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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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7 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02342 424 2
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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ALABAMA HISTORY
1
BY
JOEL CAMPBELL DUBOSE, M. A.
B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY
Atlanta
RICHMOND Dallas
78 7310
12
2001240
DuBose, Joel Campbell Alabama history
Palm Beach
THE FLAG OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA, ADOPTED FEBRUARY 16, 1895.
Copyright, 1908, By JCEL C. DuBOSE
08-12-H. P.
TO THE GIRLS AND BOYS OF ALABAMA, THIS VOLUME .
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.
!
PREFACE
This Alabama History has been prepared espe- cially for use in the public schools. Its purpose is to give a fair impression of the growth of the State, and to make distinet the spirit that has animated the people in all the years of its history.
The author hopes that its suggestiveness will help to stimulate the young people to intelligent patriot- ism and to ardent love for the history of Alabama. JOEL CAMPBELL DUBOSE.
Birmingham, Alabama,
October 1, 1908.
[5]
CONTENTS
Period I. Exploration, Colonization, Territorial Government (1540-1819)
CHAPTER
PAGE
I HERNANDO DE SOTO. 9
II MOBILE UNDER FRENCH, BRITISH, SPANISH, AND AMERI- CAN RULE .. 18
III ALEXANDER MCGILLIVRAY
31
IV WILLIAM WEATHERFORD AND PUSHMATAHA. 39
V SAMUEL DALE. 48
VI ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA 58
VII GEORGE STROTHER GAINES. 68
VIII THE FRENCH COLONY IN MARENGO COUNTY
79
IX ALABAMA IN POLITICS.
86
Period II. The First Forty Years of Statehood (1819-1859)
X WILLIAM RUFUS KING 98
XI ALEXANDER BEAUFORT MEEK 108
XII THE STATE BANK .. 114
XIII ALABAMA IN POLITICS
121
Period III. Secession and War (1859-1865)
XIV WILLIAM LOWNDES YANCEY. 131
XV HENRY WASHINGTON HILLIARD 140
XVI THE ORDINANCE OF SECESSION 147
XVII THE WAR BETWEEN TIIE STATES
159
XVIII ADMIRAL RAPHAEL SEMMES 168
XIX MISS EMMA SANSOM 178
XX GENERAL JOSEPH WIIEELER 184
XXI MOBILE DURING THE WAR
193
XXII ALABAMA IN POLITICS
199
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--
8
CONTENTS .
Period IV. Federal Military Rule (1865-1874)
CHAPTER PAGE
XXIII RECONSTRUCTION 202
XXIV TIIE NEGROES 214
XXV ALABAMA IN POLITICS 222
Period V. Educational, Industrial, and Political Development (1874-1908)
XXVI THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA SCHOOLS 228
XXVII PROFESSOR SETH SMITH MELLEN 245
XXVIII DR. WILLIAM LEROY BROUN 254
XXIX REFORMS AND REFORMERS 259
XXX ALABAMA INDUSTRIES 271
XXXI ALABAMA IN POLITICS 250
ALABAMA IN LITERATURE
311
APPENDIX
EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA 339
STATISTICS OF THE COUNTIES OF ALABAMA 353
GOVERNORS AND OTHER OFFICERS. 356
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA 363
INDEX
421
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ALABAMA HISTORY
Period I. Exploration, Colonization, Territorial Government
CHAPTER I
HERNANDO DE SOTO
1. Florida Granted to De Soto .- Hernando De Soto was a Spanish cavalier who had accompanied Pizär'ro in an expedition ' to Peru and had shared in the rich spoils of its conquest. Cor'těz, anoth- er Spanish cavalier, had won great glory by the conquest of Mexico. De Soto wished to surpass Cortez in glory and Pi- zarro in wealth. le ob- tained from Charles V of Spain authority to ex- Hernando De Soto plore and conquer the vast region then known as Florida. This region embraced most of the Spanish possessions then within the present borders of the United States of America. It was
[9]
10
ALABAMA HISTORY
said to be the "richest country in the world, filled with imperial palaces gemmed with gold and rubies, diamonds and pearls."
Apr. 6, 1538
2. Preparations for Conquest .- With six hundred daring companions, "the flower and chivalry of the Peninsula," De Soto sailed from San Lu'car, Spain. He spent nearly a year in the island of Cuba, where new troops and new fortunes were secured for the expedition.
May 12, 1539
De Soto landed a thousand men along Tampa Bay on the coast of Florida. This was the most splen- didly equipped army that had yet left the Old World for the New. Everything that wisdom and expe- rience could suggest had been provided for its com- fort and success. The officers and men were eager to enter upon the conquest of the country.
3. Cruelties on the March .- The cruelties of the former explorers* had provoked the anger and hos- tility of the Indian tribes, who regarded De Soto and his men as intruders and murderers. History records no deeds braver or more desperate than those of the natives of Florida in their efforts to drive back the Spaniards and to protect their coun- try. Indian warriors everywhere offered battle, but De Soto was always victorious. Valor in unpro- tected bodies armed with simple bows and clubs could not withstand the attack of mail-clad Span- iards with improved weapons.
*Vasquez De Ayllon (väs'kath da il yon'), a Spanish adventurer, in 1526 cruelly kidnapped Indians cn the shores of South Carolina and carried them as slaves to work in the mines of the island of San Domingo.
11
HERNANDO DE SOTO
De Soto pressed onward through forests, fields, villages, swamps, and rivers; capturing, killing, burning, destroying; doing harsh things, he said, only when the safety of his army required it, but coolly demanding of the Indians services that put them to shame. Hundreds were chained and carried
Indian Village
along to do the hard work of the army. When death or disease reduced the number of these, the next tribe was forced to supply others to take their places.
4. Recapture of Ortiz .- Or' tiz, who had come over with De Narvaez* (när vä'eth), had been captured
*Pamfilo De Narvaez, a Spaniard, in 1528, made a disastrous expedition into Florida. He was lost in a storm on the Gulf of Mexico. Four of his followers suffered years of hardships in passing westward to Mexico. All the others except Ortiz per- ished at sea.
12
ALABAMA HISTORY
by the Indians. He was rescued by a trooper of De Soto. Ortiz acted as interpreter until his death west of the Mississippi.
July 2, 1540
5. March Through Georgia Into Alabama .- After spending the first winter near the site of Tal la has'- see, the capital of Florida, De Soto made a zigzag march through Georgia. On July 2, 1540, he entered the present bounds of Alabama in what is now Chero- kee county. In Cos'ta, the first Indian village, the Spaniards began to plunder homes. The Indians re- sented this. The chief had given a glad welcome to De Soto, who seized a club and began beating his own men, thus winning favor with the Indians and turn- ing away serious danger from himself. By flatter- ing words he induced the chief and warriors to go with him into the Spanish camp, where he made them prisoners until they got over their anger.
·
Numerous reports of yellow metal made the Span- iards believe that gold had been discovered, but when they went to examine it, they found it to be only copper. Like results often disappointed this "roving expedition of gallant freebooters in quest of a fortune."
After a brief rest at Costa, De Soto freed the chief and his warriors, exchanged presents with them, and crossed the Coo'sa river. He marched down its cast- ern bank to Tal'le, where he was kindly entertained by the chief.
6. In the Coosa Country .- From Talle, De Soto passed into the province of Coosa, of whose wealth the remote Indian tribes had told him. All reports agreed that it would furnish not only the much de-
13 -
HERNANDO DE SOTO
sired gold but also ample provisions for his men and horses. With joyous hearts the Spaniards entered it. In battle and in travel, in abundance and in want, they had been cheered by reports of Coosa.
It was midsummer. Woodlands waved with beauty and echoed with the songs of birds. Growing crops, a delightful climate, pure waters, and blue skies added charm to the welcome extended by the
Tallassee Falls
peaceful, contented Indians. Amid scenes like these the Spaniards marched to the village of Coosa, which was situated on the bank of the river. Its chief, with his thousand warriors, dressed in marten skins scented with musk, met De Soto and received him cordially into their homes. The chief invited him to establish a colony in the province and make it his home. Notwithstanding this courtesy, De Soto
14
ALABAMA HISTORY
imprisoned the chief and his principal warriors, and carried away a long train of his subjects to bear the baggage and provisions.
The march wound through many villages of the province of Coosa. The frightened natives looked with wonder and sadness upon the Spanish soldiers, and sighed with dread as they saw their friends in chains and iron bearing the burdens of the strangers.
The Spaniards entered the walled and terraced town of Tal' la se on the banks of the Tal la poo' sa river.
7. March to Mauvilla .- The son of Tus ka loo' sa came to Tallase to invite De Soto to visit Mau vil' la, the capital of Tuskaloosa's vast territories along the banks of the Alabama and the Tombigbee rivers. De Soto accepted the invitation and pushed on toward Mauvilla. After three days he met Tuska- loosa waiting to join him. This meeting is said to have taken place on the hill where the capitol of Ala- bama now stands.
Tuskaloosa was a very large man. His immense form was borne by the biggest pack-horse in the army,, and even then his feet almost touched the ground. Ile was so haughty that De Soto put a guard over him. This made him angry, and on reach- ing Mauvilla he walked away and was lost among his warriors. Evidently he had plotted to entrap the Spaniards and destroy them.
8. Battle of Mauvilla,-Spanish efforts to recover the person of Tuscaloosa brought forth the war whoop and battle-ery for the deadliest conflict in the history of Indian warfare. Ten thousand native
.
15
HERNANDO DE SOTO .
sons, fired by the desperate courage of Tuskaloosa and by their own love of country, met the fierce shock of battle. All day the conflict raged. Toward even- ing the Spaniards set fire to the houses, and flame and smoke added to the horrors of battle. At sun- set Mauvilla was in ruins. The Spaniards were vic- tors. At least five thousand Indians, eighty-two Spaniards, and forty-five horses lay dead. Tuska-
Oct. 18, 1540
Discovery of the Mississippi River
loosa perished with his brave warriors in this battle.
The Spaniards lost their baggage, all their hospital supplies, and the wine and wheat for the sacrament. Having learned that many of his soldiers would leave him if they should ever reach O' chus (Mobile), where ships were to meet him with supplies, De Soto turned to the northwest. He still hoped that some- where in the west he would discover a country skilled in arts and rich in spoils.
16
ALABAMA HISTORY
9. Discovery of the Mississippi .- De Soto marched through a fertile, but uninhabited country called Pa- fä la' ya (now Clarke, Maren' go, and Greene counties). On this march he was forced to fight his passage across the Warrior river. He then pressed on into the present bounds of Mississippi, fighting the Chick'a saws, the Ali ba'mons, and other tribes. At Chickasaw Bluff, near Memphis, he discovered the Mississippi river. Crossing it, he went far to the west.
Apr. 25, 1541
10. Death of De Soto .- After many adventurous and vain explorations for gold and silver, he re- turned to winter and to die on the bank of the Missis- sippi and to be buried in its waters. In all his wan- derings he had discovered "nothing so remarkable as his burying-place."
11. Failure of the Expedition .- Only three hun- dred and twenty survivors of the expedition found their way down the Mississippi and to Panu'co, in Mexico, to bear tidings of the sufferings and disap- pointments which attended De Soto. Some of the survivors returned to Spain. Others sought fortune in Mexico and Peru. After learning the fate of her gallant husband, Doña Isabel, the wife of De Soto, died of a broken heart.
SUMMARY
De Soto, with a fine army, lured by military glory and the hope of gold, attempted the conquest of Florida. He spent nearly a year in Santiago, Cuba, and landed on the shores of Tampa Bay in the spring of 1539. The Indians had been treated cruelly by other Europeans, and fought De Soto desperately. Ortiz, a. Spanish prisoner among the Indians, was recovered
17
HERNANDO DE SOTO
and acted as interpreter to De Soto. Having spent the winter near the site of Tallahassee, De Soto visited the Indian town, Cu ti fa chi'qui (ke), on the Savannah river, abused the hos- pitality of the Indians, and passed on into the bounds of the present Alabama. At Mauvilla he defeated Tuskaloosa, but at heavy loss to his own army. He discovered the Mississippi river, died on its banks, and was buried in its waters. The expedition was a failure.
QUESTIONS
1. Why did De Soto attempt the conquest of Florida? 2. What preparations for the expedition were made? 3. Describe his landing and the temper of his men. 4. What cruelties were practiced on the Indians? 5. Who was De Soto's interpreter? 6. Describe the march through Georgia to the Coosa country. 7. When was Alabama first entered by De Soto? 8. Describe the Coosa country. 9. How did De Soto return the courtesy of the Indians? 10. Give an account of the march to Mauvilla. 11. Describe the battle of Mauvilla. 12. Give an account of the other discoveries of De Soto, his death, and the result of the expedition.
CHAPTER II
MOBILE UNDER FRENCH, BRITISH, SPANISH, AND AMERICAN RULE
1540
1. Settlement Delayed .- It is probable that the Bay of A chu' si, where the supply ships were to meet De Soto, was Mobile Bay. Inasmuch as De Soto dis- covered no gold nor silver, Spanish settlers sought other sections, and the region about Mobile was not colonized for more than a hundred and fifty years after his disastrous expedition.
2. La Salle's Explorations and Plans .- In 1682, La Salle (la sal') floated down the Mississippi and in the name of Louis XIV of France took possession of all the lands drained by this great river and its tributaries. He named the country Louisiana. Returning to France, he convinced King Louis that colonies along the Mississippi uniting with French colonies in Cana- da would lay the founda- La Salle tions for the French em- pire in America. This would become too mighty to be resisted, and would gradually close in on the English colonies along the
[18]
19
MOBILE UNDER FRENCH RULE
coast until France would own the New World from the Mississippi river to the Atlantic ocean.
3. Settlement at Biloxi .- The first French colonists sent to Louisiana anchored off Mobile Point in 1699. Their leader was Iberville (e bar vēl'), a gal- lant Canadian sea-captain. He had won many honors in the service of France and had lately de- feated the English in a naval battle along the shores of New England. He sounded the channel along Dauphin Island,* examined the shores of the mainland, and then sailed westward to settle on the banks of the Mississippi river. He was not pleased with the condi- tions on the marshy banks of the Mississippi, and he re- turned to the east in search of a site for settlement. He planted Fort De Maurepast (mor pä') on Bi lox'i Bay. This was the first French De Bienville settlement on the northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and it was made more than ninety years after the first English settlement in Virginia.
Iberville made several voyages to and from France in the interest of the colony. A mistaken policy af-
*Afterwards called Fort Biloxi.
tThe French called this Massacre Island, from the immense heaps of human bones found on it.
1699
20
ALABAMA HISTORY
fected not only the immediate comfort of the colo- nists but also the permanency of French rule in America. The colonists did not rely on themselves; they depended for supplies upon shipments from France and the Island of St. Domingo; they did not cultivate the soil and raise the corn and other pro- ducts needed. As a consequence, famine, sickness, and death followed. Sauvolle (so vol'), a brother of Iberville, died. De Bienville (deh byăn vel'), another brother, succeeded to the command, and to him more than to anyone else was due whatever of good fortune that came to the colony afterwards.
Jan. 22, 1702
4. Settlement at Twenty-seven-mile Bluff .- The colonists were sick a great deal at Biloxi, and the settlement was removed to a point near the present Twenty-seven-mile Bluff on the Mobile river. Here Fort Louis was erected in 1702. Tberville named the place Mobile, probably because he found there rem- nants of the tribe from Mauvilla, where De Soto had defeated Tuskaloosa. The country was beautiful in appearance and rich in soil. Fir, pine, oak, cypress, magnolia, and other trees gave it charm. Idols and other relies of departed tribes were dis- covered by the settlers.
Bienville had much to encourage him and much to depress him. Ile knew that his brother Iberville was in favor at the court of France, and would aid him with supplies. Both saw the necessity for erops, and they begged the French government for laborers instead of adventurers. Indians were captured and put to work in the fields. Negro slaves were brought from Africa, but laborers were still too scarce to
21
MOBILE UNDER FRENCH RULE
cultivate the needed crops. The many hardships of the colonists brought out the grumblers who had contributed but little and wanted much.
Iberville died, and the work of directing the colon- ists fell upon Bienville. He had some loyal helpers, but many bitter enemies who wanted to defeat all his plans.
5. Settlement at Mobile .- In 1709, a rise in the river overflowed both town and fort and destroyed the crops. Bienville then selected the present site of Mobile. After two years' work in laying off lots, building houses, and erecting batteries, the colony left the old fort and removed to the new. Even the Indians living about the old fort left their homes and moved down to the new Fort Conde (kon da').
6. Trouble with Indians .- The French were gen- erally more successful than the English in winning and holding the friendship of the Indians; but the Alibamons, who lived along the river to which they gave their name, proved stubborn foes. They mur- dered the messengers sent by Bienville for provis- ions, and provoked the settlers in every possible way. Finally Bienville led a force into the Indian country, destroyed their villages, and captured their braves. After making a treaty of peace, he offered rewards for the scalps of all who violated it.
7. Work of Missionaries .- Missionaries* from France and Canada established missions on the Mis- sissippi river and its branches. They travelled much
*The most noted of these missionaries were Foucat (foo ka'), Tonti, St. Cosme (köme), St. Dennis (děne'), La Salle, and Davion (da ve on').
1706
1709
1711
22
ALABAMA HISTORY
among the Indians, and preached the gospel of "Peace on earth, good will to men." They exercised a strong infinence over "the children of the forest," often keeping them in peace and quiet when war and massaere were stirring their thoughts. Many of the missionaries suffered death and torture, but their Christian zeal and their patriotic hope were very strong, and no danger was sufficient to check their labors of love.
1712 to 1717
8. Colony Under Crozat .- The colony at Mobile was for five years governed in name by Cadillac (ca de yak') and L'Epinay (La pe na'), but in fact by Bienville whom the people and the Indians trusted. Cadillac and L'Epinay were governors, ap- pointed by Crozat (cro za'), a wealthy merchant to whom Louis XIV had granted the colony.
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