Biographical and historical memoirs of eastern Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties named herein, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties., Part 103

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of eastern Arkansas, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties named herein, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. > Part 103

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A group of well-known mounds is situated on the farm of Napoleon Menard, eight miles south- east of the village of Arkansas Post. The largest mound is 965 feet in circumference at the top and considerably larger at the base, and is some sixty feet in altitude, its slopes being covered with trees and bushes. This has been dug into quite exten- sively, and it has been thought useless to explore further. There is connected with this mound, by a ridge of earth, 300 feet long and twenty feet in diameter, a small circular mound, fifteen feet high and forty-five feet in diameter, in which are a number of houses, bearing evidence of having been occupied. Near the middle of the connect- ing ridge, a layer of burnt clay, 5,006 feet in diameter, was found. At one side a large quan- tity of fragments of earthen vessels were discov- ered, comprising a number of earthen bowls of various sizes, quite new looking, and of a type of ware quite distinct from that found in the fields and graves of same locality. Restorations of quite a number have been made, and the collection proves to be quite interesting. The collector argues from the position of the fragmentary vessels, that they had been placed by their owners upon the roofs of the houses, which had been destroyed by fire. Surrounding the Menard Mound is a field of twenty acres, which appears at one time to have been the site of a large number of dwellings, for at a depth of from one to two feet layers of burned clay are found. This field seems to have been one vast cem- etery, the remains of skeletons being found in great numbers.

Pottery is found in abundance, and as a rule is found near the heads of the dead; but no or- naments nor instruments are to be found. The plowing of the fields has destroyed many earthen vessels, as the interments were near the surface. Noticeable is it that the pottery found with the re- mains is of a character quite distinct from that of

the mound. It is of the class common in these regions.

In other portions of the county are mounds of various sizes and altitudes, some of them contain- ing fragments of pottery, while in others are found bones, etc., but the Menard Mound, described above, is the most conspicuous one in regard to the race of men who erected them.

Among the early settlers was one A. B. K. Thet- ford, who also filled the office of sheriff of the county at one time. Thetford's ferry takes its name from him. At the time of his death he was living in Arkansas County, on the north side of Arkansas River, but this same house was, at an earlier date, on the south side of the river. The bed and current shifting left him on the north side. Some of his descendants are yet living in the adjoining counties.

The first civil government of Arkansas was lo- cated at Arkansas Post, as, in 1804, James B. Maney was appointed civil Governor, and resided there. He was followed by Stephen Warrel, and he by Robert W. Osborn, who administered the government till 1812; the Territory of Missouri be- ing then established her authority extended over Arkansas. By an act of Congress approved in June, 1814, C. Jouette was appointed judge of Missouri Territory, his jurisdiction extending to the District of Arkansas. He resided at Arkansas Post and presided over a court held at that place.

The first settlers of Arkansas County were French, who settled near the Post of Arkansas. They were an enterprising and energetic people, mostly engaged'in trade. Many of them accumu- lated fortunes, and their descendants now form an estimable class of society. The next in order were pioneer settlers from Kentucky and Tennessee, or their immediate descendants, a brave, self-reliant and independent people, many of them too fond of adventure and the chase to make permanent loca- tions or valuable improvements.

They had penetrated the country beyond, and in advance of organized government, or, if within it, were too far from the officers of the law and the courts to be reached by legal process. Yet, reso- lutely determined to suppress crime and preserve

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good order, they had, by common consent, rules of government by which crime was summarily pun- ished and contracts enforced. The payment of a debt was a matter of honor, and to their credit, be it said, the instances where contracts were violated were rare. No one felt absolved from his contract to pay, who had money or property, or could pro- cure either.

Another phase of history and one worthy of note is, that all acts of crime and violence that were committed, and which were but too common among an uncultivated, bold and self-reliant people, were almost invariably open, defiant and under the in- fluence of passion and resentment resulting from real or supposed wrongs. There is not a single instance of assassination, of robbery or of burg- lary, to be found on the Territorial records. The first settlers were miles apart, and generally along the streams, yet the prairies had a few located on their borders, and when necessity required, the cabin doors were temporarily closed by a latch or a pin, and the household goods were left for days and even weeks without molestation. In summer months, when at home, they slept with doors and windows (if they were fortunate enough to have any) wide open, in perfect security. A frank, honest and generous people, hospitable to a fault (a characteristic of their successors to-day), like the Scotch Highlanders they felt

" That guidance, and food, and rest and fire, In vain the stranger must never require."

There were also among them gentlemen of the learned professions, merchants and traders, some of whom were educated and of refined manners, and all of them hospitable and social.

As found upon the records, dating back to 1804, these names appear: John W. Honey, Henry Cassidy, Rufus Easton, Benjamin Fooy, Joseph Stillwell, Harold Stillwell, Andrew Fagot, Perly Wallis, James B. Waterson, Daniel Mooney and Patrick Cassidy. Later, Richmond Peeler, who came to the State in 1810.

Two brothers, Benjamin S. and Rowland Hal- ler, came from Kentucky. Benjamin was judge of the county probate courts, and up to middle life was an infidel, but when about fifty years old was

converted and began preaching. He was remarka- ble for his sound common sense. From the life he led he commanded the respect, esteem and confi- dence of the people, and at his death was mourned truly and deeply. Another character somewhat noted was Julian M. P. J. De Visart, Count De Boicarme, a Belgian, who came to Arkansas early in the 30's and settled within a few miles of where De Witt now is; here he died in 1852. His life was something of a mystery. Frederick Noteribe, who lived in and about Arkansas Post in the 40's, was the most prominent man in the county. He came to Arkansas somewhere from 1815 to 1818, and had been a soldier under Napoleon. He died in New Orleans of cholera in 1849. Prior to the advent of Noteribe came Charles Bogy, a native of Kaskaskia, Ill., who came with the Federal troops to take possession of Arkansas Post in the name of the United States in 1804. He was a man of Her- culean proportions and wonderful physical endur- ance. The Michell brothers, from New Madrid, and Louis L. Refeld were well known in the early history of the county, and after its organization the latter was one of the representatives. John Laquer was another.

Terrence Farrelly, an Irishman, came from Pittsburg early in the 30's. He was in the sher- iff's office, was probate and county judge, a mem- ber of the Territorial legislature, a member of the constitutional convention of 1836, a Whig in poli- tics (thus rendered antagonistic to the Pope), Gov- ernor of Arkansas (appointed by Jackson), a man of commanding appearance, strongly marked Irish features, and having a rich brogue. He was for years the leader of his party in politics. A man of sterling integrity, he commanded the respect and confidence of the people to a marked degree.

The settlements here, as elsewhere in the earlier days, were made along the streams, and, as late as 1845, were miles apart. There was one at Point De Luce, another on Big La Grue, William Crockett at Crockett's Bluff, on White River; David Adams at Adams' Bluff; Severn Pepper at Preston Bluff, then called Pepper's Bluff; on Bayou Meto lived the Barkmans, Woods and Rob- erts; on Mill Bayou, Benjamin Wilson, Youngs,

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Roby and Rodgers; in the southeastern part of the county were Walton, Ragan, Gordon, McCoy, Dunne, Barkers, Cobb and Evans, and of all these John R. Walton is the only one now living, who in 1845 had a family.

John A. Murrell's gang had more than one rendezvous in the county, but the Regulators, or- ganized for self-protection, succeeded in ridding it of them.

From 1846 the country began to settle rap- idly, especially between De Witt and White River. Perhaps this can best be shown by the census re- ports from 1810 to 1889: Population 1810, 1,062; 1820, 1,260; 1830, 1,426; 1840, 1,346; 1850, 3,245; 1860, 8,844; 1870, 8,268; 1880, 8,038; 1889, 11,640 (4,000 of whom are negroes).

In 1871 Arkansas County lost, perhaps, one- third of her population by two river townships be- ing cut off to form a portion of Lincoln County.

The war put a stop to all material growth, and then came the dark days, when the people had nothing but the land and their hands to depend upon for a living. In 1867 the general destitution of the citizens, occasioned by poor crops, caused an expedient to be tried to procure food and pro- visions. There was issued by the county court, with the consent of the people, $5,000 in county script with which to buy food, and John C. Quer- termous was selected to negotiate the issue. Fail- ing in Louisville, Ky., he went to St. Louis, Mo., and there James H. Lucas took up the "promise to pay," and Mr. Quertermous came back with a sufficient amount to tide the folk over the hardest times Arkansas County ever experienced. But $2,000 of the $5,000 was all that was ever used. Needless is it to add that the debt was paid in full. This is the nearest approach to a bonded debt the county ever had. During the reconstruction period, from 1868 to 1874, the county financial affairs were in a very bad state. Taxes now are low. General and county tax is levied at the rate of 5 mills; State tax, 5 mills; general State purposes, 2 mills; sink- ing fund, 1 mill and for common schools, 2 mills. The school districts vote a special tax ranging from 23 to 5 mills.

Subjoined is the financial statement of the

county from October 1, 1888, to October 1, 1889: Amount of revenue, $13,085.65; total expendi- tures, $12,013.24; balance, $1,072.41. There is no county debt, and county scrip is at par.

At the breaking out of the war and before the State had seceded, many of her bravest and best citizens were not secessionists, but when the ques- tion of allegiance to the State and to the general Government was so placed that each man had to de- cide for one or the other, the State was paramount; and Arkansas County claims the divided honors of having raised the first company in the State. At any rate, Col. Robert H. Crockett, with 125 men, marched to Little Rock, and there made one com- pany of the First Arkansas Regiment that went to Virginia under Gen. (then Col.) Fagan. Also Capt. David B. Quertermous organized à company that won honor and glory in the same regiment. Charles C. Goodden raised a company that was in the Trans-Mississippi Department. Capt. Samuel C. Smith raised another company that remained in Arkansas for awhile, but was afterward trans- ferred across the river. Capt. Felix Robertson, later on, organized another company.

Loyal to their convictions, as one man they shouldered arms for the cause they advocated, and many of them died upon the field of battle, their blood eternal monuments to the bravery and valor of the men of Arkansas County. The first battle fought on the soil of the county was at St. Charles, on White River, on June 17, 1862. When that place was captured by the Federals, Col. Fitch in command of the Federals and Capt. Dunnington of the Confederates, there were but seventy-five Confederates in service and they were poorly armed; they had eight killed and wounded and ten were taken prisoners. The Federal loss was much greater. A cannon ball struck one the pipes of the steamer Mound City. The boiler exploded and out of 185 men on board, 180 were either killed or wounded.

In January, 1863, a force of 5,000 men were sent up White River as a counter-movement to at- tract attention from Arkansas Post, the point against which the main expedition was directed. They passed on up White River beyond St. Charles, leaving Capt. Williams there in command. On

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ARKANSAS COUNTY.

the return of the main command down the river, the officers and men of the gunboat were so infuri- ated at the fate of the crew of the ill-fated Mound City (claiming the Confederates killed many of them while in the water) that the town was fired and completely destroyed. It is but due to state that the land force did their best to stop the wanton de- struction, but to no purpose.

The most important battle of the war in Arkan- sas was at Arkansas Post, which resulted in the surrender of that place, under distressing condi- tions to the Confederates, and after a resistance that reflected the greatest credit upon men and officers. The story is best told in the official re- port of Gen. Churchill, as follows:

Battle of Arkansas Post. Gen. Sherman com- manding Federals; Gen. Thomas H. Churchill Confederates. Federal force estimated at 50,000, the Confederate at 7,000; 3,000 only effective men. Total killed, wounded and missing, of Federals, 1,846; Confederates, sixty killed, seventy-five or eighty wounded.

Copy of official report of Brig. - Gen. Thomas J. Churchill, Confederate States army, commanding lower Arkansas and White Rivers:

RICHMOND, Va., May 7, 1863.

GEN. S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Rich- mond, Va.,

General: Not being in communication with Lieut .- Gen. Holmes, commanding the Trans-Mississippi Depart- ment, I herewith forward for your consideration my report of the actions of the 10th and 11th of January last, at Arkansas Post.

I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully your obedient servant, T. J. CHURCHILL.

Brig .- Gen. comd'y Lower Arkansas and White Rivers.

RICHMOND, Va., May 6, 1863.

General: On the morning of the 9th of January, I was informed by my pickets, stationcd at the mouth of the cut-off that the enemy with his gunboats, followed by his fleet of seventy or eighty transports, were passing into the Arkansas River. It now became evident that their object was to attack the Arkansas Post. I immediately made every arrangement to meet him, and ordered out the whole force under my command, numbering about 3,000 effective men, to take position in some lower trenches, about onc aud one-quarter miles below the fort. The Second Brigade, under Col. Deshler, and the Third, under Col. Dunnington, occupied the works, while the First Brigade, under Col. Garland, was held in reserve,

Three companies of cavalry, under Capts. Denson, Nutt and Richardson, were sent in advance to watch the move- ments of the enemy. During the night the eucmy effect- ed a lauding two miles below, on the north side of the river. The following day, about 9 o'clock, the gunboats commenced moving up the river and opeued fire on our position. Having but one battery of field pieces, of six and twelve-pounders, I did not return their fire. It was here that I expected the co-operation of the guns of the fort, but owing to some defect in the powder, they were scarcely able to throw a shell below the treneles, much less the flect. About 2 o'clock, P. M., discovering that I was being flanked by a large body of cavalry and artil- lery, I thought it advisable to fall back under cover of the guns of the fort, to an inner line of intrenchiments. The enemy advanced cautiously, and as they approached our lines were most signally repulsed. They made no further attempt that evening to charge our works, aud I employed the balance of the time, till next morning, in strengthen- ing my position and completing my intrenchments. Dis- covering that a body of the euemy had occupied some cabins in our old intrenchmeuts, I ordered Col. R. I. Mills, with his regiment, to drive them from their posi- tion, which he did most successfully, capturing several prisoners. Just before dark Admiral Porter moved up with several of his ironclads to test the metal of our fort. Col. Dunnington, who commanded the fort, was ready in an instant to receive him. The fire opencd, and the fight lasted nearly two hours, and finally the gunboats were compelled to fall back in a crippled conditiou. Our loss was slight; that of the enemy much heavier. During the night I received a telegraphic dispatch from you, ordering me "to hold out till help arrived or all dead," which order was communicated to the brigade commanders with instructions to see it carried out in spirit and letter. Next morning I made every disposition of my forees to mcet the euemy in the desperate couflict which was soon to follow

Col. Deshler with his brigade, with the regiment of Col. Dawson attached, commanded by Lieut .- Col. Hutch- iuson, occupied the extreme left; Col. Garland with his brigade with his right resting on the fort, while Col. Dunnington commanded the river defeuses. It was ncar 12 o'clock before the enemy got fully into positiou, when he commenced moving upon my lines simultaneously by land and water. Four ironclads opened upon the fort, which responded iu gallant style. After a continuous fire of three hours they suceccdcd iu silencing cvery guu except one small six-pounder Parrott gun, which was on the land side. Two boats passed up and opened a cross- fire upon the fort and our lines. Still we maintained thic struggle. Their attack by laud was less successful. On the right they were repulsed twice in attempting to storm our works, and on the left were driven back with great slaughter in no less than eight different charges. To defend this entire line of riffe-pits, I had but one battery

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

of small field picces, under command of Capt. Hart, to whom great credit is due for the successful manner in which they were handled, contending as they did with some fifty picces in his front. The fort had now been silenced about an hour, most of the field pieces had been disabled, still the fire raged furiously along the entire line, and that gallant band of Texans aud Arkansans having nothing now to rely on save their muskets and bayonets, still disdained to yield to the overpowering foe of 50,000 men, who were pressing upon them from almost every directiou. Just at this moment, to my great surprise, several white flags were displayed in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Texas Dismounted Cavalry, First Brigade, and before they could be suppressed the cnemy took advant- age of them, crowded upon my lines, and not being pre- vented by the brigade commander from crossing, as was his duty, I was forced to the humiliating necessity of sur- rendering the balance of my command.

My great hope was to keep them in check until night, and then if reinforcements did not reach me, cut my way out. No stigma should rest upon the troops. It was no fault of theirs. They fought with a desperation and courage yet unsurpassed in this war, and I hope and trust that the traitor will yet be discovered, brought to justice, and suffer the full peualty of the law. My thanks are due to Cols. Anderson and Gillispie for the prompt measures taken to prevent the raising of the white flag iu their reg- iments. In the Second Brigade, commanded by the gal- lant Deshler, it was never displayed. I had ordered Col. E. E. Portlock, commanding at St. Charles, to hasten to my relief with what troops he could sparc. Capt. Alf Johnston reached the post on Saturday night, and took part in the action on the 11th. Col. Portlock made at the head of 190 men of his regiment of infantry, the unprec- edented march of forty miles in twenty-four hours-and succeeded in entering our lincs amidst a heavy fire from the encmy on his flanks. He was just on the cve of bringing his men into action when the surrender took place. In no battle of the war has the disparity of forces been so unequal. The enemies force was full 50,000, while ours did not exceed 3,000, and yet for two days did we signally repulse and hold in check that immense body of the enemy. My loss will not exceed sixty killed and seventy five or eighty wounded. The loss of the enemy was from 1,500 to 2,000 killed and wounded. To the mem- bers of my staff, Maj. J. K. P. Campbell, chief commis- sary; Dr. C. H. Smith, chief surgeon; Capt. B. S. John- ston, adjutant-general; Capt. B. F. Blackburn, inspector- general; Capt. J. J. Gaines, chief of artillery ; Capt. J. M. Rose, ordnance officer; Capt. R. H. Fitzhugh, engineer corps; Capt. A. J. Little, signal corps; Lieut. A. H. Se- vier, aide-de-camp; Capts. Farr aud Smith, volunteer aides, and Mr. J. E. McGuire, my thanks are due for many val- uable services rendered me upon the battlefield. As for individual acts of gallantry I will make more full mention hereafter. I herewith inclose for your consideration the

reports of Cols. Garland and Deshler; that of Col. Duu- nington I have as yet beeu uuable to obtain. I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully,

Your Obedient Servant, T. J. CHURCHILL. Brig- Gen. comd'g Lower Arkansas and White Rivers.

As there is a diversity of opinion concerning Gen. Churchill's conduct on the occasion of the surrender, it is important to state that Col. Desh- ler's report corroborates Gen. Churchill's. The correspondence here given shows the result of an investigation conducted by Lieut. - Gen. Holmes:

May 9, 1863.

Respectfully submitted to the President:

The strange circumstances causing the capture of Ar- kansas Post demand investigation. I recommend a court of inquiry, and that meanwhile, Cols. Garland and Wilkes," and, I incline to think, Gen. Churchill likewise, should be relieved from their present commands over the men sur- rendered. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War.

Returned to secretary of war for consideration in connection with further information which he may have received. J. DAVIS.

July 13, 1863.

File, to await such further information.

J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War.

[Indorsement on copy forwarded through department headquarters. ]

HEADQUARTERS ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT. LITTLE ROCK, June 8, 1863.

It is impossible to imagine better conduct on the part of officers and men, and it is a matter of rejoicing with me that my hasty order was rendered nugatory before the brave Churchill was reduced to the ultima ratio, eutting his way through such immense odds. It never occurred to me when the order was issued that such an overpow- ering command would be devoted to an end so trivial.

Respectfully forwarded to the adjutaut and inspector- general. THOS. H. HOLMES, Lieutenant- General.

Col. Wilkes was the officer who first showed a white flag. The Federals land forces co-operated with about fifteen gunboats, besides about eighty transports; the gunboats were the De Kalb, Cin- cinnati, Louisville, Monarch, Clyde, Ratler, Lex- ington and Blackhawk.

The courts convene as follows: County court, first Monday in January, April, July and October of each year; probate court, third Monday in Jan- uary, April, July and October; common pleas, fourth Monday in January, April, July and Octo-

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ARKANSAS COUNTY.

ber; circuit court, second Monday in September and March.

. The county is in the Eleventh judicial district and the Second congressional. John M. Elliott, of Pine Bluff, is the circuit judge.

In De Witt are five practicing attorneys, Hon. W. H. HalliBurton, James A. Gibson, E. L. Johnston, Robert P. Holt and John F. Park; at Stuttgart, Crockett & Wilcox, Morse & Hall and R. E. Puryear.

The first case tried in an Arkansas court of which any record was kept, is one known as The United States vs. Thomas Dickinson, January, 1820-indictment for rape determined before Andrew Scott, judge of the superior court held in Arkansas County. This was an indictment for rape committed on the person of Sally Hall, to which the defendant pleaded not guilty. There was a trial by jury, composed of Richmond Peeler, Charles Roberts, Manuel Roderigen, John Jordo- las, Jacques Gocio, Stephen Vasseau, Nathas Vas- seau, Michael Petterson, John Pertua, Manuel Pertua, Pierre Mitchell and Attica Nodall, who, after hearing the evidence and argument of coun- sel, retired to form their verdict, and returned the following: "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty of rape, in manner and form as charged in the in- dictment alleged." The counsel in defense moved an arrest of judgment for the following reasons:

1. It does not appear by the indictment that the same was found by the grand jurors of the United States. 2. No place is mentioned in the indictment where the offense was committed, nor is it mentioned in what year it was committed. 3. The assault and rape are not positively and directly charged in the indictment. 4. It is not stated to have been committed with force and arms. 5. It is not stated to have been feloniously com- mitted. 6. It is not alleged in the indictment that Sally Hall was in the peace of God and the United States, when the offense is alleged to have been committed.

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Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; St. Louis [etc.] : The Goodspeed Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 836