USA > Georgia > Floyd County > Rome > A history of Rome and Floyd County, State of Georgia, United States of America; including numerous incidents of more than local interest, 1540-1922, Volume I > Part 25
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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
"W. T. SHERMAN, Maj .- Gen."
J. A. GLOVER, banker and leading citizen, for many years closely identified with the commercial development of Rome.
194
A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
That same day I received, in answer to the Rome dispatch, the following: "City Point, Va., Nov. 2, 1862, 11:30 A. M.
"Major-General Sherman:
"Your dispatch of 9 a. m. yesterday is just received. I dispatched you the same date, advising that Hood's army, now that it had worked so far north, ought to be looked upon now as the 'object.' With the force, however, that you have left with General Thomas, he must be able to take care of Hood and destroy him. I do not see that you can withdraw from where you are to follow Hood, without giving up all we have gained in territory. I say, then, go on as you propose.
"U. S. GRANT, Lieut .- Gen."
Sherman's word to "go" was thus received while he was head- quartered at Kingston, and came in response to his urgent appeal from Rome, and in consequence of recommendations before. There is an evident error in the Grant message just above, dated Nov. 2 and referring to Sherman's Rome message, also dated Nov. 2, as "your dispatch of 9 a. m. yester- day." The Grant dispatch date undoubtedly should have been Nov. 3.
This was the first time that Gen. Grant assented to the "March to the Sea" and although many of his warm friends and admirers insist that he was the author and projector of that march, and that I simply executed his plans, Gen. Grant has never, in my opinion, thought so or said so. The truth is fully given in an original let- ter of President Lincoln, which I re- ceived at Savannah, Ga., and have at this instant before me, every word of which is in his own familiar hand- writing. It is dated-
"Washington, Dec. 26, 1864.
"When you were about leaving At- lanta for the Atlantic Coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering 'nothing risked, nothing gained,' I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce; and, taking the work of Gen. Thomas into account, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does
it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old op- posing force of the whole, Hood's army, it brings to those who sat in darkness to see a great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and yourself to decide.
"A. LINCOLN."
On the 2nd of November I was at Kingston, Ga., and my four corps- the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Four- teenth and Twentieth-with one divis- ion of cavalry, were strung from Rome to Atlanta. Our railroads and tele- graph had been repaired, and I de- liberately prepared for a march to Sa- vannah, distant 300 miles from Atlan- ta. All the sick and wounded men had been sent back by rail to Chat- tanooga; all our wagon trains had been carefully overhauled and load- ed, so as to be ready to start on an hour's notice, and there was no se- rious enemy in our front.
Gen. Hood remained still at Flor- ence, Ala., occupying both banks of the Tennessee River, busy in collect- ing shoes and clothing for his men and the necessary ammunition and stores with which to invade Tennessee. Beauregard was at Corinth, hastening forward these necessary preparations. Gen. Thomas was at Nashville, with Wilson's dismounted cavalry and a mass of new troops and quartermas- ter's employes, amply sufficient to de- fend the place.
On the 6th of November, at Kings- ton, I wrote and telegraphed to Gen. Grant, reviewing the whole situation, gave him my full plan of action, stated that I was ready to march as soon as the election was over, and appointed Nov. 10 as the day for starting. On the 8th I received this dispatch :
"City Point, Va., Nov. 7, 1864, 10:30 P. M.
"Major-General Sherman :
"Your dispatch of this evening re- ceived. I see no present reason for changing your plan. Should any arise, you will see it, or if I do I will ir- form you. I think everything here is favorable now. Great good fortune attend you! I believe you will be emi- nently successful, and at worst, can only make a march less fruitful than hoped for.
"U. S. GRANT, Lieut .- Gen."
195
SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS AS TOLD BY HIMSELF
Meantime, trains of cars were whirl- ing by, carrying to the rear an im- mense amount of stores which had ac- cumulated at Atlanta and at the other stations along the railroad; and Gen. Steedman had come down to Kingston to take charge of the final evacua- tion and withdrawal of the several garrisons below Chattanooga. (Enter another "villain !"-Author.)
On the 10th of November the move- ment may be said to have fairly be- gun. All the troops designed for the campaign were ordered to march for Atlanta, and Gen. Corse, before eva- cuating his post at Rome, was order- ed to burn all the mills, factories, etc., etc., that could be useful to the enemy should he undertake to pursue us or resume military possession of the country. This was done on the night of the 10th and next day Corse reach- ed Kingston. Maj. Gen. Jefferson Davis commanded the 14th Corps of the left wing, and Corse a division of the 15th Corps.
On the 12th, with a full staff, I started from Kingston for Atlanta, and about noon of that day we reach- ed Cartersville and sat on the edge of a porch to rest, when the telegraph operator, Mr. Van Valkenburg, or Ed- dy, got the wire down from the poles to his lap, in which he held a small pocket instrument. Calling "Chatta- nooga," he received a message from Gen. Thomas.
Gen. Sherman records that just after the message from Gen. Thomas had come, and he had an-
swered "Dispatch received-all right," some of the marchers burnt a bridge, which severed the tele- graph wire and cut all communi- cation with the rear.
As we rode on toward Atlanta that night, I remember the railroad trains going to the rear with a furious speed; the engineers and the few men about the trains waving us an affectionate adieu. It surely was a strange event -two hostile armies marching in op- posite directions, each in the full be- lief that it was achieving a final and conclusive result in a great war; and I was strongly inspired with the feel- ing that the movement on our part was a direct attack upon the rebel army and the rebel capital at Rich- mond, though a full thousand miles of hostile country intervened, and that, for better or worse, it would end the war.
Thus started the ruthless cru- sade of this modern Attila the Hun, in which all rules of war touching the destruction of prop- erty and the treatment of human beings in the broad swath of war were suspended. Thus did Wm. Tecumseh Sherman write his name in fire and blood across the pages of Georgia history; justified, as he claimed, by the objects in view, but indelibly, as Georgians of to- day still attest.
196
A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
1
A NOTED SCHOOLHOUSE AND SEVEN DWELLINGS.
At top, left, is No. 6 E. Ninth Avenue, where Prof. Hay Watson Smith, brother of Dr. Henry Louis Smith, president of Washington and Lee University, taught school. Next is the old Hines Smith home; the homes of W. H. Fickling, Mather D. Daniel, Ed. L. Bosworth, J. P. Malone, Dr. J. D. Moreland and Mrs. Martha Battey, follow from left to right.
CHAPTER VII. Extreme Desolation Pictured in Diary
T HE Rome Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy has preserved in its archives a choice lit- erary morsel in the form of ex- tracts from the diary of Reuben S. Norton, which was placed at its disposal by Mrs. Wm. M. Towers, his only daughter, and which sheds a flood of light on the dark days between September, 1863, and the Confederate surrender in April, 1865. These extracts follow :
Mary Norton, then twelve years of age, was sent with friends of the fam- ily in 1863 to points of safety farther South, but her mother and I decided to remain in Rome and meet whatever fate might befall us.
The autumn of 1863 found our citi- zens in a great condition of uneasiness because raiding parties had moved on Rome from various directions; and so the people began sending their fam- ilies and negroes to safer places. Heavy reinforcements came in from Virginia and Mississippi, but as the Yankees were now in possession of Chattanooga, the worst was feared for Rome. In October, 1863, the com- mands of Gens. Walker and Grist passed through Rome, and having no means of transportation, impressed all the wagons and teams they could find within ten miles, leaving the people with no stock to make a crop. Such were the terrible straits to which our army was reduced at the time.
On Dec. 8, 1863, all the government hospitals were removed from Rome. The people realized the town would soon be in the hands of the enemy, and numerous families left every day. Pro- visions were exceedingly high and scarce, and were preferred to money in all trading. Conditions grew stead- ily worse in January, 1864. All the schools were closed, and the Rome Fe- male College was moved away by the Caldwells.
Four months later, on May 17, our forces began to evacuate the town to escape the heavy cannonading. About dark the men in gray drew into the town and began to move out. Think- ing the enemy would capture the available stores, clothing and food-
stuffs, they carried off whatever they could. Several Texas regiments sack- ed the stores of about $150,000 in cit- izens' property.
Early on the morning of May 18 our men burned the Oostanaula River bridge. The Etowah bridge had also been burned. About 11 o'clock the Yankees pushed their outposts into town, but our battery on Myrtle Hill continued to fire throughout the day. The town was now at the mercy of the invaders, who started burning houses and making themselves com- fortable. Certain wooden structures were torn down so the lumber could be used to make temporary shacks for the Union soldiers. The home of Dr. Hicks in DeSoto (now the Fourth Ward) was burned because it was charged Mrs. Hicks had insulted
Streight's men they when were brought in the year before as prison- ers by Gen. Forrest. Mrs. Choice's home also went up in smoke, and the family had a narrow escape. Several attempts were made to burn the Nor- ton home and barn, but the fire was put out each time. Many more fam- ilies left town in haste and confusion. Pillaging day and night was common. The Confederates were scattered
through the country, and Yankee wagon trains on foraging expeditions were handled roughly. Scores of ne- groes were sent North by the Union army leaders; they were not only of no help to our people, but in the way. Free transportation North was given such people as wished to go, and a few took advantage of the opportu- nity; I think there were eight or ten, whom we could well spare.
Homes were quickly turned into hos- pitals. Only three male members of the Presbyterian church were left: Nicholas J. Omberg, H. G. Peter and myself. The authorities took up the carpets of the church, and moved the furniture and prayer books; pews were removed and used to float pontoon bridges across the rivers. The First Presbyterian was used as a store house. The Methodist church was fill- ed with ammunition and the Baptist and Episcopal structures were con- verted into hospitals.
A provost marshal's establishment was set up, and the civilians were vir- tually prisoners. No mails were re-
198
A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
ceived or sent, and no person could pass the lines going or coming with- out a permit. Thus four dreary months passed.
On Sept. 18 the Confederates fired on the Yankees on the Cave Spring road, killing eight or ten and wound- ing others. The Federals, fearing a surprise attack, dug additional rifle pits. The people, in the meantime, remained in their homes as much as possible .* They were moved about, as their dy llings were needed for mili- tary purposes. They lived on what- ever they could hide out; sometimes cooked for the enemy and thus fed themselves. Miss Joe Stewart (later Mrs. J. A. Stansbury) told how she penned up a lot of chickens in her basement, and how their feathers were missing when they were finally turned out after the departure of the enemy.
Oct. 29 was noteworthy as the date Gen. Sherman and his staff came into town. They entered at night. On Nov. 10 at 5 a. m. it became evident that the invaders were preparing to evacuate, for they started burning the places of military value. Several ad- ditional citizens went North. The last of the Federals left at 9 o'clock, a. m., Nov. 11, 1864, and they destroyed such stores as they could not take along. Two days later there was not a sol- dier of either army to be seen. The streets were entirely deserted. Every- thing was as still and quiet as if no war were in progress. The business section was dead; only a little drug store was left, and that kept by Dr. J. H. Nowlin. The 40 men left be- hind organized a patrol force for the protection of their homes. They were as follows:
A. Tabor Hardin, postmaster; Dr. J. H. Nowlin, Geo. P. Burnett, mayor; Jas. Lumpkin, Wm. Quinn, A. M. Kerr, Lewis D. Burwell, Terrence Me- Guire, Jesse Lamberth, M. Marks, Green Stewart, S. G. Wells, C. W. Mills, Reuben S. Norton, John De- Journett, Nicholas J. Omberg, Peter Omberg, Wm. Lumpkin, Solomon Mc- Kenzie, Jas. Langston, Jas. Noble, Sr., J. G. Dailey, A. P. Neal, Ben Thorn- ton, Lee Lumpkin, O. Wiley Harbin, Logan Graves, Peter M. Sheibley, C. H. Morefield, John B. Jenkins, Dr. Wm. Farell, Jno. T. Riley, Jas. Lee, Joe Norris, Dr. Brown, Mr. Porter, Mr. McGinnis, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Raw- lins, Mr. Galeeren.
Of these, Judge Burwell, Mr. Quinn and Mr. Lee were unable to bear arms. The ages of the men left were 18 to 70. Among the women who remained
at home might be mentioned Mrs. Liz- zie Roach Hughes, Mrs. J. M. Greg- ory, Mrs. Robt. Battey, Mrs. John Choice, Mrs. Peter M. Sheibley and Mrs. R. S. Norton.
Different sections were assigned to the civilian guard. Mr. Omberg and Mr. McGuire were on duty in the P.road Street neighborhood north of the Buena Vista hotel (Sixth Avenue) . Early one night they heard the shrill voice of a woman, calling for help. They rushed forward and discovered it was old Mrs. Quinn. Before they reached her, a ruffian of a Scout band held them up at the point of a pis- tol. Another ruffian placed them un- der guard. Conversation between the two robbers revealed that they had been hanging Mr. Quinn by the neck to make him give up money and val- uables. He surrendered what he had, so they did not kill him. Mr. Mc- Guire and Mr. Omberg were ordered to follow the gang leaders, who would 'fix them' out of town. The two ran for their lives. A dozen shots were fired at them, one taking effect in Mr. Omberg's leg. Mr. Omberg's wife was dead, and he and his children were living with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Thos. J. Perry. Mrs. Perry was in her yard when she discovered Mr. Omberg coming up lamely with his hat in his hand, and without a weapon. He told her he thought he was done for, and begged her to hide him, for he knew the marauders would follow. She got him upstairs into an attic ** and ran to the nearest neighbor's to get aid for him. The neighbors were afraid to venture out, so Mrs. Perry returned to the sufferer and did the best she could .*** Later she went to the home of her neighbors and implored them to go for Dr. Nowlin. The doc-
*This probably refers to an ambuscade at the Hawkins place, on the Lindale road one mile north of Lindale, by Colquitt's Scouts. Some 25 wagons manned by soldiers and drawn by horses and mules were held up by fire from the bushes. The beasts broke into a wild stampede, several overturning the wagons. Colquitt's men escaped into the hills. Gen. Jno. M. Corse, com- manding at Rome, sent ambulances out and brought in the wounded, several of whom had been taken into the home of Mrs. Tom Hawkins and given first aid. Gen. Corse held Mrs. Haw- kins, her absent husband and her father, Roland Bryant, responsible for the attack, and burned her home while she looked on.
** Some say it was a hay loft.
*** Judge John C. Printup is authority for the statement that Mr. Omberg was shot near Eighth Avenue and Broad Street, and died at the home of his brother-in-law, Thos. J. Perry, at the northwest corner of Eighth Avenue and E. First Street. It is generally accepted that this job was done by Colquitt's Scouts, and it is said that several young men of Rome were recognized in the crowd. Mrs. Judge Jno. H. Lumpkin was also robbed.
199
EXTREME DESOLATION PICTURED IN DIARY
tor finally came, but could do little, and Mr. Omberg died about 9 the next morning.
Getting him buried was just as dif- ficult. Everybody stayed cooped up in their homes for fear of being shot down by a hidden foe. Presently the men ventured forth, made a coffin out of pine boards and laid him away.
Judge Burwell and Mr. Cohen were hung up until they agreed to hand over their valuables .*
These robbers were deserters from both armies, and they banded together to prey upon defenseless citizens. They committed many atrocities in the coun- try, but did not come to Rome again.
The steamboat (probably the Laura Moore) arrived from Gadsden to see how things were getting along at Rome, but went back the next day. Many country people came to town to avoid the Scouts; they crossed the rivers in batteaux.
Postmaster Hardin arranged to get mail through the country in a buggy, and gradually the people began to cir- cumvent Sherman's army and to re- turn home. After the final surrender, the refugees came in large numbers and turned willing hands to the res- toration of their premises and their fortunes. Rome cotton that had been hid out was brought to town and made a little trade; it brought 25 to 30 cents in greenback.
On May 13, 1865, the condition of affairs was dreadful; negroes trouble- some, food scarce, very little specie in the country. Not a yard of cloth could be bought. There were no shoes, no groceries, no anything except a few drugs at Dr. Nowlin's, and they could not be eaten. All was used up, wast- ed away. That our people rose above these conditions is a splendid tribute to their stamina and light-heartedness.
The Federal authorities came into Rome on June 20, 1865, and announced to Mayor Jas. Noble, Jr., that his of- fice was vacant and the town was un- der military rule. The Freedmen's Bureau was established with Capt. C. A de la Mesa in charge, and thus began the rule of the carpetbagger, under which our people endured life calmly until their country was once more restored to their keeping.
The following letter, sent from Rome Nov. 17, 1864, (one day aft- er Sherman started his March to the Sea from Atlanta), by Mrs.
*Mr. Cohen's people deny he was hung up; he may have been forced to give over his money.
Robert Battey to her husband, then presumably at Selma, Ala., contains a graphic description of the privations endured by the few people left at home :
My Darling: I have just received your letter from Selma. I am so sorry that you could not come home for a few days. I feel as if you are so far from me now; it may be a long time before I see you again, if ever. I'm feeling sad tonight. I have had a hard time for the last two months. The negroes all left me and went to the Yankees, and when the Yankees left, the negroes all had to "foot it" to Kingston, Aunt Cheney carrying her clothes and Belle the baby; Bill car- rying himself the best he could. Pagey got along very well, but old Mary had a hard time walking so far and by the time they reached Kingston they were sick of the Yankees and turned and came home.
Two miles this side of Kingston a man took Belle and carried her to his home. Day before yesterday the ne- groes all returned except Belle. I heard that she was at Mr. Sheibley's place, so Mr. Sheibley went up, found her and brought her home today. Now
MRS. WILLIAM SMITH (later Mrs. Anderson W. Redding, of Jamestown, Lee County, Ga.), mother of Mrs. Robert Battey.
200
A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
I have them all home. They lost all their bedding and clothing. They have treated me very badly, left me sick; Bessie to nurse; cows to milk, cook- ing to do, washing and everything else. No one to help but George. We had a hard time.
Willie went with Mrs. Hawkins to Columbus. I look for them back Sun- day. I need him very much. We have no wood, and no one to get it for me. My fences are all gone. You would not know our home.
I was ready to go South when Mr. Maupin came home. He told me that you thought it best for me to stay at home, even if I had to live in one side of the house and burn the other, so I concluded to stay. I had no one to help me out with my children. I felt that I could not carry Bessie, so I hope it will all be for the best.
I don't know how the negroes will treat me when I take to my bed. I miss poor old Coyle. I wrote you that he was dead. He died two or three months ago.
Should I ever see you I will tell you what I have to go through. Don't have too much confidence in all of the negroes; some of them are mean.
The Yankees are gone, I hear, to Macon. They have 60 days' rations. I fear we have no force there, and am so anxious to know what they are go- ing to do. I feel more discouraged now than I ever have before.
Our people are doing so badly. They are in here robbing and killing. They robbed old Mr. Burwell a few nights ago, and again last night they hung him until he was almost dead, for his money. They have it all now. They killed Mr. N. J. Omberg last. He was out in the yard, he and Mr. McGuire, and they heard somebody cry out, and ran to old Mrs. Quinn, and found they were hanging Mr. Quinn. They met Mr. Omberg and he asked them who they were. They replied, "Friends." Mr. Omberg put down his gun and they walked up to him and took all his greenbacks, then shot him. He lived until today. They robbed Mrs. Lumpkin of everything she had, and Peter Omberg, too. I look for them all night.
I don't undress for fear they will come. I have no money for them to get, and hope they will spare me. Such a life to lead! No rest night or day! I had expected that when the Yankees left I would get to sleep some at night, but it is worse than ever. You don't know anything about it.
The night the town was burned I was all alone, except for my little chil- dren. I can not describe my feelings. I did not know what to do, so I went to washing, and washed two or three dozen pieces. I had not had any done for four weeks. I passed the night away somehow and am still alive. But I must not write you all these things. I hope you will excuse me, as I can not think of anything else.
Dear Grace, I am glad to hear she is well and wish so much I had her with me. The poor child would not feel at home here now; everything is so changed. I will write her tonight. She had better come home if I stay here. Oh, how I long to see you, to be near one who feels an interest in me! I don't know what I will do while I am sick, but I hope that you will be here or that something may happen to help me.
Don't bother about money; if you can't get it you can do without it. I owe some greenback, but they will have to wait for it. I have tried to get along the best I could since you left.
The children are all well. Little Bessie is well, but cannot walk; I feel very anxious about her and fear she never will. Reddy looks delicate, but keeps up and is a good little thing. George, Mary and Henry are well and help me all they can. They want to see their dear father very much.
Mr. Norton and family are well. Aunt Cooley is not in good health. Georgia and Mary are well. Where is Mrs. Stillwell? I heard from Ballie; he was well but needed money. He wrote Mr. Moore for some. I sent him $5, all I had, but don't know whether he got it or not. I would write to Mrs. Stillwell if I knew where to write. Mrs. Lee and children are well. Some of their negroes are gone-old Annie, Richmond and Hay- good. Jack's wife has not gone. She had a baby and is doing well. I hope Mrs. Graves will get home soon now.
I might write you a more interest- ing letter and tell you how I fared with the new commander we had here. I will write again when I feel more cheerful. I will finish this in the morning.
Your devoted wife,
M. BATTEY.
Mrs. Naomi P. Bale (Rome's venerated "Grandma Georgy"), tells in a contribution to the U. D. C. this graphic story of war
201
EXTREME DESOLATION PICTURED IN DIARY
trials and tribulations in Dirttown Valley, Chattooga County, about fifteen miles from Rome:
The first real sorrow that came to me during the Civil War was when my only brother was brought back home in his coffin from Cumberland Gap, Tenn., Dec. 1, 1862. It had never occurred to me that his home-coming would be so sad, that with my dear old father, whose life was bound up in his promising son, and whose heart never recovered from this stroke, and with the broken-hearted young widow and the five little children, I would stand beside the form of a strong young soldier, cut down in the hey- day of his youth.
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.