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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-