USA > Alabama > Memorial record of Alabama. A concise account of the state's political, military, professional and industrial progress, together with the personal memoirs of many of its people. Volume II pt 2 > Part 56
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*The matter contained in this supplement consists of sketches that had failed to reach the publishers until after those portions of the work where they properly belong had gone to press.
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located within four miles of the town of Livingston. Leroy, then four- teen years of age, went to school in Livingston, riding the four miles back and forth every day. His teacher in that school was Robert H. Smith, who subsequently rose to great distinction in Alabama as a law- yer, and who passed the last years of his life in Mobile. This celebrated ' lawyer never forgot his school, or his "piney woods" scholar, or his very earnest diligence in study. Subsequently a "neighborhood school" was .opened near the Brewer farm, and Leroy's last school days were passed in it. W. H. Beasly was the teacher there, and he honestly confessed that his very earnest scholar soon acquired all the learning that he was capable of imparting. This common school education. terminating when he was about seventeen years old, 1 fostered an ambition to acquire.
information that has characterized all the subsequent life of Mr. Brewer. An intellect of unusual clearness and vigor, coupled with sound judgment, . fearless resolution, and untiring industry, these characteristics combined have made Mr. Brewer a leading man in every association of his long life. Coupled as they have been with perfect honesty and truthfulness, and gentle kindness of manner, and abounding generosity, the boy of the piney woods school, whose studies alternated with the hardest of planta- tion labor, has grown up to positions of honor and trust that admiring and confiding friends have thrust upon him, while his patient industry and shrewdness of judgment have resulted in a handsome fortune. Mr. Brewer's parents were Baptists, but as church organizations were scarce in those early days, they worshiped and affiliated with the Methodists at times. His mother was of marked religious character, deeply pious, and earnestly zealous. The rigid economy of his father and his industry, assisted by the labor of his sons, resulted of course in an accumulation of property. Mr. Brewer regards this as the richest and best experi- ence of his life, and considers the hard drudgery of his early days in the light of a blessing. It resulted in no distaste for labor or repinings over a hard lot. At the close of his school days some of his brothers having married and moved away, and others having died, his father offered him three hundred dollars per year and his board, for taking charge of and carrying on the farm. He accepted the offer. He was then seventeen years old. His mother made all his working clothes. He saved his money, so that when he came to his majority. he had ten hun- dred and fifty-six dollars all in gold, except the six dollars, which were silver. His mercantile life then began. He selected as a location a coun- try stand, known as Blackwater, in Kemper county, Miss. He formed a copartnership with a man named Angus E. McInnis. Very liberal offers of credit and other facilities were offered the firm. Mr. Brewer's unwill- ingness to accept these offers caused a dissolution of the firm. Mr. McInnis kept on in the business at the old stand, but at the end of the year he was inextricably involved. He had availed himself of the liberal offers of credit. He had extended his business too much, and so failed.
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Mr. Brewer then bought the stock and began a business which for five years was very successful. The business was terminated by the burning of his store with all the stock and all books and papers. There was no insurance. This was in October, 1849. A commitee of citizens waited on him immediately. They offered him money, and agreed to go his secu- rity, to any necessary extent, if he would rebuild his store, and go on in the business at the old stand. He first applied himself to the collection of what was due him. and to settling up the old business. His old cus- tomers proved to be so honest that he collected within 8500 of all that was due him. Refusing the kind offers of his old friends, he went to Mobile in the year 1851. He engaged there in a cotton factorage business with Dr. Edward Brown, under the firm name Brewer & Brown. The firm was quite successful. The terrilbe winter of 1934 -- '55 was passed successfully through the enterprise of Mr. Brewer, who went to the country collecting and shipping cotton. He chartered the steamboat' "Illinois Belle," Capt. W. H. Roberts, for a trip to Gainesville. He sent her down loaded, towing two flat-boats, loaded, and the fight was then over and the credit of the firm saved. The firm Brewer & Brown contin- ued until 1837, when Mr. Brewer withdrew and went into copartnership with Mr. R. D. Ogletree under the firm name Brewer & Ogletree. The firm was very successful until the winter of 1860 -- 61, when Mr. Brewer bought out the interest of Ogletree. Mr. Brewer then began to feel the effects of his honesty, and shrewdness, in the confidence and good will of Mobile merchants. In the gloomy times preceding the war, when applying at the bank, for extension of some paper then due, he found that Mr. O. Mazange, the rich hardware merchant, had left orders to meet, at his expense, any liabilities that Mr. Brewer could not meet. A large tobacco firm, in Baltimore, wrote to him with offers of assistance. Others exhibited similar good will and confidence. "Mr. Brewer's condi- tion was such as required but little asssistance, and no one, who then or subsequently or previously assisted him, ever lost a cent by doing so. Brilliant prospects were ruined by the war between the states. During the war he was continually on duty with the troops around Mobile. Applications for transfer to other portions of the army were refused. The war ended with loss to him of almost everything, but he formed a copatrnership with Messrs. Thomas Duggan, Hugh L. Hopper and Calvin A. Harris, and they were very succsesful, in a mixed business of general groceries and cotton factorage. It was a strong firm, strong in character, in ability, and industry. The firm dissolved by limitation about the year 1878, Mr. Thomas Duggan having in the meantime died. Mr. Brewer continued the business under the same firm name, with his nephew, Mr. T. P. Brewer, as partrer, until May 30. 1884, when they were burned out with heavy loss. From that time, Mr. Brewer has con- ducted a cotton factorage business, which is now being gradually closed up on account of failing health. Mr. Brewer married, in 1884, Mrs.
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Emma O. Hopper, daughter of Mr. John C. Phares, of Sumter county, Ala. Two children have been born, of whom one survives, a girl named Olive Maud, at this time about five and one-half years old. An older child, a son, died aged six and three-fourths years, November 1, 1892. He was a child of unusual promise. His father's affections were intensely fixed upon him. The bereavement has shaken very severely the strong soul that has passed, seemingly unmoved. through other troubles and perils and heavy losses. Mr. Brewer's political history is connected with the most memorable events in the history of the state of, Alabama. 1 He was nominated as a candidate for the state legislature, without his knowledge or desire, in 1872. On the same ticket with him, there were · nominated, and subsequently elected to represent Mobile county. Hon. Peter Hamilton, Hon. Decatur C. Anderson, and Hon. A. R. Manning. The last named was subsequently appointed to the supreme court of the state. It is necessary to explain this nomination, unsought and unex- pected, of a private citizen, on a ticket with men of such well known and well deserved distinction. First among Mr. Brewer's qualifications recognized, by the public, was his inflexible integrity. Added to that was a very clear and quick perceptive faculty in a mind of large capac- ity. His industry and perseverance, and firmness and fearlessness, were united with a quiet and gentle demeanor, that was the inevitable result from his heart that seemed never to have cherished a feeling of hatred for any one. His knowledge of human nature was wonderful. He was experimentally acquainted with the agricultural interests of the state. He was also in direct connection with the commercial or mercantile inter- ests of the country. His personal acquaintances with men in all parts of the state, and his well known reputation for honesty, were united to a genial disposition, and kindliness of manner, that made friends for him, among those against whom he and his party were arrayed in a long, hard, and bitter conflict. The history of the legislature of 1872 need not be written here. The division with one party in possession of the court house while the other (the democrats) held the state house - the five months' session-the effort to issue bonds to an enoromus amount, defeated by an amendment offered by Mr. Brewer, who was on the ways and means comimttee. All this is on record in the annals of the state of Alabama. Mr. Brewer was elected to the legislature of the next year. in company with his former distinguished associates, and joined with them in the manly and brave but almost hopeless struggle against negro rule. In the next year Mr. Brewer returned again to the legislature with the democratic party in power. D. C. Anderson was elected speaker, and then began measures for the passing of an act to call a convention to frame a new constitution. Economical administra- tion of the state government was demanded by all the material interests of the state. The previous session of the legislature had cost the state 8175,000. For stationery alone $17,000 had been paid. Mileage allowed
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to members going to and returning from the legislature, even on leaves of absence and holidays and recesses, was forty cents per mile. Some of the colored members had made more money on mileage than they had ever made before or than they have made since in any other way. The constitutional convention was called and met in September, 1875. Mr. Brewer was a member of the convention, representing Mobile county in connection with Messrs. C. C. Langdon and Thomas H. Herndon. The work of that convention is seen in the present constitution of the state of Alabama. The strict economy required by it has been a source of complaint, but the fault, if fault it is, was the result of an anxiety of the men of the convention to save the people's money. Prominent among the matters before the convention was the question of representation. It had been proposed to make the whole legislature to consist of one hundred members, thirty in the senate and seventy in the house. Mr. Brewer's vigorous and telling speech against it will doubtless be remembered by all the members of the convention. In alliance with such men as Lyon of Marengo, Willet of Pickens, Herndon and Langdon of. Mobile counties. Mr. Brewer and other such shrewd and quick- sighted men saved the state from a constitutional provision, that was full of injustice to the populous counties of the state. Mr. Brewer was again sent to the legislature in the sessions of 1875 and 1876. Every term of service was increasing his efficiency, his influence and his popu- larity, and many all through the state were pointing him out as their candidate for governor. At - the end of the session of 1876, Mr. Brewer withdrew for a time from political life, but in the fall of 1882, he was again returned to the legislature, and that term concluded his faithful working for and watching over the interests of the people. The cele- brated measure for the payment of court costs, that has met so much con- demnation, escaped his vigilant eye and his strong oppostiion. It passed without his vote or sanction or sympathy. He who introduced it has passed away. In the gubernatorial convention of 1882, Mr. Brewer was prominent among the candidates. His chances for nomination were equal with such men as Dawson, McElroy and O'Neal. His unwilling- ness to press his claims for such a distinguished position was in accord with all his previous record. A sense of security and inevitable success took possession of his friends, in his own district. A sense of security is an agreeable condition of mind, but it is sometimes a costly luxury, and it proved to be so in this case. Mobile then lost the opportunity of having one of her citizens in a period of many years in the executive chair of the state. Confidence of success has cost the same district. in other political struggles, heavily, in reduced majorities, and loss of polit- ical power and prestige. A letter from Mr. Brewer to Judge Stone, directing the withdrawal of his name, at a time when, perhaps. the next ballot would have nominated him, resulted in the nomination of Gen. O'Neal, and his subsequent election. Mr. Brewer's last term of service
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in the state legislature was in the winter of 1882 -- 83. His watchful care for the interests of the people has characterized the career of a member from Lowndes county, of the same name, and a relative. He has earned the "soubriquet," wroteh-dog of the treasury. While thus actively engaged in political service. Mr. Brewer has been identified with all the commer- cial interests and operations of the city of Mobile. He was a director in the National Commercial bank. from the time of its organization, until its change of name to Alabama National bank, in which he continued as a director. He was a director for many years in the Planters and Mer- chants' Insurance company of Mobile, and was its president from July, 1876, to July, 1879. He was appointed by C. F. Moulton, mayor of Mobile, on the advisory board of health in the year 1873. and most stren- uously advocated and supported the quarantine, which was first estab- lished then. The success attending that measure, in face of the prophe- cies and theories of men who have since endorsed such means of exemp- tion from yellow fever, resulted in the present system of quarantine, which is approved and applauded and demanded by every community that is exposed to the inroads of disease. The "piney woods boy" grew to a manhood. which is monumental. It proclaims what unvarying honesty . and truth, coupled with industry, and characterized by kindness and gentleness and generosity, did to make a great and good citizen. and to enlist the sympathies of friends. and to make enmity for him an impos- sibility. A whole community was grieved by the sad bereavement that came to him in the loss of his boy. From all parts of the state there came to him messages of warmest condolence, and assurances of a con- tinued affection, which began in the days of struggle for the right in the capitol at Montgomery. His step is not so light now, nor his eye so bright, nor his laugh so cheery, as it once was, but in the place of what has been lost, there remains that which is never seen in more beautiful shape, an honored old age, at the close of an honorable career.
GEN. JOSEPH WHEELER .- In addition to the brief mention of this illus- trious cavalryman made on page 352, of this volume, it is deemed but proper that a more extended account of his daring military career in the Confederate army should be here given. The data reached the publishers long after the matter on page 382, had been printed, and is thus unavoid- ably thrown out of proper connection.
President Jefferson Davis said of Wheeler, that he was "one of the ablest, bravest and most skillful of cavalry officers," and this opinion regarding his military qualities was fully concurred in by Gens. Lee, Johnston, Bragg. Beauregard, Hood and Hardee. With nothing but courage, skill. determination and devotion to duty he rose from lieuten- ant to colonel at twenty-four, brigadier general at twenty-five, major- general and corps commander at twenty-six, and lieutenant-general at twenty-eight. His delicate figure, however. gave him a much more youthful appearance, and his devoted soldiers lovingly called him the
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"war child" and the "boy general." From early in 1962. until the war closed, Gen. Wheeler was almost constantly engaged in battle. He was wounded three times. Thirty-six of his staff officers fell by his side, six killed and thirty wounded, sixteen horses were shot under him, and for his skill and gallantry he received the thanks of the Confederate congress. At Shiloh he was very distinguished. At a critical point in the battle, when the right wing of the Federal army was furiously pressing forward, driving back the Confederate troops. Wheeler, with a single brigade, firmly met the assault, checked the enemy's advance, and after an hour's terrible battle, penetrated the Federal lines, and cut off Prentiss' division, which, after a desperate struggle. raised the white flag and surrendered. Wheeler took the prisoners, 2,200 strong, in charge; was highly compli- mented by Gen. Bragg. and was ordered by him to take Gen. Prentiss and the captured division to Corinth. ' Wheeler replied that the battle was still to be fought. and at his request he was allowed to detail two of his regiments under Col. Shorter as a guard, while, with the balance of his brigade, he continued the battle, winning great distinction and enco- miums from Gen. Bragg, Maj .- Gen. Withers and Brig. Gen. Chalmers Wheeler also skilfully and bravely commanded the rear guard in the retreat from Shiloh. and afterward in the retreat from Corinth. Then, in command of cavalry, he commenced a new career with constantly in- creasing success and distinction. His battles during Bragg's advance into Kentucky, his resistance of Buell's advance upon Mumfordville -- which enabled Bragg to capture the fort and garrison, 4,000 strong -- his skillful fighting, and gallant charges at Perryville, and his unsurpassed skill and hard fighting in covering Bragg's retreat from Kentucky, won for him an enduring reputation and earned the highest commendations from Gens. Bragg, Polk, Hardee and Kirby Smith.
At Murfreesboro, he attacked Rosecrans' rear, destroyed his team and joined in the fierce attack upon Rosecrans' left, charging over cavalry, infantry, and artillery, winning the approval of the president, and the commission of major-general. In all the movements of Bragg's army he was greatly distinguished, and most ably covered Bragg's retreat to Chattanooga in June and July, 1863. At Chickamauga he commanded the cavalry of Bragg's army, and was very distinguished. After that great battle, Rosecrans' army lay on the south bank of the Tennessee river, protected by fortifications. He had two lines of communication with his depots at Bridgeport. The short line was for miles cut out of the moun- tain side, the precipitous edge of which formed the north bank of the river. The longer and more difficult routh crossed the mountain into Sequatche valley, and thence down the valley to Bridgeport. The inter- ruption of both of these lines would starve the Federal army and cause its retreat to middle Tennessee. Bragg and Wheeler immediately arranged to accomplish this object. A corps of infantry was ordered to fortify the south bank of the Tennessee, so as to command the road
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where it skirted along the edge of the mountain on the north side. Wheeler and Forrest were each ordered to cross the river with independ- ent commands and strike at the trains on the other or longer route. For- rest insisted that the conditions as they then existed were too hazardous to justify the attempt. Wheeler recognized the danger, but contended that with firmness, dash, and determination, the enterprise could be accomplished. Burnsides' army was in east Tennessee. south of the river, with his cavalry, 4.000 strong, close down to the point of crossing. On the north bank, Gen. Crook guarded the only fordable point with a division of 3,800 cavalry, and a battery of artillery. An attack upon Burnsides' cavalry drove them toward Loudon, and about two o'clock in the morning of September 30th, Wheeler, with 3,780 men, proceeded to ford the wide and deep Tennessee river directly in the face of Crook's division. The success of this hazardous movement was due to its unpre- cedented boldness. At day light, Wheeler leading the advance, fought his way to the shore, driving the enemy from the immediate bank, attacked, discomfited, and drove Gen. Crook up the river, and the bold Confederates, proceeding to Rosecrans' rear, attacked and captured his immense trains, defeating two brigades by which they were guarded. Wheeler destroyed 1.200 heavily laden wagons, killed 4,000 mules, and carried off the balance. Included in the destruction were 300 ammuni- tion wagons, the smoke of the burning and the thundering of the burst- . ing ammunition creating the impression for many miles of the raging' of a terrible battle. During the burning of the wagons Gen. Crook engaged Wheeler's rear with one division of cavalry, while Gens. Mitchell and McCook, with another division, attacked in front.
Wheeler fought " until night, and then slipped off in the darkness, crossed Walden ridge, and at ten o'clock. the next morning, attacked and captured the fortified town of McMinnville, with over 600 prisoners and the stores of the left wing of Rosecrans' army. Wheeler also captured and destroyed several railroad trains and another train of wagons. Dur- ing all these operations, Gens. Crook, Mitchell and McCook were close upon and continually fighting Wheeler's rear. After destroying the stores at McMinnville, Wheeler made a night's march, attacked and cap- tured the forts guarding the bridges at Stone river, destroyed the bridges ' and railroads for many miles, attacked and captured Shelbyville and Columbia, and then. closely pursued by 7.500 cavalry. reached and skill- fully crossed the Tennessee at Muscle shoals. To do this. he turned upon his enemy, led a desperate charge in person, and before his foe had recovered from the blow, his command had hastened to the river and crossed to the south bank, the brave Wheeler remaining with the rear guard, he being the last man of his command to enter and cross the river, which he did under a terrific fire of the enemy's advanced brigade.
Considering the difficulties and dangers which were surmounted, and its great results, this raid must be regarded by cavalry historians as the
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bravest, boldest, most skillfully executed of which we have any record. Starting with his rear and flanks harassed by Burnsides' cavalry, Wheeler crossed the Tennessee river in the face of a superior force, commanded by the distinguished Gen. George Crook. Penetrating to Rosecrans' immediate rear, he destroyed his trains. Continuing his destruction of trains, bridges, railroads, military stores, almost constantly engaged in battle with over 7,500 ably commanded Federal cavalry, he again successfully crossed the Tennessee river to the south bank. Gen. Bragg wrote to Gen. Wheeler, thanking him for his skill, daring and great success, and authorized him to designate for appointment two major-generals and four brigadier gen- erals. This was done by Wheeler, and the officers recommended by him were immediately commissioned by President Davis, the appointments being transmitted by telegraph. One of the brigadiers thus appointed by Wheeler's recommendation was the distinguished Senator Morgan of Alabama. Gen. Wheeler commanded the cavalry and led the advance in Longstreet's campaign against Burnside's army at Knoxville in Novem- ber, 1863. By his vigorous attack he defeated Burnside's cavalry force, capturing batteries. trains and nearly a thousand prisoners; but on Grant's advance upon Missionary Ridge, Wheeler was called to Bragg's assistance and most ably covered the retreat of the Confederate army, successfully engaging and checking Grant's advancing columns during all the severe fighting on the 26th. and finally, together with Gen. Cle- burne, at the battle of Ringgold Gap on the 27th, checked any further pursuit. During 1864, Gen. Wheeler, as commander of the cavalry of the army under Johnston and afterward under Hood, was, next to the army commander. the most important factor in that great campaign of continuous battle. Sherman's army, varying from 100,000 to 120.000 men, was in constant conflict with the Confederate forces, of hardly half that magni- tude. Every effort on the part of Sherman to turn the Confederate army" was met and successfully baffled by Wheeler, and every retreat from position to position was covered by him so successfully as to prevent the slightest disaster to the army. Late in July, with less than 5,000 cav- alry, he met and defeated Sherman's cavalry columns. 9,000 strong, under Gens. Stoneman, McCook and Garrard, capturing 3,200 prisoners, including one major-general, five brigade commanders and many other officers, also capturing their batteries and trains. This was the most complete and decisive cavalry victory of the war. This and the many other cavalry battles with Wheeler during Sherman's advance had mater- ially crippled the Federal cavalry. Pursuant to Gen. Hood's orders, Wheeler struck Sherman's rear, destroyed the railroad and railroad bridges at many points in Georgia and Tennessee, captured and sent to Gen. Hood 1,700 beef cattle, 400 prisoners, several trains and over 700 horses and mules; also captured many garrisons with their equipages and military stores. In October, 1864, Wheeler commanded the cavalry in
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