim
where the Etowah and the Oostanaula
join. This was the place they had often
swum as boys. Judge Kenan granted
the request, and a strong guard watch-
ed them from the various banks. They
thanked the court and the officers for
the privilege, and went to their death
with the courage of Stoics. It was
said that Terrapin was full of whis-
key during his trial and up to the time
of his execution.*

A LETTER FULL OF NEWS.—
The following letter from Geo. M.
Lavender, trading post man at Major
Ridge's up the Oostanaula, gives a
picture of pioneer life around Rome:
*-Major Ridge's Ferry, May 3, 1836.
Mr. John Ridge:

Dear Sir: I have received but one
letter from you since your departure,
and that was received some time since
and should have written you, but ex-
pected, for some weeks back, that you
were on your way home. I have con-
cluded from the " last letters received
from you that you remain at Wash-
ington some time yet.

I have but little news of impor-
tance to communicate to you. Mrs.
Betsy Waitie, con.sort of Stand
Waitie. Esq.. died four or five days
since from the delivery of a child,

212

A History of Rome and Floyd County

which also died, it is said. She had
medical aid, but died under great af-
flictions.^'^

One of the emigrants, named Seek-
atowwa,** of Hightown, was shot two
or there weeks ago by a white man
at a little whiskey shop, one mile from
Artsellers or Dun Steers, '="=^* said to
be an accident; he is, however, dead
and no more.

Your family are all well and every-
thing about vour crop appears to be
going on finely. Major Ridge's fam-
ily are all well, and your mother is
going on in her usual and fine way
in making a crop, though frequently
a little unwell, but no ways danger-
ous. No person, except a Mr. Cox,
has taken any of the cleared land; he
has taken one-half of the long field
on the west side of the river .*-=='^'
She has lost none on the side we live.

Our season for planting has been
very bad, owing to so much rain; but
all appears to be getting on very well
except the poor Cherokees, of which
there is not a few who have been dis-
possessed of their fields and dwellings,
and turned out to seek refuge in Ala-
bama and Tennessee, without any kind
of support, moneyless and nothing to
buy provisions. I know of a number
of families destitute of provision, or
money to buy it, and wandering and
eating from them that has a little sub-
sistence, and many of whom are emi-
grants. The circumstance calls aloud
on the authorities of Government for
relief of these people. It seems im-
possible for them to last through the
season. Corn is scarce and worth $1
per bushel by the quantity, cash ; flour
could now be had, and bacon at toler-
able moderate prices. You can scarce
have any idea of the suffering your
Cherokee friends are now encounter-
ing. Every week we have lots of men
hunting stolen property, and smoke
houses robbed of bacon, and every kind
of stealing going on.

Your friend Knitts, of Donehutta,
received 120 lashes a few days ago,
supposed to be concerned in robbing
a smoke house; but I think he will
be proved innocent.

I see my Cherokee friends, emi-
grants, within this vicinity every week,
inquiring what is doing at Washing-
ton, and trying to find out what will
be done as regards their perilous sit-
uation.

Many families in our neighborhood
would "be glad to emigrate if the Gov-
ernment would enable them to do so.

Please give my respects to the Ma-
jor and all your delegation.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. M. LAVENDER.

(Note: Referred to the Indian Of-
fice by Major Ridge.)

CAVE SPRING INDIANS.— Now
and then a roving band of Creek In-
dians would descend upon the newly-
created Floyd County to fight or treat
with their ancient foes, the Cherokees.
It was probably in 1832 that a group
of them pitched camp close to the white
settlement at Cave Spring, prepared
to go into a pow-wow the next day
with their more intelligent neighbors,
whose camp was situated not a great
hark away.

Among the old settlers living at
Cave Spring then was William Smith,
who removed to Rome two years later.
Mr. Smith was away from home when
the Creeks appeared, and his wife was
badly frightened. The visitors look-
ed so dark and villainous, and they
crept about like snakes. When night
came, Mrs. Smith gathered her baby
Martha (Mrs. Robt. Battey) m her
arms, and taking a negro nurse, stole
out of the house into the underbrush,
where, wrapped in shawls and an In-
dian blanket, they spent thfe night.
Mrs Smith had feared the Creeks
might break into her house during the
night; they could be seen moving
stealthily and keeping a close watch,
but they attempted no outrage.

Included in the Cherokees fc CfY^
Spring was a young fellow called Lit-
tle Meat. He was in the habit ot
scaring wee Martha Smith now and
then by appearing suddenly and grunt-
ing "Ugh!" and at the same time lift-
ing her up into his swarthy arms. He
was a playful rascal and never meant
any harm, but he nearly scared the lit-
tle' girl out of her wits many times.
They called him Little Meat because
he killed so many small birds and
roasted them on a spit.

The country was wild, sparsely set-
tled full of bad Indians and adventur-
ous whites, a few soldiers at isolated

♦Should be Watie. „,

**Sukatowie's enrollment number was biS.
He was of the Chickamaugee district and votea
with Ross at the Rome council

***Probably intended for Dirtsel ler s Chat-
tooga County. A map dated 1810, m the Car-
negie Library at Atlanta, places .Hightown
between the rivers where Rome ""^ 'S- H^gh-
tower" is probably a variation of Hightown
and may have referred to an Indian signal
station on the present Tower HiU.
^ *iUNow part of the bottom land on the
Linton A. Dean farm.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

213

posts, and here and thei-e a rough In-
dian trail that sufficed for a road.
As settlers came in they were chosen
by mutual consent for certain duties.
William Smith was usually in "saddle
and boots," prospecting- a mine down
the Coosa, trading in land up the
Oostanaula, attending court at Living-
ston, hence acted as "sheriff" before
the county machinery had been set up
(and perhaps afterward). On one oc-
casion an Indian charged with a se-
rious offense was caught and brought
to Cave Spring behind Mr. Smith with
hands tied. They rode a horse. There
was no secure place to keep the In-
dian, so Mr. Smith lashed him with
rope to a bed-post at the foot of the
bed, after which Mr. and Mrs. Smith
retired, and Mr. Smith slept soundly.

Once several years later at the
Forks Ferry, Rome, a sullen Indian
provoked the wrath of Mr. Smith, who
knocked the man unconscious with a
heavy stick. The condition of the In-
dian for a time was serious, and Mr.
Smith, following the advice of friends
that he should be careful of violence,
went for a week to live with Philip W.
Hemphill at the place now known as
DeSoto Park. Most of the Indians were
his friends, however, and they sent
him word that no harm would come
tij him.

David Vann, the sub-chief, was the
most powerful member of his tribe
around Cave Spring, and Vann's Val-
ley was named after him. On July
28, 1850, he was living temporarily
at the Lake House, Cave Spring. He
was very well educated and wrote a
pleasing hand with occasional mis-
spelt words, like most of the Indian
leaders. He had two handsome, pleas-
ant mannered sons called Cooey and
Clem, who in 1851 were living in
Crandsalem, Cherokee Nation, Arkan-
sas, and about that time visited Dr.
and Mrs. Robert Battey on Second
Avenue on their way to a law school
in Baltimore. Other sons were said
to have been Augustus and Washing-
ton. Under date of Aug. 27, 1850, Da-
vid Vann wrote William Smith at
Rome from Washington, D. C. :

"Dear Sir: I wrote to you some
time since infoi-ming you that I would
be glad to hear from you respecting
our silver mine in Alabama, but have
not yet received anything from you.
Will you be kind enough to write me a
few lines and let me know how you
are getting along? I have determined
to go that way when I leave here foi-
home. I can not say when that will
be. It may be some time in October.

I have no idea that I can get away
before Congress adjourns & there i's
no time set yet for the adjournment
of Congress, though I will let you know
before I leave when I will be at your
house. I wrote a few lines to M*ajor
Richardson a few days ago requesting
him to save me some peech seed from
my old orchard (those large white
peeches). I have no news but what
you see in the papers. Mr. Clay has
got back this morning. He has" been
absent ever since his Compromise bill
was defeated. The Senate has passed
all the measures that he had in his
Compromise bill separately with very
slight alterations. Give my respects
to your family and accept for your-
self my best wishes for your health
and prosperity.

Your friend and obt. svt.,

"DAVID VANN."
(In haste.)

Under date of July 28, 1850, Chief
Vann wrote Mr. Smith from Washing-
ton and stated that he was having
some trouble getting his patent to 40
acres of land containing the silver
mine, and adding:

"I presume the water is now low
enough to examine the ford of the

MONTt;OML0KY M. J 01..SUM. cUwr uriUr ui
vcrsp, in his rPKalia aa an orticer of Chorokee
LocIkp 66 of Masons.

214

A History of Rome and Floyd County

creek. By looking in the ford you
will find where old Campbell cut the
hole in the rock and filled it up, and
just below the ford he said there was
a deep hole, evidently dug out by
some person."

Shortly after this the two, accom-
panied by Col. Cunningham M. Pen-
nington, of Rome, visited the mine on
Sand river, but failed to find anything
of special interest.

From Rome, Feb. 2, 1851, Mr. Smith
wrote David Vann at Grandsalem,
Ark. :

"My apology for delaying to write
you before this time is hardly suffi-
cient excuse. I have been run to death
of daylight and so tired of nights that
I have put it off from time to time,
till I have got through with the bridge
and have some leisure.

"After you left Gunter's Landing,
I went up to where they were to run
their horse race; there I found all
parties concerned in that lot we want-
ed. I took Collins and fixed things
with him to bring about the trade with
D. A. Smith. He managed it as I di-
rected it and I got the lot for $125
cash. . . . Pennington is in high spirits,
though he had very bad luck in the
matter. He took some eight or ten
pounds of the best ore we could get
and took it to Washington, or I should
have said started with it at Wilming-
ton. He had his trunk stolen and lost
his specimens and all his clothing and
has never heard of them yet. He was
on other business at Washington and
has just returned. We will consult
as soon as this awful cold weather
breaks and make a thorough examina-
tion and write you immediately. There
is great excitement about it. I give
them no satisfaction. I shall take a
good geologist with me, D. A. White,
of Savannah; he I have seen and he is
anxious to accompany us over there.
I shall lie low; it must count. I am
in hopes you will be able to get the
old man Campbell to come out with
you soon. Don't count the expenses if
you can prevail on liim to come. It
will do more good to have him here
looking than anything. We must bare-
ly let the people know he is here.

"Well, I have no news to write you
more than you have seen by the pa-
pers. Georgia has killed the Disun-
ionist in the South. Our Convention
was composed of the best talent in
Georgia; there were but 18 Disunion-
ists in the convention out of nearly
300 members. They have broken up
all old party lines and left the Dis-

unionists to themselves, with Colquitt
and Towns to manage; they are dead
letters in Georgia; you can't get one
of them to talk about it.

"What is to hinder Clem from com-
ing? I think he would like to stay a
year or two with us and read law
with Judge Wright or Judge Under-
wood.

"You have no idea how our town
has grown in the last three months.
They have built all around me clear
to the railroad and back to the bridge.
We have but a few lots left and I
don't expect to keep them two weeks.
It is a lively business at last, though
it was a long time coming. My wife
joins me in our love to your wife and
children and says she remembers her
kindness to her in bygone days. Ac-
cept for yourself my best wishes.
"WM. SMITH."

DANCE AT CHIEFTAIN'S.— Mrs.
Jno. S. Prather (Susan Verdery), of
Atlanta, who once lived at the old
home of Major Ridge, contributes the
following:

"It was evening and the night was
bright, with a galaxy of stars bending
their pale beams through a wealth of
climbing roses, clinging woodbine and
white star jessamines. Candle light
sent a glimmer through the windows
to the front porch, and shadows from
the tall Colonial pillars fell across the
mossy lawn. A swish of satin could
be heard here and there and the gleam
of white muslin and a more somber
contrast of black broadcloth and white
vests as the couples lined up for the
dance.

"A scraping of the preliminary
chords and the popping of a fiddle
string made known that the plantation
orchestra was nearly ready to begin
its part of the performance. The two
black fiddlers were the property of
the owner of the mansion.

"Ah, there went the light footsteps
in perfect unison with the music of
the cotillion! They danced for half
an hour. Occasionally a couple for-
sook the crowd and repaired to the
veranda through the leafy screens of
honeysuckle, there to exchange words
of understanding and to pluck a nose-
gay that carried its silent message
straight to the heart.

"Milady sounded the gong; the danc-
ing ceased and supper was enjoyed in
the dining room. What a supper! Of
quality and variety the choicest, and
prepared after Aunt Lindy's favorite
recipes. Then Augustus Nicholas Ver-

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

215

dery, son of a French planter of the
West Indies and master of the planta-
tion, struck a martial air on his fine
violin. The couples formed again, and
the son of the house, Thos. Jefferson
Verdery, and a fair young lady from
Charleston led the gay company out
into the ball room again. The colored
fiddlers played 'Oh Miss Nancy, Don't
You Cry! Your Sweetheart Will Come
to You Bime By!'

"A specialty was introduced by Mr.
Chas. De I'Aigle, of Augusta, whose
polkas and schottisches set the young
feet patting and young hearts palpi-
tating; and Tom Verdery and his lit-
tle sister, Susan, danced steps that en-
joyed a wide vogue more than 50 years
later.

"At 11 the guests climbed into the
barge 'Mary Berrien' and were poled
down the Oostanaula to Rome — all
save the guests of the house. A lone
figure drew into the shadow of a giant
sycamore as the merrymakers passed.
It darted near the mansion, peered in
with a vengeful look and was swallow-
ed in the gloom of the nearby forest.
'Twas an Indian woman left behind
when her sister and brother redskins
departed for the west, an inhabitant
of a cave in the hills who had stolen
down into the lowlands to gaze on the
Cherokee retreat of the olden days
with a prayer for the return of the
tribe to its happy hunting grounds."
* * *

CREEK CHIEF IS CAPTURED.—

White's Historical Collections of Geor-
gia (p. 151) and an old Rome news-
paper clipping furnish data for an in-
teresting story of the capture in 1835
of old Fosach Fixico, the Creek Indian
chief, by Georgia and Alabama troop-
ers, part of whom were recruited from
the Coosa Valley near Rome. Historian
White records: "Very soon after the
ratification of the New Echota treaty,
an apprehension was entertained by
many citizens in Georgia that the
party who had opposed the treaty
would become hostile, and petitions
for arms, troops and ammunition were
presented to the Executive, and grant-
ed. Orders were issued to Brig. Gen.
James Hemphill to raise a battalion
of militia and place them at Lesley's
Ferry, on the Coosa River, for the pur-
pose not only of keeping the Chero-
kees in check, but also of preventing
the Creeks from swarming into (ieor-
gia, which orders were executed, and
the battalion was organized under the
command of Gen. James Hemphill and
Maj. Chas. H. Nelson. A part of the
Cherokees were disarmed, and 500

nmskets and accouterments were or-
dered and sent to Cherokee County,
in case of any hostile movements on
the part of the Indians. These prep-
arations on the part of Georgia, to-
gether with the appearance of the
Tennessee troops under Brig. Gen.
Jno. E. Wool, of the United States
army, quieted the fears of the citi-
zens."

The clipping referred to states that
Capt. Mitchell was placed in charge
of the expedition down the Coosa, hav-
ing heard that the Creeks were mov-
ing down toward the Cherokee country
from the head of Terrapin Creek, Ala.,
to excite their tribal cousins in the
Valley of the Coosa. A scout. Fields,
was sent out, and reported that the
Indians were concentrated and ready
to strike from the mountains at the
head of Terrapin, which empties into
the Coosa just below Centre, Cherokee
County, Ala. Without waiting for re-
inforcements, on scout duty or fur-
lough, Capt. Mitchell left Rome with
20 men mounted on horseback and
muleback, some with saddles, some
with blankets and others riding bare-
back. They galloped down the Ala-
bama road through the Coosa Valley,
gaining recruits with squirrel guns as
they went. At dusk the command, now
120 men, was within six miles of the
Indian camp, and at sunrise the next
morning they were on the spot, ready
for an attack. In the meantime, the
good women of the neighborhood had
sent in breakfast rations for all of
the troopers. The expectation was
that there would be a bloody fight.
These Coosa farmers and Georgiji Vol-
unteers were determined to strike a
telling blow in defense of their wives
and children, and this determination
was not any less sharp from the fcict
of their crude arms and scanty equip-
ment.

About 200 warriors, practically
naked and well daubed with paint,
swarmed from their wigwams like
bees, until a side of Craig's Moun-
tain was well dotted with them. As
the Georgia troops were about to close
in, a clatter of hoofs was heard and
up dashed Capt. Arnold with a com-
pany of fiO cavalry from Jacksonville,
Ala. Capt. Mitchell cried out: "No
time for consultation ; you fight to the
right and occupy the creek above the
camp!"

Capt. Arnold's men sped to the point
indicated, while Capt. Mitchell's swept
to the left, crossed Terrapin Creek,
dismounted and deployed in skirmisli
line and ajiproached to within 40 yards

216

A History of Rome and Floyd County

of the camp. Orders were not to fire
until fired upon. Suddenly a long
strip of white canvas was hoisted on
a pole as a flag of truce, and an in-
terpreter was sent out to declare, "I
am directed by Chief Fosach Fixico to
say that he is not hostile."

The Indian was ordered to return
and direct that the chief appear in
person. Fosach quickly appeared, the
finest diked-out Indian ever seen be-
fore or since; he wore a red and blue
turban, with crimson and white war
gown of velvet that extended to his
knees, and hung profusely with beads
and tassels of all kinds; his face and
neck were ablaze with war paint. He
came forward with an elastic and
somewhat defiant step. As Capt.
Mitchell met him a few paces in ad-
vance of the line, he repeated through
his interpreter: "I am not hostile."
Capt. Mitchell asked him if he surrend-
ered, to which he replied: "I am not
hostile, but if you require it, I do."

At this juncture Capt. Luckie dash-
ed up with a troop of farmers from
near the mouth of Terrapin Creek, ar-
riving on the west side. He and Capt.
Arnold were consulted and the terms
of capitulation agreed upon. Fosach
was to deliver all his arms to Capt.
Luckie. who was to march the In-
dians forth to Mardisville, whence they
were to proceed under additional guard
to Arkansas. Twenty-four hours was
given for the red-skins to gather up
their ponies, women and children. Such
of the Coosa River Volunteers as wish-
ed to remain with Capt. Luckie could
do so, and the others were free to re-
turn to their homes. Five hundred
muskets and accouterments surrender-
ed by the Indians were sent to Chero-
kee County.

Shortly afterward, three cavalary
companies from Floyd and one from
Cherokee were organized into a bat-
talion at Rome and were put in camp
at Lashley's Ferry, eighteen miles be-
low Rome, on the north side of the
Coosa. These were under direction of
Gen. Hemphill and under direct charge
of Maj. Nelson and Capt. Mitchell.
The command was known as the High-
land Battalion, and was sworn into
the United States service by Capt.
Paine, U. S. A., and served until after
most of the Indians had been removed
to the west. On the resignation of
Lieut. Carter, Joseph Watters was
elected to the vacancy, and when Capt.
Mitchell resigned, Watters was named
in his place. This was undoubtedly
the same Joseph Watters for whom

the Watters district of Floyd County

was named.

* * *

RIDGE'S LUCKY SHOT.— The fol-
lowing anecdote, summarized from the
Cartersville Courant of Apr. 2, 1885,
(by Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood)
will show how a red-man would now
and then befriend a pale-face:

"In old Pendleton District, South
Carolina, lived Col. James Blair, a
Revolutionary soldier, last commander
of Oconee Station and one of the con-
stables of Col. Benj. Cleveland, a hei'O
of the Revolution, colloquially known
as 'Old Roundabout.' For 20 years
Col. Blair had rounded up Tories and
thieves and had swung many a 'bad
man' to the gate gallows in front of
Col. Cleveland's plantation home.

"On this occasion. Col. Blair was
following Wiley Hyde and Tom Phil-
lips, half breed Indians who had stolen
two fine horses from Benj. Mosely,
who lived near Oconee Station. He
was equipped with a horse in leash as
well as his saddle animal, and two
large horse pistols. At Reece's Spring,
a mile east of the home of Major
Ridge, the Cherokee chief, and two
whoops and a holler from Ft. Jack-
son, Col. Blair came upon the Indians,
drinking at the spring. They were
also fairly full of fire-water, and as
he approached (having tethered his
horses nearby), they covered him with
their rifles.

"Col. Blair threw up his hands, but
quickly said, 'Don't shoot! I am a
friend with some good whiskey! Don't
shoot a friend with some whiskey on
his hip!'

"The Indians relented and began to
question him in their maudlin way.
He told them he wanted to join a
crowd and go over into Vann's Valley
and steal some horses. The suspicions
of Wiley Hyde were aroused, and he
said, 'Tom Phillips, you are a fool.
He's from over the line, and he'll be
shooting us full of holes in a minute.
Let's kill him and throw him in the
river.'

"Hyde raised his gun, cocked it and
was about to crack down on CoL
Blair's chest when 'Bang!' came from
the nearby forest. Hyde fell face
forward into the branch, and as he
went down. Col. Blair seized his gun
and covered Wiley Hyde, who threw
up his hands.

"Major Ridge rushed forward from
a clump of underbrush and explained
that he had been out hunting wild tur-
keys when the pantomine was re-

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

217

hearsed before his eyes. He knew the
two men to be worthless scoundrels,
and was glad to do Col. Blair and the
state the service of dispatching one of
them. John Ridge, the Major's son,
Stand Watie, John's cousin, and Sally
Ridge, the Major's pretty young
daughter, came running up, and with
a courtly bow. Col. Blair presented
his handsome gold watch to the little
girl. John and Stand Watie got the
stolen horses together for Col. Blair;
Tom Phillips was tied securely and put
on one of them, and Col. Blair went
back to the Pendleton district of
South Carolina. The dead Indian was
buried 150 yards below the spring,
without even a tear from Miss Sally
to damped the sod.

"This act gained for Major Ridge
an honorable name among the pale-
faces, who ever after looked to him
to redress wrongs committed by mem-
bers of his clan; and when he fought
so bravely at the Battle of the Horse-
shoe, Ala., several years later, under
Gen. Jackson, all felt that his laurels
were lightly worn."

TROUBLES OF THE CHIEFS.—
That life was not a bed of Cherokee
roses for the Ridges and their kins-
man, Elias Boudinot, is evident from
the following letters :

*Washington City, Mar. 13, 1835.

To Hon. Lewis Cass,
Secretary of War,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: I read this letter this morn-
ing, advising me of the progress of
intrusion upon my plantation and
ferry within the chartered limits of
Alabama. The damage done to me
v/ill be considerable if this is suffered
to proceed. Deplorable will be the fate
of the Indians if lawless men, without
the authorities of the States, are suf-
fered to throw free people out of their
houses while they are preparing to
leave the land of their forefathers.
This is not a solitary case, but these
aggravating cases are transpiring al-
most every day. The Government
should give instructions to its agents
upon this subject without delay.

I am, sir, respectfully your friend,
JOHN RIDGE.

(Enclosure.)
**Childersville, Ala., Dec. 23, 1835.
Mr. John Ridge,
(Washington, D. C.)

Dear Friend: It has been some
weeks since I wrote to you. I have
been expecting to receive a letter from
you, but have not received any yet. I
now write to give you the times here.
We are all well. I have commenced
clearing up my ground for a crop. I
shall start my ploughs in a few days.
Jno. W. Garrot'-'*"' is here on the other
side of the river; has got large dou-
ble houses built, and has taken those
old houses that Pathkiller used to live
in, and made kitchens of them. He has
moved part of the fencing there and
says he intends to hold all the pos-
sessions, and that he will take the
ferry as soon as you return. I for-
bid him to build there, before wit-
nesses. He threatens to shoot any
man that would interrupt him. He
says he can raise a militia force any
time to protect himself. Major B. F.
Currey was here shortly after Garrot
first came, and ordered him off. Gar-
rot now says they had a private con-
versation, and Currey had told him
that he should not be interrupted, and

♦Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (183.5), p. 357.

**Ibid. Uncioubtedly the present Childersburp.
Talladega County, on the Coosa River, 125
miles below Rome.

***A man named Garrett is supposed to have
molested Major Ridge's ferry at Rome.

DR. GAMALIEL W. HOLMES, who estab-
lished a reputation as a family physician
after the Civil War.

218

A History of Rome and Floyd County

that they (Currey and himself) had
made a compromise of the business.
I hope you will be able while you are
there to make arrangements from Gov-
ernment to have him put off from this
place. If you can not do that, it will
injure you more than one thousand
dollars. If he was away from here
I could get $2,500 for the place at any
time, but it will not sell for half that
amount under the present circum-
stances.

I have bad news to tell you about
the money business here. My share
this winter is but little. The small-
pox turned the people away in the
fore part of the winter, and now and
for some time back the people are
afraid to travel on account of the
highway robbers. The travellers are
getting killed and robbed in all parts
of the country. Between Mr. West's
and Spanish John's old place there
have been found a man and two horses
killed. On the mountain between here
and Mr. Bell's a man has been robbed
of a horse. Down at Mill creek, on
this road, a man was robbed of $192.
On the mountain near Cox's, a man
was killed and robbed of his horse and
money. In Chattooga Valley there
were two men shot, but neither of
them killed. Near Montgomery, a few
days ago, a man was killed and rob-
bed of several hundred dollars.

I heard from Mrs. Ridge a few days
ago. They were all well. Today I
shall send Mrs. Ridge $45 of cash. I
must conclude by saying to you that
I still remain,

Your sincere friend,

WM. CHILDERS.
"'Headquarters, Army Cherokee Na-
tion, Valley Town, N. C, Aug. 12,
1836.
Brig. Gen. Dunlap,**
Of the Brigade of
Tennessee Volunteers.

Sir: Captain Vernon, stationed at
New Echota, informs me that John
Ridge has complained to him that some
white man is about to take forcible
possession of his ferry on Coosa River.
You will without delay inquire into the
case, and if you should find the com-
plaint to be just, you will, until fur-
ther orders, protect Ridge in his rights
and property. This order will apply to
all cases of similar character in the
Cherokee country.

You are further directed that in
case you should find any troops with-
in the limits of the Cherokee nation,
whether in Georgia, Alabama, Tennes-
see or North Carolina, not belonging

to the East Tennessee brigade, to no-
tify them that they are exclusively
subject to my authority, and unless
they report to me without delay, and
become subject to my orders, will
either leave the nation or be disband-
ed. In your proceedings, you will be
governed by your instructions of the
4th instant.

I am, very respectfully, your obe-
dient servant,

JOHN E. WOOL,
Brigadier General Commanding.

In September, 1836, Gov. Lumpkin
wrote as follows of the Ridge ferry
seizure at Rome to Gen. John E.

Wool:***

"I herewith enclose you sundry pa-
pers placed in my hands by Mr. Gar-
rett, on the subject of Ridge's ferry.
From these papers it would seem that
Garrett is willing to yield his claims
to the civil authority, and yet to obey
and respect any military orders to him
directed by you.

"Garrett alleges that he will cease
to run his ferry boat provided Ridge
will keep up the ferry and not disap-
point travelers, but further states that
Ridge is like the dog in the manger —
that he will neither run his own boat
nor suffer him to run one. The pa-
pers, however, will place you in pos-
session of the facts and relieve you
from further trouble in the case.

"With gi-eat respect, your obedient
servant,

"WILSON LUMPKIN."

****New Echota, June 15, 1836.
Hon. Elbert Herring,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Sir: By the last mail I addressed
a letter to Mr. Schermerhorn, to your
care, which you have probably perused.
What I there stated in regard to the
state of feeling among the Cherokees
has only been confirmed to my satis-
faction. Indeed, I will venture to say
there has never been a time for the
last five years when appearances were
so favorable as at present. I know
of no hostility to the treaty. I hear
now, on the contrary, the Cherokees in
this region will receive it with cheer-
fulness. They say the matter is now
settled and they are glad of it. I
speak of the mass of the Cherokees.

*Secretary of War's Report on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), p. 640.

**W. C. Dunlap.

***Removal of the Cherokee Indians from
Georgia, (Lumpkin), Vol. II, p. 43.

****Report of Secretary of War on CheroTcee
Treaty (1835), ps. 600-1.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

219

There is a portion who, no doubt, feel
far otherwise; but they are those
whose ambition has been disappointed.
Without their interference there will
be no excitement. I trust they will not
endeavor to excite the people.

The white inhabitants of this coun-
try are in a state of great alarm,
founded upon some unfounded appre-
hensions. I believe it is owing a great
deal to what is transpiring in the
Creek nation. Our people are not even
aware of the state of feeling among
the whites, much less are they think-
ing of making war. I trust, sir, that
no exaggerated rumors, which, no
doubt, will go out of this country, will
induce the Government to believe the
Cherokees are in a hostile attitude.
They are not, nor do I believe, even
with Ross's influence, will a portion
of them ever assume such an attitude.

Our people are greatly suffering
for food. It is very important that the
necessary appropriations should be
made soon for their relief. If I had
authority to do so, I would begin to
supply them in this neighborhood.

In my letters to Mr. Schermerhorn
I have referred to the speculations that
are going on upon the Indians by
whites and half breeds. Strong meas-
ures are necessary to prevent it. The
president ought to have the right of
deciding what are the just debts of
the Indians, for the protection of that
class. If not, they will go to the west
deprived of every cent of their prop-
erty, and the money will go into the
hands of the whites and such Indians
as have opposed the very treaty by
which they are now trying to amass
wealth. I say again, strong measures
are necessary.

I trust the President will think it
best to send Mr. Schermerhorn again.
I think he is a suitable person be-
cause he is a terror to speculators, and
understands the situation of these peo-
ple and their affairs.

With sentiments of high esteem, I
remain yours,

ELIAS BOUDINOT.

*New Echota, Ga., June 16, 1836.
Hon. Elbert Herring,
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Sir: I addressed a letter to you yes-
terday, giving you a favorable account
of the state of feeling among the
Cherokees. I have since then i-eceived
the enclosed letter, which would seem
to contradict what I have stated. I

*Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee
Treaty (1835), ps. 602-3-4.

wish to be understood as speaking of
the Cherokees in this region, and from
which I have direct information. There
are neighborhoods where I have every
reason to presume there is hostility
towards us as a treaty party, and there
are individuals who would willingly
take our lives if they could. I have
no idea that the danger is as great
as is apprehended by the writers of
the two letters enclosed.

I came through the neighborhood
where hostility is said to exist, and
the frolic or dance spoken of was held
before I came along. I saw Thos.
Taylor there, and he told me that he
found the people better satisfied than
he expected.

I yet think there may be some mis-
take about Welch being waylaid. Fos-
ter, one of our delegation, was here
the other day, and he told me every-
thing was going right for the treaty.
But as I have before stated, inflam-
matory statements from the other side
may change the state of feeling. I
shall not be excited, and shall take
the matter coolly and deliberately, and
shall endeavor to keep you apprized of
what is happening. I shall repeat
again what I have said, that matters
have never appeared so favorable
within the compass of my observations
within the last five years, as at pres-
ent, and if Ross would only keep away,
the nation would almost be unanimous
for the treaty.

To give you an instance how these
poor people are deluded and misled, it
is said that one of Ross's delegation on
his return reported that the Cherokee
countries here and in Arkansas have-
been sold, and that the Cherokees will'
have to go to a far country, infested
by man-eaters. The people protested'
going there, but are willing to go tO'
Arkansas.

I should have addressed these let-
ters to Mr. Schermerhorn, if I thought
he was still there. Please give my
respects to him, and let him see these
letters.

Very respectfully,

ELIAS BOUDINOT.

(Two Enclosures.)
Coal Mountain, June 8, 1836.
Mr. Elias Boudinot,

Sir: There was an Indian frolic or
dance on Saturday night last, and
there was some white men went to
the same. They have rei)<)rted that
the Indians said that they had no
malice towards the white people, but

220

A History of Rome and Floyd County

that they intended killing Ridge and
yourself.' I have written you that you
"might be on your guard, which no
doubt you are. The citizens of this
county had a meeting yesterday; they
are resolved to punish all offenses, if
any. I would recommend for your
safety for you and family to leave the
country until the excitement is over a
little. ' Please to accept for yourself
and family my best wishes.
Truly yours,

GEORGE KELLOG.

Chattahoochee, June 8, 1836.

My dear Boudinot: I have just re-
ceived a letter from Welch, informing
me that his house has been waylaid
by the Indians, who are seeking an
opportunity to kill him. Our friend
Tom Taylor is scattering the fire-
brands. All my friends are well
pleased that our treaty has been rati-
fied and are ready to pledge their lives
in defense of the treaty party. We
have thousands of friends amongst the
Georgians, ready to do the same.

If you are at all apprehensive of
danger, let me advise you to collect
all your friends and form an encamp-
ment at Ridge's; arm but act on the
defensive; make any contracts neces-
sary to your support. The treaty must
meet them. I have just written to
Schermerhorn, informing him of Tay-
lor's conduct. Write to me often. I
am much concerned for your safety.
Sincerely your friend,

WILLIAM RODGERS."

ROSS DRIVEN FROM HOME.
—In April, 1835, it would appear,
Ross returned from Washington to his
home at "Head of Coosa," Rome. On
Mar. 14, the Ridge party had signed
with the Government the preliminar-
ies of the New Echota treaty, giving
the Indians $5,000,000 for Cherokee
Georgia. In order to reach Washing-
ton in those days it was necessary to
travel by stage or horse to Charles-
ton, and' there take the steamer north
or go the entire way on horseback.
He had come in on his trusty charger,
tired and hopeful of a kiss from his
wife and children. Instead, he found
his family gone — thrown out with a
few scant things they could carry
with them, and making for Tennessee
ever the dusty road.

The following statement was signed
by eight leading Cherokees,** including
Ross, and it was undoubtedly written
or dictated by Ross himself. Although
the ejectment seems to have taken

place in April, complaint was not made
to Washington until June 21, 1836,
more than a year later. Here is the
summary of grievances, including the
tale of the ejectment; it states that
Ross's father, Daniel Ross, was buried
at Rome, whereas members of the
family in Oklahoma have always
thought the parent and certain others
were buried at Lookout Mountain,
Tenn.

"The Cherokees were then left to the
mercy of an interested agent. This
agent, under the act of 1834, was the
notorious Wm. N. Bishop, the captain
of the Georgia Guard, aid to the Gov-
ernor, clerk of court, postmaster, etc.,
and his mode of trying Indian rights
is here submitted:

" 'Murray County, Ga.,
Jan. 20, 1835.
" 'Mr. John Martin:

" 'Sir — The legal representative of
lots of land No. 95, 25th district, 2nd
section, No. 86, 25th district, 2nd sec-
tion, No. 93, 25th district, 2nd section,
No. 89, 25th district, 2nd section. No.
57. 25th district, 2nd section, has
called on me, as State's agent, to give
possession of the above described lots
of land, and informs me that you are
the occupant upon them. Under the
laws of the State of Georgia, passed
in 1833 and 1834. it is made my duty
to comply with his request, therefore,
prepare yourself to give entire pos-
session of said premises on or before
the 20th day of February next; fail
not under the penalty of the law.
"'WM. N. BISHOP,

" 'State's Agent.'

"Mr. Martin,='^='-* a Cherokee, was a
man of wealth, had an extensive farm,
large fields of wheat growing; and
was turned out of house and home,
and compelled, in the month of Feb-
ruary, to seek a new residence within
the limits of Tennessee.

*Usually spelled Rogers.

**John Ross, John Martin, James Brown,
Joseph Vann, John Benpce, Lewis Ross, Elijah
Hicks and Richard Fields. Authority: Cher-
okee Indians, Congressional Documents
(1S35-6), Doc. No. 286, ps. 5-6-7. After Ross
was dispossessed, he went to live in Bradley
County, Tenn., where he and John Howard
Payne were arrested a few months later.

***Martin had been a judge of one of the
Cherokee districts (Amoah). On Aug. 10,
1835, he was arrested by I-ieut. Jno. L. Hooper,
commander of Co. F, 4th Inf., U. S. A., at Ft.
Cass, Calhoun, Tenn., and confined at the home
of Lewis Ross at that place, whence he soon
made his escape. A spirited tilt then took
place between Hooper and Major Currey. Mar-
tin was charged with having threatened the
life of John Ridge for negotiating with the
Government.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

221

"Mr. Richard Taylor was also at
Washington, and in his absence his
family was threatened with expulsion,
and compelled to give $200 for leave
to remain at home for a few months
only.

"This is the 'real humanity' the
Cherokees were shown by the real or
pretended authorities of Georgia, dis-
avowing any selfish or sinister motives
towards them.

"Mr. Jos. Vann, also a native Chero-
kee, was a man of great wealth ; had
about 800 acres of land in cultivation;
had made extensive improvements,
consisting, in part, of a brick house,
costing about $10,000, mills, kitchens,
negro houses, and other buildings. He
had fine gardens, and extensive apple
and peach orchards. His business was
so extensive he was compelled to em-
ploy an overseer and other agents. In
the fall of 1833 he was called from
home, but before leaving made a con-
ditional contract with a Mr. Howell,
a white man, to oversee for him in the
year 1834, to commence on the first
of January of that year. He returned
about the 28th or "29th of December,
1833, and learning that Georgia had
prohibited any Cherokee from hiring a
white man, told Mr. Howell he did
not want his services.

"Yet Mr. Bishop, the State's agent,
represented to the authorities of Geor-
gia that Mr. Vann had violated the
laws of that State by hiring a white
man, had forfeited his right of oc-
cupancy, and that a grant ought to
issue for his lands.

"There were conflicting claims un-
der Georgia laws for his possessions.
A Mr. Riley* pretended a claim, and
took possession of the upper part of
the dwelling house, armed for battle.
Mr. Bishop, the State's agent, and his
party came to take possession, and be-
tween them and R*ley a fight com-
menced, and from 20 to 50 guns were
fired in the house. While this was
going on, Mr. Vann gathered his trem-
bling wife and children into a room
for safety. Riley could not be dis-
lodged from his position upstairs, even
after being wounded, and Bishop's par-
ty finally set fire to the house. Riley
surrendered and the fire was extin-
guished.

Mr. Vann and his family were then

♦Spencer Riley, of Cass County, formerly or
Bibb. The fipht took place Mar. 2, 1835 ; au-
thority : Georgia Journal, Milledgeville, Apr. 7,
1835.

**Tallapoosa River, with Andrew Jackson
and Major Ridne.

***Reference to the Ridges, Boudinot and
others of the Treaty party.

driven out, unprepared, in the dead of
winter, and snow on the ground,
through which they were compelled
to wade and to take shelter within
the limits of Tennessee, in an open
log cabin, upon a dirt floor, and Bishop
put his brother, Absalom Bishop, in
posession of Mr. Vann's house. This
Mr. Vann is the same who, when a
boy, volunteered as a private soldier
in the Cherokee regiment in the serv-
ice of the United States, in the Creek
war, periled his life in crossing the
river at the Battle of the Horse
Shoe.** What has been his reward?

"Hundreds of other cases might be
added. In. fact, nearly all the Chero-
kees in Georgia who had improve-
ments of any value, except the favor-
ites of the United States agent,***
under one pretext or another have
been driven from their homes. Amid
the process of expulsion, the Rev. John
F. Schermerhorn, the United States
commissioner, visited the legislatures
of Tennessee and Alabama, and im-
portuned those bodies to pass laws
prohibiting the Cherokees who might
be turned out of their possessions from
within the Georgia limits, taking up
a residence in the limits of those
states.

WADE SAMUEL COTHRAN, Icadinj? spirit in
the First Presbyterian church, who removed
from Rome to Anniston.

222

A History of Rome and Floyd County

"The same summary process was
used toward Mr. John Ross, the prin-
cipal chief of the Cherokee Nation. He
was at Washington City, on the busi-
ness of his nation. When he returned,
he traveled until about 10 o'clock at
night to reach his family; rode up to
the gate; saw a servant believed to be
his own; dismounted, ordered his horse
taken; went in, and to his utter as-
tonishment found himself a stranger
in his own home, his family having
been some days before driven out to
seek a new home.

"A thought then flitted across his
mind — that he could not, under all the
circumstances of the situation, recon-
cile it to himself to tarry all night
under the roof of his own house as a
stranger, the new host of that house
being the tenant of that mercenary
band of Georgia speculators at whose
instance his helpless family had been
turned out and made homeless.

"Upon reflecting, however, that 'man
is born unto trouble,' Mr. Ross at once
concluded to take up his lodgings
there for the night, and to console
himself under the conviction of having
met his afflictions and trials in a man-
ner consistent with every principle of
moral obligation towards himself and
family, his country and his God.

"On the next morning he arose early,
and went out into the yard, and saw
some straggling herds of his cattle and
sheep browsing about the place — his
crop of corn undisposed of. In cast-
ing a look up into the widespread
branches of a majestic oak, standing
within the enclosure of the garden,
and which overshadows the spot where
lie the remains of his dear babe and
most beloved and affectionate father,
he there saw, perched upon its boughs,
that flock of beautiful pea-fowls, once
the matron's care and delight, but now
left to destruction and never more to
be seen.

"He ordered his horse, paid his bill,
and departed in search of his family.
After traveling amid heavy rains he
had the happiness of overtaking them
on the road, bound for some place of
refuge within the limits of Tennessee.
Thus have his houses, farm, public
ferries, and other property been wrest-
ed from him."

* * *

JOHN RIDGE IN NEW YORK.—
Martin Grahame, of Briarlea, Sas-
katchewan, Canada, who for some
years lived on the East Rome place
owned by J. Paul Cooper, sent the fol-
lowing in 1921 to Linton A. Dean

from the diary of his father, W. R.
Grahame :

"New York, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1832.—
Was also with Testes Dwight to the
City Hotel and was introduced to and
had conversation with two Indian
chiefs, the first and only I have seen —
Mr. John Ridge and another chief
whose name I do not remember. They
were well-dressed men in surtouts,
(wide-skirted coats reaching below the
knees. — Webster's New Standard Dic-
tionary) , spoke good English and be-
haved themselves like gentlemen. Ridge
is the son of an orator, the greatest,
Mr. Dwight said, among the Cherokees,
a chief of the Deer Tribe. The other
Indian was of the Wolf Tribe, of the
Cherokee Nation, both of them. They
had beautiful, small hands and feet,
especially Ridge, who is married to a
New England lady. They have come
to New York to raise the sympathy of
the public in behalf of their country-
men who have deputized them with
that design, for the purpose of getting
them allowed to remain in their lands
guaranteed them in Georgia, Tennes-
see and North Carolina in their treaty
with the United States.

"The Cherokees consist of 16,000 to
20,000 people, the women more numer-
ous than the men. The Sequoyan al-
phabet, according to Ridge, can be
learned in three days by a quick schol-
ar, and in six days by a slow one.
They have left ofl; the chase largely of
late and devote themselves to agri-
culture. Mr. Ridge said superstition
kept the Indian from gaining more
information. He stated that legend
had it that God first made the
Indian and then the white man. The
Indian was offered the choice of a
book or a bow and arrow, and while
he hesitated, the white man stole the
book; thus the bow and arrow was left
to the Indian, and*, he has made good
use of them ever since. Mr. Ridge's
father's home is a two-story one, 52
by 28 feet, and there are many others
of handsome design which show the
wealth and civilization of the owners.

"Tonight at a public meeting in
Clinton Hall, Mr. Ridge mentioned
that the chiefs of the Cherokees had
voluntarily resigned their ancient pow-
ers and modeled their state into a Re-
public on the general plan of the Unit-
ed States, with frequent elections (uni-
versal suffrage there is also, but he
did not mention that) .

"In the morning he mentioned that
among the Creek Nation women are
monthly put out of the house to purify,

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

223

and at these seasons men do not ap-
proach them, even to speak, except
from a distance. Adultery in high or
low deg'ree is punished with beating
until the criminals faint, and then cut-
ting the ears off. Formerly, passing
between a woman and the wind or
bathing higher up a stream at the same
time with her was held adultery, com-
municated of the water or the wind.
After punishment is inflicted, how-
ever, the off"ender resumes his rank,
and if he can escape until after an an-
nual jubilee, he may save himself en-
tirely from punishment.

"A married man may have as many
wives as he pleases, if they are not
the wives of others. The ladies have
not that privilege."

WHEN THE RED MAN LEFT.—
(By Jno. W. H. Underwood, in The
Cartersville Courant, 1883). — The
County of Floyd is perhaps the most
interesting locality of this section of
the state. Situated on the confluence
of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers,
it has attracted the attention of many
people. It was the favorite resort of
the Red Man, and when the treaty of
Dec. 29, 1835, was made, the influx
of population was greatly increased.

The Cherokee country was surveyed
by the authorities of the State of
Georgia in 1830 and 1831. The lots
were 160 acres and 40 acres in size.
That supposed to be the gold region
was laid off in 40-acre lots, and that
where there was supposed to be no
gold was laid off in 160-acre lots. The
whole of the Cherokee country com-
prised in the chartered limits of Geor-
gia was made into one county, called
Cherokee County. The extent of the
territory embraced was very consider-
able, beginning at the point where the
35th parallel of N. Latitude comes in
contact with a point on the Blue Ridge
fixed by James Blair and Wilson Lump-
kin that now divides Towns and Ra-
bun counties, running thence west to
Nickajack Cave, the northwest corner
of Georgia, thence due south, nearly
in the direction of Miller's bend, on the
Chattahoochee River, two miles south
of West Point, Ga., until it strikes
the north of Carroll County, thence
east until it reaches the Chattahoochee
River, thence along said river to the
mouth of the Chestatee, thence up the
Chestatee River to the head and then

*Not at Princeton University. It is generally
accepted that he attended the mission schools
at Spring Place, Murray County, and at Corn-
wall, Conn.

due north to the top of the Blue Ridge,
then in an easterly direction to Hick-
ory Gap, then with the meanders of
the Blue Ridge to the beginning.

Cherokee County was organized early
in 1832. The courthouse was located
where the town of Canton now is. A
judge and solicitor general were elect-
ed. The Hon. Jno. W. Hooper was the
first judge of the Superior Court. He
was the father of Mrs. Thos. W. Alex-
ander and John W. Hooper, long a
resident of Rome. Hon. Wm. Ezzard
was elected the first solicitor general.
He now resides in Atlanta, Ga., a hale
and hearty, well-preserved man be-
tween 80 and 90 years of age, an orna-
ment to mankind, an honor to his race,
a connecting link between the past and
present. Jacob M. Scudder, who had
long resided among the Indians as a
licensed trader, under the new inter-
course laws of the United States, res-
ident in the nation, was elected sena-
tor, and a man by the name of Wil-
liams representative. Scudder was a
highly intelligent and able man, and
very soon made a favorable impres-
sion upon the legislature. Early in
the session he introduced a bill to lay
off the country into ten counties, as
follows: Forsyth, Cobb, Lumpkin,
Union, Gilmer, Cherokee, Murray,
Cass, Floyd and Paulding. Murray
County embraced the territory that is
now in Whitfield, Catoosa, Walker, and
one-half of Chattooga. It would per-
haps have been best if the original
counties had remained as they were,
with slight exceptions. Mr. Scudder
laid off Floyd County with the view
of the existence of a city where Rome
now is. John Ross, the principal chief
of the Cherokees, resided immediately
north and opposite the junction of the
rivers, and called his place "Head of
Coosa." I have seen his letters to my
father often.

Major Ridge, who was made a major
by Gen. Jackson at the Battle of the
Horseshoe on the Tallapoosa River, in
TMabama. for gallant conduct, resided
up the Oostanaula River nearly two
miles north of the courthouse, on the
east bank of the river. Major Ridge's
son, John, was educated at Princeton,
N. J.,* and John's sister, Sallie. at Mrs.
Elsworth's School. John Ridge was
flic great rival of John Ross, and Sal-
lie Ridge was the first wife of George
W. Paschal, deceased, who was once
one of the judges of the Sui)reme Court
of Texas. Ridge Paschal, their son, is
a distinguished lawyer in Texas.

There exists no record of the first
settlers of Floyd County. The site

224

A History of Rome and Floyd County

was at first located down the Coosa
River, ten miles from Rome and called
Livingston. In 1834, however, there
was a very heated contest, and the seat
of justice, the courthouse, was moved
to the junction of the rivers and the
place named Rome. Among the early
settlers were the two Hemphills —
James and Philip W. Hemphill. One
of them resided at the Mobley place,
now owned by Col. Yancey, and the
other in Vann's Valley, at what has
been for many years known as the
Montgomery farm.

Walton H. Jones was the brother-
in-law of Hemphill and was an early
settler. So was Edward Ware, who
resided eight miles south of Rome,
where Mr, Alexander White now lives.
Joseph Ford, the father of I. D. Ford
and Arthur Ford, was another, and
resided in Vann's Valley where Mr.
W. S. Gibbons now lives. He built the
brick residence there. John Rush was
another early settler, and resided on
the Calhoun Road, seven miles north-
cast of Rome. Joseph Watters was an
early settler, settling eight miles north-
east of Rome at the "Hermitage." Wal-
lace Warren was here early, and re-
sided on the west side of the Oosta-
naula six miles from Rome. Dr. Alvin
Dean, the grandfather of Linton Dean,
was another one of them. He resided
about nine miles down the Coosa at
the residence of John W. Turner, who
married his daughter. Thos. S. Price
was another striking man, for sixteen
years sheriff and deputy sheriff with
Thos. G. Watters, now of Rome. The
Loyds were heard of at an early date,
and so were Thomas and Elijah Lump-
kin. John H. Lumpkin was here in
1834. Joseph Watters was many times
a senator from Floyd. John H. Lump-
kin was for three terms a member of
the Superior Court. Among the men
of mark who were here at an early
day may be mentioned Daniel R.
Mitchell, Wallace Mitchell, A. T. Har-
din, Elkanah Everett, and Thos. Sel-
man, the father of the numerous and
highly respected Selmans.

Perhaps the most far-seeing man
devoted to the interests of Rome that
ever lived in our midst was William
Smith. He was of great energy and
very full capacity, with the will
and courage of Andrew Jackson —
warm in his friendships and attach-
ments. He saw at an early day the
prospective commercial importance of
Rome. He was very far in advance of
the place and the people. He caused
to be projected and built the first

steamboat. He was born to command
and generally had at least one-half of
the voters of the county under his
control. He was often honored with
positions of trust by the people of the
county, and was once state senator.
He died at comparatively an early age.
He was a close and intimate friend of
Col. Alfred Shorter.

Of the earliest settlers, few if any
remain — alas, alas! they have gone
to that bourne whence no traveler re-
turns! Melancholy reflection! The
writer knew them all — they were his
friends and are now in the grave.

Among the later settlers were Wm.
H. Underwood. Dr. H. V. M. Miller,
A. D. Shackelford, Wm. T. Price, R.
S. Norton, Wm. E. Alexander, Pente-
cost and Ihly, the Alexanders, the
Smith family. Col. Alfred Shorter and
Wade S. Cothran, active-minded and
public-spirited men.

A. B. Ross, clerk of the Superior
Court, the father of our present clerk,
was here at an early day. He held
the office of clerk until his death, and
was as good a man as ever lived in
the county.

Jobe Rogers, John DeJournett,
Ewell Meredith and the Berryhills
were sterling men. The Rev. Geo,
White, of Savannah, Ga., published two
books, history and statistics of Geor-
gia, and there is very little said of
Floyd County. Floyd is now the fifth
or sixth county in point of population,
and Rome is the sixth city in the state.
The future of Rome is very promis-
ing. The growth has been gradual and
it is a remarkable fact that Rome has
built up by money made in the place
principally. Very little capital from
abroad has been used.

Rome ought to be the great manu-
facturing, commercial and financial
center of this northwest Georgia. We
have considerable manufacturing in-
terests here now, and with the ore,
slate, marble, and other precious and
valuable stones near enough to us, the
future of Rome must be upward and
onward.

There is no collision of interests be-
tween Rome, Dalton, Rockmart and
Cartersville. The interest of one is
the interest of the whole. Let there
be no jealousy and no rivalry. Let
each and all push forward the wheel
of our progress, and make this section
in point of fact and development what
the god of nature intended, the most
prosperous and lovely section of this
great country.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

225

AN OLD RAMBLER.— The follow-
ing Floyd County humor is from Bill
Arp's Scrap Book, Chapt. 1, The Orig-
inal Bill Arp, by Chas. H. Smith, At-
lanta, Jas. P. Harrison & Co., 1884:

"Some time in the spring of 1861,
when the boys were hunting for a fight
and felt like they could whip all crea-
tion, Mr. Lincoln issued a proclama-
tion ordering us all to disperse and
retire within 30 days, and to quit ca-
vorting around in a hostile and bellig-
erent manner. I remember writing an
answer to it, though I was a good Un-
ion man and a law-abiding citizen, and
was willing to disperse, if I could, but
it was almost impossible, for the boys
were mighty hot, and the way we made
up our military companies was to send
a man down the lines with a bucket of
water to sprinkle 'em as he came to
'em, and if a fellow sizzed like hot iron
in a slack-trough, we took him, and if
he didn't sizz, we dident take him; but
still, nevertheless, notwithstanding,
and so forth, if we could possibly dis-
perse in 30 days we would do so, but
I thought he had better give us a little
more time, for I had been out in an
old field and tried to disperse myself
and couldent quite do it.

"I thought the letter was pretty
smart, and read it to Dr. Miller and
Judge Underwood, and they seemed to
think it was right smart too. About
that time I looked around and saw Bill
Arp standing at the door with his
mouth open and a merry glisten in his
eye. As he came forward, says he to
me, 'Squire, are ye gwine to print
that?'

" 'I reckon I will. Bill,' said I.
'What name are ye gwine to put to
it?' said he. 'I havent thought about
a name.' Then he brightened up and
said, 'Well, Squire, I wish you would
put mine, for them's my sentiments!'
And I promised him that I would.

"So I did not rob Bill Arp of his
good name, but took it on request, and
now at this late day, when the moss
has covered his grave, I will record
.some pleasant memories of a man
whose notoriety was not extensive, but
who filled up a gap that was open, and
who brightened up the flight of many
an hour in the good old time, say from
20 to 30 years ago.

"Bill Arp was a small, sinewy man,
weighing about 130 pounds, as active
as a cat, as quick in movement as he
was active, and always presenting a
bright, cheerful face. He had an
amiable disposition, a generous heart
and was as brave a man as nature

makes. He was an humble man and
unlettered in books; never went to
school but a month or two in his life,
and could neither read nor write; but
.;till, he had more than his share of
common sense, more than his share of
ingenuity, and plan and contrivance,
more than his share of good mother-
wit and humor, and was always wel-
come when he came about.

"Lawyers and doctors and editors,
and such gentlemen of leisure as who
used to, in the good old times, sit
around and chat and have a good time,
always said, 'Come in. Bill, and take
a seat.' And Bill seemed grateful for
the compliment, and with a conscious
humility squatted on about half the
chair and waited for questions. The
bearing of the man was one of rever-
ence for his superiors and thankful-
ness for their notice.

"Bill Arp was a contented man —
contented with his humble lot. He
never grumbled or complained at any-
thing; he had desires and ambitions,
but they did not trouble him. He kept
a ferry for a wealthy gentleman who
lived a few miles above Rome, on the
Etowah River, and he cultivated a
small portion of his land; but the
ferry was not of much consequence,
and when Bill could step off to Rome
and hear the lawyers talk, he would
turn over the boat and poles to his
wife or children, and go. I have known
him to take a back seat in the court-
house for a day at a time and with a
face all greedy for entertainment,
listen to the learned speeches of the
lawyers and charge of the court, and

^\^ .

THE ORIGINAL BILL ARP.

226

A History of Rome and Floyd County

TESTING THE ROME BOYS FOR WAR DUTY.

"Bill Arp's" book, "Peace Papers," tells how the recruiting officers at Rome
poured water on candidates who were hot over Mr. Lincoln's "disarmament proc-
lamation." If "sizzling" resulted, they were sworn in. The author's several books
reflect vividly the humorous incidents and philosophy of the times.

go home happy, and be able to tell to
his admiring family what Judge Un-
derwood said and what Judge Wright
said, and what Col. Alexander said,
and what the judge on the bench
said; and if there was any fun
in anything that was said, Bill always
got it, and never forgot it. When
court was not in session, he still slip-
ped off to town and would frequent
the lawyers' offices and listen to 'em
talk, and the brighter the talk, the

faster Bill would chew his tobacco, and
the brighter his little, merry eyes
would sparkle.

"He had the greatest reverence for
Col. Johnston, his landlord, and always
said he would rather belong to him
than to be free; 'for,' said he, 'Mrs.
Johnston throws away enough old
clothes and vittles to support my chil-
dren, and they are always nigh enough
to pick 'em up.'

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

227

"Bill Arp lived in Chulio district.*
We had eleven districts in the county,
and they had all such names as Pop-
Skull, and Blue Gizzard, and Wolf-
Skin, and Shake-Rag, and Wild-Cat,
but Bill lived and reigned in Chulio.
Every district had its best man in
those days, and Bill was the
best man in Chulio. He could
out-run, out-jump, out-swim, out-
rastle, out-ride, out-shoot anybody in
Chulio, and was so far ahead that
everybody else had given it up, and
Bill reigned supreme. He put on no
airs about this, and his neighbors were
all his friends.

"But there was another district ad-
joining, and it had its best man, too.
One Ben McGinnis ruled the boys of
that beat, and after a while it began
to be whispered around that Ben
wasn't satisfied with his limited terri-
tory, but would like to have a small
tackle with Bill Arp. Ben was a pre-
tentious man. He weighed about 165
pounds, and was considered a regular
bruiser; and he, too, like Bill Arp, had
never been whipped. When Ben hit a
man, it was generally understood that
he meant business, and his adversary
was hurt, badly hurt, and Ben was
glad of it, and vain of it. But when
Bill Arp hit a man he was sorry for
him, and if he knocked him down, he
would rather help him up and brush
the dirt off his clothes than swell
around in triumph. Fighting was not
very common with either. The quicker
a man whips a fight, the less often he
has to do it, and both Ben and Bill
had settled their standing most effec-
tually. Bill was satisfied with his
honors, but Ben was not, for there was
many a Ransy Sniffle** who lived along
the line between the districts and car-
ried news from the one to the other,
and made up the coloring, and soon
it was norated around that Ben and
Bill had to meet and settle it.

"The court grounds of that day con-
sisted of a little shanty and a shelf.
The shanty had a dirt floor and a pun-
cheon seat and a slab for the Squire's
docket, and the shelf was outside for
the whisky. The whisky was kept in
a jug — a gallon jug — and that held
just about enough for the day's busi-
ness. Most everybody took a dram in
those days, but very few took too
much, unless, indeed, a dram was too

♦According to Miss Virginia C. Hardin, of
Atlanta, Chulio was called after an Indian sub-
chief who lies buried on the Stubbs place, ad-
joining the Hardin plantation, near Kingston.

**A busy-body character in Longstreet's
"Georgia Scenes."

***W. Frank Ayer, once Mayor of Rome.

much. It was very uncommon to see
a man drunk at a county court ground.
Pistols were unknown, bowie-knives
were unknown, brass knuckles and
slingshots were unknown, and all
other devices that gave one man an
artful advantage over another. The
boys came there in their shirt sleeves
and galluses, and if they got to quar-
reling, they settled it according to na-
ture.

"When Col. Johnston, who was Bill
Arp's landlord, and Maj. Ayer*** and
myself got to Chulio, Bill Arp was
there, and was pleasantly howdying
with his neighbors, when suddenly we
discovered Ben McGinnis trapoosing
around, and every little crowd he got
to, he would lean forward in an in-
solent manner and say, 'Anybody here
got anything agin Ben McGinnis? Ef
they have, I golly, I'll give 'em five
dollars to hit that; I golly, I dare any-
body to hit that,' and he would point
to his forehead with an air of defiance.

"Bill Arp was standing by us, and
I thought he looked a little more se-
rious than I had ever seen him. Frank
Ayer says to him, 'Bill, I see that
Ben is coming around here to pick a
fight with you, and I want to say
that you have got no cause to quarrel
with him, and if he comes, do you just
let him come and go, that's all.' Col.
Johnston says, 'Bill, he is too big for
you, and your own beat knows you,
and you haven't done anything against
Ben, and so I advise you to let him
pass — do you hear me?'

"By this time. Bill's nervous system
was all in a quiver. His face had an
air of rigid determination, and ho re-
plied humbly, but firmly, 'Col. John-

BEN McGINNIS.

228

A History of Rome and Floyd County

BILL ARP, OF CHULIO, TRIUMPHS OVER BEN M'GINNIS.

stone, I love you, and I respect you,
too; but if Ben McGinnis comes up
here outen his beat, and into my beat,
and me not havin' done nothin' agin
him, and he dares me to hit him, I'm
gwine to hit him, if it is the last
lick I ever strike. I'm no phist puppy
dog, sir, that he should come outen his
deestrict to bully me.'

"I've seen Bill Arp in battle, and he
was a hero. I've seen him when shot
and shell rained around him, and he
was cool and calm, and the same old
smile was on his features. I've seen
him when his first-born was stricken
down at Manassas, and he was near
enough to see him fall headforemost
to the foe, but I never have seen him
as intensely excited as he was that
moment when Ben McGinnis approach-
ed us, and addressing himself to Bill
Arp, said, 'I golly, I dare anybody to
hit that!'

"As Ben straightened himself up,
Bill let fly with his hard, bony fist
right in his left eye, and followed it
up with another. I don't know how it
was, and never will know; but I do
know this, that in less than a second.
Bill had him down and was on him,
and his fists and his elbows and his
knees seemed all at work. He after-
ward said that his knees worked on

Ben's bread basket, which he knew
was his weakest part. Ben hollered
enough in due time, which was con-
sidered honorable to do, and all right,
and Bill helped him up and brushed
the dirt off his clothes, and said, 'Now,
Ben, is it all over 'twixt you and me;
is you and me all right?' And Ben
said, 'It's all right 'twixt you and
me, Bill; I give it up, and you are
a gentleman.' Bill invited all hands
up to the shelf, and they took a drink,
and Bill paid for the treat as a gen-
erous victor, and he and Ben were
friends.

"I was not at the big wrestle be-
tween Bill Arp and Ike McCoy, and
had heard so many versions of it that
one night, while we were sitting
around the camp fire in Virginia, I
insisted on hearing it from Bill's own
lips. Said he, 'Well, gentlemen (he
always accented the men), my motto
has been to never say die, as Ginrul
Jackson said at the Battle of New Or-
leans, and all things considered, I have
had a power of good luck in my life.
I don't mean money luck by no means,
for most of my life I've been so ded
pore that Lazarus would have resign-
ed in my favor, but I've been in a
heap of close places, and somehow al-
ways come out right-side-up with care.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

229

" 'You see, Ike McCoy was perhaps
the best rasler in all Cherokee, and
he just hankered after a chance to
break a bone or two in my body. Now,
you know I never hunted for a fight
nor a fuss in my life, but I never
dodged one. I didn't want a tilt with
Ike, for my opinion was that he was
the best man of the two, but I never
said anything, but just trusted to luck.

" 'We was both at the barbycu, and
he put on a heap of airs, and strutted
around with his shirt collar open clean
down to his waist, and his hat cocked
on one side of his head, as sassy as
a Confederate quartermaster. He took
a dram, and then stuffed himself full
of fresh meat at dinner. Along in
the evening it was norated around that
Ike was going to banter me for a ras-
sle, and shore enuf, he did. The boys
were all up for some fun, and Ike
got on a stump and hollered out, 'I'll
bet ten dollars I can plaster the length
of any man on the ground, and I'll
give Bill Arp five dollars to take the
bet!'

" 'Of course, there was no gettin'
around the like of that. The banter
got my blood up, and so, without wait-
in' for ceremony, I shucked myself and
went in. The boys was all powerfully
excited, and was a bettin' every dollar
they could raise, and Bob Moore, the
feller I had licked about a year before,
said he'd bet twenty dollars to ten
that Ike would knock the breath outen
me the first fall. I borrowed the money
from Col. Johnston, and walked over
to him and said, 'I'll take that bet!'"

" 'The river* was right close to the
spring, and the bank was purty steep.
I had on an old pair of copprass
britches that had been seined in and
dried so often they was about half
rotten. When we hitched, Ike took
good britches-holt and lifted me up and
down a few times like I was a child.
He was the heaviest, but I had the
most spring in me, and so I jest let
him play around for some time, lim-
ber like, until suddenly he took a no-
tion to make short work of it with one
of his back-leg trip movements. He
drawed me up to his body and lifted
me into the air with a powerful twist.
Jest at that minit his back was close
to the river bank, and as my feet
teched the ground, I give a tremendous
jerk backwards and a shove forwards,
and my britches split plum open in
the back and tore clean offen my
bread basket, and Ike fell from me

* Etowah.

backwards and tumbled down the bank
into the river — kerchug!

" 'Sich hollerin' as them boys done
I reckon never was hearn before in
all them woods. I jumped in and
helped Ike out as he riz to the top.
He had took in a quart or so of water
right on top of his whisky and bar-
bycu, and as he set upon the bank,
it all come forth like a dost of ippe-
cack. When he gotten over it he
laughed sorter weakly and said Sally
Ann told him afore he left home he
had better let Bill Arp alone, for no-
body could run against his luck. Ike
always believed he would have thrown
me if britches holt hadent bx'oke, and
I reckon he would. One thing is cer-
tain; it cured Ike of braggin', and it
cured Bob Moore of bettin', and that
was a good thing.'

"Bill was full of mischief and his
indulgence in practical jokes some-
times led him into trouble, but he al-
ways managed to get out. Col. John-
ston says that one time a young man
stayed over night at his house, and
had occasion to cross the ferry next
morning. He was from Charleston,

BILL ARP "LOW RATES" M'COY.

230

A History of Rome and Floyd County

THE YOUNG MAN FROM CHARLESTON.

and had on a pair of fine boots and
a fashionable hat and a white vest
and kid gloves, and was altogether
quite dandy-like in his appearance. Bill
came over with the ferry boat and
eyed the man with a look of surprise
and contempt. The young man asked
him if his boat was entirely safe, and
insisted on having every drop of water
bailed out for fear of muddying his
boots. Bill showed great alacrity in
complying, and when the boat was
nearly across, and the young man was
standing near the gunnel, looking
down into the water, the long pole
that Bill was managing came sudden-
ly against his shoulders and keeled
him overboard. Bill did not hesitate
a moment, but jumped in after him,
and quickly pulled him up into the
boat again. The youth was dread-
fully alarmed and grateful for his
safe deliverance. He went back again
to the Colonel's house for some dry
clothes, but before he left he insisted
on rewarding Bill for saving his life,
but Bill modestly refused to receive
anything.

"When we went into camp near Ma-
nassas, while Gen. Wm. M. Gardner,
later of Rome, was in command. Bill
took the general a lot of beautiful
honey, which was highly appreciated,
and while he was enjoying it at the
breakfast table an old man came up

and in pitiful language informed him
how some soldiers came to his house
last night and robbed him of all his
honey, twelve hives in all, and they
worth five dollars apiece, and now he
was a ruint man, and the girls couldn't
git no clothes, and the cofee was out,
and the old 'oman was sick, and so
forth.

"The general was a West Pointer
and a strict constructionist, and he
was proud of his regiment; so that
evening at dress parade he made them
a nice little speech about a soldier's
honor, and about this honey business,
and wound up by saying that he didn't
know who stole the honey, and didn't
vv^ant to know, and he wasn't going to
try to find out, but he wanted every
man who was willing to help pay the
old man for his loss to step five paces
to the front.

"Bill Arp was the first man to step
out; he threw up his hat and hollered
'Hurrah for Ginrul Gardner!' The
whole regiment stepped forward and
joined in cheers for their noble gen-
eral, while Bill, without waiting for
orders, went down the line with his
hat, saying, 'Put in, boys, put in; the
general is right; let's pay the old man
and git the gals some clothes. I golly,
the gals must have some clothes!'

"They made up about ninety dollars
and the old man was paid and went

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

231

his way rejoicing, and the remainder
of the fund was turned over to the
hospital.

"While in camp at Centerville dur-
ing the bitter winter of 1861-2, the or-
ders against contraband whisky were
very strict, but still, the soldiers man-
aged somehow to keep in pretty good
spirits. One day a six-horse team from
Page County drove into camp, loaded
down with sixteen barrels of very fine
apples. The hind gate was taken off
and a barrel set down and the head
knocked in, and the boys bought them
quite freely. After a while another
barrel was set down, and in course of
time Col. Jno. R. Towers, another no-
ble Roman, of the Miller Rifles, ob-
served that Bill and some others were
quite hilarious, and he suspected there
was something wrong about that
wagon, and procured an order from
Gen. Sam Jones to examine it. On
inspection he found there was a five
gallon keg of apple brandy in each of
six of the barrels, and the kegs were
packed around with apples. The gen-
eral ordered a confiscation. He sent a
keg to each of the five regimental hos-
pitals, and had the sixth keg sent to
his tent and put under his cot.

"Bill Arp did not seem to be pleased
with the distribution, and wagged his
head ominously. He was on the de-
tail that was to guard the general's
headquarters that night; and so, the
next morning, when the general con-
cluded to sample the brandy, and sent
down for a few of us to come up and
join him in a morning cocktail, he
discovered that the keg was gone. Col.
Towers was there, and sent for a list
of the guard, and when he saw Bill
Arp's name, he quietly remarked, 'I un-
derstand it now.' All doubts were re-
moved; no search was made, for the
general enjoyed the joke; but that
night the keg was replaced under his
cot with about half its original con-
tents. Bill said he was always will-
ing to 'tote fair and divide with his
friends.'

"This is enough of Bill Arp — the
original simon pure. He was a good
soldier in war, the wit and wag of
the camp-fires, and made many a
home-sick youth laugh away his mel-
ancholy. He was a good citizen in
peace. When told that his son was
dead, he showed no surjirise, but sim-
ply said, 'Major, did he die all right?'
When assured that he did, Bill wiped
away a falling tear and said, 'I only
wanted to tell his mother.'

"You may talk about heroes and

heroines. I have seen all sorts, and
so has most everybody who was in
the war, but I never saw a more de-
voted heroine than Bill Arp's wife.
She was a very humble woman, very,
but she loved her husband with a love
that was passing strange. I don't
mean to say that any woman's love
is passing strange, but I have seen
that woman in town, three miles from
her home, hunting around by night for
her husband, going from one grocery
to another and in her kind, loving
voice inquiring 'Is William here?' or
'Do you know where William is?'

"Blessings on that poor woman! I
have almost cried for her many a time.
Poor William — hdw she loved him!
How tenderly would she take him
when she found him, and lead him
home, bathe his head and put him to
bed. She always looked pleased and
thankful when asked about him, and
would say, 'He is a good little man,
but you know he has his failings.'

"She loved Bill and he loved her; he
was weak and she was strong. There
are some such women now, I reckon;
I hope so. I know there are some
such men."

* * *

"BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD.—
" 'Big John' was one of the earliest
settlers of Rome, and one of her most
notable men. For several years he
was known by his proper name of
John H. Underwood, but when John
W. H. Underwood moved there, he was
identified by his superior size and
gradually lost his surname, and was
known far and near as 'Big John.'
Col. Jno. W. H. Underwood, who came
to be distinguished as a member of
Congress, and afterward as a judge,
was a man of large physiciue, weigh-
ing about 225 pounds, but 'Big John'
pulled down the scales at a hundred
])oun(ls more, and had shorter arms
and shorter legs, but his circumfer-
ence was correspondingly immense. He
was noted for his good humor. _ The
best town jokes came from his jolly,
fertile fancy, and his comments on
men and things were always origi-
nal, and as terse and vigorous as ever
came from the brain of Dr. Johnson.
He was a diamond in the rough. He
had lived a pioneer among the Indians
of the Cherokee, and it was said fell
in love with an Indan maid, the daugh-
ter of old Te.stenuggee, a limited chief,
and never married liecause he could
not marry her. But if his disappoint-
ment preyed upon his heart, it did
not prey upon tlie region that enclosed
it, for iie continued to expand his pro-

232

A History of Rome and Floyd County

portions. He was a good talker and
earnest laugher. Whether he laugh-
ed and grew fat, or grew fat and
laughed, the doctors could not tell;
which was cause and which was ef-
fect is still in doubt, but I have heard
the wise men affirm that laughing was
the fat man's safety valve, that if he
did not laugh and shake and vibrate
frequently, he would grow fatter and
fatter until his epidermic cuticle could
not contain his oleaginous corporosity.
Dr. Chisolm, of Charleston, is said to
have put this matter beyond all dis-
pute, for he had seen a fat man
weighed but a few hours before Ar-
temus Ward lectured in that city, and
this fat man laughed so hard and so
continuously at Ward's wit that he
overdone the thing, and died in his
seat. The coroner sat upon him, and
the doctor weighed him and found he
had lost eighteen pounds of flesh that
night — laughed it away, which would
seem to settle the vexed question.

"Big John had no patience with the
war, and when he looked upon the
boys strutting around in uniform and
fixing up their canteens and haver-
sacks, he seemed as much disgusted as
astonished. He sat in his big chair
on the sidewalk in front of his gro-
cery and liquor shop, and would re-
mark, 'I don't see any fun in the like
of that. Somebody is going to be hurt,
and fightin' don't prove anything.
Some of our best people in this town
are kin to them fellers up North, and
I don't see any sense in tearing up
families by a fight.' He rarely looked
serious or solemn, but the pending
fight seemed to settle him. 'Boys,' said
he, 'I hope to God this thing will be
fixed up without a fight, for fighting
is mighty bad business, and I never
knowed it to do any good.'

"Big John had had a little war ex-
perience — that is, he had volunteered
in a company to drive the Creeks and
Cherokees to the far west in 1833,
just 50 years ago. It was said that
he was no belligerent then, but want-
ed to give the Indian maiden he loved
a safe transit, and so he escorted the
old chief and his clan as far as Tus-
cumbia, and then broke down and re-
turned to Ross's Landing on the Ten-
nessee River. He was too heavy to
march, and when he arrived at the
landing, a prisoner was put in his
charge for safe-keeping. Ross's Land-
ing is Chattanooga now, and John
Ross once lived thei'e, and was one
of the chiefs of the Cherokees. The
prisoner was Ross's guest, and his
name was John Howard Payne. He

was suspected of trying to instigate
the Cherokees to revolt and fight, and
not leave their beautiful forest homes
on the Tennessee and Coosa and Oosta-
naula and Etowah and Connasauga
rivers. He brought Payne back as
far as New Echota, or New Town, as
it was called, an Indian settlement on
the Coosawattee, a few miles east of
Calhoun, as now known. There he
kept the author of 'Home, Sweet
Home' under guard, or on his parole
of honor, for three weeks, and night
after night slept with him in his tent,
and listened to his music upon the
violin, and heard him sing his own
sad songs until orders came for his
discharge, and Payne started afoot on
his way to Washington. He said Payne
was much of a gentleman.

"Many a time have I heard Big John
recite his sad adventures. 'It was a
most distressive business,' said he.
'Them Injuns was heart-broken. I al-
ways knowed an Injun loved his hunt-
ing-ground and his rivers, but I never
knowed how much they loved 'em be-
fore. You know, they killed Ridge
for consentin' to the treaty. They kill-
ed him on the first day's march and
they wouldn't bury him. We soldiers
had to stop and dig a grave and put
him away. John Ross and Ridge were
the sons of two Scotchmen who came
over here when they were young men
and mixed up with these tribes and
got their good will. These two boys
were splendid looking men, tall and
handsome, with long auburn hair, and
they were active and strong, and could
shoot a bow equal to the best bow-
man of the tribe, and they beat 'em
all to pieces on the cross-bow. They
married the daughters of the old
chiefs, and when the old chiefs died
they just fell into line and succeeded
to the old chiefs' places, and the tribes
liked 'em mighty well, for they were
good men and made good chiefs.

" 'Well, you see, Ross didn't like the
treaty. He said it wasn't fair, that
the price of the territory was too low,
and the fact is, he didn't want to go
at all. There are the ruins of his old
home over there now inDeSoto, close
to Rome, and I tell you, he was a king.
His word was the law of the Injun
nations, and he had their love and re-
spect. His half-breed children were
the purtiest things I ever saw in my
life.

" 'Well, Ridge lived up the Oosta-
naula River al30ut a mile, and he was
a good man, too. Ross and Ridge al-
ways consulted about everything that
was for the good of the tribes, but

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

233

"BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD'S RETURN TO ROME AFTER THE WAR.

Ridge was a more milder man than
Ross, and was more easily persuaded
to sign the treaty that gave the lands
to the state, and to take other lands
away out in Mississippi. You see, our
state owned the territory then clean
out to the Mississippi River.

" 'Well, when the whole thing
seemed to be settled with the chiefs,
we found that the Injuns wasn't go-
in' to move. We couldn't get 'em
started. They raised a howl all over
the settlements. It was just like the
mourners at a camp meeting. The
families would just set about and
mourn. They wouldn't eat nor sleep,
and the old squaws would sway back-
wards and forwards and mourn, and
nobody could get 'em up.

" 'Well, it took us a month to get
'em all together and begin the march
to the Mississippi, and they wouldn't
march then. The women would go out
of line and set down in the woods and
go to grieving, and you may believe it
or not, but I'll tell you what is a fact:
we started for Tuscumbia with 14,000
and 4,000 of 'em died before we got
to Tuscumbia. They died on the side
of the road ; they died of broken
hearts; they died of starvation, for
they wouldn't eat a thing. They just
died all along the way. We didn't
make more than five miles a day on
the march, and my company didn't do
much but dig graves and bury Injuns
all the way to Tuscumbia. They died
of grief and broken hearts, and no
mistake.

" 'An Injun's heart is tender and his
love is strong; it's his natur. I'd a
rather risk an Injun for a true friend
than a white man. He is the best
friend in the world and the worst
enemy. He has got more gratitude
and more revenge in him than any-
body. I remember that Dick Juhan
swindled an Injun out of his pony, and

that night the Injun stepped up to
Vann's Valley and stole the pony out
of the stable and carried him off, and
Dick followed him next day and
caught him and tied him, and brought
him up to old Livingston before a
magistrate. I was there and took the
Injun's part and got him discharged;
and he kept his pony, and he was so
grateful to me that I couldn't get rid
of him. He just followed me about
like a nigger and waited on me; hunt-
ed for me and brought me squirrels
and deer and turkeys, and when time
came for 'em all to go west, he hung
around camp and wouldn't leave me.
When I left him at Tuscumbia, he
cried and moaned and took on, and I
don't reckin he ever got to the prom-
ised land.'

"Big John was a stout and active
man, considering his weight. He was
patriotic, too, and when he found that
the fight had to come, he came up
manfully to the cause and declared he
was ready to join a buggy regiment
and fight until they plugged him,
which they were sure to do, he said.
if they pinted any ways down South.
When Joe Brown called for state vol-
unteers, he responded promptly, and
seemed proud that he was in the lino
of military service, and was enrolled
on the Governor's staff. He said that
he couldn't march, but he could set
on one of the hills around Rome and
guard the ramparts.

"Nevertheless, notwithstanding, it
.so turned out that old Joe got fight-
ing mad after while and ordered all
his staff and his militia to the front,
and Big John had to go. The view
he took of his now departure in mili-
tary strategy will appear in the sequel,
and also his remarkable retreat bo-
fore the foul invader when Sherman
took the Hill City and dispersed the
home guard to remoter regions.

234

A History of Rome and Floyd County

"Big John is dead. The last time
I saw him he had lost his fat, and
his old clothes were a world too big
for him. He said he was juicing away
so as to fit a respectable coffin and
save a winding sheet or two in his
shrouding. He owed no man anything
and no man owed him a grudge. Fat
men die like lean ones, but they rare-
ly die fat. Their fat is their vitality.
Fat men are generally good men, kind
men, peaceable men, and they axe
honest. Their fat makes them good-
natured, and their good nature keeps
them from swindling or cheating any-
body. If I was thrown among
strangers and wanted a favor, I would
pass by all lean and hungi-y strangers
and sit down by the biggest, roundest
man I saw.

"Big John's special comfort was a
circus. He never missed one, and it
was a good part of the show to see
him laugh and shake and spread his
magnificent face. I saw the clown
run from the ring-master's whip and
take refuge close by Big John, and as
he looked up in his face he said, 'You
are my friend, ain't you?' and Big
John sniiled all over as he replied,
'Why, yes, of course I am.' 'Well,'
then,' said the clown, 'if you are my
friend, please lend me a half a dol-
lar.' The crowd yelled tumultuously
as Big John handed over the coin,
and the joke of it was worth half a
dollar to him.

"Big John took no pleasure in the
quarrels of mankind, and never back-
ed a man in a fight, but when two
dogs locked teeth, or two bulls locked
horns, or two game chickens locked
spurs, he always liked to be about.
'It is their natur to fight,' said he,
'and let 'em fight.' He took delight
in watching dogs and commenting on
their sense and dispositions. He com-
pared them to the men about town,
and drew some humorous analogies.
'There is Jimmy Jones,' said he, 'who
ripped and plunged around because
Georgia wouldn't secede in a minute
and a half, and he swore he was go-
in' over to South Calliny to fight; and
when Georgia did secede shore enuf he
didn't jine the army at all, and always
had some cussed excuse, and when con-
scription come along, he got on a de-
tail to make potash, con-ding 'im, and
when that played out he got a couple
of track dogs and got detailed to
ketch runaway prisoners. Just so I've
seen dogs run up and down the fence
palings like they was dyin' to get to
one nuther, and so one day I picked
up my dog by the nap of the neck

and dropped him over on the outside.
I never knowed he could jump that
fence before, but he bounced back like
an Injun rubber ball, and the other
dog streaked it down the sidewalk
like the dickens was after him. Dogs
are like folks and folks are like dogs,
and a heap of 'em want the palings
between.

" 'Jack Bogin used to strut around
and whip the boys in his beat, and
kick 'em awful, because he knew he
could do it, for he had the most mus-
sle; but he couldn't look a brave man
in the eye, mussle or no mussle, and
I've seen him shut up quick when he
met one. A man has got to be right
to be brave, and I'd rather see a bully
get a lickin' than to eat sugar!'"

Author's Note — The above highly
interesting and entertaining account
contains a number of historical er-
rors, particularly with regard to John
Howard Payne and the Indians,
against which the history lover should
guard himself. It is well to remember
that Big John was apt to depart now
and then from the path of historic
rectitude.

"BILL ARP" TO "ABE LINK-
HORN."— Maj. Chas. H. Smith wrote
a saucy open letter from Rome to
Abraham Lincoln at Washington on
the eve of the opening of the Civil
War. It was this letter which caused
him to write thereafter under the pen
name of "Bill Arp." The original Bill
Arp happening along, Maj. Smith said,
"This letter is so hot, I don't know
whose name to sign to it!" Arp said:
"Them's my sentiments. Major; just
sign mine." And he did. The letter
was widely copied and made Major
Smith famous and uncomfortable as
well. Here it is:*

"Rome, Ga., Aprile, 1861.
"Mr. Linkhorn, Sur: These are to
inform you that we are all well, and
hope these lines may find you in statue
ko. We received your proklamation,
and as you have put us on very short
notis, a few of us boys have conklud-
ed to write you, and ax for a little
more time. 'The fact is, we are most
obleeged to have a few more days, for
the way things are happening, it is
utterly onpossible for us to disperse
in twenty days. Old Virginny, and
Tennessee and North Carolina are con-
tinually aggravatin' us into tumults
and carousements, and a body can't
disperse until you put a stop to sich

"From Bill Arp's "Peace Papers."

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

235

WHEREIN MAJOR SMITH TRIES HIS HAND AT FARMING.
When "Bill Arp" emei-ged from the war, all he had was a bolt of cotton
cloth and a hunk of gum opium, which he quickly swapped for food. He tried to
raise vegetables for a while, and here he is seen turning a few furrows. His
boys are enjoying' the sport, and the eldest advises him to keep at the law.

onruly konduct on their part. I tried
my darndest yisterday to disperse and
retire, but it was no go; and besides,
your marshal here isn't doing a darn-
ed thing — he don't read the riot act,
nor remonstrate, nor nothing, and
ought to be turned out. If you con-
klude to do so, I am authorized to
rekummend to you Col. Gibbons or
Mr. McLung, who would attend to
the bizness as well as most anybody.
"The fact is, the boys round here
want watchin, or they'll take sumthin.

A few days ago I heard they surround-
ed two of our best citizens, because
they was named Fort and Sumter.
Most of 'em are so hot that they fair-
ly siz when you pour water on 'em,
and that's the way they make up their
military companies here now — when a
man applies to jine the volunteers,
they sprinkle him, and if he sizzes,
they take him, and if he don't they
don't.

"Mr. Linkhoni. sur. privately speak-
in, I'm afeered I'll git in a tite place

236

A History of Rome and Floyd County

here among these bloods, and have to
slope out of it, and I would like to
have your Scotch cap and kloak that
you traveled in to Washington. I sup-
pose you wouldn't be likely to use the
same disgize agin, when you left, and
therefore I would propose to swap. I
am five feet five, and could git my
plow breeches and coat to you in eight
or ten days if you can wait that long.
I want you to write me immegitly
about things generally, and let us
know whereabouts you intend to do
your fitin. Your proklamation says
somethin about taking possession of
all the private property at 'All Haz-
ards.' We can't find no such place on
the map. I thot it must be about
Charleston, or Savannah, or Harper's
Ferry, but they say it ain't anywhere
down South. One man said it was a
little Faktory on an iland in Lake
Champlain, where they make sand
bags. My opinun is that sand bisness
won't pay, and it is a great waste of
money. Our boys here carry thei-e
sand in there gizzards, where it keeps
better, and is always handy. I'm
afeered your government is givin you
and your kangaroo a great deal of on-
necessary trubbul, and my humble ad-
vice is, if things don't work out bet-
ter soon, you'd better grease it, or
trade the darned old thing off. I'd
show you a slite-of-hand trick that
would change the whole concern into
buttons quick. If you don't trade or
do sumthin with it soon, it will spile
or die on your hands, sertain.

"Give my respects to Bill Seward
and the other members of the Kanga-
roo. What's Hannibal doin? I don't
hear anything from him nowadays.

"Yours, with care,

"BILL ARP."

"P. S. — If you can possibly extend
that order to .30 days, do so. We have
sent you a check at Harper's Ferry
(who keeps that darnd old ferry now?
It's givin us a heap of trubble), but
if you positively won't extend, we'll
send you a check drawn by Jeff Da-
vis, Borygard endorser, payable on
sight anywhere.

"Yours,

"B. A."

"BILL ARP" AND THE LOT-
TERY. — We publish in another col-
umn a letter from the managers of a
lottery establishment in Baltimore to
Chas. H. Smith, Esq., of this place,
and his reply. . . The public owes
Mr. Smith a debt of gratitude for ex-
posing this iniquitous scheme.

( Correspondence.)
"Gilbert & Co., Bankers and Brok-
ers and General Agents for the Dela-
ware State Lotteries.

"Baltimore, Md., Jan. 10, 1860.
"C. H. Smith, Esq.,
"Rome, Ga.

"Dear Sir: We take the liberty to
enclose you a scheme of the Delaware
State Lottery, for which we are gen-
eral agents, our object being to try
and sell you a prize so as to create
an excitement in your locality that
will tend to increase our business.
With this end in view, we offer you
the preference to purchase a very fine-
ly arranged package of 25 tickets,
which we have selected in the lottery
drawing Feb. 11, Class 72. This pack-
age gives you the advantage of $31.25
worth of tickets for the cost of only
$20 ; and to convince you of our con-
fidence in its success, we will guaran-
tee you another package of our extra
lotteries free of charge if the above
fails to draw a prize, the lowest be-
ing $200 (see full scheme within). We
make this offer in good faith, with
a desire to sell you the Capital, $37,-
000. Should you think favorably of
it, enclose us $20, and the package
will be sent by return mail, the re-
sult of which we confidently think will
be satisfactory to you.

"Yours truly,

"GILBERT & CO."

"(This is confidential.)"

"Messrs. Gilbert & Co., Gents.: I
acknowledge receipt of your kind let-
ter of the 10th. I send you my note
for $20, instead of the cash, as it will
save exchange, and there is really no
necessity of sending money to Balti-
more and having it sent back again in
a few days. This arrangement, I
confidently think, will be satisfactory
to you, for it is done in good faith.

"I really feel under many obliga-
tions that you have chosen me as the
object of your liberality and do assure
you that when that $37,000 prize comes
to hand, the excitement which it will
raise in this community will swallow
up and extinguish the John Brown
raid, and you will sell more tickets
here than traveling circuses and mon-
key shows take off in 20 years. This
is a good locality for such an experi-
ment, for there is a vast number of
clever people who are in the habit
of racking their brains to devise some
way to get money without working for
it, and I know very well that when
they are satisfied they can do so

Anecdotes and Reminsicences

237

through your company, they will
cheerfully give you that preference
which you have shown to me.

"Our court is now in session, and I
very much regret you are not here to
lay your proposition before our Grand
Jury, for I have no doubt they would
properly appreciate it, and out of grat-
itude board you a while at public ex-
pense. Our legislature, in its genero-
sity, passed a special act, (which may
be found in the 11th division of the
Penal Code) to compensate such hon-
orable gentlemen as you seem to be.

"You are hereby authorized to de-
duct the $20 and send the remainder
to me by Adams & Company's Ex-
press.

"CHAS. H. SMITH."

"(This is confidential.)"

"P. S. — A friend of mine has just
shown me a letter from your firm to
him, making him the same proposition
which you have made to me; and he
professed some suspicion, but I as-
sured him that you knew we were in-
timate friends, and that we would di-
vide the prize between us, or you
thought that possibly one of us might
be away from home.

"C. H. S."

"P. S. No. 2 — As I was about to
mail this, another friend confided to
me a similar letter to him. I am at
a loss to know how to satisfy him.
Please give me the dots.

"C. H. S."
THE NOTE.
"$20 — On demand I promise to pay
Gilbert & Co. twenty dollars, provid-
ed the finely-arranged package of
tickets which they have selected for
me draws a prize of not less than
$200.

"CHAS. H. SMITH."
— Tri-Weekly Courier, Jan. 17, 1860.
* * *

"BILL ARP" ON ROME.— (By J.
D. McCartney, in Rome Tribune-Her-
ald, July 2i, 1920).— Mrs. Harriet
Connor Stevens came up from Cave
Spring the other day and brought me
some papers that had been the prop-
erty of the lamented Prof. Wesley O.
Connor, her father. They are very
interesting. One of them contains a
speech of Samuel J. Tilden made in
September of 18G8 that is well worth
reading today. The others are the
last issue of the Rome Courier and the
first issue of the Tribune of Rome,
bearing date of Oct. 2, 1887.

I shall have more to say about
those papers from time to time, but
the subject of today's sketch is an ar-
ticle in the "Southerner and Commer-
cial," a triweekly bearing date of
April 10, 1870. It is entitled "Ancient
History of Modern Rome," and is from
the talented pen of Major Chas. H.
Smith ("Bill Arp"). Older Romans de-
lighted to read Bill Arp's writings and
I am sure the younger generation, too,
will enjoy the style as well as the sub-
stance of his words about the begin-
nings of Rome, quotations from which
follow:

"In the year 1832, the county of
Floyd was laid off by the government
surveyors, and in 1833 the county site
was fixed at Livingston (a place about
12 miles distant, and situated near
the South bank of the Coosa). A few
houses were built and one court held
there by Judge John W. Hooper. About
this time a number of the fortunate
drawers in the land lottery were seek-
ing to take forcible possession of the
very homes of the Indians. Judge
Hooper did not deem this just until
the Indians were paid for their im-
provements, and he therefore granted
many bills of injunction at the in-
stance of Judge Wm. H. Underwood,
the leading counsel for the tribe.

"In the year 1834 a Rome town^com-
pany was formed, consisting of Z. B.
Hargrove, Philip W. Hemphill, Wm.
Smith and D. R. Mitchell. The upper
portion of the town was surveyed and
laid off into town lots. Favorable
propositions were made by the com-
pany to the county authorities, and
Rome was made the county site in
1835. The frames of some of the first
houses erected were brought up from
Livingston on keel boats, one of them
occupied by Dr. G. W. Holmes, and
another by Col. Sam Gibbons. The old-
est house in the place is a small tene-
ment next above the fire engine house.
The first court was held by Judge
Owen H. Kenan in a log cabin 16x18,
erected on Academy Hill, and the
grand jury held their first session in
a lime sink a few rods distant. The
diligence and energy of the town com-
pany, and the many advantages of tlie
location, soon began to attract men of
education and means and connnercial
influence. In a short time Rome be-
came a market for a considei-ahle ex-
tent of territory. Many of those who
co-operated in giving vitality and im-
petus to the place are long since dead
and gone, but as long as Rome has a
record, the names of John H. Lump-
kin, William Smith, Dennis Hills, Jobe

238

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Rogers and James M. Sumter will be
remembered when her early history is
recalled.

"In the days of these pioneers, Rome
was but a hamlet. From a single
point a school boy's bow could send
an arrow beyond the farthest house.
All that portion of the city now known
as 'down town' was a stately forest of
aged oaks, and the best society of
Howard Street were the owls who
hooted from their hollows. Until about
the year 1850, Mr. Norton's store was
the extreme Southern boundary of all
improvements. The first hotel was kept
by Francis Burke, in the house now
occupied by Dr. Holmes. Not long
after, James McEntee built and kept
up a public house for many years.
His blunt Scotch ancestry made him a
universal favorite, and we are glad
to know that he still lives near us in
the enjoyment of good health. The
hotel built by him is now known as
the residence of Dr. J. B. Undei-wood.
Euclid Waterhouse, a man well known
in commercial circles, opened the first
store in the place. Nathan Yarbrough,
Judge Lamberth and David Rounsaville
were his competitors in the mercantile
business.

"Wm. Smith was the first sheriff
of the county. In the year 1834 he
had to perform the unpleasant duty
of hanging two Indians, Barney Swim-
mer and Terrapin, found guilty of the
murder of Ezekiel Blatchford (or
Braselton). He represented this coun-
ty in both branches of the General As-
sembly. He was defeated for re-elec-
tion because of his bold and strenuous
exertions to change the projected
route of the Western & Atlantic
(state) railroad between Chattanooga
and Atlanta so as to include Rome.
He was a man of wonderful energy
and foresight, and it is universally
conceded that he did more than any
other person to insure the progress
and prosperity of the little city. It
was chiefly his influence that made
Rome the county site; his urgent ef-
forts that caused the building of the
first steamboat, that projected the
first railroad (the Rome), and that in-
duced the coming of such men as Col.
Alfred Shorter, A. M. Sloan, Wm. E.
Alexander, John H. Lumpkin and
others of like means and spirit. He
died in 1850, and, as is too often the
case, before the happy results of his
foresight and energy were fully real-
ized.

"J. T. Riley and wife were the first
couple married and now live in the
town. Col. A. T. Hardin and Morris

Marks are the old merchants who are
still engaged in that occupation. Judge
Kenan was succeeded by the following
judges, in the order named: Turner
H. Trippe, George D. Wright, John W.
Hooper, John H. Lumpkin, Leander W.
Crook, Dennis T. Hammond, L. H.
Featherston, J. W. H. Underwood and
Francis A. Kirby. John Townsend was
the first foreman of the first grand
jury, and the first bill of indictment
found was against the Indians Choosa-
kelqua and Teasalaka, charged with
assault with intent to murder.

"From the year 1840 Rome con-
tinued to make substantial progress.
In the year 1845 a steamboat was
built at Greensport, Ala., by Capt.
John Lafferty. For months the rude
settlers in the adjacent counties had
heard of the 'varmint,' as they called
it, and when the time came for its
first trip to the junction at Rome, the
scattered inhabitants gathered in
camps along the banks to see the 'var-
mint' go. When it did come, it was
to these rude settlers a show equal
to a circus. At one point, more than
100 people had congregated, the men
all wearing coon-skin caps with coons'
tails hanging down their backs. One
very consequential and 'highly-educat-
ed' patriarch. Squire Bogan, of Cedar
Bluff, Ala., stood forward to make a
reconnoisance and give the crowd the
benefit of his vast learning. He saw
the large letters 'U. S. M.' painted on
the wheelhouse, and underneath them
the letters Coosa. He spelled it over
carefully, letter by letter, in a loud
tone of voice, and after a third ef-
fort, declared: 'I've got it, boys. Its
name is Use 'em Susy!' The 'var-
mint' never got rid of this nom de
plume. In the course of time, other
steamboats were built, and a branch
road from Kingston to Rome project-
ed.

"Even the newspapers adopted the
name. Bill Ramey and Tom Perry
built a little boat that they said could
snake its way thi'ough any shoal when
the rivers were not a foot deep. In
fact, Ramey used to swear his craft
could run on dry land if there was
a thick fog or heavy dew.

"From the days of steamboats and
raih-oads the history of our city is too
familiar to be rehearsed, but I will
venture to remind you in closing these
remarks that the lamps which have lit
her pleasing progress have not always
been brightly burning. There have
been shadows, and still are shadows,
which set in mourning the happy pros-
perity of our city. Dark lines are

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

239

drawn around, and the stricken heart
beats sadly the knell of our heroic
dead. Noble sons, husbands and fath-
ers are missing — missing from here
tonight. They have been long missing
from the fireside and the forum, from
the farm, the shop and the counting
room, from court, church and hall."
=1= * *

TURN ABOUT WANTED. — A
Floyd County farmer, attacked by his
neighbor's bull-dog, defended himself
and badly wounded the dog. The irate
neighbor said: "If you had to use
that pitchfork, why didn't you go at
him with the other end?" The farmer
replied, "Why didn't he come at me
with the other end of him?"

SHERMAN'S GEORGIA SWEET-
HEART. — In the Lucian Knight Geor-
gia historical books and elsewhere is
found a charmingly romantic story of
Civil War days and before in which
a Roman played an important part
Marcellus A. Stovall, of Augusta, later
of Rome, in 1836 had entered ithe
United States Military Academy at
West Point and chosen as roommate
Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, an eagle-
eyed lad of 16 from Mansfield, 0.
Cadet Stovall was a brother of Miss
Cecelia Stovall, a noted Georgia belle
and beauty, who presently on a visit
to her brother became a favorite
among the dancing set at the academy.

In the forefront of her admirers
stood young Sherman, who did not
fail to make capital out of the fact
that he was her brother's bosom
friend; and it was whispered that the
Ohioan, highly diffident toward the
average young lady, had been smitten
beyond hope of redemption by the
dark-eyed girl from Georgia. The his-
torians record that on one occasion
when he was diplomatically sparring
for a snug place in Miss Cecelia's af-
fections (it may have been a straight-
out proposal), she said quite frankly:

"Your eyes are so cold and cruel. I
pity the man who ever becomes your
antagonist. Ah, how you would crush
an enemy!"

To which he replied gallantly,
"Even though you were my enemy, niy
dear, I would love you and protect
you."

Joseph Hooker, of Massachusetts, a
graduate of West Point in the class
of 1837, was another who claimed
many dances with Miss Cecelia and
whose heart sank within him when
she returned to her Southern home.

Still another was handsome Richard B.
Garnett, a West Point graduate in
charge of the arsenal at Augusta,
whose geogi-aphical position gave him
a decided advantage over the others
and who got to the point of acceptance
of his proposal. However, parental
objection was raised, and Dick Gar-
nett went to his death at Gettysburg
in 1863 with the image of lovely Ce-
celia Stovall graven on his heai't; he
had never married, and when the
Grim Reaper cut him down he was a
general and one of the bravest men in
the army of Northern Virginia.

It may have been a coincidence that
Wm. T. Sherman, then a lieutenant,
was assigned in 1845 to detached duty
at this same arsenal at Augusta ; he
may have wanted to see his old room-
mate, but more than likely he pined
for sight of Miss Cecelia. However,
if he sang the old love song over again,
her answer was the same, and here was
one citadel, at least, that an irrepres-
sible West Pointer could not take by
storm.

So with Dick Garnett, a noble son
of old Virginia, who could trace his
ancestry back to Adam; but he was
on a salary that would little more
than care for two. Miss Cecelia's

GKN. MARCELLUS A. STOVALL, roommate
at West Point of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who
became the sweetheart of Miss Cecelia Sto-
vall.

240

A History of Rome and Floyd County

proud parent, Pleasant Stovall, once
a resident of Athens, desired that she
should marry a man of wealth and in-
fluence. She was forbidden the pleas-
ui'e of young Garnett's company and
sent to visit relatives in South Caro-
lina. There she met Capt. Chas. Shell-
man, whose suit was favored by daugh-
ter and parent, and so they were mar-
ried.

Lieut. Sherman's stay in Augusta
terminated abruptly; in 1850 he mar-
ried his adopted father's daughter,
Nellie Ewing, and his biographer re-
corded many years later that she was
his "first love." Marcellus A. Stovall
moved to Rome in 1846, and he was
soon joined by his young half-brother,
George T. Stovall, who became asso-
ciate editor of the Rome Courier and
was killed at First Manassas. Here
the beautiful sister visited them often.

In 1861 Capt. Chas. Shellman built
for his Augusta princess the mansion
on the Etowah River, near Carters-
ville, known as "Shellman Heights."
Three more years passed, until Sher-
man's army of human locusts swept
down from Chattanooga, trampled on
Rome and continued into Bartow
County. As the torch brigade set fire
to this establishment and that. Gen.
Sherman's attention was directed by
a fellow oflficer to a fine mansion on a
hill. "Looks like the palatial retreat
of an old plantation grandee," re-
marked this personage. Sherman and
his staff went to the place and ad-
mired its Colonial columns and its at-
mosphere throughout. An old negro
mammy sat on the front steps moan-
ing her life away. "Oh, Ginrul. whut
yo' gwine do? I sholy is glad Missus
Cecelia ain't here to see it wid her own
eyes!"

"Miss Cecelia?" queried Gen. Sher-
man, as the little hob-goblins began to
prance around his memory chest. "Who
lives here, auntie?"

"Missus Shellman, — Ceclia Stovall
Shellman, sur, an' she's gone away
now, bless her politeness!"

"My God!" exclaimed the warrior.
"Can it be possible?"

Momentarily he bowed his head, a
lump formed in his throat, he swal-
lowed hard and his eyes became moist.
On learning from the old woman that
Mrs. Shellman had sought safety in
flight, Gen. Sherman ordered his plun-
dering soldiers to restore everything
they had taken, and he placed a guard
to protect the premises. Then he said,
"Auntie, you get word to your mis-
tress that she will be perfectly safe in

returning here, and when you see her,
do you hand her this card from me."

On his card Gen. Sherman had writ-
ten, "You once said I would crush an
enemy, and you pitied my foe. Do you
recall my reply? Although many years
have passed, my answer is the same
now as then, 'I would ever shield and
protect you.' That I have done. For-
give me all else. I am only a soldier.

"W. T. SHERMAN."

Later came Gen. Joseph Hooker,
soon to be cited for bravery in the Bat-
tle of Atlanta. Learning the situa-
tion, he repeated the orders of Gen.
Sherman, shed a tear over a boxwood
hedge and departed on the chase which
was the forerunner of the famous
March to the Sea.

The armies gone. Miss Cecelia re-
turned to Shellman Heights, gazed out
over the winding Etowah, and breath-
ed a prayer and a poem to friendship.
There she passed the rest of her days.
On Jan. 1, 1911, fire took Shellman
Heights, uninsured, and today the spot
is but a shadow of its former self, but
it will always live in memory.

When Gen. Sherman approached Au-
gusta from Savannah, the Augustans
took their cotton out of the ware-
houses and burned it, anticipating that
he would destroy everything when he
arrived, and preferring to do a part of
it themselves. The surprise of every-
body was great, therefore, when Gen.
Sherman made a detour across the
Savannah River into South Carolina
and left their beautiful city unmolest-
ed. There may have been military
reasons, but Augusta folk to this day
declare he spared the town because it
had been the home of the heroine of
his romance at West Point.

In 1915, faithful to a promise he
had made to Miss Cecelia and to him-
self, old Uncle Josiah Stovall, the fam-
ily slave and master's bodyguard, turn-
ed up at the G. A. R. reunion at
Washington to thank Gen. Sherman
for sparing the home. This old "Ches-
terfield in charcoal" carried a carpet
bag grip, a heavy hickory cane, and
wore a silk hat and a sleek broadcloth
Prince Albert coat. His head and chin
were full of African cotton and he
attracted considerable attention as he
tried to get out of the way of traffic.
To a policeman he confided that he had
come to find Gen. Sherman, and wanted
to thank him "in pusson," and to claim
a gift he vowed Sherman had promised
him.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

241

"You're out of luck, old man. Gen.
Sherman won't be in the parade today.
He's been dead nearly 25 years."

"Oh Lordy, white folks, den dis nig-
ger's sholy got to march back to Geor-
gia!"

* t- *

MARTHA SMITH'S POLITICAL
COUP.— In 1844 when pretty Martha
Smith was 13 and riding a pony into
town to school from her father's home
on the Alabama Road, and was begin-
ning to "dress up" and attract the
boys, she was taken by Col. Smith on
a trip to Milledgeville, then capital of
the state. Colonel Smith was a mem-
ber of the Legislature and as an ardent
Whig was boosting the stock of Zach-
ary Taylor for President. He was to
make a speech at the town hall or
opera house, and various speakers
were to tell the virtues of Taylor to his
Baldwin County friends and any oth-
ers who might wish to be enlightened.
Now, the indulgent father had bought
his daughter a beautiful new hat, of
which she was highly proud. He left
her shortly before the meeting with a
friend stopping at the hotel and the
friend escorted her through the town
square to a seat in the front of the
hall. As the chairman rapped for or-
der and introduced Colonel Smith, and
a few enthusiasts yelled "Hurrah for
Taylor and the Whig Party!" Miss
Martha strode down the aisle. She
was dressed in a becoming pink and
blue frock, and her new hat was the
cause of an uproar. Colonel Smith
looked embarrassed ; halted for a mo-
ment, and a wag rose in his seat and
yelled, "Hurrah for Polk and the
Democrats!"

Miss Martha, being for Polk and
having that afternoon raced through
the nearby stubble fields, had trimmed
her bonnet in a garland of pokeber-
ries. The meeting broke up in con-
fusion ; Polk eventually got the nomi-
nation and was elected. The irate
father did not speak to his little daugh-
ter for a week.

=!: * *

JEFFERSON DAVIS ARRESTED
BY ROMANS.— Miss Mary W. Noble,
of Anniston, Ala., relates the follow-
ing unpublished incident of May, 185.5,
in which her family, traveling from
Reading, Pa., to Rome, lost about
$4,000, accused Jefferson Davis, then
Secretary of War, of stealing it, and
actually had him arrested at Augusta,
and consented to his release only after
he had shown papers establishing his
identity. Mr. Davis had graduated

from the United States Military Acad-
emy at West Point, N. Y., in 1828,
and had left his seat in Congress in
1847 to enter the Mexican War. His
service in this war was so meritorious
that when Franklin Pierce was elect-
ed President in 1853 he appointed Mr.
Davis his Secretary of War, and Mr.
Davis held that position until the elec-
tion of James Buchanan to the Presi-
dency in 1857.

Miss Mary writes:

"In 1855, while on a visit to the
South, my father, James Noble, Sr.,
stopped at Rome. My brothers, at
Reading, especially Samuel, were anx-
ious to obey Horace Greeley's injunc-
tion 'Go West, Young Man,' but my
father had practically decided to set-
tle at Chattanooga, Tenn. However,
my father met two old-time Southern
gentlemen, formerly of South Carolina
— Col, Wade S. Cothran and John
Hume, Sr. — who were so courteous and
who advanced Rome's glories so ad-
mirably that he wrote the boys to put
the machinery at Reading on a sailing
vessel and bring it to Charleston,
whence it could be transported by
train and overland to Rome.

"In May of that year the older boys
embarked from Philadelphia for
Charleston, and my parents and my-
self, Stephen N., then about 10, and
my sisters, Jane, Susan, Eliza Jane
(Jenny), Josephine and Elizabeth
(Lilly), started from the same city to
Charleston by train. On reaching
Charleston, we discovered that the reg-
ular train had left, but that we could
be accommodated in a caboose at-
tached to a freight train which was
going as far as Augusta. It was Sun-
day afternoon when we boarded the
caboose. We were carrying a large
carpet bag filled with valuables, in-
cluding about $4,000 with which we
expected to start our new inacliine
shop and foundry enterprise at Rome.
In the caboose with us was an English
family on their way to the Duck mines
of Tennessee, with whom our parents
became friendly because of their own
Elnglish birth, and at Branchville. Or-
angeburg County, S. C, two quiet,
well-dressed gentlemen in civilian
clothes, about 50 years of age, board-
ed the train as the last ))assengers
before Augusta was reached.

"It was at the suggestion of the
conductor that we had determined to
travel in the caboose. Our trunks were
in the baggage room, and fearing lie
would not have enough money to pay
our way home, my father had opened

242

A History of Rome and Floyd County

one of the trunks, removed the carpet
hag (which also contained jewelry and
papers) and extracted enough in bills
to see us all the way. On looking up,
we noticed the conductor peering at us
through a window. Then the conductor
rushed into the baggage room and
shouted, 'Hurry up; train's about to
leave!' and at the same time grabbed
the unlocked trunk and began to pull
it out on the platform. My father
stopped him long enough to lock the
trunk; and then he took the carpet
bag into the caboose and put it under
the trunks in a compartment which
was separated from the seating sec-
tion by a thin partition. In the room
with the trunks was a bench or a
settee, and my sister, Jane, being tired,
reclined on it.

"When the two strangers got on at
Branchville, one of them went into
the room where my sister was. She
arose and came back where we 'Were,
and he took the seat behind her, leaned
over and apologized for his intrusion,
saying he was unaware the room was
occupied. He talked pleasantly to her
for about ten minutes.

"About 6 o'clock the next morning
we reached Augusta, when lo and be-
hold, the carpet bag was gone, and
with it our $4,000. Our parents were
much excited, and accused the con-
ductor, recalling that he had peeked
at the valuables through the window,
and that he had been in such a hurry
to remove the trunk. The conductor
denied the charge, and pointing at the
two strangers, said, 'There are the
thieves.' Suspicion seemed to involve
the two, so they were arrested right
there on the platform by an officer
whom my father had summoned. The
strangers politely but with some show
of feeling proclaimed their innocence.
Quite a scene had been produced and
a crowd had gathered. The taller of
the two declared, 'Sir, I am Jefferson
Davis, Secretary of War, and my com-
panion is an officer of the United
States army.' They produced papers
of identification and were released
with an apology from my father, who
then proceeded to press the original
charge against the conductor. How-
ever, the conductor had disappeared,
and as our train for northwest Geor-
gia was about to leave, we dropped
the matter for the time.

"On reaching Rome we consulted a
lawyer, who promised to investigate,
but we were strangers in a strange
land, our father unknown save through
short acquaintance with Col. Cothran,
Mr. Hume and a few others; our story

was doubted and nothing was done.
Some time later we received a state-
ment by mail, I believe from a Cath-
olic priest, to the effect that he had at-
tended a conductor following a fatal
accident, who had confessed to him
on his deathbed that he had passed the
carpet bag out of a window to a con-
federate between Branchville and Au-
gusta.

"When the Civil War broke out and
Mr. Davis was chosen President of
the Confederacy, with his headquar-
ters at the seat of g'overnment at
Montgomery, Ala., the Noble foundry
at Rome was taken over for the manu-
facture of cannon, and my father had
to consult frequently with Mr. Davis
at Montgomery concerning orders. Mr.
Davis always alluded with a smile to
the incident at Augusta and sent his
regards to mother and the girls; and
my father never failed to respond with
a gracious apology and a nice compli-
ment on Mr. Davis' fortitude and abil-
ity in the trials of the war.

"In connection with Confederate
cannon it may be appropriate to men-
tion that Col. Josiah Gorgas, father
of Gen. Wm. C. Gorgas, U. S. A.,
whose engineering skill made possible
the Panama Canal, visited Rome fre-
quently as chief of ordinance for the
Confederate States government, and
occupied as the guest of the Noble
family the front upstairs room at 304
East First St., Rome, which overlooks
the First Presbyterian churchyard,
and we always called this 'Gorgas
room.' Quite a friendship existed be-
tween Col. Gorgas and my father,
which in after years was cemented
between Gen. Gorgas and Robt. E.
Noble, a surgeon in the United States
Army, and son of George Noble. Dr.
Robt. Noble was closely associated with
Gen. Gorgas for seven years in Pan-
ama, then spent six months with him
in South Africa, studying fever causes.
The two were on their way to Africa
again when Gen. Gorgas was stricken
and died in London. My nephew re-
mained until after the funeral, then
took up his duties as assistant surgeon
general of the army with the expedi-
tion."

* * *

DE LA MESA AND THE TAB-
LEAU.— Capt. Chas. A. de la Mesa
succeeded Capt. Kyes as reconstruction
officer of the United States Army at
Rome, and opened up the so-called
Freedman's Bureau at 530 Broad St.
Here he tried to bring housewives and
newly-freed servants into agreement
as to what should be paid for services

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

243

and wash. In the event agreements
could not be reached privately, the
contestants were hailed before Capt.
de la Mesa. Naturally that official's
life was full of misery. Clashes be-
tween provost guard and citizens were
frequent, but not of a serious nature,
for it was bad policy for either side
to carry a chip on the shoulder.*

It was reported that Wm. Hemphill
Jones had a spat with the captain. It
may have been over wash or some-
thing else, but Mr. Jones picked up a
foot tub or a wash tub and slammed
Capt. de la Mesa over the head with
it, according to the report. The cap-
tain enjoyed a considerable range. He
once went to Summerville, and the
picture of his leaving resembled that
of Wm. J. Burns 50 years later, bid-
ding farewell to Marietta. A young-
man at Summerville claimed that Capt.
de la Mesa insulted or mistreated his
sister in some transaction, and pro-
ceeded to arm himself. He was halted
by the late Jno. W. Maddox, then a
resident of the Chattooga town, and
Capt. de la Mesa moved on. At Dal-
ton Capt. de la Mesa was served with
papers in a court action, but explana-
tions were made and the case was
thrown out. There were other similar
incidents in the path of Capt. de la
Mesa's duty, concerning which, hap-
pily, there is no longer any feeling.

Capt. de la Mesa hung out a large
United States flag in front of the bu-
reau, and forced all passersby to sa-
lute it. Of course he was acting under
orders; Romans made a wide detour.
Then came the tableau in May, 1867, —
an intensely "dramatic" affair.

In order to replace pews in the local
churches and to repair other damage
done by the Northern soldiers,** the
female members of the congregations
had formed a society to present tab-
leaux at the old city hall, southwest
corner of Broad Street and Fifth Ave-
nue, where the Fifth Avenue Drug
Company is now located. On this par-
ticular occasion the managers were

*Capt. De ]a Mesa is supposed to have come
from Brooklyn, N. Y., an<l to have been a
nsilive of Spain. He had a dauprhter, Miss
Leila de la Mesa, who married A. C. Fetterolf,
of Upper Montclair. N. .J. At the time of her
marriaKe. the family wrote to Rome for a
picture of the old Kreedmen's Bureau, and the
request was complied with by Mrs. Ed Harris.
Capt. de la Mesa died a jrood many years aRo,
and it is understood that his widow remarried.

**Quite a while after the war, the Gov-
ernment sent a representative to Rome to as-
sess the damage done the First Baptist church.
Hearings were held at this institution, and
some spicy comments were made by the women
who testified, notably Mrs. Eben Hillyer. An
award of about .$600 was recommended to
WashinRton, and this amount paid the church.

Mrs. J. M. Gregory, Mrs. M. A. Nevin
and Miss Mary W. Noble, and they
received a surprise and shock when
Capt. de la Mesa bought tickets for
himself and his beautiful brunette
wife, and planted himself in his mili-
tary trappings on a front seat. The
following is a summary of two ac-
counts of the affair:

"The audience filed in, some of the
young women with noses pretty high in
the air at sight of the 'intruders.' The
tableau was 'The Officer's Funeral,'
and all went well for a while. The
de la Mesas enjoyed the first part and
applauded liberally. A little play pre-
ceded the tableau, in which " Mrs.
Hiram D. Hill (then Florence Mitch-
ell, daughter of Col. Daniel R. Mitch-
ell), played the part of the Irish Maid
of Coi'k, thrummed a piece on her
guitar and was wooed by the hero.

"Then — bless Patsy! — the fireworks!
The curtain went up on the tableau
in question. There stood 'Ferd'
Hutchings, Dave Powers, 'Billy' Gib-
bons, 'Tal' Wells and Leonidas Timo-
leon Mitchell. 'Coon' Mitchell, by the
way, was a son of old Daniel R. and
the very man who had carried Gen.
Neal Dow, the famous Maine aboli-
tionist, to Libby Prison, Richmond,
from Mobile. All the others had
fought the 'Yankees' with the Rome
Light Guards. And now they had the
temerity to stand up before the 'Yan-
kee' reconstruction officer in their uni-
forms of gray! Furthermore, the of-
ficer's casket was draped in a battle-
torn Confederate flag, the property of
Col. Sam Gibbons, father of Billy. Com-
pleting the scene were Miss Belle Lo-
gan as the widow, and Mrs. Hill's
niece, little Irene Hicks, as the orphan.

"Capt. de la Mesa began to boil; his
wife reddened sympathetically as the
boys began to sing that famous and
heart-touching song, 'The Officer's Fu-
neral :'

'Hark, 'tis the shrill trumpet calling.

It pierceth the soft summer air.
And a tear from each comrade is fall-
ing.—
The widow and orphan are there;
The bayonets earthward are turning
And the drums' muffled sound rolls
around.
But hears not the voice of tlieir
mourning.
Nor awakes to the shrill bugle sound.

'Sleep, soldier, though many regret
thee
Who stand by thy cold bier today.
Soon, soon will the kindest forget thee,

244

A History of Rome and Floyd County

And thy name from the earth pass
away ;
The man thou didst love as a brother,
A friend in thy place will have
gained,
Thy dog will keep watch for another
And thy steed by a stranger be
reined.

'Though many now mourn for thee
sadly.
Soon joyous as ever shall be,
Thy bright orphan boy will laugh
gladly
As he sits on some kind comrade's
knee;
There is one who will still pay the
duty
Of tears to the true and the brave,
As first in the bloom of her beauty,
She knelt by her boy soldiers' grave!'

"Miss Ford stepped from behind the
arras and sang 'The Jacket of Gray,'
and as she concluded, with the line
'Fold it up carefully, lay it aside!'
she lifted a soiled and thread-bare coat
into full view of the audience. A
shower of applause followed. The de
la Mesas boiled over, and trudged out
of the hall, to the accompaniment of
a perfect chorus of boos and cat-calls,
and a shrill defi flung above the tumult
by a young 'Rebel,' 'Go it; that's not
the first time you ever ran from that
flag!'

"'Delia Meezer, lemon squeezer!'
shouted an impertinent little boy.

"This 'good riddance of bad rub-
bish' (as the players expressed it)
was thought to have ended the inci-
dent, but not so. Capt. de la Mesa
sent a hot message to headquarters in
Atlanta, making a charge of high trea-
son, and requesting a company of sol-
diers to spirit away the culprits. In
the meantime, the Federal commander
had recognized all the ofl'enders and
had clapped handcuff's on each and
marched them to the guard room in the
courthouse between files of troopers
with fixed bayonets. Several of the
young women went to the 'prison' to
console the boys, and one of them, un-
accustomed to Federal uniforms, asked
quite audibly, 'Do all these dogs wear
collars?' The cordon around the pris-
oners was only drawn the tighter.

"After the boys had spent a night
thus, a company of 59 soldiers from
Atlanta appeared at the Rome rail-
road station, marched up Broad Street
with bayonets fixed, and escorted the
'prisoners' and Capt. de la Mesa to
the station, where they caught the
next train for the state capital. A

tremendous crowd gathered and sul-
lenly watched their friends and their
enemies go away. De la Mesa turned
back at Kingston. He had obtained
the services of another company or
part thereof somewhere, and these
escorted him back to Rome, and for
several days kept watch over him and
his bureau, until the excitement had
subsided. Henry A. Smith, bookseller
who had lost an arm in the war, was
due to have been arrested, too, but he
had prudently gone to visit relatives
up the Etowah river. The women,
also, it was rumored, would be held
as traitors.

"Col. Mitchell got on the train with
the intention of going to Savannah to
protest with Judge Erskine, of the
P'ederal Court. Instead, he wired
Judge Erskine from Atlanta. The
two got into touch with Gen. John
Pope, commander of the district, and
a release order came within three
weeks. However, the order did not
forestall serious indignities to the
captives, who had been confined in a
miserable pen or cage. They were
taunted and cursed by their captors,
who prodded with bayonets gifts of
sweetmeats sent by relatives and sym-
pathizing friends, and forced them to
eat the poorly prepared food that had
been provided for them.

"A telegram announced the release to
Romans, and a huge crowd welcomed
the boys at the station, and a supper
at the City Hall softened the sting of
their humiliation and enabled them to
chalk up the event as one of fate's
weird pranks."

Mrs. Hiram Hill adds the following:

"Our home in the Fourth Ward had
been divested of its sides, blinds,
doors, plastering and everything that
the Union soldiers could tear down or
carry away, and we had gone to live
at the old Buena Vista Hotel, south-
west corner of Broad and Sixth Ave-
nue, where Seale & Floyd's garage and
a grocery store now are. My father
owned this place and occupied a small
one-story house on the west side of
it as his law office. Mrs. de la Mesa
had been coming to the hotel from next
door to give instructions to a Rome
woman who was sewing for her, and
when I saw her after my brother's
arrest, I told her to get out of the
hotel and istay out. She sent nte
word that she would march me up
and down Broad Street in charge of
two soldiers and under a United States
flag. I defied her to try it, and she

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

245

THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU ON BROAD STREET.

This structure, still standing near Sixth Avenue, was the headquarters of Capt.
Chas. A. de le Mesa during the Civil War. Capt. de la Mesa participated in a number
of hair raising episodes. Rome's oldest brick building is at the right.

never did. There would have been a
lot more trouble in Rome, Ga.

"I suppose Capt. de la Mesa v\^as
carrying out orders and ruled sternly
for that reason. He and his wife im-
pressed me as people of refinement,
and I was especially struck with her
beauty and the style of her clothes."

:!: ^: :!:

A DRAMATIC SCENE. — When
William Smith entered his last illness
in January, 1852, he summoned several
friends whom he wished to transact
certain business matters for him re-
lating to his property in Rome. While
they were still with him in the cot-
tage on Howard Street where he died,
he raised himself to his feet by hold-
ing to his chair, and said:

"Gentlemen, you will have to help
me to my bed. I have done all that
I can do for myself,"

They assisted him, and when he was
comfortably stretched out, he con-
tinued:

"I am not a member of any church,
but I have done the best I could in
this life. Whatever I have had has
belonged to the people of this commu-
nity. No man has ever been turned
away hungry from my door if I had
anything to divide with him.

"You gentlemen know that I have
served this section, and if my body is
of any use to science, I ask you to
take it when I am gone."

Col. Smith had waited for Col. Al-
fred Shorter to come, so they could
have a settlement with resi)ect to the
property they owned equally. Col.
Shorter sent his representative, Col.
C. M. Pennington, to see Col. Smith.

"I am glad to see you, Col. Pen-
nington," declared Col." Smith, "but I
sent for Col. Shorter."

Col. Pennington delivered the mes-
sage promptly a second time, and it
was 24 hours before Col. Shorter found
it convenient to come. When he ar-
rived, Col. Smith raised himself on his
left elbow, and with his right hand
reached under his pillow. Col. Shorter
drew back and Col. Pennington step-
ped between them. During one of
Col. Smith's naps Mrs. Smith, the
wife, had removed his pistol.

"Alfred Shorter, you are a rascal!"
.shouted Col. Smith, the old-time fire
flashing from his small, black eyes.
"This is a fine time to come to see
a man — on his death bed!"

Shortly before noon the next day,
Jan. 27, Col. Smith died. Only a few
days before, his grandson, William
Cephas, had been born to Dr. ami iMrs.
Robt. Battey.

The Widow Baldwin, whom Col.
Shorter had married at Monticello,
placed at his disposal .$10. ()()() in cash,
a handsome fortune in tliose days of
low values. Col. Shorter brought this
to Rome with him at the instance of
Col. Smith, and invested it in the land
which Col. Smith had acquired, and
made certain improvements thereon.
Col. Smith's energy and Col. Shorter's
long business head made an ideal
combination, and their partnershii)
interests grew rapidly- After the
Civil War, Col. Shorter settled
with Mrs. Battey, the daughter, for
$1(),()00 cash, and took her receipt.

It was a satisfactory ending of an
unfortunate affair, and left Col.

246

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Shorter free to conserve his part,
most of which went to Shorter College
for the education of young women of
the South.*

HENRY W. GRADY AT ROME.—

As a youth, Henry Woodfin Grady
had visited his uncle, Henry A. Gart-
rell, in Rome, and thence had gone
to see another branch of his family
at Floyd Springs.** Capt. Gartrell re-
moved' to Athens in 1865, after hav-
ing served Rome as mayor in 1859-60.
Pleasant recollections of Rome and a
chance visit with the Georgia Press
excursion in 1869 caused Mr. Grady
to anchor his quill, paste pot and
shears at the foot of Tower Hill for
three years.

Col. E. Hulbert, superintendent of
the W. & A. (state) Railroad, had in-
vited the Georgia press to send rep-
resentatives for an excursion into
Southeastern Tennessee, Northwest
Georgia and Northeastern Alabama, to
write up the natural resources of
those sections. The excursion started
from Atlanta at 7 a. m., Wednesday,
August 25, 1869. At Cartersville the
members were addressed on the sub-
ject of minerals, agriculture and the
new railroad to Van Wert, Polk
County, by Mark A. Cooper, grand-
father of J. Paul Cooper and father
of John Frederick Cooper, of Rome.
Thence they went to Chattanooga, 100
strong. Then they turned southward,
and arrived at Rome via the Rome
Railroad, on their special train, at
1:30 a. m., Friday, Sept. 3.

True to the spirit of newspaper en-
terprise, young Grady, then only 19,
rushed to the sanctum of Editor Mel-
ville Dwinell, of the Rome Weekly
Courier. The hour was unearthly, yet
the editor had remained at his desk to
"cover" the momentous event of the
arrival of the excursionists. Capt.
Dwinell stated that he had left a col-
umn open. Mr. Grady declared a col-
umn would hardly start the story he
bore, so Capt. Dwinell side-tracked
some of his livest news and no doubt
a few advertisements. Mr. Grady had
been writing his "yarn" on the train.
He continued it for an hour, and for
good measure threw in an optimistic
editorial squib. A faithful printer
hand-set type the balance of the night
and The Courier woke up the citizens
with Mr. Grady's remarkable narra-
tive. It was a sample of journalistic
endeavor to which the quiet Hill City
had not been accustomed.

Grady's wonderful speech, "The
New South," delivered before the New

England Society of New York, N. Y.,
Dec. 22, 1886, is well known. At
Rome on this occasion, however, he ap-
pears to have struck his original "New
South" note, as follows:

"Every citizen of Cherokee Georgia
has long been convinced that our min-
eral resources are unsurpassed, and
all that was wanting was for some-
one to make a start, and induce men
of means to come among, to aid in
developing the same. . . . Our broth-
ers of the quill will now have some-
thing interesting to write about and
for a while, at least, will devote their
time to something more substantial
than politics, and of infinitely more
advantage to our bankrupt people. It
is refreshing to see men of all politi-
cal shades quietly traveling together,
and for once making a united effort
to forget political differences, and to
lend their efforts to the more laudable
cause of developing the great wealth
that nature had bestowed upon us.
Cuffee for once has been forgotten.
The splendid scenery of our moun-
tains and valleys, with the battlefields,
which give us a prominent place in
history, has made a deep impression
upon the minds of all, and proclaims
in thunder tones what men will do
when pressed to the wall. Mutual
forbearance seems to exist, and we
predict that in future a better state
of sentiment and feeling will prevail."

At this time, maybe, Grady made
arrangements to work for The Cour-
ier. The preliminaries may have been
started by letter a while before. At
any rate, he soon came back.

At 3 p. m., after a speech by Mayor
Zach Hargi-ove and a serenade by a
brass band and dinner at the Choice
House, the party left for a trip down
the Coosa River on the Steamboat
Etowah as the guests of Col. Wade
S Cothran. After inspecting the
Round Mountain and Cornwall, Ala.,
iron works, they came back to Rome
Sunday on the Etowah, put up at the
Choice House and Monday morning at
9 left by rail for Selma, Ala. Wed-
nesday morning at 6:30 the editors re-
turned to Rome, had breakfast at the
Choice House and departed two hours
later for Atlanta, where the "junket"

*Col Pennington was authority for the por-
tion of the above narrative relating to the
pistol ; he told the story to Judge John C.
Printup. Mrs. Robt. Battey was authority tor
the statement that Col. Smith sent for Col.
Shorter to make a settlement, and that the
$10,000 was later paid to her.

**Doyle A. Moore, of Rome, is kin to the
Gradys through this branch.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

247

ended. On both these stops Mr. Grady
fraternized with Editor Dwinell.

The impelling reason why Grady
went to Rome lies largely in the realm
of surmise. The lad was possessed of
a proud spirit which he called ambi-
tion and which a handful of sniping
contemporaries, less talented, might
have called bumptiousness. He was
precocious to the extent that he had
become an orator in his knee pants,
and he was made to suffer more than
once because he pitted his skill against
older competitors. Through a politi-
cal deal at the University of Virginia
he had suffered a keen disappoint-
ment, and it is likely that in associat-
ing himself as "free-lance" corre-
spondent with the Atlanta Constitu-
tion he was inviting rebuffs that his
gifts did not warrant. The Constitu-
tion's editor was Col. Carey W. Styles,
an experienced journalist, who, by the
way, had been involved in the Yacht
Wanderer affair nine years before at
Savannah. Col. Styles had sat up with
legislators at Milledgeville before
Henry Grady had ever thought of
them, hence when the dashing young
collegian essayed to pass voluminous
editorial sentence on a governor or a
congressman, it was out of the ques-
tion.

Grady was trying to marry. He
was fired with ambition to take the
lead in molding public opinion. He
enjoyed writing "from the street and
hustings," but he preferred the dignity
of a job at a desk. Brain work was
one thing to Henry Grady, and "leg
work" another. The Constitution was
a new concern, having been founded
in the summer of 18G8, had a full
staff, and could not find a regular
place for him yet awhile. Further-
more, Henry was ambitious enough to
believe that what he was writing,
mostly of a political nature, was just
about as important as anything in the
paper, and had as much right to
"front page" position as the other
stuff they were printing. He believed
that an excursion of the state's lead-
ing editors was a big news event, and
was worth writing columns every day,
perhaps. Consequently, he wielded a
loquacious pen. The Constitution's tel-
egraph tolls became enormous when
Press Excursion news started from
Cartersville and continued through
Chattanooga and Rome. Henry was
shooting readable material, but they
couldn't see it at the office ; they cut
his doipe to the bone and dropped
his pen name, "King Hans." In the
following fashion did they knock liiiii

off the limb in a squib of Sept. 10,
1869:

"We are compelled by pressure upon
our space to abbreviate and condense
the report of the Press Excursion pro-
ceedings. Neither the editors nor the
proprietors of this paper were pres-
ent."

Wow! that should hold any young
man, no matter how brilliant or pro-
gressive, in entirely reasonable bounds.

"Damn 'em, I'll fix 'em!" muttered
Henry, who had been introduced by V.
A. Gaskell, of the Atlanta New Era,
and J. S. Peterson, of the Atlanta In-
telligencer, as the Constitution's "rep-
resentative" on the editors' jaunt. He
shot a wad of his copy at Melville
Dwinell, editor of the Rome Weekly
Courier, over the signature "Zip." Ed-
itor Dwinell ate his contributions with
a relish; sometimes they ran several
columns long, but it was good read-
ing, and it landed Henry a nice job.
He put over three columns Sept. 3,
and duplicated with three a week
later — quite a contribution to a four-
page newspaper.

Right proudly did Capt. Dwinell
pave the way for the young literary
crusader under date of Friday, Sept.
10, 1869:

"To the Readers of the Courier:
With this issue of our paper we pre-
sent Mr. Henry W. Grady in the ca-
pacity of associate editor. The vigor,
versatility and polish of his pen has
recently been exhibited in his corre-
spondence for the Atlanta Constitution
over the nom de plume of 'King Hans,'
and we may reasonal)ly hope with his
assistance to materially increase the
interest of these columns. Feeling con-
fident that this effort to interest and
please will be successful, we let Mr.
Grady make his own bow to the pub-
lic— M. Dwinell."

Mr. Grady's bow follows :
"The above notice renders necessary
the infliction of a salutatory upon
you. We shall be as brief as possible.
We are young and without editorial
judgment or experience, yet we hope
that the enthusiasm with which wo en-
ter upon our new profession and the
constant labor with which we are de-
termined to bend to our work may par-
tially, at least, atone for these de-
ficiencies.

"The Courier shall be in the future,
so far as our management is concern-
ed, devoted as it has l)een in the past
to the dissemination of useful and in-
teresting information, to the bold as-

248

A History of Rome and Floyd County

sertion and maintenance of correct po-
litical opinions and to the development
of the best interests of the commu-
nity.

"We enter the editorial ranks of the
state with ill feeling' toward none, but
with kindness toward all. We shall
cheerfully and with vigor co-operate
with the press in the furtherance of
any project which tends toward good,
and we shall endeavor with courtesy
and politeness to adjust nicely any dif-
ferences of opinion which may arise
between us and any of our contem-
poraries.

"Begging in conclusion that the
justice you render us may be tempered
with mercy, we don our harness and
enter the lists.

"Most respectfully yours,

"HENRY W. GRADY."

The young journalist's "bold asser-
tion of correct political opinions" found
expression in the same issue of The
Courier in the following editorial
broadside leveled at Governor Rufus
B. Bullock, who also was a guest on
the Press Excursion :

"His Accidency." — " 'We were de-
lighted with Governor Bullock — he is
the right man in the right place, and
will do all that any man could do to
restore Georgia to her former condi-
tion of peace and prosperity.' " — Talla-
dega Sun.

"The above tribute to the accident
that now occupies the Gubernatorial
Chair, though clipped from a Radical
paper and written by a Radical re-
porter, whose official duty it was to
become enamored of the Accident and
all of his party, has a considerable
significance notwithstanding.

"The truth of the matter is that
any man who knows nothing of Bul-
lock's political filthiness will inevit-
ably become 'delighted with him,' etc.
We have never, in the whole course of
our life, seen a man who was gifted
with so great an amount of beguiling
blarney as is this man. Present him
to a Democrat and the sweetness of
his countenance is absolutely appall-
ing; infinite smiles ripple over his
cheeks and break in soft laughter on
his lips; a thousand and one benevo-
lent sparkles are beamed from his
eyes; his nostrils play with kindly pal-
pitations, and — believe me, for I tell
ye the truth — his whiskers resolve
themselves into a standing committee
to invite you just to walk down into
his heart and take a place in that

large and open receptacle. Oh, his
face is tremendously delusive!

"We were presented to him, and
went to the presentation primed with
about a dozen pardon proclamations,
and about three of his reports on the
condition of Georgia. We had serious-
ly contemplated taking a friend along
to prevent the murderous onslaught,
which we were afraid our outraged
feelings would urge us to make upon
the Accident when introduced to it.
And lo! when the crisis came we found
ourself basking calmly beneath his ra-
diant countenance like a rose beneath
an April sky. A clear voice saluted
us with a dreamy kind of tenderness,
and we found ourself exclaiming,
'Surely this man is not our enemy!'

"We looked for the famous 'sinister
expression' which, according to novel-
ists, invariably resides about the nose
and eyes of a villain. But we found
it not; the nose possessed a very mild
curvative, and the eyes were gushing
with cheery good humor. Instantly, as
a last resort, we had to commence
recounting his crimes, in order to pro-
tect ourself against his blandish-
ments, and actually had to come down
to the appointment of Foster Blodgett
before we could sufficiently hate him
to satify our Democratic conscience.
How deep down and how effectually
does this man hide his rascality!

"So much the more dangerous is he.
No man who visits him, without about
one-third of his political villainies full
in view, is safe. Beware, then, of this
mermaid with a siren voice — he will
laugh welcome in your face, and then
pardon the brute that ravished your
sister. He is far more dangerous than
Swayze — though the latter is his supe-
rior in force — for in the eye of the lat-
ter there is a warning that puts us
upon guard.

"A child is never hurt by a poison-
ous toad ; it is the bright serpent, with
its spots of purple and gold, that
charms and slays him. We do not
fear the uncouth ruffian that is with
hideous leer distorted, but the soft and
supple gentleman scoundrel that 'can
smile and smile, and play the villain
still.' "

Other public officials on the Press
Excursion escaped the darts of young
Mr. Grady. They included Mayor Hul-
sey, of Atlanta, Comptroller General
Madison Bell, R. L. McWhorter, speak-
er of the house; and Senators Smith,
Candler and Nunnally.

Evidently the following item Grady
wrote for The Courier on Friday, Sep-

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

249

tember 10, was prompted by a pang
of conscience:

"We hereby announce to our read-
ers that we shall not say another
word about the Press Excursion. We
enjoyed it and 'developed' everything
we saw, and now we are done with it.
Not another remark shall we make
about it. If information about it is
wanted by any who may not have seen
our notices as yet, we refer them to
our back files."

It is significant that on the same
day Grady penned the following in re-
sponse to a jibe from the Savannah
News:

"This excellent but sometimes impru-
dent newspaper makes a bold attack
upon us concerning an article of ours
on the Press Excursion. We would
answer the charges contained therein,
but we promised our readers in our
last issue not to write anything more
concerning the excursion. To this
promise our contemporary owes its fu-
ture salvation. For, were our hands
not bound by that promise, we would
just tear The News all to pieces! So
return thanks. Brother Thompson, for
your narrow escape."

As a reporter he showed the same
enterprise and aptitude as in his ed-
itorial work. On Nov. 12, 1869, he
published this :

"Fights, Robberies, Shooting. — A
sable son of Africa was tickled by a
bullet from the pistol of Col. Sam
Stewart, because he struck Col. Stew-
art. Another African was perforated
in four places, through the arm and
shoulder, by a leaden messenger from
Col. Stewart — cause, not known.

"A Mr. Neph was robbed of $500 in
money and a $1,000 check last night
by a thief who entered his room at the
Choice House.

"A few episodical but very interest-
ing fights took place last night among
the 'boys.' No serious damage report-
ed. Mr. C. W. Nowlin was robbed of
his watch and chain Wednesday night.
There were many other fights, rob-
beries and drunks which happened
around loose that we wot not of, and
that deserve no mention in this paper.
Verily, Rome is getting to be as nice
a city as Atlanta."

Although Mr. Grady was fond of
Capt. Dwinell, he chafed at the su-
pervision over his copy and destinies
in The Courier office ; it is also re-
lated that he became irritated that
he was not allowed to expose a petty
local political ring, so we find him

leaving The Courier July 31, 1870, to
assume the proprietorship of the Rome
Weekly Commercial. So quietly had
his plans been laid that his name ap-
peared on the masthead of The Cour-
ier as associate editor and on the mast-
head of The Commercial as editor on
the same date.

Capt. Dwinell then wrote:

"To the Patrons of The Courier:—
By the following card it will be seen
that a change has been made in the
associate editorship of this paper. The
relations of the paper with Mr. Grady,
who now retires from The Courier to
take charge of The Commercial, have
been entirely pleasant and we regi-et
to lose his valuable services. We wish
him abundant success in his new field
of labor. Col. B. F. Sawyer, for some
time past editor of the Rome Daily,
a gentleman of high literary reputa-
tion and considerable editorial experi-
ence, takes his place. We have no
doubt The Courier will be fully sus-
tained in its previous position as a
readable newspaper."

Col. Sawyer's salutatory reads thus:
"I this day assume editorial control
of The Courier. It shall be my con-
stant aim to sustain The Courier in

HF:NRY WOODKIN GRADY, omtor, who
started his journalistic career in Ronio and
brouKht his bride there to reside.

250

A History of Rome and Floyd County

the high position of popular favor it
has heretofore enjoyed. Should I suc-
ceed in this, I shall be contented, and
the patrons of The Courier can ask
no more."

Mr. Grady wrote :

"To the Patrons of The Courier:
Having been called to another field of
labor, my connection with The Cour-
ier ceases with this issue. I will say
nothing of the sadness I feel in break-
ing loose from the old Courier — noth-
ing of the honest courtesy and kind-
ness of the proprietor, who has been
my friend and counsellor through thick
and thin; because these things be-
long not to the public, nor do they in-
terest the public. But I feel that I
would be lacking in gratitude did I
not express my thanks to those of you
who have encouraged me with your
kind words and approving patronage
during this, the first year of my ed-
itorial life. Tendering you my most
sincere acknowledgments, I remain,
"Yours very truly,
"HENRY W. GRADY."

Henry Grady and his younger broth-
er. Will S. Grady, ran The Daily Com-
mercial* as editor and business man-
ager, respectively. Associated with
them for part of this time was Col.
J. F. Shanklin, the firm name being
Grady Brothers & Shanklin. Some of
Mr. Grady's best work appeared dur-
ing this period. Col. Sawyer was a
peppery old fellow, and he and Grady
had many an epistolary interchange
which old timers say came near re-
sulting in a duel, but Mr. Grady's
diplomacy turned trouble into smiles.

A free-hearted fellow was Henry
Grady. He gave liberally to old ne-
groes to get their anecdotes or stories
of their lives, and traversed many an
untraveled thoroughfare to obtain a
glimpse of types which the average
man of his sphere seldom sees in their
element. He had been accustomed to
everything that money could buy,
hence did not deny his friends any-
thing he could possibly bestow upon
them. He was fond of candy, and so
were the neighborhood children; so
was the blushing bride when she
finally arrived; a confectioner kept all
kinds near the newspaper office, so
Henry would now and then run up a
bill of $15 or more.

It is noteworthy that, although he
started using the nom de plume "King
Hans" early in 1869, he did not ob-
tain real authority to do so until two
years later. This cognomen was a

combination of his first name and the
last name of his sweetheart in Ath-
ens, to whom we can fancy hearing
him say:

"Well, Julia, I will use your name
with mine, since you will not let me
change it for a while."

Henry worked industriously; he
could afford matrimony, or thought he
could, in the fall of 1871, and so they
were married, and came to the old
Wood home, at the northwest corner
of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, to
reside. Some say they lived first at
the southeast corner of Third Avenue
and East First Street, where the of-
fice of the Harbin Hospital now
stands. At any rate, Henry had been
"batching it" here and there, and at
one time had boarded with Mrs. W.
W. Watters; and his first cousin, Wm.
C. Grady, Roman in the iron business,
had boarded there at the same time.
A Roman who had been his roommate
at Athens also acted as a groomsman
at his wedding — Col. Hamilton Yan-
cey. Another Roman, Rev. George T.
Goetchius, pastor of the First Pres-
byterian church, had been his class-
mate through four pleasant years.

The newspaper business is not al-
ways remunerative. The Gradys and
Col. Shanklin had been publishing a
paper that in that day would be call-
ed "jam-up." Thev had bought it in
July, 1870, from Mitchell A. Nevin,
who appeared to be glad to sell. Soon
it was "jam-up" against the wall, so
they poured it back into the jug.
Mitchell A. Nevin was willing to try
it again.

Just when the Gradys relinquished
hold is problematical. The Atlanta
Constitution recorded that on May 8,
1872, Mr. Grady represented The Com-
mercial and Capt. Dwinell The Cour-
ier at the Press Convention in Atlan-
ta. Col. Carey W. Styles had gone
in June, 1871, to the Albany News
from the editorial chair of The Con-
stitution, and had been succeeded by
Col. I. W. Avery, who later wrote an
entertaining history of Georgia. On
Nov. 5, 1872, The Constitution noted
the sale of The Commercial by Grady
Brothers & Shanklin to Nevin & Co.,
and a coup-d'etat by Capt. Dwinell
in announcing the addition of Major
Chas. H. Smith (Bill Arp) to The
Courier staff. The Nov. 10, 1872, is-

♦This was Rome's first daily, and it was es-
tablished by M. A. Nevin. A number bearing
date of Friday, June 28, 1871, with the mast-
head carrying the names of the Gradys as ed-
itor and business manager and Col. Shanklin
as managing editor, is still in existence.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

251

sue of the Atlanta Herald was vicious-
ly attacked by The Constitution for its
"sensational New York journalism."
Since Mr. Grady started The Herald
soon after his removal from Rome, it
is more than likely that he left the
Hill City and was presiding over the
destinies of the new Atlanta paper at
this time.

In leaving Rome, this adventurous
young journalist and budding orator
managed to elude a battery of bill col-
lectors and bailiffs by giving up his
trunk. The trunk was finally re-
leased and put in storage several
months; John Webb, a friend, paid the
storage charges and sent Henry his
trunk and "wardrobe." The wedding
silver escaped, for it had gone tem-
porarily with Mrs. Grady to the home
of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Battey at the
easternmost end of First Avenue. Hard
lines for the young couple, just start-
ing life's struggle, but they never gave
up, and lived to speak in a philosophi-
cal and humorous vein of their early
experiences.

Henry was persistently hounded by
this motley pack, to the point where
his friends claim he was literally run
away from Rome — to make famous an-
other town. These incidents did not
embitter him; they came to him as
part of the game of life, and when the
years had removed from his memory
the grim faces of his nemesises, he
often commented on his pleasant recol-
lections of the sublimated Seven Hills.

From the top of the editorial and
oi'atorical perch, with the plaudits of
the thousands ringing in his ears and
his own image deeply graven on their
hearts, it was truly a retrospective pic-
ture in a golden frame. He thought
of the time when he used to scribble
news notes on his cuffs, which neces-
sitated changing shirts every day;
when "Uncle Remus" came unan-
nounced to Rome and found him rid-
ing a "flying Jenny;" when he bought
a dozen pairs of scissors and set every-
body in the office to clipping an ar-
ticle out of each copy of the paper
in order not to offend a lady.

Rome reciprocated this feeling of
love by sending a beautiful wreath
May 24, 1921, to Atlanta to adorn his
monument as orators extolled him; and
Romans reciprocate it every day of
their lives.

ROME STORIES OF GRADY.—
Mrs. Samuel C. Whitmire, of New-
York, N. Y., formerly of Everett
Springs, tells this one: "Mr. Grady

used to visit a relative, a Mrs. Bal-
lenger, at Floyd Springs. A neighbor-
hood story has it that on a trip across
the Oostanaula after he had failed to
catch any fish he had found a net full
that belonged to a farmer living near-
by. Going to Farmer Corntassel's
house, he said, 'My friend, I have
taken your fish and I want you to
take my dollar. I know better than
to go home without any fish.' He had
great consideration for older people,
and spent much time talking to de-
crepit darkies, from whom he received
many inspirations for editorials."

A. Rawlins, former mayor of North
Rome, and father-in-law of Chas. T.
Jervis, relates the following anecdote:

"I came down from North Rome one
day to pay my subscription to Mr.
Grady's paper when his office was
about the middle of the Hotel Forrest
block on Broad. I found him standing
in a stairway and I announced my in-
tention. He looked at me hard and
said: *Mr. Rawlins, you say you
came to pay a subscription?'

" 'Yes.'

" 'Do you really mean that you vol-
untarily want to pay a subscription to
this newspaper?'

'"That's right.'

" 'Then I must say that you are to
be commended as the first man I have
met in this community who wanted to
do that. I have worn out $49 worth
of shoe leather calling on the others.' "

Chas. W. Morris, real estate deal-
er of 300 W. Fifth Avenue and father
of Paul I. Morris, tells this story:

"When I was a youngster, Henry
Grady used to buy two cakes of soap
every now and then and take me
down to the wash-hole at the foot of
Fourth Avenue, Etowah River, and go
in washing with me. He was chunky
and a good swimmer, but not much on
diving. This was the shallow place
where the downtown boys used to wade
across after a session of play at the
Gammon home nearby. Mr. Grady also
went in at Seventh Avenue on the
Oostanaula. Before he married he had
a room upstairs near the newspaper
plant, on Broad Stiect in the Hotel
Forrest block."

Judge Max Meyerhaidt relates this:

"Mr. Grady was editor, reporter and
everything that his brother Will (bus-
iness manager) wasn't. He wore white
shirts that he changed every 24 liours
because his cuffs were full of news-
paper notes taken during the day. He
was liberal, even extravagant, and did

252

A History of Rome and Floyd County

not develop much business ability in
Rome; he and his bride were fond of
candy, and he often owed an indulgent
confectioner $15 at a time. He was
literally run out of town by bailiffs
serving: attachments on him, and they
even seized his trunk when he left for
Atlanta."

J. A. Rounsaville remembers him
well because of an unusual incident:
"My brother Wes' and I were conduct-
ing our warehouse and grocery busi-
ness when Mr. Grady came by and
asked us to give him an advertisement.
We told him good-naturedly that his
old paper couldn't sell any more goods
than we could, and that on general
principles we didn't believe in adver-
tising. He went away without say-
ing any more about it, and the next
day we were treated to a deluge of
cats : every small boy in town, it seem-
ed, brought from one to six cats, and
when we asked them why they came,
they said we had advertised in The
Commercial. We bought a paper and
found a small 'want ad' saying, 'Will
pay good cash price for cats. — Rounsa-
ville & Bro.' We sent for Mr. Grady
and told him it was his duty to stop
the applications. He said he could
do that only by inserting a half-page
ad. We replied, 'All right, but put in
the center of it that we don't want any
more cats!' "

"Uncle Steve" Eberhart, the slavery
time darkey character who entertains
thousands at the convention of Con-
federate Veterans and is a regular
member of Floyd County Camp 368,
revealed in dramatic fashion Feb. 5,
1921, at the camp meeting in the base-
ment of the Carnegie library that he
used to be Henry Grady's valet while
the great orator and former Roman
was a student at the University of
Georgia at Athens.

When Mr. Grady's name was men-
tioned, "Uncle Steve" jumped to his
feet, shouted and clapped his hands,
hugged himself until he grunted, and
then exclaimed as tears rolled down
his cheeks:

"Lordy, white folks, I had the extin-
gruished honor to dust off Mr. Grady's
coat and black his shoes. He thought
er whole lot of your yumble servant."

"Uncle Steve" was "in college" with
the younger Ben Hill and a long list
of noted men. He lived in Athens un-
til the dispensary times, he said, and
then sought a better town, so settled
in Rome. In Rome he fell in with
the veterans, put on a stove-pipe hat,
and tucked two frying-sized chickens

under his arms for a parade. He has
been dressing up and cutting up ever
since.

Comrade Treadaway told a story on
the Grady brothers that brought a
laugh.

"Henry and Will had some prop-
erty in Athens, and Henry sent Will
from Rome to sell it. Will sold it and
passed through Atlanta. When he re-
turned to Rome, Henry said, 'Well, did
you sell the land?'

" 'Yep.'

" 'Where's the money?'

"'In the bank at Atlanta?'

'"What bank?'

" 'They called it the Faro Bank.' "

Romans played a leading part in
Mr. Grady's funeral, Dec. 25, 1889, in
Atlanta. Gen. Clement A. Evans and
the Rev. J. W. Lee, former pastors
of the First Methodist Church of
Rome, headed the funeral procession
to DeGive's Opera House, where John
Temple Graves, then a Rome editor,
was one of the speakers. Montgomery
M. Folsom and Frank L. Stanton,
Rome journalists, wrote poems to Mr.
Grady's memory, and the late Rev. G.
A. Nunnally, father of Judge W. J.
Nunnally, and then president of Mer-
cer University, pronounced the bene-
diction at a memorial meeting held in
Macon.— Feb. 7, 1921.

GRADY AS "CORRESPONDENT."
— The following letter to the Rome
weekly shows Henry Grady in a new
role :

"Macon, Ga., Nov. 17, 1869.

"Dear Courier: Arrived here safe. I
found it storming heavily, but soon
after our arrival it cleared off beauti-
fully and at the present writing the
moon finds her full face reflected from
a thousand rapidly evaporating pud-
dles that dot the streets. All will be
delightful in the morning.

"The city is jammed; every profes-
sion or handicraft in the world has
many and vigorous repi'esentatives
here, from the editorial profession
down to the profession of pickpocket-
ical — especially the latter. The gam-
blers, the respectable, genteel class of
gamblers, are in full force and atro-
ciously energetic.

"In company with certain other edi-
tors, we paid a visit to a fancily fur-
nished saloon, wherein these old gen-
try plied their craft. The fascination
that these places are said to possess
was speedily dispelled as far as your
humble servant is concerned. I fol-

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

253

254

A History of Rome and Floyd County

lowed my companions from table to
table; in no case did I see a single man
win save those who were evidently
connected with the establishment.
Teaching Sunday School in the north
of Patagonia may be a profitable
pecuniary venture, but I feel no hesi-
tancy in asserting that gambling is
not. Among the devotees of the tables
I noticed many faces that I had seen
migrating through Rome about the
season of our fair.

"As I did not get back here till after
dark, I can report nothing interesting
save the cardinal facts which have al-
ready been given you by the telegrams.

"The Georgia Press is largely repre-
sented — almost every paper in the
state. Joe Brown, the fragrant; Bul-
lock, the bewitching; McWhorter, the
accident; Hampton, the chivalric; Cap-
ron, the Commissioner; and Gordon,
the Governor, are in this house, and
figured conspicuously in the parlor to-
night.

"Men who have attended fairs for
years say they never saw a larger
crowd than is gathered here now.
Thousands of ladies, plenty of shows.
enough to eat, too much to do, and
more anon.

"KING HANS."
(Henry W. Grady.)

"P. S. — The unanimous opinion is
that there is a radical and shameful
mismanagement of all things pertain-
ing to said institution. The arrange-
ments are huge, but unwieldly; im-
mense, but muddled. ... I heard a
man exclaim this morning while try-
ing to get his goods entered. 'Oh, if
we had them Joneses from the Rome
Fair we'd get things straightened
out!' Sensible. A villainous store-
keeper today refused to take Rome
money.* What must be done with
him?

"One of the prettiest and most hope-
ful features of the fair is that the
exhibitors all show an anxiety to get
their advertisements in The Courier.
Success will attend such sensible men !
Rome has many representatives here.
Messrs. Noble and Cohen are attract-
ing considerable attention.

"K. H."

HENRY GRADY TO GENERAL
SHERMAN.— On Dec. 22, 1886, at a
banquet of the New England Society
at New York, at which Gen. Wm.
T. Sherman sat at the speakers' table,
Henry W. Grady declai-ed:

" 'Bill Arp' struck the keynote when

he said, 'Well, I killed as many of
them as they did of me, and so I'm
going to work!' A Confederate soldier
returning home after defeat and roast-
ing some corn on the roadside, said
to his comrades, 'You may leave the
South if you want to, but I'm going to
SaTidersville, kiss my wife and raise
a crop, and if the Yankees fool with
me any more, I'll whip 'em again!' I
want to say to Gen. Sherman, who is
considered an able man in our parts,
though some people think he is kind
of careless about fire, that from the
ashes he left us in 1864 we have built
a brave and beautiful city; that some-
how or other we have caught the sun-
shine in the bricks and mortar of our
homes and have builded therein not one
ignoble prejudice or memory!"**

AN OLD TIMER.— Virgil A. Stew-
art, son of the late Samuel Stewart,
Rome's first marshal before the Civil
War, and grandfather of our own Capt.
Henry J. Stewart, favored us with a
call at the office yesterday afternoon
that was greatly appreciated. Mr.
Stewart was born Jan. 24, 1836, at
Rome, consequently is 85 years of age
and remembers more than most people
around here. He is one of the two
surviving members of the Rome Light
Guards who went out to fight for the
Confederacy in April, 1861, the other
being B. James Franks, of Armuchee.
Mr. Franks was a recruit, so that
leaves "Virge" as the last surviving
charter member.

He is a nephew of his uncle name-
sake, the late Virgil A. Stewart, of
Lawrenceville, who under the guise of
an "outlaw" joined the band of John
A. Murrell and captured that notorious
character at the Mississippi River in
Arkansas. Murrell's gang operated
through the South, as far as Florida,
before the removal of the Indians to
the west, and the Indians got the credit
for many of their villainies. One of
their hang-outs in Georgia was at Jug
Tavern, now Winder, county seat of
Bartow County. Murrell's capture re-
sulted in a trial in Tennessee which
pu^ him in the penitentiary for life at
Nashville, and he died there. The
original Virgil A. Stewart went to
Mississippi before the Civil War and
warned the people of a contemplated
insurrection among the negroes.

When asked how old he was, Rome's

*This must have been some of the printing:
px'ess money issued by Mayor Zach Hargrove
in 1869 to relieve a local stringency.

**Sherman joined in the general tumult pro-
voked by these remarks.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

255

Virgil A. Stewart replied that he was
"thirteen." Somebody in the office
remarked that he could pass for 60
easily enough, which seemed to please
him greatly. He said he did it living
out in the open, "catching water moc-
casins, eels and fish" from the rivers
of Rome.

"I see by the paper," remarked Mr.
Stewart, "that Judge George Harris,
of the Flat Woods, thinks he can walk
anybody down in a day that ain't less
than 70. You can just tell him for me
that if he talks much like that I'll
take him up the river banks and back
again in a way he won't forget!"

Mr. Stewart relates how a big crowd
gathered about the year 1835 to see
two Indians hung on Broad Street
near Ninth Avenue. Somebody that
wanted to see the spectacle lugged
him along, although he was only two
years old. The Indians were Bai-ney
Swimmer and Terrapin, convicted of
killing a pale face named Ezekiel
Blatchford (or Braselton). They were
strung from a piece of timber laid
across two limbs, and for a long time
afterward the tree bore notches to
show the spot.

Mr. Stewart is authority for the fol-
lowing statements :

He was at one time, at 2 years of
age, the only boy in Rome; Arthur
Hood started the first newspaper, and
Howard Jack and a Mr. Walker fol-
lowed him ; William Smith owned the
first ferry, which served DeSoto, the
peninsula and Hillsboro (South Rome)
at the head of the Coosa, and hired
William H. Adkins, Sr., to build him
the first steamboat, and Matt and
Overton Hitchcock to erect the first
bridge, a covered affair, where the
Fifth Avenue bridge now stands.

Smith owned the land where the Al-
fred Shorter (D. B. Hamilton) home
is on the Alabama road, and kept a
crib of corn open to the poor. He built
on the hill across the Alabama road
from the spring nearby. John Smith,
a brother, went to California during
the gold epidemic and died there. Chas.
Smith, another brother, moved to Cass
(Bartow) county and died there.

Mr. Stewart says deer used to run
wild through the woods around Rome
in the thirties, and that Jim Ragan
shot one near the Etowah River and
the foot of Third Avenue, about the
location of the John W. Maddox place,
in front of the old J. A. Gammon
home spot.

Mrs. Robert Battey used to have a
pet deer given her by her father,

William Smith, and she had seen deer
jump the fences while the dogs chased
them. Her deer became enraged on
one occasion, attacked a woman and
had to be shot.

* * *

READY WIT OF THE UNDER-
WOODS.— Many clever stories are
told of the "absolution" with which
the late Judge John W. H. Under-
wood, Congressman from Rome before
the Civil War and noted humorist and
wit, dominated jury and bar. Rome
lawyers of the old school like Judge
Joel Branham, Judge G. A. H. Harris
and Frank Copeland remember well
his fine sarcasm, his rare good nature
and the quickness of his intellect.

A lawyer whose client had "gone up
the spout— guilty" asked Judge Un-
derwood for a light sentence because
the defendant was somewhat dull, to
v/hich the Judge replied: "Then it
will take a heavy penalty to make an
impression on him," and gave the man
the limit.

At a meeting in Pittsburg of the
Tariff Commission to which President
Arthur in 1882 appointed Judge Un-
derwood, a Mr. Butler stated that pro-
tection would increase the number of
furnaces and thus reduce the price of
pig iron. "Then," queried Judge Un-
derwood, "you want a high tariff so
you can sell your product at a low
price?"

At another time the elder Under-
wood wrote to a friend: "I cheerfully
recommend my son, John, for the job
of Solicitor General. He has more
ambition for office and fewer qualifi-
cations than any man I ever saw!"

A story is told locally which illus-
trates the fine sense of humor and the
quick perception of Judge John W. H.
Underwood. A Rome man who was in
a financial tight went to Judge Under-
wood to obtain his endorsement.

"If you will sign mv note I will go
to the bank and get .$300," stated the
caller.

"Just make it $(iOO." shot back Judge
Underwood, "I need that much my-
self."

Judge Nisbet wrote of tin' elder l^n-
derwood, who was the block of which
the son was a chip: "Judge Un-
derwood, the elder, was a greater wit
than Sheridan, but unfortunately, he
had no Boswell to write liis biogra-
phy or Constitution reporter to pub-
lish what he said. He was once en-
gaged in a case, and the judge, after

256

A History of Rome and Floyd County

chargfing very violently against him,
locked the jury up for the night and
adjourned the court. After tea the
Judge and Underwood were walking on
the piazza of the hotel near the court-
house, and heard quite a movement of
chairs and feet in the jury room, at
which the judge remarked, 'I believe
the jury have gone to prayers.' Un-
derwood said: 'I suspect so. Failing
to get any light from your honor's
charge, they are seeking it from
above.' "

Governor John B. Gordon wrote:
"When Underwood lived in Elbert, a
man was abusing him roundly, and
ended by saying, 'Yes, sir, and I un-
derstand you were a Federalist!' To
this Judge Underwood replied : 'In
those times there were but two par-
ties in this country: — Federalists and
fools. I was a Federalist and I never
heard you, sir, accused of being one.' "

The following story is told of the
elder Underwood:

"Cooahullie Creek, near Dalton, was
swollen from rains and Judge Under-
wood and other lawyers were trying
to reach a courthouse on the opposite
side in buggies. The Judge hauled
up in front and was urged on by his
companions. He answered, 'No, it is
appointed unto man once to die, but it
shall never be said of Wm. H. Under-
wood that he was drowned in Cooa-
hullie Creek.' "

John T. Boifeuillet, of Macon, relates
the following:

"In these prohibition times of court
trials of liquor violations it may be
apropos to tell of an incident that hap-
pened when Judge J. W. H. Underwood,
the celebrated Georgia wit, was on
the Superior Court bench. Certain
temperance regulations were in ex-
istence. In the hearing of a liquor
case the defendant said he sold the
whisky on a doctor's prescription,
which he was at the time holding in
his hand. 'Let me see that paper,'
said the judge. It was handed to him,
and he read it aloud from the bench.

" 'Let the bearer have one quart of
whisky for sickness.

'JOHN JOHNSON, M. D.'

" 'Yes,' said the judge, 'M. D. in the
morning means 'mighty dry,' and in
the evening, 'mighty drunk.' "

The following incident is related by
Henry Peeples, Atlanta attorney:

"The Tariff Commission appointed
to visit the various sections of the
country and report on the tariff work-

ings came to Atlanta and sent out in-
vitations asking any one interested to
meet with them and point out unjust
discriminations as they saw them.
Judge J. W. H. Underwood was a mem-
ber of the comm,ission. When the
board assembled in the convention hall
of the Kimball House they were greet-
ed by a single man, come to talk over
the tariff. For two hours or more he
fired question after question at the
tariff experts, turned the 'evidence
meeting' into a debate between himself
and the board and showed those gen-
tlemen just what the situation was in
the South.

" 'What is your name?' asked the
commission of the young man.

" 'I am Woodrow Wilson, a lawyer,'
he answered.

"Mr. Wilson was a practicing attor-
ney in Atlanta at the time of the visit
of the commission, having been there
possibly two years.

"Judge Underwood's wit was caustic
at times. He once made the follow-
ing statement to which many persons
may agree: 'Debt and death sound
very much alike, and there is but lit-
tle difference between them.' "

UNDERWOOD'S FIRST FEE.—
Mrs. Florence Underwood Eastman re-
lates how her father, the late Judge
Jno. W. H. Underwood, won his first
"legal fee." Her grandfather, Judge
Wm. H. Underwood, had been commis-
sioned by John Ross to attend to legal
matters connected with the removal of
the Cherokee Indians westward. About
the same time. Rev. Jno. F. Schermer-
horn, of Utica, N. Y., was sent to
Rome by the government as removal
commissioner. A big pow-wow was
held at the home of John Ridge, Cher-
okee Indian, at "Running Waters."
Near here the Cherokees held their
Green Corn dances, at which the In-
dians would gather from miles around,
pin corn shuck aprons around their
waists, and tie shells containing peb-
bles around their ankles and dance for
hours.

Mr. Schermerhorn and Judge Wm.
H. Underwood opened the meeting
July 19, 1835, and were preparing for
a continuation of the pow-wow at
New Echota (New Town), Gordon
County, north of Calhoun, where the
treaty was finally to be signed (it was
signed Dec. 29, 1835), and there was
much "paper work" to be done. Judge
Underwood and Mr. Schermerhorn
pitched into the work. The Judge's
son, John, was waiting nearby, watch-
ing. "Why couldn't we put the lad to

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

257

work?" inquired Mr. Schermerhorn.
'Try him," suggested the father.

Young John caught on readily, work-
ed all night, and next morning Mr.
Schermerhorn handed him $50. "Not
bad for a starter in legal business!"
chuckled young Underwood, as he
crammed the bill down into his jeans
and ran home. — Jan. 19, 1921.
* * *

A PEN PICTURE OF ROME.*—
(H. W. Johnstone, in the Rome Trib-
une Jan. 26, 1907) :

"The man looks back on what the
boy saw with his eager eyes before the
Civil War. Among the boy's earliest
recollections is a group around the
old courthouse at court (East First)
and Bridge Streets (Fifth Avenue),
and the building itself, with its white
medallions and red gables reminded
him that here was a civilizing outpost
in North Georgia which kept watch
over the destinies of mankind.

"The corner opposite the courthouse
building was a two-story affair with
a wide veranda across the front.

"Down the hill from the courthouse
on the west side of Broad Street was
a two-story hotel known as the 'Amer-
ican House,' with a wide veranda
across the front. The postoflfice was
in this building at one time.

"South of this were the stores of
Sanders, Sullivan, the two Ombergs,
Henry Smith and R. S. Norton. The
first brick store in this block was
erected by Sanders, and is now oc-
cupied by a hardware house.

"This store, and the yard in its
rear, was the scene of an escapade of
which the boy may tell you later. It
was so near a tragedy that he never
divulged his knowledge of it for twen-
ty years!

"On the corner below Norton's was
Miles and Riley Johnson's, then came
Wimpee's shop, and White's har-
ness store, which stood about where
Todd's grocery now is. Thence it
was vacant (being low and often
ponded), with a bridge walk built
several feet above ground to where
Lanham's store stands. Here stood
the 'Wells Hotel,' and in rear of this
was a small frame building. Miss Liz-
zie Smith's school.

"Farther down Broad Street were
other business houses, among them
A. M. Sloan's, which stood alyout where
W. H. Coker is now located. Thence
it was low and swampy to Oostanaula
and Etowah Rivers, the only building

*The scene goes back to 185G.

being the Rome Railroad depot, which
was also used by the boats. This was
located about where the Central depot
now IS. It was an ordinary 'up and
down' frame house raised several feet
upon piling. The vacant space, sev-
eral acres, was the 'circus gi-ound '
It was covered with grass and in wet
seasons a pond was near the depot.

"At the foot of Broad Street the
new bridge connected Rome with 'Lick
bkiiJet hills, now South Rome. On
these hills the stage driver always
wmded his bugle as signal for pas-
sengers and mail.

''Crossing Broad Street at the depot
and coming north, the fir.st building
he remembers was the Ketcham House
on the ground now occupied by the
Taylor-Norton Drug Co. Back of this
was a field, and where Second Avenue
now enters Broad Street was a gate
thence along Broad Street was a fence
to where J. J. Cohen's store stood—
about where Fahy's now is. Thence
to Fourth Avenue was vacant.

"The rear of Rounsaville's ware-
house covers a spring, the branch from
it flowed through Douglas' stable lot,
crossed Broad Street, formed a 'pond'
and went through a deep ravine into
Oostanaula River where Third Avenue
ends.

"Hardin & Smyer were on the cor-
ner of Fourth Avenue, then came
Johnson & Gwyn, next was Fried's,
then vacant lots to the Choice House.
About 1852 Wm. Ramey established
the first livery stable on the site of
the present Masonic Temple. A year
later Wm. C. G. Johnstone built a ve-
hicle repository where Kay's stable
is and a large brick warehouse on the
present Baptist church lot.

"Wm. R. Smith's 'Continental Shop'
was on the corner above the Choice
House. Immediately fronting this was
DeJournett's, a two-story frame struct-
ure. In the upper story of this build-
ing the first Masonic lodge was insti-
tuted. Later, under the lead of Wm.
Choice, Arm. Harper, 'Billie' Ross, and
others, it became 'Thespian Hall.' This
was used for theatrical performances
and school exhibitions. Across the
years the boy can still hear the
voice of Billy Hills addressing the
'Conscript Fathers.' The ringing in-
quiry of Cooper Nesbit, 'Why is the
Forum Crowded? What means this
stir in Rome?' And the eloquent Jack
Hutchings assuring us that he 'came
to bury Caesar, not to praise him!'

"Some of the little boys of those
days are with us still. I am sui'e

258

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Charlie H. could again entrance us
with the 'Sailor Boy's Dream,' and
Dolph R. could tell 'us of that dis-
astrous 'Smacking in the District
School, not far away.'

"Memory fixes no residences south
of Fourth Avenue and east of Second
Street, except Cooley's, and one or two
near the present site of the Baptist
church.

"From Third Street east, to the
river, and south of Fourth Avenue,
nearly to Second Avenue, was the fin-
est grove of oaks he ever saw. A few
of these trees were standing near East
Fourth street lately. This was known
as 'The Grove,' sacred to political bar-
becues, and Cupid's delightful arch-
ery.

"Between Fourth and Fifth Avenues
on the east side of Third Street were
two residences facing west, their broad
lots extending back to the Etowah
river. Fronting these residences, and
extending over the hill to the court-
house, was nearly all a grove of field
pines. The only residences on this
space were Callahan's, where the
Episcopal church now is, Duke's, on
southeast corner, and Wm. C. G. John-
stone's near the crest, just back of the
courthouse.

"On the crest of the hill stood the
academy, a long one-story, two-room
brick building, its west entrance
guarded by an enormjous gnarled
chestnut tree. If memory is true, this
academy was built by' subscription
under the auspices of S. J. Stevens.
While it was being erected Mr. Ste-
vens' school was located on a mound
just beyond the Shropshire residence
— all woods then — now Forrestville.

"About 1853 Mr. Stevens built an
academy in the valley between the
residence of Major Ross and Reece's
spring. This academy was a two-
story frame structure. A long stair-
way, built outside, gave entrance to
the upper school room. This build-
ing was burned a few years later. At
this school the boy first knew Dick
Cothran, Button and Ike Hume, Billie
Ross, Tom Berrien, Wm. Hills, Wm.
Tuggle, Jack Hutchings and Cooper
Nesbit, and among the small lads were
George C. Douglas, son of Dr. George
B. Douglas, 'Randy' Mitchell, Sam
liumpkin, Thomas Cuyler, T. J. Ver-
dery (whose home was the old resi-
dence of Major Ridge, chief of the
Cherokees, which stood, and remains
on Oostanaula River above Battey's
Shoals). Henry Stovall rode his pony
to school from his home on the Suni-

merville road, where Mr. Brown now
resides — just beyond the old Asa
Smith home — now Willingham's.

"The second principal at the Rome
Academy was P. M. Sheibley, then a
young man of fine appearance and
pleasing manners. He was a finish-
ed scholar, a firm, competent teacher.
His pupils owe to him more than can
be expressed here. At this school the
boy first knew C. M. Harper, Dolph
Rounsaville, John and 'Scrap' Black,
Tyler Mobley, and that fine youth who
was drowned in the Oostanaula, Albert
Jones.

"On the corner of Seventh Avenue
stood Simpson's cabinet shop, where
sash, doors and blinds were first made
in Rome. West of this, on the emi-
nence, stood the residence of R. S.
Norton. What a home-maker he was,
what a character builder! His sons
were often welcome visitors at the
homes of the boy's father and paternal
grandfather. No finer gentleman ever
tinted the 'grey' with the ultimate
sacrifice than did Charles Norton !
Two of the great marts of the Central
West and the iron metropolis of the
South feel the impress of R. S. Nor-
ton's character, through his living sons.
His life-work was a benediction to this
city! Even the flowers bloomed rapt-
urously in tribute to his gentleness and
care !

"Probably the oldest hotel in Rome
stood on the corner of Eighth Ave-
nue. It was constructed of hewn tim-
bers, drawn shingles, split lathes and
plaster. On a medallion sign, swing-
ing over the road, was the legend,
'Travelers' Rest — John Quinn.'

"Across Broad Street, fronting
'Travelers' Rest,' was the residence of
Judge Nathan Yarbrough. Nestling
far back in a shaded yard on south-
v/est corner of Ninth Avenue was the
home of Dr. Vernon, whose daughter,
Helen, was the first 'belle' the boy re-
members, but on the next corner above
was a yardfull, where Hon. J. W. H.
Underwood resided.

"North of this, extending to the
brick residence of Daniel R. Mitchell,
located about where John Davis now
resides, was a forest of oaks and pop-
lars, enclosing Mitchell's Pond, fit to
be 'God's first temples.'

"The square as now bounded by
First and Second Streets, Fifth and
Sixth Avenues, was a deep ravine, then
heavily wooded. On its southwest cor-
ner was the Episcopal church, on the
northeast was the Methodist 'meeting
house.' In the bottom of the ravine

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

259

stood the old gaol, built of logs, and
the windows strongly grated. Near
the gaol was a spring which flowed
down the ravine, across Sixth Ave-
nue and Broad Street and into the
Oostanaula.

"Ah! what memories — from boy to
man!"

* * *

(Mar. 24, 1907.)

The DeSoto chronicles describe the
location of the Cherokee capital vil-
lage as being on a long island — and,
according to the Indian legends, the
Oostanaula must have divided near
Battey's Shoals, the "cut off" passing
near the east foot of the Hills o'Ross
across the bottom under the present
Central railroad trestle to the Coosa.
There are indications of this old
course even now. Many changes of
this nature could, and have, come in
the 365 years since DeSoto passed.

Let us go back to the early "fifties"
and meet some of the old citizens.

That tall man walking this way is
Col. Pennington; he believes in rail-
roads and steamboats. He always
carries that cane and umbrella, but
never uses either.

Notice that nervous, quick moving
man meeting him. He has a habit of
bringing his hand to his waist, then
swings it out as if to brush you aside,
but Thomas Perry is a fine man "for
a' that."

That portly gentleman walking up
the terrace is Judge Lumpkin. He
had that mansion built in 184.3. He
is big hearted, broad minded and de-
serves his great popularity. You see
John Quinn has changed his sign from
"Travelers' Rest" to "Ci'oss Keys Ho-
tel," and, you can buy ginger cakes
from Mother Quinn — in the cellar.

That's Mr. Lamkin's grocery store
next to the Choice House. Just be-
low it is A. M. Lamb's candy store, ad-
joining Tom Perry's store, only a
plank partition separates them.

That's Jimmie Lee, he owns the
fish traps above the ford on the "High-
tower." He is the same fellow who
nearly drowned Will Adkins.

That flowered silk dress designates
Mrs. Sholes. She watches Jimmie's
"traps" and tells on every boy she
sees near them. None of the boys like
her. The boys and girls do not like
that fancy dressed man with her — for
he trades in negroes — his name is Jo-
seph Norris.

*Father of L. W. McCay, professor of chem-
istry at Princeton University and native Roman.

Look out for that short, stout, keen-
eyed man with the "big stick." He is
the town marshal, Samuel Stewart
Ihat enormous creature following at
his heels is "Wolf'-his terrible hound.
Ho never failed to catch boys who did
any devilment-but once! Sometime
1 may tell you of that "once."

That gentleman with the Alsatian
face— who talks with his hands— is
one of God^ helpers in beautifying
the earth. We should not forget' Dr
Berckmans.

You will notice that Robt. T. Mc-
Cay s- hardware store is on that cor-
ner, the first hardware store in Rome
Ihat stocky, earnest-faced man talking
to McCay is an Englishman who is
introducing the iron industry in Rome
— Mr. Noble.

Those six men sitting on the veranda
of the Choice House are more or less
politicians, yet each one has an inter-
esting history.

The tallest one with the smooth
strong Scotch face is the "Iron King"
of Georgia, Mark A. Cooper, a visitor.
Next to him is Augustus R. Wright,
a Congressman, a great lawyer and an
impassioned forensic orator. His gifts
have descended, in good measure, to
his sons. The tall, clean faced man
with the cane is James M. Spullock,
one of the finest fingered politicians
in the state. He is the man who as
United States Marshal for Georgia
seized the yacht "Wanderer" and sold
her as a condemned "slaver." The
"Wanderer" was Charles B. Lamar's
private yacht — she was chartered by a
party of Northern men to make a cruise.
She returned to Savannah loaded with
African slaves, was captured, con-
demned and sold. Her owner, Lamar,
was exonerated from all blame, but
lost his yacht. The Northern men who
made the cruise escaped to New York.
This is the nearest the South ever
became interested in "slave trade."
Most of these Africans were seized and
returned to their country.

That stout, jolly gentleman was
later a captain under Forrest. His
memory will abide principally In^-
cau.'^e he was Henry W. Grady's uncle
— Henry A. Gartrell.

The brown-eyed gentleman with
black hair and moustache — so erect in
carriage — and earnest in manner, was
the first Mayor of Rome (the only
public ofllice he ever held — except the
Confederate marslialship of Georgia).
He was appointed Colonel of a regi-
ment of a Partisan Rangers, but was
induced to resign it and head the com-

260

A History of Rome and Floyd County

STEAMBOATS AND THEIR HARDY "SKIPPERS."

1 xu» l„Kn I Smv 2 The Clifford B. Seay; 3 — Capt. F. M. Coulter, who built a

dozen"^Iats;' 4-The MUchell; ^-Tol;," V^ MarableV 6_The' Magnolia probably the nnest
steamer on the river; 7-The Alabama; 8-The Gadsden; 9-Capt Frank Benjamm ; 1 0-Capt.
J. M. Elliott; 11— The Resaca, with hunting party and game; 12— The Annie H. in a calm
sea. All these vessels succumbed to gales, financial or otherwise.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

261

pany which produced salt for the poor
of the state, during- the war between
the states. He is Wm. C. G. Johnstone
(known familiarly as "Black Wm.
Johnstone") .

The last of the group, who appears
so elegantly at ease, could claim dis-
tinction in science, politics and liter-
ature. He was a physician, a United
States Senator, an author of note and
an orator of exceptional power. During
the war of 1812-15, two young men
became close comrades and friends.
When they parted it was agi-eed that
their sons should bear the same names.
Both were scholars and curiously they
selected the names of the great poets.
Time passed. Major Clem Powers, of
Effingham County, named his three
sons Homer, Virgil and Milton. Some
years later he named his fourth son
Horace.

Meantime his friend had one son
born to him, and he was named Homer
Virgil Milton Miller. The second wife
of Wm. C. G. Johnstone was a daugh-
ter of Major Clem Powers, and her
meeting with Dr. Miller is a vivid
memory.

Picture — Lumpkin, Hamilton, Mil-
ler, Wright, Battey, Underwood, Smith
("Bill Arp"), Spullock, with their
ladies at our hospitable board — with
Gartrell to fire the train — and you can
imagine how humor flowed, wit spar-
kled, whether the subject be politics
or literature — and remember, litera-
ture was mostly the "leather-bound"
classics, also that the ladies often bore
the palms.

I do not say such people are not
with us. But somehow I do not meet
them. I may be "out of date" — but
I enjoy recalling the days when hon-
or was kept bright — a mortgage was
a curiosity — and slander dared not
touch a woman ! But I digress — yet
I warned you that this —

"Might, perhaps, turn out a song;
Perhaps turn out a sermon!"

Let us again go up the river. We
will pass the service cottage erected
by Dr. George Battey, "When you and
I were young," and stop by those large
trees about an hundred paces anent
the old Ridge house. I hope the old
trees are yet there.

The Ridge house was then occupied
by Mr. Verdery, one of whose daugh-
ters married Warren Akin; another
married Dr. George Battey. The fam-
ily moved to Polk County, thence to
Augusta, Ga.

Under these trees (near the Ridge
house) was located the earliest and
liugest store in this section of Geor-
gia — if not in the whole Cherokee
country. It was operated in the name
of George M. Lavender, Major Ridge
(the chief) being a silent partner. An
immense business was transacted and
the owners grew very rich. The busi-
ness was closed about 1837 and in the
division Lavender received a large
amount in money and property, esti-
mated by some to have been more than
a quarter of a million dollars. George
Lavender never married. His estate
passed to his sisters, one of whom
married Ray, whose descendants live
about Newnan and Atlanta. Another
sister, Edith Lavender, resided on an
eminence east of the present North
Rome depot. She remained unniar-
ried until about 1847, when a man
appeared to take the contract to grade
the Rome Railroad. This was Joseph
Printup. He secured the contract, but
had not the means to operate success-
fully. Edith Lavender fell in love
with the enterprising stranger, mar-
ried him, and her money enabled him
to make his venture a success.

Joseph assisted his brother, Daniel
S. Printup, through Union college,
New York, and located him here, where
his family remain. Major Joseph
Printup had no children. Many years
ago he was drowned in an insignifi-
cant branch near his home. His prop-
erty, including the "Printup Ferry" es-
tate in Gordon County, passed to the
children of Daniel S. Printup.

Dr. Reece. the father of John H.
and James Reece, was a delicate gen-
tleman who was surgeon of the regi-
ment of state troops sent here to re-
move the Cherokees to the banks of
the Tennessee. Miles Reece, an uncle
of Capt. John Reece, came to Cher-
okee before his brother. He became
intimately conversant with legends and
affairs of the Cherokees, and was an
encyclopedia of Indian lore.

An anecdote of Chief Ridge will
serve to show how Indian traits clung
to him.

John Ridge, a son of Major Ridge,
resided in Ri(lge's Valley. Chief Ridge
had a handsome daughter; educated,
proud and given more or less to van-
ity. She induced her father to order
her a fine coach. It was sent from
New York and created a sensation.
It was hung on leather swings at-
tached to large "C" springs, the
driver's seat being on top.

This outfit arrived just before the

262

A History of Rome and Floyd County

annual "Green corn dance," which was
held at Major Ridge's. The coach was
ordered to convey Sarah to the dance.
The horses were harnessed to it and
the negro driver stood ready. Chief
Ridge inspected the outfit, even shak-
ing the wheels to be sure they would
stand up.

Sarah came out in silks and feath-
ers; her father assisted her to climb
the folding steps, closed the steps and
door, then walked around to the driver,
took the reins and ordered the driver
to go back to his field work. Chief
Ridge then mounted one of the horses,
with the gathered reins in his hands
and galloped away to the "Green corn
dance."

* * *

DAYS THAT ARE GONE.— Maj.
Chas. H. Smith (Bill Arp), sent the
following letter to the Rome Tribune
of Sunday, Sept. 2, 1894:

"Cartersville, Ga., Sept. 1, 1894.
"To Mr. W. Addison Knowles,
"Editor The Tribune,
"Rome, Ga.

"Dear Mr. Knowles: 'Illium fuit —
Illium est,' Rome was — Rome is, but
it is not the same Rome we old Ro-
mans used to know. Everything is
changed but the rivers and Bill Ramey
and old father Norton.

"I moved to Rome in 1851, but for
several years before that I used to
visit there and prospect for a place
to move to. I had a brother there
practising medicine. It is nearly 50
years since I made my first visit. The
Rome railroad was finished to Eve's
Station, and the hacks met us there.
There were no bridges across the
rivers and the ferrying was done at
the junctions. All down town was in
the woods. What magnificent timber
covered the bottom where down town
is now!

"I went squirrel hunting there with
Joe Norris. .Toe was clearing the low
ground for Colonel Shorter and had
deadened the timber. The road from
the ferry was awful. I have seen six-
mule teams stall in the gulch that was
where the Lumpkin block was after-
ward built. But you don't know where
that is. It is the block opposite the
Denson building. But you never heard
of Denson. Well, the lowest part of
the gulch was right in the middle of
the street that comes down Cooley hill
and crosses Broad.

"Maybe you have heard of Hollis
Cooley. He was an unpretending gen-
tleman ; as honest a Yankee as ever

lived. I went to school to his sister in
Lawrenceville when I was a lad. Hol-
lis Cooley never had a lawsuit in his
life, and always declared that there
was no necessity for anybody having
one.

"Old father Norton said, 'But, Hol-
lis, suppose some rascal was to come
along, and knowing your mind about
going to law, should lay claim to your
house and lot, when then?' *I would
give up to him before I would go to
law with him,' said Hollis. 'Yes, and
you would play the fool,' said Norton.
'By George, I would law him till his
heels flew up.'

"I was remarking about that awful
pull up the little steep hill from the
gulch to where Major Ayer's store
was. But I forgot. The major hasn't
got any store. Well, it was about op-
posite Morrison's livery stable, or
Flemming's saddle shop, or Tom Per-
ry's law office, or somewhere there in
the middle of the road. It's bothering
me awfully to locate things. Bill Ra-
mey will show you where it was. The
hill was short and steep and sticky,
and I have seen strong teams stall
there and the wagon cut back and
nearly turn over. Norton's store was
then away down town. It was right
where it is now, but it was down town,
the lowest down of any, and was a lit-
tle, low, long, narrow, one-story house
with the hind end stuck in the hill so
deep that you could almost step on the
roof.

"There were no houses down town.
Old man Crutchfield was building the
court house. The Western Bank of
Georgia was doing a busting business
in that office back of the Choice Hotel
— that same little office on the corner
as you go up the hill to the court
house. Yes, it was doing a busting
business, and it busted. Not long after
it closed its doors I went there with
$7,000 of its money and knocked at the
door and demanded payment in bi-
metallic currency, but there was no
response and nobody opened the door.
I had to make the demand at the
bank's last place of doing business be-
fore I could sue. But the dog was
dead and my client never realized a
dollar.

"By the time we moved to Rome
down town was looming up. C. T.
Cunningham had a big cotton ware-
house on the river bank, and Rhode
Hill and Bill Cox were clerking for
him. The first time I ever saw Rhode
he was having big fun by hiding an
egg under Jack Shorter's shirt collar,

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

263

and he bet Cox a dime that he couldn't
find it. Cox felt all about Jack's
clothes, and accidentally broke the agg,
and it ran down Jack's back. But
Jack got the dime and that satisfied
him.

"Rhode found bigger game later on
and is now a Peachtree nabob in At-
lanta. Cunningham built a nice resi-
dence at the end of Howard Street.
It is the Woodruff place, and Wm.
E. Alexander built the Rounsaville
house, and Dr. Battey built where he
now lives. Alexander was Norton's
partner for a while, but he moved
down town and took in Colonel Shorter
as a partner. Mr. Norton never moved
— neither his dwelling place nor his
store. He improved both, but never
moved. Before I moved I bought me
a very nice home over there on the
hill where DeJournett and Treada-
way and Omberg lived. You know
v/here that is. No, you don't, either,
you are too young to know much about
anything — anything antiquated, I
mean. Well, it is not far from father
Norton's house, the third house from
the corner as you go down towards
the river. Dr. Smith, my brother, lived
in the first and Nicholas Omberg in the
second. Old Mother Ragan lived right
in front of Norton's, and Sumter &
Torbet's machine works were down in
the corner of his garden.

"Jim Sumter was one of the best
men I ever knew, the best mechanic,
the best magistrate, the best mayor,
the best alderman, the best citizen and
the truest friend. He made for me a
large and beautiful walnut book case.
We have it now in our sitting room,
and I prize it for his sake. It is the
only piece of furniture the Yankees
left me. It was so big they couldn't
move it. They did move the books.
They loved to read, but they didn't
read their titles clear to my books.
About that time the people who were
the best off made their homes on
the hills. Andrew M. Sloan, who was
a big merchant and banker, lived in
a one-story house on the hill where
Hiles now lives. Dr. P. L. Turnley
lived nearby. Mr. Thomas D. Shel-
ton lived where Shorter College stands.
Rev. J. M. M. Caldwell and his wife
lived and taught school in the house
adjacent to the old Methodist church.
Old Judge Underwood lived on the
Caldwell college hill with his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Wilson. The First Baptist
church was nearby, on the same hill,
and the old gi'aveyard is not far away.

"I shall never forget that graveyard,
for one time I was a Masonic pall-

bearer there, and I did not stoop low-
enough as we passed under some
limbs of the crowded trees, and one of
them took off my hat and my scratch
with it, and my bald head showed no
hair apparent to the crown, and ex-
cited too much levity for the solemn
occasion. I put the hat on my head
with much alacrity and put the wig
in my pocket. I have never worn one
to a funeral since, nor anywhere else.
It is one of the comforts of old age
that a man is not expected to have a
great profusion of hair, but when he
is young a very small vacancy hurts
his feelings mighty bad.

"James McEntee had been keeping
hotel midway of the block next above
the Choice House in 1849, I think, and
Colonel D. R. Mitchell acquired the
Buena Vista soon after. Old Jesse
Lamberth was one of the pioneers, and
lived in a little house back of the Odd
P'ellows' hall building, but he built a
better house in front afterward, and
lived there for many years.

"Sam Stewart was a very notable
character in those days, and had the
reputation of being a cool and daring
man. His brother, Virgil, helped to
give Sam reputation, for it was he who
ran down and caught John A. Murrell,
the notorious horse thief and highway
robber. Sam was city marshal for
many years, and kept all evil doers in
subjection. He was a good officer,
but it is said that every man will
sooner or later meet his match, if not
his superior. One day Nicholas Om-
berg broke down the gate of the city
pound and took his cow out and drove
her home. Someliody had opened Om-
berg's gate and let his cow out so as to
put her in the pound and get the fee
for taking up stray cattle. Omberg was
dreadfully mad when his wife told him
about it, and, as he didn't favor the
anti-cow ordinance nohow, he took the
shortest way to recover his cow.

"When Stewart found what Omberg
had done he got mad, too, and forth-
with went to the merchant tailor to
arrest him. The Norwegian never
winked or quailed, but seizing an enor-
mous pair of shears, he rushed at
Stewart like a mad man and ran him
out in the street. Stewart said after-
v.ard that he had either to run or
kill him.

"The city council fined Omberg $50,
but he carried the case to the supreme
court and gained it. Nic Omberg was
a very superior man, and was highly
esteemed as a citizen and a Christian
gentleman. About the close of the war

264

A History of Rome and Floyd County

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MISCELLANEOUS VIEWS RECALLING ROME.

Here may be seen: a 1921 group of girl High School graduates emerging from the Auditorium
with their beautiful nosegays; Billy King, 9, Rome's youngest and most famous cartoonist; Iho
Second Avenue (E. Rome) Methodist Church; views around the courthouse; a group of young
players; Gay Jespersen's Lindale band; and a tiny glimpse of Rome.

Anecdotes and Reminsicences

265

some lawless scouts visited old man
Quinn's house one night to rob him.
The old man cried for help, and Om-
berg ran over to defend him and was
himself shot down and killed.

"And that causes me to think of
Tom Perry, at whose house poor Om-
berg died. Tom Perry was perhaps
the best known and most beloved cit-
izen Rome ever had. He was raised
poor and hard, and had but little ed-
ucation. He used to haul wood with
steers in the cold winter with his toes
sticking out of his old shoes. He mi-
grated from Lawrenceville to Rome
before anybody, and when I first visit-
ed Rome Tom was keeping bar for a
free negro, Wm. Higginbotham. Next
he hired to old William R. Smith to
sweep out the store and knock around.
Next he got to be clerk in the post-
office for Nathan Yarbrough. Next
he was postmaster and then a steam-
boat captain. Next he was elected
J. P. and held that office for many
years. He was the chief promoter of
the Masons and Odd Fellows. He was
United States commissioner. He was
the best friend the widows and or-
phans ever had in Rome, the best
chairman of the street committee. He
was always at work doing something
for somebody. He wrote much for the
Rome Courier and pasted everything
he wrote in a scrapbook, and would
read it on Sundays. When he had
planned any public thing he would
write a piece and sign it Vox Populi,
and then call a meeting at the court
house to put his measure through. If
nobody came he called himself to the
chair and acted as secretary, and pass-
ed a string of resolutions and had
them published as the sense of the
meeting. He never lost any space in
his manuscript. If there was not room
for an 'and' at the end of a line, he
would divide the word and put the d
at the beginning of the next line. He
worked up to the full measure of his
capacity and was everybody's friend.
He looked like a Democrat, for he was
pigeon-toed and loose-jointed, and chew-
ed cheap tobacco, but he was an un-
compromising Whig.

"When your good father was edit-
ing the Rome Courier, Tom gave him
aid and comfort as best he could. I
remember your father well. He was a
courtly gentleman. His company was
always welcome, for he was a good
talker and never indulged in slang
or vulgarity or intolerant assertions.
His gold spectacles became his fea-
tures and added grace to his individ
uality. You were not then in the land

of the living where peace may be
sought and pardon found. May you
emulate your good father's Christian
example and make the world better
with your presence.

But I must not monopolize your
space. It would take a book to tell
of ancient Rome and the citizens who
have gone to the undiscovered countrv.
Of William R. Smith and Wm. Smith
(Mrs. Dr. Battcy's father) and Johnny
Smith, a good man who for the love of
the beautiful planted water oaks and
elms around the churches and along the
down town sidewalks. The trees are
there yet, and men and women walk
and children play under their shade.
Then there was McGuire and Hardin,
and Quinn, and T. S. Wood, and
Isham Wood, and Cohen, and Dr. Pat-
ton, and Dr. Starr, and Dr. King, and
Dr. Geo. M. Battey, who kept the drug
store under the Choice House. Ram-
sey Alexander was a leading lawyer
there when I moved to Rome. Tom
came later and so did Judge Under-
wood. I formed a partnership with
Colonel Underwood in 1852 and it con-
tinued for thirteen long and pleasant
years.

"Then there appeared some lesser
lights who kept the little town lively.
Old Jake Herndon, for instance, the
town loafer, who never lied from mal-
ice, but only from habit. He used to
tell about the big freshet that came in
June, 1S40, and covered all the country
save the top of court house hill, and
how he tied his batteau to a gum tree
on top of that hill, and seeing no place
for the sole of his foot, he untied it
and paddled to Horseleg mountain, and
ic was hot, devilish hot. and his ther-
mometer rose to 240 in the shade. He
always said thermoneter for thermom-
eter. Old Jake had told that lie so
often that he believed it. I think he
has a son now in the United States
navy. If folks do 'laugh and grow
fat,' I think that big John Under-
wood took on his fat from his daily
intercourse with old Jake Herndon.

"And there was Old Man Laub, the
inimitable cuss who was created just
to fill uo the cracks, like siiralls in a
stone wall. He was a little sassy, loud-
mouthed rascal, who kejit a bakery and
cake shop, and some blind tiger and
oysters, just below Dr. Battcy's drug
store. He had two front doors. Over
one was painted "Laub's here.'' Over
the other was painted "Laub's here,
too." He drove a pair of calico ]ionies,
and was always in a fuss with some-
body, and especially with his wife.
She would run him out of one front

266

A History of Rome and Floyd County

door wth a broom and he would dodge
into the other. Big John's grocery
was right opposite across the street,
and it was a good part of his business
to watch the antics of the Laub fam-
ily and shake his fat sides with laugh-
ter. When I first saw Laub's name
and sign I thought that Laub's was
something to sell — some kind of fish
like oysters or shrimps. I had no idea
that it was a man's name.

"Of the notable men who moved
away and still live, Dr. Miller was
chief. He lived in a cottage where
your new court house now stands, and
his office was on Broad Street, near
the McEntee house. He had a very
smart cur dog named Cartouch, who
laid in the piazza of the doctor's of-
fice and watched for country dogs as
they came to town behind farmers'
wagons. Forthwith Cartouch would
run to assault him, and would whip
him if he could, and hurry back be-
fore the waggoner could punish him.
If the dog was too big and showed
fight, Cartouch would hasten back to
Dailey's house, which was next door,
and get Dailey's big dog and away
they both would go and jump on the
country dog with irresistible violence.
The doctor enjoyed it immensely, and
declares to this day that dogs have
a language and understand each other.
Cartouch would say to Dailey's dog,
'Come and help me, come quick,
there's a big country dog out here that
I can't manage by myself.'

"But I will now forbear until the
spirit moves me again, for I do not
suppose there are a dozen men living
who will enjoy these memories. This
generation is moving forward, not
backward.

"Yours truly,

"CHAS. H. SMITH."

* * *

A PROLIFIC BUILDER.— A news-
paper squib of 1888 says:

"Jos. B. Patton builds court houses,
but does not patronize them, never
having sued or been sued on any con-
tract."

Court houses he had erected up to
that time included Trousdale County,
Tenn., Benton County, Tenn., Russell
County, Ky., Chattanooga, Tenn., Cen-
ter, Cherokee County, Ala., Anniston,
Calhoun County, Ala., LaFayette,
Walker County, Ga., Gainesville, Hall
County, Ga. In the same year he built
the buildings near DeSoto park for the
North Georgia & Alabama Exposition.
Prior to that time and afterward he
erected many other public buildings

and residences, notably at Rome. In
1892-3 he built the Floyd County court
house, one of the most substantial
structures anywhere. His work and
materials were of such a high order
that he made little money. He died
comparatively poor, but he has left
buildings which for a century more
will silently sing his praises.

;|: :i: *

"GRANDMA GEORGY'S" "PEN
PRATTLE."— Mrs. Naomi P. Bale
contributed these reminiscences to the
Rome News of Oct. 3, 1921:

One by one they are passing away
to give place to new structures, these
old landmarks of Rome. When the old
Bradbury house on the corner of Broad
Street and Sixth Avenue was built,
I don't know, certainly more than
seventy years ago, such a thing as a
"filling station" was not known in the
wide world.

This old building has stood the
storms of more than three score and
ten years. About forty years ago Col.
Stokes (grandfather of Misses Estelle
and Addie Mitchell) came in possession
of it, put the old house in repair. At
that time the name "Dolly Varden"
was prominent — how it originated I
don't know, but the name was stamp-
ed on dry goods of every bright color.
Col. Stokes had the old house painted
and trimmed in bright colors, and it
was called "The Dolly Varden."

Later, Mr. J. L. Bass came in pos-
session of it and added the "L" that
jutted out toward Sixth Avenue.
Neither Col. Stokes nor Mr. Bass ever
lived in this house. All these years it
has been occupied by tenants. The
passing of this old Bradbury house
brings to mind other localities of homes
now passed into the "yesterdays" of
Rome. Just across Broad Street from
the Bradbury house, where the Audi-
torium now stands, lived Dr. King (I
think his name was Joshua), a den-
tist and medical practitioner combined.

The Carnegie Library occupies the
old home place of Mrs. Fannie Moore,
maternal grandmother of Miss Battle
Shropshire.

The west corner of Broad Street
and Seventh Avenue, where a "filling
station" has been recently built, was
once the home of a Mrs. Mitchell. I
think she was a dressmaker.

Northwest corner of Seventh Avenue
and Broad Street, part of the R. S.
Norton lot, once stood a large furni-
ture factory operated by Mr. Sumter.
Mr. Sumter made everything from a

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

267

pin-tray to a coffin. He was also an
undertaker. Made the coffin and
buried the people. Coming back down
Broad Street where there is another
"filling' station" southwest corner Sixth
Avenue and Broad Street, stood the
home of Mrs. Pierson; later, Col. W.
S. Cothran, also Dr. J. B. Underwood
and until a few years ago occupied by
Mrs. Isham J. Wood. Mr. Waring
Best's garage is where Col. Thomas
Alexander lived right after the Civil
war. On the enclosed lot adjoining the
Best garage stood the old McEntee
House — the first hotel in Rome. Sev-
eral years ago this old building was
sold to Dr. Robert Battey, who con-
verted it into a hospital and it was
known as the Martha Battey Hospital.
I think the property is now owned by
the Kuttner Realty Company. The
old Buena Vista is yet fresh in our
minds. This at one time was the lead-
ing hotel in Rome, with Mrs. Choice
proprietress. The Curtis Undertaking
Company (colored) occupies the oldest
brick building in Rome. I have been
told that the oldest wooden house in
Rome is the corner of Fifth Avenue
and East Second Street, now occupied
by Mr. Ward. Probably Misses Om-
berg on West First Street are the only
residents who occupy their ancestral
home of ante-bellum days. The Spul-
lock home on Broad Street, now occu-
pied by Dr. Shamblin, was built about
18.57. Judge D. M. Hood's home, ad-
joining the Spullocks, has been moved
nearer Broad Street, the lot divided
and a bungalow built. Col. A. T. Har-
din also lived here.

Judge J. W. H. Underwood's old
home has passed into stranger hands
— the house raised, and the homes of
Dr. McKoy and Mr. J. M. Lay have
been built.

Where Joe Jenkins and Mr. McKew
now live was Judge Underwood's gar-
den. Mr. Max Meyerhardt lives on
the Quinn lot. The Quinn property
was divided into building lots after Mr.
Quinn's death and sold. Linton Van-
diver, Mr. Keith and Mr. Berry have
homes on what was once the Quinn
garden. The large brick house now
occupied by R. L. Morris was built by
Mr. Crutchfield and given to his
daughter, Mrs. J. H. Lumpkin, as a
bridal present in the early forties. The
homes of Mr. A. S. Burney and Mr.
Fuller occupy the site of the Chero-
kee Female Institute, built and man-
aged by Col. Simpson Fouche. Later
this building passed into the posses-
sion of the Presbyterian church, and
was known as the Rome Female Col-

lege with Rev. and Mrs. J. M. M.
Caldwell as president and dean. After
the suspension of the college. Dr. J.
B. S. Holmes converted it into a san-
itarium. The building was burned and
the property divided into lots and sold
for residences.

The First Baptist church, organized
in 1835, yet stands on the corner of
Eighth Avenue and West Fifth Street
and is now an apartment house owned
by Mrs. Griffin. My own home, 601
East First Street, was the cradle of
the first newspaper published in Rome
— Samuel Jack, editor and printer. It
was called the Rome Enterprise. This
item was given me by Miss Amanda
Jack, a daughter of Mr. Samuel Jack.
My home was also the Methodist par-
sonage before the Civil War. In 1906
the old house went down in ashes and
I had it rebuilt on practically the
same foundation. My husband pur-
chased it from the estate of Mr. Mc-
Guire about thirty years ago. Thei-e
are yet many old homes in Rome of
historical interest. Col. Alfred Shorter,
Daniel R. Mitchell, C. M. Penning-
ton, Major Ayer and other prominent
men did much in laying the foun-
dation on which Rome now stands.
Some of the statements herein given
were told me by my father, Wesley
Shropshire, Sr., and my uncle, Mon-
roe Shropshire, both of whom came to
Rome in 1835. Other items are from
my own observations, for I have been
in touch with this city for 71 years.

"GRANDMA GEORGY" RECALLS
STAR BOARDERS. — "Thank you
very much, Judge Branham, for a
copy of 'Sketches and Reminiscences
of the Rome Bar,' compiled by your-
self. After reading it with the aid of
a reading-glass a reminiscent mood
laid a canny hand on me and I began
to count the faces of some of these
lawyers who sat at my table three
times a day when I kept boarders on
Fifth Avenue where the courthouse
now stands. Col. W. H. Dabney was
an inmate in my home for several
years. He was a quiet, unassuming,
pleasant gentleman. When court was
in session he ate sparingly — sometimes
only a bit of bread and a glass of
milk. He often asked me where to
find certain passages of Scripture,
saying he had need for them.

"Capt. C. N. Featherston and Cols.
E. N. Broyles and Dan'l. R. Mitchell
were regular table boarders. Judge A.
R. Wright a dinner guest when court
was in session. All of these gentle-

268

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

269

men were very courteous to me and
my housekeeper, Miss McCauley. Thir-
ty-two young men sat at my table reg-
ularly — business men and clerks. All
have passed the Great Divide and 'left
me counting on this spot the faces that
are gone.'

"In my young days I was often a
guest in the house of Judge Wright.
He was fond of music, and would lie
on a sofa while I would play and sing
for him. Sometimes tears would creep
through his closed lids, especially when
I sang 'Bonnie Doon' — sometimes he
walked to and fro in the parlor and
called for his favorite songs.

"The curtain of years now veils my
eyes, and the drum beats of time
have sadly dulled my hearing, but
memory lingers and I see again many
beautiful pictures, and many sad
scenes that have come into my stren-
uous life of three score and eighteen
years.

"God is my Father and He leads me
on daily nearer to the City that hath
foundation.

"Very truly,
"NAOMI P. BALE."

—Tribune-Herald, June 22, 1921.

LOVE FOR OLD SLAVES.— The
tender bond of sentiment existing be-
tween master and slave in the ante-bel-
lum days is an old story, and it has
plenty of verification in fact. While
it is quite true that there were oc-
casional instances of cruelty and op-
pression, as a rule master and mistress
treated the slaves with great consider-
ation. Few people would want slav-
ery re-established, yet it is interesting
to take note of instances in which
slaves were treated almost like mem-
bers of the family by the "white folks."

When the war came, many slaves
begged to accompany their masters as
bodyguards, and were allowed to go.
These faithful souls will never be for-
gotten by the people of the South.

H. W. Johnstone, of Curryville, Gor-
don County, relates how "Aunt Mam-
my Anne," his family's old slave, died
at Rome in 1855, and was buried be-
side the Johnstone family vault in
North Rome.

Philip Harper, a 10-year-old boy,
was sold Aug. 3, 1854, with three other
darkies from John Ilarkins to Alex-
ander Thornton Harper, of Cave
Spring, for $2,275 cash. Quite an
attachment grew up betwoen master
and slave, which found its highest ex-
pression when Mr. Harper was forced

to sell Philip in 1803 at the court
house in Atlanta. The master attend-
ed the sale and promised to buy him
back at the first opportunity. Both
wept as the auctioneer sold the boy,
then 19.

In 1908, when Philip Harper was
G4 years old, he wrote Mrs. Harper
from Marietta as follows:

"Dear Madame: This missive leaves
me as well as I will ever be again in
this life. I fear I would have been
up there before now, but my old wom-
an keeps so very poorly until I fear
to leave her. How are you and all
the children? Well, I hope. My dear-
est associaton as a boy began in and
around old Cave Spring. It has been
so long since I have been there that
I believe I would not know the place,
but if the good Lord will spare me a
few days longer, I will in real life
review my old, old home once more in
this life. All the people that I once
knew are gone, gone; and I have only
a few days — then I shall join them in
Heaven. I have thought a thousand
times about the last meeting Mr.
Alexander and myself had was in At-
lanta in 1863 at the court house after
the sale was made. Then it was I
did my best at crying. He cried, too,
but he promise to buy me back.

"I know you will excuse the bold-
ness I take in writing you. When I
got sick, you was my doctor; cared
for me in sickness. You remember
how you cared for me when I got my
finger broke?

"WM. PHILIP HARPER."

Mrs. Harper immediately sent the
old darkey enough money to come to
Cave Spring, which he did, and both
of them cried as they reviewed the
days that will return no more. As a
member of the Harper family express-
ed it, Philip's appearance was like the
return of a long-lost son.
* * *

WES' ROUNSAVILLE'S BOY-
HOOD.— The following extracts are
from the autobiography of Jno. Wesley
Rounsaville, who died at Rome Oct. 4,
1910:

"When my father, David Rounsa-
ville, died, I was in my eleventh year;
Sister Josephine was six. Brother
'Dolph' five; these, with our mother,
constituted the family. The question
that faced us was how we were to
get a support. Father had been sick
a long time and the small amount of
money he had accumulated with a view
of entering the mercantile business

270

A History of Rome and Floyd County

again was soon spent and we were
practically without means. Fortunate-
ly, we had a home at Sixth Avenue
and East First Street, and this was
a great help because we didn't have
to pay rent.

"My first work was with ^r Mr. Bay-
less, who kept a confectionery store in
part of the old Exchange Hotel. I
think my salary was $5 per month.
Father left us a team which we hired
out and from which we collected the
hire every night, and this with my
pay was our only means of support.
Our mother was a very industrious
and economical manager.

"About this time a small affair
probably changed the current of my
life. Mr. Bayless told me one hot
day to sweep out the store. I did
so to my own satisfaction, but not to
his; therefore, he ordered me to sweep
it again. I demurred and he jjunch-
ed me with the brushing part o^. the
broom. I deliberately walked into the
street and procured a good-sized rock
and went into the store and threw it
at him with all my might. He ran
out the back door and I got my little
red calico coat and left, and never
went back again.

"Mr. Bayless was a northern man.
He continued to do a prosperous bus-
iness, and finally went into groceries
and wholesale liquors. He kept large
quantities of liquor in barrels and cof-
fee in sacks, and had them piled up
in tiers against the walls of his store.
One morning it was announced in the
Rome Southerner that Mr. Bayless had
sold his large business to Gen. Geo.
S. Black and associates. It seems Mr.
Bayless bantered Gen. Black into a
trade, and sold on an inventory just
taken by himself. A check for the
money was given by Gen. Black (most
likely on the Bank of the Empire
State), and Mr. Bayless left imme-
diately for the east. A few days later
Gen. Black showed a customer a sam-
ple of the fine whiskey, but the whis-
key turned out to be water, and the
bags of coffee were in reality corn or
peas put up so as to deceive. The
whole stock was that way, more or
less. Gen. Black made a strong ef-
fort to locate Mr. Bayless, but did not
succeed.

"About 44 years after this happen-
ed, I was in New Yoi'k and getting
ready to come home. I stepped into a
railroad ticket booth in the hotel and
saw a handsome, white-haired gentle-
man standing behind the desk. I ask-
ed the man what was the price of tick-
ets to the South, and he asked me

where I wanted to go. I told him
Rome, Ga., and he inquired if I lived
there. I replied in the affirmative,
and he said, 'Do you know Col. Printup
in Rome?'

" 'I did know him, but he is dead,'
I replied.

"I inquired as to where he had
known Col. Printup and he said in
Rome, more than 40 years before. He
stated in answer to my query that his
name was Bayless, adding that he had
just returned from Australia, where he
had gone from Rome, and had never
returned in the meantime to this coun-
try.

" 'Mr. Bayless, do you remember
Gen. Black?' I asked. He hesitated
a moment, looked me straight in the
eyes, and then dropped his head. I
said, 'I know you well. I clerked for
you when you first came to Rome and
opened your confectionery.' 'No,' he
answered, 'you are mistaken; I was in
the cotton business.'

"I informed him that I was not
leaving New York until the next day
and would call back to see him. I
called several times, but he was not
there.

"After leaving the confectionery
shop, I went to work for Mr. O. A.
Myers, a most excellent gentleman and
editor and proprietor of the Rome
Southerner. He took me in his office
at $5 a month and my clothing. How
well do I remember the first thing he
gave me — a pair of fine gray cash-
mere trousers. I thought they were
the prettiest things I had ever seen
and it seemed they never wore out.
Mr. Myers appreciated my efforts so
much in my thirteenth year that he
sent me out to travel for the paper.
I remember one night at Cave Spring,
where I spent the day collecting sub-
scriptions until I had a considerable
sum of money. I was afraid to go to
the hotel, lest I might be robbed or
miss the stage coach, which was due
to leave for Rome at midnight, so after
dark I slipped into the coach, croucher?
in a corner and waited until the driver
climbed onto his box and made off.

"Once I went to Summerville, and
saw two men arguing politics in the
town square. Buchanan was running
for president. One man seemed to
have the advantage of the other, and
I championed the weaker side, asking
the other man a question he couldn't
answer. The crowd whooped and yell-
ed, and the man turned on me and
said, 'Look here, my little fellow, you

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

271

ought to be at home with your
mammy!' That year I made $450.

"Mother soon decided that I must go
to school on what Little Dolph and I
had made, so I went two terms to
Prof. Peter M. Sheibley, one of the
finest teachers Rome ever had. In
1858 we removed to the farm of Uncle
Jimmie Meredith in Broomtown Val-
ley, Cherokee County, Ala., and farm-
ed there until the war broke out. The
people were very kind to us, although
the young farmers laughed at us be-
cause we plowed in gloves and large
straw hats, and could not lay off
straight rows. I often amused a crowd
telling them of schemes I had to make
farming easier, like boring a hole in
the end of the plow foot, and putting
up an umbrella to plow under.

"I also said a man ought to be able
to ride while he plowed, and I per-
fected a three-foot plow that would
list land with two furrows, and save
the labor of two men and one horse.
For irons I used hickory withes and
attached them to the front wheels of
a tv/o-horse wagon and pulled the con-
traption with two oxen, Mike and
Bright. I demonstrated that this plow
would work, but lack of means and
the taunt from the Alabama farmers
that it was a lazy, mean method,
caused me to give it up. Years later
I saw men patent this idea and de-
velop it into some of our labor-sav-
ing plows of today, and I have always
thought my plow deserved the priority.

"Our life in the country was not
only a pleasant and happy one, but
I verily believe it paved the way
for our future success in business.
It taught us to work and brought us
a knowledge of the people from whom
in after years we received our great-
est help in building and maintaining
our wholesale grocery and cotton bus-
iness.

"We learned nature and the sea-
sons and the peculiarities of agricul-
tural products of the section. We
were taught the value of money, how
hard it was to make, and at the char-
acter-forming time, instead of carous-
ing en the streets of a city until mid-
night, we went to sleep soon after
supper and slept the sleep of the in-
nocent and the just. In later years
we opened our store at daylight and
closed it at midniglit."

COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCA-
TION.— The following letter was sent
recently by a Floyd County man to his
son at college : "I write to send you

two pairs of old breeches, that you
may have a new coat made of them;
also some new socks, which your
mother has just knit by cutting down
some of mine. Your mother sends you
$10 without my knowledge, and for
fear you might not spend it wisely, I
have kept back half, and send you only
five. We are all well, except that
your sister has got the measles, which
may spread among the other girls. I
hope you will do honor to my teach-
ings. If you do not, you are an ass,
and your mother and myself are your
affectionate parents." — Rome Tri-
Weekly Courier, Jan. 21, 1860.

ROBT. BATTEY'S TROUBLES
AT SCHOOL.— At 11 years of age
and under date of May 12, 1839, Robert
Battey wrote as follows to his mother
in Augusta from Phillips-Andover
Academy, Andover, Mass. His brother
George, 13, was there with him at the
time :

"My dear Mother: We received a
bundle from you not long since con-
taining a letter, 4 dollars, some cot-
ton seed, a pocket handkerchief, 2
flags, 2 knives, 2 books, the violet and
Juvenile Forget-me-not which I
thought was very good and interest-
ing. Brother goes to writing school
to Mr. Badger and is improving very
fast. As soon as he has done his
coarse of lessons he will write you a
letter so that you can see how much
he has improved. Chas. Hall is here
at present. We have got a new boarder,
his name is Daniel E. Safford. Brother
has five rabbits and one of them has
or is a going to have some young ones.
I have been reading Rolo Learning to
Read and Rolo's Vacasion. I like them
very much indeed. Last Tuesday we
had a company of 100 Latin and Eng-
lish students. They marched up and
down town and then they had a re-
ces of about 15 minutes. They had
water and molasses and water. After
that they marched around again;
their dress was simply their Sunday
best clothes, a cane and a role of paste-
board with a blue ribbon tied around
it. I have found a very great fait
in brother, that is, tolling tilings
arround town that I never told him.
and when he gets caught in telling
a lie he says that I told him some-
thing like it". His object in doing this
is to make folks think better of him
and worse of me. Sometimes he is
kind and affectionate. I believe you
wrote me to tell Mrs. Green when he
imposes uppon me, but I do not like
to tell her but I do not do anything to

272

A History of Rome and Floyd County

him but stand and bare it. The other
day I went down to Mr. Abbott's and
bought some sugar to put in some
chocolate as I and D. E. Safford used
to go over in a field and build up a
fire in an old tea kettle for a stove
and had an old coffee pot which we
found out there which we made our
chocolate in. However one day I had
the sugar in my pocket and Mrs. Green
took it out and said it was hers. I
told her it was not for I bought it
down to Mr. Abbott's and if she was
a mind to she might ask him but after
that she got pretty cool about it. I
have got a book called My Brother's
Letters which I think is a very good
book. Give my love to father, Aunt
Mary Anna and all other inquiring
friends and my best love for your-
self. I hope you will write me soon.
"Your affectionate son,

"ROBERT."

Shortly after the death of his father,
Cephas Battey, from yellow fever,
Robert wrote his mother from Ando-
ver (under date of Dec. 8, 1839) :

"My dear Mother: I received a let-
ter from Aunt Susan last Thursday
morning. Wednesday before last there
was a great fire up town. Wednes-
day before last the book bindery burnt
it belonged to Mr. Wm. Waters there
has been a subscription for him.
Thanks be unto the Lord it was not
our house for I was sick. I had eaten
something that did not agree with me.
Mr. Green had his hog killed last Wed-
nesday. Some body set fire to our
chicken house la-.3t Thursday. George
lost 7 rabbits. My little pigeon is do-
ing very well. Daniel came last Fri-
day. Mrs. Green's flowers are doing
very well. Tell me is cousin Miller
alive. Tell aunt creasy I am well.
Mrs. Blanchard, Rhoda & I all send
their love.

"Your son,

"ROBERT."

George added a postscript, saying:
"You will see by Robby's letter that
we have had a fire. I have been play-
ing chess with Robby and he can play
pretty well for the time he has been
learning."

FRANK L. STANTON'S SANC-
TUM.— The casual visitor to Frank
L Stanton's sanctum in the Atlanta
Constitution building is deeply and
lastingly impressed with the physical
aspects of the place; a roll-top desk
over in a corner; a swivel chair for
the poet which he seldoms "swivels;"

a cane-bottom chair for a friend; on
the dark, smoky, spider-webbed walls
a Lewis Gregg pen sketch of Joel
Chandler Harris ("Uncle Remus")
and cartoons by Opper and Fox past-
ed up without frames; a sea of old
newspaper exchanges, the accumula-
tion of months, stacked so high on
both sides of the desk as to obscure
the pigeon holes, which are crammed
with letters, papers and poems; the
top of the desk burdened with daily '
and weekly journals from all over the
country, and surmounting them a tan-
gled heap of spider nests and ancient
dust; on the floor a discarded shower
of his literary sheaves; a single elec-
trip drop globe and a clouded window
to admit a little more light; a rat's
nest in nearly every drawer of the
desk.

Stanton is always absorbed in plots
for poems and paragraphs; he moves
solitarily between office and home;
year in and year out he grinds his
daily grist, a column known as "Just
From Georgia," and his political
quips and a serious editorial daily; he
is one of the most prolific writers in
the United States; he is friendly and
reminiscent, but he seldom invites any-
body to his den, and when they come
they do not consume much of his time.
His office is in a rather remote part
of the building; not so remote as it is
"unsuspected" and undiscovered, for
the human stream that flows out of
the elevator and the stairway does not
pass his door.

In a sense, Stanton is comparable
to Sir Walter Scott, who used to
throw his manuscript over his shoul-
der, to be picked up later by some-
body and put into print. He exudes
so much poetry that it sometimes gets
out of his reach in the junk that sur-
rounds him, and does not appear for
days, weeks or months afterward. In
a sense, he is comparable to Horace
Greeley, who wrote such a miserable
hand that but one compositor on the
New York Tribune could read it.
Stanton can write plainly and pleas-
ingly when he takes the time. How-
ever, he usually leaves much to the
imagination, and unless the printer
reads it who is accustomed to his style,
there is trouble in the plant.

A story is told of Stanton which
will illustrate his accustomed environ-
ment:

John Temple Graves, editor of the
Tribune of Rome, had hired a new of-
fice boy, to whom these instructions
were given:

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

1273

274

A History of Rome and Floyd County

"One of your duties, son, will be to
carry the copy to the composing room.
Whenever I write anything, you come
in here and get it, and whenever Mr.
Stanton writes anything, go in there
and take it back. I think Mr. Stan-
ton has some now."

The boy returned in a minute to Col.
Graves' desk and said:

"I couldn't make him answer."

"What's that?"

"He just kept on working when I
asked him if he had wrote anything."

"Oh!" exclaimed Col. Graves with a
twinkle in his eye. "Let's see."

They went to the doorway and peek-
ed in. There sat Stanton with his
elbows aspread, his head low and his
right hand fighting furiously with a
pencil. He had dug so deeply into a
mountain of papers that no part of
him was discernible below his should-
ers. He would make a great effort
and out would come a sheet of long
hand, suggestive of a doodle-bug play-
ing in a sand hill or a mole starting
a direct route to China.

"I forgot to tell you the way you
should approach Mr. Stanton. The boy
that had your job understood it. You
notice the rope on the hook here at

FRANK LEBBY STANTON. Georgia's lyric
poet, who served as night editor of The
Tribune of Rome under Jno. Temple Graves.

the door is attached to the chandelier
in the middle of the room. The easiest
and quietest way to get in there is to
grab the rope and swing from the
door to the table beside his desk,
where you will be able to get the copy.
Then you swing back. The idea is not
to disturb his muse. Let's see how
well you can do it.'

"Colonel Graves, I ain't lost nothin'
in there."

"Why, what's the matter?"
"A man from Mt. Alto just come
out, sayin' he wanted a write-up, but
saw Mr. Stanton was busy, so just
left his box on the table and said he
v/ould be back. No, sir, I ain't goin'
in there!"

"What sort of write-up did he
want?"

"He said he had broke the record at
Mt. Alto for ketchin' the biggest rat-
tlesnake!"

Mr. Stanton was the owner of a
small dog which had the distinction
of having been named after a famous
expression. Sam Jones used to come
to Rome and exclaim at his great
meetings, "My, my, man — can not you
see the error of your ways?" So the
dog was named "My-my."

"My-my" was a product of the flood
of 1886. He has been born in the
Fourth Ward in February of that
year; when the high water came, he
swam into Rome proper for the first
time, and anchored on Broad Street.
It was cold and the puppy took refuge
in a hallway, where he was found and
adopted by Col. Graves, who carried
him home to 402 First Avenue. Here
the little dog forgot his late experi-
ences, and his humility at the same
time. He bit Dr. Henry Battey sav-
agely on the ankle, so that ever after
the "doctor bowed himself out of the
house backwards.

The dog soon became a pet at The
Tribune office, and since Stanton fed
him and kept him as a "paperweight"
on his desk, he soon forsook his orig-
inal benefactor. Presently Col. Graves'
first wife died and they buried her
over on Myrtle Hill. Bishop Warren
A. Candler came to Rome, called on
Col. Graves and proposed that they go
to the cemetery for a silent word of
prayer. As they approached the tomb,
they saw Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, ac-
companied by "My-my."

"Even my dog seems to have de-
serted me!" exclaimed Col. Graves dis-
consolately. "My-my, you must choose
this day whom you will serve." So

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

275

saying, Col. Graves walked off, and
Bishop Candler followed. "My-my"
hesitated a moment, swallowed hard,
smacked his lips meekly and tucking
his tail between his legs, followed the
Stantons. Col. Graves declared philo-
sophically, "Thus it is with all earthly
friends!"

Stanton soon moved to Atlanta at
the instance of Wm. A. Hemphill and
brought "My-my" along, and the dog
became a prime favorite around his
sanctum. When "My-my" died at the
age when all good dogs are supposed
to die, The Constitution printed his
picture and recorded that many of his
friends among the children followed
him sorrowfully to a decent burial
place, and concluded: "My-my was in
many respects a remarkable dog, but
particularly so because he was the
only canine we ever heard of who was
knock-kneed in front and bow-legged
in the rear."

FRANK L. STANTON TO HIS
MOTHER.*— The beloved Georgia
poet once penned this beautiful son-
net:

Thou shalt have grave where glory is
forgot,
Thy star all luminous in the world's
last night,
Thy children's arms shall be thy neck-
lace bright.
And all love's roses clamber to thy
cot;
And if a storm one steadfast star shall
blot
From thy clear Heaven, God's an-
gels shall re-light
The lamps for thee and make the dark-
ness write —
The lilies of His love shall be thy
lot!
He shall give all His angels charge
of thee,
Thy coming and thy going shall be
known,
Their steps shall shine before thee
radiantly.
Lest thou shouldst dasli thy foot
against a stone;
The cross still stands; who will that
love condemn
Whose mother lips kissed Christ at
Bethlehem?

FROM A SHERMAN SCOUT.—
Thos. D. Collins, of Middletown, N. Y.,
courier, guide and scout of the 20th

*From The Mothers of Some Fa'inous Geor-
gians.

**SiKnal sent by Gen. Wm. Vandever, who
for a time occupied the post at Rome.

corps, Army of the Cumberland (U.
S.), writes:

"I was at Rome on the night of Oct.
3, 1864, having been sent with orders
to Brig. Gen. Jno. M. Corse to move
his conimand at once to Allatoona Pass
and reinforce the post there, where
Sherman had stored 1,000,000 rations.
We reached Allatoona on the after-
noon of the 4th; John B. Hood, in com-
mand of the Rebel forces, had got in
our rear, and on the morning of the
5th, Gen. S. G. French, in command
of a division of Rebels, sent us by flag
of truce information that if we would
surrender, we would be treated well,
but if he was forced to attack, every
one of us would be massacred. To this.
Corse replied after consulting the
small force at hand, 'Come and take
us if you can!'

"On they came, and I assure you
French paid dearly for his assault,
and tov/ard night he began withdraw-
ing his forces, or what was left of
them. During the battle, a signal was
seen flying from the top of Kennesaw
Mountain,** telling us to hold out,
that help was coming to us. Corse
answered, 'I am minus a cheek bone
and part of an ear, but am able to
whip all hell yet!' Corse had been
hit late in the afternoon by a rifle ball
and knocked senseless. We thought
him killed, but he soon rallied. We
suffered severely for the number en-
gaged. My horse was killed in the
fracas. The gun I used that terrible
day of slaughter stands this moment in
my bedroom, and money couldn't buy
it. It is an 8-shot Spencer repeating
rifle.

"French's troops were heroes, every
one. They were in the open and we
were behind strong breastworks. They
had no chance to dislodge us. French
had cut our wires. Americans against
Americans, and I am glad to hope that
North and South are now one united
country."

THE BARTOWS IN FLOYD
COUNTY.— Comparatively few people
know that the Bartow family, of Sa-
vannah, once maintained (luite an es-
tablishment at Gave Spring. It is
likely that they removed to Floyd
County prior to 1850, and that they
lived "there part of the time for five
years or more. Mrs. Bartow moved
back to Cave Spring after the death of
her husband and her .son. The head of
the house was Dr. Theodosius Bartow,
who was born at Savannah Nov. 2,

276

A History of Rome and Floyd County

1792, and married Frances Lloyd Feb.
26, 1812.

Says The Mothers of Some Famous
Georgians:

"After Francis S. Bartow's sad end,
Mrs. Bartow returned to her home in
Floyd, now endeared to her by many
sacred memories, which threw a halo
around her pathway, for it lay in
shadows the rest of her days since the
lip:ht of her life, her counsellor and
friend, would no more ro in and out
with words of peace. Her GOth birth-
day was Nov. 1, 1852, and her son
wrote :

" 'I now take advantage of the clos-
ino- hours of this day which completes
your GOth year. It has been one of
those bland, bright days, more like
spring than autumn, neither warm nor
cold, and I have thought of the green
hills of Floyd and wished myself there,
that I might walk with you through
the quaint garden and see the sun, as
he sets behind the mountains, light up
the sky with golden radiance. How
beautiful does nature present to the
mind the evening of a well-spent life;
how few are the dark hours between
the mellow twilight, so full of peace
and rest and the glorious reappear-
ance of the rosy beams of morning.

" 'For you I cannot wish those many
years on earth which is the customary
greeting. I know enough of life's
meridian, of its fleeting joy and con-
stant cates to feel that the happiest
home is where the soul is freed. But
for me my prayer would be that you
who first held me up to the light of
day should close my eyes. A selfish
prayer, at least, that I may so live
that, like you, some golden light may
ba reflected in my evening days!

"'God's will be done! May He guide
you and me and all of us! My heart
is with you always!'"

For quite a while Mrs. Bartow's
daughter, Theodosia (Mrs. Edward E.
Ford) , was the principal of a girls'
school at Cave Spring. This place be-
came known as "Woodstock," and it
was conducted by Mrs. Ford before and
after the war; it was once owned by
the Nobles, of Rome. The Bartows
were the principal donors of the Epis-
copal church at Cave Spring, and sev-
eral of the old-time residents remem-
ber them with deep affection. Mrs.
Bartow died at about 80 years of age.
She was a kindly and true Southern
gentlewoman, typical of a race that is
no more.

GEN. NEAL DOW PRISONER OF
A ROMAN. — It is not commonly known
that Neal Dow, once Mayor of Port-
land, Me., and a general in command
of colored soldiers durinp- the Civil
War, was taken to Libby Prison, Rich-
mond, Va., probably in 1863, by Leon-
idas Timoleon ("Coon") Mitchell,
brother of Mrs. Hiram Hill, of Rome.
"Little Neal" Dow, as he was known,
had carried his negro troops against
the Confederate works at Port Hudson,
Mississippi River, La., May 28, 1863,
had lost 500 in killed and wounded
from his brigade, and himself had
been wounded twice. Subsequently he
was captured and put in prison at
Mobile. Feeling was so intense against
him there on account of the fact that
he had led colored troopers that it was
deemed best to remove him north. A
Roman, "Coon" Mitchell, member of
the Rome Light Guards of the Eighth
Georgia Infantry, was selected to take
him.

The route, for sake of safety, was
through New Orleans. Gen Dow, dress-
ed as a private, was taken there, and
lodged over night at a hotel. Some-
how the secret got abroad and a crowd
of angry people gathered at the hotel,
demanding the body of the prisoner.
The proprietor sent word to the
room of captive and escort to flee.
Mitchell had been guarding his charge
and had had little sleep; had not re-
moved his clothing; but in spite of his
fatigue he smuggled Gen. Dow out of
a rear passageway and caught a train
at a way station and landed him at
Richmond. Gen. Dow was later ex-
changed for Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, neph-
ew of Robt. E. Lee.

Gen. Dow got his commission as
brigadier from President Lincoln and
was regarded as a capital prize by
the Confederate hosts. He was a great
temperance leader and as prohibition
candidate for president in 1880 he re-
ceived 10,000 popular votes. He died
at Portland Oct. 2, 1897, at the ripe
old age of 93.

"Coon" Mitchell himself, it will be
remembered, was imprisoned shortly
after the war by Capt. Chas. A. de la
Mesa for his participation in a Con-
federate uniform in the tableau "The
Officer's Funeral" at Rome. Capt. de la
Mesa was in charge of the Freedmen's
Bureau at that time, and objected to
the presentation of the tableau as an
insult to the United States flag.

Mitchell was born in March, 1839,
hence was 24 when he took "Little
Neal" in tow. He died a good many

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

277

years ago and was buried in the Sol-
diers' Section of Oakland Cemetery,
Atlanta.

* * *

"GINRUL" VANDEVER AND
"THE WIDOW LUMPKIN."— When
Maj. William Vandever, of Sherman's
Army, took charge of Rome in 1864,
one of the early callers at his head-
quarters (whether by official invita-
tion or otherwise it is not known)
was the handsome widow of Judge
John H. Lumpkin, congressman, who
had died four years before. A state-
ly ex-congressman from Iowa and
a splendid gentleman. General Van-
dever had been cited for bravery
on many a battlefield, but he was
a married man and there was undoubt-
edly no justification for the gossip
which wagging tongues soon spread
concerning his "affair" with Mrs.
Lumpkin, who, by the way, had been
Miss Mary Jane Crutchfield, daughter
of Col. Thos. Crutchfield, of Chatta-
nooga. Mrs. Lumpkin lived on Eighth
Avenue in Rome's finest home, five
blocks from the General's headquar-
ters.

However, the tongues did wag, and
on numerous occasions connected the
names of the two in a way that must
have been embarrassing to both, but
furnished them considerable amuse-
ment at the same time.

Enter a mischievous young Rome
woman determined to protest in her
own way at the Yankee occupation, as
General Vendever's carriage passed
by.

"Ginrul, Ginrul, may I stop you a
moment?"

"Hold up there. Bob; let's see what
the lady wants. What can I do for
you, ma'am?"

"Ginrul, would you be kind enough
to lend me a planner?"

"Madam, I'm sorry, but I've got no
piano."

"Why, Ginrul, I hearn ye had seven
at the Widow Lumpkin's!"

Mrs. Thos. Hawkins, formerly the
beautiful and cultured Miss Pauline
Bryant, whose father was pi'osperous
in a comfortable estate on the Cave
Spring road, got a pass through the
lines and appeared at General Vende-
ver's headciuarters ("Bill Arp's" old
home on Fourth Avenue) and asked
for protection from maraud in o- bands
of soldiers. Her husband was away
with the "Rebels" and she was practi-
cally alone in a great big house.
General Vandever courteously offered

her a guard, to which she replied feel-
ingly:

"Oh, General, I can not express my
gratitude! I can only hope that be-
fore you die you will succeed in win-
ning the heart of the Widow Lump-
kin!"

Mrs. Hawkins went through trials
second to none during the war. After
the evacuation of Rome Capt. Jack
Colquitt maintained a band of bush-
whackers around Rome, Cave Spring
and Cedartown who had formerly been
members of a Texas unit opposing
Sherman's attack on Rome. This band
traveled under the name of Colquitt's
Independent Scouts. A foraging party
of Union soldiers having gone out in
wagons toward the present site of
Lindale the Scouts ambushed it in
front of the Bryant-Hawkins home,
killed several men and stampeded the
horses. In retaliation Gen. Jno. M.
Corse, of Pennsylvania, the Northern
commander, claiming Mrs. Hawkins'
husband and son had led the attack-
ing party, caused the home to be burn-
ed to the ground. It was stated by
neighbors that Mrs. Hawkins had
time to save only the family Bible;
also that a soldier invited her to
rescue the portraits of her ancestors,
to which she replied contemptuously,
"I would not lower myself to accept
such an invitation! I will stand here
and watch it all burn together! The
piano and the funiture and the grand-
father clock are equally sacred to
me!"

Mrs. Hawkins was then arrested
and sent to share the roof and the
scanty wardrobe of sympathetic
friends.

:{: :J: H«

STORY OF THE WHITE PA-
POOSE.— Mrs. Pattie Wright Stone,
of Farill, Ala., contributes the fol-
lowing story of Alexander Thornton
Harper, of Cave Spring, who married
Miss Elizabeth Whatley Sparks, the
girlhood sweetheart of Gen. John B.
Gordon :

"On Mar. 28. 1832, there was born
in Vann's Valley, near the beautiful
Little Cedar Creek, to Thornton Har-
per and his wife, Frances Long Rich-
ardson, a baby boy named Alexander
Thornton. On the night of the third
day of the child's birth there came a
knocking at the door of the Harper log
cabin. At that time the valley swarmed
with Red Men, and well did the in-
mates of the forest home know when-
ever a red knuckle rapped.

"'Oh, dear, dear, it's the Indians,'

278

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Mrs. Harper whispered, and with one
hand she drew her baby nearer her
breast, and with the other gathered
up little Elizabeth, their only other
child.

" 'Don't be alarmed, "Chick," reas-
sured the husband. 'There is no harm
in them.'

"Mr. Harper opened the door and in
filed several Cherokees, the leader of
whom said with a grunt and in gut-
tural tones, 'Indians want to see white
papoose.'

"It was the first white child born
in Floyd County.

"'Give white papoose to Indian; In-
dian hold him in his arms.'

"Mr. Harper, confident of the In-
dian's good intentions, placed his
young son in the Red Man's arms, and
then each Indian insisted on holding
the baby in turn, and on scrutinizing
the little fellow to determine how the
Great Spirit had made him so pale
instead of red. When the baby told
them in his own peculiar way that he
wanted to go back to his mother, the
Indians knew it was not the sound of
the brown papoose. They went away
reverently and were swallowed up in
the gloom of the nearby forests.

THE HOTEL ARMSTRONG in fire of Mar.
8, 1921. Note burning cupola and fireman
at top of ladder.

"Mr. Harper was a pioneer of the
highest type, and his savage neigh-
bors admired his hum^anizing quali-
ties. On one occasion an Indian boy
was sentenced to receive 40 lashes for
horse theft, and he pleaded that Mr.
Harper be allowed to apply the pun-
ishment.

"The valley was full of game and
the Indian boys hunted much on their
fleet footed ponies. Often they would
expend a quiver of arrows at wild
turkeys and come home laden with the
great black birds; they also killed
deer and exchanged the venison for
beads and other things the settlers had
to offer.

"Mr. Harper built the first house of
size in that neighborhood. It was a
two-story affair and was known as
the White House. Practically all the
other establishments were log cabins,
with a room on each end and a pas-
sageway through the middle, or a sin-
gle room without hall. He made his
plantation blossom with slave labor
brought from South Georgia. Pres-
ently there were five white papooses
instead of two, and when Alexander
and Elizabeth had grown up some-
what they used to play with the In-
dian boys and girls. The boys played
a game with thick stones shaped like
wheels. These would be rolled across
an open space and shot at with ar-
rows, and the side which scored the
most hits was declared the winner.

"Once when Alexander and Eliza-
beth were playing with a lot of pearls
and wampum in a bureau drawer at
David Vann's home they heard some-
body ask Mrs. Vann if she were not
afraid the pale-faces would drive the
Indian out. 'No,' she answered scorn-
fully, 'right now I could sound the
war whoop and a thousand braves
would answer from forest and field.'

"Little did she realize how soon the
Indians were to inarch sullenly by
for the west as Alexander and Eliza-
beth hung on the fence and waved
them farewell. We have their val-
leys, rivers and hills and they are gone
to the land of the setting sun; but so
has the little white papoose gone to
the happy hunting ground of Heaven.
On Saturday, Jan. 2, 1905, Alexander
Thornton Harper died at his Cave
Spring home. 'A noble man has gone
to that reward promised the faithful
in Holy Writ. He fought the good
fight, he kept the faith throughout the
allotted years of life and now enjoys
that bliss accorded the righteous who
die in the Lord.' "

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

279

A FAMOUS LEAP-YEAR PARTY.
The Rome News of Dec. 29, 1920, car-
i-ied the following story:

Only two more days of Leap Year, —
two more days and then a lapse of
four long years!

Look before you leap, young ladies
of Rome, but leap while ye may! Next
year, 1921, is not divisible by four to
a nicety, nor is it divisible by twos
or couples if the plaints of the hard
time croakers are to be taken seri-
ously.

'Twas the same in the old days, and
'tis the same now. The love song is
sung in season and out. Fair maids
sing it one year in four and handsome
men the remaining three.

Back in 1860, just before the muffled
drums started beating for the Civil
War, there resided in Rome a young
bachelor by the name of George T.
Stovall, member of one of Georgia's
most prominent families, who in ad-
dition to being a lawyer, wrote ed-
itorials for The Rome Courier.

He was one of the first to fall in
the First Battle of Manassas in 1861.
His senior editor on The Courier was
M. Dwinell, who was also a bachelor,
and who went away with Stovall as
a second lieutenant in the Rome Light
Guards. The Courier having no so-
ciety editor Jan. 27, 1860, a leap-year
party was handled in the editorial col-
umn as follows by Bachelor Dwinell :

"It was our pleasure on last Friday
night to attend a most delightful party
gotten up and entirely managed by the
young ladies of Rome. Everything was
arranged in excellent good taste and
the young ladies played the gallants
most admirably. They showed that
they not only knew how to gracefully
receive the attentions of the sterner
sex but also that they can most charm-
ingly bestow them. It was a sweet
season of joyous hilarity, mirth and
social amusements, — a genuine 'feast
of reason and flow of soul.' There are
many more young ocntlemen than
young ladies in the place, and if the
former did not all get special invita-
tions, we see no reason why they
should be growling about it. The ladies
deserve great credit for the pleasing
exhibition they made of their 'rights'
for the coming year. May they all
live long and happily and each be the
pure center of sacred household joys."

Having read this squib in the proof.
Bachelor Stovall wrote the following:

"Now, we wish to say a word or two
on the subject. All that sounds very

nice and pretty coming from our ed-
itorial senior, and although he insists
we must not, we will say it, senior in
years as well as editorial experience.
He can aff'ord to write that way about
Leap Year parties when he gets a spe-
cial invitation to go and has an escort.
But there are two sides to every ques-
tion and we are on the other side of
this one, for we did not have a 'pecu-
liar institution' in embryo to come and
hand us a sweetly-scented billet doux
written in the most delicate chirog-
raphy, respectfully soliciting the pleas-
ure of our company.

"It is true we did get through the
postoffice a sort of general invitation
or permission or something of the kind
which seemed to say 'If you are not
afraid to come by yourself, you can
come, or you can stay away, just as
you please; if you come you can take
care of yourself, and if you stay away,
nobody will miss you anyhow.'

"We have never done anything we
know of that makes us deserve such
treatment. We have never been caught
disturbing the midnight slumber of
anybody's hen roost or in mistaking
another man's pocket for our own. We
don't recall ever having said that wom-
en were intellectually inferior to Be-
con, or Newton or Bonaparte or J.
Caesar or Pompey or Solomon or Brig-
ham Young or Joe Brown, and we are
satisfied we have never compared them
to a huge fodder stack with a little
piece of ribbon or turkey feather flut-
tering from the top of it. However
much we have thought all this, we
have prudently kept it to ourselves;
but we vow we won't do so any longer!

"On the other hand, ever since we
had heard there was to be a Leap
Year party we had been studiously at-
tentive and polite to every one of the
'Dear (Bah!) creatures.' Whenever
we have met them on the street we
have invariably tipped our hat as
gracefully as we knew how and smiled
a little sweeter than we ever thought
we could before, and ever can again;
and in one or two instances we fol-
lowed them several lilocks hojiing we
might have an opportunity of ])icking
up and returning to its owner a glove
or a handkerchief she may have 'un-
intentionally' dropped.

"And yet, after all this, not one of
them otfercd to escort us to the party;
and we waited as patiently as Job un-
til 9:30 that night. Then hope and
our fire going out about the same
time, we concluded to follow their ex-
ample and stroll up to the city hall,

280

A History of Rome and Floyd County.

A TRULY COSMOPOLITAN ASSEMBLAGE.

In this group are three physicians, a lawyer, a sheriff, a merchant, a mining engineer, a
minister and a college professor. They are, left to right. Dr. Harry. Huzza, Dr. Geo. R. West,
of Chattanooga, and Lyle B. West; Edwin Watters, Rev. R. B. Headden, long pastor of the First
Baptist church; Judge Robt. D. Harvey, Jake C. Moore, Robt. D. Van Dyke, of Atlanta; Prof.
Jos. Lustrat, of Athens, and Dr. Geo. B. Glover, of Monticello, Fla.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

281

only to see how many and who were
there. We very foolishly went in by
way of testing the matter a little fur-
ther, and just as we expected, nobody
came to ask us to promenade or insist
on our singing Jeremiah, or to play
the elephant or any other animal, or
to ask us how we were enjoying the
evening, or even to inform us of the
state of the weather.

"One young lady (bless her sweet
soul) did offer to take our hat, and it
was such an extraordinary act of at-
tention that we would have given it
to her if it had not cost us five dollars
and was the last one we had. We
were satisfied from what we saw that
our senior's rhapsodies are all put on,
for he was a most neglected wall flow-
er. It may be called spite or spleen,
but to us the whole aff"air was a per-
fect humbug.

"We would rather eat sour grapes
any time than attend one for half an
hour. The man that started the idea
of giving up for twelve months the
dearest privileges of his sex to a par-
cel of unappreciative and capricious
women deserved a coat of tar and
feathers, and on Friday night w^e had
the great satisfaction of burning the
wretch in effigy and singing his re-
quiem.

"So far as any advancement of our
own from a state of single blessedness
to one of double wretchedness is con-
cerned, when we record in our journal
the events of 1860 we will simply leave
a blank page.

"We think Patrick Henry could have
made the expression a great deal
stronger if he had said 'Give me Lib-
erty or give me Leap Year!' We only
wish it were 1861; we would see how
far another Leap Year would catch us
in this fix again. As it is we have a
notion to spend the balance of this
one in Utah. There we reckon the
ladies are not so independent. Leap
Year indeed!"

Bachelor Dwinell read the proof on
the above sally by Bachelor Stovall
and tacked on the following:

"Our junior has fully justified the
fable of the Fox and the Grapes. We
pity him; but since he wrote the above
we discover unmistakable signs of
convalescence and assure the ladies
that he will be in his right mind in
a few days."

CARRYING ON.— The following
items from The Rome Weekly Courier,
Vol. 20, New Series No. 1, Thursday,
Aug. 31, 1865, will give further in-

formation on the status of Rome and
Romans directly after the Civil War:

To Former Patron.^. — Greeting: On
the 16th of May, 1864, the last number
of this paper was published. The Fed-
eral forces occupied Rome on the next
day, and since then, up to about the
first of last May, it was not deemed
prudent for such a 'Reb" as we have
been to engage in any permanent busi-
ness in Rome.

Some three months since we returned
to the old office and found it in great
confusion. What a pickle it was in,
to be sure! Stands, tables, cases,
presses, stones and stove pipe, impos-
ing stone, cabinets, racks and every-
thing else all turned topsy-turvy; and
then the whole chawdered up and
beaten to pieces with sledge hammers
and crowbars until the office looked
like the Demons from the Infernal Re-
gions had been holding high carnival
there.

Of course we felt bad. It looked
very much like "Othello's occupation
was gone!" It would do no good to
think hard things and still less to say
wicked words; we at once resolved
that as for us and our house, we would
arise and go back to the old fold again.
Well, the first thing to be done was
to take the Amnesty Oath. Now, about
that we felt a little like the keeper of
a cheap boarding house did about eat-
ing crow, after he had foi'ced down
a little for a wager. He said he could
eat crow, but he "didn't hanker arter
it!" We took the oath and have been
feeling better ever since. It was prob-
ably just the medicine needed. We
would advise every citizen of tho state
to embrace the first opportunity to
take the Oath of Allegiance. It is as
little as could possibly be asked of us
after four years of most determined
and earnest eff'ort to disrupt the Fed-
eral Nation, and besides it is really
our duty to give an honest jiledge that
hereafter we will give a full and cor-
dial support of that government, which
after all our sins against it proposes
now not only to pardon (with a few
exceptions) but also to spread over us
the aegis of its protecting wings.

Having taken the Oath, we went in-
dustriously to work and with tlie as-
sistance of one good printer, by pick-
ing up the debris, assorting the type,
))atching some marhim'ry and buying
a little (with borrowed money), we
are now enabled to come out with the
paper as you see it. It is our deter-
mination to publish a first-rate family
newspaper, giving the subscriber as

282

A History of Rome and Floyd County

much reliable and interesting informa-
tion on Commercial, Political and Mis-
cellaneous subjects as the columns will
contain. All Military and Govern-
ment orders and Proclamations that
pertain to the people of this section
will be published as soon as received.
The paper will be neither partisan nor
sectarian, but we shall do all in our
power to support President Johnson
and the Provisional Governor in their
present policy of restoring the Empire
State of the South to its once proud
position in the great family of States.

Wanted — One Thousand Subscribers
to This Paper — Our rates are low. The
paper will be the best News Paper we
can possibly make it. Terms, $1 for
three months; $2 for six, or $4 for
12 months. We will take in payment
currency or produce, anything we can
eat, drink or wear, at market price;
also clean cotton or linen rags at 2
cents per pound. No name will be
entered on the Subscription Book until
the paper is paid for, and the paper
will be stopped as soon as the time
paid for expires.

Bill Arp. — We are promised a series
of communications from this inimitable
wit and satirist. Probably we may
have one article from him next week.

Important Military Order. — Capt.
Kyes, commandant of this post, re-
ceived a telegraphic dispatch from
Gen. Steedman on the 29th inst. or-
dering that no cotton shall be shipped
from this place after that date until
further orders. It is supposed that this
order is general throughout the cotton
states, and that all cotton will have to
remain where it is for the present —
one object of this order is to prevent
the stealing of cotton that is now car-
ried on to such a shameful extent in
some sections.

Taking the Ooi/i.— While Capt.
Heirs was Provost Marshal, from June
10 to July 26, he administered the Oath
to 342 persons; since August 14 Jesse
Lamberth, ordinary of the county, has
administered it to 770, making the
total number up to noon yesterday
1,112, and still they come.

Schools ill Rome. — Arrangements
are made for a good number of ex-
cellent schools for the children of
Rome and vicinity. Mrs. Dr. Brown
still continues her school at the former
place. Mrs. Reeves has returned and
will reopen her school on Monday next.
See Advertisement. Mrs. Susan Smith
is also about to commence another
school, and Misses Maggie Riley and
Mattie Sawrie each have prosperous

schools now in operation. Mrs. J. W.
M. Berrien also has a fine school, and
Mrs. Jennings, her sister, teaches mu-
sic. Mr. Nevin has a school for boys
that we understand is well patronized
and doing well.

Rolling Mill and Machine Shop. — We
are pleased to learn that H. M. An-
derson & Co. are preparing to rebuild
their rolling mill. Messrs. Noble
Brothers are also arranging to rebuild
their Machine Shops and Foundry, and
we hope ere long to hear the genial
hum of machinery all along Railroad
Street as in times before the war.

Business of Rome. — The business of
this place has increased nearly 100 per
cent a week for the last three months.
We now have twelve dry goods stores,
nearly all keeping more or less hard-
wai-e, crockery and groceries; seven
family grocery stores, two wholesale
and retail grocery stores, two hotels,
three eating saloons, six bar rooms,
two billiard rooms, two livery stables,
etc., and all doing a good business.

"Home Again." — Nearly all the for-
mer citizens of Rome and vicinity have
returned and others intend coming
soon. Among those who are still ab-
sent are Dr. H. V. M. Miller, who is
now in Macon but still claims Rome
as his home and will soon return; A.
M. Sloan, now in Thomasville, but ex-
pects to move back in October; D. R.
Mitchell and Dr. Jas. B. Underwood,
now in Valdosta, intend to return this
fall; Wade S. Cothran, now at Valula,
is expected soon; Jno. R. Freeman, now
at Flat Shoals, Meriwether County, is
due before Christmas; Asahel R. Smith
expects to move here again in a short
time. In fine, nearly every one of the
former residents are certain to return,
and before long Rome will be herself
again.

M^ist Ladies Take the Oath?— "The
orders are very plain on this subject.
The ladies are required to take the
Oath before taking their letters. By
command of Maj. Gen. Steedman, S.
B. Moe, Adjutant." The above is an
extract of an order received by our
Postmaster in reference to ladies re-
receiving letters by mail.

Drouth. — This section is suffering
from drouth to an extent almost un-
precedented. Since July 16 there has
been but one little shower here, and
then only one-fourth of an inch of wa-
ter fell. The consequence is that all
corn is greatly injured, and the late
corn nearly ruined. The garden vege-
tables and potato crop are nearly cut
off.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

283

Coiinty Meeting. — A call has been
published for a meeting at the City
Hall in Rome on Saturday, Sept. 9, to
nominate candidates for the State Con-
vention at Milledgeville. The State
Convention will be entrusted with the
most important and vital interests of
the people, and the very truest and
best men should be sent from every
county.

Neiv Steamboat. — Our friends down
the river and many others elsewhere
will be glad to learn that fine progress
is being made by H M. Anderson &
Co. in constructing a new boat for the
Coosa River. The boat is being built
at McArver's Ferry, and we under-
stand that a portion of the machinery
of the old Alfarata will be used.

Specimen Copies. — We send this
number of The Courier to many of
our old subscribers, in hopes that they
will subscribe again. We can not fur-
nish the paper on a credit.

Garrison. — The military force now
stationed here is Co. C, 29th Indiana
troops, Capt. Kyes commanding.

Hymeneal. — Married on the 20th
inst., by Hon. Augustus R. Wright,
Dr. Miller A. Wright and Miss Sallie
Park, formerly of Columbia. On the
24th inst., by the Rev. Jesse Lamberth,
Mr. John Holland to Mrs. S. A. Stans-
bury; all of this city.
* * *

A WAR-TIME LOTHARIO.— After
having attended the Confederate Vet-
erans' Reunion at Chattanooga, Curtis
Green, of Oglesby, Tex., came to Rome
Saturday, Oct. 29, 1921, to visit his
relatives, Mrs. M. B. Eubanks and Ed
A. Green; then developed a story of
Civil War romance that it is the for-
tune of few in a lifetime to hear or
experience. Miss Sarah (Sallie) Wal-
lace Howard appears as the heroine,
and the meeting between the two, for
the first time in 57 years, is staged
at the home of R. E. Griffin, 101 West
Eighth Avenue, where the circum-
stances are recalled.

In May, 1864, shortly after Rome
was first occupied, Gen. Wm. T. Sher-
man's headquarters for the Union Ar-
my were at "Spring Bank," Bartow
County, home of Capt. (Rev.) Chas.
Wallace Howard, father of Miss Sallie
Howard and of Miss Frances Thomas
Howard, who in 1905 vividly recount-
ed the family's war experience in a
book entitled "In and Out of the
Lines." "Spring Bank" was about
midway between Kingston and "Barns-
ley Gardens," the palatial estate of
the Englishman, Godfrey Barnsley.

The neighborhood was alive with
"Yankees," but the confusion incident
to the chase after Gen. Jos. E. John-
ston's stubbornly retreating columns
gave Curtis Gi*een an opportunity to
come within 100 yards of Gen. Sher-
man's headquarters and to speak with
Miss Sallie, then a slip of a girl at
18. Mr. Green had been detailed as a
spy to obtain information of Gen. Sher-
man's movements, and he had boldly
walked through the lines in a Union
uniform, using a stretch of woodland
to cover the dangerous distance be-
tween his own men and the enemy.

Miss Sallie was incredulous at first,
but when he told her in a decided
Southern accent that he was a mem-
ber of the Sixth Georgia Cavalry un-
der command of Gen. Jos. Wheeler,
she believed his story, and admiringly
declared she was so glad to see a Con-
federate soldier that she desired to
make him a nice present. It was his
privilege to choose what the gift should
be. Quite possibly he exacted a for-
feit expressive of the happiness they
felt at meeting, but history must record
simply the fact that he asked her to
make him a suit of home-spun clothes
— not a military uniform, but a habit
that might serve him better in gath-
ering information for his chief.

"But, little lady, we have only a
minute more to talk," he warned her.
"I must hurry back. If you would do
your honored father and the Confed-
eracy a service, you will meet me at
1 o'clock after midnight tonight in the
clump of pines at the top of yonder
hill. Lucky for our cause if the clouds
obscure the moon!"

Miss Sallie's heart beat warm for
the boys in gray. Her father was bat-
tling to save the home fron^ the in-
vader. Her sisters and her mother
were dyed-in-the-wool Rebels, and with
all the strength at their command they
had resisted the efforts of the foe. It
was a perilous task but she could not
be less brave than Curtis Green, for
what is life without liberty and hon-
or? Her smile told him she would be
there, and he rushed away, as if to
transact some important business at
the front of the Union line.

Miss Sallie took into her confidence
Miss Fannie, who was 19, and undoubt-
edly "Mother" Howard knew, for they
never kept anything from her. At
any rate, the young ladies dressed
themselves in dark waists and dark
skirts. If they were caught they would
probably be "shot, but they might es-
cape by pleading that they had ven-

284

A History of Rome and Floyd County

ROMANS AND "NEAR ROMANS" HERE AND THERE.

Wm. M. Hardin, Judge Harry Johnson, Chas. W. Morris, Richard Venable Mitchell and James
D'Arcy; Miss Elizabeth Lanier and a group of Romans at "Oak Hill", home of Mrs. Thos. Berry;
Col. Hamilton Yancey; George Rounsavillc on parade; Little Miss Jean Landrum; Ernest E.
Lindsey; Hughes Reynolds and W. S. Rowell in a playful argument; Wm. J. Vincent; Little Miss
Patti O'Neill; a Kiwanis Club group helping to dedicate the Municipal bandstand.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

285

tured forth with heavy hearts, unable
to sleep, to search for the body of
kinsman or friend. These heavy hearts
were in their slender, white throats as
they approached the most advantage-
ous point in the line. Sentries stalked
heavily to and fro at intervals while
the snores of the rank and file told
that they were at peace with the world
for the nonce.

By dodging behind an ammunition
wagon here and a friendly tree there
the girls managed to get through, and
how they did fly up the hill! They had
reached the clump of pines before Cur-
tis Green, and they crouched low, and
held their breaths; the pine needles
seemed to spring up around and half
to envelop them. Presently the young
Confederate appeared. He was 24 and
handsome. He greeted them with a
warmth that reflected his admiration of
their courage; pressed them to make
haste; received valuable pointers on
the number of Sherman's men and
their disposition; bade them foi'ewell
with a promise to call presently for
the suit of clothes, and bespoke the
tender care of the Almighty in their
return to the Howard home. The girls,
having found the path one way, trod
it safely again, and spelt soundly until
morning.

In two days the wool for Curtis
Green's suit had been carded and spun.
The outfit was ready, but lo! the hero
v/as gone. Private arrangements with
fair damsels in war are one thing, and
stern army commands are quite an-
other. Curtis Green's unit had been
ordered on a scouting expedition near
State Line, between Floyd County, Ga.,
and Cherokee County. Ala., and here
he had been cut off and captured. After
a considerable stay elsewhere, he was
removed Sept. 23, 1864, to a rough
wooden shack in Rome which stood at
the southwest corner of Sixth Avenue
and West Second Street, about 150
feet north of the Floyd County jail and
200 feet east of the Oostanaula River.
A drum-head courtmartial had found
him guilty of espionage and he had been
sentenced to be shot Oct. 4 at sunrise.

The prison was a rudely-improvised
affair, either with a loose-plank floor-
ing or a flooring of native earth. It
contained a number of other prisoners
whose capture had greatly increased
their docility, and who did not become
actively interested — at least not for
themselves- — in Green's plan to escape.
The prisoners were mustered and
counted every hour during daylight,
so Green was forced to do his digging
quickly.

On the night before his execution
''"'iT^ -v ^ l^^^^*^' ^^ ^^'is singing that
old familiar Confederate air, "The Bon-
nie Blue Flag:"

"We are a band of brothers,

And native to the soil
Fighting for our liberty

With treasure, blood and toil
And when our rights were threatened

Ihe cry rose near and far:
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag

That bears a single star!'
Chorus :
"Hurrah, hurrah, for Southern rights

— hurrah !
Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag
That bears a single star!"

^u'^.^l'^^^'P^^'^^ °^ *h^ ^ai'd remarked
that he would be singing a different
tune at daybreak and asked if he had
any request or statement to make The
fiery "Rebel" lit into the petty officer
with a volley of vituperative abuse of
the Union army and cause. Then he
went about his digging, and by mid-
night or shortly after had scooped out
with hands and an old soup spoon
enough earth to permit of his crawling
to freedom. It is only fair to his com-
P^f'ons to say that they assisted him
with the excavation, and as he was
about to make his getaway, snored
loud enough to prevent the' scraping
of his brass buttons against the silh
of the jail from being heard outside./
A miserable gas lamp at the corner
flickered and sputtered; it shed a dim
glow about the front of the prison and
the sentry box, and cast a comforting
shadow down a gulch that led to the
Oostanaula River. Through this de-
pression the escaped spy ran, tripped
and rolled. He was greatlv handi-
capped because they had handcuffed
him in front, but liberty was sweet,
and when he reached the river he slid
into it and began to swim as best he
could, kicking hard with his feet,
working his hands together in a side-
wise position, and occasionally turning
over on his back and churning the wa-
ter with his feet like the paddle wheel
of a steamboat. His escape was soon
detected, and the firing of muskets let
Gen. Jefferson C. Davis' garri.son know
something unusual had happened.

When Mr. Green came to Cave
Spring at 17 years of age he began
swimming regularly in Big and Little
Cedar Creeks; he possessed a strong
and clever stroke; and he was so fa-
miliar with Rome that instead of
merely crossing the river and landing
at the other side, as his guards be-

286

A History of Rome and Floyd County

lieved he would do, he set out for
Black's Bluff, three miles down the
Coosa, which in this day and time is
considered a fair distance for a swim-
mer to make with hands free. Here and
there he could touch bottom, or he
would snake himself on a half sub-
merged log and admire the stars. Fi-
nally, after several tedious hours, he
reached the bluff, where he knew there
were Confederate scouts or natives,
and with the aid of a bit of soap sup-
plied by a farmwife, slipped off the
manacles from his wrists.

In the meantime. Miss Sallie How-
ard had been wonderng what could
have happened to Curtis Green, and
had been keeping the home-spun suit
beyond any "Yankee" reach. Eventu-
ally her father received a serious
wound and was paroled to Athens, and
Miss Sallie went there to attend him,
charging her good mother that if the
Confederate trooper returned, the suit
should be delivered to him. One day
a dust-covered traveler in a tattered
gray uniform rode up on a limping
horse. He had surrendered with the
Sixth Ga. Inf. in North Carolina and
was on his way to Texas, to grow up
with the "new country." He was very
sorry indeed that pretty Miss Sallie
was absent, but said he with a note
of hope in his voice, it would be some
consolation in view of the eventuali-
ties of 1865 if he could take with him
the substantial garments she had
made with her own hands the year
before. It was Curtis Green.

"God bless you, Mrs. Howard!" he
cried as he mounted his steed and
started for the Etowah ford; "and
may your halls and lawn never again
be defiled Vvith such a motley throng!
I'll keep this suit as long as nature
will spare it; and I'll save these hand-
cuffs to remind me of a pleasant voy-
age around Rome!"

* :>= *

SAM P. JONES AT ROME.— When
Sam Jones was 9 his mother died and
his father married Jessie Skinner; and
in 1859 they went to live at Carters-
ville. The young man was being pre-
pared for college, but he developed a
wild streak, started drinking heavily
and by 21 had practically wrecked his
health. Straightening up for a time,
he studied law and was admitted to
the bar, but never carried his practice
far. His devoted father died in 1878
and San' promised him on his death-
bed to reform. His experiences had
not broken his spirit and he saw in
them an opportunity to benefit his fel-
low men. A week after his father's

death he preached his first sermon at
New Hope church, two miles from Car-
tersville. His first appointment was
to Van Wert circuit, where he served
three years until 1875, when he was
assigned to the DeSoto (Rome) Cir-
cuit as pastor of the Second Methodist
(now Trinity) church and six small
churches through the county, includ-
ing Prospect Methodist at Coosa. He
built his church in the Fourth Ward;
when Trinity Methodist was erected,
the old structure was moved to 402
W. Fifth Avenue, next door to the
Second Christian church, and was con-
verted into a dwelling. It is standing
today. He and his wife occupied the
lower story of 733 Avenue A, south-
west corner of W. Tenth Street, now
the home of Varnell Chambers.

Mr. Jones continued to fight the devil
and also to tamper with the devil's
firewater. He was not sensitive to the
extent of excluding his own shortcom-
ings fror: his pulpit discourses, and
ofteJi told of this harrowing experience
and that, and warned young men to
go the other way. Rome was a wide-
open barroom town, so Mr. Jones found
many human wrecks to shoot at, and
an occasional door that swung open
for himself. On one occasion the
Fourth Ward brethren discovered Mr.
Jones unable to proceed with his du-
ties and they wired Rev. Thos. F.
Pierce, presiding elder of the district,
asking what to do. Dr. Pierce wired,
"Tell him to go to preaching." He
went to preaching and recovered his
mental and physical equilibrium. His
lodge brethren expelled him from
membership, but years later when his
reformation was complete and fame
crowned his brow like a benediction he
accepted reinstatement with the grace
of a prince.

His first revival work was done at
the First Methodist church (where the
Candler Duilding now stands) in At-
lanta, with Rev. Clement A. Evans,
who had previously, in 1879, filled the
pulpit of the First Methodist at Rome,
but it was not until January, 1883, at
Memphis, +,hat his fame began to grow,
as thousands hit the "sawdust trail."
Thereafter he preached all over the
United States and converted countless
sinners. It is estimated that he ad-
dressed 1,000,000 people a year. Every
now and then he would come back to
Rome. The South Broad Methodist
church sponsored his visit in 1897 and
received its share of the proceeds of
the collection. No church in Rome was
large enough to hold the crowd, so the
Howel cotton warehouse was selected.

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

287

Romans will not soon forget his pow-
erful arraignment of Satan and his
works.

"Shams and the Genuine" was his
subject on this occasion.

Several years before this Mr. Jones
had come to Rome to conduct a two
weeks' revival. On the very first night
he painted a glowing picture of the
sins of the community. Judge Jno.
W. Maddox happened to be presiding
officer of the Superior Court at the
time, and when he read of Sam Jones'
castigations on Rome and Floyd Coun-
ty he laid the matter before the grand
jury, with the demand that Mr. Jones
be made to appeal'' and prove his
charges. The evangelist cut his Rome
engagement short. He explained later
that he was dealing in generalities
which he knew to be true, whether he
could prove them or not.

The story is told that one Saturday
Mr. Jones left Rome to fill the pulpit
at Prospect church, Coosa. There was
a narrow gauge railroad known as
the Rome & Jacksonville, which was
"limited" to the Rome-Coosa reglion
and at the latter point "quit." Mr.
Jones drove horse and buggy along
the railroad for several miles, mutter-
ing that if a train could run on such
a track, with the help of the Almighty
HE certainly could, and his mare could
hit the crossties like the devil in the
ten-pin alley of irresolute souls.

Mr. Jones was fond of telling stories
incident to his travels. His favorite
was the following from an old-time
darkey, a compliment he always said
was the highest he had ever received:

"Well, Brudder Jones, you sholy does
preach like a nigger! You may have
a white skin, but I tell you, sir, you
has a big black heart!"

Mr. Jones' churchmen and neigh-
bors at Cartersville were accustomed
to gather yearly to celebrate his birth-
day. They had made elaborate prepa-
rations in 1906 to welcome him home
from a swing through the west. He
died Oct. 15, of that year while his
train sped homeward, a day before
the event, and the rejoicing was turned
into a funeral dirge. The brave heart,
the massive brain had worn themselves
out in the strenuous effort to pilot sin-
ful humanity through the heavenly

gates.

* * *

RAZZING MR. GRADY.— Captain
Dwinell reproduced the following squib
in The Courier of Nov. 2G, 18(i9, and
added a touch of his own:

" 'Gloria MnncU — which, being inter-

preted, might mean that Rome is to
have glory on Monday, the 22d inst.,
from "G. G. Grady's old-fashioned cir-
cus." As there seems to be a consid-
erable number of the Grady family
connected with this saw-dust enter-
tainment, we beg leave to inquire if
the immortal "six" or the prolific
"King Hans," concerning which a vast
amount of inky tears have been shed,
have been retained. If not, the pro-
prietor has lost a trump card. — Au-
gusta Constitutionalist.'

"Our junior is attending the fair at
Macon, and since he is well known as
a Hans-ome man, is doubtless think-
ing more of diamond than of sawdust
rings. As to the 'immortal six,' they
may be tumbling around somewhere
but whether it is 'ground' or 'lofty'
tumbling we are not advised."

* * :|:

ONE WAY TO MAKE MONEY.—
"Skinning a flea for his hide and tal-
low" was a popular occupation
throughout the South after the Civil
War. There was little to eat and lit-
tle money. Along came Zachariah B.
Hargrove, Jr., in 1869 as mayor, and
decided on an easy way to relieve the
local money shortage.

"Hell," exclaimed 'Little Zach" with

SAM V. JONKS. f\aiiv,'i'list. who built a Meth-
odist Church in Home and became its pastor,
later removing to Cartersville.

288

A History of Rome and Floyd County

characteristic directness, "I'll PRINT
some money!"

And he did. An expert engraver
was hired, and before he had ceased
his operations he had gi'ound out $50,-
000, which was considered sufficient.
About the time the last $1,000 was
being spent to "ease things," word
came from the Treasury Department
informing the Rome mayor that the
money printing monopoly was located
in Washington. After cussing out the
"ti'oublesome Yankees," "Little Zach"
reluctantly called the money in. Now
and then a bill that didn't get caught
in the call bobs up and is stuck in a
scrap book as a precious relic of those
palmy printing press days.
* * *

A PLEASANT HOUSE PARTY.—
All kinds of entertainments were en-
joyed by the guests of a house party
at the F. M. Freeman home at Free-
man's Ferry in 1898. A lawn party
there, a band-wagon ride to Mobley
Park for an evening theatrical per-
formance and dance following, a swell
supper at the Armstrong, then the
ride by moonlight back to the banks
of the gurgling Etowah, formed part
of the entertainment

Among the guests were Mrs. J. G.
Blount, chaperon; Misses Lou Flem-
ing, Eldith Carver, Julia and Edith
Smith, Mary Berry, Hazel Adkins, Ce-
leste Ayer, Clara and Ella Johnson,
Laura Jones, Orie Best, Mayme Hud-
gins, Lillian Hurt, Susie Freeman, Lil-
lian Lochi'ane and "Merrimac" Arnold,
and Messrs Harry Patton, W. Addi-
son Knowles, Bernard Hale, Walter
Ross, Sproull Fouche, Waring Best,
Oscar H. McWilliams, Langdon Gam-
mon, Dr. Wm. J. Shaw, Griff Sproull,
Sam Hardin, J. A. Blount, John M.
and Tom Berry, Nick Ayer, Paul
Jones, Horace Johnson, Julian Hurt,
R. S. Best, Wm. McWilliams and Hor-
ace King.

WROTE WHAT HE THOUGHT.—
"Nathan Yarbrough, former mayor,
was sheriff in 186(5-7," says Judge
Joel Branham's booklet, "The Old
Court House in Rome," (p. 65). "He
was a stout, broad-shouldered, red-
headed man, abrupt in manner, firin
and fearless in conduct and opinion.
He moved to Texas many years ago,
and died there. His docket shows
these characteristic entries:

J. J. Cohen Admr.

Vs.

J. L. Ellis

Judgt. 1866, $22.50.

"Cost paid to J. M. Langston, clerk.
Principal and interest of this fi. fa.
paid by me at the request of the de-
fendant. He has kept me out of this
money two years by lying, and then
swindled me out of $10" by lying. Fi.
fa. given to him satisfied." — Docket,
p. 4.

Robt. T. McCay

Vs.

A. M. Kerr

$93.87 and cost. Nov. 13, 1859. Nulla
bona.

"Bad eggs. Both gone up the spout.
Kerr has since come to life, and like
a good many of us, is kicking to make
a living, but can't pay old debts. Let
them go with the past. Feb. 3, 1860."
—Docket, p. 40.

Magnus & Wise

Vs.

J. J. Skinner

$178 and cost.

"Joe may come to it after a while,

but the Radicals have released him.

April 13, 1867."— Docket, p. 45.

JUDGE BRANHAM ON OLD
TIMES.— The Rome News of Oct. 3,
1921, carried the following reminis-
cences from the late Judge Joel Bran-
ham :

"The first time I ever saw the city
of Rome was in April, 1861, and again
on the 20th day of that month. The
population then, I suppose, was about
3,500. Sam Stewart was the marshal
and had been for several years, and
he ruled the discordant elements of the
city successfully. He had no pistol.
He carried a gold headed cane. When
he said stop, they stopped. I wish we
had his like again.

"I came from Kingston to Rome on
the Rome railroad, then the only rail-
road to this city. The track was laid
on stringers with bar iron a little
thicker than the iron tire that goes
around a wagon wheel. Holes were
punched in the iron and it was spiked
down on the stringers. Such a thing
as a "T" rail was unknown. The depot
stood where the Stamps wholesale
fruit house now stands on the north
side of Broad Street. The cars con-
sisted of a little engine which burned
wood, a baggage car. a passenger car
with side seats such as is used on
street railroads. The passengers faced
one another in this little car. The
depot building was as long as the train
and no cars stood across Bi-oad Street.
Wade S. Cothran was the president.
He was a man of magnificent mind,

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

289

the most progressive citizen of the city
of Rome, and a man of strict hon-
esty. C. M. Pennington, whose house
stood where the Country Club now
stands, was the superintendent.

"The Shorter block between Broad,
Second Avenue and the river was all
vacant property except the depot
building referred to. It was seven feet
below the present grade.

"The Etowah Hotel stood on that
parcel of ground now embraced by
the Norton Drug Store and all the
buildings down to and including the
Rome Hardware Store and extended
back from Broad Street of the same
width to East First Street. The hotel
was a wooden building, three stories,
with a veranda around it and stood
back from Broad Street. I stopped
there when I came to Rome to be
married on the 20th of April, 1861. It
was kept by Geo. S. Black.

"The block between First and Sec-
ond Avenue, East First and East Sec-
ond Streets was vacant, and it was
also vacant when I moved to Rome in
January, 1867. I had a barley patch
where the Cooper warehouse now
stands and my cow grazed in that bar-
ley patch.

"The block on which I now live, 264x
400, was vacant except for my resi-
dence, then a six-room house, four
rooms on the first floor and two
above, and a little old dwelling on the
extreme corner opposite the Methodist
church. In the middle of this block
v/here the Rounsaville warehouse now
stands there was a pond of stagnant
and green water. In the summer time
the frogs croaked their 'jug-o'-rum,'
'jug-o'-rum, 'jug-o'-rum,' an article
which we do not now have in that
neighborhood.

"Asahel R. Smith, father of Bill
Arp, my partner, resided on the lot
where the Methodist church now
stands.

"The town was originally built on
245, 23rd and 3rd; 276 belonged to
Alfred Shorter. It contained the old
farm house, a log building in the cen-
ter of the north half of the block
lying between Third and Fourth Ave-
nues and East Second and East Third
Streets. Only the farm house and the
residence of P. M. Sheibley was on
that block. There were no other
houses on it.

"Maj. Chas. H. Smith's home em-
braced all the territory lying between
Fourth Avenue, Shorter College alley
and East Third and East Fourth
Streets. Mrs. Charlie Hight's resi-

dence and a number of other residences
are now on this property.

"I came through the country from
Milner, Ga., with a friend of mine in
a buggy in February, 1865. He
brought $10,000 buckled around his
waist; I had $12,000. We came here
to buy land; we didn't buy it; we
still have our money. We crossed on
a ferry boat. There was not a man
to be seen on Broad Street. The town
was desolate.

"I came to Cartersville just after the
surrender of Lee in a wagon driven
by Harrison Watters and owned by
Z. B. Hargrove. They were running
a passenger line between Atlanta and
Cartersville. At Cartersville we took
the railroad to Rome. It was then op-
erated by Federal troops, and they
were cursing and swearing and drink-
ing on the train in the presence of
my wife. Just before I left Macon on
this occasion a company of lawyers
were gathered at the corner of Zeiland
& Hunt's drug store. There was but
one dollar of green back in the crowd.
Not a single one of us had a cent of
money. I said, 'I am going to leave
this country and go to a country where
there are no negroes.' At this Clif-
ford Anderson, who was afterwards
attorney general, laughed heartily. He
said it reminded him of a man who
was sitting on a cart tongue and the
steers were running away with him.
Some man cried out, 'Why don't you
jump off?' 'Hell,' he says, 'it's all I
can do to hold on.' "
* * *

PAYING THE FIDDLER HIS
MITE.— The following letter to E. F.
Shropshire, clerk of the City Council,
from Cave Spring, dated Feb. 24, 1871,
will illustrate the penchant many peo-
ple have of piping "economy notes"
unto worthy "scops and gleemen:"

"Dear Sir: Yours of 19h inst., en-
closing check for $4, balance due Cave
Spring Band for services rendered the
citizens of Rome at the Waterworks
Celebration, has been received. As
that amount does not pay our leader
(outside of the other performers), we
very respectfully return it.

"The hotel charges are wrong. Only
six members of the band stopped at
Mr. Graves', which number had two
meals each with the exception of my-
self, who had three meals. He also
makes a bar bill which I am author-
ized by each and every member of
the band to say is false.

"Hoping that when the city of Rome
again needs the services of a band that

290

A History of Rome and Floyd County

it will procure those of one that will
give it better satisfaction, I am, dear
sir, as representative of the band,
"Very respectfully yours,
"P. E. ALEXANDER,
"Secretary Star Cornet Band."
"P. S. — Our understanding was that
we were to receive $25 and all ex-
penses. P. E. A."

Mr. Shropshire eased the municipal
conscience by appending on the outside
of the sheet the trite notation, "Cave
Spring Band Busted."

:J; :t: =!:

A RELATIONSHIP EXPLAINED.
— Since many people are confused as
to the relationship between Woodrow
Wilson and the Bones family, once
residents of Rome, a lady close to them
offers the following explanation:

"The Bones family are related to
the Wilson family through Mrs. Bones,
who before her marriage to Mr. James
W. Bones was Miss Marion Woodrow,
the sister of Miss Jennie Woodrow, who
married Mr. Joseph Wilson, the father
of President Woodrow Wilson. Hence
Mrs. Bones Vas Woodrow Wilson's
aunt, whom his mother, he and his
brother Joseph used to visit when Mrs.
Bones lived on upper Broad Street,

ELLEN LOU AXSON. as she looked in 1882
during the courtship of Woodrow Wilson at
Rome, which included a Silver Creek picnic.

in the house at 709 known as
the Featherston place. When Wood-
row Wilson later became a young man
he visited Mrs. Bones, then living in
East Rome, and his cousin, Mrs. A.
Thew H. (Jessie Bones) Brower. It
was at Mrs. Brower's home that he
met Miss Ellen Louise Axson, who
later became his wife in Savannah. At
this time the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Brower was on the hill just west of
the Southern depot, and then was the
only house on the hill, and the grounds
extended down to the Terhune place
(and may have included it) and em-
braced the ground on which the Ted-
castle home was built, now known as
'Hillcrest,' the residence of Mr. and
Mrs. John M. Graham. Mr. Brower
was interested in the East Rome Land
Co., which owned most of East Rome.
"The Brower house was afterwards
bought by Judge John W. Maddox, and
when the Ragan home was erected next
to it. Judge Maddox moved it some
distance to the site it now occupies.
The present occupants are Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur D. Hull, and the location
is 6 Coral Avenue. The Browers re-
moved to Chicago in April, 1884."

WOODROW WILSON'S COURT-
SHIP. — The chance circumstance of a
slack legal practice for a young law-
yer quite possibly explains how Rome
was put more prominently in the pub-
lic eye than in any other chain of
circumstances since the city's estab-
lishment. Woodrow Wilson was born
Dec. 28, 1856, at Staunton, Va., hence
was 26 years old in 1882, when Judge
George Hillyer, of Atlanta, and others
signed his license to practise his pro-
fession in that city, shortly before he
paid a visit to Rome. Judge Hillyer
is authority for the statement that
Mr. Wilson first practised a short time
in the Central building, southwest cor-
ner of E. Alabama and S. Pryor
Streets, and then on Marietta Street
near the southeast corner of N. For-
syth, where the Ivan Allen-Marshall
Co. office supply store is now located,
and in the second story. At this lat-
ter place he was in partnership with
Edward J. Renick, later assistant sec-
retary of state in President Cleve-
land's second administration, and still
later special legal representative of
th(- banking concern of Coudert Broth-
ers. He had graduated at Princeton
University in 1879 and in law at the
University of Virginia in 1880, and
after the usual preliminaries of pri-
vate study a committee examined him
two hours in the Fulton County Su-

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

291

perior Court and decided he was well
qualified. Attorney Gadsden, of South
Carolina, was chairman of the bar
committee, and Judge Hillyer was a
member of it.

The shingle of Wilson & Renick
failed to produce business in spite of
their earnest application, and in the
summer of 1882 Mr. Wilson found it
convenient to take a two-months' va-
cation in Rome as the guest of his
cousin, Mrs. A. Thew H. Brewer,
and his aunt, Mrs. Jas. W. Bones,
whose husband was maintaining the
Rome branch of the well-known Au-
gusta hardware concern of J. & S.
Bones & Co. The Bones home was
built by Mr. Bones, and is identified
today as the residence of S. L. Han-
cock, in Oak Park, East Rome, south-
west of the Yancey place. Some years
previously the family had lived on
Broad. Half a mile away lived a first
cousin, Jessie Bones, who had become
the second wife of A. Thew H. Brower.
Col. Brewer's first wife, Mary Mar-
garet (Minnie) Lester, had died Feb.
6, 1878.

The Bones family were staunch
Presbyterians. Mrs. Bones' father
was Dr. James Woodrow, a teacher in
the old Oglethorpe University at Mil-
ledgeville, and whose championship of
the Darwinish theory and other ad-
vanced ideas after the war caused his
suspension by the Presbyterian Synod
of South Carolina from the faculty of
the Columbia Theological Seminary at
Columbia.*

Mr. Bones was a high official in the
Rome church, and Woodrow Wilson's
father. Dr. Jos. R. Wilson, was a
Presbyterian minister at Augusta;
hence when Sunday rolled around
there was no conflict as to whether the
young barrister should attend services,
and where. With Mr. and Mrs. Bones
and his first cousin. Miss Helen Bones
(who became Mrs. Wilson's White
House secretary) , Mr. Wilson went to
the brick church at Third Avenue and
E. First Street.

The sermon was not so engrossing
that the visitor failed to notice the
piquant beauty of a girl with brown
eyes and hair that fell in graceful
curls upon her forehead, sitting hard

*The synod later exonci-atcd him by electing
him moderator, the hishest office in its power ;
and still later he became president of the
University of South Carolina. Thus his own
evolutions and theirs were of a pronouncea
character. Dr. Woodrow tauprht Sidney Lanier,
Southern poet, at OKlethorpe, and Mr. Lanier
proclaimed his old teacher the greatest moral
influence in his life. Authority: Dr. Thorn-
tvall Jacobs, president of Oglethorpe University,
Atlanta.

by. He looked not once, but several
times before the sermon was concluded,
and stole a glance or so as the congre-
gation were leaving for their homes.
He was so fascinated by this young
lady's beauty that he inquired as to
who she might be and if by some
chance he might not be privileged to
meet her. He was told that it was
Ellen Louise Axson, daughter of the
Rev. Samuel Edward Axson, the pas-
tor, who was living in a cottage on
the Third Avenue lot where Jno. C.
Glover now resides.

Mrs. Brower found that she could
do her Atlanta cousin a good turn, so
proposed that they invite Miss Axson
and several others to go on a picnic
east of Lindale, to a spring which
forms part of the headwaters of Silver
Creek. The meeting place was at the
Brower home, and when young Wood-
row asked if he hadn't' better take
some lunch. Miss Ellen Lou readily
suggested that she had plenty for
two, and this offer left no room for
argument. Others who were invited
and went were Edith Lester, 6 years
old, now Mrs. Wm. P. Harbin; her
nephew, Jno. Lefoy Brower, 4, de-
ceased; Ella, Mary Florence, Harry
and Frank Young, of East Rome; and

(THOMAS) W'OODROW WILSON, about the
time he first saw ?;ilen Lou Axson in the
First Presbyterian Church, Rome.

292

A History of Rome and Floyd County

Helen and Marion M. Bones (died Mar.
6, 1888). The distance was eight or
nine miles, and two rigs were used;
the more attractive of the two for the
young folks was Col. Brower's wagon
with side seats, in the body of which
plenty of wheat straw had been piled;
and then there was the buggy, which
carried Col. and Mrs. Brower and their
baby, and Mrs. B. S. Lester, mother
of Edith Lester and of Mr. Brower's
first wife.

'Tis said Woodrow and Ellen Lou
chose the back of the wagon that they
might dangle their feet behind, and
away went the future president of the
United States and the future First
Lady of the Land, caring little wheth-
er school kept or law business were
remunerative or not.

After bumping along country roads
for an hour and a half they arrived
at the picnic ground. The lisping of
the gentle waters and the droning of
the bees in a nearby field of wild flow-
ers furnished the systematic tremolo
for the young lawyer's love sonata, and
soon they strayed off from the crowd.
Lunch time came and all were sum-
moned to the well-filled baskets. All
save two were ravenously hungry after
a session of romping and wading.
These two were industriously search-
ing for four-leaf closers on the pasture
greensward; playing "Love-me; love
me not" with flower petals; blowing
the downy tops off dandelion stems.

"I wonder where Ellie Lou and

A. THEW H. BROWER.

Woodrow can be?" asked Mrs. Brower,
as if aware of nothing.

"I know," piped one of the chil-
dren; "he's over there cutting a heart
on a beech tree!"

The preliminaries were all disposed
of that day and fervent resolutions
made if not promises exacted. The
fates which had been cruel to Rome
smiled upon the dilemma of the young
Atlanta lawyer. A freshet in 1881 and
swept away the first East Rome bridge
(over the Etowah at Second Avenue).
The river separated Woodrow and El-
len Lou, so the former borrowed a bat-
teau built personally by Col. Brower,
and they not only crossed, but paddled
up and down." We hear much of
President Wilson's famous typewriter,
and of how he would put on his old
gray sweater of his Princeton days and
peck away at it on the George Wash-
ington; League of Nations "dope"
ground out on the high seas, as well as
Gay Paree and Washington. But
again we must go back to Rome. He
brought his typewriter with him in
1882 and did some copying for Col.
Brower in the Cothran-Brower suit
over the East Rome land.

However, all was not so smooth for
the youthful lovers as the surface of
the crooning Etowah; they would be
obliged to wait until the wherewithal
was forthcoming. Woodrow came back
now and then. A year or two passed
and Ellen Lou (who removed to Sa-
vannah) went to New York with Anna
Lester (older sister of Edith) and
Florence Young. The girls were bound
for the Art Students' League, to study
art and kindergarten work. Mr. Wil-
son may have been teaching at Bryn
Mawr then, and again he mayn't, but
he got on the train at Philadelphia
and soon joined the young ladies and
escorted them to the big city of the
East. The three boarded at an es-
tablishment similar to the Y. W. C. A.
of the present time. Alas ! as long as
they were here they were supposed to
be hard at work and not to receive their
gentlemen friends. This rule did not
comport with the desires of Miss Axson
or Mr. Wilson, so she found more con-
genial surroundings. She was un-
usually talented with the brush, and
their homes wherever they lived in
later years contained numerous evi-
dences of her handiwork. On June
24, 1885, they were married at Sa-
vannah, at the home of the bride's
grandparents, with whom she was then
residing. On visits of Mrs. Wilson to
Gainesville two of her daughters were

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

293

RECALLING WOODROW WILSONS COURTSHIP.

anriilver Creek, on which a picnic brought the young couple together.

294

A History of'Rome and Floyd County

born; there she was the guest of her
aunt, Mrs. Louisa C. Hoyt-Brown,
mother of Col. Edward T. Brown, of
Atlanta and Washington, D. C. Most
of the time they lived in the North.
From 1890 to 1910 they were residents
of Princeton, N. J., the last eight years
of which Mr. Wilson was president of
Princeton University. Then he was
chosen governor of New Jersey, and
in 1912 became twenty-eighth Presi-
dent of the United States.

From the executive mansion at Tren-
ton Mrs. Wilson engaged in welfare
work throughout New Jersey, and she
continued her efforts two years in the
White House, where she died Aug. 6,
1914. The grief-stricken husband ac-
companied her to the Old Home Town
and to Myrtle Hill cemetery, there to
lay her beside her loving parents. On
the hill above the depot stood the two-
story frame dwelling where he had first
met her, and beyond the hill Silver
Creek murmured its old-time love-song
as it -went tumbling on down toward
the sea.

::- * t-

HOME GUARDS (THE ROME
TRUE BLUES).— This military com-
pany, with tents pitched July 6, 1884,
at Camp DeForrest, Forrestville
(North Rome), and Gov. Henry D.
McDaniel looking on, received a hand-
some flag from Mr. and Mrs. M. A.
Nevin, containing on one side the
Stars and Stripes, and on the other
the Georgia coat of arms.

The "ossifers" were Richard V.
Mitchell, Jr., captain; Jas. B. Nevin,
first lieutenant; Chas. J. Warner, Jr.,
first sergeant; Louis S. Rosenberg,
second; Paul P. Fenner, third; Wm.
Coleman, fourth; Jno. W. Bale, first
corporal; Herbert T. Amos, second;
Wyly Snider, third; Frank Omberg,
fourth ; Dr. J. M. Gregory, surgeon ;
Julius S. Mitchell, color bearer.

The "privates," outnumbering the
"ossifers" by two, were Dickson C.
Stroud, George Snider, Baker and Wal-
ter Weems, Gregory Omberg, Henry
Adkins, Sam and Max Kuttner, Hugo
Spitz, Ed Lamkin, Frank S. Bale, Ben
Cooper, Wm. Harbour and Frank D.
Edge.

The company's captain tells the fol-
lowing "tales out of school:"

"Most of the boys were very young,
and they were quartered in three large
tents next to the state troops, who
were in annual encampment in For-
restville. During the night a terrific
wind storm broke on the camp, making
the tents behave like balloons, and caus-
ing the True Blues to think of home.

A faithful sentry was ordered to round
up the scattered members, but could
not find them until next morning, and
then all were at church in Rome. The
captain was found there, too, and after
a while the bunch disbanded.

"In the winter of 1884, several
months prior to this incident, the ladies
gave a bazaar in Noble Hall (the old
City Hall) for the benefit of the Rome
Light Guards or the Hill City Cadets.
A prize drill at night was on the pro-
gram for Broad Street, with the
Guards, the Cadets, the True Blues
and a Cave Spring company com-
manded by Col. H. D. Capers as con-
testants.

"The True Blues were sure their
drill was the best, and when they failed
to receive even 'honorable m'ention,'
they left for their armory in consider-
able disorder. On passing an alley
back of the Choice House, they were
confronted by a Ku Klux 'ghost' in
spooky white. The captain was seized
by the 'ghost,' and the company left
him for the light of a gas burner
down on Broad. If the 'ghost' had
taken full advantage of the situation,
he could have had more guns and ac-
coutrements than he could have car-
ried. The captain got away by scratch-
ing and biting the 'ghost.' "

AN OBSTREPEROUS MAYOR.—
A good many years ago, — it may have
been before the Civil War and again
it may have been after — Rome had a
mayor who often wrestled with "John
Barleycorn" and nearly always got
"thrown." On this occasion he ate a
little lunch and drank a lot of beer
and licker at the bar at Fifth Avenue
and Broad, and was trying to make it
to the next "station" when a policeman
accosted him. His "Irish" was now up
and he pulled away from the officer,
saying, "Don't you know the mayor
of this (hie) town?" Then he went
back into the saloon and loaded up
good ; proceeded home with outraged
feelings and armed himself to the
teeth.

Some said his gun was 30 inches long
and weighed nine pounds; others that
it was 18 and weighed seven. Anyway,
he went back to town looking for po-
licemen, and when he saw two, backed
behind a telephone pole and shouted
defiance. The officers took him in tow
and chucked him into the "jug," where
he became so noisy that they confined
him in a sort of cage in the rear of
the station. He obtained a hose and
turned it on himself; Etowah water

Anecdotes and Reminsicences

295

sobered him and he called for the turn-
key to bring the "Black Maria" so he
could go home again in style.

It was said that on one of his sprees
he "kissed the candy man's wife," no
doubt thinking she was his own; and
that he was "put in" on another occa-
sion. When "at himself," said the old
timers, he made one of the best mayors
Rome ever had.

A PEACE PRAYER IN 1898— Sup-
plications for international amity did
not start after the German Armistice
Nov. 11, 1918. In the Rome Georgian
of May 28, 1898 (Beulah S. Moseley,
editor), we find the following from
Capt. Christopher Rowell, a veteran of
the Civil War:

"There is much in the pomp of war
to attract the multitude ; the noise of
contending legions, the shouts of vic-
tory, of strains of martial music. The
outward panoply of war always com-
mands close attention, more of those
who are not familiar with the details
than of those who in retrospect contem-
plate the progi'ess of such a state of
things. A war waged for humanity's
sake would look like a contradiction,
but it is through the ordeal of shed-
ding blood that many of the changes
in the progress of civilization have
been brought about. A war of defense
is jilways justifiable, but a war for ac-
quisition of territory or political ag-
grandizement, in fact, for any pur-
pose except for defense of humanity's
sake, must be of questionable pro-
priety in this so-called civilized age.
May we not hope that there will always
be a redeeming spirit of law and hu-
manity in war? It may be many days
yet before 'gi-im visaged war shall
smooth its wrinkled front,' but we hope
it will not be long before our bugles
will again sing truce, when the storm
cloud of war has fled. It may be that
the writer's views of war may not
accord with the notions of this utili-
tarian age; but the time is surely com-
ing when the first streaks of morning
shall broaden into the full fruition of
the coming day — on some occasion, too,
when the great Arch Angel standing
with one foot upon the land and one
foot upon the sea shall proclaim that
time shall be no more."
* * *

BESSIE MOORE'S THRILLING
FLIGHTS.— Miss Bessie A. Moore,
former society editor of The Rome
News, made the first flight taken by a
Roman from Towers Aviation Field at
the North Georgia Fair grounds, in

West Rome, and was perhaps the first
woman to fly over the Hill City. This
was a day following the dedication of
the field, Tuesday, October 11, 1919,
by Commander John H. Towers of the
navy. The flight was made at I'l a. m
with Lieut. Kenneth B. Wolfe, U. S.
A., in his Hispania Suiss plane, and
lasted 30 minutes.

In 1920 Miss Moore participated in
fl- Piore mteresting and sensational
flight. Major Lawrence S. Churchill,

c ■ .r ^'- nS^'"^ "P ^« ^^^^^ fi-om
bouther Field, Americus, to claim her
for his bride. He flew to Rome in his
airship and flew away after the cere-
mony with the blushing Miss Bessie.
Let her tell in her own words of what
she saw in Rome on the first-mentioned
flight:

"Strapped in and ready to go! The
feeling is indescribable. While the
propeller raises a cloud of dust and
sends a stiff wind into your face, your
emotions are mixed. You are curious,
pleased, anxious, filled with wonder as
to how it will feel, if you will be fright-
ened, if you will be sick, and every
minute seems like five before you
get away.

"We took off facing town. The plane,
once started, ran along over the
ground, then got smoother. Pleased
irfinitely, I was anxious to rise,
and eager for the sensation that comes
when you ascend in your first flight.
I had waved my handkerchief to all
the spectators and was sitting still
waiting for the big thrill to come when
we would actually go up, and looking
from the side I caught a glimpse of
telegraph wires and I knew we were
already flying over the Land Company
bridge. Then we crossed the river. To
the right was Myrtle Hill cemetery.
Then I saw Broad Street, and we went
higher and higher, sailing toward East
Rome at 100 miles per hour. What a
sheer exquisite pleasure! I was actual-
ly flying. It was delightful. I sat
back, surprised that I wasn't fright-
ened, my hands which at first held
tensely to the sides of the car, were
relaxed. I was flying higher and higher.
A thing I had wanted for years had
happened to me, and I was supremely
glad. Thus I sat, musing and think-
ing. I was up in an aeroplane. I had
no knowledge of fear. The thing I
had dreaded, getting sick, had not hap-
pened. I never felt better. Then re-
membering that I wanted to see more
of Rome, I came out of my delirium of
pleasure, and took a look over.

"I saw a beautiful space of woodland,

296

A History of Rome and Floyd County

a wonderful panoramic view of the
country beneath me, a stretch of moun-
tain, blue and purple, whose top melt-
ed into the low clouds of a damp Octo-
ber morning. Yes, it was Rome, and
how tiny everything was! I couldn't
find out where we were, nor did I rec-
ognize a single land mark. I knew
by instinct it must be far out of the
city, and later learned it was quite a
distance east of the town. Then we
circled around coming in the direction
of Rome, but swinging far out toward
West Rome.

"It was nothing less than a beautiful
canvas painting in tones of green and
dull brown. Houses looked like minia-
ture toys, straight, precise little rows
of growing things on farm lands took
on the aspect of a piece of striped silk,
roof-tops of white, red and brown
skirting the farm lands, nestled close
to the trees, which were tiny green
bushes. As I looked in wonder upon
the town I knew so well, I laughed to
think of a plane as strong and defiant
as ours ever being caught or hung up
on a tree-top like the little ones I saw.
Then we crossed a river, and there was
a great stretch of green velvet, much
like a carpet. Presently I saw the
George Stiles race track in West Rome,
and growing directly in the center was
a tree which looked larger than any I
had seen. Around and around we fiew,
then back toward town over Shorter
College, which looked like a set of
child's playing bricks. Circling high-
er, climbing up, up, up, the car be-
came filled with steam. A fine spray
of rain pelted my face and hands and
the wind roared by my ears like
thunder. I attributed the steam to
some exhaust or defect of the engine,
but looking down saw a fine white veil
between plane and earth and knew we
were in the clouds. The indicator reg-
istered 2,000 feet. The clouds were
damp, cold and refreshing, with
flecks of yellow and brown rolling here
and there in the white.

"Presently I felt myself hanging en-
tirely to the plane by the support of
my iielt. I learned later it had been
a loop. Looking to the right I saw
the great wings of the plane turn high-
er and higher, and was told afterward
we had done some king overs, which is
a popular form of stunt. Above the
city clock, which resembled a spool of
brown thread, we came down in a
spiral. I didn't know what particular
feat we were performing, but felt the
sensation one has when shot down to
earth suddenly in a swift elevator. I
did not look down as we did these

stunts but kept my eye directly on the
instruments in front of me. I had
previously been told this would pre-
vent the possibility of any sickness.

"We came around to West Rome
again. This time we were nearer
Shorter College. The girls outside were
taking exercise. We could discern that
plainly. They stopped to wave their
hands as we sailed overhead.

"Then I recognized the circus ring
of the Coosa Golf course, and saw a
tiny trough of water which I knew was
the swimming pool. The club house
seemed entirely concealed by a tiny
bunch of green bushes. Then over the
cemetery we flew. The cemetery seem-
ed flat and scattered with broken
china. The extreme summit, where
stands the Confederate monument, re-
sembled a nicely browned dough-nut.
Then over the Etowah River, a narrow
winding strip of brown ribbon, laid
in green velvet. I saw the perfect Y
where the two rivers form the Coosa.

"I was trying to place a certain queer,
looking red brick house, and discovered
it was the courthouse, and one inch
away from it was Broad Street. None
of the blocks in Rome appeared over
one inch square. Around we circled
again. The third time we came over
Shorter we sailed at a low altitude.
The girls were wearing white middies
and blue bloomers; they looked up and
shouted. We were closer than ever
before. Then around again. This time
above the fair grounds. Towers Field
with its big white T could be seen
plainly. We were approaching from
East Rome. We were getting lower
and lower, and just like a huge bird
with out-stretched wings we sailed
down smoothly, without a bobble, land-
ed in the upper end of the field, and
like the same big bird, hopped along
the field, until two of the mechanics
who had signaled a safe landing ran
up and swung themselves on the
wings. The engine stopped and we
were down. The taking off and the
landing, which I had always heard was
most difficult, was the easiest, smooth-
est part of the entire flight."

Miss Bessie took part in a more in-
teresting and thrilling episode Jan. 17,
1920 — her flight from the state of sin-
gle blessedness. Major Lawrence S.
Churchill, U. S. A., aspired to be the
pioneer in an airplane romance that
would thrill Rome. He started in an
airplane from Souther Field, Ameri-
cus, with Lt. Perry W. Blackler as
pilot. In an accompanying plane were
Lieut. Wolfe, of the aforementioned

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

297

ROME AS VIEWED FROM AN AIRPLANE.

A daredevil aviator came buzzing over Rome in the spring of 1921. He was on his way to
Texas and was willing to carry up a few passengers for the price of his gasoline. David A.
Sparks flew and got some snaps. We see the Municipal Building, the business section, Myrtle
Hill Cemetery (in center), the wings of the plane and Shorter College through them, and lastly,
the beautiful Etowah.

298

A History of Rome and Floyd County

flight, and Sergeant Jones. The last-
named pair landed at Towers Field,
where they were received by City Com-
missioner Ike May, with the keys of
the city, and by a curious crowd. The
other machine encountered unfavorable
winds and was forced to land at King-
ston, whence the remainder of the trip
was made by Maj. Churchill in an au-
tomobile. Lieut. Blackler flew the
plane to Rome on Saturday morning
of the wedding, and although the at-
mospheric conditions were unfavorable,
he thrilled the bride with a series of
barrel rolls over her apartments at
the home of Miss Camilla Fouche. Mr.
Blackler was killed at Souther Field,
Americus, May 10, 1920, when the
wings of his German Fokker machine
came off while he was executing one
of these same aerial contortions.

THE BOYS IN GRAY.— The recent
story by Bessie Moore Churchill in the
History Series on the Rome Light
Guards in the Civil War was read by a
good many people, but by none more
appreciatively, perhaps, than Frank
Stovall Roberts, a cousin of Judge Joel
Branham, who wrote from Apartment
312, "The Cordova," Washington, D.

C, under date of January 7, 1921:

"Thank you very much for the story
of the Rome Light Guards. Many of
the names given in the article are
quite familiar to me. I knew many
of them, a few having been my school-
mates, though older than myself, back
in 1855, 1856 and 1857. Geo. W. Fleet-
wood was one of them who went to
Mr. Stevens' school in these years.

(Mr. Fleetwood died last fall in "Okla-
homa and was buried in Myrtle Hill
cemetery, Rome. — Editor). Virgil

CVirge') Stewart was another. H.

D. Cothran and "Coon" Mitchell also
attended this school.

"I do not recall Captain Magruder,
who took the company to Virginia, but
I remember, as a boy, Miss Florence
Fouche, whom he married. I recall
many members of that company: Mel-
ville Dwinell, Geo. R. Lumpkin, Wil-
liam ('Bill') Skidmore, Dr. J. M. Greg-
ory (as memory serves, he married
a sister of Mrs. Daniel S. Printup) ;
R. D. DeJournett, F. M. Ezzell (he
married Miss Lena Sherwood, of Ma-
con, lived in Macon after the war and
then went to Atlanta) ; A. R. Johnson,
Chas. B. and George C. Norton, W. F.
(Bill) Omberg (went to Mr. Stevens'
school, and after the war lived in
Louisville, Ky.) ; A. R. (Arch) Pem-
berton, 'Zach' Hargrove, M. A. Ross,

Geo. T. Stovall (my cousin) ; Henry A.
Smith (he kept a book store before and
after the war; I met him once early
in the eighties) ; F. M. Stovall (my
cousin, went from Athens to Virginia
and joined the Light Guards) ; Chas.
H. Smith ('Bill Arp'), Scott Hardin,
and others. Clinton Hargro;ve was
another one I knew. He was a friend
of my half-brother, Wm. A. ('Bill')
Roberts.

"This story brings up memories of
a handsome, gallant and brave lot of
young men in Rome. I doubtless knew
many more than are named, but nearly
64 years have passed since I lived in
Rome.

"The Light Guards had their first
taste of fighting at Firt Manassas, Va.,
July 21, 1861. The Eighth Georgia,
under the gallant Francis Bartow, who
was killed there, covered itself with
glory and gave up many of its best
members, including Chax'lie Norton,
Geo. T. Stovall and 'Clint' Hargrove.

"These recollections are very inter-
esting, with a tinge of sadness to
those who knew and were associated
with these boys long ago. I daresay
I am one of the very few of that day
who are now living to recall them."

Mr. Roberts was among the boys of
Rome who sent their older brothers
and cousins off to war with a shout
and who stayed behind and helped their
families care for still younger ones. —
Jan. 12, 1921.

* * *

A LETTER FROM THE FRONT.
— James Madison Gartrell, younger
brother of Gen. Lucius J. Gartrell and
Capt. Henry A. Gartrell (of Rome),
wrote Mrs. J. D. Thomas, then Miss
Mary Fort, under date of April 21,
1864, from Dalton. (Mr. Gartrell, it
will be recalled, was an uncle of Henry
W. Grady).

"I hope in my next to be able to give
the details of a grand battle which re-
sulted in the overthrow of Sherman's
and Thomas' armies which will tend to
a speedy termination of this unholy,
unwise and unpleasant war . . . You
need have no fears as to the safety of
Rome. Those sacred hills will never
be polluted by the foul tread of the
Yankee soldiery until our army is
crushed, which to accomplish Sherman
with his present force is quite inade-
quate.

"The little tobacco bag you gave me
is now in daily use. I have quit chew-
ing and learned to smoke a pipe.

Anecdotes and'Reminiscences

299

"You say you were expecting Henry
Gartrell in Macon on the 8th. I should
like to hear from the gentleman. If
he is as prompt in the discharge of his
military duties as he is in answering
letters, he must be a splendid soldier.
I don't see how Forrest has succeeded
so well without him!"

J. M. Gartrell was killed a short time
later at New Hope church, near At-
lanta.

Capt. Henry A. Gartrell wrote Mary
Fort January 1, 1865, from Johnson's
Island, Ohio, where he was a prisoner
of war:

"A happy new year to you. I was
captured near Nashville on the morn-
ing of the 17th ultimo. I was cut off,
made a desperate effort to escape on
the night of the 16th by running over
the Federal pickets. At least 20 shots
were fired at me from not more than 20
to 100 yards, but with the exception
of a wound to my horse and a ball
through my coat, they did no harm to
me. I am going to write to Gen. For-
rest in a day or two asking him to pro-
ciire a special change for me.

"I employ my time reading and vis-
iting my friends and acquaintances on
this ice-bound island. Major Printup
is very well. He hasn't heard from
home in five months. I never saw a
braver soldier than Dick Fort. He and
Joe Stillwell could not be beaten the
world over. I don't know whether any
of my men wei-e captured or not." —
Sept. 16, 1921.

* * *

WHO ARE THEY?— The following
letter has been handed us by Col. Stew-
ai't, for publication. The name of the
writer we suppress for obvious rea-
sons.

"Mr. Steward.

"As you is the Mar-
shal of this town I thoght I would tell
you how I am treated. My husband is
lying sick and one of my children
to an yesterdy my cow dide, I had to
come to town to git a little mele an
when I was gone some boys from rome
went huntin up the River and found
my ducks an shot um — two of um dide
this morning an one never come home
yit and I ant got but one drake just by
his self, a friend of mine said thay was
three boys one boy was a big hi boy,
and one was a little boy and one was a
short thick set boy. if you can find
out who was the boys tell them to pay
m,e for the ducks as I have a mity hard
time to git along. I ant mad much
about it only I can't aford to loose my

ducks after the cow dide and the fam-
ily so sick, plea.se hunt up the boys
and tell them how it stands and how
pore I am. Respectfully,

Col. Stewart informs us he has
"hunted up the boys," and knows who
they are, and requests us to say that
unless they fully remunerate this poor
woman for the injury they have done
her, he will give their names to the
public next week. We hope a sense of
justice will prompt them to do this,
and that such a case may never hap-
pen again in a thousand miles of Rome.

"TAKEN IN AND DONE FOR."—
A young gambler from an adjoining
county, who had made up a game of
"seven up," in Rome last week, and
desired a secret room to play in, was
admirably accommodated at the sug-
gestion of our City Marshal, Col. Stew-
art. The gamester expressed his want
in the presence of Col. S., who is a bit
of a wag and loves a practical joke
as well as any one, and he gave a slight
wink to the person enquired of, and
at the same time handed him the key
of the Calaboose. The contract was
soon made for the use of a small office,
of which the gentleman, at that time,
had the control, takes the gamester
and his friends to the Calaboose —
opens the door — and just then hap-
pens to think that he has no matches,
and he requests the young novice to
remain there until he can go and get
them. This he consents to do, and they
all step out and lock the door after
them and leave him there to play sol-
itaire in the dark, until next morning.
We hope this gavie will prove to be a
profitable one to the young man. — •
Weekly Courier, Feb. 28, 1866.
* * *

"PARSON" WINN'S "HELPING
HAND."— Rev. Genuluth Winn was
an old settler who "rode the circuit" of
the Methodist church in the Coosa
Valley during the Indian days.

Dr. Winn was noted for his aggres-
siveness in practical business affairs
as well as the work of the Lord. He
came to Floyd County with the early
inhabitants and either bought or drew
by lottery large tracts of land in and
j>round Cave Spring, and lived on one
of them five miles south of Rome on
the Cave Spring road, where he owned
m;iny .slaves. He was exempt from
miitary service and went among the
Confederate sodiers exhorting them to
express their divine faith by slaying
Yankees.

300

A History of Rome and Floyd County

The following story is told of his
response to a call for help from a
brother of the Methodist persuasion :

D. R. Mitchell, a pillar in the First
Methodist church, then located at Sixth
Avenue and East Second Street, had
picked a hardy settler or two to run
his ferries where the eccentric char-
acter known to the Indians as the
"Widow Fool" had run them some fif-
teen years before, at the forks of the
rivers of Rome. One day a ferry-
man went to Colonel Mitchell with the
story that the "strong-arm" men of a
rival pioneer had seized the ferries
and driven off the Mitchell men. The
old Colonel grabbed his stout hickory
stick, called to the ferryman to follow,
and gathering up a number of his sup-
porters, charged the invaders on the
ferry boat. The fight proved fast and
furious. Reinforcements, including a
number of half-drunken Indians, hav-
ing also reached the other side, the
Mitchell crowd were about to be
worsted, when along happened Rev.
Genuluth Winn in a buggy drawn by
a somewhat broken-down pony, want-
ing to cross the river.

Seeing Rev. Dr. Winn, Col. Mitchell
yelled, "Help, Bro. Winn! If you never
did anything for the Lord and D. R.
Mitchell, do it now!"

Dr. Winn sprang out of the buggy
seized a long pole fi'om the bank, and
handled it so dexterously that in little
more time than it takes to tell it he
had knocked all of Colonel Mitchell's
enemies, including the Indians, into
the river, and Col. Mitchell had the
ferry for keeps.

* * *

A SAILOR'S ODD "CRUISE."— A
touching story is told of a lieutenant
of the United States navy who lies
buried in Myrtle Hill cemetery. Bayard
E. Hand, a step-son of Col. Nicholas J.
Bayard, had just graduated from the
naval academy at Annapolis, Md.,
when he fell in love with a beautiful
young lady of Virginia. His court-
ship resulted in an early wedding
and the honeymoon was spent in the
Old Dominion. The budding young
officer was on 30-day leave, at the ex-
piration of which he bade his bride
farewell and rejoined his ship, which
immediately sailed for South America.

While Lieut. Hand was on his trip,
his wife came to visit Col. and Mrs.
Bayard at Rome, anticipating that he
would return ere long. The ship tied
up at Wilmington, N. C, and the of-
ficer hurried to Rome to rejoin his
young wife. His second leave being

up, he departed for Wilmington. In
some manner he had contracted pneu-
monia, and on July 16, 1855, he died
at that city. Out of respect for the
wishes of Col. and Mrs. Bayard, the
Hands agreed that he should be buried
in Myrtle Hill cemetery at Rome. Col.
Bayard had his tombstone engraved
with navy characters, and there he
lay in peace several years.

Soon came the Civil War, and in
1864 a band of Sherman's men, read-
ing that Lieut. Hand had been in the
service of the United States, decided
they would send him to a "better land."
They dug up the coffin and expressed
it to the National cemetery at Arling-
ton, Va., across the Potomac River
from Washington. This high-handed
procedure did not suit the fiery Col.
Bayard, who after the war went north
and brought the body back to Rome at
an expense to himself of $300.

An appropriate line decorates the
sailor's tomb: "The anchor of his soul
was faith in Christ."

REMINISCENCES OF 1886.— The
late B. I. Hughes wrote in The Rome
News of Dec. 10, 1920, as follows con-
cerning the experience the First Na.
tional Bank had in the flood of March-
April, 1886:

"At that time we had $55,000 in
paper money in the vault, in $5,000
packages, each package containing ten
$500 packages. We opened the safe,
and found that notwithstanding the
water had seeped through two combina-
tions, these packages were so covered
with muck that you would not have
known they contained money. We
washed them off just as we would if
they had been brick, and then the ques-
tion was as to how we would treat the
wet currency.

"Finally, we hit upon the plan of
building a big fire in the grate and
setting in front of it, on a slant, a
piece of glass, about three by four
feet. The glass was soon hot and we
opened up the packages and placed the
separate bills on it. The space would
take about the number of bills that
were in each $500 package, and the
heat of the glass and fire was suffi-
cient to dry them out as rapidly as we
could place them.

"The result was that in less than an
hour, we had dry currency that we
could use, and as far as I can re-
member, not a single dollar had to be
sent to the treasury department. The
year's business, as we have before

Anecdotes and Reminiscences

301

stated, was perhaps the most prosper-
ous that Rome ever saw.

"Altogether, within a week's time,
our business was running practically
as smooth as before. Wasn't this a
wonderful outcome for such condi-
tions?"

TO ARMS, ROMANS!— There may
be more modern speakers than our
friend Mrs. Beulah S. Moseley, but few
can serve up an introduction better.
It fell to Mrs. Moseley's lot to intro-
duce Judge Max Meyerhardt to the
League of Women Voters, (Mrs. An-
nie Freeman Johnson, president) , and
she said in effect the following:

"I well remember an introduction
which Judge Meyerhardt gave to Judge
Branham at a meeting of the women
of the Order of Eastern Star. 'Ladies,'
he said, 'we welcome you to our city
with open arms, which is with me
merely a figure of speech, but with
my young companion Judge Branham
is a matter of action.'

"So I say to Judge Meyerhardt that
the women voters welcome him in the
same fashion. With me that is a fig-
ure of speech, but with our lovely

president, !" — Rome News, Dec.

10, 1920.

* * *

ANECDOTES OF MAJOR DENT.
— Maj. Jno. H. Dent lived at Big Ce-
dar Creek, Vann's Valley, two miles
north of Cave Spring, and for quite a
number of years contributed articles
on farming and poultry to Northern
agricultural journals and to Southern
newspapers. Once upon a time, a
Pennsylvania farmer, who had been
reading the Major's wise rules for
farming, visited Rome and took a hack
down to Vann's Valley. The hackman
stopped and announced that Maj. Dent
lived up the hill in the two-story brick
house. The traveler expressed some
doubt that the Major resided there (for
nothing out of the ordinary was grow-
ing) , but he went to the door and
knocked.

"Is this Major Dent?" inquired the
visitor.

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I came down from near Phila-
delphia to see your chicken runs."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I haven't got
any chicken runs or chickens either."

"But I've been reading your advice
on chickens for several years."

"Oh, I don't write for myself, but
for the other fellow!"

Walter D. Wellborn, formerly of
New Orleans, now of Atlanta, and
brother of M. B. Wellborn, relates how
he visited his grandfather Dent many
years ago as a boy. Young Walter
wanted to go over and see Col. Benj.
C. Yancey, a neighbor, and asked his
grandfather if he didn't want to go too.

"No, son," replied Maj. Dent. "I
admire Col. Yancey very much, but he
can talk a saint out of patience."

Walter went over and met Col. Yan-
cey, who was superintending the erec-
tion of a barn.

"How is your grandfather getting
along, my boy?" asked the colonel.

"He's doing all right, thank you."

"Well, I am very fond of Major Dent,
but he bores me to death; he could
talk the wings off of an angel."

PAT CONWAY AND THE
"GOAT." — Patrick Conway, said to be
residing in Texas, was a well-known
and efficient tinner of Rome. In 1890
he contracted to repair the stove in
the hall of Cherokee Lodge No. 66 in
the Masonic Temple, and also to fix the
roof so the weather would not beat
down upon the assembled brethren. He
was due to start the job one morning,
but decided he could mend the stove
at night and thus save time. Climbing
the long stairway with a repair kit,
he opened the lodge room door, when
out dashed a white object like a streak
of greased lightning, upsetting the
stove and sending clinkers and soot
all over the floor. The stovepipe must
have hit Pat, for he emerged with some
fine smudges of soot. It was not known
which got to Broad Sti'eet first— the
biped or the quadruped — but neither
hit the stairs many times coming down.
Pat lost his hat and didn't stop until
he had reached a corner light, there
to "review" himself.

It is said Pat never went back for
his tools, nor did he mount the roof
to complete his undertaking. Asked
why by a committee from the Lodge,
he "said, "Faith, 1 never bargained for
to be chased out by the bloody goat!
And now, begorra, he will nivver be
caught again, and you will be foriver
blamin' me!"

The "goat" was a white bird dog
left in the hall by a hunter member.

* !(: *

A RELIC OF LONG AGO.— Floyd
County has a "show place," now some-
what in a state of disrepair, that in
some respects suggests Barnsley Gar-

302

A History of Rome and Floyd County

dens in the neighboring county of Bar-
tow. On a ridge about a mile north
of Silver Creek Station, Southern rail-
way, near Lindale, is a residence built
like they used to build them: cement
walls two feet thick, rooms approxi-
mately 50 feet square, including re-
ception and ball rooms, and a barn
in keeping with the rest. It was the
property of Elmer E. Kirkland, of
Schenectady, N. Y. Rumor had it that
the mansion and the beautiful and ex-
tensive grounds would be converted
into a country club, but the place was
recently acquired by Will Collins, de-
veloper of Collinwood Park, East
Rome's residence subdivision, and will
probably be used for manufacturing
purposes.

* :;: *

GEMS FROM "UNCLE STEVE."
— Steve Eberhart, the slavery time dar-
key whose gyrations around Confed-
erate veterans' reunions with live
chickens under his arm always stir up
the ebullitions of guilty bystanders
and others, yesterday submitted to an
interview as he filled a place in the
picket line at their meeting at the
Carnegie Library.

"Steve, how does your corporosity
seem to segashuate?"

"Fine as split silk," promptly re-
turned Steve, who had borrowed that
expression in Cedartown.

"Well, Steve, do you suppose your
opsonic index would coagulate should
the Republican administration at
Washington send down here and try
to get you to accept an office?"

"It mout, boss, but dere ain't no
chance to git dis here Steve to 'cept
no place wid dem folks."

"Wouldn't you like