' i i. ion " ■'■■■ ^^ * S I 1 ''^ ^ > -J-- <•■ •r. •:*•. A ^' '^^ - A'' ^ -^ ^- '- 0^ V S. vv ■/^ H *•• -N »■ :.0^ "/- V -^oo^ '^ V '^^ ■ '^ , '^.; ^ ^> H ^^% .- ^ % o .0 o^ : %^'^ H -r; 4^ .'>''' ^,'% ,-0 0^ c' ,00 o I- A< o O O ^ ?,0^= 0^ ^ X « ^ ^C> .#■ ■ 1 o .^ ■^■^. -_ ^N .^ -n. ^o -- '--^ ,-Jy^ xO °^.. "A »^ <3 c:! * *■ \'^ z / 0*^' ^ ^ ■c ->', ' > ' * OO* '^ t^ ; ^0^ .^'.0^ ^0^ ^ X ft o ^ 'c\ V ^. ♦-'*- -;\ ■n^/' .--isi ' ' ^ °.. !<■ ^ '*bo -^ '/ "^KA' % .%y >, - «>' .y K l^jstors of %m and moei (Sonnto Co^jV iVo.. Property of Date. FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN : Help Yourselves! This book has not been subjected to the custom and formalities of copyrighting. Persons who con- sider parts of it ivorthy of repro- duction are requested to make suitable acknoivledgment 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. — Napoleon. V. 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 L By George Magruder Battey, Jr. AUTHOR OF "70,000 MILES ON A SUBMARINE DESTROYER" *?;' W • 'i^ ATLANTA, GA. The Webb and Vary Company 19 2 2 I 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. -^ ( S" b^3 vin. Introduction OW AND THEN a queen pawns her jewels to advance the cause of civihzation, 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 binding. 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 basis 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 of 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 svibject 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 tlie 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 characters 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 adecjuately told, nor has the picture of con- ditions just before the Civil War been 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 apparent. 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 m-oment, ovef what was to be used. Volume II, 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 Rojiie 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 been Richard Venable Mitchell, of Rome. Mr. 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. Mrs. Harriet Connor Stevens has contributed liberally of her time in order that some of the Cave Spring" pioneers might be remembered. Miss Frances 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 Prvor, 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- X. wise expressed herewith of aid rendered by the Daughters of the Ameri- 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. Quigg, 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. vSeveral 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. Mr. Weaker D. Carr, of Silver, Burdett & Co., Boston publishers, loaned the cuts of John Ridge and Major Ridge. To all others who have helped with friendly advice, data or money the heartfelt thanks of the compiler are herewith given. Rome will thank them in her own way. The list is a long one, and it cannot be extended here ; it will appear, perhaps, in the proposed Vol. 11. 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. H 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. H 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 we "mourned," have erected a temporary barrier between us. Fortunately, there have not been many of these, althbugh more have sat on the fence. They will have another chance if they want it — for Vol. n. No considerations of friendship have caused us to over- look a flagrant neglect of Rome and the history by those who in our opin- ion could have helped. At the same time, we feel friendly and hold the door open — for Vol. H. We consider it a duty to speak plainly so Romans will understand, and that we may do better next time. Let us make Vol. H surpass Vol. L The original plan called for sections of text devoted to the Berry Schools, Shorter College, Hearn Academy, the Georgia School 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, prior to that, after 1886, from The Tribune of Rome or The Tribune-Herald, and from 1850 to 1887 XI. from The Rome Tri-Weekly Courier or Weekly Courier. An understand- ing of this scheme, it is beHeved, will assist the reader. It is hoped that the history will please the subscribers 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 all cases the biographies have been submitted to the families for correc- tion and approval. 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 are all in one big family and are blessed with a sense of humor, we can well aft'ord 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. — Since the above was written, the decision was reached to include in Vol. I. no biographical 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- elusion 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 biographies 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. Chapter Page I. The Spanish CavaHers 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^s 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. Part IL I. Rome's Establishment and Early Days ZZ 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 Afifair 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 Col. 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. — Early political campaigns. — Lumpkin, Miller, Underwood, Hackett and Wright. — Pickett's visit to Rome. — The Nobles, iron kings, appear. VI. Views and Events Leading Up 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 HiU speak in Rome. — Secessiorr, 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 IIL I. Opening- of the Civil War — First Manassas 137 Floyd companies depart. — Cannon and church bells announce war. — Casualty lists.— Incidents of the battle.— Capt. Magruder and Jeff Davis.— Death of Col. Bartow. — An illuminating letter from Richmond. — War profiteers rapped by the "home gaiard." II. A Rome Engine 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. III. 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 as Told l)y Himself 181 The campaign outlined. — Movements around Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, Da,llas and Rome. — Sherman's narrow escape. — Why Johnston refused battle. — Corse at AUatoona. — Sherman on Fourth Avenue.- — His message from Rome brings orders to march to the sea. VII. Extreme Desolation Pictured 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. VIII. 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 s The Heart of Cherokee Georgia ^ 37 The World 127 The United States of America 155 Rome in 1890 165 The State of Georgia 387 The County of Floyd 621 XIV. PART I. THE DIM BEGINNINGS 1540-1834 CHAPTER I The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold M VNY 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 Avhat 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 wildcats slunk se- renely from feeding ground to 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 beautiful plumage dotted the trees of hillside, valley and swamp. Upon this primitive stage at some uncertain date had appeared the Indian, successor to the ill- fated Mound Builder 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, pa- poose bags and numerous orna- ments for his person. The Indian painted his face and, his body with a mixture of oil and clay, dressed himself in a wampum belt from Avhich depended a wildcat skin or kilt of liml)er grass or hair, and with a headdress of feathers which bung down to his waist he joined in the big tribal 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 small 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 the paleface as a po- tential foe who needed his hunt- ing grounds and his towns for col- onization purposes. The Spanish are regarded as the pioneer ex- plorers of America through their expeditions to Florida, the Land of Flowers, which embraced vastly more territory than the State of Florida of the present day. Juan Ponce DeLeon explored the coast of the Florida Peninsula in 1513, penetrated into the interior in search of the Fountain of Perpet- ual Youth, engaged the savages and was killed with a poisoned ar- row. Followed the cruel Narvaez to the west coast of the peninsula, 18 A History of Rome and Floyd County where he set an example for the savages by loosing bloodhounds 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 four of his men were lost. Next in importance was Hernan- do (Ferdinand) DeSoto, wdio in his search of the Chiahan Eldorado in the hoj^e of filling the treasure chest of the King of Spain is sup- posed to have spent nearly 30 days on the present site of Rome. DeSoto had fought successfully in the Spanish wars of concjuest 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 the Spanish royal fam- ily and his social equal, whose 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 Six Hun- dred" carried arquebuses, match- locks, one cannon and a falconet (small cannon in general use at that time). They 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, builders and smiths monks, laymen and Catholic priests in robes. Quite 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 short 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 back 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 ; Ihence he proceeded northwest- ward when told by a captured scout* of a province ruled over by a beautiful Indian princess, called Cutifachiqui, where his beasts might break 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 southeast of Au- gusta, Ga., on the Savannah river, where George Golphin later lived. Here DeSoto was presented with a handsome string of large pearls by the Princess Cutifachiqui ; he dug 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- pedition as a guide and protection against any possible attacks by her tribesmen. The Indian maid's knowledge of trails and woodcraft 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 19 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 pushed 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 (Keiisagi) 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 topog- raphy of the country, the aims and necessities of the expedition and the reasonable probabilities are prerecjuisites to a reconciliation of the viewpoints. Some aid may be found in the reflection that DeSoto often divided his force ; undoubt- edly he let the main body follow the rivers in the valleys, while prospecting parties penetrated 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 place 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 1540, searching for gold for his king. 20 A History of Rome and Floyd County the streams at their junction. An- other theory is that the DeSoto district (now better known as the Fourth ward), which is supposed to have been where the Spanish camp- ed, was once an island, having- been cut off by a break in the Oosta- naula near the mouth of Little Dry Creek, which found its way through the lowlands and entered the Coosa above Horseleg Creek, forming a body of land of not less than 250 acres. Both of these suppositions find encouragement in freaks of nature Avhich are observable in the life- time of the average man. Less than a decade ago Perkins Lsland, 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 substantial build- 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 belonged to her. Another island which has be- come part of the mainland in like manner was at Nixon's sand bar, Coosa River, just below and across from the mouth of Horseleg Creek. There are no examples as con- spicuous as these in which new islands have been formed, but ex- amples are common elsewhere, notably in the Mississippi Valley. Certain historians who 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 present 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 followed 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 riorthward. There appears to have been no point in his going below Columbus, Avhere 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 two 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 Oostanaula River (probably in canoes) with his ad- vance guard. Here he was warmly received by the young chief, who spake substantially as follows as he handed DeSoto a long string of perfect pearls :* 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- ical of Indian nature and disposition than the polished versions of the chroniclers, which are unmistakably Spanish. The Spanish Cavaliers and Their Quest for Gold 21 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- qua !" 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 wotdd 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 wife died in Cuba of a broken heart, following her husband short- ly. She had had no word from him since his departtire. CHAPTER II. John Sevier, John Floyd and the Indians I N SEPTEMBER, 1793, an event was cataloo-ued in which the site of Rome was brought to the attention of the country. Gen. John Sevier* de- scended upon Cherokee Georgia 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 down the Oostanaula, while Col- onel Kelly and Major Evans were detailed to take the other half down the Etowah 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 whole 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 Avestern 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 confusion down the Coosa Valley. Sevier is also said to have destroyed Coosa Old Town at this time. This was a villag'e 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 breast 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 Nevins, the Fattens, 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 Chapter 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 23 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 attributes. 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 White, 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 way, 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 v/as 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 reinforced 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- ^-:^^^ <^^ 'Wj GEN. JOHN SEVIER, early governor of Ten- nessee, who in 1793 routed a band of Indians on Rome's site and slew Chief Kingfisher. 24 A History of Rome and Floyd County ing for a town at the mouth of the Etowah river. After refreshijig 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 P'indleston''% 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' connpany 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 from 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 party 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 with 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 discovex'ed 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 were 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 which 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. *R'chard Finnelson. **Sevier's report was evidently 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 25 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 Cherokee 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 pi'ovision 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 with the Cherokees breaking out, he volunteered under Gen. Sevier. . . and at Etowah shot and mor- tally wounded the Cherokee chief, King Fisher, thus ending the bat- tle." The next military event of im- portance to Cherokee Georgia was the invasion of Alabama by Gen. John Floyd in 1814. Gen. Floyd was a native of Souih 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 British, at 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 influence 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 Oostanaula. Se- quoyah 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 alphabet was adopted by the Cherokee Nation and was used along with English in copies of the Cherokee Phoenix, *Site of Coosa village. GEN. JOHN FLOYD, Indian fighter and Con- gressman, after whom in 1832 Floyd County was named. 26 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 penalty 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. _J 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 tiie south bank 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 NeAvtown 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 27 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 encotmtered 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 High tower (Etowah) and Oostannallah Rivers to Will's Creek by *The Big: Rattling Gourd was a sub-chief who lived at cne time at Cave Spring. His wife proved unfaithful to him and in a moment of anpter he bit off her nose and otherwise so maltreated her that she died. According to Mrs. Harriet Connor Stevens, of Cave Spring, she was buried on the spot where the Cave Spring postoffice now stands. **General route of the present Alabama Road. Turkey Town was in Etowah County, Ala. w-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's 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 N^ew 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 appear 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 suitable 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 Echota. 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 28 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 this 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 pillar to post by the en- croaching pale-faces, marshaling their forces for a last ditch stand. Their first expedient was 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 Echota ; 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 proved a feeble weapon. As far back as the presidency of George Washington (1794) we find pow-wows in Philadelphia (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. Jefiferson, 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. Jefiferson, 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. Gov. 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, and proceeded to the Mcintosh home with a quantity of pitch pine on the backs 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 29 ing president, John Ouincy Adams, took their side and ordered Gov. Troup not to survey the lands just ceded. 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. Their OOclM J^t^aC9i^c;Gu>a(X)/cjT{el*'ge The C !e VI me^/lneCOt^ue 4se Ode l-re Lt!e Vt^e(£/weD^e 1 ^51 C^ Jit 1 li JH wi R ni () qui Jj siftl d, ri t, C^lilftsi (9u;i>/9|io}oX\^or hoib loj mojUno '3 r HsoO du ItluC^ tSO f3)wL) Jt5/>^ OlJs. THE CHEROKEE ALPHA.BPT 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 Wolf, 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 Brainerd Mission was located on Missionary Ridge. Tenn., and was probably the first release was brought about when they agreed to leave the State. Pressure on the Indians 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 speculators, adventurers, criminals and good, substantial people began to over- run the Cherokee country. Under letter date of Aug. 6, 1832, from the Council Ground at Red Clay, Whitfield County, the following red-skins protested to Lewis Cass, 30 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, hixxmark; 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 P^ielding, John Timson, Wm. Boling, George Still, his x mark; Hair Conrad, hisxmai'k; 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 tlie influx of settlers became gen- eral. Like a plague of locusts the new-comers alighted on the choice hunting grounds of the Cherokees. 'ihe territory was broken up into counties, and thus was also broken the friendship between the con- tending parties, which for so long had been hanging by a slender thread. John Ross directed a pro- test to his tribesmen which caused them to fast for several days. The Indians assumed an ugly attitude, l)ut it availed little, as we shall iiresently 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. PART II ''ANCIENT ROME'' 1834-1861 CHAPTER I. Rome's Establishment and Early Days I N 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 Etowah 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 I have been convinced, for some time that the location of this place offers ex- ceptional opportunities for build- 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 but I think of what could be done." The last speaker introduced him- self as Maj. Philip 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 with Maj. Hemphill, and the next morning Col. Wm. vSmith was called in from Cave Spring, and became the fourth member of the company. It was there agreed that all available land would be acquired immediate- ly, the ferry rights would be l)OUght and the ground laid off in lots. Gen. Hemphill was requested to confer with his compatriots at Milledgeville and draw up a bill for removal. The projectors would give sufficient land for the public buildings and in time would make the ferries free and cause neces- 34 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. Hargrove 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 H. Lumpkin, of Oglethorpe Coun- ty, who was ready to resign as sec- retary to his uncle, Governor Wil- son Lumpkin, and to grow up with the new town. These five pioneers 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 Hillsboro, 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 and steel metropolis of Pennsyl- DANIEL R. MITCHELL, lawyer and one of four founders of Rome, who gave to the young city its name. vania ; Col. Hemphill preferred Hamburg, after the great commer- cial city of Germany ; Col. Mitch- ell, 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 operations 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, Tlios. S. Price, Wesley Shropshire, Edward Ware, Thos. and Elijah Lumpkin, Micajah Mayo, Elkanah Everett, of Everett Springs ; A. Tabor Hardin, Wm. C. Hardin, Nathan Piass, 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. A-Iitchell, Fletch- er Carver, J. W. Carver, J. D. Alex- ander, Col. Jno. R. Hart, Gilbert Cone, Dr. H. V. M. Miller, Thos. W. Burton, A. D. Shackelford, Thos. C. Hackett, James McEntee, Wm. T. Price, R. S. Norton, C. M. Pen- nington, Rev. Shaler G. Hillyer, Wm. 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 35 l)ecause of the number and promi- nence of her citizens who settled in 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 Mrs. Wm. Smith and her brother, Jno. 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 tliese settled in Vann's Valley or Cave Spring and thus furnished the inspiration for Rome. Generally they hailed from Jefferson, home of Dr. CraAvford W. Long. In 1828 the Georgia Legislature had 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 tirawings, 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, Col^b, Gilmer, Cass, Murray, Paulding and Union. Roughly speaking, this territory lay northwest of ilie Chattahoo- chee River, and was bounded on the north by the Tennessee line, and on the west by the Alabama line. Gradually more and more di- visions were made, until today the territory is composed of the fol- lowing additional counties : Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Chattooga, Bar- tow, Gordon, Polk, Haralson, Car- roll, Douglas, Milton, Dawson, White, Fannin, Pickens, Rabun, Towns and Habersham, and parts of Hall, Heard and Troup. Floyd was surveyed by Jacob M. Scudder, who in 1833 was em- ployed by the United States gov- ernment to appraise 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 by Judge Jno. W. Hooper, were held, and in which quite a lumiber of Indians appeared as prosecutors and defendants. The removal of the county seat from Livingston to Rome took place under authority of an act passed Dec. 20, 1834,** and was *Acts, 1833, ps. 321-2. **Acts, 1S34, ps. 250-1. PHILIP "WALKER HEMPHILL, planter and one of Rome's projectors, who in 1846 moved to Mississippi. 36 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 county 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, et 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" by the dictionary, but pjobably 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 Spring in the valley which was given his name, and in tliis 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 Ridge, who 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- doubtedly Mr. Ross was influenced *Acts, 1834, PS. 250-1. **Jas. M. Cunningham's place, at or near the present DeSoto Park, had been designated in the act of Dec. 21, 1833, 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 ihis home, but his identity has not been estab- lished to a certainty. However, it is on record in the Secretary of State's office. State Capitol, Atlanta, and an old book known 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 45 it is set down that Samuel Headen sold it Feb. 21, 1844, for $3,000 to John B. Winfrey, of Hall. John B. Winfrey was the father of Jas. O. Winfrey, of Floyd. He sold 80 acres of it to Col. Alfred Shorter and 80 to Daniel R. Mitchell. The part on which the Ross house stood is now between Mrs. James M. Bradshaw's home and Hamilton park, and in- cludes the home of County School Superin- tendent W. C. Rash. It is an eminence where a large sugar berry tree and a walnut are growing. Here, according to a memorial Ross and others sent to the United States Senate in 1836, was where one of his babies and his beloved father, Daniel Ross, were buried. Since Hugh Brown sold the land in November and Ross was dispossessed in April, 1835, it is likely that Brown was living there at the time the Indian leader and his family were turned adrift. Mr. Ross lived at Ross' Landing, Look- out Mountain, now Chattanooga, Tenn., and at Rossville, Walker County, Ga. He was born Oct. 3, 1790 ; some authorities say at Rossville, some Turkeytown, Etowah Co., Ala., and some Tah-nee-hoo-yah ("Logs in the Wa- ter"), Ala., which last place and Turkeytown were on the Coosa. Rome's Establishment and Early Days 37 kCohurtah" ijd'iitiy o Frick t GayO ^Dunn^ o'WooJlawn'. oV S(a./ '^^i^^lchcl I- „/ '-iXn F'""*'" (fohfetnut-Flal ■ ->flW*MiLW/ri Fprance r^llloa 1 /W (7or<7on S;)rtnjj \\ , "'I ^V,„ J. r-/:^!-/' S (Blue Sphrq^f ■ -^^ Va'^ , ^■>^^"""vino'=^^|^X' G//0 /R ..D M--' "^ TOWD 7rfek h„;t r/.ft'V "7 (S!ue Sprivq^t' ~ll[. ^ ^^„. 'I ■( 'noZcrXon^s'^ic'^°"'" ^'^"' J Car: \CHA/rT. JV7!fc7cr: ^?S.?^J S't. N" ^'\'' p I c V'^ fcrusa} jno/ , ._.a:f:rnav/Sftro OnmanJ^ "7 j B | A R T Is., »-^^-'' fl'ine Z-P7 ^1 j: >c» ^ [laire Mill ' -, SoiThia Walcsca -Sharp 7] JBall C.'uJ ^'■'igu. Q^ s'.orUuj Bl""' — _ ^ Mills ( ^r<^v,o-n *$»'%■ Z;*^ S9it c. (f-f Helj>-''- THE HEART OF CHEROKEE GEORGIA. (Scale of miles, 18 miles to one inch.) Atlanta by the fact that Major Ridge was living about a mile away, and they could hold their conferences much more easily. John Ridge, son of the Major and also a leader, lived about three miles from Ross, at "Running Waters," later the John Hume place. New Echota was some 30 miles, and the Council Ground at Red Clay, Whitfield County, was 60 miles northward, as the crow flies. Sequoyah, the man of letters and knowledge, was 25 miles away. Elias Boudinot, Stand Watie and David Vann were readily available. Assuming that Ross moved to DeSoto in 1825, he resided there ten years, until finally dispossessed of his home. He used to start his letters "Head of Coo- sa." It will be seen, therefore, that the site of Rome was probably of more importance between 1825 and 38 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 with alacrity between Rome, New Echota, Red Clay and Washing- ton. But 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 the 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 then, in which the riders, going at full speed on their mounts, ran their lances through rings held lightly by a projecting wooden arm — the man who got the most rings in the fewest runs won the contest. Another diversion, of a highly humorous nature, was the "gander pulling." The neck of a live gander v.as greased thoroughly and the bird hung up by the feet to a limb. The game was to pull the gan- der's neck oft" or bring him down "whole." This was a difficult 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 l^een sleek enough without any grease. If the boys could not make it to the top in a reasonable time they were al- lowed to put sand on their cloth- ing ; then they went home to their "maws." "Catching the greased pig" 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 been seen ; for quite 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 ingger's soul am pure !" The task of forming the Rome bar fell to Col. Mitchell, who pro- ceeded with a nucleus composed of himself, Mr. Lumpkin and two or three others. Presently, in 1835, funds 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 Horse- 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 39 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 with 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, hoping 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 objectives, many did not and would "squat" 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 say 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 Hillsboro side or the Rome side, as he pleased. A little later the trafiic 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 Major Ridge and Daniel R. Mitchell was dissolved, they cut a melon estimated at $250,000 in 1922 coin. Perhaps 5,000 Indians patronized this establishment, and they paid any price for what they wanted. They were especially fond of calico garments, and would buy extrava- gantly for their women, and often include enough for an odd waist which the women would make for them. They wore outlandish clothes, never matching in any par- ticular ; buckskin or woolen trous- ers, well worn or patched ; hats that suggested the hat of today on 40 A History of Rome and Floyd County a Chinaman, often with a squirrel tail tacked on it and hanging down the side or back ; 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 bare- foot; cheap jewelry and trinkets whenever they could get it, which was often ; sometimes a cjueer tur- Itan in place of a hat ; usually no coat or jacket, 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- cery." Green 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 places loafed a gang of shiftless Indians and whites, bent on satis- fying their abnormal appetites, and fit subjects for whatever mischief might be suggested by the Demon ^ MAJOR RmCE, Cherokee chief, who, with his son John, was murdered June 22, 1839, in Indian Territory by vengeful redskins. Rum. These gangs were extremely profane, and poisoned the atmos- phere 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 ever}' man was a law vuito himself. Gradually, however, local laws were passed and irresponsi- ble 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. Mitchell, 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 wide and lanes 35 feet. Some modifica- tions of that scale, notably with regard to Fourth Avenue, have since been made, and a lawsuit of some importance and interest has resulted. A few more stores and shops sprang up which carried every ar- ticle that could l)e obtained in such a limited market. The groceries would also ofifer 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 41 hats and shoes, 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. They wore the uniforms of the frontier and assumed the manners of frontiers- men. Rome was to be built, and it could not be 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 build — 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 war-whoops ; and on these special occasions they put aside their semi-civilized garb and donned the buckskin, the flaming headdress of feathers and all the paint they could daub 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 Indians gathered, and one thing that impressed her particu- larly was that some of the men had mussel shells tied around their ankles and filled with gravel that 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 was 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, vvriting 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 protected 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 '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. JOHN RIDGE, who was also active in oppo- sition to John Ross's attempt to block re- moval of the Cherokees from Georgia soil. 42 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, horse theft or incendiary fire after an- other. The country was overrun with vigilance' committees, out- hiws, 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. . CHAPTER II. The Great Indian Meeting at Rome T HE following item from the Georgia Constitutionalist, of Augusta, July 24, 1835, (Guieu & Thompson, pro- prietors), 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 planta- tion later owned by John Hume, and now the property of E. L. Fors- ter. A bold spring at this domicile caused the name "Tantatanara," *A)lowing for women and children, Georgia Guardsmen, United States troops, officials and onlookers, it is probable that 3,000 people at- tended this meeting. It was estimated that 600-800 attended the Red Clay Council in Oc- tober, 1835, and 300-500 the New Echota meet- ing in December, 1835, 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 ag'ree 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- born 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 44 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 Gcvernment, 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 9th 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- roll*** 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 Ridge Treaty party. He is referred to in Gov. Wilson Lumpkin's book "Removal of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia" 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 (1835), ps. 399-447, lists the voters, with their numbers, to a total of 2,273, 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 2,159 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 45 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. 46 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 cartied, 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 eervant, 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 con- 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 47 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," by Mabel Washbourue 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- 48 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 vv'ish 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 votinsj table, 2,273. , , ^ **"Losf was evidently intended for cai- ried." The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 49 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 amendinent, 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- 50 A History of Rome and Floyd County WHERE THE GREEN CORN DANCES WERE HELD. "The Chieftain's," on the 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-skin braves and their squaws and sweethearts. His ferry connected with the Alabama road, then an Indian trail. Nearby was George M. Lavender's trading post. Early owners included A. N. Verdery, Ferdinan DeBray de Longchamp and Emil de Longchamp, Judge Augustus R. Wright and F. M. Jeffries. The Great Indian Meeting at Rome 51 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 suggested 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 (18.35), ps. 390-447. ***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 Archilla 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. Coosewattie — 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. Hightower {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, Fase, Nelson West, Red Bird, Wat Huskhe, and John Eliot. Total, 20. Amoah — Jos. Foreman, Jac Bushy- head, Wm. Reed and Jay Hicks. To- tal, 4. Aqnohee, Chickamauga and Tahquo- 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, Sr., Turnip Mountain*****. Total, 6. 52 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 w^as plainly unaccustomed to frontier life and the cruel ways of the world. In August, 1833, he had sent out from NeAv 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 Ta- side of the Bowl." He had an- nounced that he w^ould 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 43, far from the age 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 Hardins and played on the piano for the little girls of the family while they were stationed at New Echota, but nothing yet establishes that he visited Rome and Pope's Ferry. For a time it was believed he attended the July Indian meeting 54 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- ter to Gen. Edward 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 Miss Harden mingled among the students on the campus. In company with Gov. Lump- kin, Gen. Harden and Col. Sam- uel Rockwell, Payne set oft 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 11 p. m., Nov. 7, 1835, and released Friday morning, Nov. 20, 12y2 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 Payyie 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 promise 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. vSo 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 bearing 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 55 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 Payyie to His Country- vien. — 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 ray 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 joui'- 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- 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 L)i. 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 interest 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. Elverett and others. The hint I speak of led me to ask about them. The more I heard, the more I became excited. I 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 *Judge Hugh Lawson White and David A. Deaderick led a committee for a Payne mass meeting 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. JOHN HOWARD PAYNE, author of world- famous song, "Home, Sweet Home," who was arrested by the Georgia Guard in 1835. 56 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 graduated in ISO!). Payne entered in 1807, pre- sumably in the Class of ISll, 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 57 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 w\shed 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- 58 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 crea- 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 Home," 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 rear 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 absorbed 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 humming?" "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 crossing 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 wei-e brought out. Young himself re- 60 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 musquets 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 moryiing, "I'll not go home 'till morning!" 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 02-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 61 "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 gather 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 you'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 v/as 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 unanswerable. 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 plan 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 62 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 vam sougnt to see us. We next ob- tained information that a son and a friend of JWr. 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 inquiry to his son in Cherokee, Mr. Joshua Holden sudden^ ly interdicted Mr. Ross from proceed- ing. One 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 capei-ed. 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 vvas 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 addi'ess 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 tcok 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 nained." I pressed to know on what charge I was imorisoned. Mr. Absalom Bish- op remarked that I would learn ere long from the proper authority, and added with a simper, "You 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 dooi-way, 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 63 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 which 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 into 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 in 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- (luired 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 64 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- temporai-y 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 bonhomviie. 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?" "Oui, 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 65 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 Coi. 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 66 A History of Rome and Floyd County .-^' f » •c-?«^f 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. 1 he 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 67 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 w^as 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 wax!" 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 68 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 everj-thing 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 u-ithheld, 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 S20 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 vou 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 69 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 mass 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. "Xow, sir, take your papers; hang '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, Brest 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 70 A History of Rome and Floyd County slowly from the place, because I had great difficulty in retaining 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 road, 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 71 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 charged 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 i-est 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- 72 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- sulted 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. There was no * George Lowrey. **Rev. Elijah Butler, who had charge of Mis- sioivary 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 73 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 could 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 would 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 really 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 complainer may be 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! T 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. 74 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 impoi-t. 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 eJiormity. 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. 2S. Since he was released Friday, Nov. 20, he could not have reached Knoxville, 125 miles, in less than four days. Payne was born June 8, 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 Tavlor Coleridge and Chas. Lamb, and roomed with Irving in Paris for a while. CHAPTER IV Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair T at Washington liE arrest of Payne and Ross stirred up a "hornet's nest" in Georgia and Ten- nessee and to a less extent and throughout the country. Governor William Schley had just come into of- fice at Milledgeville 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 l:)order" 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, but would have had Payne arrested had he known of his de- signs. Two Indians from near Rome figured in the aft'air. Payne's ac- count mentions that one of them hung himself in the guard house at Spring 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 explanation : *The Howling Wolf was of the Chickamauga District, which included part of Rome. He was no doubt identical with Crying Wolf. Robbin was a member of Challocgee district, which in- cluded half of Floyd County. Both attended the Running Waters council in July, and Robbin voted with the faction led by Ridge. The Howling 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 ms.n 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 well calcu- lated to inflame public opinion. John Ross knew this, and he tact- fully refrained from rushing into the discussion. Theodore Freling- huysen, Edward Everett, Jas. K. Polk, Jno. C. Calhoun, Sam Hous- ton, John Bell, Hugh 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 about a Congressional in- vestigation. The Georgia Journal, of Mil- ledgeville, a consistent opponent of Gov. Lumpkin and his "strong-arm gang," printed the following pro- test under date of Tuesday, 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 proved 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 76 A History of Rome and Floyd County A FEW THINGS THE INDIANS LEFT BEHIND. Here is part of Wesley O. Connor's collection of relics at Cave Spring. These articles Yol? """/^io ""'^o^^?'^^ 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 pomts and arrow heads, pipes, pestles and bits of pottery. The skulls are undoubtedly- Indian. ' Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 77 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 wdiat little he told Bill Arp, which is to be found elsewhere herein. But 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 Gen. Harden at Athens in 1836, 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. ***John Howard's own statement says it was Saturday, Nov. 7, near midnight. ****The brother estimated 24 miles. Blue Spring, Bradley County, Tenn., where the ar- rest took place, is eight miles north of the Georgia line, and about 40 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 work 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 with 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 quill and ink fly, to such an extent that Col. Bishop resigned his commis- sion in December. Soon thereafter the Standard of Union threw Bish- op this bouquet : 78 A History of Rome and Floyd County Col. Bishop at Home. — After 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 integi-ity 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 gi'atified at the support which Col. Bishop has I'eceived 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 Currey, 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 longpi 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 Evflyn 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 (1835), p. .538. Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 79 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 committee severe- ly scored the Guard :** 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. The pro-administration press sounded a different note on the in- cident. A Nashville Banner view proved good enough for the Geor- gia Telegraph (Macon) of Thurs- day, Dec. 24, 1835, and The Tele- graph reprinted it verlxitim : Mr. John Howard Payne, who, to- gether with John Ross, the Chei'okee 80 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 b}^ Payne that President Jackson (through his agents) had offered Ross a bribe stirred Washington as much as the arrest itself.** This charge was carried in an anonymous commu- nication printed by several news- papers in the "Pryne Free-Serv- ice Syndicate," and is believed to have been played up especially by the Knoxville Register, wi:h whose editor Payne's liaison was com- plete.*** 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 attribtited 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. 26.5. '"♦Authorities: Letter of Apr. 16, 1836, Major Currey to Elbert Herring, Commissioner of In- dian Affairs, and Exhibit 14 as inclosure of same, both included in Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee Treaty (1835), ps. 549-590. ***Payne asserted it was never published, but Maj. Currey's report to Jackson claimed The Register editor used it anonymously. ****Exhibit 14 of Currey inclosures. Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 81 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 regretted 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. ***About 10 o'clock, according to Ross. ****Silas and Geo. W. Ross 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, 1835. Most of the lottery drawings were held in Oc- tober, 1832. 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 pi-overbial, 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- 82 A History of Rome and Floyd County portment; rather slow and reserved in tlieir 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- ham'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 bii-th 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- fiuently 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 his 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 Cherokee 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- *Barti'am's. ** Reference is to after New Echota happened to be. Tennessee, but the capital was wherever John Ross Aftermath of the Payne-Ross Affair 83 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 own 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 Running Waters, near Rome. ♦♦Reference 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 84 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 prisoner, 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 65, a few years before he died in Washinprton, 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 with 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 from 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 approached 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 85 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 negro woman, wringing her hands and her eyes streaming with tears, "Oh! the poor Cherokees, the poor Cherokees; my heart breaks and will 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 morCj 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, imploring justice, imploring that we will be hon- est to ourselves. Americans, turn not away from such *Here is a hint that Payne made arrange- ments with certain editors to print his articles. **Payne 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. 8, 1835, John How- ard Payne and John Ross arrived as prisoners of the Guard, and occupied an outhouse used to quarter troublesome Indians. On Dec. 16, 1836, Major Benj. 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 prayer! (No Signature).** A true copy : Dyer Castor. The wilds of Cherokee Georgia were getting more and more dan- gerous as the whites squatted upon the Indian lands. Murders and robberies were things of almost 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. Yann, 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 86 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. Hargrove 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 87 ■went through the door 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. Hargrove 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 off, and given to Kinchin W. Hargrove when he went up to Spring Place. After my surrender to the sheriff, *Spring 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 as 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 public 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 conse- quences of subverting the judicial au- thority throughout one whole circuit in a new country. 88 A History of Rome and Floyd County Finally the toe hold of the Indian be£?an to give way. For a decade the Indian's had been going west in small detachments, under the dip- lomatic urge of the Government. 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. Lumpkin, Major 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 wav 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. The Rev. George White tells as follows 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 Governor of Georgia 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 89 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 Iniry 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 l)and of several hundred Indians took a secret oath to kill Major Ridge and his clan brother (nephew by blood) Elias Boudinot,*** and John Ridge, his son. Thev bided their time, and June 22, 1839, killed all three. Major Ridge was waylaid on the road 40 or 50 miles from home, and shot. His son was taken from his bed earl}^ in the morning and near- ly cut to pieces with knives. Air. Boudinot was decoyed away from a house he had l)een erecting a short distance from his residence, *The father of Gen. John Floyd, for whom Floyd county was named. **Numerous complaints are of record today. The route has been called "The Trail of Tears." ***A native of Floyd county. ****Stand Watie lived at Coosawattie Town, and later near Rome. *****AssuminK that Ridge was Iwrn in 1771, as usually stated, he would have been 68. and then set upon with knives and hatchets. One version has 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 was 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 Ridge, 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 Tahlequah, 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 party. 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 Ridge, an aged man of 75;***** his son, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot, three of the most powerful and influential 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 they were widely separated at the time. John Ridge was slain on 90 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 Elias 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- tary 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 re- ward, but not one in that guilty crowd answered him, and he rode away as fearlessly as he had come, 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 affair 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. 6, 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 Ecliota 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 War on Cherokee Treaty (1835), p. 995. **Destroyed in 1864 by soldiers of the Union Army, according to the )ate 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- nia, Ala., where Dr. Caldwell had been offered the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church. James McEntee, the proprietor, and oth- ers persuaded the newly-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 by 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 Buena Vista, at the south- east corner of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, was built in 1843 by 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 representing him. About 1850 Wm. Ketcham was proprietor of the Etowah House, southeast corner of Broad Street and Second Avenue, and in 1863 the proprietor was Gen. Geo. S. Black. The Tennessee House was start- ed at the end ui the Civil War by 92 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, where a hand press was installed. This was on the spot 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 Emily 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 West First Street (now the courthouse property) and jjreached to mixed crowds of In- dians, negroes and whites.*** On one of these occasions Dr. McFer- rin converted John Ross, who thereafter spread the doctrines of Methodism among his tribes- men.**** It is considered worthy 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 Ward home of Ross. St. Peter's Episcopal church was first located at Fifth Avenue and E. First Street, and was establish- ed Mar. 31, 1854, by Rev. Thos. Fielding Scott, of Alarietta, 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, 1837, p. 48. the trustees of the corporation on Dec. 2.5, 18,37, 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, 1889. Growth from Village to Town 93 Arniuchee, Chulio, Everett Springs and the other pioneer districts of the county are also very old. Some folks say Sardis Presbyterian is older than Pisgah Baptist ; 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 ]\Iaj. 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 Maj. Armistead Richardson, Alexander Thornton Harper and Carter W. Sparks. The Prospect Baptist church, near Coosa, was founded in 1856. Undoubtedly the oldest religious agency in the county (now only a memory) was the mission at Coo- sa (theu 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 ^y Rev. Plugh Ouin, about 1827. Such l)usiness estal)lishments as might be expected in a growing town sprang up between 1834 and 1861. Col. Alfred Shorter began to trade in cotton, merchandise and real estate, and was recognized as Rome's leading financier and busi- ness man. Col. Cunningham M. Pennington, a civil engineer, ap- peared on the scene as Col. Shor- ter's agent, and also gave consid- erable attention to railroad enter- prises. Chas. M. Harper, a nephew, likewise was early associated with Col. Shorter. A postoffice was set up at a con- venient spot in the center of town and all the folks came for their mail. The 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- oughfares 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 Black's Blufif 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 College, who taught Mrs. Woodrow Wilson and many others. 94 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 stay. Mail was carried in pouches and the stage driver was responsible for its safe delivery. To facilitate this object, the driver iisually 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. Powell, 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 up on the site of Atlanta, Romans had had a vision of a "terminus" on their own particular 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 perhaps best realized by William Smith, who in 1836 was elected to the State Senate with the idea that he might have a bill passed at Mil- ledgeville which would cause the proposed State Railroad to stop at Rome instead of at some point in Tennessee, which later became Chattanooga. The people were not ready for such a radical step, how- ever. The Steamboat Coosa had come 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 three 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 W^est. Such 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 Adkuis, father of Wm. H. Adkins, of At- lanta, formerly of Rome. Tt was eased into the Oostanaula with ap- propriate ceremonies and her flag raised, bearing the name of her projector, William Smith. The n"'.a- chinery was not installed for a time, possibly due to a delay in delivery, or the desire of the own- *Acts, 1843, p. 83. **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 95 ers to see the bill pass l^efore 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. The bill as passed included Chattanoo- ga. Rome was to be isolated to some extent ; the road was to pass 16 miles away, through Cass Coun- ty, from Marthas ville northwest- ward. Col. Smith smiled his acquies- cense, but there was no estimating his disappointment. One night the William Smith sank, at the point where the 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, be- } 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 be 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 with knives in grog shops, and an occasional duel, but news-gathering facilities had not been developed, and the papers were consequently filled with "views." Every editor was a savior of the country, and spread-eagle literary efiforts readily found their way into the newspapers from poli- ticians or statesmen. Presidential and Gubernatorial 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 today are of much less consequence often ran into two or three columns. As for the women, they religiously read "Godey's La- dies' Book," an eastern publica- tion which met needs like the La- dies' Home Journal of today. It is not necessarily a reflection on Rome that in the first 26 years of her existence, from 1834 to 1860, she elected more men to Congress than has the Rome of the 57 years from 1865 to 1922. A new country always develops rugged leadership and the fearless expression of opin- ion that goes with a daily fight for existence. In this early period Rome sent four men to Congress. They were, in order. Judge John H. Lumpkin, who had previously served his uncle, Governor Wilson 96 A History of Rome and Floyd County Lumpkin, as secretary:, and had gone to the legislature in 1835 ; Thos. C. Hackett, Judge Lump- kin's law partner, who succeeded him ; Judge Augustus R. Wright, who had removed to Rome in 1855 ; and Judge Jno. W. H. 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 b.een elected over the eloquent and polished Benjamin H. Hill. Also, it is likely he would have been the War Governor. On June 24, 1857, the Democrats met at Milledge- ville to nominate a candidate to oppose the new American or Know- Nothing party. Lumpkin led the balloting for some time, l)ut he could not get the necessary two- thirds, and in a stampede, the nom- ination went to Jos. E. Brown. Alfred H. Colquitt, later Governor, also missed it narrowly. 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 representatives were Judge Augustus R. Wright, who on one ballot received five votes ; Judge jno. W. H. Underwood and Daniel S. Printup. At all such gatherings Rome was prominently put for- ward. Her leading men went to the national conventions on an equal footing with the large cities of the state ; and on numerous occasions Governors, Senators and Congress- men came to Rome to seek the ad- vice of these nol)le Romans. Among the Governors were Chas. J. Mc- Donald, Herschel 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 saving, "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 to social courtesies which had nothing to do with politics. A contemporary writer said of Rome's "quartette" and Dr. H. V. M. Miller, United States Senator elected in 1868 Avhile residing in Atlanta : John H. Lumpkin was the candidate of North Georgia, which section vig- orously claimed the right to have the Governor. Lumpkin had been a con- gressman 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 Demosthe- 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 Rome, 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. LITTLE TEXAS VALLEY— by Lillian Page Coulter Growth from Village to Town 99 a fluent, effective speaker and a good 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 control 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 party *Avery's History of Georgia, p. 52. **Georgia Historical Quarterly, June, 1922, ps. 148-9. ***Chas. J. McDonald, Governor from 1839 to 1843. ****The election was held Jan. 23, 1854. Wm. C. Dawson, Whig incumbent, McDonald and Cobb were beaten by a Southern Rights Democrat, Alfred Iverson, of Columbus. *****GeorKia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends, Vol. H, p. 15. 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. Ward, min- ister to China; Herschel V. John- son, United States Senator and candidate for vice-president on the ticket of Stephen A. Douglas jvgainst Abraham Lincoln in 1860; and a number of others who bore Georgia's banner in the front of the procession. Georgia did not play "second fiddle" to any state or the village of Rome to any city. Few of Rome's early records were kept, and apparently 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 H. H. Wimpee, of South Rome, and from these we get the best view of the political condi- tions up to that time, and looking jihead into the dark days of 1861-5. By 1850 we find the old Whig party beginning to disintegrate, but its adherents fighting grimly. In that year its last President, Mil- lard Fillmore, was inaugurated. Democrats were holding their own ; after Fillmore they elected Frank- lin Pierce and James Buchanan. The Republican party was rising in power. The American Party 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 party, 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 fr'om the statement that meetings at this time were at- tended ^by 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 Ware received 882 and 809 votes, respectively, and Dr. Alvin Dean 121 votes, in a Floyd County election for two delegates t(^ 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 was heavily in favor of preserving the status quo. The eyes of the nation were focused on Georgia, and a different 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- r /<\, ■■ >■ o U bC oi Oh -t-J <^ -^ Cs CHAPTER VII. Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities HE 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, who had just re- turned to the editorial sanctum after a vacation at East Poultney, \''t., 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. 1860. It has been suggested that the 11 o'clock service on Sunday, the 4th of November next be devoted to repent- ance, humihation, 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, i860. A Final Appeal.- — Before the next issue of The Weekly Courier w^ill be printed, the die virill 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 ask 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 Laivs," 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 three weeks 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 Your In- 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 noiv the vo-y existence of the government is in jeopardy. The question as to how a man shall vote, always important, is now freighted with fearful responsibility. 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 through- 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 ai'e beneath the notice of patriots. This may be true or it may not. Interest should not be weighed against prhiciple. But that is not the case now. We now have princifple, patriot- is7n 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 are striving earnestly and hopefully. Let us faithfully perform our duty and all may yet be well. Judge Douglas 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.j 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, aJid nothing but the truth, in order to arouse them to any reasonable course of conduct. The people should beware of rash counsels, and not suff"er 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 be elected!— Now. 6, 1860. For 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.—Mv. 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 1/^! 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 End. — 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 lawful in their character with a deep and unswerving determination to maintain our rights 7h 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 known 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, vdthout 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 true Southerners. 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 will 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. Third Ward A. W. CALDWELL* A. R. HARPER 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 Ward N. J. OMBERG J. W. WOFFORD Second Ward O. B. EVE JOHN NOBLE FOR MAYOR** DR. T. J. WORD FOR COUNCILMEN 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 war 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 forces 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 onght 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- moving fragments and other obstruc- tions on the sidewalks about several new buildings on Broad Street. Good Guns. — 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 the 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, but 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 JAMES M. SPULLOCK, once super- 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 picture of the scene, and incidental- ly, emphasizes the opposition to secession among the more con- servative type 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 work 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, which 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. 15.3. Lincoln's Election Foretells Hostilities 13 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- gia 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 lit 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 replied promptly. "I believe in fighting this war under the United States flag. Southerners were largely in- strumental in founding 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. Battey," 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. .lAMKS M. SPULLOCK, 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 peppery "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. Gordon — 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 drav^Ti 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. n, ps. 567-570. **The horses. PART III THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD 1861-1865 CHAPTER I. Opening of the Civil War^First Manassas T IS manifestly impossible in a work of this size to present more than a glimpse 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 wnll come along- some day who will devote to the period an entire book. The principal events of the 1861- 65 period herein treated are the First Battle of Manassas (Va.), July 21, 1861 ; the chase Apr. 12, 1862, after the Confederate engine General, in which 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. Sherman. Rome itsejf 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. Wimpee 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 FLxico. . 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 Manas- 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 Infantrv, named after Capt. Thos. Berry, Capt. Thos. W. Alex- cinder; Sardis Volunteers, 6th Ga. Cavalry, 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. Gar- trell; Cherokee Artillery (later Corput's battery), Capt. Marcellus A. Stovall, Lieuts. 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. liaynie ; Highland Rangers** 138 A History of Rome and Floyd County (Rome), Capt. J. h. Kerr; Booten and Harkins' Cavalry Company, Capt. Daniel F. Booten, Lieut. Jno. Harkins. The Rome Volunteers was a company in existence before the 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 with extreme despera- tion against overwhelming 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, only 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 offer its services to Gov. Jos. E. Bruwn. 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 offer 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 were 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, 1861, 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 with 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 thei storm center of the diplomatic negotia-i 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 residence 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 Hutchings. 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 Weekly Courier of Friday, April 26, 1861, announced the opening of the Civil War as follows : Glorious News — 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 Gen. 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 accoutreinents, 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 entire community. The Courier Thursday morning, May 30, 1861, gave the^ Miller Ri- fles this send-off: 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 bows 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 gi-at- 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 published 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; sHghtly 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. Floyd 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. Frederick 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 staff, 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 prisoners. 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 flred 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 fi-om the Miller Rifles. Seven of the Federal prisoners have told us they expected to Idc 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 GEORGK TRIPPE STOVALL, editor and Methodist Sunday School superintendent who was killed at First 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. Hills. — 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 affectionate 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. Returned.— 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. Accident 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 been g'leaned 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, *Relateb. 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 home 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 grateful acknowledgment to Col. Pennington, 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 tlieir 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 filed. 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!" Mrs. Reynolds 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 pairs of woolen socks, 10 of cotton drawers, 1 of suspenders, 2 of gloves, 3 towels, 2 pillow cases, 3 nubias, 1 bundle of bandages, 6 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 dages 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-Scicrifice among the women. It must be remem- 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. Many of the articles of food that had been abundant were ob- tainable no more, and various stib- stitutes 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 talloAV 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 black with oil and soot. Shoe strings were made of hard twisted MR. AND MRS. I. D. FORD, a beloved couple of Rome, the parents of the first Mrs. Joseph L. Bass. *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 charge of the Polk hospital, on the west side of Broad Street between Second and Third Avenues. Polk hospital was moved to Macon. **According to the war diary of the late Reuben S. Norton, the last hospital was moved from Rome Dec. 8, 1863. Activities of the Folks at Home 159 H ^.-JP^ ^ ~ -■mr iu li' ■n k. 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 were burn- ed into ashes and lye made there- from, and this was mixed with sour milk. Butter bean hulls were used in the same way. During the autumn, when the sorghum was being ground, peaches, apples, wild grapes and wild cherries furnished the "base" for jams and jellies. The sorg- hum was used as sweetening, and the product after cooking was called preserves. If the invaders shot down sheep in the pasture, the good woman 160 A History of Rome and Floyd County went to the spot with her shears and got enough wool for socks and stockings. 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 Hfe." 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 sulifering were re- ported from the country districts, Mdiere women often stepped into the places of the men in the fields. "The most novel thing I have seen in some time was a woman plowing 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 AN INCIDENT of the war wliich vied in spectacnlarity with the Andrews' raid was the Hathaway-Streight in- cursion into Alabama 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, 1863 — 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 the 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. Streight 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 Joy! — 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 Tiding with hot haste for eleven hours, and gave in- formation, that the enemy were 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 road and the bridge, 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 Gen. 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 inferior 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 here 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 repoi-ted 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- eumbia, 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 Ceosa 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 Rosencrantz with a view to destroying the towns, bridges, iron foundries, railroads, com- missary supplies on this entire I'oute, 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. l^rom 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. NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST, whose locks were cut by admiring women 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. Forrest fought them near Major Blount's plantation Friday evening or Saturday morning. Here their com- mander-in-chief, Hathaway, was kill- ed. The command then devolved on Col. Streight, of the 51st Indiana. As they passed onward they destroyed the Round Mountain Iron Works. Cross- ing Chattooga River, they destroyed the bridge. Some time during Sat- urday night, Gen. Forrest succeeded in crossing the river, and fell on them Sunday afternoon at Mrs. Lawrence's, about five miles east of Gaylesville, and here after a short fight, terms of capitulation for the entire Federal forces was agreed upon, and the Fed- erals stacked their arms. During Saturday evening a detach- ment of 200 had been sent ahead to reconnoiter and attack Rome, as cir- cumstances might indicate. The first intimation the people of Rome had of the raid was the arrival of Mr. John H. Wisdom, from Gads- den, giving information of the rapid approach of the Federals. Tremendous excitement, and be it said to the dis- credit of some, much liquor was wast- ed, doubtless to screw up their cour- age to the fighting point. By 8 p. m. two cannon, with barricades of cotton bags, were mounted and placed in po- sition on the river bank. The citi- zens from the country flocked in with their rifles and squirrel guns, and there soon were enough to make a pretty formidable fight, if they had lieen under any sort of organization. But the organization amounted to as near none as possible. About half past 8 some pickets and videttes went out and a short distance from the city en- countered the enemy's advance pick- ets. Here some skirmishing for sev- eral hours took place between the enemy and these pickets and some citizens who had advanced on the enemy. About 2 p. m. the enemy very suddenly and apparently in a great hurry mounted and retreated down the road, followed by our skirmishers. They met Gen. Forrest and his party about 8 or 9 miles below Rome, Col. Streight and all the Federal officers being their prisoners. It is said the reason of the sudden departure of the Federals from Shorter's was a cour- ier from Col. Streight, their com- mander, informing them that they were prisoners of war, and had been for eight hours. About 6 p. m. Gen. Forrest, with 120 Federal officers and this detach- ment reached the city, under such booming of cannon and rejoicing as has never been seen in Rome, and may never again. Indeed, it was right and just to him and his brave men. But for the noble and gallant Forrest and his equally noble and gallant men, who had pursued and fought this band of outlaws, robbers and murderers for five consecutive days and nights, al- most without eating or sleeping, our beautiful little Mountain City would at this hour be in ashes, and many of our best citizens robbed and murder- ed. A thousand blessings upon them, and a thousand prayers for them! In their vanity and folly some of our vain and swaggering people are trying to claim credit to themselves for this glorious success of the truly in- domitable and noble Forrest. If we did anything, it was clumsily done. Forrest has justly won for himself by this almost superhuman effort a title to a major generalship, and if he is not promoted, he will not have jus- tice done him, especially when it is remembered that with a picked force of Federals, four to his one, he dash- ed on them by day and by night, and in chasing them a little over 200 miles, he killed or captured the last one of them, with all their cannon, arms, horses, stores, etc., killing outright their leader and 300 men, with a loss of only 10 killed and 40 wounded. And he thereby saved millions of dollars worth of property from destruction by the hands of the cowardly scoundrels and vandals. We of North Alabama and North- western Georgia will cheer him and reiterate our cheers for him, and never cease until he shall receive a major general's commission. We have but one complaint to make. We thought he was a little too lenient to the im- pudent, boasting, threatening, coward- ly Federal officers. A CITIZEN OF ROME. To Arms! To Arms! — The citizens of Floyd and surrounding counties are requested to meet in Rome on Thurs- day next at 11 o'clock a. m.. May 14, to form a military organization for repelling the thieving, house-burning and vandal foe that may venture on our soil. Let everybody come and go to work in earnest. Defend Your Homes and Your Prop- erty. — It will be seen from a notice in this issue of our paper that the citi- zens of Floyd and the surrounding counties are called on to meet at the court house in this city on Thursday Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 165 A MAP OF ROME IN 1890. (Scale, one mile to the inch). night, the 14th inst., for the purpose of forming a military organization for the protection of their homes and their property. This is a highly im- portant movement and we give it our most cordial and hearty endorsement. Let every boy and man from 15 to 60 years old fall into line and stand up for the protection of their mothers. wives and sisters. If the love of coun- try does not move you, these sacred claims will surely spur you to action. It is plain now that the enemy, be- ing foiled and routed upon every field of general engagement, has determined to turn loose his army in maraud- ing bands, to dash through our coun- try with torch and sword, to burn and 166 A History of Rome and Floyd County plunder our citizens and homes, mur- der our men and dishonor our women. We are advised that good arms will be furnished to all who are not able to supply themselves. Let all the people in this and the surrounding counties meet in this city on next Thursday; and the ladies vidll do well to encourage this movement by their presence — they are all wanted. Come, ladies, and bring your sons and your husbands. — May 9, 1863. The Yankee Priso7}ers at Rome. — Among this batch of thieves and mur- derers was found two companies of North Alabama Tories; and amongst them a man by the name of Funder- burk, who was born and raised with- in three miles of Rome. This villain- ous whelp had a gallant brother in the Eighth Georgia who fell covered with honor and glory at the First Bat- tle of Manassas, July 21st, 1861. This scoundrel, with his widowed mother, moved to the Sand Mountain in 1852, and since the death of his brother has been here trying to get a share of his honored brother's estate. He ad- mits he piloted the Yankees to this place. He is safely under lock in jail. There was also found among them a man by the name of Phillips, who was raised in Forsyth County, Georgia. He is alleged to be a Confederate de- serter. He is with Funderburk, to- gether with a Methodist preacher, who says his name is Brown, who the Yankees say also piloted them, and many years ago was a circuit rider in Floyd. But no such a man ever rode the circuit in this county. The prisoners generally were re- markably impudent and insulting, es- pecially the officers. One of their of- ficers, a major, publicly cursed Gen. Forrest on the streets for a scoundrel and a rascal, stating that when For- rest demanded a surrender the Yankee negotiators were trying to get the best terms possible, and Forrest suddenly appeared to get very mad. Swore he would wait no longer, that he would rather kill the whole of them than not; ordered his couriers immediately to direct the commanders of four sep- arate batteries to place them on sep- arate points of hills; and ordered the commanders of four separate regi- ments to be formed immediately at particular points in line of battle, and that the couriers absolutely dashed off, as though they were going to have these orders executed. And as they dashed off, Forrest told them his signal gun would be fired in ten min- utes, when in fact (he said) the ras- cal had but two little cannon, and not more than a half regiment all told. Finally, that Forrest was nothing but a damned swindler. The impudent whelps, openly on the streets, avowed their intention to be back here in less than three months, burn up the town and hang every man in it because, they say, they were bushwhacked. This, of course, is an idle boast of the poor cowardly devils, to cover up their shame and disgrace. They said they did not come into Rome just as they expected; that they could stand all that; but such a number of them to be gobbled up by a little squad of "dirty, snotty-nosed butternuts" was past endurance. We regret to learn that Capt. For- rest, a brother of the General's, com- manding a company in his old regi- ment, was severely and it is feared mortally wounded in the recent run- ning fight with the Yankees from Courtland to Rome. Gen. Forrest has received a dispatch from Col. Roddy, announcing that the Yankees have evacuated Tuscumbia. The Steamer Laura Moore blew her whistle off yesterday morning as she was about signalling her departure. Her steam escaping prevented her de- parture. — Saturday, May 9, 1863. "BILL ARP" ON ROME "BATTLE" (Southern Confederacy, Atlanta). Rome, Gorgy. Mr. Adeer & Smith: So many onreliable persuns will be sirkulatin spewrius akkounts of the "Grand Rounds" tuk by the infernal Yankees in these Roman-tik rejuns, that I think it highly proper you should git the streight of it from one who seed it with his eyes, and hearn it with his years, and a piece of it fell on his big toe. More than 200 years ago Genrul D. Soto had a big fight with the Injuns on or about these consekrated grounds. Since that time an oninterrupted peece hav rained around these classic hills and hollers. Flowers hav bloomed sweetly, lambs hav skipd about, dog fennel hav yallered the ground, and the Coosa river, which were then a little spring branch, hav grown _ both wide and deep, until now the majestik steamboat can float upon its bosom, and the big mud cat gobble up the yearthworms what chance to fall into its watters. But rollen years will change a pro- gram. Anno domini will tell ! Jest Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 167 afore the broke of day, on Sunday, the third of May, 1863, eighteen hun- dred and 63, the cityzens of the eternal city were arowsed from their slumbers with the chorus of the Marsales hymn, "To arms, to arms, ye brave! Abe Linkhorn are pegging away, and the Yankees are ridin to Rome on a raid!" Ah! then were the time to try men's soles ! But there were no panik, no skedadlin, to shakin of nees — but one universal determynation to do s?o»» thin. The burial squad organized fust and foremost and begun to inter ther money, and spoons and 4 pronged forks, and sich like about the prem- ises. Babies were sent to the rear. Hosses hid in the cane brake. Cows milked oncominon dry. Cashiers and bank agents carried off their phunds in a pair of saddle bags, which very much exposed ther facilities and the small compass of ther resources. It were, however, a satisfactory solushun of ther refusin to discount for the last 3 months. Skouts were sent out on every road to snuff the tainted breeze. Kotton bags were piled up across ev- ery high way and low way. Shot guns and cannon and powder and ball were brought to the front. The yeo- manry and the melishy jined a squad of Confederate troops and formed in line of battle. They were marched across the Oustanawly River, and then the plank of the bridge torn up so that they couldn't retreat. This were done, however, at ther own valyunt request, because of the natural weak- ness of the flesh. They determined jintly and sevrally, firmly by these presents, to do sumthin. Two cracked cannon, what had holes in the ends, and two or three on the side, were propped up between the kotten bags, and pinted dead straight down the road to Alabam. They were fust loaded with buckshot and tacks, and then a round ball rammed on top. The ball were to take the raid in front, and the bullets and tacks to rake 'em in the pklanks. These latter it was supposed would go through the cracks in the sides and shoot around gener- ally. Everybody and everything de- termined to die in their tracks, or do sximthin. The steamboats dropped quietly down the river to get out of the thick of the fight. The sharp shooters got on top of semmetery hill with ther re- peaters and pokit pistols. The videttes dashed with spy glasses to the top of the court house to see a fur off. Dashin Comanchy couriers rode on- ruly steeds to and fro, like a fiddler's elbow. Sum went forward to rekenoy- ter as skouts. Everybody resolved to do sumthin. At this critical junkture, and pre- vious and afterwards, reports were brought into these Head Quarters, and all other quarters, to the effeck that 10,000 Yankees were kummin, and 5,- 000 and 2,000, and any other number; that they were ten miles from town, and 6 miles, and 2 miles, and any other number of miles; that they were on the Alabam road, and the Cave Spring road, and the River road, and any other road; that they were cross- in the river at Quin's Ferry, and Wil- liamson's Ferry, and Bell's Ferry, and any other ferry; that they had tuck the Steembote Laura Moore, and Chi- rokee and Alfaratta, and any other steembote; that they had shot at a Comanchy rider, and hit him in the coat tail, or his hosses tail, or any other tale; that they had seezed Sis Morris, or Bill Morris, or Jep Mor- ris, or any other Morris. In fak, a man could hear anything by gwine about, and more too. Shore enuf, however, the important crisis which were to have arriven did actually arriv, about 10 o'klock in the mornin, a. m., on May 3rd, 1863. I am thus portikler, Mr. Editurs, bekaus JUDGE JNO. W. MADDOX, who entered the Confederate Army at 15, and served several terms in Congress from the Seventh District. 168 A History of Rome and Floyd County it are to be entered on next year's almynak as a remarkabul event. The head of the raid did aktully arriv at the suburbin villa of Mr. Myers, and thar it stoped to rekonnoiter. Thar they learned as how we had 600 head of artillery, and 6,000 kotton bags, and a permiskous number infantry taktix, and we were only waitin to see the whites of their eyes. Also that the his- tory of Gen. Jackson at New Orleans wer red in publik, and that everything were inspired to do sumthin; where- upon the head of the raid turned pale, and sent forward a picket. At this onspishus moment a foot skout on our side let fly a whistlen bullit, which tuk effek somewhat in those rejuns. It were reasonably suposed that one Yankee were killed, and perhaps two, for even to this time sumthing dead can be smelt in those parts, tho' the buryal squad had not been able to find it up to yestiddy. After right smart skirmishin, the head of the raid feu back down the road to the Alabam, and were persued by our mounted yeomanry at a respectabul distance. Now Mr. Adeer & Smith, while all these vaylunt feets were going on hereabouts. Gen. Forrest had been fighting the body and tail of the raid away down at the Alabam line. Final- ly he proposed to the raid to stop fightin and play a game or two of poker, under a cedar tree, which they aksepted. But the Ginerul were not in luck and he had a pore hand, and had stalked his last dollar. The Yankees had a Streight, which would hav tuk Forrest and raked down the pile, but he looked on rite in the eye and sed he would see 'm, and "4,000 better." The raid looked at him, and he looked at the raid, and never blinked. The raid trembled all over it boots, and gin it up. The Generul bluffed 'em, and ever since that game was played, the little town hard by has bin called Cedar Bluff. It were flush times in the Alabam, that day, shore! Well, Mr Editurs, you know the sequil. The Generul bagged 'em and broght 'em on. The planks were put back on the bridge. The river bank infantry countermarched and fired a permiscous volley in token of jew- bilee. One of the side-swipin cannon went off on its own hook, and the ball went ded thx-ough a house and tore a buro all to flinders. Sum sed it were a Niter Buro, but a potash man who examined sed he reckin not, for ther weren't no ashes in the drawers, nor naro ash hopper on the premises. By and by the Comanchy Skouts and pickets all kum in, and shuk ther am- brosial locks and received the congrat- ulations of ther friends. Then begun the ovashun of fair women and brave men to Gen. Forrest and his gallant boys Bokays and tears were all mixed up promiskous. Big chunks of cake and gratitude were distributed generally and frequent. Strawberries and cream, eggs and inyuns, pies and pancakes — all flew aroun amazin, for everybody was determined to do sHmthi}i. Gen. Forrest subsided, and General Jew- bilee tuk command, and Rome her- self again. The 4 pronged forks and silver spoons ros from the dead and even the old hen what one of our city aldemen had hurried with her head out, was disinterred and sacrificed im- mediately for the good of the koun- try. Thus hav ended the raid, and no loss on our side. Howsumever, I sup- pose that Mr. Linkhorn will keep "peg- gin' away." Yours truly and immensely, THE ORTHOR, Adjective Generul of Yeomanry. The Yankee cavalry roamed a little too far from home when they ventured a journey to Rome. The citizens there- of were Romans enough to meet them in battle array, and Forrest, at Rome, was the "noblest Roman of them all." —Rebel. Proclamation. — To the Citizens of Rome : A little more than a week ago our city was beleaguered by the most lawless band of incendiaries that ever disgraced humanity. This enemy came with "lust in his eye, poverty in his purse and hell in his heart. He came a robber and a murderer." But at our very threshold he was arrested by the Lord God of Hosts. Thus we were de- livered, and thus our city was saved from destruction. Under such circum- stances it is right, proper and our bounden duty as a people to bow down in adoring thankfulness to that kind F'ather whose everlasting arms have been around, about and underneath us, to protect us from harm, and it is our duty and privilege to ascribe to him all the honor of our deliverance. Now, therefore, I, John M. Gregory, mayor of the City of Rome, do issue this, my proclamation, setting apart Wednesday, the 13th inst., as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God for the great mercies vouchsafed to us, and I do therefore earnestly in- vite the people of the city to assemble at their respective places of worship Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 169 on that day, and to unite in render- ing thanks and praise to God. Given under my hand and seal of office, this May 11, 1863. J. M. Gregory, Mayor of the City of Rome. — Tuesday, May 12, 1863. Gen. Forrest and the Citizens of Rome — As a slight appreciation of the services of the gallant Forrest in sav- ing our beautiful city from sack and flames, at the hands of the ruthless vandals, who lately came to lay our homes in desolation, a suggestion was made that it would be expressive of our gratitude to present the General with a fine horse, and in the course of an hour or two over $1,000 was con- tributed for this purpose. But. Col. A. M. Sloan, anticipating the move- ment, on his own private account pre- sented Gen. Forrest with his splendid saddle horse, for which he would not on any other account have taken the best negro fellow in the State. This was an appropriate and magnificent offering on the part of Col. Sloan.* We are advised that the money which had been contributed by the citizens for this purpose was turn- ed over to Gen. Forrest to be used for the benefit of the sick and wounded of his command. The Alabama Traitors. — We have had the pleasure of reading a letter from Gov. Shorter, of Alabama, to Surgeon P. C. Winn, in regard to the Alabama traitors captured by Gen. P'orrest in North Alabama, in which the Governor says he has demanded "under the order of President Davis> all the officers taken in Alabama, found serving with armed slaves," etc. We greatly admire the spirit of Gov. Shorter in this matter and hope to see his example emulated in every state. Perhaps no event of the war has caused more profound regret through- out the Confederacy or more real sat- isfaction to the Yankees than the death of glorious old Stonewall Jack- son. After having made such hair- breadth escapes from Yankee bullets he has died at last at the hands of his own men. His memory is embalmed in the hearts of the people, and his name vdll live through all times. Some of our contemporaries are de- termined that the royal ape of Wash- ington shall have his proper cognomen of "Hanks," and "Hanks" let it be, and thereby free the respectable name of Lincoln from the odium attached to it from his bearing it. It is said that old Hanks has started the old pegging system of tactics. If so, we suppose the recent raid to Rome was one of the pegs driven in and broken off. — Thursday, May 14, 1863. The Meeting on Thursday — A large number of the citizens of Floyd and the surrounding counties met in this city on Thursday last to consult to- gether on the best means of defending our city and the approaches to the State road, against raiding parties of the public enemy. Major John Rush was chosen president and Mr. John M. Berry fccretary. Col. Fouche explain- ed the object of the meeting, and moved the appointment of a commit- tee of five, who were himself, Col. D. R. Mitchell, Maj. J. G. Yeiser, Rev. J. W. Glenn and Col. Alfred Shorter. During the absence of the committee, Hon. John W. H. Underwood was in- vited to address the meeting, but de- clining to do so, called on Dr. P. C. Winn, of Alabama, who entertained the audience with a spirited plea for home defense. The committee report- ed stirring resolutions, which were unanimously adopted. We would appeal to every boy and man who has the pluck to defend his home, to join some military company. We know of but three excuses which any man could offer for not joining: utter physical inability, innate, incur- able cowardice and old age. But the man should be so old that he would not think of marrying again if his wife should die. If any man will come out and establish his right to plead any of those three excuses, let him be perpet- ually exempt from all military serv- ice; but let all others shoulder arms and fall into ranks for the defense of their native soil.— Saturday, May 16, 1863. *A. M. Sloan, banker and warehouseman, formerly of Columbus. To Arms, Ye Romans! — We find the following astounding telegram to the Associated Press, which, if true, it is time Romans were looking to their lau- rels : Atlanta, May 16. — Quartermaster Polk's Corps arrived and passed through this morning. We have re- ports that 7,000 or 8,000 of the enemy are approaching Rome. All the avail- able force here is ordered to be held in readiness. There is a grape-vine telegram afloat that Jackson, Miss., has been taken by the enemy, and that our forces have them surrounded and cut off.— Tuesday, May 19, 1863. 170 A History of Rome and Floyd County * .■■''' i^^^jn ■HE il. !>^M ^M^ ■^.s ^i^SrtjAsfi fppm A,A>^ \ H-i^' . >*■ ^^ ml ^ ■H I NINETEEN DWELLINGS OF MANY TYPES. 1 — Wilson M. Hardy; 2 — old A. R. Sullivan home; 3 — old Goetchius home; 4 — Dr. J. C. Watts (C. N. Featherston) ; 5 — part of old Battey infirmary; 6 — J. W. Rounsaville; 7 — Eliza Frances Andrews; 8 — A. B. S. Moseley; 9 — T. J. Simpson (J. L. Sulzbacher)S 10 — ' Ed. L. Bosworth; 11 — O. L. Stamps (C. Rowell) ; 12 — S. F. Magruder; 13 — old Harper home; 14 — Hughes T. Reynolds (R. D. VanDyke) ; 15 — Hood-Cumming-Featherston (Rixie) ; 16 — Dr. T. R. Garlington (J. D. Hanks); 17 — Unknown; 18 — VanDyke-Maddox; 19 — Henry Stoffregen. Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 171 To All People WJw Are Able to Bear A.rms! — The question can no longer be blinked. You must either fight, run or take the oath of allegiance to Lin- coln. This call is made to the fight- ing men, young and old. If there be any of the other classes, we don't want them; the sooner they take care of themselves, the better. Daily develop- ments convince all thinking men of the immediate necessity of a strong mili- tary organization for self-defense. The people are invited, perhaps for the last time, to meet at the court house in Rome on Tuesday morning next, May 26 at 10 o'clock a. m., to learn what has been done, and to determine, un- der a proper organization, what they will do in defense of their property, their wives and their children. We beseech you to come and to come ready to make all needed sacrifices for your country! — J. M. Gregory, mayor; S. Fouche, D. R. Mitchell, "j. G. Yeiser, A. Shorter, J. W. Glenn, Committee. — Tuesday, May 26, 1863. Rev. George Pierce, son of the bishop of that name who served the Rome district after the war, had intended to preach at one of the Methodist churches on the Sunday Forrest appeared, but he qtiickly caught the war fever and shouldered a gtni.* According to WiHiani Hardin and Jas. O. Winfrey, the well- known Confederate veterans, Col. Streight cried over his plight, and it was said on good authority at the time that he tried to get a pis- tol to shoot himself. He was de- scribed by all who knew him as an intrepid soldier. Reminiscences by the late Dr. P. Iv. Turnley, presented to the U. D. C, add this information : Col. Hathaway, original commander of the raiders, was shot through the neck and killed at the foot of Owl Mountain, near Turkeytown, Etowah County, Ala., while eating breakfast. Two young sharpshooters, brothers named Hall, had climbed to the top of ♦Authority : 20th Century Rome, Tribune In- dustrial Edition, Oct., 1902. **According to Mrs. Robt. Battey, several young women snipped off long raven locks. ***Authority : Edward C. Peters, of Rome. Since the total casualties are 1,547 by this esti- mate, there is a discrepancy of 4.53 men, the number at the start having been 2,000. the spur above the invaders and crack- ed down on the officer. Streight was then placed in command. The news that Streight was ap- proaching spread like prairie fire, and more activity was shown in Rome than for a long time. By noon the town was fairly well garrisoned by men and boys of all ages. The bridges were blocked with cotton bales, and the floors covered with straw saturated with oil. Every cellar and garret had been ransacked for arms and weapons of any kind. Col. J. G. ^Yeiser obtain- ed two old honey-combed cannon, and placed the dangerous ends toward the enemy. These, with old rusty flint- lock rifles and a few pistols, were all the defenders had, but they were suf- ficient to turn back Streight's advance guard. Rome was so hilarious that Gen. Forrest could hardly attend to his du- ties; and it has been said by one who was present that the brave general would have been bald had he given locks of his hair to all the ladies who made the request.** Forrest's losses were said to have been ten killed and 40 wound- ed. Streight's losses from Apr. 27 through May 3, 1863, from Tus- cumbia to Rome (including Day's Gap, Apr. 30, Black Warrior Creek, May l,and Blount's Farm, May 2) were twelve killed, 69 wounded, 1.466 captured. The captives were the 51st and 73rd Indiana Volun- teers, the 3rd Ohio, the 80th Illi- nois Mounted Infantry and two companies of the First Alabama Cavalry who were mostly desert- ers from the Confederate ar- Streight's men were worn out from their forced marches and loss of sleep, and when Forrest came up, many were sleeping on their arms, and their commander could make them fight no longer. In order to get the facts of Wis- dom's ride, Capt. W. P. Lay, of Gadsden, visited Mr. Wisdom at Hoke's Bluff, Ala. Capt. Lay re- lated the story to Walter Harper, who presented it July 29, 1909, in the Gadsden Daily Times-News, a day after Mr. Wisdom died: 172 A History of Rome and Floyd County John H. Wisdom, long a citizen of Etowah County, Alabama, and for- merly of Rome, Ga., died at his home at Hoke's Bluff, ten miles east of Gadsden, on July 28, 1909. He was 89 years of age and one of the sub- stantial citizens of the county. He was extremely modest and for that reason but little has ever been said or known about the crowning exploit of his life, which saved a city, result- ed in the capture of a host of Federal soldiers and placed him in the class of heroes of the Civil War. John H. Wisdom and Emma Sanson were jointly responsible for the saving of Rome, Ga., and the capture of Col. Abel D. Streight's raiders by Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, yet neither of these heroes was aware of the part the other was playing at the time. Shortly after Emma Sanson had di- rected Gen. Forrest over Black War- rior Creek, Mr. Wisdom, then a mail carrier and 43 years old, left his home at Gadsden on a mail trip, and after crossing the Coosa river went several miles beyond. In the afternoon of the same day he returned to Gadsden, to find that the Federals under Col. Straight had been in the town and were proceeding toward Rome. The enemy had cut a hole in the bottom of the ferry boat of which he was the proprietor and had set it loose to drift down the Coosa. Consequently, Mr. Wisdom did not recross the river, but called to a neighbor to tell his family that he had gone to warn Rome of its danger. Still in his trusty buggy, he dashed toward Rome. This was at 3:30 p. m. By changing steeds he made the 67 miles a few minutes be- fore midnight, or a little less than eight hours and a half. Deducting an hour and a half for changes of horses and other delays, he negotiated the hilly, river-crossing journey in about seven hours, or at the rate of 9.6 miles per hour.* In the early Revolutionary days Paul Revere rode from Boston to Con- cord, Mass., a distance of 18 miles, to warn the citizens of the approach of the British soldiers.** His act has been the subject of song and story for more than 100 years, while the much more difficult and daring feat of John H. Wisdom is known to but a comparative few in Alabama and Georgia. Following is the story in Mr. Wis- dom's own words, beginning when he returned to the Coosa River at Gads- den on the afternoon of Saturday, May 2, 1863:*** "It occurred to me at once that I could beat them to Rome and sound the alarm. I called across the river that I was going, and whipped my horse toward Rome. This was about 3:30 p. m. I dashed by Hoke's Bluff, Gnatville, Goshen and Spring Garden, and at the last-named place turned into the Rome and Jacksonville stage road, which I had traveled often as driver of a stage from Rome to the Alabama town. "The first iap' of the ride was from the east bank of the river at Gadsden to Gnatville, 22 miles, which I drove in my buggy in a little more than two hours. Here my horse became ex- hausted and I left him and the buggy with the Widow Hanks,**** who offered me a lame pony on my promise to ride it only five miles, to Goshen, where I thought I could get another horse. On account of the pony's condition, I was obliged to leave him at Goshen, where I found Simpson Johnson coming in from his farm. He saddled two horses and let me ride one, and sent his son with me on the other horse to bring both back. I was delayed at Goshen only a short while, but it was not dark and I realized I must lose more time changing steeds. "We rode the Johnson horses in a swift gallop eleven miles to the home of Rev. Joel Weems, above Spring Garden, Ala., where I was delayed some time, but finally managed to get a fresh horse. "On the next 'lap' I stopped several times, trying to get a new animal. At one place I woke up a farmer and told him what I wanted. He replied gruffly that I couldn't get any of his horses, so I rode eleven miles farther to John Baker's, one mile south of Cave Spring, and after a short delay mounted an- other horse and asked him to keep for the owner the one I had discarded. I was now in Georgia, and Cave Spring loomed ahead, then I raced through Vann's Valley. While going down a long hill in a sweeping gallop, Mr. Baker's horse stumbled and fell, throw- ing me in an ungraceful sprawl ahead of him. I got up quickly, remounted and made off. After proceeding twelve miles, to within six miles of *The Courier account stated that Wisdom arrived at 2 :30 a. m., after a ride of eleven hours. **Revere was bound for Concord, hut was held up about half way, at Lexington, by British soldiers. ***Mr. Wisdom lived prior to the war in a cottage with his mother at Second Avenue and East Third Street, where B. T. Haynes* home now stands. ****Her first name was Nancy, it is said. Streight's Raiders Captured by Forrest 173 Rome, I changed horses for the last time. A gentleman whose name I do not remember loaned me a horse and I lost little time entering on the last 'lap.' This horse carried me safely into Rome, where I arrived at four minutes before midnight, May 2, 1863. I thus made the ride of about 67 miles in slightly less than eight and a half hours, including delays. Lost time amounted to about an hour and a half. "On arriving in the city I galloped to the leading hotel, the Etowah House, then kept by Mr. G. S. Black, and told him the Yankees were com- ing. At his request, I rode through the streets, sounding the alarm and waking the people. Everybody jump- ed out of bed, and the excitement was great. The people ran in all direc- tions, but under the command of their leader got down to the business of pil- ing cotton bales in breastwork style on the Rome ends of the bridges. "There were few men in Rome at the time, most of them having gone away to war, but those who were left soon hauled out all the old squirrel rifles, shot guns and muzzle-loading muskets that could be found, and di- vided them among those able to bear arms. "The little railroad from Rome to Kingston fired up the engines and ran them every 30 minutes in and out of the city, carrying the news into the country districts and bringing to town the farmers with their old battle pieces. "The handful of convalescent Con- federate soldiers in Rome took charge of the home guard and lined them up behind the breastworks of cotton. The Bridge Street (Fifth Avenue) bridge across the Oostanaula River, a wooden structure, was filled with hay which was saturated with turpentine so it could be fired in case of defeat and a retreat. "About sunrise next morning, May 3, (Sunday) six hours after my ar- rival, Streight's advance guard ap- peared on Shorter's Hill, one mile west of Rome. Through their field glasses they saw the 'fortifications' and the bustling activity in the town. An old negro woman, asked if there were any Confederates around, replied, 'Yassir, boss, de town am full of sojers!' "So impressive was the scene that the advance guard retreated without any attempt to take the bridge. A few shots were fired between the sharp- shooters. "About 3 or 4 o'clock that after- noon Forrest marched into Rome with Streight's command as prisoners. When the Yankees found out there had been no real soldiers in Rome, and that they had been captured by For- rest's inferior force, they became very angry, and it was feared that they would revolt, but Gen. Forrest's fore- sight in separating officers and men, imprisoning the officers in the court house and putting the privates under guard at the forks of the rivers, averted trouble. "It has been erroneously stated that I was sent to Rome by Gen. Forrest. I knew nothing of Gen. Forrest's pur- suit of the raiders until he marched into Rome with them. "The people of Rome made me a present of a silver service valued at $400, which I now have and prize very highly. They also gave me $400 in money and sent the Widow Hanks $400 for giving me the use of her lame pony." According to the official reports of Col. Abel D. Streight, made after his escape from Libby prison to Union headquarters, Aug. 22, 1864, John H. Wisdom was directly responsible for his surrender to Gen. Forrest. The following from Col. Streight's report is significant: "After some maneuvering, Forrest sent in a flag of truce, demanding sur- render, so I called a council of war. I had previously learned in the mean- time, however, that Capt. Milton Rus- sell had beert unable to take the bridge at Rome. Our condition was can- vassed, and although personally op- posed to surrender, and so expressmg myself at the time, yet I yielded to the unanimous voice of my regimental commanders, and at about noon of May 3 we surrendered as prisoners of war . " Col. Streight continued with the statement that he had dispatched Capt. Russell with 200 picked men to take the Rome bridge, and this officer had reported that it was held by a formi- dable force of Confederates, and in his opinion could not be captured by the forces available. In one part of an original ac- count in his own hand-writing-. Col. Wisdom stated that in addition to five horses, he used one mule. He recited that Miss Emma Sanson, daughter of the Widow vSanson, who lived near Black Warrior 174 A History of Rome and Floyd County Creek bridge, two miles west of Gadsden, got up behind Gen. For- rest on his horse and directed him to ford the creek after Streight had burned the bridge. Streight's rear guard sent a fusillade of bul- lets toward the double-mounted horse, and Forrest and Miss San- son were forced to dismount and hide behind a bank. The general finally rode back to the farm house with the brave girl, then crossed the ford with his men. During the delay, Streight's men had entered Gadsden and be- gun burning and plundering. They discovered Col. Wisdom's smoke house, in which had been stored a quantity of bacon by a crowd of refugees from Tennessee. While Streight's men tried to find the key to the smoke house and made preparations to batter down the door, Forrest's men arrived, chased them and devoured the ba- con. According to Col. Wisdom, Streight surrendered at Law- rence's Spring, four miles east of Cedar Bluft", Cherokee County, Ala., and 24 miles west of Rome. He confirms the statement that spirituous liquor flowed pretty freely in Rome that Sunday: "I thought a lieutenant would ride his black mare to death. He kept riding up and down the Oosta- naula from Battey's Shoals to town and back, to keep the Yankees from crossing. They said he was 'tight.' " Gen. Forrest hurried down into Alabama to engage in a new chase, without waiting to attend the pic- nic Romans had planned for him. While awaiting orders in Rome for about four days, Forrest maintain- ed headquarters at the Choice House, where the Hotel Forrest now stands, and the hospitality of the Temple of Justice a block to the east was enjoyed by the of- ficers he had corralled. TWO FAMOUS RIDES COMPARED. John H. Wisdom's famous ride, mentioned in the foregoing, is here compared with Paul Revere's : PAUL REVERE'S RIDE. Date— Apr. 19, 1775. War — Revolutionary. Starting Point — Charlestown, Mass. Destination — Concord, Mass. Place Reached — Lexington, Mass. Distance — Nine miles. Time — Two hours, 15 minutes. Miles ner Hour — Four. How Traveled — Horseback. Object to Save — Lex. and Concord. Start of Ride — About 11:45 p. m. End of Ride— Two a. m. Horses Used — One. Road Condition — Fair. Riding by Dark — Two hours, 15 min. Riding by Light — None. Country — Undulating. JNO. H. WISDOM'S RIDE. Date— Mav 2, 1863. War— Civil. Starting Point — Gadsden, Ala. Destination — Rome, Ga. Place Reached — Rome, Ga. Distance — Sixty-seven miles. Time — Eleven hours (8I/2 riding). Miles per Hour — Eight. How Traveled — Buggy, horseback. Object to Save — Rome, Ga. Start of Ride — About 3:30 p. m. End of Ride — Two-thirty a. m. Horses Used — Five (one mule). Road Condition — Rough. Riding by Dark — Seven hours. Riding by Light — Four hours. Country — Hilly. CHAPTER V. Sherman's Army Captures Rome T HE climax to Rome's mili- tary successes and failures was Gen. Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, United States ar- my, of Ohio. In a chase after Gen. Jos. E. Johnston from Dalton and Resaca, the right wing of his ar- my (14th and 16th corps), under command of Gen. Jas. Birdseye McPherson,* also of Ohio, sent its scouts into Rome May 17, 1864, after an artillery duel for a day with Gen. Stuart's defenders.** Virgil A. Stewart, a sharpshoot- er who helped defend Rome, states that a spirited resistance was maintained for a day through the artillery but the superiority of the Federal force was so great that the Confederates were forced to retire, burning the Fifth Ave- nue and Broad Street bridges as they went. From him, Horry Wimpee, Wm. M. Hardin and others we get the following gen- eral description of activities : Gen. Sherman had sent Garrard's Cavalry*** doKvn the Oostanaula River from Resaca, and Gen. Jefferson C. Davis' division of McPherson's Ar- my of the Tennessee in support of it. The Federals were advised that only a small garrison defended Rome, so they chose to go against the point: of greatest resistance rather than lose the time involved in circumvention. They proceeded down the right or north bank of the river to Armuchee creek, where they found the Confed- erate skirmishers. Shots were ex- changed and one man was killed, prob- ably a Confederate. Cannon had been placed on Fort *Killed while reconnoitering near Atlanta some three months later by a Confederate sharpshooter named McPherson. ♦♦Authority: Virgil A. Stewart. This Stuart was undoubtedly not Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The Weekly Courier of Thursday, Aug. 31, 1865, says May 17 was the day of investment. The diary of Reuben S. Norton says May 18. It is likely that the main body of the troops entered on the latter date. ***The famous Black Horr,e Troop. ****A trench two or three feet deep can still be found on the southeastern slope of the water- works hill ; picture of it is shown herein. Jackson, the city pumping station site, on the top of a high hill in North Rome, then known as Fort Norton; on the ridge crossing the Summerville road one mile northwest of the court- house, at the rock quarry, then known as Fort Attaway, overlooking Little Dry creek; and on the crest of Myrtle Hill cemetery, then known as Fort Stovall. At the foot of Fort Norton a redoubt was built to impede the progress of the enemy in any attempt to scale the heights for a hand-to- hand encounter. In front of the pres- ent Second (or Fifth Avenue) Baptist church, on a slight ridge where John Ross used to live, was a trench to which the Confederate infantrymen fell back after their outposts had been driven in and Ft. Attaway silenced.**** The second fort to withdraw its fire was Fort Norton, and its garrison unit withdrew to points in the city and as- sisted the remaining unit on Fort Sto- vall (cemetery hill) to hold out. Gen. Davis had planted his artillery on the ridge above and southwest of Shorter's Spring, being the site of the new Shorter College, and particularly the location of the Selkirk home, now known as "Maplehurst," the residence of the president of the institution. The cannonading had started about daybreak. A column of Confederate cavalry had skirmished with the Fed- erals around Little Dry creek, but these retired before the hosts of Gar- rard. All but 42 of the non-combatant population had taken bag and baggage and selves away from Rome. The others preferred to remain and em- brace whatever fate awaited them, for it might be worse farther down, and home was home. One of those who remained was as staunch and militant a "Rebel" as ever lived — Mrs. Lizzie Roach Hughes, dressmaker and mil- liner and resident of the Fourth Ward. "Miss Lizzie," as she was called all over Rome, used to do a lot of sewing for the soldiers, and the day was never too wet or cold or the night too dark for her to go foraging for "sumpin' feat." Her activities caused many a gray-jacketed heart tO' throb grate- fully. However, there were always people of low enough conscience and purpose to tell the invaders what Ro- mans were the most unflagging in support of the Southern cause, and 176 A History of Rome and Floyd County those who were informed upon were forced to suffer. The Union troops cultivated "Miss Lizzie," and nxade life unbearable for her. Their first meeting came when the soldiers en- tered West Rome. Gen. Davis and several officers "requested" "Miss Liz- zie" to go with them to the top of the hill to see if any more Confederates were on cemetery hill. The Confed- erates recognized "Miss Lizzie" through their field glasses, and waved a flag at her. "Thank you, 'Miss Lizzie,' " said Gen. Davis. In a minute there came a cannon ball screeching overhead, too close for comfort. "Miss Lizzie," inad as a wet hen, shouted, "So THAT was why you invited me up here! Evidently, Gen. Davis, some of our men ARE left, and they have the nerve to express themselves!" Grabbing up her skirts, "Miss Liz- zie" ran home, there to find that the invaders had ransacked everything had stolen her fowls and her eggs, and made her brother-in-law a pris- oner. The man was placed in the cus- tody of "Miss Lizzie" on her assurance that his wife was very ill, and on her promise to make him behave. After the occupation of Rome, "Miss Lizzie" got even with the "Yankees" by charging them top prices for fancy hats and flowers to send home to their wives. From an astute old wom- an of Rome "Miss Lizzie" had learned to make feathers into artificial flow- ers. Hidden out at Coosa were a few white ganders and at Floyd Springs some guineas and a peafowl or two, so "Miss Lizzie" went to these places after material. If she could get a horse, all right, and if not, she would walk, five miles, ten miles — it made no difference. Once she indignantly refused to let a Northern soldier help her mount a steed. This exhibition of lese vuijeste caused the soldier to call the corporal of the guard, who es- corted her with an armed squad to Gen. Davis' headquarters on Fourth Avenue. Some more of her privileges were taken away, including her lib- erty for a day, but this only served to make her increase the price of her wares. "Miss Lizzie" was also suspected of furnishing "underground telephone" information to the Confederates; she was undoubtedly guilty, as were most of the other women, and proud of it, but the "Yankees" couldn't get a thing on her, so she remained a privileged character and added greatly to the drab camp life of the uninvited guests of Rome. The cannon of the enemy were trained almost exclusively on the de- fending forts, and practically all the buildings and houses escaped destruc- tion at that time. No doubt many a shell could be found buried in the va- rious hills.* The figures as to losses are not available, but it is believed that the casualties were few. While the bombardment was at its height, B. G. Salvage, foreman of The Courier composing room, who had succeeded Capt. Dwinell as editor while the lat- ter laid aside editorial pellets for the real kind, was busy grinding out the last issue of the paper that Romans were to receive before Aug. 31, 1865. The makeshift editor pied his type and took to swamps and hills. The May 16, 1864, issue is not available, hence much that took place on that stirring occasion is forever lost. However, we are told by the sur- vivors mentioned above that the Con- federates withdrew from the last fort (Stovall) under cover of the dark- ness of May 16, and took up sniping positions on Cantrell's Ridge, South Rome; on Tubbs' Mountain and other vantage points; also that the invading skirmishers cautiously entered on May 17 after having crossed the Oosta- naula at or near Battey's Shoals, and by noon had advanced their line to Maiden Lane (now Third Avenue). On the following day. May 18, after awaiting orders and packing up. Gen. Davis' hosts, said to have been parts of the 14th and 16th Army corps, numbering perhaps 30,000 men, cross- ed the Oostanaula at Printup's wharf, midway between the Second Avenue and Fifth Avenue bridges, six abreast and on pontoon bridges made partly of church pews. Their heavy wagons and artillery went over safely. Gen. Wm. Vandever tarried a short time, but soon pushed on to Kingston, and left Gen. John M. Corse in charge of the garrison of 1,054 men. The most serious infantry and cav- alry engagement took place at Fort Attaway, lasting from 3 to 5 p. m. of May 16. As the Confederates with- drew, they took with them everything that could possibly be used, and de- stroyed all that might benefit the ene- my. A Texas regiment is said to have removed $150,000 in provisions and clothing from Broad Street stores. *C. L. King, cemetery sexton, has several which were dug out of graves in Myrtle Hill. Sherman's Army Captures Rome 177 A PAIR OF GENERALS WHO "DROPPED IN" ON ROME. At the left is Gen. Jefferson C. Davis, commander of the Garrison, and at Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who spent several days on Fourth Avenue. right The new "tenants" finished the job. The few pigs, chickens and cows that were left were eagerly seized and killed, and it was "every Roman for himself." Things of no military value were smashed or burned. "Bulls" got into the "china shop" of the Buena Vista Hotel and had a lively time. Dr. J. M. Gregory had been mayor the year before. He had refugeed, but his good wife and her mother, Mrs. Hutchings, the kindly proprie- tress, wrung her hands vainly in pro- test. Mrs. John Choice remained behind, cheering the retreating Confederates as they passed. For the offense of keeping two buckets of water sitting at the front of her place to slake the thirst of the boys in gray, Mrs. Greg- ory's home was set on fire. The flames spread over the lower floor, and her aged mother had to be carried down a ladder from the second story. The colored maid, later a resident of Chi- cago, followed her just as the fire was entering the room. Mrs. Samuel Stewart's home on Eighth Avenue could be seen from afar, and clothing hung up in a cer- tain way on the back porch gave sig- nals to the Confederates. Union sol- diers went to this home and carried away everything of value, and poured ink on Mrs. Stewart's wearing ap- parel. A lot of munitions of war and a cannon or two were thrown into the Oostanaula above Fifth Avenue by the Federals, who had more than they could carry. A little gunpowder and a few shells found in the arsenal at Myrtle Hill were destroyed. Zach Mooney, who had been employed to help make cannon at the Noble Foun- dry, took two old pieces and did away with them; one went "kerchug!" into the Etowah nearby, and another splashed into an old well. The Lumpkin-Holmes-Morris home on Eighth Avenue was used as a hos- pital for the wounded Union men. The Spullock home was made the head- quarters of Gen. Corse, and Gen. Van- dever occupied first the Hood-Cum- ming - Featherston - Rixie home on Broad, and then the Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp") home on Fourth Ave- nue, which was used successively by Gens. Jeft'erson C. Davis and Wm. T. Sherman. A Gen. Cox is also men- tioned as having had charge for a short time at Rome. Horry Wimpee and many others unite in praising Gens. Vandever and Davis as kind - hearted gentlemen whose treatment of Romans was all that could have been expected. Gen. Sherman appears not to have engaged in any atrocities at Rome. As for Gen. Corse, he was not possessed of the amenities bestowed upon the oth- ers; early in his career at Rome he 178 A History of Rome and Floyd County caused the handsome Hawkins home on the Lindale road to be burned be- cause a crowd of his foragers were ambushed at that spot. He was a stubborn fighter, however; when near- ly overwhelmed by Gen. S. G. French at Allatoona, he signalled Gen. Sher- man: "I am short a cheek bone and part of an ear, but am able to whip all hell yet!" Gen. Sherman entered Rome from Kingston Oct. 12, 1864, on a chase after Gen. Hood, who, after the fall of Atlanta Sept. 2, rambled all over the old Cherokee nation in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, and proved as elusive as a Jack-o-Lantern. Hood had marched down the south bank of the Etowah, passing through or close to Cave Spring, and crossing the Coosa at Veal's Ferry, near the vil- lage of Coosa. He flitted through Texas Valley on the northwestern side of Lavender Mountain, with the pur- pose of destroying the W. & A. railroad and cutting off Sherman's supplies from Chattanooga. Fart of Hardee's corps went to Mt. Pleasant Methodist church (now Oreburg) , turned to the left at Farmer's bridge, Armuchee Creek, and then went through Floyd Springs to Chattooga County, and hauled up near Dalton ; Gen. Stuart's* corps penetrated Robinson's gap, Lav- ender Mountain, then went through Texas Valley and crossed Little Ar- muchee Creek at Echols' Mill. A junc- tion of some of the units was ef- fected near Resaca and Hood demand- ed the surrender of the garrison there, but was refused. Hood had crossed the Coosa Oct. 10 and left a part of Harrison's Brigade (being the 8th and 11th Texas Regi- ments, the 3rd Arkansas and the 4th Tennessee) strung from Lavender Mt. to Veal's Ferry; also Stuart's corps of four regiments at Sardis church, Coosa. A feint on Rome Nov. 12 from 1,200 to 1,500 of these troops so alarm- ed Gen. Sherman that he wired At- lanta that Hood was turning back on the Hill City, and ordered 50,000 men from Atlanta rushed to his aid!** This order was countermanded later when Sherman learned that H/ood's main force was bearing down on Resaca. Sherman went on to Resaca the night of Oct. 12 and left Corse in charge at Rome; and Corse scouted into the Coosa Valley and brought back some prisoners and guns. Gen. Sherman returned to Rome the night of Oct. 28 with his staff, and again perched himself on Fourth Ave- nue; and for four days and a half, until the morning of Nov. 2, directed operations from that point. On this occasion ihe was returning after a chase with Hood which had taken him down the Chattooga Valley to Gayles- ville, Ala. The grizzled West Pointer exhibited considerable chagrin that he had been unable to corner the South- ern army and wipe it out with his superior force. On the retreat from Dalton, Gen. Johnston had scarcely lost a prisoner or a gun, nor had he left behind many loaves or fishes for the Federals to feed upon. As for Hood, his baggage was so light that he moved like the wind. Finally Sher- man gave up the chase, and set his course for the sea. The evacuation of Rome started Nov. 10, 1864, and was completed by 9 a. m. of Nov. 11. Act- ing on orders from Sherman, then at Kingston, Gen. Corse burned all the mills and factories and some other es- tablishments that might be of use to the Confederates. The burning took place on the night of November 10. Never had a scene of such wantonness and misery been presented to Rome. Dry goods boxes and trash were piled high in stores and set off, and the crackling of the timbers furnished a melancholy echo to the wails of women and children. Soldiers ran from place to place with firebrands in their hands, setting the places designated here, and perfectly harmless places there. Necessarily the stores and shops next to the con- demned improvements went up in smoke. With hundreds of bayonets bristling, the 40 steadfast male Ro- mans could do nothing but watch and allow their souls to fill with regret. Here are some of the Broad Street or central establishments which were destroyed; both depots, Cunning- ham's cotton warehouse, the bank, David J. Meyerhardt's store house, Daniel R. Mitchell's houses, the Eto- wah Hotel (then at Howard Street, or Second Avenue). Cohen's gr'jst mill on Silver Creek, between East Rome and South Rome burnt mer- rily. The great brick smoke stacks of the Noble Foundry were blown up with powder blasts, and the build- ings then fired. Only isolated struc- tures escaped, until there was no place much to do business, and less business to do than places. A livery stable caught, and the odor of burning horseflesh could be detected for several blocks. The whinnies of the horses told of their awful plight. *Not J. E. B. Stuart. ** Authority: Wm. M. Hardin. Sherman's Army Captures Rome 179 With this kind of a gesture, Gen. Corse bade farewell to Rome. Had he fiddled as well, the picture could have been little less complete. There was more work for him to do. As Sherman left Kingston, he said: "Corse, the torch." It was not always Corse who happened to be convenient. Gen. Davis was hard by when Gen. Sherman on Nov. 21 found himself on *Gen. Sherman no doubt traversed after tlie war a considerable part of his course througrh Georgia, to verify data for his book. He was interested in the Tecumseh Iron Works at Te- cumseh, Cherokee Co., Ala., two miles north of Borden-Wheeler Springs, and the manager of that concern. Gen. Willard Warner, a member of Gen. Sherman's staff, used to buy larg? quan- tities of goods through the wholesale grocery house of Berrys & Co. (later Montgomery, Mo- Laurin & Co.), of Rome. On one occasion, about 1880, Gen. Sherman came inannounced to Rome, and spent some little time waiting to change trains at the Rome Railroad depot, going to or coming from Tecumseh. Several Romans recognized him by his stuljby chin dec- orations and shook hands with him. It was too soon after the war, however, and most of the little crowd contented themselves vv ith a look ajnd grunt from a distance, and voted him the ugliest mortal they had ever 33en. the Howell Cobb plantation in middle Georgia. Hardly a scrap of that place was spared, because Cobb had just left a cabinet position at Washingtoh. Although it is popularly accepted that Sherman's March to the Sea started at 7 a. m., Nov. 15, from At- lanta, the preliminaries were staged at Rome, Kingston, Cartersville and other points north of the capital. The stern injunction, "Leave not a blade of grass that a grass- hopper could subsist upon !" was likewise applicable to the conduct of the army in the upper section of the state. It was a devastating scourge, this march ; it left many a wrecked fortune, bleeding heart and broken spirit, but it was also the forerun- ner of a new era of development and progress for the entire South- land. 180 A History of Rome and Floyd County *j 1 rt - o . c c C M , I. z < OS < 4) J (U act 0. in 4) . 1 <: 1 ^ z ■"■^^ 0. < T3 3 r S .til CO *- > 02 il 1 UJ < in i/j 4) — — C J (C bJ % c^~2 f oi t.^°-i (* <8X _ ■ O ^ .2-0 '5 . '/: W £ ■-" ' > < on-" X 5 S c •"tan! ^ i-* — _ c C 5 _ -0 0) 0) T3 4) 4) j- i 5 l-^^ '< " > ,, u J >, — fO U (U-^TJ f "X 0) J *- u) ^[ ii « h| 4; jj "O — B h «■« °- B 3j: *" 4-. 0) e^ .H ^ wi a 4J — "W 0) •- • -« ^ ■fi_ w J H:= u c r ^11 CHAPTER VI. Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself I N DEFERENCE to the feelings and preferences of a larg'e majority of readers, an effort was made to ob- tain a complete and accurate ac- count of the troop movements around Rome, written from the Southern viewpoint. Gen. Jos. E. Johnston's story was consulted, but it contained such a scanty ref- erence to Rome that it was con- sidered unavailable for the pur- pose. Other works that have fal- len under the notice of the author have likewise failed to satisfy the curiosity for details, hence the ac- count by Gen. vSherman is present- ed herewith, in the belief that the fairness and accuracy of it will commend it to all. The extracts are from the "Memoirs of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, Vol. II (D. Ap- pleton & Co., New York, N. Y., 1875). On the 18th day of March, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn., I relieved Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Arkansas, commanded respectively by Maj. Gens. Schofield, Thomas, Mc- Pherson and Steele. General Grant was in the act of starting east to as- sume command of all the Armies of the United States, but more particu- larly to give direction in person to the Armies of the Potomac and James opei-ating against Richmond. In the early part of April I was much disturbed by a bold raid made by the rebel General Forrest between the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers. He reached the Ohio River at Padu- cah, but was handsomely repulsed by Colonel Hicks. He then swung down toward Memphis, massacring a part of its garrison, composed wholly of negro troops. No doubt Forrest's men acted like a set of barbarians, shooting down the help- less negro garrison, but I am told that Forrest personally disclaims any active participation in the assault and that he stopped the firing as soon as he could. I was told by hundreds of our men, who were at various times prisoners in Forrest's possession, that he was usually very kind to them. Writing from Nashville head- quarters Apr. 10, 1864, Gen. Sher- man outlined to Gen. Grant at Washington some of the plans for his campaign against Atlanta, via Ringgold. Dalton, Resaca, Rome, Cartersville. Kingston, Allatoona and Marietta : McPherson will have nine divisions of the Army of the Tennessee; if A. J. Smith gets here he will have full 30,- 000 of the best men in America. He will cross the Tennessee at Decatur and Whitesburg, march toward Rome and feel for Thomas. If Johnston falls behind the Coosa, then McPher- son will push for Rome, and if John- ston falls behind the Chattahoochee, as I believe he will, then McPherson will cross over and join Thomas. On Apr. 28, Gen. Sherman re- moved his headquarters to Chatta- nooga, and on May 5 he took the field personally and marched with about 100,000 men into Georgia against Gen. Johnston, who re- treated from Dalton after a brief skirmish stand. On May 11 the Federal com- mander, then at Tunnel Hill, Whit- field County, ordered Gen. McPher- son, in Sugar Valley, to anticipate Gen. Johnston's evacuation of Dal- ton by sending Gen. Garrard by Summerville to threaten Rome and that flank. Instead of taking the small Confederate garrison at Re- saca, Gordon County, Gen. Mc- Pherson fell back into a defensive position in Sugar Valley, on the Resaca side of Snake Creek Gap. Sherman continues : .Johnston, as 1 anticipated, had abandoned all his well-prepared de- fenses at Dalton and was found inside of Resaca with the bulk of his army, holding his divisions well in hand, acting purely on the defensive, and 182 A History of Rome and Floyd County fighting well at all points of conflict. A complete line of entrenchments was found covering the place, and this was strongly manned at all points. On the 14th we closed in, enveloping the town on its north and west, and during the 15th we had a continual day of battle and skirmish. At the same time I caused two pontoon bridges to be laid across the Oostanaula river at Lay's Ferry, about three miles below the town, by which we could threaten Cal- houn, a station on the railroad seven miles below Resaca. I also dispatched G»ten. Garrard with his cavalry di- vision down the Oostanaula by the Rome road, with orders to cross over, if possible, and to attack or threaten the railroad at any point below Cal- houn and above Kingston. During the 15th, without attempt- ing to assault the fortified works, we pressed at all points, and the sound of cannon and musketry rose all day to the dignity of a battle. Toward evening McPherson moved his whole line of battle forward, till he had gained a ridge overlooking the tov^Ti, from which his field artillery could reach the railroad bridge across the Oostanaula. The enemy made several attempts to drive him away, but in every instance he was repulsed with bloody loss. Hooker's Corps had also had some heavy and handsome fighting that aft- ernoon and night on the left, where the Dalton road entered the entrench- ments, capturing a 4-gun entrenched battery, with its men and guns; and generally all our men showed the finest fighting qualities. Howard's Corps had followed Johnston down from Dalton and was in line; Stoneman's Division of Cavalry had also got up, and was on the extreme left, beyond the Oostanaula. On the night of May 15 Johnston got his army across the bridges, set them on fire and we en- tered Resaca at daylight. Our loss up to that time was about 600 dead and 3,375 wounded. That Johnston had deliberately de- signed in advance to give up such strong positions as Dalton and Resaca, for the purpose of drawing us farther South, is simply absurd. Had he re- mained in Dalton another hour it would have been his total defeat, and he only evacuated Resaca because his safety demanded it. The movement by us through Snake Creek Gap was a total surprise to him. My army about doubled his in size, but he had all the advantage of natural positions, of artificial forts and roads, and of concentrated action. We were com- pelled to grope our way through for- ests, across mountains with a large army, necessarily more or less dis- persed. Johnston having retreated, imme- diate pursuit was begun. A division of infantry (Jefferson C. Davis') was at once dispatched down the valley toward Rome, to support Garrard's Cavalry, and the whole army was or- dered to pursue — McPherson by Lay's Ferry, on the right, Thomas directly by the railroad, and Schofield by the left, by the old road that crossed the Oostanaula above Echota or Newtovm. We hastily repaired the railroad bridge at Resaca, which had been par- tially burned, and built a temporary floating bridge out of timber and ma- terials found on the spot, so that Thomas got his advance corps over during the 16th, and marched as far as Calhoun, where he came into com- munication with McPherson's troops, which had crossed the Oostanaula at Lay's Ferry by our pontoon bridges previously laid. Inasmuch as the bridge at Resaca was overtaxed, Hooker's Twentieth Corps was also divei'ted to cross by the fords and ferries above Resaca, in the neighbor- hood of Echota. On the 17th, toward evening, the head of Thomas' column, Newton's Di- vision, encountered the rear guard of Johnston's Army near Adairsville. I was near the head of the column at the time, trying to get a view of the position of the enemy from an eleva- tion in an open field. My party at- tracted the fire of a battery; a shell passed through the group of staff of- ficers and burst just beyond, which scattered us promptly. The next morning the enemy had disappeared, and our pursuit was continued to Kingston, which we reached during Sunday afternoon, the 19th. From Resaca the railroad runs nearly due south, but at Kingston it makes junction with another railroad from Rome, and changes direction due east (west). At that time McPher- son's head of column was about four miles to the west of Kingston, at a country place called "Woodlawn;" Schofield and Hooker were on the di- rect roads leading from Newtown to Cassville, diagonal to the route fol- lowed by Thomas. Thomas' head of column, which had followed the coun- try roads alongside of the railroad, was about four miles east of Kingston, toward Cassville. About noon I got a message from him that he had found Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 183 the enemy drawn up in line of battle on some extensive, open ground, about half-way between Kingston and Cass- ville, and that appearances indicated a willingness and preparation for bat- tle. Hurriedly sending orders to Mc- Pherson to resume the march, to hasten forward by roads leading to the south of Kingston, so as to leave for Thomas' troops and trains the use of the main road, and to come up on his right, I rode forward rapidly over some rough gi-avel hills, and about six miles from Kingston found Gen. Thomas with his troops deployed; but he reported that the enemy had fallen back in echelon of divisions, steadily and in superb order, into Cassville. I knew that the roads by which Gens. Hooker and Schofield were ap- proaching would lead them to a sem- inary near Cassville, and that it was all-important to secure the point of junction of these roads with the main road along which we were marching. Therefore, I ordered Gen. Thomas to push forward his deployed lines as rapidly as possible, and as night was approaching, I ordered two field bat- teries to close up at a gallop on some woods which lay between us and the town of Cassville. We could not see the town by reason of these woods, but a high range of hills just back of the town was visible over the tree tops. On these hills could be seen fresh- made parapets and the movement of men, against whom I directed the ar- tillery to fire at long range. The stout resistance made by the enemy along our whole front of a couple of miles indicated a purpose to fight at Cassville, and as the night was closing in. Gen. Thomas and I were together, along with our skirmish lines near the seminary, on the edge of the town, where musket bullets from the enemy were cutting the leaves of the trees pretty thickly about us. We went back to the bat- tery, where we passed the night on the "round. *The wonderful cave visited in 1835 by John Howard Payne. Col. Mark A. Hardin, mem- ber of Morgan's Cavalry, had bought it in 1861, and with several hundreds of slaves work- ing, had sent quantities of nitre to Knoxville to make gunpowder for the Confederate Army. He refused an offer of $100,000 for the cave, and shortly afterward, it was seized by the Confederate Government, which was in charge when Gen. Sherman captured it. Authority: Miss Virginia Hardin, of Atlanta. It is said this cave's tributaries extend several miles, and that they have never been thoroughly explored. The place is visited yearly by thousands, nota- bly by the Boy Scouts. During the night I had reports from McPherson, Hooker and Schofield. The former was about five miles to my right rear, near the "nitre caves;""* Schofield was about six miles north and Hooker between us, within two miles. All were ordered to close down on Cassville at daylight, and to attack the enemy wherever found. Skirmish- ing was kept up all night, but when day broke the next morning. May 20th, the enemy was gone, and our cavalry was sent in pursuit. These reported him beyond the .Etowah Riv- er. We were then well in advance of our railroad trains, so I determined to pause a few days to repair the rail- road. Nearly all the people of the coun- try seemed to have fled with John- ston's Army, yet some few families remained, and from one of them I pro- cured a copy of an order which John- ston had made at Adairsville in which he recited that he had retreated as far as strategy required, and that his army must be prepared for battle at Cassville. The newspapers of the South, many of which we found, were loud in denunciation of Johnston's falling back before us without a se- rious battle, simply resisting by his COL. THOMAS W. ALEXANDER, once Mayor of Rome, in the uniform he wore as a Con- federate Army officer. 184 A History of Rome and Floyd County skirmish line and rear guard. But his friends proclaimed that it was all strategic, that he was deliberately drawing us farther and farther into the meshes, farther and farther away from our base of supplies, and that in due season he would not only halt for battle, but assume the bold offen- sive. Of course it was to my interest to bring him to battle as soon as possi- ble, when our numerical superiority was at the greatest; for he was pick- ing up his detachments as he fell back, whereas I was compelled to make similar and stronger detachments to repair the railroads as we advanced, and to guard them. I found at Cass- ville many evidences of preparation for a grand battle, among them a long line of fresh entrenchments on the hill beyond the town, extending nearly three miles to the south, err.- bracing the railroad crossing. I was also convinced that the whole of Polk's corps had joined Johnston from Mis- sissippi, and that he had in hand three full corps, viz.. Hood's, Polk's and Har- dee's, numbering about 60,000 men, and could not then imagine why he had declined battle, and did not learn the real reason till after the war was over, and then from Gen. Johnston hiinself. In the autumn of 1865, wheii in command of the Military Division of the Missouri, I went from St. Louis to Little Rock, Ark., and afterward to Memphis. Taking a steamer for Cairo, I found as fellow passengers Gens. Johnston and Frank Blair. We were, of course, on the most friendly terms, and on our way up we talked over our battles again, played cards, and ouestioned each other as to par- ticular parts of our mutual conduct in the game of war. I told Johnston that I had seen his order of prepara- tion, in the nature of an address to his army, announcing his purpose to retreat no more, but to accept battle at Cassville. He answered that such was his purpose; that he had left Hardee's corps in the open fields to check Thomas and gain time for his formations on the ridge, just behind Cassville; and it was this corps that Gen. Thomas had seen deployed, and whose handsome movement in retreat he had reported in such complimenta- ry terms. Johnston described how he had placed Hood's Corps on the right, Polk's in the center and Hardee's on the left. He said he had ridden over the ground, given to each corps com- mander his position and orders to throw up parapets during the night; that he was with Hardee on his ex- treme left as the night closed in, and as Hardee's troops fell back to the position assigned them for the intend- ed battle of the next day; and that after giving Hardee some general in- structions he and his staff rode back to Cassville. As he entered the town, or village, he met Gens. Hood and Polk. Hood inquired of him if he had had anything to eat, and he said no, that he was both hungry and tired, when Hood invited him to go and share a supper which had been prepared for him at a house close by. At the supper they discussed the chances of the impending battle, when Hood spoke of the ground assigned to him as being enfiladed by our (Union) artillery, which Johnston disputed, when Gen. Polk chimed in with the remark that Gen. Hood was right; that the cannon shots fired by us at nightfall had enfiladed their gen- eral line of battle, and for this reason he feared they could not hold their men. Gen. Johnston was surprised at this, for he understood Gen. Hood to be one of those who professed to crit- icize his strategy, contending that, in- stead of retreating, he should have risked a battle. Gen. Johnston said he was provoked, accused them of having been in conference, with be- ing beaten before battle, and added that he was unwilling to engage in a critical battle with an army so su- perior to his own in numbers, with two of his three corps commanders dissatisfied with the ground and posi- tions assigned them. He then and there made up his mind to retreat still far- ther South, to put the Etowah River and the Allatoona Range between us; and he at once gave orders to resume the retrograde movement. This was my recollection of the sub- stance of the conversation, of which I made no note at the time; but at a meeting of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland some years after, at Cleveland, O., about 1868, in a short after-dinner speech I related this con- versation, and it got into print. Sub- sequently, in the spring of 1870, when I was at New Orleans, en route for Texas, Gen. Hood called to see me at the St. Charles Hotel, explained that he had seen my speech reprint- ed in the newspapers and gave me his version of the same event. He stated that he had argued against fighting the battle purely on the defensive, but had asked Gen. Johnston to permit him with his own corps and part of Polk's Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 185 to quit their lines and to march rapid- ly to attack and overwhelm Schofield, who was known to be separated from Thomas by an interval of nearly five miles, claiming that he could have de- feated Schofield and got back to his position in time to meet Gen. Thomas' attack in front. He also stated that he had contended with Johnston for the "offensive-defensive" game, instead of the pure "defensive," as proposed by Gen. Johnston; and he said it was at this time that Gen. Johnston had taken offense, and that it was for this reason that he had ordered the retreat that night. As subsequent events es- tranged these two officers, it is very natural they should now differ on this point; but it was sufficient for us that the rebel army did retreat that night, leaving us masters of all the country above the Etowah River. For the purposes of rest, to give time for the repair of the railroads and to replenish supplies, we lay by some few days in that quarter — Scho- field with Stoneman's cavalry holding the gi'ound at Cassville Depot, at Cartersville, and the Etowah Bridge; Thomas holding his ground near Cass- ville, and McPherson that near King- ston. The officer intrusted with the repair of the railroads was Col. W. W. Wright, a raih-oad engineer, who, with about 2,000 men, was so indus- trious and skillful that the bridge at Resaca was rebuilt in three days, and cars loaded with stores came forward to Kingston on the 24th. The tele- graph also brought us the news of the desperate and bloody battles of the Wilderness, in Virginia, and that Gen. Grant was pushing his operations against Lee with terrific energy. I was therefore resolved to give my enemy no rest. In early days, 1844, when a lieu- tenant of the Third Artillery, I had been sent from Charleston, S. C, to Marietta, Ga., to assist Inspector Gen- eral Churchill to take testimony con- cerning certain losses of horses and accoutrements by the Georgia Volun- teers during the Florida War; and after completing the work at Marietta we transferred our party over to Bellefonte, Ala. I had ridden the dis- tance on horseback, and had noted well the topography of the country, espe- cially that about Kennesaw, Allatoona and the Etowah River. On that oc- casion I had stopped some days with a Colonel Tumlin,* to see some remark- able Indian mounds on the Etowah River, usually called the "Hightower." *Lewis Tumlin. I therefore knew that the Allatoona Pass was very strong, would be hard to force, and resolved not even to at- tempt it, but to turn the position by moving from Kingston to Marietta via Dallas; accordingly, I made orders on May 20 to get ready for the march to begin on the 23d. The army of the Cumberland was ordei-ed to march for Dallas, by Euharlee and Stiles- boro; Davis's Division, then at Rome, by Van Wert; the Army of the Ohio to keep on the left of Thomas, by a place called Burnt Hickory; and the Army of the Tennessee to march for a position a little to the South, so as to be on the right of the general army when grouped about Dallas. The move- ment contemplated leaving our rail- road, and to depend for 20 days on the contents of our wagons; and as the country was very obscure, mostly in a state of nature, densely wooded and with few roads, our movements were necessarily slow. We crossed the Etowah by several bridges and fords, and took as many roads as pos- sible, keeping up communication by cross-roads, or by couriers through the woods. I personally joined Gen. Thomas, who had the center, and was consequently the main column, or "col- umn of direction." The several col- umns followed generally the Valley of the Euharlee, a tributary coming into the Etowah from the South, and grad- ually crossed over a ridge of moun- tains, parts of which had been work- ed over for gold, and were conse- quently full of paths and unused wagon roads or tracks. A "cavalry picket" of the enemy at Burnt Hickory was captured and had on his person an order from Gen. Johnston, dated at Allatoona, which showed that he had detected my pur- pose of turning his position, and it accordingly became necessary to use great caution, lest some of the minor columns should fall into ambush, but, luckily, the enemy was not much more familiar with that part of the coun- try than we were. On the other side of the Allatoona Range, the Pumpkin- Vine Creek, also a tributary of the Etowah, flowed north and west; Dal- las, the point aimed at, was a small town on the other, or east side of this creek, and was a point of concentra- tion of a great many roads that led in every direction. Its possession would be a threat to Marietta and Atlanta, but I could not then venture to at- tempt either, till I had regained use of the railroad, at least as far down as its debouch from the Allatc^ona 186 A History of Rome and Floyd County Range of mountains. Therefore, the movement was chiefly designed to com- pel Johnston to give up Allatoona. In his description of the "drawn battle" of New Hope Church at Dallas, Paulding County, May 26, Gen. Sherman notes that Gen. Jef- ferson C. Davis' Federal Garrison or Division of the Fourteenth Ar- my Corps had left Rome and come to his assistance. He says he or- dered Gen. Hooker to capture the New Hope position the night of the 25th, if possible, and goes on : The woods were so dense and the resistance so spirited that Hooker could not carry the position, though the battle was noisy and prolonged far into the night. From the bloody fighting there for the next week it was called by the soldiers "Hell-Hole." The night was pitch-dark, it rained hard and the convergence of our col- umns toward Dallas produced much confusion. I am sure similar confusion existed in the army opposed to us, for we were all mixed up. I slept on the ground without cover, alongside of i; log, got little sleep, resolved at day- light to renew the battle. The battle was renewed, and without success. A continual battle was in progress by strong skirmish lines taking advan- tage of every species of cover, and both parties fortifying each night by rifle-trenches, with head-logs. Occ; sionally one party or the other would make a dash in the nature of a sally, but usually it sustained a repulse with gxeat loss of life. I visited personally all parts of cur lines nearly every day, was constantly within musket range, and though the fire of mus- ketry and cannon resounded day and night along the whole line, I rarely saw a dozen of the enemy at one time, and these were always skirmish- ers, dodging from tree to tree, or be- hind logs on the ground, or who oc- casionally showed their heads above the hastily-constructed but remark- ably strong rifle-trenches. On the oc- casion of my visit to McPherson on the 30th of May, while standing with a group of officers, among whom were Gens. McPherson, Logan and Barry, and Col. Taylor, my former chief of artillery, a Minie ball passed through Logan's coat sleeve, scratching the skin, and struck Col. Taylor square in the breast; luckily, he had in his pocket a famous memorandum book in which he kept a sort of diary, about which we used to joke him a good deal; its thickness saved his life, breaking the force of the ball. Next are chronicled the bat- tles before the fall of Atlanta, Sept. 2, 1864. Gen. Johnston had now been succeeded in command in Georgia by Gen. John B. Hood, and Hood led Sherman a merry chase back toward Rome and over a considerable part of the terri- tory that had been traversed on the drive down. Atlanta was or- dered evacuated by the civilian population, and in reply to pro- tests. Gen. Sherman wrote Gen. H. W. Halleck, chief of stafif, at Washington : If the people raise a howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will an- swer that war is war, and not pop- ularity-seeking. If they want peace, they and their relatives must stop the war. By date Sept. 28, 1864, Gen. Hal- leck wrote Gen. Sherman, "I would destroy every mill and fac- tory within reach that I did not want for my own use. This the rebels have done, not only in Ma- ryland and Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia and other rebel states, when compelled to fall back before our armies. In many sections of the country they have not left a mill to grind grain for their own suffering families, lest we might use them to supply our armies. We must do the same."* Hearing that Gen. Joe Wheel- er's Confederate Cavalry was threatening the railroad commu- nications in Middle Tennessee and that Gen. Forrest was coming up from Mississippi to join him. Gen. Sherman ordered Newton's di- vision of the Fourth Army Corps back to Chattanooga, Corse's di- vision of the Seventeenth Corps back to Rome, and warned other commands to watch out. "I take it for gi-anted that Forrest will cut our road, but think we can prevent him from making a serious *This message was received at Rome. Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 187 lodgment," wired Oen. Sherman Sept. 29, 1864, to Gen. Halleck. "His cav- alry will travel a hundred miles where ours will ten. I have sent two divis- ions up to Chattanooga and one to Rome. Our roads should be watched from the rear. I prefer for the fu- ture to make the movement on Mil- len, Milledgeville and Savannah. Hood now rests 24 miles south, on the Chat- tahoochee, with his right on the West Point road. I can whip his infantry, but his cavalry is to be feared." The Union army under com- mand of Gen. Sherman had been radically reconstituted, and he claimed 60,000 infantry and artil- lery, with two small divisions of cavalry, in the pursuit after Gen. Hood, whose forces he estimated at 35,000 to 40,000 men, including about 3,000 of cavalry under Gen. Wheeler. "We had strong railroad guards at Marietta and Kennesaw, Allatoona, Etowah Bridge, Kingston, Rome, Re- saca, Dalton, Ringgold and Chatta- nooga," continues the Sherman nar- rative. "All the important bridges were likewise protected by good block houses, admirably constructed, and capable of a strong defense against cavalry or infantry We crossed the Chattahoochee River during the 3rd and 4th of October, rendezvoused at the old battlefield of Smyrna Camp, and the next day reached Marietta and Kennesaw. On the 4th of Octo- ber I signalled from Vining's Station to Kennesaw, and from Kennesaw to Allatoona, over the heads of the enemy, a message to Gen. Corse at Rome, to hurry back to the assistance of the garrison at Allatoona, which was held by a small brigade commanded by Lieut. Col. Tourtelotte, my present aide de camp, who had two small re- doubts on either side of the railroad, overlooking the village of Allatoona and the warehouses, in which wei-e stored over a million rations of bread." Here he comes to the Big Shan- ty neighborhood : Reaching Kennesaw Mountain about 8 a. m. of Oct. 5 (a beautiful day), I had a superb view of the vast pan- orama to the north and west. To the southwest, aboiiv Dallas, could be seen the smoke of camp-fires, indicating the presence of a large force of the enemy, and the whole line of railroad from Big Shanty up to Allatoona (full fifteen miles) was marked by the fires of the burning railroad. We could plainly see the smoke of battle about Allatoona and hear the faint reverber- ation of the cannon. The signal officer on Kennesaw re- ported that since daylight he had fail- ed to obtain any answer to his call for Allatoona ; but while I was with him he caught a faint glimpse of the tell-tale flag through an embrasure and after much time he made out these letters: "C," "R," "S," "E," "H," "E," "R," and translated the mes- sage, "Corse is here." Later in the afternoon the signal flag announced that the attack at Al- latoona had been fairly repulsed. The next day my aide. Col. L. M. Dayton, received this characteristic despatch from Gen. Corse at Allatoona : "I am short a cheekbone and an ear, but am able to whip all hell yet! My losses are very heavy. A force moving from Stilesboro to Kingston gives me some anxiety. Tell me where Sherman is." Inasmuch as the enemy had retreat- ed southwest and would probably next appear at Rome, I ordered Gen. Corse to get back to Rome with his troops as quickly as possible. Gen. Corse's report of his fight at Allatoona is very full and graphic. It is dated Rome, Oct. 27, 1864; recites the fact that he received his orders by signal to go to the assistance of Allatoona on the 4th, when he telegraphed to Kings- ton for cars, and a train of 30 empty cars was started for him, but about ten of them got off the track and caused delay. By 7 p. m. he had at Rome a train of 20 cars, which he loaded up with Col. Rowett's Brigade and part of the Twelfth Illinois In- fantry; started at 8 p. m., reached Allatoona (35 miles) at 1 a. m. of the 5th and sent the train back for more men; but the road was in bad order and no more came in time. The gallant Major Gen. S. G. French, commanding some 4,000 Confederates, surrounded the 2,000 Federals under Gen. Corse and Col. Tourtelotte, and sent in a demand for surrender "to avoid a needless effusion of blood." Gen. Corse re- fused to surrender ; he was badly wounded ; Gen. French withdrew at the approach of a superior force from Sherman's army. A bullet cut across Gen. Corse's face and punctured one of his cars ; Col. Tourtelotte was shot through the 188 A History of Rome and Floyd County hips, but continued to command; Col. Redfield, of the 39th Iowa regiment, was killed, and Col. Rowett, also of the Union army, was wounded. Corse's casualties were 707, or more than one-third of his command. Gen. Sherman's account continues : In person I reached Allatoona on the 9th of October, still in doubt as to Hood's immediate intentions. Our cavah'y could do little against his in- fantry in the rough and wooded coun- try about Dallas, which masked the enemy's movements; but Gen. Corse, at Rome, with Spencer's First Ala- bama Cavalry and a mounted regi- ment of Illinois Infantry, could feel the country south of Rome about Cedartown and Villa Rica, and report- ed the enemy to be in force at both places. On the 9th I telegraphed to Gen. Thomas at Nashville, as follows: "I came up here to relieve our road. The Twentieth Corps remains at At- lanta. Hood reached the road and broke it up between Big Shanty and Acworth. He attacked Allatoona, but was repulsed. We have plenty of bread and meat, but forage is scarce. I want to destroy all the road below Chatta- nooga, including Atlanta, and to make for the seacoast. We can not defend this long line of road. And on the same day I telegraphed to Gen. Grant at City Point, Va.: "It will be a physical impossibility to protect the roads, now that Hood, Forrest, Wheeler and the whole patch of devils are turned loose without home or habitation. I think Hood's movements indicate a diversion to the end of the Selma & Talladega road, at Blue Mountain, about 60 miles south- west of Rome, from which he will threaten Kingston, Bridgeport and De- catur, Ala. I propose that we break up the railroad from Chattanooga for- ward, and that we strike out with our wagons for Milledgeville, Millen and Savannah. Until we can repopu- late Georgia, it is useless for us to oc- cupy it; but the utter destruction of its roads, houses and people will crip- ple their military resources. By at- tempting to hold the roads we will lose a thousand men each month, and will ■gain no result. I can make this march and make Georgia howl! We have on hand over 8,000 head of cattle, and 3,000,000 rations of bread, but no corn. We can find plenty of forage in the interior of the state." Meantime, the rebel Gen. Forrest had made a bold circuit in Mid- dle Tennessee, avoiding all forti- fied points, and breaking up the rail- road at several places; but as usual, he did his work so hastily and care- lessly that our engineers soon repair- ed the damage — then reti-eating before Gen. Rousseau, he left the State of Tennessee, crossing the river near Florence, Ala., and got off unharmed. On the 10th of October the enemy appeared south of the Etowah River at Rome, when I ordered all the arm- ies to march to Kingston, rode myself to Cartersville with the 23rd Corps (Gen. Cox) and telegraphed from there to Gen. Thomas at Nashville: "It looks to me as though Hood was bound for Tuscumbia. He is now crossing the Coosa River below Rome, looking west. Let me know if you can hold him with your forces now in Ten- nessee and the expected re-enforce- ments, as, in that event, you know what I propose to do. I will be at Kingston tomorrow. I think Rome is strong enough to resist any attacks, and the rivers are all high. If he turns up by Summerville, I will get in behind him." And on the same day to Gen. Grant at City Point: "Hood is now crossing the Coosa, twelve miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes over to the Mobile & Ohio railroad, had I not better execute the plan of my letter sent you by Col- onel Porter, and leave Gen. Thomas, with the troops now in Tennessee, to defend the state? He will have an am- ple force when the re-enforcements or- dered reach Nashville." I found Gen. John E. Smith at Car- tersville, and on the 11th rode on to Kingston, where I had telegraphic communications in all directions. From Gen. Corse, at Rome, I learned that Hood's army had disappeared, but in what direction he was still in doubt; and I was so strongly convinced of the wisdom of my proposition to change the whole tactics of the campaign, to leave Hood to Gen. Thomas, and to march across Georgia for Savannah or Charleston, that I again telegraph- ed Gen. Grant: "We can not now remain on the de- fensive. With 25,999 infantry and the bold cavalry he has. Hood can con- stantly break my road. I would in- finitely prefer to make a wreck of the road and the country from Chatta- nooga to Atlanta, including the lat- ter city; send back all my wounded Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 189 u A ^ i) -C ■4-1 bi) C « a Q 3 a , o n o CO •^ , J3 A •w 3 ^ TJ ^ V ' u VJS JS u 4^ Ui ■^ jB 4) bn > U X u V 4) u E JS •4-1 s o: 4> (fiM ^ 4) ■5 «4a VIM 4) ti .£ to Tl in (O 4) ■ •5 l-H Um 00 1^ 4) U4 4> M 190 A History of Rome and Floyd County and unserviceable men, and with my effective army move through Georgia, smashing things to the sea. Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he vi^ill be forced to follov^r me. Instead of being on the defensive, I w^ill be on the offensive. Instead of my guessing at what he means to do, he will have to guess at my plans. The difference in war would be fully 25 per cent. I can make Savannah, Charleston or the mouth of the Chat- tahoochee (Appalachicola) . Answer quick, as I know we vdll not have the telegraph long." I received no answer to this at the time, and the next day went on to Rome, where the news came that Hood had made his appearance at Resaca and had demanded the surrender of the place, which was commanded by Col. Weaver, reinforced by Brevet Brig.-Gen. Raum. Gen. Hood had ev- idently marched with rapidity up the Chattooga Valley by Summerville. La- Fayette, Ship's Gap and Snake Creek Gap, and had with him his whole army, except a small force left behind to watch Rome. I ordered Resaca to be further reinforced by rail from Kingston, and ordered Gen. Corse to make a bold reconnoisance down the Coosa Valley, which captured and brought into Rome some cavalrymen and a couple of field guns, with their horses and men. At first I thought of interposing my whole army in the Chattooga Valley, so as to prevent Hood's escape south; but I saw at a glance that he did not mean to fight, and in that event, after damaging the road all he could, he would be likely to retreat eastward by Spring Place, which I did not want him to do; and hearing from Gen. Raum that he still held Resaca safe, and that Gen. Ed- ward McCook had also got there with some cavalry re-enforcements, I turn- ed all the heads of columns from Re- saca, viz., Gen. Cox's from Rome; Gen. Stanley's from McGuire's, and Gen. O. O. Howard's from Kingston. We all reached Resaca during that night, and the next morning (13th) learned that Hood's whole army had passed up the valley toward Dalton, burning the railroad and doing all the damage possible. On the 12th he had demand- ed the surrender of Resaca in the fol- lowing letter: Headquarters Army of Tennessee, In the Field, Oct. 12, 1864. To the Officer Commanding the Unit- ed States Forces at Resaca, Ga.: Sir: I demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command, and, should this be acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled in a few days. If the place is carried by assault, no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient ser- vant, J. B. HOOD, General. To this, Col. Weaver, then in com- mand, replied: Headquarters Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Corps, Resaca, Ga., Oct. 12, 1864. To General J. B. Hood: Your com- munication of this date just received. In reply I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that if the place is carried by assault, no pris- oners will be taken. In my opinion, I can hold this post. If you want it, come and take it. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, CLARK R. WEAVER, Commanding Officer. This brigade was very small, and as Hood's investment extended only from the Oostanaula, below the town, to the Connasauga, above, he left open the approach from the south, which enabled Gen. Raum and the cavalry of Gen. Edward McCook to re-enforce from Kingston. In fact, Hood, admon- ished by his losses at Allatoona, did not attempt an assault at all, but lim- ited his attack to the above threat and to some skirmishing, giving his atten- tion chiefly to the destruction of the railroad, which he accomplished all the way up to Tunnel Hill, nearly 20 miles, capturing en route the regiment of black troops at Dalton (Johnson's 44th United States, colored). On the 14th I turned Gen. Howard through Snake Creek Gap, and sent Gen. Stan- ley around by Tilton, with orders to cross the mountain to the west, so as to capture, if possible, the force left by the enemy in Snake Creek Gap. We found this gap very badly obstructed by fallen timber, but got through that night, and the next day the main army was at Villanow (Walker County). On the morning of the 16th, the leading division of Gen. Howard's column, com- manded by Gen. Chas. R. Woods, car- ried Ship's Gap, taking prisoners part of the 24th South Carolina Regiment, which had been left there to hold us in check. The best information there obtained located Hood's army at LaFayette, Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 191 near which place I hoped to catch him and force him to battle; but by the time we had got enough troops across the mountain at Ship's Gap, Hood had escaped down the Valley of the Chattooga, and all we could do was to follow him as closely as pos- sible. From Ship's Gap I dispatched couriers to Chattanooga, and received word back that Gen. Schofield was there, endeavoring to co-operate with me, but Hood had broken up the tele- grraph, and had thus prevented quick communication. Gen. Schofield did not reach me until the army had got down to Gaylesville, Ala., about the 21st of October. We quietly followed him down the Chattooga Valley to the neighborhood of Gadsden, but failed the main armies near the Coosa River, at the mouth of the Chattooga. On Oct. 19 I telegraphed Gen. Amos Beckwith, chief commissary in At- lanta : "Hood will escape me. I want to prepare for my big raid. On the 1st of November I want nothing in At- lanta but what is necessary for war. Send all trash to the rear at once, and have on hand 30 days' food and but little forage. I propose to abandon Atlanta and the railroad back to Chat- tanooga, to sally forth to ruin Geor- gia, and bring up on the seashore. 1 will go down the Coosa until I am sure that Hood has gone to Blue Moun- tain." On the 21st of October I reached Gaylesville, had my bivouac in an open field back of the village, and remained there until the 28th. At Gaylesville the pursuit of Hood by the army un- der my immediate command may be said to have ceased. During the pur- suit the Fifteenth Corps was com- manded by its senior major general present, P. J. Osterhaus, in the ab- sence of Gen. John A. Logan; and the Seventeenth Corps was commanded by Brig. Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, the senior officer present, in the absence of Gen. Frank P. Blair. Gen. Ransom was a young, most gallant and promising of- ficer, son of the Col. Ransom who was killed at Chapultepec, in the Mexican War. He had served with the Army of the Tennessee in 1862 and 1863 at Vicksburg, where he was severely wounded. He was not well when we started from Atlanta, but he insisted on going along with his command. His symptoms became more aggravated on the march, and when we were encamp- ed near Gaylesville I visited him in company with Surgeon John Moore, who said the case was one of typhoid fever, which would likely prove fatal. I few days later, viz., the 28th, he was being carried on a litter toward Rome; and as I rode from Gaylesville to Rome I passed him by the way, stop- ped and spoke to him, but did not then suppose he was so near his end. The next day, however, his escort reached Rome, bearing his dead body. The of- ficer in charge reported that shortly after I had passed, his symptoms be- came so much worse that they stopped at a farm-house by the roadside, where he died that evening. His body was at once sent to Chicago for burial, and a monument has been ordered by the Society of the Army of the Ten- nessee to he erected in his memory. It had become almost an ob- session with Gen. Sherman that he should take up his proposed "March to the Sea," and now the opportunity was to be given him. Up to this time he had been kept pretty busy by Johnston, Hood, Wheeler and Forrest, and for them all had accjuired a considerable ad- miration. He respected Johnston for his strategy and tenacious fighting against heavy odds ; he JAMES NOBLE. SR., head of the Noble fam- ily, which added to Rome's advancement and later established Anniston. 192 A History of Rome and Floyd County gave left-handed praise to Hood for his elusiveness ; he worship- ped the boldness of Wheeler's cav- alry ; and he took ofi' his hat to Forrest May 3, 1863, when For- rest's handful of men captured Streight with a force three times as large and marched the captives into Rome. Sherman reports that on Oct. 31, 1864, "Forrest made his appearance on the Tennessee River opposite John- sonville (whence a new railroad led to Nashville), and with his cavalry and field pieces actually crippled and cap- tured two gunboats with five of our transports, a feat of arms which I confess excited my admiration. There is no doubt that the month of October closed to us looking decidedly squally; but somehow I was sustained in the belief that in a very few days the tide would turn." Oct. 28, 1864, found Gen. Sher- man quartered in the comfortable two-story frame dwelling of Ma- jor Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"), where the handsome modern home of Mrs. Chas. A. Hight now stands at 312 Fourth Avenue, Rome. The general was an exceedingly busy man. He did not have time for social entertainments, assuming that any of the "natives" felt in- clined to be sociable. He was busy writing some dispatches, de- livering others orally, penning tel- egrams to Grant, Halleck and Thomas, snatching a hasty meal here and there and dashing away on his trusty charger. Assuming that he arrived in Rome the night of Oct. 28 and that he remained until the morning of Nov. 2, when he left for Kingston, he spent three and a half days on this oc- casion in the City of Seven Hills. He had first visited Rome as a 3^oung army lieutenant in 1844, go- ing to Bellefonte, Ala., from Ma- rietta and back two months later by horseback, presumably follow- ing the same route both ways ; and again, Oct. 12, 1864. he mentions that he went to Rome from King- ston, and on the 14th was before Resaca, hence on that visit proba- bly stayed several hours. Gen. Jef- ferson C. Davis, having been sent down the Oostanaula River from Resaca toward Rome, May 16, probably arrived at Rome May 17, and made his headquarters at the Smith home on Fourth /\venue until he executed orders issued May 20 by Sherman to March May 23 for Dallas via Van Wert, a dead town of Polk County. Per- haps 20,000 men and nearly 1,000 wagons in Davis' command marched on Rome, which was gar- risoned by a small Confederate force. After firing on the invaders from a fort on Myrtle Hill Ceme- tery, the Confederates evacuated the town, and the invaders crossed the Oostanaula River at the old Printup Wharf, midway between the present Second and Fifth Ave- nue bridges, on pontoons partly constructed of pews taken out of the churches of Rome. The plan of Sherman's advance had been this : The Army of the Ohio (Gen. McPherson) made up the left wing, and marched south- ward from Resaca on the left-hand side of the Western & Atlantic (state) railroad; the Army of the Cumberland (Gen. Thomas) made up the center and marched along the track and right-of-way ; the Army of the Tennessee (Gen. McPherson) made up the right wing, and took the right-hand side. Davis' Division and Garrard's Cav- alry, dispatched to Rome, evident- ly were a part of the right wing, or Army of the Tennessee. In view of the fact that Gen. Sherman was traveling with his center and left in the close pursuit of Johnston through Bartow County (Adairs- ville, Kingston, Cassville and Car- tersville) it is probable that dur- ing this period (May 18-20) the Federal commander did not come to Rome. "On the first day of November, 1864," writes Gen. Sherman in his Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 193 Memoirs, "I telegraphed very fully to Gen. Grant at City Point (who must have been disturbed by the wild ru- mors that filled the country) , and on the second of November (at Rome) re- ceived this dispatch: " 'City Point, Va., Nov. 1, 1864, 6 P. M. '• 'Major-General Sherman: " 'Do you not think it advisable, now that Hood has gone so far north, to entirely ruin him before starting on your proposed campaign? With Hood's army destroyed, you can go where you please with impunity. I believed and still believe if you had started south while Hood was still in the neighbor- hood, he would have been forced to go after you. Now that he is far away he might look upon the chase as useless, and he will go in one direc- tion while you are pushing in another. If you can see a chance of destroying Hood's army, attend to that first, and make your other move secondary. " 'U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.' "My answer is dated: "Rome, Georgia, Nov. 2, 1864. "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, City Point, Virginia: "Your dispatch is received. If I could hope to overhaul Hood, I would turn against him with my whole force; then he would retreat to the southwest, drawing me as a decoy away from Georgia, which is his chief object. If he ventures north of the Tennessee River, I may turn in that direction, and endeavor to get below him on his line of retreat; but thus far he has not gone above the Tennessee River. General Thomas will have a force strong enough to prevent his reaching any country in which we have an in- terest; and he has orders, if Hood turns to follow me, to push for Selma, Alabama. No single army can catch Hood and I am convinced the best re- sults will follow from our defeating Jeff Davis's cherished plan of making me leave Georgia by maneuvering. Thus far I have confined my efforts to thwart this plan, and have reduced baggage so that I can pick up and start in any direction; but I regard the pursuit of Hood as useless. Still, if he attempts to invade Middle Ten- nessee, I will hold Decatur and be pre- pared to move in that direction; but unless I let go of Atlanta, my force will not be equal to his. "W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen." By this date, under the intelligent and energetic action of Col. W. W. Wright, and with the labor of some 1,500 men, the railroad break of fif- teen miles about Dalton was repaired so as to admit of the passage of cars, and I transferred my headquarters to Kingston as more central. (Note: By this last statement it is inevitable that his headquarters had been at Rome, and he was not there merely on one of his "rounds"). From that place (Kingston) on the same day (Nov. 2) I again telegraphed to Gen. Grant: "Kingston, Ga., Nov. 2, 1864. "Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, City Point, Virginia. "If I turn back, the whole effect of my campaign will be lost. By my movements I have thrown Beauregard (Hood) well to the west, and Thomas will have ample time and sufficient troops at Chattanooga and Atlanta, and I can stand a month's interruption to our communications. I do not be- lieve the Confederate army can reach our railroad lines except by cavalry raids, and Wilson will have cavalry enough to checkmate them. I am clear- ly of the opinion that the best results will follow my contemplated movement through Georgia. "W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen." J. A. GLOVER, banker and leading citizen, for many years closely identified with the commercial development of Rome. 194 A History of Rome and Floyd County That same day I received, in answer to the Rome dispatch, the following: "City Point, Va., Nov. 2, 1862, 11:30 A. M. "Major-General Sherman: "Your dispatch of 9 a. m. yesterday is just received. I dispatched you the same date, advising that Hood's army, now that it had worked so far north, ought to be looked upon now as the 'object.' With the force, however, that you have left with General Thomas, he must be able to take care of Hood and destroy him. I do not see that you can withdraw from where you are to follow Hood, without giving up all we have gained in territory. I say, then, go on as you propose. "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen." Sherman's word to "go" was thus received while he was head- quartered at Kingston, and came in response to his urgent appeal from Rome, and in consequence of recommendations before. There is an evident error in the Grant message just above, dated Nov. 2 and referring to Sherman's Rome message, also dated Nov. 2, as "your dispatch of 9 a. m. yester- day." The Grant dispatch date undoubtedly shotild have been Nov. 3. This was the first time that Gen. Grant assented to the "March to the Sea" and although many of his warm friends and admirers insist that he was the author and projector of that march, and that I simply executed his plans. Gen. Grant has never, in my opinion, thought so or said so. The truth is fully given in an original let- ter of President Lincoln, which I re- ceived at Savannah, Ga., and have at this instant before me, every word of which is in his own familiar hand- writing. It is dated — "Washington, Dec. 26, 1864. "When you were about leaving At- lanta for the Atlantic Coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering 'nothing risked, nothing gained,' I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce; and, taking the work of Gen. Thomas into account, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old op- posing force of the whole, Hood's army, it brings to those who sat in darkness to see a great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer if i leave General Grant and yourself to decide. "A. LINCOLN." On the 2nd of November I was at Kingston, Ga., and my four corps — the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Four- teenth and Twentieth — with one divis- ion of cavalry, were strung from Rome to Atlanta. Our railroads and tele- graph had been repaii'ed, and I de- liberately prepared for a march to Sa- vannah, distant 300 miles from Atlan- ta. All the sick and wounded men had been sent back by rail to Chat- tanooga; all our wagon trains had been carefully overhauled and load- ed, so as to be ready to start on an hour's notice, and there was no se- rious enemy in our front. Gen. Hood remained still at Flor- ence, Ala., occupying both banks of the Tennessee River, busy in collect- ing shoes and clothing for his men and the necessary ammunition and stores with which to invade Tennessee. Beauregard was at Corinth, hastening forward these necessary preparations. Gen. Thomas was at Nashville, with Wilson's dismounted cavalry and a mass of new troops and quartermas- ter's employes, amply sufficient to de- fend the place. On the 6th of November, at Kings- ton, I wrote and telegraphed to Gen. Grant, reviewing the whole situation, gave him my full plan of action, stated that I was ready to march as soon as the election was over, and appointed Nov. 10 as the day for starting. On the 8th I received this dispatch: "City Point, Va., Nov. 7, 1864, 10:30 P. M. "Major-General Sherman: " i our dispatch of this evening re- ceived. I see no present reason for changing your plan. Should any arise, you will see it, or if I do I will in- form you. I think everything here is favorable now. Great good fortune attend you! I believe you will be emi- nently successful, and at worst, can only make a march less fruitful than hoped for. "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen." Sherman's Movements as Told by Himself 195 Meantime, trains of cars were whirl- ing by, carrying to the rear an im- mense amount of stores which had ac- cumulated at Atlanta and at the other stations along the railroad; and Gen. Steedman had come down to Kingston to take charge of the final evacua- tion and withdrawal of the several garrisons below Chattanooga. (Enter another "villain!" — Author.) On the 10th of November the move- ment may be said to have fairly be- gun. All the troops designed for the campaign were ordered to march for Atlanta, and Gen. Corse, before eva- cuating his post at Rome, was order- ed to burn all the mills, factories, etc., etc., that could be useful to the enemy should he undertake to pursue us or resume military possession of the country. This was done on the night of the 10th and next day Corse reach- ed Kingston. Maj. Gen. Jefferson Davis commanded the 14th Corps of the left wing, and Corse a division of the 15th Corps. On the 12th, with a full staff, I started from Kingston for Atlanta, and about noon of that day we reach- ed Cartersville and sat on the edge of a porch to rest, when the telegraph operator, Mr. Van Valkenburg, or Ed- dy, got the wire down from the poles to his lap, in which he held a small pocket instrument. Calling "Chatta- nooga," he received a message from Gen. Thomas. Gen. Sherman records that just after the message from Gen. Thomas had come, and he had an- sv^ered "Dispatch received — all right," some of the marchers burnt a bridge, which severed the tele- graph wire and cut all communi- cation with the rear. As we rode on toward Atlanta that night, I remember the railroad trains going to the rear with a furious speed; the engineers and the few men about the trains waving us an affectionate adieu. It surely was a strange event — two hostile armies marching in op- posite directions, each in the full be- lief that it was achieving a final and conclusive result in a gi-eat war; and I was strongly inspired with the feel- ing that the movement on our part was a direct attack upon the rebel army and the rebel capital at Rich- mond, though a full thousand miles of hostile country intervened, and that, for better or worse, it would end the war. Thus started the ruthless cru- sade of this modern Attila the Hun, in which all rules of war touching the destruction of prop- erty and the treatment of human beings in the broad swath of war were suspended. Thus did Wm. Tecumseh Sherman write his name in fire and blood across the pages of Georgia history ; justified, as be claimed, by the objects in view, but indelibly, as Georgians of to- day still attest. 196 A History of Rome and Floyd County A NOTED SCHOOLHOUSE AND SEVEN DWELLINGS. At top, left, is No. 6 E. Ninth Avenue, where Prof. Hay Watson Smith, brother of Dr. Henry Louis Smith, president of Washington and Lee University, taught school. Next is the old Hines Smith home; the homes of W. H. Pickling, Mather D. Daniel, Ed L. Bosworth, J. P. Malone, Dr. J. D. Moreland and Mrs. Martha Battey, follow from left to right. CHAPTER VII. Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary T HE Rome Chapter (jf the United Daughters of the Confederacy has preserved in its archives a choice lit- erary morsel in the form of ex- tracts from the diary of Reuben S. Norton, which was placed at its disposal by Mrs. Wm. M. Towers, his only daughter, and which sheds a flood of light on the dark days between September, 1863, and the Confederate surrender in April, 1865. These extracts follow: Mary Noi-ton, then twelve years of age, was sent with friends of the fam- ily in 1863 to points of safety farther South, but her mother and I decided to remain in Rome and meet whatever fate might befall us. The autumn of 1863 found our citi- zens in a great condition of uneasiness because raiding parties had moved on Rome from various directions; and so the people began sending their fam- ines and negroes to safer places. Heavy reinforcements came in from Virginia and Mississippi, but as the Yankees were now in possession of Chattanooga, the worst was feared for Rome. In October, 1863, the com- mands of Gens. Walker and Grist passed through Rome, and having no means of transportation, impressed all the wagons and teams they could find v/ithin ten miles, leaving the people with no stock to make a crop. Such were the terrible straits to which our army was reduced at the time. On Dec. 8, 1863, all the government hospitals were removed from Rome. The people realized the town would soon be in the hands of the enemy, and numerous families left every day. Pro- visions were exceedingly high and scai'ce, and were preferred to money in all trading. Conditions grew stead- ily worse in January, 1864. All the schools were closed, and the Rome Fe- male College was moved away by the Caldwells. Four months later, on May 17, our forces began to evacuate the town to escape the heavy cannonading. About dark the men in gray drew into the town and began to move out. Think- ing the enemy would capture the available stores, clothing and food- stuffs, they carried off whatever they could. Several Texas regiments sack- ed the stores of about $150,000 in cit- izens' property. Early on the morning of May 18 our men burned the Oostanaula River bridge. The Etowah bridge had also been burned. About 11 o'clock the Yankees pushed their outposts into town, but our battery on Myrtle Hill continued to fire throughout the day. The town was now at the mercy of the invaders, who started burning houses and making themselves com- fortable. Certain wooden structures were torn down so the lumber could be used to make temporary shacks for the Union soldiers. The home of Dr. Hicks in DeSoto (now the Fourth Ward) was burned because it was charged Mrs. Hicks had insulted Streight's men when they were brought in the year before as prison- ers by Gen. Forrest. Mrs. Choice's home also went up in smoke, and the family had a narrow escape. Several attempts were made to burn the Nor- ton home and barn, but the fire was put out each time. Many more fam- ilies left town in haste and confusion. Pillaging day and night was common. The Confederates were scattered through the country, and Yankee wagon trains on foraging expeditions were handled roughly. Scores of ne- groes were sent North by the Union army leaders; they were not only of no help to our people, but in the way. Free transportation North was given such people as wished to go, and a few took advantage of the opportu- nity; I think there were eight or ten, whom we could well spare. Homes were quickly turned into hos- pitals. Only three male members of the Presbyterian church were left: Nicholas J. Omberg, H. G. Peter and myself. The authorities took up the carpets of the church, and moved the furniture and prayer books; pews were removed and used to float pontoon bridges across the rivers. The First Presbyterian was used as a store house. The Methodist church was fill- ed with ammunition and the Baptist and Episcopal structures were con- verted into hospitals. A provost marshal's establishment was set up, and the civilians were vir- tually prisoners. No mails were re- 198 A History of Rome and Floyd County ceived or sent, and no person could pass the lines going or coming with- out a permit. Thus four dreary months passed. On Sept. 18 the Confederates fired on the Yankees on the Cave Spring road, killing eight or ten and wound- ing others. The Federals, fearing a surprise attack, dug additional rifle pits. The people, in the meantime, remained in their homes as much as possible.* They were moved about, as their d\ filings were needed for mili- tary purposes. They lived on what- ever they could hide out; sometimes cooked for the enemy and thus fed themselves. Miss Joe Stewart (later Mrs. J. A. Stansbury) told how she penned up a lot of chickens in her basement, and how their feathers were missing when they were finally turned out after the departure of the enemy. Oct. 29 was noteworthy as the date Gen. Sherman and his staff came into town. They entered at night. On Nov. 10 at 5 a. m. it became evident that the invaders were preparing to evacuate, for they started burning the places of military value. Several ad- ditional citizens went North. The last of the Federals left at 9 o'clock, a. m., Nov. 11, 1864, and they destroyed such stores as they could not take along. Two days later there was not a sol- dier of either army to be seen. The streets were entirely deserted. Every- thing was as still and quiet as if no war were in progress. The business section was dead; only a little drug store was left, and that kept by Dr. J. H. Nowlin. The 40 men left be- hind organized a patrol force for the protection of their homes. They were as follows: A. Tabor Hardin, postmaster; Dr- J. H. Nowlin, Geo. P. Burnett, mayor; Jas. Lumpkin, Wm. Quinn, A. M. Kerr, Lewis D. Burwell, Terrence Mc- Guire, Jesse Lamberth, M. Marks, Green Stewart, S. G. Wells, C. W. Mills, Reuben S. Norton, John De- Journett, Nicholas J. Omberg, Peter Omberg, Wm. Lumpkin, Solomon Mc- Kenzie, Jas. Langston, Jas. Noble, Sr., J. G. Dailey, A. P. Neal, Ben Thorn- ton, Lee Lumpkin, 0. Wiley Harbin, Logan Graves, Peter M. Sheibley, C. H. Morefield, John B. Jenkins, Dr. Wm. Farell, Jno. T. Riley, Jas. Lee, Joe Norris, Dr. Brown, Mr. Porter, Mr. McGinnis, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Raw- lins, Mr. Galceren. Of these, Judge Burwell, Mr. Quinn and Mr. Lee were unable to bear arms. The ages of the men left were 18 to 70. Among the women who remained at home might be mentioned Mrs. Liz- zie Roach Hughes, Mrs. J. M. Greg- ory, Mrs. Robt. Battey, Mrs. John Choice, Mrs. Peter M. Sheibley and Mrs. R. S. Norton. Different sections were assigned to the civilian guard. Mr. Omberg and Mr. McGuire were on duty in the Broad Street neighborhood north of the Buena Vista hotel (Sixth Avenue). Early one night they heard the shrill voice of a woman, calling for help. They rushed forward and discovered it was old Mrs. Quinn. Before they reached her, a ruffian of a Scout band held them up at the point of a pis- tol. Another ruffian placed them un- der guard. Conversation between the two robbers revealed that they had been hanging Mr. Quinn by the neck to make him give up money and val- uables. He surrendered what he had, so they did not kill him. Mr. Mc- Guire and Mr. Omberg were ordered to follow the gang leaders, who would 'fix them' out of town. The two ran for their lives. A dozen shots were fired at them, one taking effect in Mr. Omberg's leg. Mr. Oinberg's wife was dead, and he and his children were living with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Thos. J. Perry. Mrs. Perry was in her yard when she discovered Mr. Omberg coming up lamely with his hat in his hand, and without a weapon. He told her he thought he was done for, and begged her to hide him, for he knew the marauders would follow. She got him upstairs into an attic** and ran to the nearest neighbor's to get aid for him. The neighbors were afraid to venture out, so Mrs. Perry returned to the sufferer and did the best she could.*** Later she went to the home of her neighbors and implored them to go for Dr. Nowlin. The doc- *This probably refers to an ambuscade at the Hawkins place, on the Lindale road one mile north of Lindale, by Colquitt's Scouts. Some 25 wagons manned by soldiers and drawn by horses and mules were held up by fire from the bushes. The beasts broke into a wild stampede, several overturning the wagons. Colquitt's, men escaped into the hills. Gen. Jno. M. Corse, com- manding at Rome, sent ambulances out and brought in the wounded, several of whom had been taken into the home of Mrs. Tom Hawkins and given first aid. Gen. Corse held Mrs. Haw- kins, her absent husband and her father, Roland Bryant, responsible for the attack, and burned her home while she looked on. **Some say it was a hay loft. ***Judge John C. Printup is authority for the statement that Mr. Omberg was shot near Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, and died at the home of his brother-in-law, Thos. J. Perry, at the northwest corner of Eighth Avenue and E. First Street. It is generally accepted that this job was done by Colquitt's Scouts, and it is said that several young men of Rome were recognized in the crowd. Mrs. Judge Jno. H. Lumpkin was also robbed. Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 199 tor finally came, but could do little, and Mr. Omberg died about 9 the next morning. Getting him buried was just as dif- ficult. Everybody stayed cooped up in their homes for fear of being shot down by a hidden foe. Presently the men ventured forth, made a coffin out of pine boards and laid him away. Judge Burwell and Mr. Cohen were hung up until they agreed to hand over their valuables.* These robbers were deserters from both armies, and they banded together to prey upon defenseless citizens. They committed many atrocities in the coun- try, but did not come to Rome again. The steamboat (probably the Laura Moore) arrived from Gadsden to see how things were getting along at Rome, but went back the next day. Many country people came to town to avoid the Scouts; they crossed the rivers in batteaux. Postmaster Hardin arranged to get mail through the country in a buggy, and gradually the people began to cir- cumvent Sherman's army and to re- turn home. After the final surrender, the refugees came in large numbers and turned willing hands to the res- toration of their premises and their fortunes. Rome cotton that had been hid out was brought to town and made a little trade; it brought 25 to 30 cents in greenback. On May 13, 1865, the condition of affairs was dreadful; negroes trouble- some, food scarce, very little specie in the country. Not a yard of cloth could be bought. There were no shoes, no groceries, no anything except a few drugs at Dr. Nowlin's, and they could not be eaten. All was used up, wast- ed away. That our people rose above these conditions is a splendid tribute to their stamina and light-heartedness. The Federal authorities came into Rome on June 20, 1865, and announced to Mayor Jas. Noble, Jr., that his of- fice was vacant and the town was un- der military rule. The Freedmen's Bureau was established with Capt. C. A de la Mesa in charge, and thus began the rule of the carpetbagger, under which our people endured life calmly until their country was once more restored to their keeping. The following' letter, sent from Rome Nov. 17- 1864, (one day aft- er Sherman started his March to the Sea from Atlanta), by Mrs. *Mr. Cohen's people deny he was hung up ; he may have been forced to give over his money. Robert Battey to her husband, then presumably at Selma, Ala., contains a graphic description of the privations endured by the few- people left at home : My Darling: I have just received your letter from Selma. I am so sorry that you could not come home for a few days. I feel as if you are so far from me now; it may be a long time before I see you again, if ever. I'm feeling sad tonight. I have had a hard time for the last two months. The negroes all left me and went to the Yankees, and when the Yankees left, the negroes all had to "foot it" to Kingston, Aunt Cheney carrying her clothes and Belle the baby; Bill car- rying himself the best he could. Pagey got along very well, but old Mary had a hard time walking so far and by the time they reached Kingston they were sick of the Yankees and turned and came home. Two miles this side of Kingston a man took Belle and carried her to his home. Day before yesterday the ne- groes all returned except Belle. I heard that she was at Mr. Sheibley's place, so Mr. Sheibley went up, found her and brought her home today. Now m i i' jg ^^^^1 ■ r i , — a MRS. WILLIAM SMITH (later Mrs. Anderson W. Redding, of Jamestown, Lee County, Ga.), mother of Mrs. Robert Battey. 200 A History of Rome and Floyd County I have them all home. They lost all their bedding and clothing. They have treated me very badly, left me sick; Bessie to nurse; cows to milk, cook- ing to do, washing and everything else. No one to help but George. We had a hard time. Willie went with Mrs. Hawkins to Columbus. I look for them back Sun- day. I need him very much. We have no wood, and no one to get it for me. My fences are all gone. You would not know our home. I was ready to go South when Mr. Maupin came home. He told me that you thought it best for me to stay at home, even if I had to live in one side of the house and burn the other, so I concluded to stay. I had no one to help me out with my children. I felt that I could not carry Bessie, so I hope it vdll all be for the best. I don't know how the negroes will treat me when I take to my bed. I miss poor old Coyle. I wrote you that he was dead. He died two or three months ago. Should I ever see you I will tell you what I have to go through. Don't have too much confidence in all of the negroes; some of them are mean. The Yankees are gone, I hear, to Macon. They have 60 days' rations. I fear we have no force there, and am so anxious to know what they are go- ing to do. I feel more discouraged now than I ever have before. Our people are doing so badly. They are in here robbing and killing. They robbed old Mr. Burwell a few nights ago, and again last night they hung him until he was almost dead, for his money. They have it all now. They killed Mr. N. J. Omberg last. He was out in the yard, he and Mr. McGuire, and they heard somebody cry out, and ran to old Mrs. Quinn, and found they were hanging Mr. Quinn. They met Mr. Omberg and he asked them who they were. They replied, "Friends." Mr. Omberg put down his gun and they walked up to him and took all his greenbacks, then shot him. He lived until today. They robbed Mrs. Lumpkin of everything she had, and Peter Omberg, too. I look for them all night. I don't undress for fear they will come. I have no money for them to get, and hope they will spare me. Such a life to lead! No rest night or day! I had expected that when the Yankees left I would get to sleep some at night, but it is worse than ever. You don't know anything about it. The night the town was burned I was all alone, except for my little chil- dren. I can not describe my feelings. I did not know what to do, so I went to washing, and washed two or three dozen pieces. I had not had any done for four weeks. I passed the night away somehow and am still alive. But I must not write you all these things. I hope you will excuse me, as I can not think of anything else. Dear Grace, I am glad to hear she is well and wish so much I had her with me. The poor child would not feel at home here now; everything is so changed. I wall write her tonight. She had better come home if I stay here. Oh, how I long to see you, to be near one who feels an interest in me! I don't know what I will do while I am sick, but I hope that you will be here or that something may happen to help me. Don't bother about money; if you can't get it you can do without it. I owe some greenback, but they will have to wait for it. I have tried to get along the best I could since you left. The children are all well. Little Bessie is well, but cannot walk; I feel very anxious about her and fear she never will. Reddy looks delicate, but keeps up and is a good little thing. George, Mary and Henry are well and help me all they can. They want to see their dear father very much. Mr. Norton and family are well. Aunt Cooley is not in good health. Georgia and Mary are well. Where is Mrs. Stillwell? I heard from Bailie; he was well but needed money. He wrote Mr. Moore for some. I sent him $5, all I had, but don't know whether he got it or not. I would write to Mrs. Stillwell if I knew where to write. Mrs. Lee and children are well. Some of their negroes are gone — old Annie, Richmond and Hay- good. Jack's wife has not gone. She had a baby and is doing well. I hope Mrs. Graves will get home soon now. I might write you a more interest- ing letter and tell you how I fared with the new commander we had here. I will write again when I feel more cheerful. I will finish this in the morning. Your devoted wife, M. BATTEY. Mrs. Naomi P. Bale (Rome's venerated "Grandma Georgy"), tells in a contribution to the U. D. C. this graphic story of war Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 201 trials and tribulations in Dirttown Valley, Chattooga County, about fifteen miles from Rome: The first real sorrow that came to me during the Civil War was when my only brother was brought back home in his coffin from Cumberland Gap, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1862. It had never occurred to me that his home-coming would be so sad, that with my dear old father, whose life was bound up in his promising son, and whose heart never recovered from this stroke, and with the broken-hearted young widow and the five little children, I would stand beside the form of a strong- young soldier, cut down in the hey- day of his youth. Nearer and darker grew the war cloud in 1863. Marching and coun- ter-marching was the order of the day. Wheeler's and Forrest's cavalries dashed in and out of our quiet little Dii'ttown Valley. Thousands of cav- alry camped on my father's extensive plantation; the commanding officers quartered in our home, and often sat at our table. In the latter part of the summer of 1863 nearly every family of promi- nence in our neighborhood refugeed. On Sept. 20 and 21, 1863, the thunders of artillery from Chickamauga battle- field startled us, and from then until the capture of Kennesaw mountain the roar of cannon reverberated over this section of Georgia day and night. Then came the lull before the storm. For six long weeks everybody in our neighborhood kept close at home; not a human outside our own family did I see, save my step-brother-in-law as he passed twice a day going to and from his mill. One bright moonlight night I was awakened by a low, rumbling sound; the sound came nearer and nearer until I recognized the hoof beats of cavalry. In a short time the noise increased and I heard the command, "Halt!" given. Instantly the quiet became intense. I raised up in bed and peered through my window. The whole front grove seemed full of mounted soldiers, whether friend or foe I could not tell. In a few moments a trim, soldierly fellow rapped loudly on the front door. I threw up a win- dow and asked, "Who knocks?" He replied, "I am Capt. Harvey, of Mis- sissippi, and I have been ordered by Gen. Johnston to his rear to tear up the railroad between Chattanooga and Kingston. I am here in command of 100 men. We have ridden 100 miles out of our way just to forage on Wesley Shropshire's farm." In the meantime, my father remain- ed in his room listening to the con- versation. His life had been threat- ened often, and for this reason we never allowed him to appear at the front door until some of the family had first reconnoitered. I said to the captain, "Step out into the moonlight and let me see your uniform." He jumped lightly over the bannisters and jocularly remarked, "Are you sat- isfied?" I made him promise on his honor as a soldier and a gentleman that my father should suffer no vio- lence from him or his men. He sol- emnly gave his word, and I then di- rected him to a window in my father's room. He and father had quite a chat; he gave father several Confed- erate newspapers and father presented him with a number of Northern pa- pers that a neighbor had secured in Chattanooga. Father then directed Capt. Harvey where he could find corn and fodder for his horses. Capt. Harvey and his command re- mained in our neighborhood six weeks or more, raiding the railroads up about Ringgold and Dalton, and capturing many Federal prisoners, many of whom f^uld net sreak a word of Eng- REV. G. A. NUNNALLY, Baptist minister who once ran for Governor of Georgia on a liquor prohibition platform. 202 A History of Rome and Floyd County lish intelligibly — these were foreign- ers imported by wealthy Northerners as substitutes in the Federal army. The prisoners were taken to Cedar Bluff, Ala., and as a member of Capt. Hai-vey's command told me, "were lost in the Coosa river." I can say that Capt. Harvey was a gentleman, and we suffered no violence from him or his command. He was very fond of music and liked to play whist, and was a frequent guest in our house. Thus he whiled away his time with my step-sister and myself. Once when I sang "The Officer's Fu- neral," he leaned his head on the table and sobbed aloud. He begged me to overlook his apparent weakness, for he had a wife and a little boy in Mis- sissippi, and the chances were he would never see them again. On Sept. 15, 1864, we met a different band of men. These were the "Inde- pendent Scouts." Yes, write the name in blood, drape it with the pall of death, trace it with fire, and then you cannot conceive the full meaning of the term. A horde of these marauders made their camp in our neighborhood, committing the most outrageous atroci- ties on old and feeble men. A gang of perhaps a dozen came to our home, and took everything they could carry away. Before leaving they laid violent MAX MEYERHARDT, once judge of the City Court and for many years prominent in Masonic and civic affairs of Rome. hands on my father, swearing he should be hung unless he gave them money, either gold or silver. A rope was thrown over his head, and with an oath one of them started to drag him off to a limb. I threw up my hands and begged for my father's life with all the fervor of a pent-up soul, assuring them he had no specie. The ring-leader looked me steadily in the face and said, "I believe you are tell- ing the truth." I answered, "On my honor as a lady, as sure as there is a God, I am!" "The rope was removed from my father's neck, the leader re- marking, "Old man, you owe your life to your daughter; but for her we would have hung you as high as Ha- maan." On Oct. 10 and 12 Hood's weary horde appeared and passed in hot re- treat. It was ragged, worn, foot-soi-e and dejected in spirit. Yet they plod- ded on their weary march, some bare- foot, others with raw-hide tied over their bleeding feet. "Lost Cause" was stamped on every face. I knew then the Confederacy was doomed. On Oct. 14 and 15 the center of Sherman's army passed, following Hood. I think this part was com- manded by Gens. Slocum and Frank Blair. What the "Scouts" left was appropriated by the Federals. Again our home was pillaged from founda- tion to attic. Large army wagons were loaded to the brim with corn, fodder and wheat; cows and hogs were driven off or shot, smoke houses strip- ped, pantries cleaned of every mova- ble article, and such as could not be carried off was broken or damaged. The negroes huddled together in their houses, like sheep among wolves, scared out of their wits and fright- ened almost white. P'ather and several neighbors had left a few days before for Blue Moun- tain, Ala., to procure salt, all of this commodity having been exhausted some time before from the smoke houses. My step-mother, a woman of unusual courage, was so prostrated with fear that she took to her bed. Thus I again had to run the household. Capt. Hall, of Kentucky, kept guard over us for four hours, and after he left we were at the mercy of "wagon dogs." Three of these prowlers shut my step-sister, Em White, and myself in a room, swearing they would search us. Em collapsed in a large rocking chair. One of the marauders stood with his back to the door, while another ransacked bureau drawers, wardrobes, turned up the mattress, Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary 203 etc. I engaged the third in conversa- tion, holding in my hand a heavy wrought iron poker, with which I oc- casionally poked the fire, but really kept in readiness to give the fellow a whack if he dared lay hands on me. That "dog" never made a movement to touch me, although he said he had "stripped mjany as damned good- looking women as I was and searched them." One jerked Em from the rocker and pretended that he would strip her. I begged for her and he let her go. They left very much dis- appointed that they found little of value. Hoop skirts were in vogue then, and so were full skirts. I had several thousand dollars in Confederate money in a bustle around my waist, and my small amount of jewelry and a few keepsakes in huge pockets under my hoops. Em had her jewelry and sil- ver forks and spoons in pockets under her hoop. After the Federals had passed, des- olation was writ throughout the val- ley. For three weeks a hundred in our family (including slaves) literally lived from hand to mouth. We picked up scraps of potatoes left in the fields, small scattered turnips and meat from *Judge John W. Maddox declared in a speech early in 1921 at the City Auditorium that all the Yankees left in Chattooga County was a broken-down steer that was not fit to be eaten by man or beast. **Mr. Lincoln's proclamation was issued in 1863, but news of it evidently hadn't reached Georgia. the carcasses left by the Yankees and dragged in by the negroes. The new corn left was sufficiently soft to be grated on graters constructed from mutilated tinware.* Oh, those were strenuous, perilous times. I will say in justice to our faithful slaves that only four left us; they stood by us nobly until my father came in from Rome and announced that Lee had surrendered. My father called them all up and told them they were all free.** He employed some; others "spread wing." None went away empty-handed. Father helped them to the extent of his ability. When Gen. Lee furled the Stars and Bars, sheathed his sword and shook hands with Gen. Grant, I did the same and on that day I buried every feeling of animosity, never to resurrect the dead past. With thousands of other Southern women I had my baptism of fire and blood that tears cannot efface. Standing on this mountain-top of three-score and eleven years (she is now well around 80), and looking back through the vista of time, I see how lovingly my Heavenly Father led me "Sometimes through scenes of deepest gloom. Sometimes through bowers of Eden bloom." I exclaim with the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O mv soul, and forget not all His benefits!" 204 A History of Rome and Floyd County PRESENT-DAY ROMANS IN STRIKING ATTITUDES 1— Rev. J. E. Sammons. 2— E. E. Lindsey. 3— Rev. H. F. Saumenig. 4— W. C. Rash. 5— Rev E F. Dempsey. 6— F. W. Copeland. 7 (Top)— Judge Moses Wright, addressing Easter crowd, Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Sunday, March 26, 1921. 8— B. F. Quigg. 9— Mrs^ ^^"w: Troutman. 10— Wm. A. Patton. 11— Mrs. Robt. Battey at 90. 12— Young folk in Washington s Birthday fete. 13— Virgil A. Stewart. 14 — Miss Lilly Mitchell. 15— Miss Martha Berry. 16 E. P. Treadaway. 17 — Miss Marion Moultrie. 18 — Burnett Norton. 19 — Miss Helen Knox Spain. CHAPTER VIII. Depredations of the Independent Scouts VlARIOUS roving bands, or- ganized for good purposes g^^ and bad, added substantial- * ly to tbe misery which hov- ered like a spectre over the people at the close of the Civil War. Pri- marily, these bands separated themselves from the main body of the Confederate forces in order to impede the progress of the Union troops (or they were cut off), and to this extent their existence was justified. Parts of the forces of Gen. Johnston and Gen. Hood had been forced steadily back into Georgia by the driving power of Sherman's army, and they never rejoined their regular commands, but carried on a bushwhacking campaign from the hills. As long as opposition to the invaders re- mained their object, they acquitted themselves with bravery and credit, but once the Union army had passed, certain of these bands fell behind and plundered the coun- tryside ; they stole, destroyed and murdered, and for a time the peo- ple were completel}' at their mer- cy. ^ These organizations were usu- ally made up of horsemen, 30 to 50 in number. Excellent riders they were, and well heeled. They had a rather definite range, but no particular headquarters. When the men became hungry, they would swoop down upon a plan- tation or small house and take Vxhat they could find ; the}- were always looking for saddles and riding boots as well as money and food. Sometimes they paid for things a])prr)])riatcd, 1)Ut this was not often. Now and then the scout organi- zations clashed with each other to determine which crowd should subsist on a certain section. As a general rule, however, they were content to prey upon the defense- less. In the "up counties" near the Tennessee line, perhaps the best- known gang was Gatewood's Scouts, organized and led by John Gatewood, of Tennessee, assisted bv his brother, Henry Gatewood, who kept the books ctnd accounts of the company. John Gatewood was an illiterate mountaineer whose red hair fell In long fronds down his back, like Daniel Boone and David Crockett ; and when he wished to escape detection in a daring dash, he would cram his locks into the crown of his soft felt hat. He Avas a man of won- derful physique, tall and angular, with the fire of Vulcan in his eye ; and it used to be said that while galloping on his horse he could shoot a partridge off a rail fence with his pistol in either hand. His reason for taking the saddle inde- pendently against the Union men was that they had killed his old father in Tennessee, and he was pledged to vengeance. After the Federals had left, however, his men terrorized the country from Gaylesville, Ala., as far northeast as LaFayette, Walker Co., Ga.. and touching Alpine, Summerville and Trion, Chattooga County, be- tween. It was undoulitedl}- Gate- wood's Scouts A\ho visited the Wesley Shropshire plantation in Dirttown Valley, Chattooga Coun- ty, Sept. 15, 1864; l)ut so far as is known they paid only one visit to Rome. John (latcwood had an Indian who looked after his horse. One day he sent the Indian to a grist mill near 'Prion, to have some corn gromid into meal. A band of scouts tavoral^le to the Union, led 206 A History of Rome and Floyd County by John Long, killed this Indian by way of defying Gatewood. The challenge was accepted, and a pitched battle was fought near the spot at night. Later Long was convicted of killing Blev. Tay- lor in Alabama near Frix's Mill, McLemore's Cove, Chattooga Co., and died in an Alabama peniten- tiary camp near Wetumpka while serving a life sentence. Gatewood is said to have killed Green Cordle, another independent scout leader and a man of some years, in Walker County, after running him out of a house where he was enjoying a meal. It was Gatewood's policy tu exterminate the other leaders and bands wher- ever he could, but in several in- stances he found strong opposi- tion. His gang gradually broke up ?nd he left Gaylesville on horse- back, riding over Lookout Moun- tain to Texas, where he established himself on a ranch. Maj. John T. WM. SMITH, one of the four founders of Rome, who contributed much to the young city's growth and progress. Burns, of Rome, state comptroller general in 1869, who also went to Texas, once ran across Gatewood after the war, and found him en- gaged in peaceful pursuits. Gatewood's Scouts participated in one of the most spectacular events of the war at Chattanooga, probably early in 1864. They rode boldly into the Northern army camp at night (this time with no less than 100 men) and stampeded and drove away 2,000 cattle and horses which they took to Gayles- ville and sold or turned over to the Confederate army. The scout band best known to Rome was that of Capt. Jack Col- quitt, a member of a Texas regi- ment who remained behind in 1864 and married a daughter of Jerry Isbell, of Polk County, near Etna and Prior's Station. Its clash with the Prior boys and its daring incursion into Rome in November, 1864, will long be remembered by the older Romans. Reference has already been made to the gang's murder of Nicholas J. Omberg and its hanging of Judge L. D. Bur- well and Wm. Quinn to make them give up their money and valua- bles ; also of its robbery of Mrs. Jno. H. Lumpkin and J. J. Cohen. Judge Burwell was keeping a (juantity of gold (said to have been at least $1,800) for a Jewish mer- chant named Wise, of the firm of Magnus & Wise. He was afflicted with some physical deformity that caused him to bend far forward when he walked, and the scouts told him if he didn't give up the gold they would "straighten him out." He didn't surrender it until the noose began to cut into his neck. They said "We've got Wise's gold ; now tell us where yours is, or we'll hang you up again." As it happened, Judge Burwell had entrusted $500 in gold to Mrs. Robt. Battey, who had put it in her stockings. When the scouts Depredations of the Independent Scouts 207 came to her house the same night, they stole a lot of small things, but did not get the money. They also intended to hang up James Noble, Sr., on Howard Street, but were scared off by the determined attitude of his daughters. There appear to be two versions as to what brought the Priors into conflict with Colquitt's Scouts, with such disastrous results to the latter. One says that Capt. Jack Colquitt was killed by the Priors in the presence of Hayden Prior, the father, near Prior's Station, because he had driven off some of the cattle of the family when he stocked the farm of his father-in- laAv, Jerry Tsbell. The other, more generally accepted, is that Col- quitt's men first killed Hayden Prior, better known as "Hayd" Prior, and the sons then took up the feud and accounted for seven of the scouts, including their leader. At any rate, Hayden was shot off his mule between Cave Spring and Prior's Station, and fell face forward into a branch where the animal was drinking. A brother of Capt. Jack Colquitt is supposed to have been in this am- bushing party, as well as the cap- tain himself. Capt. Colquitt was found one day in 1864 in Cedartown by the brothers, John T. and James M. Prior. He was in a grocery store, and pretty well loaded with mean liquor as well as his brace of pis- tols. The brothers took him by surprise and got his pistols away by covering him with their own. It was apparently their intention to put him under arrest and get him a trial, but he showed fight. "Gimme a chance with my gun and ril clean all of yer up, one at a time !" he roared, at the same instant drawing a long Bowie knife out of his right boot. Quick as lightning Jim Prior shot Colquitt over John's shoul- der, and the two pumped bullets into his chest until there were eight. John explained as follows to a friend and hunting companion some time later : "I was so close when I fired my first shot that I saw smoke come out of his mouth." The men in the store removed a ham and box of baking powder and stretched Capt. Jack Colquitt out on the counter. He wore a red-spotted calico shirt ; the white spots were now dyed deep in the red of his own blood. The Prior boys went quietly off and were not arrested, nor did they ever answer in court for taking seven scout scalps. They had sworn to exterminate the Colquitt eansf as a service to the commu- nity. John Prior Avas a man of iron will and nerves in a knotty bundle. He had little beady, black eyes that danced as he talked, and he JOS. L. BASS, merchant and promoter, who was head of the old dummy line at Rome and a constructive fo- ce in many ways. 208 A History of Rome and Floyd County wasn't afraid of the devil. He was loyal to his friends and an impla- cable foe to his enemies. Men who hunted with him said he was the deadest shot for miles around ; he could lay his double-barreled shot- gun on the ground, flush a covey of partridges, pick up his gun and kill two every time. Jim was of more even temper, regular build, but he also took no foolishness from any man, and he contributed his part toward a genuine pair in those stormy days. The brothers quit the corn and cotton fields and hunted scouts. A man named Tracy and several oth- er friends joined them at various times. Tracy later went to Texas to live. The Priors came upon Col- cjuitt's Scouts in camp near Ball Play and Turkeytown, Etowah County, Ala., on the Coosa River; gave them a surprise at night and put them to flight. The scouts scattered and the Priors found two of them eating at a house by the road. John killed one as he hopped oft" the near end of the porch and the other as he left the far end. On their persons were found a number of $20 gold pieces (Wise's money cap- tured in November, 1864, at Rome) ; when things had quieted down John Prior sent one of these coins to New York and had a cav- alry battle engraved on the ob- verse side, and wore the trinket as a watch charm. Near Cave Spring the Priors came upon two scouts riding along the road. Surrender was de- manded. One young fellow held up his hands and came in. The other wheeled about, dug his spurs into the flanks of his horse and sped away like a flash. John was carrying the shotgun his father had used so long. As the fugitive turned a sharp curve in the road, he cracked down. It was impos- sil)le to tell the result, and the young captive said : "I believe you missed him." "We'll see," responded the marksman ; "if I missed him, PU turn you loose !" The poor devil was dying in the bushes ; his horse kept going. Sev- tral buckshot had entered the man's back, and several the base of the saddle. It is supposed, but not definitely known, that the fellow taken captive met a violent end. The next victim was a farmer of the neighborhood. John Prior walked up to this man's house and asked his wife where he was. The woman replied that he was plow- ing in the bottom. John went down there and told the farmer to unhitch his horse and send him in a canter to the house ; to say his prayers if he wanted to, because he was going to be killed. The man begged for his life ; he was re- minded that old man Prior was shown no mercy. A shot in the breast finished him. The hunter next heard that one of the marked men was living in the West, maybe Arkansas, maybe Texas. He went to the man's residence and executed his design. After living a while out there, Prior returned to Prior's Station, and later removed to the territory of Washington, on the Pacific coast, where he died. Jim died at his Prior Station home. A farmer named Ritchie, killed on the Carlier Springs road about five miles east of Rome, was charged up to Colquitt's Scouts. Isom Blevins, a young Texan, was killed at night by a Rome crowd at Flat Rock, where the Southern crosses the N., C. & St. L. (or Rome) Railroad. His boots and spurs were removed and his body was thrown some 50 feet off the bluff into the Etowah River. Sev- eral days days later the body was found lodged against a willow snag at the foot of Myrtle Hill Depredations of the Independent Scouts 209 cemetery, and was buried on the river bank. A scout, sometimes known as "The Lone Soldier," was waylaid . and killed on the Ala- bama Road between Coosa and Beech Creek, and lies buried on the Rogers place, near the road, about five miles west of Rome. The grave is surmounted by a head- stone, and residents of the neigh- borhood have kept it green for 57 years, and have maintained around it a neat picket fence. In these fierce depredations Romans were reminded of the lawlessness of the Indian days ; and as if to answer their prayers, a local scout organization was formed by "Little Zach" Har- grove. Many people thought "Lit- tle Zach's" crowd would prove to be as bad as the test, but Horry Wimpee and others testify that it was organized for protective pur- poses, and did much to drive the camp - followers and deserters away. It was reported that "Little Zach" attracted the attention of John Gatewood, and that Gatewood brushed by Rome with an invita- tion to fight ; but the result is not known. The Ku Klux was also active soon after this period, especially around Coosa, so the anxiety of the civilian population, who were bent on making crops and a liv- ing, can well be imagined. One night the Ku Klux called on Prof. Peter M. Sheibley, a Northerner by birth and a non-combatant in the war. When Mr. Sheibley opened his front door, a wooden coffin fell into his arms. The political views of Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood caused the Ku Klux to play a gruesome joke on this sparkling humorist. A young fellow well disguised by a turned- up coat collar and a turned-down hat walked up to Judge Under- wood after dark and offered him a cordial greeting'. The extended hand was left with him, and it was made of wood ! Such incidents added a piquant touch to the lives of Romans, wrung the hearts of many, and brought a strong desire for peace, a helpful understanding and a con- structive program. 210 A History of Rome and Floyd County WHEN MAN TAKES HIS PADDLE IN HAND. Batteau and canoe trips on the rivers of Rome afford endless pleasure. Dr. Hugh I. Bat- oe trips on the rivers oi ivonie emuiu ciim»*->j*» ^^.w— -— .-.^ ^^ - tey ol Atlanta, native son of Rome, here forgets incisions and bandages. His ' voyage . was taken in'^October. 1920, from Carter's Quarters. Murray County, down to Head of Coosa 05 m.les and was made leisurely in three nights and two days. He brought a string ot pearis Home-coming queen, Miss Penelope Stiles. Anecdotes and Reminiscences ROSS-RIDGE FACTIONS FIGHT. — The following item from the Georgia Constitutionalist (Augusta) of Friday, Aug. 21, 1835, will give an idea of the feeling between the factions repre- sented by Ross and Ridge: More Indians Murdered. — The Cass- ville Pioneer of the 7th inst. says: "We have just learned of another murder having been committed in this country on the 3d of August, inst. The names of the Indians killed were Mur- phy and Duck. It occurred, we un- derstand, at an Indian dance on the Oostanaula river, where a considerable number of the town or clan had col- lected to enjoy the customary pastime. "Sometime within the night the In- dians murdered were seen standing conversing in apparent friendship. A few minutes later Murphy exclaimed that he was stabbed, and expired im- mediately. "Duck was heard to say at the time that there was but one other Ridge man on the ground, and that he would inherit the same fate if he did not leave the place instantly. "Duck was found dead on the en- suing morning, murdered, it is be- lieved, by the friends of Murphy. Neither man, it is thought, was drunk. "Is it not manifest from the many outrages of the kind that it is the set- tled determination of Ross' myrmidons to silence opposition by the knife of the assassin, and unless they are kept in awe by the Guard will go far to ex- ecute their hellish purpose?" In 1835 (or 1837) an atrocity that was typical of the others committed in the section occurred in Floyd County near the Polk line. The body of Eze- kiel Blatchford (or Braselton), a land trader from Hall County, was discov- ered in a lime sink; he had been mur- dered, it was believed. A single gold button was found on one of his coat sleeves, and it was of odd design, prob- ably having been worked out of a nug- *Authority : Hilliard Horry Wimpee. Virpil A. Stewart stated that the name of the In- dians' victim was White. Mrs. Robt. Battey stated his name was Braselton. The name Eze- kiel BuffinKton appears on the real estate rec- ords of that period at the courthouse. The name Blatchford waF taken from an account in 1889 by Belle K. Abbott, written for The Atlanta Constitution. *'At Rome; Cherokee Indians, Congressional Documents (1835-6), Doc. 120, p. 593. get extracted by the wearer from a gold mine in Hall. With the button as a clue, the local authorities and friends of the deceased went to work. The police in Indian Territory arrest- ed two Indians wearing bottons similar to the one found on the sleeve. Bar- ney Swimmer and Terrapin were brought back to Rome, were given a fair trial at the old court house, found guilty of murder and sentenced by Judge Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, to die by hanging. This was the first capital punishment meted out to In- dians in Floyd County, and it was a coincidence that a cousin of the mur- dered man, Wm. Smith, who was serv- ing temporarily as sheriff, should have met the duty of sending them to their happy hunting grounds. The hanging took place at a tree at Broad Street and Ninth Avenue, and was wit- nessed by practically everybody in the town, and by hundreds from the coun- ty. Several hours before the Indians were due to have been hung they re- quested permission to take a last swim where the Etowah and the Oostanaula join. This was the place they had often swum as boys. Judge Kenan granted the request, and a strong guard watch- ed them from the various banks. They thanked the court and the officers for the privilege, and went to their death with the courage of Stoics. It was said that Terrapin was full of whis- key during his trial and up to the time of his execution.* A LETTER FULL OF NEWS.— The following letter from Geo. M. Lavender, trading post man at Major Ridge's up the Oostanaula, gives a picture of pioneer life around Rome: ='*Major Ridge's Ferry, May 3, 1836. Mr. John Ridge: Dear Sir: I have received but one letter from you since your departure, and that was received some time since and should have written you, but ex- pected, for some weeks back, that you were on your way home. I have con- cluded from the last letters received from you that you remain at Wash- ington some time yet. I have but little news of impor- tance to communicate to you. Mrs. Betsy Waitie, consort of Stand Waitie, Esq., died four or five days since from the delivery of a child. 212 A History of Rome and Floyd County which also died, it is said. She had medical aid, but died under great af- flictions.* One of the emigrants, named Seek- atowwa,** of Hightown, was shot two or there weeks ago by a white man at a little whiskey shop, one mile from Artsellers or Dun Steers,*** said to be an accident; he is, however, dead and no more. Your family are all well and every- thing about your crop appears to be going on finely. Major Ridge's fam- ily are all well, and your mother is going on in her usual and fine way in making a crop, though frequently a little unwell, but no ways danger- ous. No person, except a Mr. Cox, has taken any of the cleared land; he has taken one-half of the long field on the west side of the river.**** She has lost none on the side we live. Our season for planting has been very bad, owing to so much rain; but all appears to be getting on vei-y well except the poor Cherokees, of which there is not a few who have been dis- possessed of their fields and dwellings, and turned out to seek refuge in Ala- bama and Tennessee, without any kind of support, moneyless and nothing to buy provisions. I know of a number of families destitute of provision, or money to buy it, and wandering and eating from them that has a little sub- sistence, and many of whom are emi- grants. The circumstance calls aloud on the authorities of Government for relief of these people. It seems im- possible for them to last through the season. Corn is scarce and worth $1 per bushel by the quantity, cash; flour could now be had, and bacon at toler- able moderate prices. You can scarce have any idea of the suffering your Cherokee friends are now encounter- ing. Every week we have lots of men hunting stolen property, and smoke houses robbed of bacon, and every kind of stealing going on. Your friend Knitts, of Donehutta, received 120 lashes a few days ago, supposed to be concerned in robbing a smoke house; but I think he will be proved innocent. I see my Cherokee friends, emi- grants, within this vicinity every week, inquiring what is doing at Washing- ton, and trying to find out what will be done as regards their perilous sit- uation. Many families in our neighborhood would be glad to emigrate if the Gov- ernment would enable them to do so. Please give my respects to the Ma- jor and all your delegation. Respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. M. LAVENDER. (Note: Referred to the Indian Of- fice by Major Ridge.) * * * CAVE SPRING INDIANS.— Now and then a roving band of Creek In- dians would descend upon the newly- created Floyd County to fight or treat with their ancient foes, the Cherokees. It was probably in 1832 that a group of them pitched camp close to the white settlement at Cave Spring, prepared to go into a pow-wow the next day with their more intelligent neighbors, Avhose camp was situated not a great hark away. Among the old settlers living at Cave Spring then was William Smith, who removed to Rome two years later. Mr. Smith was away from home when the Creeks appeared, and his wife was badly frightened. The visitors look- ed so dark and villainous, and they crept about like snakes. When night came, Mrs. Smith gathered her baby Martha (Mrs. Robt. Battey) in her arms, and taking a negro nurse, stole out of the house into the underbrush, where, wrapped in shawls and an In- dian blanket, they spent thfs night. Mrs. Smith had feared the Creeks might break into her house during the night; they could be seen moving stealthily and keeping a close watch, but they attempted no outrage. Included in the Cherokees ac Cave Spring was a young fellow called Lit- tle Meat. He was in the habit of scaring wee Martha Smith now and then by appearing suddenly and grunt- ing "Ugh!" and at the same time lift- ing her up into his swarthy arms. He was a playful rascal and never meant any harm, but he nearly scared the lit- tle girl out of her wits many times. They called him Little Meat because he killed so many small birds and roasted them on a spit. The country was wild, sparsely set- tled, full of bad Indians and adventur- ous whites, a few soldiers at isolated 'Should be Watie. **Sukatowie's enrollment number was 633. He was of the Chickamaugee district and voted with Ross at the Rome council. ***Probably intended for Dirtseller's, Chat- tooga County. A map dated 1810, in the Car- negie Library at Atlanta, places Hightown between the rivers where Rome now is. "High- tower"' is probably a variation of "Hightown," and may have referred to an Indian signal station on the present Tower Hill. ****Now part of the bottom land on the Linton A. Dean farm. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 213 posts, and here and there a rough In- dian trail that sufficed for a road. As settlers came in they were chosen by mutual consent for certain duties. William Smith was usually in "saddle and boots," prospecting a mine down the Coosa, trading in land up the Oostanaula, attending court at Living- ston, hence acted as "sheriff" before the county machinery had been set up (and perhaps afterward). On one oc- casion an Indian charged with a se- rious offense was caught and brought to Cave Spring behind Mr. Smith with hands tied. They rode a horse. There was no secure place to keep the In- dian, so Mr. Smith lashed him with rope to a bed-post at the foot of the bed, after which Mr. and Mrs. Smith retired, and Mr. Smith slept soundly. Once several years later at the Forks Ferry, Rome, a sullen Indian provoked the wrath of Mr. Smith, who knocked the man unconscious with a heavy stick. The condition of the In- dian for a time was serious, and Mr. Smith, following the advice of friends that he should be careful of violence, went for a week to live with Philip W. Hemphill at the place now known as DeSoto Park. Most of the Indians were his friends, however, and they sent him word that no harm would come to him. David Vann, the sub-chief, was the most powerful member of his tribe around Cave Spring, and Vann's Val- ley was named after him. On July 28, 1850, he was living temporarily at the Lake House, Cave Spring. He was very well educated and wrote a pleasing hand with occasional mis- spelt words, like most of the Indian leaders. He had two handsome, pleas- ant mannered sons called Cooey and Clem, who in 1851 were living in Grandsalem, Cherokee Nation, Arkan- sas, and about that time visited Dr. and Mrs. Robert Battey on Second Avenue on their way to a law school in Baltimore. Other sons were said to have been Augustus and Washing- ton. Under date of Aug. 27, 1850, Da- vid Vann wrote William Smith at Rome from Washington, D. C. : "Dear Sir: I wrote to you some time since informing you tiiat I would be glad to hear from you respecting our silver mine in Alabama, but have not yet received anything from you. Will you be kind enough to write me a few lines and let me know how you are getting along? I have determined to go that way when I leave here for home. I can not say when that will be. It may be some time in October. I have no idea that I can get away before Congress adjourns & there is no time set yet for the adjournment of Congress, though I will let you know before I leave when I will be at your house. I wrote a few lines to Major Richardson a few days ago requesting him to save me some peech seed from my old orchard (those large white peeches). I have no news but what you see in the papers. Mr. Clay has got back this morning. He has been absent ever since his Compromise bill was defeated. The Senate has passed all the measures that he had in his Compromise bill separately with very slight alterations. Give my respects to your family and accept for your- self my best wishes for your health and prosperity. Your friend and obt. svt., "DAVID VANN." (In haste.) Under date of July 28, 1850, Chief Vann wrote Mr. Smith from Washing- ton and stated that he was having some trouble getting his patent to 40 acres of land containing the silver mine, and adding: "I presume the water is now low enough to examine the ford of the MONTGOMERY M. FOLSOM, clever writer of verse, in his rpfraliia as an officer of Cherokee Lodge 66 of Masons. 214 A History of Rome and Floyd County creek. By looking in the ford you will find where old Campbell cut the hole in the rock and filled it up, and just below the ford he said there was a deep hole, evidently dug out by some person." Shortly after this the two, accom- panied by Col. Cunningham M. Pen- nington, of Rome, visited the mine on Sand river, but failed to find anything of special interest. From Rome, Feb. 2, 1851, Mr. Smith wrote David Vann at Grandsalem, Ark. : "My apology for delaying to write you before this time is hardly suffi- cient excuse. I have been run to death of daylight and so tired of nights that I have put it off from time to time, till I have got through with the bridge and have some leisure. "After you left Gunter's Landing, I went up to where they were to run their horse race; there I found all parties concerned in that lot we want- ed. I took Collins and fixed things with him to bring about the trade with D. A. Smith. He managed it as I di- rected it and I got the lot for $125 cash. . , . Pennington is in high spirits, though he had very bad luck in the matter. He took some eight or ten pounds of the best ore we could get and took it to Washington, or I should have said started with it at Wilming- ton. He had his trunk stolen and lost his specimens and all his clothing and has never heard of them yet. He was on other business at Wa'shington and has just returned. We will consult as soon as this awful cold weather breaks and make a thorough examina- tion and write you immediately. There is great excitement about it. I give them no satisfaction. I shall take a good geologist with me, D. A. White, of Savannah; he I have seen and he is anxious to accompany us over there. I shall lie low; it miist count. I am in hopes you will be able to get the old man Campbell to come out with you soon. Don't count the expenses if you can prevail on him to come. It will do more good to have him here looking than anything. We must bare- ly let the people know he is here. "Well, I have no news to write you more than you have seen by the pa- pers. Georgia has killed the Disun- ionist in the South. Our Convention was composed of the best talent in Georgia; there were but 18 Disunion- ists in the convention out of nearly 300 members. They have broken up all old party lines and left the Dis- unionists to themselves, with Colquitt and Towns to manage; they are dead letters in Georgia; you can't get one of them to talk about it. "What is to hinder Clem from com- ing? I think he would like to stay a year or two with us and read law with Judge Wright or Judge Under- wood. "You have no idea how our town has grown in the last three months. They have built all around me clear to the railroad and back to the bridge. We have but a few lots left and I don't expect to keep them two weeks. It is a lively business at last, though it was a long time coming. My wife joins me in our love to your wife and children and says she remembers her kindness to her in bygone days. Ac- cept for yourself my best wishes. "WM. SMITH." * * * DANCE AT CHIEFTAIN'S.— Mrs. Jno. S. Prather (Susan Verdery), of Atlanta, who once lived at the old home of Major Ridge, contributes the following: "It was evening and the night was bright, with a galaxy of stars bending their pale beams through a wealth of climbing roses, clinging woodbine and white star jessamines. Candle light sent a glimmer through the windows to the front porch, and shadows from the tall Colonial pillars fell across the mossy lawn. A swish of satin could be heard here and there and the gleam of white muslin and a more somber contrast of black broadcloth and white vests as the couples lined up for the dance. "A scraping of the preliminary chords and the popping of a fiddle string made known that the plantation orchestra was nearly ready to begin its part of the performance. The two black fiddlers were the property of the owner of the mansion. "Ah, there went the light footsteps in perfect unison with the music of the cotillion! They danced for half an hour. Occasionally a couple for- sook the crowd and repaired to the veranda through the leafy screens of honeysuckle, there to exchange words of understanding and to pluck a nose- gay that carried its silent message straight to the heart. "Milady sounded the gong; the danc- ing ceased and supper was enjoyed in the dining room. What a supper! Of quality and variety the choicest, and prepared after Aunt Lindy's favorite recipes. Then Augustus Nicholas Ver- Anecdotes and Reminiscences 215 dery, son of a French planter of the West Indies and master of the planta- tion, struck a martial air on his fine violin. The couples formed again, and the son of the house, Thos. Jefferson Verdery, and a fair young lady from Charleston led the gay company out into the ball room again. The colored fiddlers played 'Oh Miss Nancy, Don't You Cry! Your Sweetheart Will Come to You Bime By!' "A specialty was introduced by Mr. Chas. De I'Aigle, of Augusta, whose polkas and schottisches set the young feet patting and young hearts palpi- tating; and Tom Verdery and his lit- tle sister, Susan, danced steps that en- joyed a wide vogue more than 50 years later. "At 11 the guests climbed into the barge 'Mary Berrien' and were poled down the Oostanaula to Rome — all save the guests of the house. A lone figure drew into the shadow of a giant sycamore as the merrymakers passed. It darted near the mansion, peered in with a vengeful look and was swallow- ed in the gloom of the nearby forest. 'Twas an Indian woman left behind when her sister and brother redskins departed for the west, an inhabitant of a cave in the hills who had stolen down into the lowlands to gaze on the Cherokee retreat of the olden days with a prayer for the return of the tribe to its happy hunting grounds." ^ s[i if; CREEK CHIEF IS CAPTURED.— White's Historical Collections of Geor- gia (p. 151) and an old Rome news- paper clipping furnish data for an in- teresting story of the capture in 1835 of old Fosach Fixico, the Creek Indian chief, by Georgia and Alabama troop- ers, part of whom were recruited from the Coosa Valley near Rome. Historian White records : "Very soon after the ratification of the New Echota treaty, an apprehension was entertained by many citizens in Georgia that the party who had opposed the treaty would become hostile, and petitions for arms, troops and ammunition were presented to the Executive, and grant- ed. Orders were issued to Brig. Gen. James Hemphill to raise a battalion of militia and place them at Lesley's Ferry, on the Coosa River, for the pur- pose not only of keeping the Chero- kees in check, but also of preventing the Creeks from swarming into Geor- gia, which orders were executed, and the battalion was organized under the command of Gen. James Hemphill and Maj. Chas. H. Nelson. A part of the Cherokees were disarmed, and 500 muskets and accouterments were or- dered and sent to Cherokee County, in case of any hostile movements on the part of the Indians. These prep- arations on the part of Georgia, to- gether with the appearance of the Tennessee troops under Brig. Gen. Jno. E. Wool, of the United States army, quieted the fears of the citi- zens." The clipping referred to states that Capt. Mitchell was placed in charge of the expedition down the Coosa, hav- ing heard that the Creeks were mov- ing down toward the Cherokee country from the head of Terrapin Creek, Ala., to excite their tribal cousins in the Valley of the Coosa. A scout, Fields, was sent out, and reported that the Indians were concentrated and ready to strike from the mountains at the head of Terrapin, which empties into the Coosa just below Centre, Cherokee County, Ala. Without waiting for re- inforcements, on scout duty or fur- lough, Capt. Mitchell left Rome with 20 men mounted on horseback and muleback, some with saddles, some with blankets and others riding bare- back. They galloped down the Ala- bama road through the Coosa Valley, gaining recruits with squirrel guns as they went. At dusk the command, now 120 men, was within six miles of the Indian camp, and at sunrise the next morning they were on the spot, ready for an attack. In the meantime, the good women of the neighborhood had sent in breakfast rations for all of the troopers. The expectation was that there would be a bloody fight. These Coosa farmers and Georgia Vol- unteers were determined to strike a telling blow in defense of their wives and children, and this determination was not any less sharp from the fact of their crude arms and scanty equip- ment. About 200 warriors, practically naked and well daubed with paint, swarmed from their wigwams like bees, until a side of Craig's Moun- tain was well dotted with them. As the Georgia troops were about to close in, a clatter of hoofs was heard and up dashed Capt. Arnold with a com- pany of 60 cavalry from Jacksonville, Ala. Capt. Mitchell cried out: "No time for consultation ; you fight to the right and occupy the creek above the camp!" Capt. Arnold's men sped to the point indicated, while Capt. Mitchell's swept to the left, crossed Terrapin Creek, dismounted and deployed in skirmish line and approached to within 40 yards 216 A History of Rome and Floyd County of the camp. Orders were not to fire until fired upon. Suddenly a long strip of white canvas was hoisted on a pole as a flag of truce, and an in- terpreter was sent out to declare, "I am directed by Chief Fosach Fixico to say that he is not hostile." The Indian was ordered to return and direct that the chief appear in person. Fosach quickly appeared, the finest diked-out Indian ever seen be- fore or since; he wore a red and blue turban, with crimson and white war gowii of velvet that extended to his knees, and hung profusely with beads and tassels of all kinds; his face and neck were ablaze with war paint. He came forward with an elastic and som.ewhat defiant step. As Capt. Mitchell met him a few paces in ad- vance of the line, he repeated through his interpreter: "I am not hostile." Capt. Mitchell asked him if he surrend- ered, to which he replied: "I am not hostile, but if you require it, I do." At this juncture Capt. Luckie dash- ed up with a troop of farmers from near the mouth of Terrapin Creek, ar- riving on the west side. He and Capt. Arnold were consulted and the terms of capitulation agreed upon. Fosach was to deliver all his arms to Capt. Luckie, who was to march the In- dians forth to Mardisville. whence they were to proceed under additional guard to Arkansas. Twenty-four hours was given for the red-skins to gather up their ponies, women and children. Such of the Coosa River Volunteers as wish- ed to remain with Capt. Luckie could do so, and the others were free to re- turn to their homes. Five hundred muskets and accouterments surrender- ed by the Indians were sent to Chero- kee County. Shortly afterward, three cavalary companies from Floyd and one from Cherokee were organized into a bat- talion at Rome and were put in camp at Lashley's Ferry, eighteen miles be- low Rome, on the north side of the Coosa. These were under direction of Gen. Hemphill and under direct charge of Maj. Nelson and Capt. Mitchell. The command was known as the High- land Battalion, and was sworn into the United States service by Capt. Paine, U. S. A., and served until after most of the Indians had been removed to the west. On the resignation of Lieut. Carter, Joseph Watters was elected to the vacancy, and when Capt. Mitchell resigned, Watters was named in his place. This was undoubtedly the same Joseph Watters for whom the Watters district of Floyd County was named. * * t- RIDGE'S LUCKY SHOT.— The fol- lowing anecdote, summarized from the Cartersville Courant of Apr. 2, 1885, (by Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood) will show how a red-man would now and then befriend a pale-face: "In old Pendleton District, South Carolina, lived Col. James Blair, a Revolutionary soldier, last commander of Oconee Station and one of the con- stables of Col. Benj. Cleveland, a hero of the Revolution, colloquially known as 'Old Roundabout.' For 20 years Col. Blair had rounded up Tories and thieves and had swung many a 'bad man' to the gate gallows in front of Col. Cleveland's plantation home. "On this occasion. Col. Blair was following Wiley Hyde and Tom Phil- lips, half breed Indians who had stolen two fine horses from Benj. Mosely, who lived near Oconee Station. He was equipped with a horse in leash as well as his saddle animal, and two large horse pistols. At Reece's Spring, a mile east of the home of Major Ridge, the Cherokee chief, and two whoops and a holler from Ft. Jack- son, Col. Blair came upon the Indians, drinking at the spring. They were also fairly full of fire-water, and as he approached (having tethered his horses nearby), they covered him with their rifles. "Col. Blair threw up his hands, but quickly said, 'Don't shoot! I am a friend with some good whiskey ! Don't shoot a friend with some whiskey on his hip!' "The Indians relented and began to question him in their maudlin way. He told them he wanted to join a crowd and go over into Vann's Valley and steal some horses. The suspicions of Wiley Hyde were aroused, and he said, 'Tom Phillips, you are a fool. He's from over the line, and he'll be shooting us full of holes in a minute. Let's kill him and throw him in the river.' "Hyde raised his gun, cocked it and was about to crack down on Col. Blair's chest when 'Bang!' came from the nearby forest. Hyde fell face forward into the branch, and as he went down. Col. Blair seized his gun and covered Wiley Hyde, who threw up his hands. "Major Ridge rushed forward from a clump of underbrush and explained that he had been out hunting wild tur- keys when the pantomine was re- Anecdotes and Reminiscences 217 hearsed before his eyes. He knew the two men to be worthless scoundrels, and was glad to do Col. Blair and the state the service of dispatching one of them. John Ridge, the Major's son, Stand Watie, John's cousin, and Sally Ridge, the Major's pretty young daughter, came running up, and with a courtly bow. Col. Blair presented his handsome gold watch to the little girl. John and Stand Watie got the stolen horses together for Col. Blair; Tom Phillips was tied securely and put on one of them, and Col. Blair went back to the Pendleton district of South Carolina. The dead Indian was buried 150 yards below the spring, without even a tear from Miss Sally to damped the sod. "This act gained for Major Ridge an honorable name among the pale- faces, who ever after looked to him to redress wrongs committed by mem- bers of his clan; and when he fought so bravely at the Battle of the Horse- shoe, Ala., several years later, under Gen. Jackson, all felt that his laurels were lightly worn." TROUBLES OF THE CHIEFS.— That life was not a bed of Cherokee roses for the Ridges and their kins- man, Elias Boudinot, is evident from the following letters : ^Washington City, Mar. 13, 1835. To Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. Sir: I read this letter this morn- ing, advising me of the progress of intrusion upon my plantation and ferry within the chartered limits of Alabama. The damage done to me will be considerable if this is suffered to proceed. Deplorable will be the fate of the Indians if lawless men, without the authorities of the States, are suf- fered to throw free people out of their houses while they are preparing to leave the land of their forefathers. This is not a solitary case, but these aggravating cases are transpiring al- most every day. The Government should give instructions to its agents upon this subject without delay. I am, sir, respectfully your friend, JOHN RIDGE. (Enclosure.) **Childersville, Ala., Dec. 23, 1835. Mr. John Ridge, (Washington, D. C.) Dear Friend: It has been some weeks since I wrote to you. I have been expecting to receive a letter from you, but have not received any yet. I now write to give you the times here. We are all well. I have commenced clearing up my ground for a crop. I shall start my ploughs in a few days. Jno. W. Garrot*** is here on the other side of the river; has got large dou- ble houses built, and has taken those old houses that Pathkiller used to live in, and made kitchens of them. He has moved part of the fencing there and says he intends to hold all the pos- sessions, and that he will take the ferry as soon as you return. I for- bid him to build there, before wit- nesses. He threatens to shoot any man that would interrupt him. He says he can raise a militia force any time to protect himself. Major B. F. Currey was here shortly after Garrot first came, and ordered him off. Gar- rot now says they had a private con- versation, and Currey had told him that he should not be interrupted, and *Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee Treaty (1835), p. 357. **Ibid. Undoubtedly the present Childorsburg, Talladega County, on the Coosa River, 125 miles below Rome. ***A man named Garrett is supposed to have molested Major Ridge's ferry at Rome. DR. GAMALIEL W. HOLMES, who estab- lished a reputation as a family physician after the Civil War. 218 A History of Rome and Floyd County that they (Currey and himself) had made a compromise of the business. I hope you will be able while you are there to make arrangements from Gov- ernment to have him put off from this place. If you can not do that, it will injure you more than one thousand dollars. If he was away from here I could get $2,500 for the place at any time, but it will not sell for half that amount under the present circum- stances. I have bad news to tell you about the money business here. My share this winter is but little. The small- pox turned the people away in the fore part of the winter, and now and for some time back the people are afraid to travel on account of the highway robbers. The travellers are getting killed and robbed in all parts of the country. Between Mr. West's and Spanish John's old place there have been found a man and two horses killed. On the mountain between here and Mr. Bell's a man has been robbed of a horse. Down at Mill creek, on this road, a man was robbed of $192. On the mountain near Cox's, a man was killed and robbed of his horse and money. In Chattooga Valley there were two men shot, but neither of them killed. Near Montgomery, a few days ago, a man was killed and rob- bed of several hundred dollars. I heard from Mrs. Ridge a few days ago. They were all well. Today I shall send Mrs. Ridge $45 of cash. I must conclude by saying to you that I still remain, Your sincere friend, WM. CHILDERS. ■''Headquarters, Army Cherokee Na- tion, Valley Town, N. C, Aug. 12, 1836. Brig. Gen. Dunlap,** Of the Brigade of Tennessee Volunteers. Sir: Captain Vernon, stationed at New Echota, informs me that John Ridge has complained to him that some white man is about to take forcible possession of his ferry on Coosa River. You will without delay inquire into the case, and if you should find the com- plaint to be just, you will, until fur- ther orders, protect Ridge in his rights and property. This order will apply to all cases of similar character in the Cherokee country. You are further directed that in case you should find any troops with- in the limits of the Cherokee nation, whether in Georgia, Alabama, Tennes- see or North Carolina, not belonging to the East Tennessee brigade, to no- tify them that they are exclusively subject to my authority, and unless they report to me without delay, and become subject to my orders, will either leave the nation or be disband- ed. In your proceedings, you will be governed by your instructions of the 4th instant. I am, very respectfully, your obe- dient servant, JOHN E. WOOL, Brigadier General Commanding. In September, 1836, Gov. Lumpkin wrote as follows of the Ridge ferry seizure at Rome to Gen. John E. Wool:*** "I herewith enclose you sundry pa- pers placed in my hands by Mr. Gar- rett, on the subject of Ridge's ferry. From these papers it would seem that Garrett is willing to yield his claims to the civil authority, and yet to obey and respect any military orders to him directed by you. "Garrett alleges that he will cease to run his ferry boat provided Ridge will keep up the ferry and not disap- point travelers, but further states that Ridge is like the dog in the manger — that he will neither run his own boat nor suffer him to run one. The pa- pers, however, will place you in pos- session of the facts and relieve you from further trouble in the case. "With great respect, your obedient servant, "WILSON LUMPKIN." ****New Echota, June 15, 1836. Hon. Elbert Herring, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Sir: By the last mail I addressed a letter to Mr. Schermerhorn, to your care, which you have probably perused. What I there stated in regard to the state of feeling among the Cherokees has only been confirmed to my satis- faction. Indeed, I will venture to say there has never been a time for the last five years when appearances were so favorable as at present. I know of no hostility to the treaty. I hear now, on the contrary, the Cherokees in this region will receive it with cheer- fulness. They say the matter is now settled and they are glad of it. I speak of the mass of the Cherokees. *Secretary of War's Report on Cherokea Treaty (1835), p. 640. **W. C. Dunlap. ***Reinoval of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia, (Lumpkin), Vol. II, p. 43. ****Report of Secretary of War on Cherolcee Treaty (1835), ps. 600-1. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 219 There is a portion who, no doubt, feel far otherwise; but they are those whose ambition has been disappointed. Without their interference there will be no excitement. I trust they will not endeavor to excite the people. The white inhabitants of this coun- try are in a state of great alarm, founded upon some unfounded appre- hensions. I believe it is owing a great deal to what is transpiring in the Creek nation. Our people are not even aware of the state of feeling among the whites, much less are they think- ing of making war. I trust, sir, that no exaggerated rumors, which, no doubt, will go out of this country, will induce the Government to believe the Cherokees are in a hostile attitude. They are not, nor do I believe, even with Ross's influence, will a portion of them ever assume such an attitude. Our people are greatly suffering for food. It is very important that the necessary appropriations should be made soon for their relief. If I had authority to do so, I would begin to supply them in this neighborhood. In my letters to Mr. Schermerhorn I have referred to the speculations that are going on upon the Indians by whites and half breeds. Strong meas- ures are necessary to prevent it. The president ought to have the right of deciding what are the just debts of the Indians, for the protection of that class. If not, they will go to the west deprived of every cent of their prop- erty, and the money will go into the hands of the whites and such Indians as have opposed the very treaty by which they are now trying to amass wealth. I say again, strong measures are necessary. I trust the President will think it best to send Mr. Schermerhorn again. I think he is a suitable person be- cause he is a terror to speculators, and understands the situation of these peo- ple and their affairs. With sentiments of high esteem, I remain yours, ELIAS BOUDINOT. *New Echota, Ga., June 16, 1836. Hon. Elbert Herring, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Sir: I addressed a letter to you yes- terday, giving you a favorable account of the state of feeling among the Cherokees. I have since then received the enclosed letter, which would seem to contradict what I have stated. I *Report of Secretary of War on Cherokee Treaty (1835), ps. 602-3-4. wish to be understood as speaking of the Cherokees in this region, and from which I have direct information. There are neighborhoods where I have every reason to presume there is hostility towards us as a treaty party, and there are individuals who would willingly take our lives if they could. I have no idea that the danger is as great as is apprehended by the writers of the two letters enclosed. I came through the neighboi-hood • where hostility is said to exist, and the frolic or dance spoken of was held before I came along. I saw Thos. Taylor there, and he told me that he found the people better satisfied than he expected. I yet think there may be some mis- take about Welch being waylaid. Fos- ter, one of our delegation, was here the other day, and he told me every- thing was going right for the treaty. But as I have before stated, inflam- matory statements from the other side may change the state of feeling. I shall not be excited, and shall take the matter coolly and deliberately, and shall endeavor to keep you apprized of what is happening. I shall repeat again what I have said, that matters have never appeared so favorable within the compass of my observations within the last five years, as at pres- ent, and if Ross would only keep away, the nation would almost be unanimous for the treaty. To give you an instance how these poor people are deluded and misled, it is said that one of Ross's delegation on his return reported that the Cherokee countries here and in Arkansas have been sold, and that the Cherokees will have to go to a far country, infested by man-eaters. The people protested going there, but are willing to go to. Arkansas. I should have addressed these let- ters to Mr. Schermerhorn, if I thought he was still there. Please give my respects to him, and let him see these letters. Very respectfully, ELIAS BOUDINOT. (Two Enclosures.) Coal Mountain, June 8, 1836. Mr. Elias Boudinot, Sir: There was an Indian frolic or dance on Saturday night last, and there was some white men went to the same. They have reported that the Indians said that they had no malice towards the white people, but 220 A History of Rome and Floyd County that they intended killing Ridge and yourself. I have written you that you might be on your guard, which no doubt you are. The citizens of this county had a meeting yesterday; they are resolved to punish all offenses, if any. I would recommend for your safety for you and family to leave the country until the excitement is over a little. Please to accept for yourself and family my best wishes. Truly yours, GEORGE KELLOG. Chattahoochee, June 8, 1836. My dear Boudinot: I have just re- ceived a letter from Welch, informing me that his house has been waylaid by the Indians, who are seeking an opportunity to kill him. Our friend Tom Taylor is scattering the fire- brands. All my friends are well pleased that our treaty has been rati- fied and are ready to pledge their lives in defense of the treaty party. We have thousands of friends amongst the Georgians, ready to do the same. If you are at all apprehensive of clanger, let me advise you to collect all your friends and form an encamp- ment at Ridge's; arm but act on the defensive ; make any contracts neces- sary to your support. The treaty must meet them. I have just written to Schermerhorn, informing him of Tay- lor's conduct. Write to me often. I am much concerned for your safety. Sincerely your friend, WILLIAM RODGERS." * * * ROSS DRIVEN FROM HOME. — In April, 1835, it would appear, Ross returned from Washington to his home at "Head of Coosa," Rome. On Mar. 14, the Ridge party had signed with the Government the preliminar- ies of the New Echota treaty, giving the Indians $5,000,000 for Cherokee Georgia. In order to reach Washing- ton in those days it was necessary to travel by stage or horse to Charles- ton, and there take the steamer north or go the entire way on horseback. He had come in on his trusty charger, tired and hopeful of a kiss from his wife and children. Instead, he found his family gone — thrown out with a few scant things they could carry with them, and making for Tennessee over the dusty road. The following statement was signed by eight leading Cherokees,'''* including Ross, and it was undoubtedly written or dictated by Ross himself. Although the ejectment seems to have taken place in April, complaint was not made to Washington until June 21, 1836, more than a year later. Here is the summary of grievances, including the tale of the ejectment; it states that Ross's father, Daniel Ross, was buried at Rome, whereas members of the family in Oklahoma have always thought the parent and certain others were buried at Lookout Mountain, Tenn. "The Cherokees were then left to the mercy of an interested agent. This agent, under the act of 1834, was the notorious Wm. N. Bishop, the captain of the Georgia Guard, aid to the Gov- ernor, clerk of court, postmaster, etc., and his mode of trying Indian rights is here submitted: " 'Murray County, Ga., Jan. 20, 1835. " 'Mr. John Martin: " 'Sir — The legal representative of lots of land No. 95, 25th district, 2nd section, No. 86, 25th district, 2nd sec- tion, No. 93, 25th district, 2nd section, No. 89, 25th district, 2nd section. No. 57, 25th district, 2nd section, has called on me, as State's agent, to give possession of the above described lots of land, and informs me that you are the occupant upon them. Under the laws of the State of Georgia, passed in 1833 and 1834, it is made my duty to comply with his request, therefore, prepare yourself to give entire pos- session of said premises on or before the 20th day of February next; fail not under the penalty of the law. '"WM. N." BISHOP, " 'State's Agent.' "Mr. Martin,*'''* a Cherokee, was a man of wealth, had an extensive farm, large fields of wheat growing; and was turned out of house and home, and compelled, in the month of Feb- ruary, to seek a new residence within the limits of Tennessee. *Usually spelled Rogers. **John Ross, John Martin, James Brown, Joseph Vann. John Benge, Lewis Ross, Elijah Hicks and Richard Fields. Authority : Cher- okee Indians, Congressional Documents (1835-6), Doc. No. 286, ps. 5-6-7. After Ross was dispossessed, he went to live in Bradley County, Tenn., where he and John Howard Payne were arrested a few months later. ***Martin had been a judge of one of the Cherokee districts (Amoah). On Aug. 10, 1835, he was arrested by liieut. Jno. L. Hooper, commander of Co. F, 4th Inf., U. S. A., at Ft. Cass, Calhoun, Tenn., and confined at the home of Lewis Ross at that place, whence he soon made his escape. A spirited tilt then took place between Hooper and Major Currey. Mar- tin was charged with having threatened the life of John Ridge for negotiating with the Government. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 221 "Mr. Richard Taylor was also at Washington, and in his absence his family was threatened with expulsion, and compelled to give $200 for leave to remain at home for a few months only. "This is the 'real humanity' the Cherokees were shown by the real or pretended authorities of Georgia, dis- avowing any selfish or sinister motives towards them. "Mr. Jos. Vann, also a native Chero- kee, was a man of great wealth ; had about 800 acres of land in cultivation; had made extensive improvements, consisting, in part, of a brick house, costing about $10,000, mills, kitchens, negro houses, and other buildings. He had fine gardens, and extensive apple and peach orchards. His business was so extensive he was compelled to em- ploy an overseer and other agents. In the fall of 1833 he was called from home, but before leaving made a con- ditional contract with a Mr. Howell, a white man, to oversee for him in the year 1834, to commence on the first of January of that year. He returned about the 28th or 29th of December, 1833, and learning that Georgia had prohibited any Cherokee from hiring a white man, told Mr. Howell he did not want his services. "Yet Mr. Bishop, the State's agent, represented to the authorities of Geor- gia that Mr. Vann had violated the laws of that State by hiring a white man, had forfeited his right of oc- cupancy, and that a grant ought to issue for his lands. "There were conflicting claims un- der Georgia laws for his possessions. A Mr. Riley* pretended a claim, and took possession of the upper part of the dwelling house, armed for battle. Mr. Bishop, the State's agent, and his party came to take possession, and be- tween them and Riley a fight com- menced, and from 20 to 50 guns were fired in the house. While this was going on, Mr. Vann gathered his trem- bling wife and children into a room for safety. Riley could not be dis- lodged from his position upstairs, even after being wounded, and Bishop's par- ty finally set fire to the house. Riley surrendered and the fire was extin- guished. Mr. Vann and his family were then driven out, unprepared, in the dead of winter, and snow on the ground, through which they were compelled to wade and to take shelter within the limits of Tennessee, in an open log cabin, upon a dirt floor, and Bishop put his brother, Absalom Bishop, in posession of Mr. Vann's house. This Mr. Vann is the same who, when a boy, volunteered as a private soldier in the Cherokee regiment in the serv- ice of the United States, in the Creek war, periled his life in crossing the river at the Battle of the Horse Shoe.** What has been his reward? "Hundreds of other cases might be added. In fact, nearly all the Chero- kees in Georgia who had improve- ments of any value, except the favor- ites of the United States agent,*** under one pretext or another have been driven from their homes. Amid the process of expulsion, the Rev. John F. Schermerhorn, the United States commissioner, visited the legislatures of Tennessee and Alabama, and im- portuned those bodies to pass laws prohibiting the Chei-okees who might be turned out of their possessions from within the Georgia limits, taking up a residence in the limits of those states. *Spencer Riley, of Cass County, formerly or Bibb. The fight took place Mar. 2, 1835 ; au- thority : Georgia Journal, Milledgeville, Apr. 7, 1835. **Tallapoosa River, with Andrew Jackson and Major Ridge. ***Reference to the Ridges, Boudinot and others of the Treaty party. WADE SAMUEL COTHRAN, leading spirit in the First Presbyterian church, who removed from Rome to Anniston. 222 A History of Rome and Floyd County "The same summary process was used toward Mr. John Ross, the prin- cipal chief of the Cherokee Nation. He was at Washington City, on the busi- ness of his nation. When he returned, he traveled until about 10 o'clock at night to reach his family; rode up to the gate; saw a servant believed to be his own; dismounted, ordered his horse taken; went in, and to his utter as- tonishment found himself a stranger in his own home, his family having been some days before driven out to seek a new home. "A thought then flitted across his mind — that he could not, under all the circumstances of the situation, recon- cile it to himself to tarry all night under the roof of his own house as a stranger, the new host of that house being the tenant of that mercenary band of Georgia speculators at whose instance his helpless family had been turned out and made homeless. "Upon reflecting, however, that 'man is born unto trouble,' Mr. Ross at once concluded to take up his lodgings there for the night, and to console himself under the conviction of having met his afflictions and trials in a man- ner consistent with every principle of moral obligation towards himself and family, his country and his God. "On the next morning he arose early, and went out into the yard, and saw some straggling herds of his cattle and sheep browsing about the place — his crop of corn undisposed of. In cast- ing a look up into the widespread branches of a majestic oak, standing within the enclosure of the garden, and which overshadows the spot where lie the remains of his dear babe and most beloved and afi'ectionate father, he there saw, perched upon its boughs, that flock of beautiful pea-fowls, once the matron's care and delight, but now left to destruction and never more to be seen. "He ordered his horse, paid his bill, and departed in search of his family. After traveling amid heavy rains he had the happiness of overtaking them on the road, bound for some place of refuge within the limits of Tennessee. Thus have his houses, farm, public ferries, and other property been wrest- ed from him." * =;= * JOHN RIDGE IN NEW YORK.— Martin Grahame, of Briarlea, Sas- katchewan, Canada, who for some years lived on the East Rome place owned by J. Paul Cooper, sent the fol- lowing in 1921 to Linton A. Dean from the diary of his father, W. R. Grahame : "New York, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1832.— Was also with Testes Dwight to the City Hotel and was introduced to and had conversation with two Indian chiefs, the first and only I have seen — Mr. John Ridge and another chief whose name I do not remember. They were well-dressed men in surtouts, (wide-skirted coats reaching below the knees. — Webster's New Standard Dic- tionary), spoke good English and be- haved themselves like gentlemen. Ridge is the son of an orator, the greatest, Mr. Dwight said, among the Cherokees, a chief of the Deer Tribe. The other Indian was of the Wolf Tribe, of the Cherokee Nation, both of them. They had beautiful, small hands and feet, especially Ridge, who is married to a New England lady. They have come to New York to raise the sympathy of the public in behalf of their country- men who have deputized them with that design, for the purpose of getting them allowed to remain in their lands guaranteed them in Georgia, Tennes- see and North Carolina in their treaty with the United States. "The Cherokees consist of 16,000 to 20,000 people, the women more numer- ous than the men. The Sequoyan al- phabet, according to Ridge, can be learned in three days by a quick schol- ar, and in six days by a slow one. They have left ofl" the chase largely of late and devote themselves to agri- culture. Mr. Ridge said superstition kept the Indian from gaining more information. He stated that legend had it that God first made the Indian and then the white man. The Indian was off"ered the choice of a book or a bow and arrow, and while he hesitated, the white man stole the book; thus the bow and arrow was left to the Indian, and he has made good use of them ever since. Mr. Ridge's father's home is a two-story one, 52 by 28 feet, and there are many others of handsome design which show the wealth and civilization of the owners. "Tonight at a public meeting in Clinton Hall, Mr. Ridge mentioned that the chiefs of the Cherokees had voluntarily resigned their ancient pow- ers and modeled their state into a Re- public on the general plan of the Unit- ed States, with frequent elections (uni- versal suffrage there is also, but he did not mention that). "In the morning he mentioned that among the Creek Nation women are monthly put out of the house to purify, Anecdotes and Reminiscences 223 and at these seasons men do not ap- proach them, even to speak, except from a distance. Adultery in high or low degree is punished with beating until the criminals faint, and then cut- ting the ears off. Formerly, passing between a woman and the wind or bathing higher up a stream at the same time with her was held adultery, com- municated of the water or the wind. After punishment is inflicted, how- ever, the offender resumes his rank, and if he can escape until after an an- nual jubilee, he may save himself en- tirely from punishment. "A married man may have as many wives as he pleases, if they are not the wives of others. The ladies have not that privilege." WHEN THE RED MAN LEFT.— (By Jno. W. H. Underwood, in The Cartersville Courant, 1883). — The County of Floyd is perhaps the most interesting locality of this section of the state. Situated on the confluence of the Oostanaula and Etowah rivers, it has attracted the attention of many people. It was the favorite resort of the Red Man, and when the treaty of Dec. 29, 1835, was made, the influx of population was greatly increased. The Cherokee country was surveyed by the authorities of the State of Georgia in 1830 and 1831. The lots were 160 acres and 40 acres in size. That supposed to be the gold region was laid off in 40-acre lots, and that where there was supposed to be no gold was laid off in 160-acre lots. The whole of the Cherokee country com- prised in the chartered limits of Geor- gia was made into one county, called Cherokee County. The extent of the territory embraced was very consider- able, beginning at the point where the S5th parallel of N. Latitude comes in contact with a point on the Blue Ridge fixed by James Blair and Wilson Lump- kin that now divides Towns and Ra- bun counties, running thence west to Nickajack Cave, the northwest corner of Georgia, thence due south, nearly in the direction of Miller's bend, on the Chattahoochee River, two miles south of West Point, Ga., until it strikes the north of Carroll County, thence east until it reaches the Chattahoochee River, thence along said river to the mouth of the Chestatee, thence up the Chestatee River to the head and then ♦Not at Princeton University. It is generally accepted that he attended the mission schools at Spring Place, Murray County, and at Corn- wall, Conn. due north to the top of the Blue Ridge, then in an easterly direction to Hick- ory Gap, then with the meanders of the Blue Ridge to the beginning. Cherokee County was organized early in 1832. The courthouse was located where the town of Canton now is. A judge and solicitor general were elect- ed. The Hon. Jno. W. Hooper was the first judge of the Superior Court. He was the father of Mrs. Thos. W. Alex- ander and John W. Hooper, long a resident of Rome. Hon. Wm. Ezzard was elected the first solicitor general. He now resides in Atlanta, Ga., a hale and hearty, well-preserved man be- tween 80 and 90 years of age, an orna- ment to mankind, an honor to his race, a connecting link between the past and present. Jacob M. Scudder, who had long resided among the Indians as a licensed trader, under the new inter- course laws of the United States, res- ident in the nation, was elected sena- tor, and a man by the name of Wil- liams representative. Scudder was a highly intelligent and able man, and very soon made a favorable impres- sion upon the legislature. Early in the session he introduced a bill to lay off the country into ten counties, as follows: Forsyth, Cobb, Lumpkin, Union, Gilmer, Cherokee, Murray, Cass, Floyd and Paulding. Murray County embraced the territory that is now in Whitfield, Catoosa, Walker, and one-half of Chattooga. It would per- haps have been best if the original counties had remained as they were, with slight exceptions. Mr. Scudder laid off Floyd County with the view of the existence of a city where Rome now is. John Ross, the principal chief of the Cherokees, resided immediately north and opposite the junction of the rivers, and called his place "Head of Coosa." I have seen his letters to my father often. Major Ridge, who was made a major by Gen. Jackson at the Battle of the Horseshoe on the Tallapoosa River, in Alabama, for gallant conduct, resided up the Oostanaula River nearly two miles north of the courthouse, on the east bank of the river. Major Ridge's son, John, was educated at Princeton, N. J.,* and John's sister, Sallie, at Mrs. Elsworth's School. John Ridge was the great rival of John Ross, and Sal- lie Ridge was the first wife of George W. Paschal, deceased, who was once one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Texas. Ridge Paschal, their son, is a distinguished lawyer in Texas. There exists no record of the first settlers of Floyd County. The site 224 A History of Rome and Floyd County was at first located down the Coosa River, ten miles from Rome and called Livingston. In 1834, however, there was a very heated contest, and the seat of justice, the courthouse, was moved to the junction of the rivers and the place named Rome. Among the early settlers were the two Hemphills — • James and Philip W. Hemphill. One of them resided at the Mobley place, now owned by Col. Yancey, and the other in Vann's Valley, at what has been for many years known as the Montgomery farm. Walton H. Jones was the brother- in-law of Hemphill and was an early settler. So was Edward Ware, who resided eight miles south of Rome, where Mr, Alexander White now lives. Joseph Ford, the father of I. D. Ford and Arthur Ford, was another, and resided in Vann's Valley where Mr. W. S. Gibbons now lives. He built the brick residence there. John Rush was another early settler, and resided on the Calhoun Road, seven miles north- cast of Rome. Joseph Watters was an early settler, settling eight miles north- east of Rome at the "Hermitage." Wal- lace Warren was here early, and re- sided on the west side of the Oosta- naula six miles from Rome. Dr. Alvin Dean, the grandfather of Linton Dean, was another one of them. He resided about nine miles down the Coosa at the residence of John W. Turner, who married his daughter. Thos. S. Price was another striking man, for sixteen years sheriff and deputy sheriff with Thos. G. Watters, now of Rome. The Loyds were heard of at an early date, and so were Thomas and Elijah Lump- kin. John PL Lumpkin was here in 1834. Joseph Watters was many times a senator from Floyd. John H. Lump- kin was for three terms a member of the Superior Court. Among the men of mark who were here at an early day may be mentioned Daniel R. Mitchell, Wallace Mitchell, A. T. Har- din, Elkanah Everett, and Thos. Sel- man, the father of the numerous and highly respected Selmans. Perhaps the most far-seeing man devoted to the interests of Rome that ever lived in our midst was William Smith. He was of great energy and very full capacity, with the will and courage of Andrew Jackson — warm in his friendships and attach- ments. He saw at an early day the prospective commercial importance of Rome. He was very far in advance of the place and the people. He caused to be projected and built the first steamboat. He was born to command and generally had at least one-half of the voters of the county under his control. He was often honored with positions of trust by the people of the county, and was once state senator. He died at comparatively an early age. He was a close and intimate friend of Col. Alfred Shorter. Of the earliest settlers, few if any remain — alas, alas! they have gone to that bourne whence no traveler re- turns! Melancholy reflection! The writer knew them all — they were his friends and are now in the grave. Among the later settlers were Wm. H. Underwood, Dr. H. V. M. Miller, A. D. Shackelford, Wm. T. Price, R. S. Norton, Wm. E. Alexander, Pente- cost and Ihly, the Alexanders, the Smith family. Col. Alfred Shorter and Wade S. Cothran, active-minded and public-spirited men. A. B. Ross, clerk of the Superior Court, the father of our present clerk, was here at an early day. He held the office of clerk until his death, and was as good a man as ever lived in the county. Jobe Rogers, John DeJournett, Ewell Meredith and the Berryhills were sterling men. The Rev. Geo. White, of Savannah, Ga., published two books, history and statistics of Geor- gia, and there is very little said of Floyd County. Floyd is now the fifth or sixth county in point of population, and Rome is the sixth city in the state. The future of Rome is very promis- ing. The growth has been gradual and it is a remarkable fact that Rome has built up by money made in the place principally. Very little capital from abroad has been used. Rome ought to be the gi'eat manu- facturing, commercial and financial center of this northwest Georgia. We have considerable manufacturing in- terests here now, and with the ore, slate, marble, and other precious and valuable stones near enough to us, the future of Rome must be upward and onward. There is no collision of interests be- tween Rome, Dalton, Rockmart and Cartersville. The interest of one is the interest of the whole. Let there be no jealousy and no rivalry. Let each and all push forward the wheel of our progress, and make this section in point of fact and development what the god of nature intended, the most prosperous and lovely section of this great country. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 225 AN OLD RAMBLER.— The follow- ing Floyd County humor is from Bill Arp's Scrap Book, Chapt. 1, The Orig- inal Bill Arp, by Chas. H. Smith, At- lanta, Jas. P. Harrison & Co., 1884: "Some time in the spring of 1861, when the boys were hunting for a fight and felt like they could whip all crea- tion, Mr. Lincoln issued a proclama- tion ordering us all to disperse and retire within 30 days, and to quit ca- vorting around in a hostile and bellig- erent manner. I remember writing an answer to it, though I was a good Un- ion man and a law-abiding citizen, and was willing to disperse, if I could, but it was almost impossible, for the boys were mighty hot, and the way we made up our military companies was to send a man down the lines with a bucket of water to sprinkle 'em as he came to 'em, and if a fellow sizzed like hot iron in a slack-trough, we took him, and if he didn't sizz, we dident take him; but still, nevertheless, notwithstanding, and so forth, if we could possibly dis- perse in 30 days we would do so, but I thought he had better give us a little more time, for I had been out in an old field and tried to disperse myself and couldent quite do it. "I thought the letter was pretty smart, and read it to Dr. Miller and Judge Underwood, and they seemed to think it was right smart too. About that time I looked around and saw Bill Arp standing at the door with his mouth open and a merry glisten in his eye. As he came forward, says he to me, 'Squire, are ye gwine to print that?' "'I reckon I will, Bill,' said L 'What name are ye gwine to put to it?' said he. 'I havent thought about a name.' Then he brightened up and said, 'Well, Squire, I wish you would put mine, for them's my sentiments!' And I promised him that I would. "So I did not rob Bill Arp of his good name, but took it on request, and now at this late day, when the moss has covered his grave, I will record some pleasant memories of a man whose notoriety was not extensive, but who filled up a gap that was open, and who brightened up the flight of many an hour in the good old time, say from 20 to 30 years ago. "Bill Arp was a small, sinewy man, weighing about 130 pounds, as active as a cat, as quick in movement as he was active, and always presenting a bright, cheerful face. He had an amiable disposition, a generous heart and was as brave a man as nature makes. He was an humble man and unlettered in books; never went to school but a month or two in his life, and could neither read nor write; but Jtill, he had more than his share of common sense, more than his share of ingenuity, and plan and contrivance, more than his share of good mother- wit and humor, and was always wel- come when he came about. "Lawyers and doctors and editors, and such gentlemen of leisure as who used to, in the good old times, sit around and chat and have a good time, always said, 'Come in, Bill, and take a seat.' And Bill seemed grateful for the compliment, and with a conscious humility squatted on about half the chair and waited for questions. The bearing of the man was one of rever- ence for his superiors and thankful- ness for their notice. "Bill Arp was a contented man — contented with his humble lot. He never grumbled or complained at any- thing; he had desires and ambitions, but they did not trouble him. He kept a ferry for a wealthy gentleman who lived a few miles above Rome, on the Etowah River, and he cultivated a small portion of his land; but the ferry was not of much consequence, and when Bill could step off to Rome and hear the lawyers talk, he would turn over the boat and poles to his wife or children, and go. I have known him to take a back seat in the court- house for a day at a time and with a face all greedy for entertainment, listen to the learned speeches of the lawyers and charge of the court, and fP^^ '" THE ORIGINAL BILL ARP. 226 A History of Rome and Floyd County TESTING THE ROME BOYS FOR WAR DUTY. "Bill Arp's" book, "Peace Papers," tells how the recruiting officers at Rome poured water on candidates who were hot over Mr. Lincoln's "disarmament proc- lamation." If "sizzling" resulted, they were sworn in. The author's several books reflect vividly the humorous incidents and philosophy of the times. go home happy, and be able to tell to his admiring family what Judge Un- derwood said and what Judge Wright said, and what Col. Alexander said, and what the judge on the bench said; and if there was any fun in anything that was said, Bill always got it, and never forgot it. When court was not in session, he still slip- ped off to town and would frequent the lawyers' offices and listen to 'em talk, and the brighter the talk, the faster Bill would chew his tobacco, and the brighter his little, merry eyes would sparkle. "He had the greatest reverence for Col. Johnston, his landlord, and always said he would rather belong to him than to be free; 'for,' said he, 'Mrs. Johnston throws away enough old clothes and vittles to support my chil- dren, and they are always nigh enough to pick 'em up.' Anecdotes and Reminiscences 227 "Bill Arp lived in Chulio district.* We had eleven districts in the county, and they had all such names as Pop- Skull, and Blue Gizzard, and Wolf- Skin, and Shake-Rag, and Wild-Cat, but Bill lived and reigned in Chulio. Every district had its best man in those days, and Bill was the best man in Chulio. He could out-run, out-jump, out-swim, out' rastle, out-ride, out-shoot anybody in Chulio, and was so far ahead that everybody else had given it up, and Bill reigned supreme. He put on no airs about this, and his neighbors were all his friends. "But there was another district ad- joining, and it had its best man, too. One Ben McGinnis ruled the boys of that beat, and after a while it began to be whispered around that Ben wasn't satisfied with his limited terri- tory, but would like to have a small tackle with Bill Arp. Ben was a pre- tentious man. He weighed about 165 pounds, and was considered a regular bruiser; and he, too, like Bill Arp, had never been whipped. When Ben hit a man, it was generally understood that he meant business, and his adversary was hurt, badly hurt, and Ben was glad of it, and vain of it. But when Bill Arp hit a man he was sorry for him, and if he knocked him down, he would rather help him up and brush the dirt off his clothes than swell around in triumph. Fighting was not very common with either. The quicker a man whips a fight, the less often he has to do it, and both Ben and Bill had settled their standing most effec- tually. Bill was satisfied with his honors, but Ben was not, for there was many a Ransy Sniffle** who lived along the line between the districts and car- ried news from the one to the other, and made up the coloring, and soon it was norated around that Ben and Bill had to meet and settle it. "The court grounds of that day con- sisted of a little shanty and a shelf. The shanty had a dirt floor and a pun- cheon seat and a slab for the Squire's docket, and the shelf was outside for the whisky. The whisky was kept in a jug — a gallon jug — and that held just about enough for the day's busi- ness. Most everybody took a dram in those days, but very few took too much, unless, indeed, a dram was too 'According to Miss Virginia C. Hardin, of Atlanta, Chulio was called after an Indian sub- chief who lies buried on the Stubbs place, ad- joining the Hardin plantation, near Kingston. **A busy-body character in Longstreet's "Georgia Scenes." ***W. Frank Ayer, once Mayor of Rome. much. It was very uncommon to see a man drunk at a county court ground. Pistols were unknown, bowie-knives were unknown, brass knuckles and sling-shots were unknown, and all other devices that gave one man an artful advantage over another. The boys came there in their shirt sleeves and galluses, and if they got to quar- reling, they settled it according to na- ture. "When Col. Johnston, who was Bill Arp's landlord, and Maj. Ayer*** and myself got to Chulio, Bill Arp was there, and was pleasantly howdying with his neighbors, when suddenly we discovered Ben McGinnis trapoosing around, and every little crowd he got to, he would lean forward in an in- solent manner and say, 'Anybody here got anything agin Ben McGinnis? Ef they have, I golly, I'll give 'em five dollars to hit that; I golly, I dare any- body to hit that,' and he would point to his forehead with an air of defiance. "Bill Arp was standing by us, and I thought he looked a little more se- rious than I had ever seen him. Frank Ayer says to him, 'Bill, I see that Ben is coming around here to pick a fight with you, and I want to say that you have got no cause to quarrel with him, and if he comes, do you just let him come and go, that's all.' Col. Johnston says, 'Bill, he is too big for you, and your own beat knows you, and you haven't done anything against Ben, and so I advise you to let him pass— do you hear me?' "By this time. Bill's nervous system was all in a quiver. His face had an air of rigid determination, and he re- plied humbly, but firmly, 'Col. John- BEN McGINNIS. 228 A History of Rome and Floyd County BILL ARP, OF CHULIO, TRIUMPHS OVER BEN M'GINNIS. stone, I love you, and I respect you, too; but if Ben McGinnis comes up here outen his beat, and into my beat, and me not havin' done nothin' agin him, and he dares me to hit him, I'm gwine to hit him, if it is the last lick I ever strike. I'm no phist puppy dog, sir, that he should come outen his deestrict to bully me.' "I've seen Bill Arp in battle, and he was a hero. I've seen him when shot and shell rained around him, and he was cool and calm, and the same old smile was on his features. I've seen him when his first-born was stricken down at Manassas, and he was near enough to see him fall headforemost to the foe, but I never have seen him as intensely excited as he was that moment when Ben McGinnis approach- ed us, and addressing himself to Bill Arp, said, 'I golly, I dare anybody to hit that!' "As Ben straightened himself up. Bill let fly with his hard, bony fist right in his left eye, and followed it up with another. I don't know how it was, and never will know; but I do know this, that in less than a second. Bill had him down and was on him, and his fists and his elbows and his knees seemed all at work. He after- ward said that his knees worked on Ben's bread basket, which he knew was his weakest part. Ben hollered enough in due time, which was con- sidered honorable to do, and all right, and Bill helped him up and brushed the dirt off his clothes, and said, 'Now, Ben, is it all over 'twixt you and me; is you and me all right?' And Ben said, 'It's all right 'twixt you and me. Bill; I give it up, and you are a gentleman.' Bill invited all hands up to the shelf, and they took a drink, and Bill paid for the treat as a gen- erous victor, and he and Ben were friends. "I was not at the big wrestle be- tween Bill Arp and Ike McCoy, and had heard so many versions of it that one night, while we were sitting around the camp fire in Virginia, I insisted on hearing it from Bill's own lips. Said he, 'Well, gentlemen (he always accented the vien) , my motto has been to never say die, as Ginrul Jackson said at the Battle of New Or- leans, and all things considered, I have had a power of good luck in my life. I don't mean money luck by no means, for most of my life I've been so ded pore that Lazarus would have resign- ed in my favor, but I've been in a heap of close places, and somehow al- ways come out right-side-up with care. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 229 " 'You see, Ike McCoy was perhaps the best rasler in all Cherokee, and he just hankered after a chance to break a bone or two in my body. Now, you know I never hunted for a fight nor a fuss in my life, but I never dodged one. I didn't want a tilt with Ike, for my opinion was that he was the best man of the two, but I never said anything, but just trusted to luck. " 'We was both at the barbycu, and he put on a heap of airs, and strutted around with his shirt collar open clean down to his waist, and his hat cocked on one side of his head, as sassy as a Confederate quartermaster. He took a dram, and then stuffed himself full of fresh meat at dinner. Along in the evening it was norated around that Ike was going to banter me for a ras- sle, and shore enuf, he did. The boys were all up for some fun, and Ike got on a stump and hollered out, 'I'll bet ten dollars I can plaster the length of any man on the ground, and I'll give Bill Arp five dollars to take the bet!' " 'Of course, there was no gettin' around the like of that. The banter got my blood up, and so, without wait- in' for ceremony, I shucked myself and went in. The boys was all powerfully excited, and was a bettin' every dollar they could raise, and Bob Moore, the feller I had licked about a year before, said he'd bet twenty dollars to ten that Ike would knock the breath outen me the first fall. I borrowed the money from Col. Johnston, and walked over to him and said, 'I'll take that bet!'" " 'The river''' was right close to the spring, and the bank was purty steep. I had on an old pair of copprass britches that had been seined in and dried so often they was about half rotten. When we hitched, Ike took good britches-holt and lifted me up and down a few times like I was a child. He was the heaviest, but I had the most spring in me, and so I jest let him play around for some time, lim- ber like, until suddenly he took a no- tion to -make short work of it with one of his back-leg trip movements. He drawed me up to his body and lifted me into the air with a powerful twist. Jest at that minit his back was close to the river bank, and as my feet teched the ground, I give a tremendous jerk backwards and a shove forwards, and my britches split plum open in the back and tore clean offen my bread basket, and Ike fell from me * Etowah. backwards and tumbled down the bank into the river — kerchug! " 'Sich hollerin' as them boys done I reckon never was hearn before in all them woods. I jumped in and helped Ike out as he riz to the top. He had took in a quart or so of water right on top of his whisky and bar- bycu, and as he set upon the bank, it all come forth like a dost of ippe- cack. When he gotten over it he laughed sorter weakly and said Sally Ann told him afore he left home he had better let Bill Arp alone, for no- body could run against his luck. Ike always believed he would have thrown me if britches holt hadent broke, and I reckon he would. One thing is cer- tain; it cured Ike of braggin', and it cured Bob Moore of bettin', and that was a good thing.' "Bill was full of mischief and his indulgence in practical ' jokes some- times led him into trouble, but he al- ways managed to get out. Col. John- ston says that one time a young man stayed over night at his house, and had occasion to cross the ferry next morning. He was from Charleston, BILL ARP "LOW RATES" M'COY. 230 A History of Rome and Floyd County THE YOUNG MAN FROM CHARLESTON. and had on a pair of fine boots and a fashionable hat and a white vest and kid gloves, and was altogether quite dandy-like in his appearance. Bill came over with the ferry boat and eyed the man with a look of surprise and contempt. The young man asked him if his boat was entirely safe, and insisted on having every drop of water bailed out for fear of muddying his boots. Bill showed great alacrity in complying, and when the boat was nearly across, and the young man was standing near the gunnel, looking down into the water, the long pole that Bill was managing came sudden- ly against his shoulders and keeled him overboard. Bill did not hesitate a moment, but jumped in after him, and quickly pulled him up into the boat again. The youth was dread- fully alarmed and grateful for his safe deliverance. He went back again to the Colonel's house for some dry clothes, but before he left he insisted on rewarding Bill for saving his life, but Bill modestly refused to receive anything. "When we went into camp near Ma- nassas, while Gen. Wm. M. Gardner, later of Eome, was in command, Bill took the general a lot of beautiful honey, which was highly appreciated, and while he was enjoying it at the breakfast table an old man came up and in pitiful language informed him how some soldiers came to his house last night and robbed him of all his honey, twelve hives in all, and they worth five dollars apiece, and now he was a ruint man, and the girls couldn't git no clothes, and the cofee was out, and the old 'oman was sick, and so forth. "The general was a West Pointer and a strict constructionist, and he was proud of his regiment; so that evening at dress parade he made them a nice little speech about a soldier's honor, and about this honey business, and wound up by saying that he didn't know who stole the honey, and didn't want to know, and he wasn't going to try to find out, but he wanted every man who was willing to help pay the old man for his loss to step five paces to the front. "Bill Arp was the first man to step out; he threw up his hat and hollered 'Hurrah for Ginrul Gardner!' The whole regiment stepped forward and joined in cheers for their noble gen- eral, while Bill, without waiting for orders, went down the line with his hat, saying, 'Put in, boys, put in; the general is right; let's pay the old man and git the gals some clothes. I golly, the gals must have some clothes!' "They made up about ninety dollars and the old man was paid and went Anecdotes and Reminiscences 231 his way rejoicing, and the remainder of the fund was turned over to the hospital. "While in camp at Centerville dur- ing the bitter winter of 1861-2, the or- ders against contraband whisky were very strict, but still, the soldiers man- aged somehow to keep in pretty good spirits. One day a six-horse team from Page County drove into camp, loaded down with sixteen barrels of very fine apples. The hind gate was taken off and a barrel set down and the head knocked in, and the boys bought them quite freely. After a while another barrel was set down, and in course of time Col. Jno. R. Towers, another no- ble Roman, of the Miller Rifles, ob- served that Bill and some others were quite hilarious, and he suspected there was something wrong about that wagon, and procured an order from Gen. Sam Jones to examine it. On inspection he found there was a five gallon keg of apple brandy in each of six of the barrels, and the kegs were packed around with apples. The gen- eral ordered a confiscation. He sent a keg to each of the five regimental hos- pitals, and had the sixth keg sent to his tent and put under his cot. "Bill Arp did not seem to be pleased with the distribution, and wagged his head ominously. He was on the de- tail that was to guard the general's headquarters that night; and so, the next morning, when the general con- cluded to sample the brandy, and sent down for a few of us to come up and join him in a morning cocktail, he discovered that the keg was gone. Col. Towers was there, and sent for a list of the guard, and when he saw Bill Arp's name, he quietly remarked, *I un- derstand it now.' All doubts were re- moved; no search was made, for the general enjoyed the joke; but that night the keg was replaced under his cot with about half its original con- tents. Bill said he was always will- ing to 'tote fair and divide with his friends.' "This is enough of Bill Arp — the original simon pure. He was a good soldier in war, the wit and wag of the camp-fires, and made many a home-sick youth laugh away his mel- ancholy. He was a good citizen in peace. When told that his son was dead, he showed no surprise, but sim- ply said, 'Major, did he die all right?' When assured that he did, Bill wiped away a falling tear and said, 'I only wanted to tell his mother.' "You may talk about heroes and heroines. I have seen all sorts, and so has most everybody who was in the war, but I never saw a more de- voted heroine than Bill Arp's wife. She was a very humble woman, very, but she loved her husband with a love that was passing strange. I don't mean to say that any woman's love is passing strange, but I have seen that woman in town, three miles from her home, hunting around by night for her husband, going from one gi'ocery to another and in her kind, loving voice inquiring 'Is William here?' or 'Do you know where William is?' "Blessings on that poor woman ! I have almost cried for her many a time. Poor William — hcJw she loved him! How tenderly would she take him when she found him, and lead him home, bathe his head and put him to bed. She always looked pleased and thankful when asked about him, and would say, 'He is a good little man, but you know he has his failings.' "She loved Bill and he loved her; he was weak and she was strong. There are some such women now, I reckon; I hope so. I know there are some such men." * * * "BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD.— " 'Big John' was one of the earliest settlers of Rome, and one of her most notable men. For several years he was known by his proper name of John H. Underwood, but when John W. H. Underwood moved there, he was identified by his superior size and gradually lost his surname, and was known far and near as 'Big John.' Col. Jno. W. H. Underwood, who came to be distinguished as a member of Congress, and afterward as a judge, was a man of large physique, weigh- ing about 225 pounds, but 'Big John' pulled down the scales at a hundred pounds more, and had shorter arms and shorter legs, but his circumfer- ence was correspondingly immense. He was noted for his good humor. The best town jokes came from his jolly, fertile fancy, and his comments on men and things were always origi- nal, and as terse and vigorous as ever came from the brain of Dr. Johnson. He was a diamond in the rough. He had lived a pioneer among the Indians of the Cherokee, and it was said fell in love with an Indan maid, the daugh- ter of old Testenuggee, a limited chief, and never married because he could not marry her. But if his disappoint- ment preyed upon his heart, it did not prey upon the region that enclosed it, for he continued to expand his pro- 232 A History of Rome and Floyd County portions. He was a good talker and earnest laugher. Whether he laugh- ed and grew fat, or grew fat and laughed, the doctors could not tell ; which was cause and which was ef- fect is still in doubt, but I have heard the wise men affirm that laughing was the fat man's safety valve, that if he did not laugh and shake and vibrate frequently, he would grow fatter and fatter until his epidermic cuticle could not contain his oleaginous corporosity. Dr. Chisolm, of Charleston, is said to have put this . matter beyond all dis- pute, for he had seen a fat man weighed but a few hours before Ar- temus Ward lectured in that city, .and this fat man laughed so hard and so continuously at Ward's wit that he overdone the thing, and died in his seat. The coroner sat upon him, and the doctor weighed him and found he had lost eighteen pounds of flesh that night — laughed it away, which would seem to settle the vexed question. "Big John had no patience with the war, and when he looked upon the boys strutting around in uniform and fixing up their canteens and haver- sacks, he seemed as much disgusted as astonished. He sat in his big chair on the sidewalk in front of his gro- cery and liquor shop, and would re- mark, 'I don't see any fun in the like of that. Somebody is going to be hurt, and fightin' don't prove anything. Some of our best people in this town are kin to them fellers up North, and I don't see any sense in tearing up families by a fight.' He rarely looked serious or solemn, but the pending fight seemed to settle him. 'Boys,' said he, 'I hope to God this thing will be fixed up without a fight, for fighting is mighty bad business, and I never knowed it to do any good.' "Big John had had a little war ex- perience — that is, he had volunteered in a company to drive the Creeks and Cherokees to the far west in 1833, just 50 years ago. It was said that he was no belligerent then, but want- ed to give the Indian maiden he loved a safe transit, and so he escorted the old chief and his clan as far as Tus- cumbia, and then broke down and re- turned to Ross's Landing on the Ten- nessee River. He was too heavy to march, and when he arrived at the landing, a prisoner was put in his charge for safe-keeping. Ross's Land- ing is Chattanooga now, and John Ross once lived there, and was one of the chiefs of the Cherokees. The prisoner was Ross's guest, and his name was John Howard Payne. He was suspected of trying to instigate the Cherokees to revolt and fight, and not leave their beautiful forest homes on the Tennessee and Coosa and Oosta- naula and Etowah and Connasauga rivers. He brought Payne back as far as New Echota, or New Town, as it was called, an Indian settlement on the Coosawattee, a few miles east of Calhoun, as now known. There he kept the author of 'Home, Sweet Home' under guard, or on his parole of honor, for three weeks, and night after night slept with him in his tent, and listened to his music upon the violin, and heard him sing his own sad songs until orders came for his discharge, and Payne started afoot on his way to Washington. He said Payne was much of a gentleman. "Many a time have I heard Big John recite his sad adventures. 'It was a most distressive business,' said he. 'Them Injuns was heart-broken. I al- ways knowed an Injun loved his hunt- ing-ground and his rivers, but I never knowed how much they loved 'em be- fore. You know, they killed Ridge for consentin' to the treaty. They kill- ed him on the first day's march and they wouldn't bury him. We soldiers had to stop and dig a grave and put him away. John Ross and Ridge were the sons of two Scotchmen who came over here when they were young men and mixed up with these tribes and got their good will. These two boys were splendid looking men, tall and handsome, with long auburn hair, and they were active and strong, and could shoot a bow equal to the best bow- man of the tribe, and they beat 'em all to pieces on the cross-bow. They married the daughters of the old chiefs, and when the old chiefs died they just fell into line and succeeded to the old chiefs' places, and the tribes liked 'em mighty well, for they were good men and made good chiefs. " 'Well, you see, Ross didn't like the treaty. He said it wasn't fair, that the price of the territory was too low, and the fact is, he didn't want to go at all. There are the ruins of his old home over there now in DeSoto, close to Rome, and I tell you. Re was a king. His word was the law of the Injun nations, and he had their love and re- spect. His half-breed children were the purtiest things I ever saw in my life. " 'Well, Ridge lived up the Oosta- naula River about a mile, and he was a good man, too. Ross and Ridge al- ways consulted about everything that was for the good of the tribes, but Anecdotes and Reminiscences 233 "BIG JOHN" UNDERWOOD'S RETURN TO ROME AFTER THE WAR. Ridge was a more milder man than Ross, and was more easily persuaded to sign the treaty that gave the lands to the state, and to take other lands away out in Mississippi. You see, our state owned the territory then clean out to the Mississippi River. " 'Well, when the whole thing seemed to be settled with the chiefs, we found that the Injuns wasn't go- in' to move. We couldn't get 'em started. They raised a howl all over the settlements. It was just like the mourners at a camp meeting. The families would just set about and mourn. They wouldn't eat nor sleep, and the old squaws would sway back- wards and forwards and mourn, and nobody could get 'em up. " 'Well, it took us a month to get 'em all together and begin the march to the Mississippi, and they wouldn't march then. The women would go out of line and set down in the woods and go to grieving, and you may believe it or not, but I'll tell you what is a fact: we started for Tuscumbia with 14,000 and 4,000 of 'em died before we got to Tuscumbia. They died on the side of the road; they died of broken hearts; they died of starvation, for they wouldn't eat a thing. They just died all along the way. We didn't make more than five miles a day on the march, and my company didn't do much but dig graves and bury Injuns all the way to Tuscumbia. They died of grief and broken hearts, and no mistake. " 'An Injun's heart is tender and his love is strong; it's his natur. I'd a rather risk an Injun for a true friend than a white man. He is the best friend in the world and the worst enemy. He has got more gratitude and more revenge in him than any- body. I remember that Dick Juhan swindled an Injun out of his pony, and that night the Injun stepped up to Vann's Valley and stole the pony out of the stable and carried him off, and Dick followed him next day and caught him and tied him, and brought him up to old Livingston before a magistrate. I was there and took the Injun's part and got him discharged; and he kept his pony, and he was so grateful to me that I couldn't get rid of him. He just followed me about like a nigger and waited on me; hunt- ed for me and brought me squirrels and deer and turkeys, and when time came for 'em all to go west, he hung around camp and wouldn't leave me. When I left him at Tuscumbia, he cried and moaned and took on, and I don't reckin he ever got to the prom- ised land.' "Big John was a stout and active man, considering his weight. He was patriotic, too, and when he found that the fight had to come, he came up manfully to the cause and declared he was ready to join a buggy regiment and fight until they plugged him, which they were sure to do, he said, if they pinted any ways down South. When Joe Brown called for state vol- unteers, he responded promptly, and seemed proud that he was in the line of military service, and was enrolled on the Governor's staff. He said that he couldn't march, but he could set on one of the hills around Rome and guard the ramparts. "Nevertheless, notwithstanding, it so turned out that old Joe got fight- ing mad after while and ordered all his staff and his militia to the front, and Big John had to go. The view- he took of his new departure in mili- tary strategy will appear in the sequel, and also his remarkable retreat be- fore the foul invader when Sherman took the Hill City and dispersed the home guard to remoter regions. 234 A History of Rome and Floyd County "Big John is dead. The last time I saw him he had lost his fat, and his old clothes were a world too big for him. He said he was juicing away so as to fit a respectable coffin and save a winding sheet or two in his shrouding. He owed no man anything and no man owed him a grudge. Fat men die like lean ones, but they rare- ly die fat. Their fat is their vitality. Fat men are generally good men, kind men, peaceable men, and they are honest. Their fat makes them good- natured, and their good nature keeps them from swindling or cheating any- body. If I was thrown among strangers and wanted a favor, I would pass by all lean and hungi-y strangers and sit down by the biggest, roundest man I saw. "Big John's special comfort was a circus. He never missed one, and it was a good part of the show to see him laugh and shake and spread his magnificent face. I saw the clown run from the ring-master's whip and take refuge close by Big John, and as he looked up in his face he said, 'You are my friend, ain't you?' and Big John smiled all over as he replied. 'Why, yes, of course I am.' 'Well,' then,' said the clown, 'if you are my friend, please lend me a half a dol- lar.' The crowd yelled tumultuously as Big John handed over the coin, and the joke of it was worth half a dollar to him. "Big John took no pleasure in the quarrels of mankind, and never back- ed a man in a fight, but when two dogs locked teeth, or two bulls locked horns, or two game chickens locked spurs, he always liked to be about. 'It is their natur to fight,' said he, 'and let 'em fight.' He took delight in watching dogs and commenting on their sense and dispositions. He com- pared them to the men about town, and drew some humorous analogies. 'There is Jimmy Jones,' said he, 'who ripped and plunged around because Georgia wouldn't secede in a minute and a half, and he swore he was go- in' over to South Calliny to fight; and when Georgia did secede shore enuf he didn't jine the army at all, and always had some cussed excuse, and when con- scription come along, he got on a de- tail to make potash, con-ding 'im, and when that played out he got a couple of track dogs and got detailed to ketch runaway prisoners. Just so I've seen dogs run up and down the fence palings like they was dyin' to get to one nuther, and so one day I picked up my dog by the nap of the neck and dropped him over on the outside. I never knowed he could jump that fence before, but he bounced back like an Injun rubber ball, and the other dog streaked it do\vn the sidewalk like the dickens was after him. Dogs are like folks and folks are like dogs, and a heap of 'em want the palings between. " 'Jack Bogin used to strut around and whip the boys in his beat, and kick 'em awful, because he knew he could do it, for he had the most mus- sle ; but he couldn't look a brave man in the eye, mussle or no mussle, and I've seen him shut up quick when he met one. A man has got to be right to be brave, and I'd rather see a bully get a lickin' than to eat sugar!'" Author's Note — The above highly interesting and entertaining account contains a number of historical er- rors, particularly with regard to John Howard Payne and the Indians, against which the history lover should guard himself. It is well to remember that Big John was apt to depai't now and then from the path of historic rectitude. ^ ^ ^ "BILL ARP" TO "ABE LINK- HORN."— Ma j. Chas. H. Smith wrote a saucy open letter from Rome to Abraham Lincoln at Washington on the eve of the opening of the Civil War. It was this letter which caused him to write thereafter under the pen name of "Bill Arp." The original Bill Arp happening along, Maj. Smith said, "This letter is so hot, I don't know whose name to sign to it!" Arp said: "Them's my sentiments. Major; just sign mine." And he did. The letter was widely copied and made Major Smith famous and uncomfortable as well. Here it is:" "Rome, Ga., Aprile, 1861. "Mr. Linkhorn, Sur: These are to inform you that we are all well, and hope these lines may find you in statue ko. We received your proklamation, and as you have put us on very short notis, a few of us boys have conklud- ed to write you, and ax for a little more time. "The fact is, we are most obleeged to have a few more days, for the way things are happening, it is utterly onpossible for us to disperse in twenty days. Old Virginny, and Tennessee and North Carolina are con- tinually aggravatin' us into tumults and carousements, and a body can't disperse until you put a stop to sich ♦From Bill Arp's "Peace Papers." Anecdotes and Reminiscences 235 WHEREIN MAJOR SMITH TRIES HIS HAND AT FARMING. When "Bill Arp" emerged from the war, all he had was a bolt of cotton cloth and a hunk of gum opium, which he quickly swapped for food. He tried to raise vegetables for a while, and here he is seen turning a few furrows. His boys are enjoying the sport, and the eldest advises him to keep at the law. onruly konduct on their part. I tried my darndest yisterday to disperse and retire, but it was no go; and besides, your marshal here isn't doing a darn- ed thing — he don't read the riot act, nor remonstrate, nor nothing, and ought to be turned out. If you con- klude to do so, I am authorized to rekummend to you Col. Gibbons or Mr. McLung, who would attend to the bizness as well as most anybody. "The fact is, the boys round here want watchin, or they'll take sumthin. A few days ago I heard they surround- ed two of our best citizens, because they was named Fort and Sumter. Most of 'em are so hot that they fair- ly siz when you pour water on 'em, and that's the way they make up their military companies here now — when a man applies to jine the volunteers, they sprinkle him, and if he sizzes, they take him, and if he don't they don't. "Mr. Linkhorn, sur, privately speak- in, I'm afeered I'll git in a tite place 236 A History of Rome and Floyd County here among these bloods, and have to slope out of it, and I would like to have your Scotch cap and kloak that you traveled in to Washington. I sup- pose you wouldn't be likely to use the same disgize agin, when you left, and therefore I would propose to swap. I am five feet five, and could git my plow breeches and coat to you in eight or ten days if you can wait that long. I want you to write me immegitly about things generally, and let us know whereabouts you intend to do your fitin. Your proklamation says somethin about taking possession of all the private property at 'All Haz- ards.' We can't find no such place on the map. I thot it must be about Charleston, or Savannah, or Harper's Ferry, but they say it ain't anywhere down South. One man said it was a little Faktory on an iland in Lake Champlain, where they make sand bags. My opinun is that sand bisness won't pay, and it is a great waste of money. Our boys here carry there sand in there gizzards, where it keeps better, and is always handy. I'm afeered your government is givin you and your kangaroo a great deal of on- necessary trubbul, and my humble ad- vice is, if things don't work out bet- ter soon, you'd better grease it, or trade the darned old thing off. I'd show you a slite-of-hand trick that would change the whole concern into buttons quick. If you don't trade or do sumthin with it soon, it will spile or die on your hands, sertain. "Give my respects to Bill Seward and the other members of the Kanga- roo. What's Hannibal doin? I don't hear anything from him nowadays. "Yours, with care, "BILL ARP." "P. S. — If you can possibly extend that order to 30 days, do so. We have sent you a check at Harper's Ferry (who keeps that darnd old ferry now? It's givin us a heap of trubble), but if you positively won't extend, we'll send you a check drawn by Jeff Da- vis, Borygard endorser, payable on sight anywhere. "Yours, "B. A." * * * "BILL ARP" AND THE LOT- TERY. — We publish in another col- umn a letter from the managers of a lottery establishment in Baltimore to Chas. H. Smith, Esq., of this place, and his reply. . . The public owes Mr. Smith a debt of gratitude for ex- posing this iniquitous scheme. ( Correspondence. ) "Gilbert & Co., Bankers and Brok- ers and General Agents for the Dela- ware State Lotteries. "Baltimore, Md., Jan. 10, 1860. "C. H. Smith, Esq., "Rome, Ga. "Dear Sir: We take the liberty to enclose you a scheme of the Delaware State Lottery, for which we are gen- eral agents, our object being to try and sell you a prize so as to ci'eate an excitement in your locality that will tend to inci'ease our business. With this end in view, we offer you the preference to purchase a very fine- ly arranged package of 25 tickets, which we have selected in the lottery drawing Feb. 11, Class 72. This pack- age gives you the advantage of $31.25 worth of tickets for the cost of only $20; and to convince you of our con- fidence in its success, we will guaran- tee you another package of our extra lotteries free of charge if the above fails to draw a prize, the lowest be- ing $200 (see full scheme within). We make this offer in good faith, with a desire to sell you the Capital, $37,- 000. Should you think favorably of it, enclose us $20, and the package will be sent by return mail, the re- sult of which we confidently think will be satisfactory to you. "Yours truly, "GILBERT & CO." "(This is confidential.)" "Messrs. Gilbert & Co., Gents.: I acknowledge receipt of your kind let- ter of the 10th. I send you my note for $20, instead of the cash, as it will save exchange, and there is really no necessity of sending money to Balti- more and having it sent back again in a few days. This arrangement, I confidently think, will be satisfactory to you, for it is done in good faith. "I really feel under many obliga- tions that you have chosen me as the object of your liberality and do assure you that when that $37,000 prize comes to hand, the excitement which it will raise in this community will swallow up and extinguish the John Brown raid, and you will sell more tickets here than traveling circuses and mon- key shows take off in 20 years. This is a good locality for such an experi- ment, for there is a vast number of clever people who are in the habit of racking their brains to devise some way to get money without working for it, and I know very well that when they are satisfied they can do so Anecdotes and Reminsicences 237 through your com,pany, they will cheerfully give you that preference which you have shown to me. "Our court is now in session, and I very much regret you are not here to lay your proposition before our Grand Jury, for I have no doubt they would properly appreciate it, and out of grat- itude board you a while at public ex- pense. Our legislature, in its genero- sity, passed a special act, (which may be found in the 11th division of the Penal Code) to compensate such hon- orable gentlemen as you seem to be. "You are hereby authorized to de- duct the $20 and send the remainder to me by Adams & Company's Ex- press. "CHAS. H. SMITH." "(This is confidential.)" "P. S. — A friend of mine has just shown me a letter from your firm to him, making him the same proposition which you have made to me; and he professed some suspicion, but I as- sured him that you knew we were in- timate friends, and that we would di- vide the prize between us, or you thought that possibly one of us might be away from home. "C. H. S." "P. S. No. 2— As I was about to mail this, another friend confided to me a similar letter to him. I am at a loss to know how to satisfy him. Please give me the dots. "C. H. S." THE NOTE. "$20 — On demand I promise to pay Gilbert & Co. twenty dollars, provid- ed the finely-arranged package of tickets which they have selected for me draws a prize of not less than $200. "CHAS. H. SMITH." — Tri-Weekly Courier, Jan. 17, 1860. * * * "BILL ARP" ON ROME.— (By J. D. McCartney, in Rome Tribune-Her- ald, July 21, 1920).— Mrs. Harriet Connor Stevens came up from Cave Spring the other day and brought me some papers that had been the prop- erty of the lamented Prof. Wesley 0. Connor, her father. They are very interesting. One of them contains a speech of Samuel J. Tilden made in September of 18G8 that is well worth reading today. The others are the last issue of the Rome Courier and the first issue of the Tribune of Rome, bearing date of Oct. 2, 1887. I shall have more to say about those papers from time to time, but the subject of today's sketch is an ar- ticle in the "Southerner and Commer- cial," a tri-weekly bearing date of April 10, 1870. It is entitled "Ancient History of Modern Rome," and is from the talented pen of Major Chas. H. Smith ("Bill Arp"). Older Romans de- lighted to read Bill Arp's writings and I am sure the younger generation, too, will enjoy the style as well as the sub- stance of his words about the begin- nings of Rome, quotations from which follow : "In the year 1832, the county of Floyd was laid off by the government surveyors, and in 1833 the county site was fixed at Livingston (a place about 12 miles distant, and situated near the South bank of the Coosa). A few houses wei-e built and one court held there by Judge John W. Hooper. About this time a number of the fortunate drawers in the land lottery were seek- ing to take forcible possession of the very homes of the Indians. Judge Hooper did not deem this just until the Indians were paid for their im- provements, and he therefore granted many bills of injunction at the in- stance of Judge Wm. H. Underwood, the leading counsel for the tribe. "In the year 1834 a Rome town com- pany was formed, consisting of Z. B. Hargrove, Philip W. Hemphill, Wm. Smith and D. R. Mitchell. The upper portion of the town was surveyed and laid off into town lots. Favorable propositions were made by the com- pany to the county authorities, and Rome was made the county site in 1835. The frames of some of the first houses erected were brought up from Livingston on keel boats, one of them occupied by Dr. G. W. Holmes, and another by Col. Sam Gibbons. The old- est house in the place is a small tene- ment next above the fire engine house. The first court was held by Judge Owen H. Kenan in a log cabin 16x18, erected on Academy Hill, and the grand jury held their first session in a lime sink a few rods distant. The diligence and energy of the town com- pany, and the many advantages of the location, soon began to attract men of education and means and commercial influence. In a short time Rome be- came a market for a considerable ex- tent of territory. Many of those who co-operated in giving vitality and im- petus to the place are long since dead and gone, but as long as Rome has a record, the names of John H. Lump- kin, William Smith, Dennis Hills, Jobe 238 A History of Rome and Floyd County Rogers and James M. Sumter will be remembered when her early history is recalled. "In the days of these pioneers, Rome was but a hamlet. From a single point a school boy's bow could send an arrow beyond the farthest house. All that portion of the city now known as 'down town' was a stately forest of aged oaks, and the best society of Howard Street were the owls who hooted from their hollows. Until about the year 1850, Mr. Norton's store was the extreme Southern boundary of all improvements. The first hotel was kept by Francis Burke, in the house now occupied by Dr. Holmes. Not long after, James McEntee built and kept up a public house for many years. His blunt Scotch ancestry made him a universal favorite, and we are glad to know that he still lives near us in the enjoyment of good health. The hotel built by him is now known as the residence of Dr. J. B. Undei-wood. Euclid Waterhouse, a man well known in commercial circles, opened the first store in the place. Nathan Yarbrough, Judge Lamberth and David Rounsaville were his competitors in the mercantile business. "Wm. Smith was the first sheriff of the county. In the year 1834 he had to perform the unpleasant duty of hanging two Indians, Barney Swim- mer and Terrapin, found guilty of the murder of Ezekiel Blatchford (or Braselton). He represented this coun- ty in both branches of the General As- sembly. He was defeated for re-elec- tion because of his bold and strenuous exertions to change the projected route of the Western & Atlantic (state) railroad between Chattanooga and Atlanta so as to include Rome. He was a man of wonderful energy and foresight, and it is universally conceded that he did more than any other person to insure the progress and prosperity of the little city. It was chiefly his influence that made Rome the county site; his urgent ef- forts that caused the building of the first steamboat, that projected the first railroad (the Rome), and that in- duced the coming of such men as Col. Alfred Shorter, A. M. Sloan, Wm. E. Alexander, John H. Lumpkin and others of like means and spirit. He died in 1850, and, as is too often the case, before the happy results of his foresight and energy were fully real- ized. "J. T. Riley and wife were the first couple married and now live in the town. Col. A. T. Hardin and Morris Marks are the old merchants who are still engaged in that occupation. Judge Kenan was succeeded by the following judges, in the order named: Turner H. Trippe, George D. Wright, John W. Hooper, John H. Lumpkin, Leander W. Crook, Dennis T. Hammond, L. H. Featherston, J. W. H. Underwood and Francis A. Kirby. John Townsend was the first foreman of the first grand jury, and the first bill of indictment found was against the Indians Choosa- kelqua and Teasalaka, charged with assault with intent to murder. "From the year 1840 Rome con- tinued to make substantial progress. In the year 1845 a steamboat was b.uilt at Greensport, Ala., by Capt. John Lafferty. For months the rude settlers in the adjacent counties had heard of the 'varmint,' as they called it, and when the time came for its first trip to the junction at Rome, the scattered inhabitants gathered in camps along the banks to see the 'var- mint' go. When it did come, it was to these rude settlers a show equal to a circus. At one point, more than 100 people had congregated, the men all wearing coon-skin caps with coons' tails hanging down their backs. One very consequential and 'highly-educat- ed' patriarch. Squire Bogan, of Cedar Bluff, Ala., stood forward to make a reconnoisance and give the crowd the benefit of his vast learning. He saw the large letters 'U. S. M.' painted on the wheelhouse, and underneath them the letters Coosa. He spelled it over carefully, letter by letter, in a loud tone of voice, and after a third ef- fort, declared: 'I've got it, boys. Its name is Use 'em Susy!' The 'var- mint' never got rid of this nom de plume. In the course of time, other steamboats were built, and a branch road from Kingston to Rome project- ed. "Even the newspapers adopted the name. Bill Ramey and Tom Perry built a little boat that they said could snake its way through any shoal when the rivers were not a foot deep. In fact, Ramey used to swear his craft could run on dry land if there was a thick fog or heavy dew. "From the days of steamboats and railroads the history of our city is too familiar to be rehearsed, but I will venture to remind you in closing these remarks that the lamps which have lit her pleasing progress have not always been brightly burning. There have been shadows, and still are shadows, which set in mourning the happy pros- perity of our city. Dark lines are Anecdotes and Reminiscences 239 drawn around, and the stricken heart beats sadly the knell of our heroic dead. Noble sons, husbands and fath- ers are missing— missing- from here tonight. They have been long missing from the fireside and the forum, from the farm, the shop and the counting room, from court, church and hall." * * * Pi'^^^^ ABOUT WANTED. -A Floyd County farmer, attacked by his TJhZ' ^""i"^' ^^^^"ded himse f and badly wounded the dog. The irate neighbor id: "if you had to use that pitchfork, why didn't you go at him with the other end?" The fSmer Sih 'Zl^ '^^!]'^ he coiS: at 4 with the other end of him?" * * * hI^RT^^^I? GEORGIA SWEET- nii>AKr.— In the Lucian Knight Geor- founS'^'T"^ ^''}' ^"d elsewhere s nvn W "h"*/"""^'^ romantic story of Civil War days and before in which a Roman played an important part Marcellus A, Stovall, of Augusta, Lter Tr -^T^l '" ^^36 had entered ithe West^'poinf'^ f^^'l'^'^ Academy at West Point and chosen as roommate J Tecumseh Sherman, an eae-le- Cadet ^%i "^n '' ^^'""^ Mansfield? O. Cadet Stovall was a brother of Miss Cecelia Stovall, a noted Georgia belle ro"\e'r'"h^Vr^' presently on^'a vi ! Imn^tih ''^^^'''^ ^""^"^^ ^ favorite among the dancing set at the academy. In the forefront of her admirers stood young Sherman, who did not that he"^'''' 'T'^^ r' °f the fa?t friend L,^.' ^'''' brother's bosom 11 lend, and it was whispered that the Ohioan, highly diffident towaid the blvonf h^"^ .^^'-^'.^^^ beersmitten beyond hope of redemption by the dark-eyed girl from Georgia. The his When he was diplomatically sparrine for a snug place in Miss CeceHa's af fections (It may have been a straight- out proposal), she said quite franfly Ji7T' ^^^^ ^""^ '° '^^^d ^"d cruel. I pity the man who ever becomes your an efemy!" ' ''" "°" "°"^^ '^^"^^ ^ To which he replied gallantly. Even though you were my enemy, my dear I would love you and protect you. Joseph Hooker, of Massachusetts, a graduate of West Point in the class of 1837, was another who claimed many dances with Miss Cecelia and whose heart sank within him when she returned to her Southern home. Still another was handsome Richard B Garnett, a West Point graduate in charge of the arsenal at Augusta, whose geographical position gave hini a decided advantage over the others and who got to the point of acceptance of his proposal. However, parental objection was raised, and Dick Gar- nett went to his death at Gettysburg in 18C3 with the image of lovely Ce- celia Stovall graven on his heart; he had never married, and when the Grim Reaper cut him down he was a general and one of the bravest men in the army of Northern Virginia. It may have been a coincidence that Wm. T. Sherman, then a lieutenant, was assigned in 1845 to detached duty at this same arsenal at Augusta; he may have wanted to see his old room- mate, but more than likely he pined for sight of Miss Cecelia. However, if he sang the old love song over again, her answer was the same, and here was one citadel, at least, that an irrepres- sible West Pointer could not take by storm. So with Dick Garnett, a noble son of old Virginia, who could trace his ancestry back to Adam; but he was on a salary that would little more than care for two. Miss Cecelia's GKN. MARCELLUS A. STOVALL, roommate at West Point of Gen. Wm. T. Sherman, who became the sweetheart of Miss Cecelia Sto- vall. 240 A History of Rome and Floyd County proud parent, Pleasant Stovall, once a resident of Athens, desired that she should marry a man of wealth and in- fluence. She was forbidden the pleas- ure of young Garnett's company and sent to visit relatives in South Caro- lina. There she met Capt. Chas. Shell- man, whose suit was favored by daugh- ter and parent, and so they were mar- ried. Lieut. Sherman's stay in Augusta terminated abruptly; in 1850 he mar- ried _ his adopted father's daughter, Nellie Ewing, and his biographer re- corded many years later that she was his "first love." Marcellus A. Stovall moved to Rome in 1846, and he was soon joined by his young half-brother, George T. Stovall, who became asso- ciate editor of the Rome Courier and was killed at First Manassas. Here the beautiful sister visited them often. In 1861 Capt. Chas. Shellman built for his Augusta princess the mansion on the Etowah River, near Carters- ville, known as "Shellman Heights." Three more years passed, until Sher- man's army of human locusts swept down from Chattanooga, trampled on Rome and continued into Bartow County. As the torch brigade set fire to this establishment and that. Gen. Sherman's attention was directed by a fellow officer to a fine mansion on a hill. "Looks like the palatial retreat of an old plantation grandee," re- m.arked this personage. Sherman and his staff went to the place and ad- mired its Colonial columns and its at- mosphere throughout. An old negro mammy sat on the front steps moan- ing her life away. "Oh, Ginrul, whut yo' gwme do? I sholy is glad Missus Cecelia ain't here to see it wid her own eyes!" "Miss Cecelia?" queried Gen. Sher- man, as the little hob-goblins began to prance around his memory chest. "Who lives here, auntie?" "Missus Shellman,— Ceclia Stovall Shellman, sur, an' she's gone away now, bless her politeness!" "My God!" exclaimed the warrior. "Can it be possible?" Momentarily he bowed his head, a lump formed in his throat, he swal- lowed hard and his eyes became moist. On learning from the old woman that Mrs. Shellman had sought safety in flight. Gen. Sherman ordered his plun- dering soldiers to restore everything they had taken, and he placed a guard to protect the premises. Then he said, "Auntie, you get word to your mis- tress that she will be perfectly safe in returning here, and when you see her, do you hand her this card "from me." On his card Gen. Sherman had writ- ten, "You once said I would crush an enemy, and you pitied my foe. Do you recall my reply? Although many years have passed, my answer is the same now as then, 'I would ever shield and protect you.' That I have done. For- give me all else. I am only a soldier, "W, T. SHERMAN." Later came Gen, Joseph Hooker, soon to be cited for bravery in the Bat- tle of Atlanta. Learning the situa- tion, he repeated the orders of Gen. Sherman, shed a tear over a boxwood hedge and departed on the chase which was the forerunner of the famous March to the Sea. The armies gone. Miss Cecelia re- turned to Shellman Heights, gazed out over the winding Etowah, and breath- ed a prayer and a poem to friendship. There she passed the rest of her days. On Jan. 1, 1911, fire took Shellman Heights, uninsured, and today the spot is but a shadow of its former self, but it will always live in memory. When Gen. Sherman approached Au- gusta from Savannah, the Augustans took their cotton out of the ware- houses and burned it, anticipating that he would destroy everything when he arrived, and preferring to do a part of it themselves. The surprise of every- body was great, therefore, when Gen. Sherman made a detour across the Savannah River into South Carolina and left their beautiful city unmolest- ed. There may have been military reasons, but Augusta folk to this day declare he spared the town because it had been the home of the heroine of his romance at West Point. In 1915, faithful to a promise he had made to Miss Cecelia and to him- self, old Uncle Josiah Stovall, the fam- ily slave and master's bodyguard, turn- ed up at the G. A. R. reunion at Washington to thank Gen. Sherman for sparing the home. This old "Ches- terfield in charcoal" carried a carpet bag grip, a heavy hickory cane, and wore a silk hat and a sleek broadcloth Prince Albert coat. His head and chin were full of African cotton and he attracted considerable attention as he tried to get out of the way of traffic. To a policeman he confided that he had come to find Gen. Sherman, and wanted to thank him "in pusson," and to claim a gift he vowed Sherman had promised him. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 241 "You're out of luck, old man. Gen. Sherman won't be in the parade today. He's been dead nearly 25 years." "Oh Lordy, white folks, den dis nig- ger's sholy got to march back to Geor- gia ' I" MARTHA SMITH'S POLITICAL COUP.— In 1844 when pretty Martha Smith was 13 and riding a pony into town to school from her father's home on the Alabama Road, and was begin- ning to "dress up" and attract the boys, she was taken by Col. Smith on a trip to Milledgeville, then capital of the state. Colonel Smith was a mem- ber of the Legislature and as an ardent Whig was boosting the stock of Zach- ary Taylor for President. He was to make a speech at the town hall or opera house, and various speakers were to tell the virtues of Taylor to his Baldwin County friends and any oth- ers who might wish to be enlightened. Now, the indulgent father had bought his daughter a beautiful new hat, of which she was highly proud. He left her shortly before the meeting with a friend stopping at the hotel and the friend escorted her through the town square to a seat in the front of the hall. As the chairman rapped for or- der and introduced Colonel Smith, and a few enthusiasts yelled "Hurrah for Taylor and the Whig Party!" Miss Martha strode down the aisle. She was dressed in a becoming pink and blue frock, and her new hat was the cause of an uproar. Colonel Smith looked embarrassed; halted for a mo- ment, and a wag rose in his seat and yelled, "Hurrah for Polk and the Democrats!" Miss Martha, being for Polk and having that afternoon raced through the nearby stubble fields, had trimmed her bonnet in a garland of pokeber- ries. The meeting bi-oke up in con- fusion ; Polk eventually got the nomi- nation and was elected. The irate father did not speak to his little daugh- ter for a week. * !(: * JEFFERSON DAVIS ARRESTED BY ROMANS.— Miss Mary W. Noble, of Anniston, Ala., relates the follow- ing unpublished incident of May, 1855, in which her family, traveling from Reading, Pa., to Rome, lost about $4,000, accused Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, of stealing it, and actually had him arrested at Augusta, and consented to his release only after he had shown papers establishing his identity. Mr. Davis had graduated from the United States Military Acad- emy at West Point, N. Y., in 1828, and had left his seat in Congress in 1847 to enter the Mexican War. His service in this war was so meritorious that when Franklin Pierce was elect- ed President in 1853 he appointed Mr. Davis his Secretary of War, and Mr. Davis held that position until the elec- tion of James Buchanan to the Presi- dency in 1857. Miss Mary writes: "In 1855, while on a visit to the South, my father, James Noble, Sr., stopped at Rome. My brothers, at Reading, especially Samuel, were anx- ious to obey Horace Greeley's injunc- tion 'Go West, Young Man,' but my father had practically decided to set- tle at Chattanooga, Tenn. However, my father met two old-time Southern gentlemen, formerly of South Carolina — Col. Wade S. Cothran and John Hume, Sr. — who were so courteous and who advanced Rome's glories so ad- mirably that he wrote the boys to put the machinery at Reading on a sailing vessel and bring it to Charleston, whence it could be transported by train and overland to Rome. "In May of that year the older boys embarked from Philadelphia for Charleston, and my parents and my- self, Stephen N., then about 10, and my sisters, Jane, Susan, Eliza Jane (Jenny), Josephine and Elizabeth (Lilly), started from the same city to Charleston by train. On reaching Charleston, we discovered that the reg- ular train had left, but that we could be accommodated in a caboose at- tached to a freight train which was going as far as Augusta. It was Sun- day afternoon when we boarded the caboose. We were carrying a large carpet bag filled with valuables, in- cluding about $4,000 with which we expected to start our new machine shop and foundry enterprise at Rome. In the caboose with us was an English family on their way to the Duck mines of Tennessee, with whom our parents became friendly because of their own English birth, and at Branchville, Or- angeburg County, S. C, two quiet, well-dressed gentlemen in civilian clothes, about 50 years of age, board- ed the train as the last passengers before Augusta was reached. "It was at the suggestion of the conductor that we had determined to travel in the caboose. Our trunks were in the baggage room, and fearing he would not have enough money to pay our way home, my father had opened 242 A History of Rome and Floyd County one of the trunks, removed the carpet bag (which also contained jewelry and papers) and extracted enough in bills to see us all the way. On looking up, we noticed the conductor peering at us through a window. Then the conductor rushed into the baggage room and shouted, 'Hurry up; train's about to leave!' and at the same time grabbed the unlocked trunk and began to pull it out on the platform. My father stopped him long enough to lock the trunk; and then he took the carpet bag into the caboose and put it under the trunks in a compartment which was separated from the seating sec- tion by a thin partition. In the room with the trunks was a bench or a settee, and my sister, Jane, being tired, reclined on it. "When the two strangers got on at Branchville, one of them went into the room where my sister was. She arose and came back where we were, and he took the seat behind her, leaned over and apologized for his intrusion, saying he was unaware the room was occupied. He talked pleasantly to her for about ten minutes. "About 6 o'clock the next morning we reached Augusta, when lo and be- hold, the carpet bag was gone, and with it our $4,000. Our parents were much excited, and accused the con- ductor, recalling that he had peeked at the valuables through the window, and that he had been in such a hurry to remove the trunk. The conductor denied the charge, and pointing at the two strangers, said, 'There are the thieves.' Suspicion seemed to involve the two, so they were arrested right there on the platform by an officer whom my father had summoned. The strangers politely but with some show of feeling pi-oclaimed their innocence. Quite a scene had been produced and a crowd had gathered. The taller of the two declared, 'Sir, I am Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, and my com- panion is an officer of the United States army.' They produced papers of identification and were released with an apology from my father, who then proceeded to press the original charge against the conductor. How- ever, the conductor had disappeared, and as our train for northwest Geor- gia was about to leave, we dropped the matter for the time. "On reaching Rome we consulted a lawyer, who promised to investigate, but we were strangers in a strange land, our father unknown save through short acquaintance with Col. Cothran, Mr. Hume and a few others; our story was doubted and nothing was done. Some time later we received a state- ment by mail, I believe from a Cath- olic priest, to the effect that he had at- tended a conductor following a fatal accident, who had confessed to him on his deathbed that he had passed the carpet bag out of a window to a con- federate between Branchville and Au- gusta. "When the Civil War broke out and Mr. Davis was chosen President of the Confederacy, with his headquar- ters at the seat of g'overnment at Montgomery, Ala., the Noble foundry at Rome was taken over for the manu- facture of cannon, and my father had to consult frequently with Mr. Davis at Montgomery concerning orders. Mr. Davis always alluded with a smile to the incident at Augusta and sent his regards to mother and the girls; and my father never failed to respond with a gracious apology and a nice compli- ment on Mr. Davis' fortitude and abil- ity in the trials of the war. "In connection with Confederate cannon it may be appropriate to men- tion that Col. Josiah Gorgas, father of Gen. Wm. C. Gorgas, U. S. A., whose engineering skill made possible the Panama Canal, visited Rome fre- quently as chief of ordinance for the Confederate States government, and occupied as the guest of the Noble family the front upstairs room at 304 East First St., Rome, which overlooks the First Presbyterian churchyard, and we always called this 'Gorgas room.' Quite a friendship existed be- tween Col. Gorgas and rrty father, which in after years was cemented between Gen. Gorgas and Robt. E. Noble, a surgeon in the United States Army, and son of George Noble. Dr. Robt. Noble was closely associated with Gen. Gorgas for seven years in Pan- ama, then spent six months with him in South Africa, studying fever causes. The two were on their way to Africa again when Gen. Gorgas was stricken and died in London. My nephew re- mained until after the funeral, then took up his duties as assistant surgeon general of the army with the expedi- tion." * * * DE LA MESA AND THE TAB- LEAU.— Capt. Chas. A. de la Mesa succeeded Capt. Kyes as reconstruction officer of the United States Army at Rome, and opened up the so-called Freedman's Bureau at 530 Broad St. Here he tried to bring housewives and newly-freed servants into agreement as to what should be paid for services Anecdotes and Reminiscences 243 and wash. In the event agreements could not be reached privately, the contestants were hailed before Capt. de la Mesa. Naturally that official's life was full of misery. Clashes be- tween provost guard and citizens were frequent, but not of a serious nature, for it was bad policy for either side to carry a chip on the shoulder.* It was reported that Wm. Hemphill Jones had a spat with the captain. It may have been over wash or some- thing else, but Mr. Jones picked up a foot tub or a wash tub and slammed Capt. de la Mesa over the head with it, according to the report. The cap- tain enjoyed a considerable range. He once went to Summerville, and the picture of his leaving resembled that of Wm. J. Burns 50 years later, bid- ding farewell to Marietta. A young man at Summerville claimed that Capt. de la Mesa insulted or mistreated his sister in some transaction, and pro- ceeded to arm himself. He was halted by the late Jno. W. Maddox, then a resident of the Chattooga town, and Capt. de la Mesa moved on. At Dal- ton Capt. de la Mesa was served with papers in a court action, but explana- tions were made and the case was thrown out. There were other similar incidents in the path of Capt. de la Mesa's duty, concerning which, hap- pily, there is no longer any feeling. Capt. de la Mesa hung out a large United States flag in front of the bu- reau, and forced all passersby to sa- lute it. Of course he was acting under orders; Romans made a wide detour. Then came the tableau in May, 1867, — an intensely "dramatic" affair. In order to replace pews in the local churches and to repair other damage done by the Northern soldiers,** the female members of the congregations had formed a society to present tab- leaux at the old city hall, southwest corner of Broad Street and Fifth Ave- nue, where the Fifth Avenue Drug Company is now located. On this par- ticular occasion the managers were *Capt. De la Mesa is supposed to have come from Brooklyn, N. Y., and to have been a naltive of Spain. Ho had a dauprhter. Miss Leila de la Mesa, who married A. C. Fetterolf, of Upper Montclair, N. .1. At the time of her marriage, the family wrote to Rome for a picture of the old I'Yeedmen's Bureau, and the reciuest was complied with hy Mrs. Kd Harris. Capt. de la Mesa died a prood many years ago, and it is understood that his widow remarried. **Quite a while after the war, the Cov- ernment sent a representative to Rome to as- sess the damage done the First Baptist church. Hearings were held at this institution, and some spicy comments were made by the women who testified, notably Mrs. FJben Hillyer. An award of about $600 was recommended to Washington, and this amount paid the church. Mrs. J. M. Gregory, Mrs. M. A. Nevin and Miss Mary W. Noble, and they received a surprise and shock when Capt. de la Mesa bought tickets for himself and his beautiful brunette wife, and planted himself in his mili- tary trappings on a front seat. The following is a summary of two ac- counts of the affair: "The audience filed in, some of the young women with noses pretty high in the air at sight of the 'intruders.' The tableau was 'The Officer's Funeral,' and all went well for a while. The de la Mesas enjoyed the first part and applauded liberally. A little play pre- ceded the tableau, in which Mrs. Hiram D. Hill (then Florence Mitch- ell, daughter of Col. Daniel R. Mitch- ell), played the part of the Irish Maid of Cork, thrummed a piece on her guitar and was wooed by the hero. "Then — bless Patsy! — the fireworks! The curtain went up on the tableau in question. There stood 'Ferd' Hutchings, Dave Powers, 'Billy' Gib- bons, 'Tal' Wells and Leonidas Timo- leon Mitchell. 'Coon' Mitchell, by the way, was a son of old Daniel R. and the very man who had carried Gen. Neal Dow, the famous Maine aboli- tionist, to Libby Prison, Richmond, from Mobile. All the others had fought the 'Yankees' with the Rome Light Guards. And now they had the temerity to stand up before the 'Yan- kee' reconstruction officer in their uni- forms of gray! Furthermore, the of- ficer's casket was draped in a battle- torn Confederate flag, the property of Col. Sam Gibbons, father of Billy. Com- pleting the scene were Miss Belle Lo- gan as the widow, and Mrs. Hill's niece, little Irene Hicks, as the orphan. "Capt. de la Mesa began to boil; his wife reddened sympathetically as the boys began to sing that famous and heart-touching song, 'The Officer's Fu- neral:' 'Hark, 'tis the shrill trumpet calling, It pierceth the soft summer air, And a tear from each comrade is fall- ing, — The widow and orphan are there; The bayonets earthward are turning And the drums' muffled sound rolls around, But hears not the voice of their mourning, Nor awakes to the shrill bugle sound. 'Sleep, soldier, though many regret thee Who stand by thy cold bier today. Soon, soon will the kindest forget thee, 244 A History of Rome and Floyd County And thy name from the earth pass away; The man thou didst love as a brother, A friend in thy place will have gained, Thy dog will keep watch for another And thy steed by a stranger be reined. 'Though many now mourn for thee sadly, Soon joyous as ever shall be. Thy bright orphan boy will laugh gladly As he sits on some kind comrade's knee; There is one who will still pay the duty Of tears to the true and the brave, As first in the bloom of her beauty. She knelt by her boy soldiers' grave!' "Miss Ford stepped from behind the arras and sang 'The Jacket of Gray,' and as she concluded, with the line 'Fold it up carefully, lay it aside!' she lifted a soiled and thread-bare coat into full view of the audience. A shower of applause followed. The de la Mesas boiled over, and trudged out of the hall, to the accompaniment of a perfect chorus of boos and cat-calls, and a shrill defi flung above the tumult by a young 'Rebel,' 'Go it; that's not the first time you ever ran from that flag!' "'Delia Meezer, lemon squeezer!' shouted an impertinent little boy. "This 'good riddance of bad rub- bish' (as the players expressed it) was thought to have ended the inci- dent, but not so. Capt. de la Mesa sent a hot message to headquarters in Atlanta, making a charge of high trea- son, and requesting a company of sol- diers to spirit away the culprits. In the meantime, the Federal commander had recognized all the off'enders and had clapped handcuffs on each and marched them to the guard room in the courthouse between files of troopers with fixed bayonets. Several of the young women went to the 'prison' to console the boys, and one of them, un- accustomed to Federal uniforms, asked quite audibly, 'Do all these dogs wear collars?' The cordon around the pris- oners was only drawn the tighter. "After the boys had spent a night thus, a company of 59 soldiers from Atlanta appeared at the Rome rail- road station, marched up Broad Street with bayonets fixed, and escorted the 'prisoners' and Capt. de la Mesa to the station, where they caught the next train for the state capital. A tremendous crowd gathered and sul- lenly watched their friends and their enemies go away. De la Mesa turned back at Kingston. He had obtained the services of another company or part thereof somewhere, and these escorted him back to Rome, and for several days kept watch over him and his bureau, until the excitement had subsided. Henry A. Smith, bookseller who had lost an arm in the war, was due to have been arrested, too, but he had prudently gone to visit relatives up the Etowah river. The women, also, it was rumored, would be held as traitors. "Col. Mitchell got on the train with the intention of going to Savannah to protest with Judge Erskine, of the Federal Court. Instead, he wired Judge Erskine from Atlanta. The two got into touch with Gen. John Pope, commander of the district, and a release order came within three weeks. However, the order did not forestall serious indignities to the captives, who had been confined in a miserable pen or cage. They were taunted and cursed by their captors, who prodded with bayonets gifts of sweetmeats sent by relatives and sym- pathizing friends, and forced them to eat the poorly prepared food that had been provided for them. "A telegram announced the release to Romans, and a huge crowd welcomed the boys at the station, and a supper at the City Hall softened the sting of their humiliation and enabled them to chalk up the event as one of fate's weird pranks." Mrs. Hiram Hill adds the following: "Our home in the Fourth Ward had been divested of its sides, blinds, doors, plastering and everything that the Union soldiers could tear down or carry away, and we had gone to live at the old Buena Vista Hotel, south- west corner of Broad and Sixth Ave- nue, where Seale & Floyd's garage and a grocery store now are. My father owned this place and occupied a small one-story house on the west side of it as his law office. Mrs. de la Mesa had been coming to the hotel from next door to give instructions to a Rome woman who was sewing for her, and when I saw her after my brother's arrest, I told her to get out of the hotel and ^stay out. She sent me word that she would march me up and down Broad Street in charge of two soldiers and under a United States flag. I defied her to try it, and she Anecdotes and Reminiscences 245 THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU ON BROAD STREET. This structure, still standing near Sixth Avenue, was the headquarters of Capt. Chas. A. de le Mesa during the Civil War. Capt. de la Mesa participated in a number of hair raising episodes. Rome's oldest brick building is at the right. never did. There would have been a lot more trouble in Rome, Ga. "I suppose Capt. de la Mesa was carrying out orders and ruled sternly for that reason. He and his wife im- pressed me as people of refinement, and I was especially struck with her beauty and the style of her clothes." * * * A DRAMATIC SCENE. — When William Smith entered his last illness in January, 1852, he summoned several friends whom he wished to transact certain business matters for him re- lating to his property in Rome. While they were still with him in the cot- tage on Howard Street where he died, he raised himself to his feet by hold- ing to his chair, and said: "Gentlemen, you will have to help me to my bed. I have done all that I can do for myself." They assisted him, and when he was comfortably stretched out, he con- tinued: "I am not a member of any church, but I have done the best I could in this life. Whatever I have had has belonged to the people of this commu- nity. No man has ever been turned away hungry from my door if I had anything to divide with him. "You gentlemen know that I have served this section, and if my body is of any use to science, I ask you to take it when I am gone." Col. Smith had waited for Col. Al- fred Shorter to come, so they could have a settlement with respect to the property they owned equally. Col. Shorter sent his representative. Col. C. M. Pennington, to see Col. Smith. "I am glad to see you. Col. Pen- nington," declared Col. Smith, "but I sent for Col. Shorter." Col. Pennington delivered the mes- sage promptly a second time, and it was 24 hours before Col. Shorter found it convenient to come. When he ar- rived. Col. Smith raised himself on his left elbow, and with his right hand reached under his pillow. Col. Shorter drew back and Col. Pennington step- ped between them. During one of Col. Smith's naps Mrs. Smith, the wife, had removed his pistol. "Alfred Shorter, you are a rascal!" shouted Col. Smith, the old-time fire flashing from his small, black eyes. "This is a fine time to come to see a man — on his death bed!" Shortly before noon the next day, Jan. 27, Col. Smith died. Only a few days before, his grandson, William Cephas, had been born to Dr. and Mrs. Robt. Battey. The Widow Baldwin, whom Col. Shorter had married at Monticello, placed at his disposal $40,000 in cash, a handsome fortune in those days of low values. Col. Shorter brought this to Rome with him at the instance of Col. Smith, and invested it in the land which Col. Smith had acquired, and made certain improvements thereon. Col. Smith's energy and Col. Shorter's long business head made an ideal combination, and their partnership interests grew rapidly. After the Civil War, Col. Shorter settled with Mrs. Battey, the daughter, for $10,000 cash, and took her receipt. It was a satisfactory ending of an unfortunate affair, and left Col. 246 A History of Rome and Floyd County Shorter free to conserve his part, most of which went to Shorter College for the education of young women of the South.* * * HENRY W. GRADY AT ROME.— As a youth, Henry Woodfin Grady had visited his uncle, Henry A. Gart- rell, in Rome, and thence had gone to see another branch of his family at Floyd Springs.** Capt. Gartrell re- moved to Athens in 1865, after hav- ing served Rome as mayor in 1859-60. Pleasant recollections of Rome and a chance visit with the Georgia Press excursion in 1869 caused Mr. Gi^ady to anchor his quill, paste pot and shears at the foot of Tower Hill for three years. Col. E. Hulbert, superintendent of the W. & A. (state) Railroad, had in- vited the Georgia press to send rep- resentatives for an excursion into Southeastern Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Northeastern Alabama, to write up the natural resources of those sections. The excursion started from Atlanta at 7 a. m., Wednesday, August 25, 1869. At Cartersville the members were addressed on the sub- ject of minerals, agriculture and the new railroad to Van Wert, Polk County, by Mark A. Cooper, grand- father of J. Paul Cooper and father of John Frederick Cooper, of Rome. Thence they went to Chattanooga, 100 strong. Then they turned southward, and arrived at Rome via the Rome Railroad, on their special train, at 1:30 a. m., Friday, Sept. 3. True to the spirit of newspaper en- terprise, young Grady, then only 19, rushed to the sanctum of Editor Mel- ville _ Dwinell, of the Rome Weekly Courier. The hour was unearthly, yet the editor had remained at his desk to "cover" the momentous event of the arrival of the excursionists. Capt. Dwinell stated that he had left a col- umn open. Mr. Grady declared a col- umn would hardly start the story he bore, so Capt. Dwinell side-tracked some of his livest news and no doubt a few advertisements. Mr. Grady had been writing his "yarn" on the train. He continued it for an hour, and for good measure threw in an optimistic editorial squib. A faithful printer hand-set type the balance of the night and The Courier woke up the citizens with Mr. Grady's remarkable narra- tive. It was a sample of journalistic endeavor to which the quiet Hill City had not been accustomed. Grady's wonderful speech, "The New South," delivered before the New England Society of New York, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1886, is well known. At Rome on this occasion, however, he ap- pears to have struck his original "New South" note, as follows: "Every citizen of Cherokee Georgia has long been convinced that our min- eral resources are unsurpassed, and all that was wanting was for some- one to make a start, and induce men of means to come among, to aid in developing the same. . . . Our broth- ers of the quill will now have some- thing interesting to write about and for a while, at least, will devote their time to something more substantial than politics, and of infinitely more advantage to our bankrupt people. It is refreshing to see men of all politi- cal shades quietly traveling together, and for once inaking a united effort to forget political differences, and to lend their efforts to the more laudable cause of developing the great wealth that nature had bestowed upon us. Cuffee for once has been forgotten. The splendid scenery of our moun- tains and valleys, with the battlefields, which give us a prominent place in history, has made a deep impression upon the minds of all, and proclaims in thunder tones what men will do when pressed to the wall. Mutual forbearance seems to exist, and we predict that in future a better state of sentiment and feeling will prevail." At this time, maybe, Grady made arrangements to work for The Cour- ier. The preliminaries may have been started by letter a while before. At any rate, he soon came back. At 3 p. m., after a speech by Mayor Zach Hargrove and a serenade by a brass band and dinner at the Choice House, the party left for a trip down the Coosa River on the Steamboat Etowah as the guests of Col. Wade S Cothran. After inspecting the Round Mountain and Cornwall, Ala., iron works, they came back to Rome Sunday on the Etowah, put up at the Choice House and Monday morning at 9 left by rail for Selma, Ala. Wed- nesday morning at 6:30 the editors re- turned to Rome, had breakfast at the Choice House and departed two hours later for Atlanta, where the "junket" *Col. Pennington was authority for the por- tion of the above narrative relating to the pistol ; he told the story to Judge John C. Printup. Mrs. Robt. Battey was authority for the statement that Col. Smith sent for Col. Shorter to make a settlement, and that the $10,000 was later paid to her. **Doyle A. Moore, of Rome, is kin to the Gradys through this branch. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 247 ended. On both these stops Mr. Grady fraternized with Editor Dwinell. The impelling reason why Grady went to Rome lies largely in the realm of surmise. The lad was possessed of a proud spirit which he called ambi- tion and which a handful of sniping contemporaries, less talented, might have called bumptiousness. He was precocious to the extent that he had become an orator in his knee pants, and he was made to suffer more than once because he pitted his skill against older competitors. Through a politi- cal deal at the University of Virginia he had suffered a keen disappoint- ment, and it is likely that in associat- ing himself as "free-lance" corre- spondent with the Atlanta Constitu- tion he was inviting rebuffs that his gifts did not warrant. The Constitu- tion's editor was Col. Carey W. Styles, an experienced journalist, who, by the way, had been involved in the Yacht Wanderer affair nine years before at Savannah. Col. Styles had sat up with legislators at Milledgeville before Henry Grady had ever thought of them, hence when the dashing young collegian essayed to pass voluminous editorial sentence on a governor or a congressman, it was out of the ques- tion. Grady was trying to marry. He was fired with ambition to take the lead in molding public opinion. He enjoyed writing "from the street and hustings," but he preferred the dignity of a job at a desk. Brain work was one thing to Henry Grady, and "leg work" another. The Constitution was a new concern, having been founded in the summer of 1868, had a full staff, and could not find a regular place for him yet awhile. Further- more, Henry was ambitious enough to believe that what he was writing, mostly of a political nature, was just about as important as anything in the paper, and had as much right to "front page" position as the other stuff they were printing. He believed that an excursion of the state's lead- ing editors was a big news event, and was worth writing columns every day, perhaps. Consequently, he wielded a loquacious pen. The Constitution's tel- egraph tolls became enormous when Press Excursion news started from Cartersville and continued through Chattanooga and Rome. Henry was shooting readable material, but they couldn't see it at the office; they cut his dojpe to the bone and dropped his pen name, "King Hans." In the following fashion did they knock him off the limb in a squib of Sept. 10, 1869: "We are compelled by pressure upon our space to abbreviate and condense the report of the Press Excursion pro- ceedings. Neither the editors nor the proprietors of this paper were pres- ent." Wow! that should hold any young man, no matter how brilliant or pro- gressive, in entirely reasonable bounds. "Damn 'em, I'll fix 'em!" muttered Heni-y, who had been introduced by V. A. Gaskell, of the Atlanta New Era, and J. S. Peterson, of the Atlanta In- telligencer, as the Constitution's "rep- resentative" on the editors' jaunt. He shot a wad of his copy at Melville Dwinell, editor of the Rome Weekly Courier, over the signature "Zip." Ed- itor Dwinell ate his contributions with a relish; sometimes they ran several columns long, but it was good read- ing, and it landed Henry a nice job. He put over three columns Sept. 3, and duplicated with three a week later — quite a contribution to a four- page newspaper. Right proudly did Capt. Dwinell pave the way for the young literary crusader under date of Friday, Sept. 10, 1869: "To the Readers of the Courier: With this issue of our paper we pre- sent Mr. Henry W. Grady in the ca- pacity of associate editor. The vigor, versatility and polish of his pen has recently been exhibited in his corre- spondence for the Atlanta Constitution over the nom de plume of 'King Hans,' and we may reasonably hope with his assistance to materially increase the interest of these columns. Feeling con- fident that this effort to interest and please will be successful, we let Mr. Grady make his own bow to the pub- lic— M. Dwinell." Mr. Grady's bow follows: "The above notice renders necessary the infliction of a salutatory upon you. We shall be as brief as possible. We are young and without editorial judgment or experience, yet we hope that the enthusiasm with which we en- ter upon our new profession and the constant labor with which we are de- termined to bend to our work may par- tially, at least, atone for these de- ficiencies. "The Courier shall be in the future, so far as our management is concern- ed, devoted as it has been in the past to the dissemination of useful and in- teresting information, to the bold as- 248 A History of Rome and Floyd County sertion and maintenance of correct po- litical opinions and to the development of the best interests of the commu- nity. "We enter the editorial ranks of the state with ill feeling toward none, but with kindness toward all. We shall cheerfully and with vigor co-operate with the press in the furtherance of any project which tends toward good, and we shall endeavor with courtesy and politeness to adjust nicely any dif- ferences of opinion which may arise between us and any of our contem- poraries. "Begging in conclusion that the justice you render us may be tempered with mercy, we don our harness and enter the lists. "Most respectfully yours, "HENRY W. GRADY." The young journalist's "bold asser- tion of correct political opinions" found expression in the same issue of The Courier in the following editorial broadside leveled at Governor Rufus B. Bullock, who also was a guest on the Press Excursion: "His Accidency ." — " 'We were de- lighted with Governor Bullock — he is the right man in the right place, and will do all that any man could do to restore Georgia to her former condi- tion of peace and prosperity.' " — Talla- dega Sun. "The above tribute to the accident that now occupies the Gubernatorial Chair, though clipped fi'om a Radical paper and written by a Radical re- porter, whose official duty it was to become enamored of the Accident and all of his party, has a considerable significance notwithstanding. "The truth of the matter is that any man who knows nothing of Bul- lock's political filthiness will inevit- ably become 'delighted with him,' etc. We have never, in the whole course of our life, seen a man who was gifted with so great an amount of beguiling blarney as is this man. Present him to a Democrat and the sweetness of his countenance is absolutely appall- ing; infinite smiles ripple over his cheeks and break in soft laughter on his lips; a thousand and one benevo- lent sparkles are beamed from his eyes; his nostrils play with kindly pal- pitations, and — believe me, for I tell ye the truth — his whiskers resolve themselves into a standing committee to invite you just to walk down into his heart and take a place in that large and open receptacle. Oh, his face is tremendously delusive! "We were presented to him, and went to the presentation primed with about a dozen pardon proclamations, and about three of his reports on the condition of Georgia. We had serious- ly contemplated taking a friend along to prevent the murderous onslaught, which we were afraid our outraged feelings would urge us to make upon the Accident when introduced to it. And lo! when the crisis came we found ourself basking calmly beneath his ra- diant countenance like a rose beneath an April sky. A clear voice saluted us with a dreamy kind of tenderness, and we found ourself exclaiming, 'Surely this man is not our enemy!' "We looked for the famous 'sinister expression' which, according to novel- ists, invariably resides about the nose and eyes of a villain. But we found it not; the nose possessed a very mild curvative, and the eyes were gushing with cheery good humor. Instantly, as a last resort, we had to commence recounting his crimes, in order to pro- tect ourself against his blandish- ments, and actually had to come down to the appointment of Foster Blodgett before we could sufficiently hate him to satify our Democratic conscience. How deep down and how effectually does this man hide his rascality! "So much the more dangerous is he. No man who visits him, without about one-third of his political villainies full in view, is safe. Beware, then, of this mermaid with a siren voice — he will laugh welcome in your face, and then pardon the brute that ravished your sister. He is far more dangerous than Swayze — though the latter is his supe- rior in force — for in the eye of the lat- ter there is a warning that puts us upon guard. "A child is never hurt by a poison- ous toad; it is the bright serpent, with its spots of purple and gold, that charms and slays him. We do not fear the uncouth ruffian that is with hideous leer distorted, but the soft and supple gentleman scoundrel that 'can smile and smile, and play the villain still.' " Other public officials on the Press Excursion escaped the darts of young Mr. Grady. They included Mayor Hul- sey, of Atlanta, Comptroller General Madison Bell, R. L. McWhorter, speak- er of the house; and Senators Smith, Candler and Nunnally. Evidently the following item Grady wrote for The Courier on Friday, Sep- Anecdotes and Reminiscences 249 tember 10, was prompted by a pang of conscience: "We hereby announce to our read- ers that we shall not say another word about the Press Excursion. We enjoyed it and 'developed' everything we saw, and now we are done with it. Not another remark shall we make about it. If information about it is wanted by any who may not have seen our notices as yet, we refer them to our back files." It is significant that on the same day Grady penned the following in re- sponse to a jibe from the Savannah News: "This excellent but sometimes impru- dent newspaper makes a bold attack upon us concerning an article of ours on the Press Excursion. We would answer the charges contained therein, but we promised our readers in our last issue not to write anything more concerning the excursion. To this promise our contemporary owes its fu- ture salvation. For, were our hands not bound by that promise, we would just tear The News all to pieces! So return thanks, Brother Thompson, for your narrow escape." As a reporter he showed the same enterprise and aptitude as in his ed- itorial work. On Nov. 12, 1869, he published this : "Fights, Robberies, Shooting. — A sable son of Africa was tickled by a bullet from the pistol of Col. Sam Stewart, because he struck Col. Stew- art. Another African was perforated in four places, through the arm and shoulder, by a leaden messenger from Col. Stewart — cause, not known. "A Mr. Neph was robbed of $500 in money and a $1,000 check last night by a thief who entered his room at the Choice House. "A few episodical but very interest- ing fights took place last night among the 'boys.' No serious damage report- ed. Mr. C. W. Nowlin was robbed of his watch and chain Wednesday night. There were many other fights, rob- beries and drunks which happened around loose that we wot not of, and that deserve no mention in this paper. Verily, Rome is getting to be as nice a city as Atlanta." Although Mr. Grady was fond of Capt. Dwinell, he chafed at the su- pervision over his copy and destinies in The Courier office; it is also re- lated that he became irritated that he was not allowed to expose a petty local political ring, so we find him leaving The Courier July 31, 1870, to assume the proprietorship of the Rome Weekly Commercial. So quietly had his plans been laid that his name ap- peared on the masthead of The Cour- ier as associate editor and on the mast- head of The Commercial as editor on the same date. Capt. Dwinell then wrote: "To the Patrons of The Courier:— By the following card it will be seen that a change has been made in the associate editorship of this paper. The relations of the paper with Mr. Grady, who now retires from The Courier to take charge of The Commercial, have been entirely pleasant and we regi-et to lose his valuable services. We wish him abundant success in his new field of labor. Col. B. F. Sawyer, for some time past editor of the Rome Daily, a gentleman of high literary reputa- tion and considerable editorial experi- ence, takes his place. We have no doubt The Courier will be fully sus- tained in its previous position as a readable newspaper." Col. Sawyer's salutatory reads thus : "I this day assume editorial control of The Courier. It shall be my con- stant aim to sustain The Courier in HENRY WOODFIN GRADY, orator, who started his journalistic career in Rome ana brought his bride there to reside. 250 A History of Rome and Floyd County the high position of popular favor it has heretofore enjoyed. Should I suc- ceed in this, I shall be contented, and the patrons of The Courier can ask no more." Mr. Grady wrote: "To the Patrons of The Courier: Having been called to another field of labor, my connection with The Cour- ier ceases with this issue. I will say nothing of the sadness I feel in break- ing loose from the old Courier — noth- ing of the honest courtesy and kind- ness of the proprietor, who has been my friend and counsellor through thick and thin; because these things be- long not to the public, nor do they in- terest the public. But I feel that I would be lacking in gratitude did I not express my thanks to those of you who have encouraged me with your kind words and approving patronage during this, the first year of my ed- itorial life. Tendering you my most sincere acknowledgments, I remain, "Yours very truly, "HENRY W. GRADY." Henry Grady and his younger broth- er, Will S. Grady, ran The Daily Com- mercial* as editor and business man- ager, respectively. Associated with them for part of this time was Col. J. F. Shanklin, the firm name being Grady Brothers & Shanklin. Some of Mr. Grady's best work appeared dur- ing this period. Col. Sawyer was a peppery old fellow, and he and Grady had many an epistolary interchange which old timers say came near re- sulting in a duel, but Mr. Grady's diplomacy turned trouble into smiles. A free-hearted fellow was Henry Grady. He gave liberally to old ne- groes to get their anecdotes or stories of their lives, and traversed many an untraveled thoroughfare to obtain a glimpse of types which the average man of his sphere seldom sees in their element. He had been accustomed to everything that money could buy, hence did not deny his friends any- thing he could possibly bestow upon them. He was fond of candy, and so were the neighborhood children; so was the blushing bride when she finally arrived; a confectioner kept all kinds near the newspaper office, so Henry would now and then run up a bill of $15 or more. It is noteworthy that, although he started using the nom de plume "King Hans" early in 1869, he did not ob- tain real authority to do so until two years later. This cognomen was a combination of his first name and the last name of his sweetheart in Ath- ens, to whom we can fancy hearing him say: "Well, Julia, I will use your name with mine, since you will not let me change it for a while." Henry worked industriously; he could afford matrimony, or thought he could, in the fall of 1871, and so they were married, and came to the old Wood home, at the northwest corner of Broad Street and Sixth Avenue, to reside. Some say they lived first at the southeast corner of Third Avenue and East First Street, where the of- fice of the Harbin Hospital now stands. At any rate, Henry had been "batching it" here and there, and at one time had boarded with Mrs. W. W. Watters; and his first cousin, Wm. C. Grady, Roman in the iron business, had boarded there at the same time. A Roman who had been his roommate at Athens also acted as a groomsman at his wedding — Col. Hamilton Yan- cey. Another Roman, Rev. George T. Goetchius, pastor of the First Pres- byterian church, had been his class- mate through four pleasant years. The newspaper business is not al- ways remunerative. The Gradys and Col. Shanklin had been publishing a paper that in that day would be call- ed "jam-up." They had bought it in July, 1870, from Mitchell A. Nevin, who appeared to be glad to sell. Soon it was "jam-up" against the wall, so they poured it back into the jug. Mitchell A. Nevin was willing to try it again. Just when the Gradys relinquished hold is problematical. The Atlanta Constitution recorded that on May 8, 1872, Mr. Grady represented The Com- mercial and Capt. Dwinell The Cour- ier at the Press Convention in Atlan- ta. Col. Carey W. Styles had gone in June, 1871, to the Albany News from the editorial chair of The Con- stitution, and had been succeeded by Col. I. W. Avery, who later wrote an entertaining history of Georgia. On Nov. 5, 1872, The Constitution noted the sale of The Commercial by Grady Brothers & Shanklin to Nevin & Co., and a coup-d'etat by Capt. Dwinell in announcing the addition of Major Chas. H. Smith (Bill Arp) to The Courier staff. The Nov. 10, 1872, is- *This was Rome's first daily, and it was es- tablished by M. A. Nevin. A number bearing date of Friday, June 28, 1871, with the mast- head carrying the names of the Gradys as ed- itor and business manager and Col. Shanklin as managing editor, is still in existence. Anecdotes and Reminiscences 251 sue of the Atlanta Herald was vicious- ly attacked by The Constitution for its "sensational New York journalism." Since Mr. Grady started The Herald soon after his removal from Rome, it is more than likely that he left the Hill City and was presiding over the destinies of the new Atlanta paper at this time. In leaving Rome, this adventurous young journalist and budding orator managed to elude a battery of bill col- lectors and bailiffs by giving up his trunk. The trunk was finally re- leased and put in storage several months; John Webb, a friend, paid the storage charges and sent Henry his trunk and "wardrobe." The wedding silver escaped, for it had gone tem- porarily with Mrs. Grady to the home of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Battey at the easternmost end of First Avenue. Hard lines for the young couple, just start- ing life's struggle, but they never gave up, and lived to speak in a philosophi- cal and humorous vein of their early experiences. Henry was persistently hounded by this motley pack, to the point where his friends claim he was literally run away from Rome — to make famous an- other town. These incidents did not embitter him; they came to him as part of the game of life, and when the years had removed from his memory the grim faces of his nemesises, he often commented on his pleasant recol- lections of the sublimated Seven Hills. From the top of the editorial and oratorical perch, with the plaudits of the thousands ringing in his ears and his own image deeply graven on their hearts, it was truly a retrospective pic- ture in a golden frame. He thought of the time when he used to scribble news notes on his cuffs, which neces- sitated changing shirts every day; when "Uncle Remus" came unan- nounced to Rome and found him rid- ing a "flying Jenny;" when he bought a dozen pairs of scissors and set every- body in the office to clipping an ar- ticle out of each copy of the paper in order not to offend a lady. Rome reciprocated this feeling of love by sending a beautiful wreath May 24, 1921, to Atlanta to adorn his monument as orators extolled him; and Romans reciprocate it every day of their lives. * * * ROME STORIES OF GRADY.— Mrs. Samuel C. Whitmire, of New York, N. Y., formerly of Everett Springs, tells this one: "Mr. Grady used to visit a relative, a Mrs. Bal- lenger, at Floyd Springs. A neighbor- hood story has it that on a trip across the Oostanaula after he had failed to catch any fish he had found a net full that belonged to a farmer living near- by. Going to Farmer Corntassel's house, he said, 'My friend, I have taken your fish and I want you to take my dollar. I know better than to go home without any fish.' He had great consideration for older people, and spent much time talking to de- crepit darkies, from whom he received many inspirations for editorials." A. Rawlins, former mayor of North Rome, and father-in-law of Chas. T. Jervis, relates the following anecdote: "I came down from North Rome one day to pay my subscription to Mr. Grady's paper when his office was about the middle of the Hotel Forrest block on Broad. I found him standing in a stairway and I announced my in- tention. He looked at me hard and said: 'Mr. Rawlins, you say you came to pay a subscription?' " 'Yes.' " 'Do you really mean that you vol- untarily want to pay a subscription to this newspaper?' '"That's right.' " 'Then I must say that you are to be commended as the first man I have met in this community who wanted to do that. I have worn out $49 worth of shoe leather calling on the others.' " Chas. W. Morris, real estate deal- er of 300 W. Fifth Avenue and father of Paul I. Morris, tells this story: "When I was a youngster, Henry Grady used to buy two cakes of soap every now and then and take me down to the wash-hole at the foot of Fourth Avenue, Etowah River, and go in washing with me. He was chunky and a good swimmer, but not much on diving. This was the shallow place where the downtown boys used to wade across after a session of play at the Gammon home nearby. Mr. Grady also went in at Seventh Avenue on the Oostanaula. Before he married he had a room upstairs near the newspaper plant, on Broad Street in the Hotel Forrest block." Judge Max Meyerhardt relates this: "Mr. Grady was editor, reporter and everything that his brother Will (bus- iness manager) wasn't. He wore white shirts that he changed every 24 hours because his cuffs were full of news- paper notes taken during the day. He was liberr.l, even extravagant, and did 252 A History of Rome and Floyd County not develop much business ability in Rome; he and his bride were fond of candy, and he often owed an indulgent confectioner $15 at a time. He was literally run out of town by bailiffs serving attachments on him, and they even seized his trunk when he left for Atlanta." J. A. Rounsaville remembers him well because of an unusual incident: "My brother Wes' and I were conduct- ing our warehouse and grocery busi- ness when Mr. Grady came by and asked us to give him an advertisement. We told him good-naturedly that his old paper couldn't sell any more goods than we could, and that on general principles we didn't believe in adver- tising. He went away without say- ing any more about it, and the next day we were treated to a deluge of cats: every small boy in town, it seem- ed, brought from one to six cats, and when we asked them why they came, they said we had advertised in The Commercial. We bought a paper and found a small 'want ad' saying, 'Will pay good cash price for cats. — Rounsa- ville & Bro.' We sent for Mr. Grady and told him it was his duty to stop the applications. He said he could do that only by inserting a half-page ad. We replied, 'All right, but put in the center of it that we don't want any more cats!' " "Uncle Steve" Eberhart, the slavery time darkey character who entertains thousands at the convention of Con- federate Veterans and is a regular member of Floyd County Camp 368, revealed in dramatic fashion Feb. 5, 1921, at the camp meeting in the base- ment of the Carnegie library that he used to be Henry Grady's valet while the great orator and former Roman was a student at the University of Georgia at Athens. When Mr. Grady's name was men- tioned, "Uncle Steve" jumped to his feet, shouted and clapped his hands, hugged himself until he grunted, and then exclaimed as tears rolled down his cheeks : "Lordy, white folks, I had the extin- guished honor to dust off Mr. Grady's coat and black his shoes. He thought er whole lot of your yumble servant." "Uncle Steve" was "in college" with the younger Ben Hill and a long list of noted men. He lived in Athens un- til the dispensary times, he said, and then sought a better town, so settled in Rome. In Rome he fell in with the veterans, put on a stove-pipe hat, and tucked two frying-sized chickens under his arms for a parade. He has been dressing up and cutting up ever since. Comrade Treadaway told a story on the Grady brothers that brought a laugh. "Henry and Will had some prop- erty in Athens, and Henry sent Will from Rome to sell it. Will sold it and passed through Atlanta. When he re- turned to Rome, Henry said, 'Well, did you sell the land?' " 'Yep.' " 'Where's the money?' " 'In the bank at Atlanta?' "'What bank?' " 'They called it the Faro Bank.' " Romans played a leading part in Mr. Grady's funeral, Dec. 25, 1889, in Atlanta. Gen. Clement A. Evans and the Rev. J. W. Lee, former pastors of the First Methodist Church of Rome, headed the funeral procession to DeGive's Opera House, where John Temple Graves, then a Rome editor, was one of the speakers. Montgomery M. Folsom and Frank L. Stanton, Rome journalists, wrote poems to Mr. Grady's memory, and the late Rev. G. A. Nunnally, father of Judge W. J. Nunnally, and then president of Mer- cer University, pronounced the bene- diction at a memorial meeting held in Macon.— Feb. 7, 1921. GRADY AS "CORRESPONDENT." — The following letter to the Rome weekly shows Henry Grady in a new role : "Macon, Ga., Nov. 17, 1869. "Dear Courier: Arrived here safe. I found it storming heavily, but soon after our arrival it cleared off beauti- fully and at the present writing the moon finds her full face reflected from a thousand rapidly evaporating pud- dles that dot the streets. All will be delightful in the morning. "The city is jammed; every profes- sion or handicraft in the world has many and vigorous representatives here, from the editorial profession down to the profession of pickpocket- ical — especially the latter. The gam- blers, the respectable, genteel class of gamblers, are in full force and atro- ciously energetic. "In company with certain other edi- tors, we paid a visit to a fancily fur- nished saloon, wherein these old gen- try plied their craft. The fascination that these places are said to possess was speedily dispelled as far as your humble servant is concerned. I fol- Anecdotes and Reminiscences 253 s « " £ = § •^ -« "^ « v2 ft m " (u , z 0) =^ (8 t- c s 0) O X z O o H H U .J BQ < CO -J > Z D Q < D O Q -} O ^- - >- c ig lu M = -C S.H u O o o. _ '5 CO 'Eh 3 O U v. .ti « 2. " Oh ?■ "> h a « " C---t3 1) a C.J5 en «.fl *' e « c o o Ik c cn 1^- r. " o M O o ^ 2 = "= $ i