History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Owen, Thomas McAdory, 1866-1920; Owen, Marie (Bankhead) Mrs. 1869-
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 756


USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 35


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REFERENCES .- General Laws, 1919, pp. 33, 67, 111; Alabama Legislature, Legislative Docu- ment, No. 13, 15, p. 5; Gov. Charles Hender- son, Message in reference to budget system, in Legislative Document, No. 1, 1919, 1915.


BUILDING STONES. There are ample quantities of limestones, sandstones, granites and other igneous rocks, and sands for build- ing purposes situated in various parts of the State. The best of the limestones are found in the lower Carboniferous formations of the Tennessee Valley, in Franklin, Colbert and Marshall Counties especially. The stone from the Rockwood quarries in Franklin County is of the general quality of the Indiana lime- stones, but is more durable and less affected by weathering. The limestones of the Tren- ton formation also have been quarried in many places in Bibb, Shelby, Jefferson, St.


174


HISTORY OF ALABAMA


Clair, Talladega, Calhoun, DeKalb and Eto- wab Counties. These stones have been used in the construction of locks and dams on the Coosa River, while the lower Carboniferous limestone has been used in the locks of the Tennessee River.


In the Coastal Plain of southern Alabama some of the materials from the lower Clai- borne (Tertiary) formation, especially an aluminous sandstone, have been utilized as rough building stones. The St. Stephens limestone has also been so used. This forma- tion holds some beds of rock, many feet in thickness, which is called "Chimney Rock," from one of the principal uses made of it. This is a soft, somewhat chalky white rock, almost pure carbonate of lime, which is quar- ried by cross-cut saw, and shaped with saw, hatchet and plane. This rock, though soft, it well adapted to the construction of chim- neys and fire-places, some of them being in a perfect state of preservation after 50 years.


Some of the sandstones of the Coal Meas- ures make excellent building stones, though as yet little used for that purpose. Some of the locks on the Warrior River were con- structed of sandstone from quarries in the immediate vicinity along the river banks, and loose stone from these quarries has been used for rip-rap work in connection with Gov- ernment improvements on the Warrior and Tombigbee Rivers.


Large quantities of granites and other igneous rocks exist in the counties of Lee, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Randolph, Elmore, Chilton, Coosa, Cleburne, and Clay, conven- iently located for quarrying. The granites outcrop in "flat-rocks," which are low, dome- like masses of naked rock, sometimes 200 acres or more in extent. The largest areas are near Almond post office, in Randolph; near Blakes Ferry, and Rock Mills, and We- dowee, in the same county; near Milltown, in Chambers; southwest of Roxana, and along Sougahatchee Creek in Lee. With the mas- sive granites are associated the gneisses, both excellent building stones, and also suitable for monuments. The factories, dams, and bridge piers at Tallassee and vicinity have been constructed of the gneissoid granite, which forms the bed and banks of the Talla- poosa River there. Some use has been made of the granite about Wedowee, in Randolph, at Rockford and other places in Coosa, for the construction of culverts, bridge founda- tions, etc.


Sands suitable for building uses are ob- tained from loose beds overlying the forma- tions from which they are derived, from the drifted sands along water courses, from the stratified sands of some of the newer forma- tions, and from the harder sandstones of the older formations. The best of them are ob- tained by crushing the friable sandstones of the older formations, especially of the lower Carboniferous (Oxmoor) division. The ma- terial used in the glass works at Gate City, analyzing 99 per cent silica, is from this source. Sandstones of the Coal Measures and of the Weisner formation are also suitable for builders' use, and the Tuscaloosa division


of the Lower Cretaceous contains an unlim- ited supply of sands of every grade. In the upper formation of the Cretaceous, the Rip- ley, there are many beds of excellent sands, some suitable for glass making, those in the vicinity of Linden, Marengo County, for ex- ample. The Tertiary formation contains beds of fine sands, of which those in the vicinity of Gaston in Sumter County are representa- tive; and in the territory covered by the Grand Gulf formation, there are extensive beds of all grades, in Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Covington, Geneva, Dale, Henry, and Houston Counties. The Lafayette formation, which mantles the entire Coastal Plain, is prevalently a sand and pebble forma- tion. The sands usually are ferruginous, but in many places are suitable for building pur- poses.


REFERENCES .- Smith and McCalley, Index to mineral resources of Alabama (Geol. Survey of Ala., Bulletin 9, 1904), pp. 66-69; U. S. Geol. Survey, Mineral resources of the United States, 1888, pp. 520-521; Ibid, 1889-1890, p. 377; Ibid, 1902, pp. 665-701; Ibid, 1914, pt. 2, pp. 819-891, with bibliography.


BULLOCK COUNTY. Created by the legis- lature, December 5, 1866, but at the same session, February 8, 1867, its boundaries were rearranged. Its territory was taken from Barbour, Macon, Montgomery and Pike counties. The county contains 610 square miles, or 390,400 acres.


It was named in honor of Col. Edward C. Bullock, of Barbour County, colonel of the 18th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C. S. A., who died later in the War.


The act establishing the county named James T. Norman, Joel T. Crawford and Ma- lachi Ivey as commissioners to hold an elec- tion for officers, and also to hold an election for the selection of a county seat. These elections were held in 1867, and Union Springs was chosen (q. v.).


Location and Physical Description .- It lies in the southeastern section of Alabama, south of Macon and Montgomery counties, bounded on the east by Russell and Barbour, on the south by Barbour and Pike, and on the west by Pike and Montgomery counties. Chunnen- nuggee Ridge divides the county into two parts. This ridge is an important physio- graphic feature, forming the watershed of three river systems. It also separates the two main topographic divisions of the county, that is, the "prairie region" or north- ern section, and the "sandy-lands region" to the south. North of the ridge is a belt of low hills and irregular ridges with a network of V-shaped valleys and wet weather streams. This is locally known as the "hill-prairie" country. The true prairie lies to the south, and its typical development from Union Springs northwestward to the Montgomery county line is one of low relief. The eleva- tions along the Central of Georgia Railway vary from 260 to about 530 feet above sea level. High Ridge in the southwest section is apparently the highest point, and the place where Line Creek leaves the county is prob-


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


ably the lowest. The drainage is mainly through the several cracks forming the head- waters of the Conecuh and Pea rivers, and several bold streams flowing northward through Macon County into the Tallapoosa River. The headwaters of Cowikee Creek are also in this county. The first and second bottoms comprise soils of alluvial origin. Thirty-two soil types, representing 17 differ- ent series, with the miscellaneous classifica- tion meadow, are found in the county. These soils cover a wide range and are all capable of a widely diversified agriculture. The forest growth consists of longleaf pine and short leaf pine, spruce, hickory, the several species of oak, cedar, gum, maple, birch, willow, magnolia and dogwood. The mean anuual temperature is about 65° F. The winters are mild, with occasional frosts, and snow flur- ries. The average annual precipitation is about 54 inches.


Aboriginal history .- While evidences of ab- original occupancy are met with in a few in- stances, no positive locations of Indian towns can be made. Tchona nagi, an Upper Creek village, was located in the county, giving its name to Chunnennuggee Ridge, but location and other details are wanting. The territory of the county includes few large streams, and is in the extreme southern section of the Upper Creek territory. It was evidently not very thickly peopled. Mounds are found on the plantation of J. H. Fielder, 10 miles from Union Springs. Village sites are recorded near the Central of Georgia Railway, between Union Springs and Guerryton, and some on the road to Eufaula, but the latter is doubt- less of Lower Creek affiliation.


Settlement and Later History .- The early history of the county is identified with that of the counties from which it was formed. Settlement followed the final Creek cession of 1832. An excellent citizenship filled its rich lands, coming from other states as well as from adjacent counties. Handsome homes were located on the plantations and in the nearby villages.


In January, 1837, the Creek Indians then being removed from the country, committed some depredations, which brought about an engagement between them and the whites, ahout three miles west of Midway, then in Barbour, but now in this county. One white man, Walter Patterson, was killed, and Judge W. R. Cowan lost his left arm. A few others were slightly wounded, and several horses were killed. General William Wellborn was in command. It is not known that any In- dians were killed.


Agricultural Statistics .- From U. S. Cen- sus, 1910:


Farms and Farmers.


Number of all farms, 4,726. Color and nativity of farmers: Native white, 669. Foreign-born white, 1. Negro and other nonwhite, 4,056.


Number of farms, classified by size: Under 3 acres, 2. 3 to 9 acres, 117.


10 to 19 acres, 242.


20 to 49 acres, 2,617.


50 to 99 acres, 1,163. 100 to 174 acres, 358.


175 to 259 acres, 106.


260 to 499 acres, 86.


500 to 999 acres, 27.


1,000 acres and over, 8.


Land and Farm Area.


Approximate land area, 390,400 acres. Land in farms, 297,384 acres.


Improved land in farms, 220,247 acres.


Woodland in farms, 48,327 acres.


Other unimproved land in farms, 28,810 acres.


Value of Farm Property.


All farm property, $5,393,925. Land, $3,287,789. Buildings, $865,704. Implements and machinery, $265,045.


Domestic animals, poultry, and bees, $1,035,387.


Average values: All property per farm, $1,141.


Land and buildings per farm, $879. . Land per acre, $11.06.


Domestic Animals (Farms and Ranges).


Farms reporting domestic animals, 4,406. Domestic animals, $1,009,680.


Cattle: total, 15,428; value, $212,800. Dairy cows only, 6,069.


Horses: total, 1,686; value, $163,775.


Mules: total, 4,304; value, $570,910.


Asses and burros: total, 4; value, $430.


Swine: total, 18,327; value, $60,364.


Sheep: total, 368; value, $1,143.


Goats: total, 359; value, $258.


Poultry and Bees.


All poultry, 66,323; value, $22,703. Bee colonies, 1,197; value, $3,004.


Farms Operated by Owners. Number of farms, 504.


Per cent of all farms, 10.7.


Land in farms, 79,117 acres. Improved land in farms, 42,712 acres.


Land and buildings, $1,079,927.


Farms of owned land only, 458.


Farms of owned and hired land, 46.


Native white owners, 337.


Foreign-born white, 1.


Negro and other nonwhite, 166.


Farms Operated by Tenants.


Number of farms, 4,210. Per cent of all farms, 89.1.


Land in farms, 207,624 acres. Improved land in farms, 174,354 acres.


Land and buildings, $2,878,286. Share tenants, 1,362.


Share-cash tenants, 134. Cash tenants, 2,634. Tenure not specified, 80. Native white tenants, 321. Foreign-born white, 0. Negro and other nonwhite, 3,889.


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


Farms Operated by Managers.


Number of farms, 12.


Land in farms, 10,643 acres.


Improved land in farms, 3,181 acres.


Value of land and buildings, $195,280.


Live Stock Products.


DAIRY PRODUCTS.


Milk: Produced, 761,308; sold, 8,540 gal- lons.


Cream sold, 0 gallons.


Butter fat sold, 0 pounds.


Butter: Produced, 247,445; sold, 26,755


pounds. Cheese: Produced, 0; sold, 0 pounds.


Dairy products, excluding home use of milk and cream, $56,247.


Sale of dairy products, $9,264.


POULTRY PRODUCTS.


Poultry : Number raised, 162,547; sold, 31,470.


Eggs: Produced, 212,240; sold, 51,602


dozens.


Poultry and eggs produced, $74,138.


Sale of Poultry and eggs, $17,766.


HONEY AND WAX.


Honey produced, 12,929 pounds.


Wax produced, 284 pounds.


Value of honey and wax produced, $1,409. WOOL, MOHAIR, AND GOAT HAIR.


Wool, fleeces shorn, 208. Mohair and goat hair, fleeces shorn, 0. Wool and mohair produced, $167.


Domestic Animals Sold or Slaughtered. Calves-Sold or slaughtered, 147.


Other cattle-Sold or slaughtered, 2,708.


Horses, mules, and asses and burros-Sold, 91. Swine-Sold or slaughtered, 6,826. Sheep and goats-Sold or slaughtered, 137. Sale of animals, $40,360. Value of animals slaughtered, $68,568.


Value of All Crops.


Totals, $2,280,643.


Cereals, $350,898.


Other grains and seeds, $25,931.


Hay and forage, $15,542.


Vegetables, $100,419.


Fruits and nuts, $38,598.


All other crops, $1,749,255.


Selected Crops (Acres and Quantity).


Cereals: total, 57,336 acres; 394,834 bushels.


Corn, 53,364 acres; 343,960 bushels.


Oats, 3,971 acres; 50,864 bushels.


Wheat, 0 acres; - bushels.


Rye, 1 acre; 10 bushels.


Kafir corn and milo maize, 0 acres; bushels. Rice, 0 acres; - bushels.


- Other grains:


Dry peas, 2,108 acres; 13,401 bushels. Dry edible beans, 0 acres; - bushels. Peanuts, 622 acres; 10,434 bushels. Hay and forage: total, 1,001 acres; 1,185 tons.


All tame or cultivated grasses, 695 acres; 856 tons.


Wild, salt, or prairie grasses, 220 acres; 256 tons. Grains cut green, 70 acres; 51 tons. Coarse forage, 16 acres; 28 tons. Special crops: Potatoes, 25 acres; 1,261 bushels.


Sweet potatoes and yams, 1,022 acres; 64,535 bushels.


All other vegetables, 1,128 acres. Tobacco, 50 acres; 107,509 pounds. Cotton, 107,099 acres; 21,446 bales. Cane-sugar, 627 acres; 5,211 tons. Sirup made, 56,979 gallons. Cane-sorghum, 124 acres; 736 tons. Sirup made, 7,327 gallons.


Fruits and Nuts.


Orchard fruits: total, 194,128 trees; 25,- 585 bushels.


Apples, 4,163 trees; 1,200 bushels.


Peaches and nectarines, 187,548 trees; 23,259 bushels. Pears, 773 trees; 753 bushels.


Plums and prunes, 1,535 trees; 323 bushels.


Cherries, 14 trees; 0 bushels. Quinces, 1 tree; 0 bushels.


Grapes, 111 vines; 2,250 pounds. Tropical fruits: total, 1,708 trees. Figs, 597 trees; 14,271 pounds. Oranges, 0 trees; - boxes.


Small fruits: total, 1 acre; 482 quarts. Strawberries, 1 acre; 432 quarts. Nuts: total, 2,899 trees; 16,536 pounds. Pecans, 2,878 trees; 16,436 pounds.


Labor, Fertilizer and Feed.


Labor-Farms reporting, 1,829. Cash expended, $121,259. Rent and board furnished, $43,462.


Fertilizer-Farms reporting, 2,427. Amount expended, $122,746.


Feed-Farms reporting, 1,384. Amount expended, $57,774. Receipts from sale of feedable crops, $5,874.


Domestic Animals Not on Farms.


Inclosures reporting domestic animals, 459. Value of domestic animals, $71,633. Cattle: total, 1,067; value, $18,003. Number of dairy cows, 438. Horses: total, 273; value, $39,169. Mules and asses and burros: total, 78; value, $12,230. Swine: total, 485; value, $2,216. Sheep and goats: total, 15; value, $15.


Population .- Statistics from decennial pub- lications of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.


White


Negro


Total


1870


7223


17251


24474


1880


6944


22119


29063


1890


6055


21005


27063


1900


5846


26097


31944


1910


4833


25362


30196


Post Offices and Towns .- Revised to De- cember 31, 1916, from U. S. Official Postal


GEN. ANDREW JACKSON Commanding volunteer forces in Creek In- dian War of 1813


COL. JOHN COFFEE Chief of Staff of Gen. Jackson


Vol. 1-12


179


HISTORY OF ALABAMA


Guide. Figures indicate the number of rural routes from that office.


Fitzpatrick-2


Peachburg


Guerryton


Perote-3


Iverness-2


Suspension


James-2


Thompson-1


Midway-1


Three Notch-2


Mitchell Station Union Springs (ch)-3


Omega


Delegates to Constitutional Conventions .- 1867-William H. Black. 1875-Richard H. Powell, Dr. George W. Delbridge.


1901-D. S. Bethune, James D. Norman.


Senators .- 1868-B. F. Royal. 1871-2-B. F. Royal. 1872-3-B. F. Royal. 1873-B. F. Royal.


1874-5-B. F. Royal. 1875-6-B. F. Royal. 1876-7-I. A. Wilson.


1878-9-I. A. Wilson.


1880-1-J. T. Norman.


1882-3-J. T. Norman.


1884-5-J. T. Norman. 1886-7-E. H. Cabaniss. 1888-9-C. W. Rumph. 1890-1-J. H. Reynolds.


1892-3-J. H. Reynolds.


1894-5-I. F. Culver.


1896-7-D. S. Bethune.


1898-9-C. W. Thompson.


1899 (Spec.)-C. W. Thompson. 1900-01-C. W. Thompson. 1903-Thomas Sidney Frazer.


1907-H. P. Merritt. 1907 (Spec.)-H. P. Merritt. 1909 (Spec.)-H. P. Merritt.


1911-T. S. Frazer.


1915-O. S. Lewis.


1919-S. C. Cowan.


Representatives .-


1868-D. H. Hill; D. A. McCall (to suc- ceed Hill).


1869-70-D. H. Hill; D. A. McCall.


1870-1 - George M. Drake; Lawrence Speed. 1871-2-George M. Drake; D. A. McCall; L. S. Speed.


1872-3-C. H. Davis; Perry Matthews; L. S. Speed. 1873-C. H. Davis; Perry Matthews; L. S. Speed. 1874-5-G. W. Allen; P. Matthews; C. Smith. 1875-6-G. W. Allen; P. Matthews; C. Smith.


1876-7-Grove Caldwell; G. D. Rodgers. 1878-9-G. Caldwell; I. F. Culver.


1880-1-J. T. Armstrong; R. H. Powell. 1882-3-J. F. Armstrong; R. H. Powell. 1884-5-J. H. Reynolds; W. C. Jordan. 1886-7-S. T. Frazer; J. H. Reynolds. 1888-9-N. B. Powell; George Stowers. 1890-1-N. B. Powell; W. C. Hufman.


1892-3-L. J. Biggers; N. N. Cox.


1894-5-George Williams; Chas. L. Jinks.


1896-7-J. T. Flewellen; Geo. Harris. 1898-9-J. T. Flewellen; George Jones. 1899 (Spec.)-J. T. Flewellen; George Jones.


1900-01-M. M. Baldwin; N. P. Powell.


1903-John Knox Franklin; Norbonne Berkley Powell.


1907-N. B. Powell; S. P. Rainer.


1907 (Spec.)-N. B. Powell; S. P. Rainer. 1909 (Spec.)-N. B. Powell; S. P. Rainer. 1911-J. E. Jenkins; M. E. Pruett.


1915-J. M. Ellis; P. W. Carlisle.


1919-J. M. Ellis; N. Lewis, Jr.


REFERENCES .- Acts, 1866-67, pp. 65-68; 363- 364; Brewer, Alabama, p. 143; Berney, Hand- book (1892), p. 271; Riley, Alabama as it is (1893), p. 184; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 184; Alabama, 1909 (Ala. Dept. of Ag. and Ind., Bulletin 27), p. 79; U. S. Soil Survey (1915), with map; Alabama land book (1916), p. 44; Ala. Official and Statistical Register, 1903-1915, 5 vols .; Ala. Anthropological Society, Hand- book (1910) ; Geol. Survey of Ala., Agricultural features of the State (1883); The Valley re- · gions of Alabama, parts 1 and 2 (1896, 1897), and Underground Water resources of Alabama (1907); U. S. Bureau of the Census, Abstract of the 13th Census, with supplement for Ala- bama (1913).


BURGESS' TOWN. The name of two former Lower Creek towns presumably so called for one Burgess, a white trader who was assigned to Yufala, located in the north- ern part of the present Barbour County. The location of these towns is uncertain but is assumed to be in the vicinity. Burgess was a considerable trader, and had a number of slaves.


REFERENCES .- Gatschet, Misc. Coll. Ala. Hist. Soc. (1901), vol. 1, p. 394.


BURNT CORN CREEK. A creek in Es- cambia County, tributary to the Conecuh River. The name is derived from a "large spring, which bursts from beneath the hill below the village" of the same name. The spring is situated on the old Pensacola trail, and was a noted camping round during early Indian times. Near the spring, also known as Burnt Corn, in the early years of the nineteenth century, lived the noted Creek In- dian half-breed, James Cornells. He Is au- thority for the statement that the name was given because of the finding of a pile of charred or burned corn at the spring, left there by a sick Indian. Many of the hostile Creek Indians wounded at Fort Mims died at Burnt Corn Spring. Near the crossing of the creek and the old Pensacola trail, July 27, 1813, the Burnt Corn Fight, the first en- gagement of the Creek Indian War of 1813- 14, took place.


REFERENCES .- Riley, History of Conecuh County (1881), pp. 62-63; Pickett, History of Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), p. 539.


BURNT CORN FIGHT. The first engage- ment between the pioneer settlers in the southern part of what is now Alabama, and the hostile Creek Indians, during the Creek


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HISTORY OF ALABAMA


Indian War of 1813-14. It occurred July 27, 1813, near Burnt Corn Creek, in the northern part of the present Escambia County.


In the early summer of 1813, large num- bers of disaffected Creeks assembled at the Holy Ground on the Alabama River. In July, about 300 warriors left the place, under the command of Peter McQueen, Jim Boy, and Josiah Francis, for Pensacola. There they expected to secure ammunition for the im- pending war. On the way some hostile acts were committed. It was subsequently learned, through spies, that they had pro- cured 300 pounds of powder and a quantity of lead from Gov. Manique.


On information reaching the Tombigbee settlements, Col. James Caller, senior militia officer of Washington County, at once organ- ized an expedition to intercept the Creeks on their return to the nation. At the head of three small companies, Col. Caller crossed the Tomhigbee, July 25, and on his march across Clarke County and beyond the Alabama, he received reinforcements, so that finally his entire command numbered about 180 men, composed of white men, half-breeds, and friendly Indlans. On the night of July 26, he camped near the present Bellville, and the next morning took the line of march down the Pensacola trail.


REFERENCES .- Meek, Romantic passages in southwestern history (1857), pp, 244-246; Pickett, History of Alabama (Owen's ed., 1900), pp. 521-525; Claiborne, Life and times of Sam Dale (1860), pp. 70-82; Halbert and Ball, Creek War (1895), pp. 125-142; Alabama His- torical Reporter, June, 1880; Riley, Conecuh County, (1881), p. 16.


BURRELL NORMAL SCHOOL. A private school for the education of negro boys and girls, located at Florence, and under the pat- ronage of the American Missionary Associa- tion (Congregational.) This school was first opened at Selma, under the name of Burrell Academy. About 1900 its buildings were de- stroyed by fire; and in 1904 it was located at Florence. The school building is a two- story brick


structure. Primary, inter- mediate, high school and normal departments are maintained, and courses in manual and industrial training, music and art, are offered. On September 30, 1916, its report to the State superintendent of education showed building and site, valued at $8,500; equip- ment, $1,500; 9 teachers; 226 pupils; and a total support of $3,644.


REFERENCES .- Catalogues; Mrs. Benj. F. Cox, First impressions of Burrell (1904).


BURR'S ARREST. Aaron Burr, then a fugitive from the courts of the Mississippi territory, on February 19, 1807, at 9 o'clock a. m., was arrested in Washington County, in what is now Alabama. In the latter part of 1806, on a Western expedition, he made his appearance in Kentucky. He was arrested at Lexington, but was later discharged. Go- ing down the Mississippi, he and party were met by Col. F. L. Claiborne a few miles above Natchez, and again taken into custody. He


made bond for his appearance in the superior court. When his trial came on he demanded a release, but his application was overruled by the judges. The following morning he was not present. Gov. Robert Williams of the Mississippi territory offered a reward of $2,000 for his capture. As later developed, he had set out overland for the Tombigbee and Tensaw settlements. It appears that in Natchez, soon after his arrest, he met Col. John Hinson, who resided on the Tombigbee, and who had invited him to his home in the event he should ever travel in that section.


In his flight, Burr was accompanied by Chester Ashley as a guide. His dress "con- sisted of coarse pantaloons, made of home- spun of a copperas dye, and a roundabout of inferior drab cloth, while his hat was a flap- ping, wide-brimmed beaver, which had in times past been white, but now presented a variety of dingy colors." On the evening of February 18 he and the guide reached old Wakefield, then the county seat of Washing- ton County. In the cabin at which they in- quired for directions, were Nicholas Perkins, a lawyer, and Thomas Malone, clerk of the court, engaged in a game of backgammon. The travelers inquired for the home of Major Hinson. The direction was given, but the un- usual appearance of one of them excited the suspicion of Perkins. Arousing Theodore Brightwell, the sheriff, he and Perkins set out in pursuit. They reached the home of Col. Hinson soon after the arrival of the other party. Convinced that one of the trav- elers was none other than Burr, Perkins quietly left the house, and hastened down the river to Fort Stoddert, where he arrived just before sunrise. Advising with the then Capt. Edward P. Gaines, the latter sent a sergeant and three soldiers to make the ar- rest. Perkins and the soldiers met Burr on his way to Pensacola. After a parley the latter was arrested, and at once carried to Fort Stoddert. He was detained there about two weeks, and fascinated all by his agreeable manners and address. About March 5, Capt. Gaines placed Burr in charge of a picked guard, and sent him overland to Richmond to be tried for treason. The guard consisted of Nicholas Perkins, Thomas Malone, Henry B. Slade, John Mills, John Jay Henry, Samuel McCormack and John Mertes. A copy of the pledge, dated February 23, 1807, taken by these men to safely conduct the distinguished prisoner to the point of destination, together with a number of other papers left by Per- kins, are preserved in the Tennessee His- torical Society at Nashville. Leaving Fort Stoddert by boat the party went up the river to the boat yard, where they took horses. Their route lay along the line of the old Federal road. The difficulties of travel were many. It was a rainy season, and the party experienced great inconvenience, not only be- cause of constant downpour, but also from swollen streams. Hundreds of Indians were encountered along the way. The prisoner con- ducted himself with great composure, and during the whole of the journey it is said that he never complained of sickness or fa-




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