USA > Alabama > Dallas County > Cahaba > Memories of old Cahaba > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
They gracefully wave their last farewell, So blithe, so gay, so bonny ; The boat slowly moves, the waters swell. And the calliope plays "Annie Laurie."
Now backward the curtain of Time is thrown- Cahaba is pictured in space, With the names of those enrolled on a scroll Who had lived in the dear old place.
The noble forms pass slowly by, Of many in history's pages, Whose names through Time shall ever live. Descending down the ages !
From across the river came William R. King, A statesman. courtly and grand ; The eloquent Yancey and Jesse Beene Follow closely in hand,
With William Hunter, of noble form. And Ben Yancey, both jurists famed ; And George R. Evans, a brilliant judge, Of fair and spotless name.
And Charles G. Edwards, a lawyer of note, A man reserved and cold ; And Dr. John English, of princely form. Of proud and generous soul.
76
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
The Heustis, the Roberts, the Clarks, the Herberts, The Stoutenboroughs and Crocherans come back : The Beenes, the Saffolds, the Rutherfords, too,
Follow in memory's track.
The Perines, the Curtis. the Wafords, the Blackwells, The Babcocks, so kind and true ;
While good Dr. Ulmer is passing by And asking: "How do you do?"
The Watts, the Arthers, the Evans, the Craigs, Appear in full array ;
While our ministers, Smyth and Cushman, "Meet Bailey and Cotton halfway."*
The Troys, the Birds, the Hills, the Bells, The Campbells, Dawsons, and Lodors ; And Dr. Rob English, a cavalier -- They all appear before us.
The Watsons. the Somervilles, the Mitchells, the Farleys,
The Saunders, Fambros, and Lakes ;
John Carter, Mike Keenan, and Sam Abernathy. Emmett George, Green Wood, and Spaight ;
The Saltmarsh, the Kings, Dr. Howard, A gentleman courtly we find ; A. H. Jackson, Hays, Dawson,; and Lewis, Of bright and promising mind.
With Bradley, William Boyd, and Boynton. Young lawyers of brilliant parts, Whose charming and manly graces Found a way to win all hearts.
*The Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal ministers who, in a friendly way, argued their different creeds.
tReginald Dawson, the brilliant young solicitor of Dallas County in 1858.
77
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
The Pegues, the Potris, the Whites, the Bushes, Judge James Evans, wise and true, With Norris, Mobley, and Garrett, Charley Hays and Dick English in view.
The Hunters, the Vassers, the Colemans, the Shields, The Milhouses, and Dunhams, so cheery, . With all the grace of the olden days, Are dancing and laughing so merry.
The Walkers, the Tiptons. the Davis, the Smiths. The Reeses, and Hatchers galore ; The Mitchells and Gills, from Cahaba hills. Come and are with us once more.
Foulks and McKinnis and William Quarles, Stephenson, Becker, and Cal Harris, And Herbert Hudson and William Town, Shoestring Barker, Rube Tipton, and Travis.
Ben Craig, so good and pious, He would not attend a ball ; And Menzo Watson, with his racy jokes. Made laugh and jest for all.
Mot. Chilton,* and Siddons, too, we see, Shep Diggs, and gay Tom Brown, Whose waggish wit and repartee Were known throughout the town.
Sam Hill, and Becker, Perine, and Hunter, Merchant princes of renown ; And the old-time druggist, Dr. Smith, Was known the country round.
*Dr. Horace Chilton, the brave young color bearer of the Cahaba Rifles, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., in 1863.
78
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Judge Rhiner, Bob Roberts, and Ab Brazile, High officials of the county ; And Joel Mathews, of learning and wealth. Known for his generous bounty.
Judge John S. Hunter, stately and tall, With proud, aristocratic ways ;
And Captain Bob Hatcher, of county fame, Both prominent in olden days.
Dr. T. W. Gill, a planter of wealth. With his noble, strong, fine face : And Dr. McCurty, and Dr. Saltmarsh, All men of Christian grace.
Tom Mathews, with manner imposing and grand, From his near-by estate;
Thomas Craig, a grocer and merchant. Famed for his honest weight.
And Farley, Tom Hunter, and Troy, Physicians held high in esteem ;
Isaac Lenoir, with Duffin, the artist, And our young dentist, J. S. Dean.
And Joiner, a Justice of the Peace- His ridiculous. practical jokes Repeated now, though years have passed. Mirth and laughter still provokes.
Tom Fellows, a jeweler. with beard so black. A man of Northern birth :
And L. Engleman, a merchant of Jewish descent. Both of well-known honor and worth.
And those old professors of music. Who played at our parties and balls- Both German, with spectacled faces- Funk and Engleman, the past recalls.
79
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And old man Krout, and old man Bowe, With their cakes and confections so rare ; And Quartermas, the marshal of the town, With his busy, inquisitive air.
And James D. Craig, a man of wealth, Known for his pious ways, And rigid truth and honesty, In those good old bygone days.
And our minister, Dr. Sparrow, So feeble and so old ; But would never give up his Master's work. And had no greed for gold.
There was good Mrs. English, and bright Mrs. Lodor, And beautiful Lucy Bell. Whose silvery laugh once more we hear, Resounding through the dell.
Mrs. George Evans, with her stately grace, Mrs. Will Beene, with Circe's charms ; Miss Eliza Evans and Mary Troy, With their elegant. queenly forms.
Mrs. Pegues comes by so graceful and gay, Ready for party or ball, With her joyous mirth and sparkling way. A smile and a jest for all.
And in the picture now we see Mrs. Rees Gayle, ever kind- A lovely, gracious lady, Cultured, gentle, and refined.
Mrs. Robertson, and Mrs. Pettus too- Handsome sisters of one race- With charming, old-time manners, Full of dignity and grace.
1
8c
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Mrs. George Gayle, of exquisite tact, And bright, ingenious mind- Ah! those old-time Southern women, Their like we scarce can find.
Mrs. James D. Craig, with her cordial smile, Mrs. Tom Craig, all so gentle,
Kind Mrs. Morgan, and Mrs. White, In memory's hall assemble.
Mrs. R. D. Hunter, too, we see. With her sweet and pretty face ; And Mrs. Perine, with elegant mien, At home in her grand old place.
Mrs. Peter Mathews, a choice friend, Mrs. Blackwell, of gracious fame; Mrs. Simeon Watts, stately and calm, A perfect, grand old dame.
Mrs. White Duke and Mrs. Portis, Both graceful, fair, and tall ; Mrs. Thomas and Joel Mathews, Constant friends, and kind to all.
Mrs. "Hamp" Coleman, pious, good, and kind. Mrs. Tom Walker, just and true ; And Mrs. Dowman, calm and reserved- They all pass now in view.
We live again in those olden days, Those golden days that are passed; So many familiar scenes come back In the shadows that fly so fast !
The commons, with their grass so green, Those large, old, village oaks, That cast their cool, protecting shade Over crowds of gay young folks.
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA. 81
A picture grand now there appears- The militia, in full review ;
With banner flying and martial tread, They come within our view.
We hear the sound of the big bass drum, The music of the fife. And see those muster days again. Replete with joy and life.
Billy McCracken* is the drummer bold. Who leads the troop along ; With tall blue cap and feather red, He halts before the throng.
And with a loud, resounding note, He beat the drum that day, And rattled and tapped, and tapped and rattled, As the soldiers marched away.
And Warren Andrews dashed around. Grand Marshal of the day ; And Captain Lewis, on prancing steed, His red sash flashing gay.
Now the beautiful belles of all those years Appear upon the scene, With sparkling eyes and laughing lips, All standing on the green.
Addie Davis, with her large, black eyes, Mel Walker, loved by all ; Lucy Mathews with her winsome ways, Margaret Bush we too recall.
*Billy McCracken, a free negro, who was the well-known drummer on all public parades in Cahaba.
6
82
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Mary Babcock, with sweet, modest face. And Ann, with hair so brown And merry, laughing, bright, blue eyes- The prettiest girl in town.
There were Anna Diggs and Lizzie Diggs. And Lucy Bell, so courted ; And Maggie Gayle and Jennie Gill. Whose beauty was far noted.
There were Sallie Craig and Georgie Craig. And Evie McLemore, And Laura Milhouse and Mary Perine- All beauties of long ago.
There were Mary Campbell and Lizzie Arther, Among the girls so fair ; And Sallie Walker, with rosy mouth And youthful, happy air.
There were Isadore Hill and Mollie McCurty. Lizzie English, with heart so true; And Kate B. Evans, of brilliant mind. All pictured in full view.
A score of others are standing there, 'Mid the soldier boys so gay, With banner flying and music sweet. On that bright. festal day.
PART II.
And now the old courthouse appears. Reflected on the scene- A large, strong building of red brick. Amid the trees so green,
83
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Near by the great artesian well, With its never-ceasing flow Of bright and sparkling water ; . And the heavy, iron door
Of the jail and probate office, Not so many steps apart. In charge of old Judge Rainer And Bob Roberts, of generous heart.
Once more we hear the crier's call : "The Court is 'bout to meet !" His Honor is in his robes again. Each lawyer in his seat.
We hear the old familiar names- Judge Cook is on the bench. John C. Campbell is standing near. Briefed, ready for defense.
Bill Yancey is there, in his full pride, George Gayle is in his prime ; Lapsley and Blake-Bill Murphy, too- Are waiting for their time.
And W. M. Brooks, ever courteous and kind, With intellect grand in action ; In the corridor of fame his name shall remain Undisputed by party or faction.
John Morgan stands by with massive mind. In oratory brilliant and eloquent ; Rees Gayle is there. with argument clear. And rhetoric splendid and trenchant.
Judge Pettus and Dawson* are both in Court, Learned lawyers, and deep in debate ;
*N. H. R. Dawson, of Selma. Ala.
8.1
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
John Williams and Lodor, Saunders and White. Chancellor Clark, Gus Coleman,* and Spaight.
Dan Troy, Kit Pegues, William Boyd, and Blake, Jackson Bradley and Lewis apace ; And Cumolander is running around. Getting the jury in place.
The Dallas Gasette is now thrown aside. With its advertisements for runaway slaves. And its editorial, strong and bright, From the pen of Charley Hays.
Brazile, the clerk, is at his desk, The court's now in full session ;
We hear again those brilliant minds. Of the times before secession.
So proud and grand they looked that day, Those knights of olden time,
With stiff, white fronts and tall, silk hats And broadcloth suits so fine !
Then, at the merry, festal board, Of bar dinners and bar suppers, They met and jested, laughed and talked, And flashed their wit upon us.
And at Aicardie's grand saloon The hours flew all too fast- In laughing over old-time jokes And taking the social glass.
Then came the happy Christmas time, The old town with joy was bright; The new year calls, the "G. G. H." balls, Their torchlight procession at night.
*Judge A. R. Coleman, now of Birmingham, Ala.
85
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And then the great Masonic fête. And the Odd Fellows' ball so grand At the Saltmarsh Hall, in the year '58, To the fairest within the land.
And the Thespian Society followed too, With a play at Bell's famous hotel, Just across from Perine's store And the old moss-covered well.
We hear the click of the billiard ball, The rattle of dice as we pass, And see the lights from the barrooms flash, As night's shadows gather fast.
We hear the sound of the hunter's horn, And the yelp of the dogs as they run ; And see those princely sportsmen again, All out for a night of fun.
William Davis, Ed Vasser, and William Quarles, And Stark Hunter, with dashing ways, And Darius Curtis-all come back In these visions of olden days.
Bruce Gill, Bob Hatcher, and Emmit George, Ed Milhouse, graceful and slender, And Walter Milhouse and Rufus Gill, Gay and handsome-all remember.
All booted and spurred, on prancing steeds, They meet near Saltmarsh Hall, Off on a fox hunt, in Portland beat, Then back for party or ball.
And now a fearful scene we see- The town with passion is rife ! The Bells, Dr. Hunter, Troy, and Judge Bird Meet in a battle for life !
86
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And when to an end the duel had come, The end of that fatal affray, The Bells had fallen. both father and son, Near the end of a bright autumn day.
Laid in one grave together, they rest In the cemetery old and lone,
Where the sobbing pines, to the evening breeze, Their requiem ever shall mourn.
But months pass on, brighter scenes return, Gay life and mirth abound;
Each face beams now with exultant joy- We've a railroad on the ground !
Prominent men from all the country round, High officials of the State, Are with us on this gala day, The event to celebrate.
We see with others in the crowd Stanch, loyal General King : And our thoughts travel back once more On memory's golden wing.
Again we hear his words ring out, Strong, clear, and most emphatic :
"The road shall not fail ; money are power, And I, and I are got it !"
His pledge made good, the railroad lies A firm, established fact ; The engine, wreathed in flowers gay. Is mounted on the track.
Brilliant speeches and a barbecue Are programmed for the day ; And Mrs. Pegues again appears In gorgeous, grand array.
87
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
With smiling face and graceful words. She smashed a foaming bottle ; As she christened the engine with champagne, Jerry Munn was at the throttle.
We hear the locomotive shriek- Loud shouts sound all around : "We've a railroad now to Marion, A plank road to Uniontown!
And Cahaba we expect to grow Into a great, extensive city- A rival to Mobile we know, While Selma has our pity."
PART III.
And now comes the eventful year of '59- Political differences culminate and combine ; John Brown. on his raid, into Virginia rode To arm our negroes with fire and sword,
To set them free and ruin our land, And destroy the Southrons to a man ; And though he was caught and justly hung, Our country's troubles had just begun.
And when in '60 Abe Lincoln's elected, Our hearts. the bitterest resentment reflected. Alabama seceded-bitter passion is rife- The North and the South are ready for strife.
Wild with excitement, and meetings at night, Our town is eager to enter the fight ; And now, in place of party and ball, Political banquets åre given by all.
88
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
At one of these banquets, a brilliant ovation, In speeches the North was condemned as a nation ; And George W. Gayle joined his glass in a toast With "death and damnation to the whole Yankee host."
And then in an eloquent oration he led And offered a reward for Abe Lincoln's head ; One million dollars was the sum he named,
For which he became in the South so famed.
In the flush of secession, a thoughtless boast. A reckless defiance to the Northern host ; It went out to the world in the weekly edition Of John Hardy's paper,* famed for its sedition.
And was copied in all the Northern papers, Who execrated our Southern traitors ;
And George W. Gayle, with our leaders of State. Became a target for Yankee hate.
So to the year of '61 the tide of Time rolls on ; The rumor of strife, the alarms of war.
The signal gun, that's heard from afar. Overshadows our fair town.
At the tap of the drum, with the blue cockade, Are gathered the flower of our land To don the gray and march away To meet an invading band.
The name of "Cahaba" is on their shields, On their rifles, gleaming and bright ; Miss Vasser presented the colors so gay To the gallant men who marched away, So proudly marched that night.
Kit Pegues, the company's captain brave, Accepted that banner fair :
*The Selma Times.
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And, as he flung it to the breeze. Wild plaudits filled the air.
The band struck up the "Bonnie Blue Flag." The soldiers marched around ;
And the drum gave forth its martial sound, Beat now by gay Tom Brown.
And John T. Morgan* played the fife As it never was played before : And we hear its notes reëcho still Through the years, as they come and go.
Ah me! the memory of all those years That come with their joys, their smiles, their tears! Cahaba so bright. so brilliant, so gay ; And the soldier boys, who marched away.
But 'neath all this gladness, joy, and mirth Were many an anxious heart and lonely hearth. And prayers for our boys who wore the gray. Our boys who bravely marched away.
And when, from bloody Antietam, The sad news filled our Southern land. Of the Cahaba Rifles, our company so brave, Many had filled a soldier's grave.
And, at the end of that fatal day, When the roll was called, after the carnage and fray. Only fivet could be found of that noble band Who risked their lives to save our land.
*Late United States Senator from Alabama.
tMy father, Col. Rees D. Gayle, Capt. E. B. Mosely, of Bogue Chitto, and Mr. Halsey Smith, of Carlowville, were three of the five members of the Cahaba Rifles to be found the morning after the battle of Antietam.
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Dead, wounded, or missing was the message that came To our sad hearts, aching with sorrow and pain ; But, like the matrons of old, we buried our grief And more fervently prayed for our country's relief.
Then followed the years wearily by ; But bitter tears fell from many a sad eye- Cahaba became an army post And a prison, too, for the captured host ;
And about Babcock's large, brick warehouse Extended a stockade so far, And within its strong, high, grim walls Were the Yankee prisoners of war.
And now, as the curtain of Time unrolls. 'Sixty-four appears on its magic folds- Brave soldiers are camping in the town, And officers gay are riding around.
Refugees are with us from afar- New Orleans, Memphis, other seats of war -. Their homes were burned by the Yankee braves, And they forced to flight with their children and slaves.
Beautiful belles of those years are also there. With silks and jewels and laces rare. Dug from the chests of long ago, Old-time dresses their grandmothers wore.
Some gowned in homespun, with a princess's air, And hats of palmetto covered heads so fair ; There were dinners and suppers in the town so gay, And parties and balls in the war time way.
Fair hands, too, were busy all the day. At work for the soldier boys far away- Knitting and sewing and making clothes, With prayers to God to defeat our foes.
91
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And the tide of the years turns backward, And again, as in olden days, We see our beautiful maidens, With their winning Southern ways.
There was Mary Evans, graceful and proud, And Alice Gayle, so smart ; And Roberta Evans, calm and cold, But with a warm, true heart.
There was Lucy Pettus, loyal and true, And Mary Saunders, queenly ; And Sophia, with her merry laugh And happy heart so seemly.
Mary Johnson, with her modest air. And strong, intellectual face ; And Lizzie Rainer, a slender girl, Of gentle, quiet grace.
There were Eliza Stark and Emma Arther. Both bright and fascinating ; And "Tack" Craig, whose beguiling ways Some found so aggravating.
There were Fannie and Mississippi Bush, And Anna Vasser, gifted, Whose brilliant, bright, and facile mind Dark shadows ever lifted.
There were Mattie Mathews, stately and rare, And Texcie Dunham, a beauty ; And Sallie Perine, majestic and fair, With her high sense of duty.
There were Ellen Craig and Adra Perine. Sallie Hunter, so debonair ; And Rebecca Mathews and Willie Dunham. With beautiful eyes and hair.
92
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
Fannie Hunter, with sweet Madonna face And large eyes, soft and brown ;
And Nannie Hunter, of girlish grace. With brown curls tumbling down.
There were Fannie Pegues, a slight brunette. Octa Babcock, fair and slender :
Pamelia Bush and Alice Watts. With hearts kind, true, and tender ;
And Ella Hines and Betty Watts, Sallie Gayle, both bright and witty ; And Kate Evans, with black, twinkling eyes. All youthful, gay, and pretty.
There was Hattie Stringfellow "en tableau" Of the Empress Josephine, Resplendent in the royal robes Of her coronation scene :
And A. B. Griffin-Napoleon- With the coronet of France
To place upon her queenly brow, And Her Majesty thus enhance ;
And Charley Hays, as Pope of Rome, Stands by, in solemn state, To give his benediction To this travesty of Fate.
And Medora Mathews, of elegant mien. Lovely, accomplished-a social queen- We see her again. in velvet and plume. With General Loring in full costume.
Dashing by in a handsome turnout. With trappings of silver that flash about ! Spirited horses, prancing in vain. 'Gainst the colored coachman who holds the rein !
93
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And now come the radiant refugee girls- Beautiful Miss Haley, with teeth like pearls ; Miss Page, so handsome ; Miss Talbot, so tall ; Mattie McClellan, bewitching: Nettie Watkins, so small ;
Fannie Garland, so dark; and Kate, so fair, So frail and fragile, with soft, brown hair; And last, but not least, of that bright band. Mrs. Bullock, a gay widow, from Georgia's land.
And the brilliant officers, then at the Post. Are with us again-a gallant host : Their names now appear. written in space. As an invisible hand their features trace :
Majors Hilliard and Gasset, in gold lace so grand; Major Chambliss, a fine, dashing young man ; Dr. Weedon, quite polished ; Col. Weedon, urbane ; Young Captain John Purtam, handsome and vain.
The surgeons, too, Hill, Whitfield, and Force. Are fine looking men, who honor the Post ; Dr. Prophlay, small, of dignified form ; Dr. Maddin, Tom Summers, and young Dr. Orm.
Captains Watkins and Read and Carrington we see. And the two Captains Nelson, all handsome and free ; Young Humphreys and Crutcher, so gloomy and tall ; And one other young captain-by name, Nuthall.
And the chaplain, Henderson, so brilliant and bright. And Lieutenant McClenan, a tall, fair knight ; Captains Metcalf, Reco, and Captain LaFay. And Captain John Allison, though married. quite gay.
There was General Dan Adams, courteous and bland, Belonging to Forrest's noted command ; And Bedford and Robertson, of handsome face, Polished young captains, of manly grace.
94
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And Lieutenant Pinkney, young and brave, Who was doomed to fill an early grave ; Captains Garland and Porter, too, we recall, As the flickering shades of twilight fall.
Now Golsby's Cavalry dashes by On prancing steed, with flashing eye- Young and gay, those boys in gray, Handsome and brave in that early May.
And we hear the echo of their horses' feet. As they clatter away far down the street ; Like Centaurs they ride. all in a race. Back to camp at the Dawson place.
And once more we hear the sentinel's tread. The sound of the evening gun, And the bugle's loud call to reveille Ere the rising of the sun.
And at evening the music of the band Comes with the scent of clover. As it softly plays, in sad refrain, "When This Cruel War Is Over."
And the martial strains of "Dixie" Sound far beyond the hill And a lonely cornet answers In "Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still."
"The Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Maryland" Now float upon the breeze, As a whiff of Cape Jasmine's rich perfume Comes through the mulberry trees.
And once more we hear "Lorena," With its throbbing, human pain. Sung by the brave young soldiers. And "Rock Me to Sleep Again,"
.
95
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHAB ..
"All Quiet along the Potomac To-Night!" Its memory we cannot smother ; And we hear again that sad, old song, "Just Before the Battle, Mother."
Now the strains of other music Float out on the soft moonlight- Col. George W. Gayle playing on his flute "Oft in the Stilly Night."
And we see the moonlight shadows, And the fireflies flashing around ; And we live again those brilliant nights. Those nights in the gay old town.
PART IV.
And now came the spring of dark '65, When the river. god, angry, caused the waters to rise From the grand Alabama and the little Cahaba ; And, passing all bounds, burst out of their border.
Rushing and meeting, they swept over the town, Those dark, seething waters ; and then quieted down To a murmuring ripple and gentle flow. As they rapidly rose up to each door.
For a time, like Venice, despite this disaster. We lived on the waters and soon became master Of the flood, and visited and flirted In birch bark canoes, so many asserted,
On those beautiful nights, 'neath the moon's bright ray, On the river's broad bosom floated ladies so gay. With music and song and officers brave ;
And prisoners, on parole, steered the boat through the wavę,
96
MEMORIES OF OLD CAHABA.
And when the waters receded and left us, The sad news from the front of all hope bereft 115- Our army was broken, scattered, and lost. And orders now came to abandon the Post.
And then came the scullions, the Northern invaders- An army of locusts were Wilson's great raiders, Who devastated our land, stole all they could find : Jewels and silver, mules, horses, and kine.
But few found their way to our dear village, Though we constantly dreaded carnage and pillage : For the Post was abandoned, our soldiers had gone. And only two men were left in the town.
One was Brenner, a German who feared no harm.
And a young lawyer, Sam Shepard, who had lost an arın ;
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.