USA > Alabama > Reminiscences of public men in Alabama : for thirty years, with an appendix > Part 71
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Though somewhat cautious in making professions, Mr. Rowe was true and unwavering in his personal friendships. His course, public and private, was directed by strong convictions of duty.
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He settled in the county at an early day, where he still resides, in the possession of a large property, acquired by industry and prudent management.
REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House, a number of gentlemen served for the first time at the session of 1857, with many of experience in legislation.
MICHAEL J. BULGER was born in South Carolina, and came to Alabama when seventeen years of age. He first stopped in Montgomery county, where he remained until 1834, when he re- moved to Coosa county and settled at Nixburg, and in 1838 changed his residence to Tallapoosa, his present home.
He is a man of marked individuality of character, as shown in all the antagonism of public and private relations, with decision and firmness stamped upon his face, which would attract notice in any crowd of men. These qualities were manifest in the Legis- lature, where, in 1851, he first took his seat in the House as a Southern Rights Democrat. He was again elected in 1857, and always took a leading part in support of what he conceived to be right principles, and resisting wrong and oppression at every turn. He would fillibuster the House for a day and night to defeat a measure which he was satisfied in his mind was unjust or oppress- ive in its character, or the manner of carrying it through was ob- jectionable. He well understood parliamentary law, especially that part which was of use to a minority, and, with perfect calm- ness, he would, by privileged and side motions, direct the action of the House for hours together.
He was elected a Brigadier-General of militia, and held his commission for several years, laboring diligently to infuse and maintain a military spirit among the people. He was appointed by the Democratic State Convention of January, 1860, a delegate to the Charleston Convention, and attended upon its sessions. He withdrew with the delegation from Alabama, and took no further part in any of the proceedings, contenting himself to look on, yet with deep interest in the result of things. In the break-up of the party at home, he adhered to the National organization, and was placed upon the Electoral ticket, and canvassed extensively in support of Mr. Douglas.
A very important period in the life of Gen. Bulger is now ap- proached, and I will try to represent him in his course correctly, without exaggeration or material omission.
Upon the call of a Convention, after Mr. Lincoln was elected President, Gen. Bulger was brought forward by the people of Tallapoosa for, and elected to, a seat in that body. He engaged in its deliberations with a full sense of the responsibility, and in 42
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the early part of the session submitted a preamble and resolutions setting forth his views and defining his position, which may be found in Smith's Debates of the Convention, p. 57. The first two resolutions are in the following words :
1. Resolved, That separate State secession, in the present emergency, is unwise and impolitic; and Alabama will not secede without making an effort to secure the cooperation of the Southern States.
2. Resolved, That the Convention invite each of the Southern (slave-holding) States to meet the State of Alabama in a Convention of Delegates, equal in num- ber to the several representations in the Congress of the United States, at- on the day of-, for the purpose of consideration and agreement as to the wrong we suffer in the Union, and the dangers that we are threatened with ; and to determine what relief we will demand for the present, and security for the fu- ture; and what remedy we will apply if our first demands are not complied with.
These were referred to the Committee of thirteen, who after- ward reported the Ordinance of Secession. While the Ordinance was pending, he voted for a proposition to submit it to the people.
He remained in the Convention throughout the whole session, taking part in its proceedings, and assisted in the reorganization of the State Government under the new order of things. His course in the Convention was made the subject of gross misunder- standing, not to say misrepresentation, of his true character, and in August, 1861, he was defeated for the Senate under circum- stances mortifying to his friends, who understood his position and principles.
In February, 1862, at the age of fifty-eight years, he volun- teered in the Confederate service, and was elected Captain of a company. He was in the seven days' fight before Richmond, and was wounded twice at Cedar Run, while commanding the regi- ment. He was sent home to recover from his wounds, and was elected to the Senate, and served one session. The next day after the Legislature adjourned, he returned to his regiment in Virginia, and went with his command to Gettysburg. While leading it in battle, he was severely wounded, and left on the field, reported dead. He was captured by the enemy, and re- mained in prison until March, 1864, when he was exchanged. He immediately repaired to his regiment, of which he remained in command until the day before the evacuation of Richmond.
In the first election for Governor, under the reorganization of the State in 1865, Gen. Bulger, who had the Winter before been brought forward by his friends for the position, stood for an elec- tion, and was defeated by Robert M. Patton, of Lauderdale county. In 1866, he was returned to the Senate to fill a vacancy, and served one session, the last under President Johnson's policy of reconstruction. He has firmly opposed, step by step, the meas- ures of Congress for reconstructing the Southern States, and is now hopelessly disfranchised.
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The character of Gen. Bulger will fully appear in his record, which speaks for itself. Alabama has no citizen more brave, none more patriotic; and while he has contended with the vicisitudes of fortune, politically, few men have a more consistent record, or stand higher in the estimation of those who knew him, than Michael J. Bulger.
HENRY DE LAMAR CLAYTON was born in Pulaski county, Georgia, March 7, 1827. He is a son of Nelson Clayton, Esq., formerly a member of the Georgia Legislature, who, from 1838, resided near Opelika, Alabama, until his death, December 27, 1869; and who was extensively known for his unbounded liber- ality and kindness to the soldiers during the late war.
H. D. Clayton was educated.at Emory and Henry College, Vir- ginia, where he graduated with distinction in 1848, being awarded the Roberson Prize Medal. He read law with "Shorter & Brother" (Hon. John Gill Shorter and Hon. Eli S. Shorter), in Eufaula, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. In 1850, he mar- ried Miss Victoria V. Hunter, a daughter of Gov. John L. Hun- ter, of Eufaula. He was remarkably attentive to, and successful in, all his business undertakings; so that, at the beginning of the war, he had amassed a respectable fortune.
He was elected to the Legislature in 1857, without opposition, having received the unanimous nomination of his party, and was reelected in 1859. He has always been a Democrat, and in 1860 was a secessionist. He was a member of the House, and Chair- man of the Committee on the Military in 1861, when Gov. Moore called for twelve months volunteers to go to Pensacola, to relieve those who had been sent to capture the Navy Yard and Forts Barrancas and MeRee. At the instance of the "Clayton Guards" and "Eufaula Rifles," he obtained their acceptance, by Govornor Moore, as a part of the force then called for. He had been the Captain of the former, and both of these companies composed a part of the then Third Regiment of the "Alabama Volunteer Corps," of which he was at that time the Colonel. Gov. Moore declined to accept the regiment, although every company in it tendered their services, for the reason that two regiments only being called for, he wished to receive the companies from all parts of the State. The two companies went into camp, at Eufaula, on the 17th day of January, 1861.
Col. Clayton obtained leave of absence from the Legislature, and received instructions from the Governor to bring them to- gether at Montgomery, where, on the 12th of February, they were formally mustered into the military service of the State for twelve months.
Seeing that he could not prevail on the Governor to accept the
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regiment, Col. Clayton was himself mustered in as a private in the Clayton Guards. The Governor, finding that he was determ- ined to go, regardless of the appeals that he could not be spared from the Legislature, on the following day sent him a commission as Aid-de-Camp, with instructions to take command of the Ala- bama volunteers near Pensacola, and organize them into regiments as fast as the required number of companies should arrive. On the organization of the First Alabama Regiment, on the 28th of March, he was elected the Colonel. This was the first regiment of twelve months (or indeed of any kind of) troops received into the Confederate service. Among the privates in this regiment were such men as Hon. John Cochran, Hon. James L. Pugh, Hon. E. C. Bullock, and many others little less distinguished. The faithful and prompt discharge of all the duties of private soldiers by these gentlemen, and the earnest support of the Colonel in the trying ordeal of enforcing discipline, as a soldier, among those with whom he had been accustomed upon terms of equality and familiarity, was in the highest degree complimentary to themselves and to him. They would never allow themselves to be relieved of any duty that fell to their lot, whether on guard, throwing up works, or mounting cannon. Their cheerful compliance with all or- ders, and the influence which their example exerted in stilling the complaints of others, can only be properly appreciated when it is remembered that the regiment was composed largely of the first gentlemen of the country, who had been suddenly called together in a military camp, in the expectation of a battle, and instead of that, except the battle of Santa Rosa, and the two bombardments, they were kept for nearly a year, digging in the sand among the fleas and musquitoes of the Gulf coast.
Upon the expiration of the term of service of the regiment, although Col. Clayton was requested by nearly all the officers in it to reorganize it and retain the command, fearing that as it had become so well drilled in heavy artillery, it would be kept upon post and garrison duty, and himself desiring a more active field, he yielded the reorganization of the regiment to Lieut. Colonel Stedman, and, returning home, organized the Thirty-ninth Ala- bama Regiment. This he commanded in Gen. Bragg's Kentucky campaign, and until after the battle of Murfreesboro. In this bat- tle he was seriously wounded. Here, also, his brother, Captain Joseph C. Clayton, who commanded a company in the same regi- ment, and was a most estimable Christian gentleman and soldier, was mortally wounded.
On returning to his command, after thirty days of absence, still suffering from his wound, he was surprised by the delivery to him of a commission as Brigadier-General. Gen. Clayton was at once put in command of a brigade composed of the 18th, 36th, 38th,
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and 32d and 58th (combined) Alabama Regiments, and assigned to the Division of Major-General A. P. Stewart. It is not neces- sary to speak here of the part taken by "Clayton's Brigade," in the campaigns and battles that followed. The battles of Chicka- mauga, Rocky Face Mountain, and New Hope Church, belong to the history of the war, and the conduct of Clayton's Brigade, and its commanding officer, will compose a portion of it. The part he performed in the last named battle, was such as to secure him the additional promotion to the rank of Major-General, and the com- mand of the Division to which he was still attached, on the pro- motion of Lieutenant-General Stewart.
Gen. Clayton participated in all the subsequent campaigns and battles of the army of Tennessee, up to the surrender of Gen. Johnston, in April, 1865. After the battle of Nashville, with his Division, and Gen. Pettus' Brigade, he covered the retreat of the army until the evening of the following day, when he was relieved by Gen. Stevenson, who, with another brigade, and that of Gen. Pettus, assumed his position.
Gen. Clayton was slightly wounded in the battle of New Hope Church, and at Chickamauga he was knocked from his horse by a grape-shot. At Jonesboro he had three horses killed or disabled under him.
On returning home, after the surrender, he devoted himself al- . most exclusively to farming, with marked success. In 1866, he was elected Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which position he held until July, 1868, when he was removed under the Recon- struction Acts of Congress. His general charge to the Grand Jury, in Pike county, a portion of which, relating to the condition of the country, the treatment of our former slaves, and the spirit which ought to animate the people, was published by the unani- mous request of the Bar, and re-published, North and South, as a campaign document, will be remembered by many.
In person, Judge Clayton is six feet high, weighs one hundred and ninety pounds, is slightly bald, very gray for his age, (forty- four) and is vigorous and healthy. He has a large family, and the best orchard and vineyard in South East-Alabama, making several barrels of wine yearly for home and friends, but none to sell. He takes part in every question of public interest, is patient under reconstruction, thinks it hard, yet is hopeful, and endures with fortitude what can not be helped by complaint.
Judge Clayton is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, into which he was confirmed nearly twenty years ago. He still resides at Clayton, in Barbour county, where he located on being admitted to the bar in 1849. He is engaged in practicing law, and also in farming. Such a career and such a record is honora- ble to the State.
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To the record already given should be added, in justice to Gen. Clayton, a letter, published by an unknown correspondent, in a Southern paper, dated, "In the Field, near Chattahoochee River, July 7, 1864," under the head of "Our New Generals," of which the following is an extract:
Lieutenant-General Polk is dead; Lieutenant-General Stewart succeeds him. The army of Mississippi will find in their new chief one who is capable of com- manding their love and confidence. Officers and men of his old division unite in regrets in losing so kind and so brave a commander. Upon leaving, he issued a touching address to his troops. He goes surrounded by prestige inferior to none. If he does not hereafter increase the laurels which he has hitherto worn with so much modesty, it will be a disappointment to many.
Major-General H. D. Clayton, who succeeds Lieutenant-General Stewart, also enters upon his new career under happy auspices. He was born in Pulaski county, Georgia, but at an early age removed to Chambers county, Alabama. He subsequently studied law at Eufaula, Alabama, and, marrying, located at Clayton, some twenty miles distant, where he practiced his profession, and acquired con- siderable eminence at the bar. He was for some years a member of the Legisla- ture of his adopted State. He was an early advocate of the secession movement, and, unlike many of the original prime movers of separation, made good his words by decds. He raised one of the first companies of the State, and went to Pensacola, where he was elected Colonel of the Ist Alabama regiment. In this capacity he served for one year with great distinction, when, the time of enlist- ment of his regiment having expired, he returned home, and raised the 39th Ala- bama Regiment. He joined Gen. Bragg at Tupelo, Mississippi, with his com- mand, which was placed in what is now Deas' brigade. He served with Withers' division throughout the Kentucky campaign. At the battle of Murfreesboro, his regiment greatly distinguished itself. Col. Clayton there received a wound in the shoulder, but, notwithstanding that, remained with his command until the sever- est of the fight was over, and only could be induced to leave when fainting from the loss of blood. For the gallantry he displayed on this field, he won the wreath of Brigadier-General, and was assigned to Cummings' old brigade. At the battle of Chickamauga, he was again wounded, after having two horses killed under him. For his skill at Rocky Face Mountain, in February last, he received the compliments of Major-General Hindman, then commanding Hood's corps, and of Gen. Johnston.
In the present campaign, his brigade sustained the principal attacks of the enemy at Mill Creek Gap; at Resaca, on Saturday evening, with Baker's brigade, charged the enemy and drove them over a mile and a half; and on Sunday even- ing, in the ill-advised attack of Stewart's division, his brigade suffered severely, but held it's ground until ordered to retire. At New Hope Church, he again sus- tained the brunt of the battle, repulsing the repeated assaults of Hooker's corps, which advanced in three heavy lines. He received on this occasion, the thanks of Major-General Stewart, and his merits being already known at the War Depart- meht, he was immediately recommended by him for promotion. He has since then been engaged in many of the skirmishes that have daily taken place, and during an attack of the enemy on our picket line, when north of Kenesaw Moun- tain, had another horse shot under him. His brigade has probably sustained the greatest loss of any in the army. Out of fifteen hundred men, which it contained when Dalton was evacuated, there has been in killed and wounded six hundred and twelve.
Major-General Clayton is about thirty-six years of age, tall and well-built, sol- dierly in appearance, has a brusque but pleasing manner, and enjoys great popu- larity in his command.
Brigadier-General Holtzclaw, who has just been appointed and assigned to the command of Clayton's brigade, is also an Alabamian. He hails from Mont- gomery. Before the war actually began, in anticipation of coming hostilities, he raised a company called the Montgomery Blues, and with it assisted in the capture
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of the navy-yards and forts of Pensacola. He was afterward appointed by the President Major of the 18th Alabama regiment. He distinguished himself by his bravery at the battle of Shiloh, where he received a severe wound, from which he suffered a long time. He afterward rose to be Colonel, in which capacity he has rendered long and efficient service. His merits have at length been appreciated by the President, and in giving him the privilege of placing a wreath on the mod- est collar of his homespun jacket, our worthy Chief Magistrate has only done what was expected of him a year and a half ago.
Brigadier-General Holtzclaw's appointment has been received by his brigade with the greatest satisfaction. He is popular in the army, where he is almost universally known. Since Gen. Buckner, under whom he received military in- struction, has been transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, he is said to be the best drilled officer in the Army of Tennessee. X. Y. Z.
The charge of Judge Clayton to the Grand Jury, in relation to the freedmen, having been referred to on a preceding page, the author thinks proper to reproduce the charge, so far as he is able, in the hope that it may have a salutary effect on the public mind. The note from members of the bar, requesting a copy for publi- cation, is also given, as both appeared in the "Southern Adver- tiser," of September 21, 1866:
TROY, ALABAMA, September 11, 1866. To the Hon. Henry D. Clayton, Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit:
The undersigned, members of the bar of Pike county, having heard with much satisfaction, and approved your charge to the Grand Jury of Pike county, and being convinced that the publication of that part of your charge which concerns the relations between the white population and the negroes lately emancipated, would have a good effect upon the country, respectfully ask for a copy of the same for publication.
A. N. WORTHY, W. C. WOOD,
G. T. YELVERTON, E. L. MCINTYRE,
W. C. OATES, H. C. SEMPLE,
JOHN D. GARDNER, . J. E. P. FLOURNOY, W. H. PARKS, J. N. ARRINGTON,
W. D. ROBERTS, HAM. MCINTYRE,
BENJ. GARDNER, JNO: P. HUBBARD,
N. W. GRIFFIN.
EXTRACT FROM THE CHARGE OF JUDGE CLAYTON TO THE GRAND JURY OF PIKE COUNTY, ON THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1866, AND PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE BAR, AND OF THE GRAND JURY IN THEIR GENERAL PRESENTMENTS:
There is a class of our population clothed with certain civil rights and priv- ileges which they did not possess until recently; and in dealing with which you may experience some embarrassment. I, of course, allude to the negroes.
Among the terms upon which the Confederate States terminated their heroic struggle for a separate and independent nationality, was one which guaranteed freedom to this race. Although we deplore that result. as alike injurious to the country and fatal to the negroes, the law has been placed upon our statute books in solemn form by us, through our delegates. The laws for their government, as slaves, have been repealed, and others substituted, adapted to their new condition. We are in honor bound to observe these laws. For myself, I do not hesitate to say, in public and private, officially and unofficially, that, after having done all I could to avert it, when I took off my sword in surrender, I determined to observe the terms of that surrender with the same earnestness and fidelity with which I first shouldered my musket. ( True manhood requires no deception, but that as we say with our lips we shall feel with our hearts, and do with our hands.
There is nothing in the history of the past of which we need be ashamed.
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Whilst we cherish its glorious memories, and that of our martyred dead, we pause here and there to drop a tear over their consecrated ashes, but remember there is still work for the living, and set ourselves about the task of reestablishing society and rebuilding our ruined homes. Others, unwilling to submit to this condition of things, may seek their homes abroad; you and I are bound to this soil for life, for better or for worse, and it must at least cover our remains. What, then, is our duty? To repine at our lot ? To sit down day and night cursing and gnawing our chains? That is not the part of manliness; but to rise up and go forward, performing our highest mission as men. "He who does the best his circumstances allow, does well-acts nobly-angels could do no more." Is it not enough that the blood of the best and bravest has been shed in every valley throughout the land? Is it not enough that the bones of our fathers and brothers and sons lie whitening on every hill-top? Is it not enough that the voice of lamentation has been heard at every fireside? Is it not enough that the wailings of the widow and orphan still sound in our ears ? Have we not suffered enough? Have we not done all that was in the power of human nature? In our own bosoms let us wear this consciousness as a jewel above price.
Now, let us deal with the facts before us as they are. The negro has been made free. It is no work of his. He did not seek freedom, and nominally free, as he is, he is helpless beyond expression-helpless by his want of habits of self- reliance-helpless by his want of experience; and doubly helpless by his want of comprehension to understand and appreciate his condition. From the very na- ture of the surroundings, so far as promoting his welfare and adapting him to this new relation to society are concerned, all agencies from abroad must prove inade- quate. They may restrain in individual instances, but we are the only people in the world who understand his character, and hence, the only people in the world capable of managing him.
To remedy the evils growing out of the abolition of slavery, it seems two things are necessary : First, a recognition of the freedom of the race as a fact, the enact- ment of just and'humane laws, and the willing enforcement of them. " Secondly, by treating them with perfect fairness and justice in our contracts, and in every way in which we may be brought in contact with them. By the first, we convince the world of our good faith, and get rid of the system of espionage, by removing the pretext of its necessity; and by the second, we secure the services of the ne- groes, learn them their places, and how to keep them, and convince them, at last, that we are indeed their best friends. When we do this, let us hope that society will revive from its present shock, and our land be crowned with abundant har- vests. We need the labor of the negroes all over the country, and it is worth the effort to secure it. If it would not be extending this charge beyond what I con- ceive to be a proper limit of time for its delivery, I might enlarge upon this sub- ject by showing the depressing effect upon the country which would be produced by the sudden removal of so much of its productive labor. Its first effect would be the decreased value of the lands-decreased agricultural products-decreased revenue to the State and county, arising from these sources, with their thousand attendant results.
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