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 55
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RHODEF SHOLEM CONGREGA- TION ("Followers of Peace") .- Founded in 1871 by David Jacob Mey- erhardt, father of Judge Max Meyer- hardt, who officiated until his death in 1890. Jacob Kuttner then officiated until his death in 1905, at which time Isaac May assumed charge, and is the incumbent. The vice-president is Judge Max Meyerhardt and the secretary and treasurer Joe Esserman. M. Miller is the rabbi, and the trustees are Harry Lesser, Pressley Esserman and Jake Mendelson. Rabbi David Esserman served from 1898 until 1916, when ill health forced him to resign. He died in 1917.
The congregation still worships in a rented hall in the Masonic Temple, but a building has been created which will be used later to erect a handsome house of worship. The Sunday School, taught by Judge Max Meyerhardt, has a membership of nearly 60.
RIVERS OF FLOYD COUNTY .- The rivers which drain Floyd County flow in a generally southwestward di- rection; the Oostanaula and the Eto- wah unite at Rome to form the Coosa, which threads its way in a serpentine
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
course through eastern Alabama until it joins the Tallapoosa near Wetump- ka and Montgomery and then glides into the Alabama River and finally loses itself in the Gulf of Mexico. The Etowah is not navigable. The Oosta- naula admits small steamers as far up as Carter's Quarters, Murray Coun- ty. 105 miles, while the Coosa can be plied 250 miles, nearly to the junc- tion with the Tallapoosa. Greensport is the extremity and Gadsden a popu- lar inland port. The navigable ex- tent of the two rivers is therefore 355 miles.
A keg placed in the Etowah at its source, if unobstructed, would reach Rome in about three days, as it would if set free in the Oostanaula, the flow being a rapid at the start, and rush- ing on at the rate of about seven miles an hour 100 miles up and calming down to two or three miles at Rome. Should a giant stand at the head wa- ters of the Oostanaula, break a stone and drop half into the water, particles of it would be washed eventually into the Gulf of Mexico via Rome and Mo- bile Bay; if he should place the other half of the rock in his sling and hurl it a quarter of a mile to another rush- ing stream, particles would be carried into the Toccoa River, then the Ocoee, then Hiwassee, then the Tennessee (past Chattanooga and Muscle Shoals) and finally into the Gulf at New Or- leans by the majestic Mississippi. The sandy particles would find their way to Mobile Bay via Rome if cast into the Etowah, but if they should be slung into the gurgling Tesnatee, a tributary of the Chattahoochee, they would pass Atlanta and Columbus and ble dis- charged into the Gulf via the Appa- lachicola River and Appalachicola Bay.
Should a mischievous and adventur- ous hob-goblin mount the keg as it skimmed along the Etowah, he would not only see the muskrats, the fish, the eels and mussels at play, and the squir- rels cracking nuts on the banks, but he would hear the farmers singing through the bottom land cornfields and the moonshiners droning over their mash. If he could stretch his neck a bit-so it would put his head above the tallest sycamore trees fringing the bank-he could gaze on Dahlonega, Lumpkin County; Dawsonville, Daw- son County; Hightower, Forsyth Coun- ty; Canton, Cherokee County; Car- tersville and Kingston, Bartow Coun- ty; and finally the arching spires of Rome.
Should the hob-goblin forsake the muddy river for the clear Oostanaula
he would take his start in the classic Cohutta Mountains in Fannin County, pass through a part of Polk and Brad- ley Counties, Tenn., then come back to Georgia, go within hailing distance of Dalton, Whitfield County, straddle the county line between Whitfield and Murray, pass Resaca and Calhoun in Gordon County, and amble on down to Rome; or if he took the Coosawattee branch of the Oostanaula he would start his impish journey on Cherrylog Creek, near Blue Ridge, Fannin Coun- ty, bow his way into the Ellijay River, doff his purple velvet cap at Ellijay, Gilmer County, yell at Sam Carter at Carter's Quarters, Murray County, and enter the purling Oostanaula at Re- saca, in Gordon.
After sailing along more slowly to Rome and the Mayo Bar Lock, eight miles below, the little gamin would shoot the rapids beyond the lock and dam, and by the time he reached the mouth of Big Cedar Creek, near the Alabama line, he would be apt to hop off the keg, skip along the creek until he reached Cave Spring, and there ex- plore the wonderful cave and play with the school children to his heart's con- tent.
ROMANS IN CONGRESS .- The present senior Senator from Georgia, Wm. J. Harris, of Cedartown, was once a resident of Rome, and Milford W. Howard, who went to Congress in the nineties from Ft. Payne, Ala., was born in the DeSoto district, now the Fourth Ward. Mr. Howard wrote a book entitled "If Christ Came to Congress." This was such a scath- ing arraignment that when Mr. How- ard arrived to resume his duties, his seat was contested by Speaker Thos. B. Reed and others.
In 1868 Dr. H. V. M. Miller was elected to the United States Senate from Atlanta, defeating Jos. E. Brown. He had removed from Rome the year before. He was not seated until a few days before his term expired.
The following Romans have been elected to Congress from Rome:
Before the War.
JNO. H. LUMPKIN; 28th Congress, 1843-5; Georgia contemporaries: Ed- ward J. Black, Absalom H. Chappell, Duncan L. Clinch, Howell Cobb, Hugh A. Haralson, John Millen, Alexander H. Stephens, Wm. H. Stiles. Twenty- ninth Congress, 1845-7; contempora- ries : Howell Cobb, Hugh A. Haralson, Seaborn Jones, Thos. Butler King,
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BEFORE "KING WEEVIL" HAD USURPED THE THRONE.
The picture shows a "cotton patch" transplanted in Broad Street; year, 1916. Miss Frances Wright (Mrs. Julius Clyde Price) telling a crowd of Dixie and Forrest Highway tourists the advantages of good roads and diversified agriculture. James M. Cox, of Ohio, candidate for President in 1920, is in the automobile in the left foreground.
Washington Poe, Alexander H. Steph- ens, Robt. Toombs, Geo. W. Towns. Thirtieth Congress, 1847-9; contempo- raries : Howell Cobb, Hugh A. Haral- son, Alfred Iverson, John W. Jones, Thos. Butler King, Alexander H. Stephens, Robt. Toombs. Thirty-fourth Congress, 1855-7; contemporaries : Howell Cobb, Martin J. Crawford, Na- thaniel G. Foster, Jas. L. Seward, Al- exander H. Stephens, Robt. P. Trippe, Hiram Warner.
THOS. C. HACKETT ;* Thirty. first Congress, 1849-51; contempora- ries : Howell Cobb (elected speaker Dec. 21, 1849), Hugh A. Haralson, Jos. W. Jackson, Thos. Butler King, Allen F. Owen, Alexander H. Steph- ens, Robt. Toombs, Marshall J. Well- born.
AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT; 35th Congress, 1857-9; contemporaries : Martin J. Crawford, Lucius J. Gartrell, Joshua Hill, James Jackson, James L. Seward, Alexander H. Stephens, Robt. P. Trippe, Hiram Warner.
JOHN W. H. UNDERWOOD; 36th Congress, 1859-61; contemporaries : Martin J. Crawford, Lucius J. Gartrell, Thos. Hardeman, Jr., Joshua Hill, Jas. Jackson, John J. Jones, Peter E. Love. (On Jan. 23, 1861, the Georgia dele- gation retired from Congress, and
Joshua Hill was the only one who went through the formality of a resigna- tion).
After the War.
JUDSON C. CLEMENTS; 51st Congress, 1889-91; contemporaries : Geo. T. Barnes, Jas. H. Blount, Allen D. Candler, Henry H. Carlton, Chas. F. Crisp, Thos. W. Grimes, Rufus E. Lester, Jno. D. Stewart, Henry G. Turner. (Judge Clements removed to Rome in 1887 from LaFayette, Walker County, having been just returned to Congress from that point. At the next election he was living at Rome, but after his service in the 51st he declined re-election. While living in Walker he had served in the 47th through the 49th, 1881-7. In the 50th, 1887-9, he served with the same colleagues as in the 51st, except that Thos. M. Nor- wood was serving in the 50th, and was succeeded by Rufus E. Lester in the 51st).
JOHN W. MADDOX; 53rd Con- gress, 1893-5; contemporaries: J. C. C. Black, Thos. B. Cabaniss, Chas. F. Crisp, Thos. G. Lawson, Rufus E. Les- ter, Leonidas F. Livingston, Chas. L. Moses, Benj. E. Russell, F. Carter Tate, Henry G. Turner. Fifty-fourth Congress, 1895-7; contemporaries: C. L. Bartlett, Chas. F. Crisp, the father; Chas. R. Crisp, the son; Thos. G. Law- son, Rufus E. Lester, Leonidas F. Liv-
*Died Oct. 8, 1851, at Marietta, Ga.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
ingston, Chas. L. Moses, F. Carter Tate, Henry G. Turner. Fifty-fifth Congress, 1897-9; contemporaries : Wm. C. Adamson, Chas. L. Bartlett, Wm. G. Brantley, Wm. H. Fleming, Jas. M. Griggs, Wm. M. Howard, Rufus E. Lester, Elijah B. Lewis, Leonidas F. Livingston, F. Carter Tate. Fifty- sixth Congress, 1899-1901; contempo- raries: Same as in 55th. Fifty-sev- enth Congress, 1901-3; contemporaries : Same as in 55th and 56th. Fifty- eighth Congress, 1903-5; contempora- ries: Same as in 55th, 56th and 57th except that Thos. W. Hardwick took the place of Wm. H. Fleming.
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ROME FEMALE COLLEGE .- Founded about 1853 by Col. Simpson Fouche, as the Cherokee Female Insti- tute. Col. Fouche conducted it until Jan. 1, 1857, when he was succeeded by Dr. and Mrs. Jno. M. M. Caldwell, who had previously operated a school for day students in their home, the old John Ross house, in the Fourth Ward. It was situated on the north side of Eighth Avenue where the Bur- ney and Willingham homes are now located. After Mrs. Caldwell's death June 8, 1886, at the school, Dr. Cald- well continued the institution, but it finally passed into the hands of Dr. J. B. S. Holmes, who converted it into a private sanitarium, which burned down in the early nineties.
As claimed by the Caldwells and ac- cording to fact, the college was an outgrowth of the Institute, for in the larger institution boarding pupils were accepted, and they came from many states. It began its career under the auspices of the Presbyterian Synod of Georgia, but in 1860, along with simi- lar institutions, passed into the owner- ship of Dr. Caldwell. A new charter was granted in July, 1877. The Synod again tried to obtain control in 1885.
The twenty-fifth anniversary was celebrated in 1882. On Sunday, June 4, the Rev. John Jones, president of the first board of trustees, delivered the baccalaureate address, and on commencement day, June 8, Dr. Cald- well spoke, and the Alumnae Society held a reunion at the college.
On Feb. 15, 1886, the art and music departments, dining room and kitchen were destroyed by fire, with a loss of a valuable collection of art treasures, the accumulation of 25 years. The building loss was soon restored.
The booklet of 1886 lists the follow- ing faculty : Dr. Caldwell, president and professor of Evidences of Chris-
tianity; Samuel Craighead Caldwell* vice-president and professor of meta- physics, natural science and higher mathematics; Mrs. S. C. Caldwell, lady principal and in charge of dormitories; Miss Ella Young, Latin and Belles- Letters; Miss S. P. Barker, elocution, reading and English Composition ; Prof. A. Buttel, principal of music de- partment; Madame A. Buttel, French and German; Miss Ella Bailey, art; S. C. Caldwell, secretary and treas- urer. Among other teachers of va- rious periods might be mentioned Mrs. Arthur W. Tedcastle, of Boston. The school maintained a primary depart- ment as well as the advanced grades.
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ROME LIGHT GUARDS .- This Civil War company was formed as soon as the war clouds began to gather definitely-in 1858-by Edward Jones Magruder, a graduate of the Virginia Miltary Institute at Lexington, Va., and who in later years taught a mil- itary school at Rome. The following muster roll was taken from The Rome Tri-Weekly Courier of Tuesday morn- ing, May 28, 1861. A few recruits have been added to The Courier list: Officers-
Captain-Edward J. Magruder.
First Lieut .- Sidney H. Hall.
Second Lieut .- Melville Dwinell.
Third Lieut .- Geo. R. Lumpkin.
First Sergt .- Jas. T. Moore. Second Sergt .- Rufus F. Hutchings.
Third Sergt .- W. S. Hutchings. Fourth Sergt .- Isaac Donkle.
First Corp .- Wm. S. Skidmore.
Second Corp .- M. B. Holland
Third Corp .- Leonidas T. Mitchell.
Fourth Corp .- Jno. J. Black.
Bugler .- Geo. G. Merck.
Surgeon .- Dr. Jno. M. Gregory.
Drummers-
Jimmy A. Smith, Johnson Willbanks, C. M. Fouche, Henry S. Lansdell.
Privates-
Jas. H. Anderson S. S. Clayton
Geo. S. Aycock Philip Cohen
Wm. Aycock Hugh D. Cothran
Geo. Barnsley R. D. DeJournett
L. Barnsley Geo. G. Demming
W. J. Barrett F. M. Ezzell
Wmn. A. Barron Geo. W. Fleetwood
A. J. Bearden Robt. T. Fouche
Jno. N. Bearden B. J. Franks Jno. F. Beasley John S. Gibbons
R. W. Boggs Wm. F. Glenn
Wm. S. Booten Lewis Graves
Will Burnett Larkin Green
Jas. B. Clark Lindsey Hall
*A graduate in 1868 of Princeton University, Princeton, N. J .; a. m. in 1871.
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Scott Hardin Chas. B. Norton
Z. B. Hargrove Geo. C. Norton
D. C. Hargrove
W. F. Omberg
T. C. Howard
W. M. Payne
G. W. Hutchings
J. M. Jack
A. R. Johnson
C. L. Johnson
C. W. Rush
Josiah Johnston
M. L. Sanders
Silas R. Jones
Geo. K. Sanford
M. Kauffman
J. T. Shackelford
Geo. W. King
J. F. Shelton
W. S. Lansdell
Chas. H. Smith
Wm. F. Leigh
Henry A. Smith
Wm. Lother
Virgil A. Stewart
W. H. H. Martin F. M. Stovall
Hugh Mccullough
Geo. T. Stovall
Thos McGrath
J. A. Stevenson, Jr.
Wm. McKay J. J. Stinson
M. D. McOsker
T. W. Swank
D. H. Miller R. P. Watters
Wm. L. Morefield
H. S. Lansdell furnished The Trib- une of Rome of May 26, 1895, with the following list of 39 Light Guard members then living:
J. H. Anderson W. S. Lansdell
Geo. Barnsley
M. D. McOsker
W. J. Barrett
Geo. G. Merck
A. J. Bearden
Geo. Milam
J. J. Black
D. H. Miller
R. W. Boggs
R. D. DeJournett
J. T. Moore
F. M. Ezzell
Geo. C. Norton
R. T. Fouche
W. F. Omberg
J. A. Franks
W. M. Payne
W. F. Glenn Jno. Pinson
A. F. Gregory C. A. Rush
Z. B. Hargrove J. F. Shelton
A. R. Johnson
W. J. Shockley
C. L. Johnson J. A. Smith
Joe Johnson H. A. Smith
J. D. Jones J. A. Stephenson
S. R. Jones
V. A. Stewart
M. Kauffman T. W. Swank
H. S. Lansdell
Of the survivors in 1865, the fol- lowing stacked arms with Lee at Ap- pomattox, having remained with the Guards to the end:
W. A. Barron C. L. Johnson
R. W. Boggs H. S. Lansdell
W. A. Choice W. S. Lansdell
J. A. Franks D. H. Miller
G. W. Hutchings J. F. Shelton
R. F. Hutchings H. A. Smith
A. R. Johnson
The Reserve Recruiting Corps was composed of A. E. Ross, secretary and treasurer; W. H. Collier, Jno. R. Paye, H. C. Miner and J. L. Pinson. *
ROME'S MILITARY RULERS .- Four principal chieftains of the Union Army presided over Rome's destinies
J. R. Penny A. F. Pemberton M. A. Ross
at various periods during 1864. Brig. Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis was commanding the right wing of Sher- man's army when it entered Rome for the first time May 18. He personally supervised battery work from the new Shorter College hill in West Rome, and drove the Confederates off Ft. Stovall (Myrtle Hill cemetery), for which "gallant and meritorious conduct" he was cited in general orders. A story is told that he tried the ruse of taking a woman-Mrs. Lizzie Roach Hughes- to the top of Shorter hill, saying to her that they would go up and see whether any Confederates were left in Rome, but in reality, it was claimed, thinking the "Rebs" wouldn't fire with a woman present. As soon as the Con- federates made out the general and Mrs. Roach through their glasses, they sent a shell screeching overhead.
Gen. Davis was a native of Indiana, born in 1828, and came out of the Mex- ican War as a lieutenant, having dis- tinguished himself at Buena Vista. He was a member of the garrison which burned Ft. Moultrie before the fall of
JUDGE M. B. GERRY, once of Macon, and seven years a resident of Rome, a leading lawyer and jurist.
L. T. Mitchell
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Ft. Sumter in 1861, and his record throughout the war was one of con- spicuous gallantry. He was mustered out as a major general. On Sept. 29, 1862, he had the misfortune to engage in an altercation over military matters with Gen. Wm. Nelson at the Galt House, Louisville, Ky., and shot Gen. Nelson dead with a pistol. He was ar. rested, but restored to duty and was never tried. He died at Chicago in 1879.
After five days in Rome, Gen. Davis hurried on in the pursuit of Gen. Jos. E. Johnston's army, and fought May 26 at New Hope church, near Dallas. He left Brig. Gen. Wm. Vandever in command. Gen. Vandever set up head- quarters in the James M. Spullock home, 911 Broad Street. Gen. Van- dever was a native of Baltimore, and was 47 years old when he was at Rome. He had lived a while in Illinois, and when the war broke out was serving in Congress from the Dubuque dis- trict of Iowa. He resigned his seat in Congress and entered the war. His men traveled 45 miles March 5, 1862, and turned the tide at Pea Ridge, Ark., the next day, and on a number of oc- casions later he was cited, and was discharged with the rank of brevet major general. After the war he re- moved to California, where he was again elected to Congress, and he died in 1893 at Buena Ventura at 77 years of age.
WARREN G. HARDING, president of the United States, as he addressed a crowd from rear of train in East Rome, Jan. 21, 1921.
Gen. Vandever also soon hurried on with his command and left Rome to Brig. Gen. Jno. Murry Corse, who moved headquarters to the Hood-Cum- ming-Featherston-Rixie place at 709 Broad, and soon thereafter to the home of Maj. Chas. H. Smith at 312 Fourth Avenue, where the home of Mrs. Chas. A. Hight is now located. For four and a half months Gen. Corse ruled over Rome; he was not as popular with the citizens as Gen. Davis or Gen. Van- dever, due, perhaps, to the fact that the heavy work of the occupation fell to his lot. Atlanta had been taken Sept. 2, 1864, and Sherman was chas- ing Hood northward along the W. & A. railroad. Gen. Corse had been ordered to withdraw his garrison of 1,054 men from Rome and to reinforce Col. Tour- telotte Allatoona Pass, Bartow County. Corse arrived Oct. 5 and he and Tourtelotte were beset by a su- perior force under Maj. Gen. S. G. French. Before the onslaught Gen. French demanded surrender, but Corse returned a defiant answer. While lying seriously wounded, Corse directed his part of the fight, and finally received a signal message over the heads of the Confederates fron Gen. Vandever, "Sherman says 'Hold on; I am com- ing.' " Corse continued the fight, and was saved when Sherman came up from Kennesaw Mountain; and the Confederates, now outnumbered, with- drew.
Gen. Corse was a native of Pennsyl- vania but went into the Federal army from Iowa. He was born about 1832, and started his military career at West Point. He was cited for his conduct at Allatoona Pass and was breveted major general before he was mustered out. He died Apr. 27, 1893. It was Gen. Corse and his men, acting under direct orders of Gen. Sherman, who destroyed Kingston by fire as the Un- ion columns swung into line on the March to the Sea.
Gen. Wm. T. Sherman came into the picture after the other three. He had his headquarters at the Smith home on two occasions. His diary mentions that he went from Kingston to Rome Nov. 12, 1864, and on the 14th was before Resaca, 30 miles away, so he may have spent the night in Rome and left the next morning, the 13th. The diary of R. S. Norton, father of Mrs. Wm. M. Towers, states that Sherman and his staff entered Rome the night of Oct. 29, 1864; on this occasion he is supposed to have remained two and a half days. He went back to King- ston.
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ROME KIWANAS CLUB HOST IN SOUTH TO INDOASE FORD'S MUSCLE SHOALS BID"
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WHEREIN HENRY FORD CASTS HIS BENIGN SMILE UPON ROME.
On his way South, March 21, 1922, the Detroit automobile manufacturer rolled into the Southern railway station in East Rome. He was greeted by a crowd of 3,000, whose efforts to make him speak were unavailing. Mr. Ford made a few remarks which the crowd could scarcely hear. He is seen in the gray suit on the rear of his private car. Prominent in the welcome to the mechanical wizard were the Kiwanis Club of Rome and Miss Martha Berry, who invited him to visit the Berry Schools and see his tractor perform and the students recite.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
Sherman left Rome in charge of Gen. Davis. This marked the beginning of the evacuation of Rome, and it started at 5 a. m. Nov. 10, according to the Norton diary, with a bonfire made out of Rome business and manufacturing establishments. It was Gen. Davis' duty to carry out Sherman's orders to burn certain valuable structures; however, it is understood that Gen. Jno. M. Corse, serving under Gen. Da- vis, actually applied the torch.
A fifth Federal commander ap- peared on the scene after the war. He was Capt. Chas. A. de la Mesa, of Co. I, 39th New York Infantry during the hostilities. On June 20, 1865, Capt. de la Mesa opened the Freedmen's Bu- reau on Broad Street and took charge as reconstruction commander, with several companies of troops .* His po- sition was difficult with so many post- war antagonisms, and he participated in a number of narrow escapes from the infuriated citizenry. He served two or three years. After his death, thought to have taken place in Brook- lyn, N. Y., his widow, Francis A. M. de la Mesa, married Chas. H. Terry, late assistant surgeon of the 13th New York cavalry. She died Mar. 9, 1920. The de la Mesas lived at the bureau,
MISS MARTHA BERRY (left) and MISS ELIZABETH LANIER (Mrs. Robt. Bolling, of Philadelphia ), at the Berry home, "Oak Hill."
next door to the old Buena Vista Ho- tel.
When Gen. Davis came back to Rome after the fall of Atlanta, ** he called on Mrs. Robt. Battey on First Avenue, dismissing his orderly at the front door. Also paying a call were Mr. and Mrs. Addison Maupin, Virginia peo- ple and neighbors. Mr. Maupin kept a drug store at Rome with J. H. Now- lin, under the firm name of Nowlin & Maupin. He had a herd of cows and had been selling milk to the soldiers, and had had trouble protecting the herd from thieves.
The following conversation ensued :
Gen. Davis: "Mrs. Battey, I want to ask if you can tell me how far it is to Atlanta."
Mrs. Battey : "You ought to know, General; you have just come from there."
"How far is it to Jacksonville, Ala .? "
"About as far as it is to Atlanta, I suppose."
"Where is your husband?"
"I don't know, exactly, maybe in Mississippi. Why do you ask me these questions ?"
"Because I thought I could send your husband back to you."
Mr. Maupin requested Gen. Davis to help him protect his cows.
"General," he said, "Are you aware that boys over in DeSoto are shooting rifles into Rome?"
Mrs. Battey replied sharply, "Mr. Maupin, you know that is not true. The boys of Rome have nothing to shoot with."
Gen. Davis said: "Our soldiers will take care of themselves." Then he politely bowed his way out.
Present also and a witness to this conversation was Wm. H. Smith, a cousin of Wm. Smith and Mrs. Battey, who from July, 1868, until November, 1870, served as reconstruction governor of Alabama. Wm. H. Smith was a Union man and came to Rome in the wake of Sherman's army. He spent three months in the Battey home.
Mrs. Battey was an invalid at this time, with several small children to care for, and Gen. Davis gave her a guard of two soldiers to keep marau- ders from tearing away her fences and stealing her things. She soon repaid him for his kindness. Overhearing a
*This is evidently an error, since The Rome Weekly Courier reported Capt. Kyes in charge Aug. 31, 1865.
** The morning of Sept. 2, 1864.
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plot among some of his own soldiers to kill him (whether as an echo from the Nelson affair is not known), she sent for him and warned him. It seems that Gen. Davis was expected to pass a certain spot near the Burwell Creek bridge on the Oostanaula River road, and here the assassins were due to have been waiting.
Gen. Davis sent a patrol squad and they brought back a number of suits of Confederate clothing, found hidden in a hollow log. From the evidence it appeared that the plotters had ex- pected to kill Gen. Davis and throw his body into the river, then to don the gray uniforms and take to the woods. In some manner word got to them that Gen. Davis was aware of their game, and they failed to gather at the meeting place, and probably fin- ished the war under his command. Gen. Davis told his riends his escape was exceedingly narrow.
It may be appropriate to append here a short sketch of Col. Abel D. Streight, who, though not a "military ruler of Rome," knew the place through his visit May 3, 1863 as the "guest" of Gen. Forrest :**
Abel D. Streight was born June 17, 1828, in Steuben Co., N. Y. He learned the carpenter's trade, and at the age of 19 took a contract for a large mill, which he successfully completed. He purchased a sawmill and engaged in the lumber business at Wheeler, N. Y., until 1858, when he moved to Cincin- nati. The following year he removed to Indianapolis and engaged in pub- lishi.ng. He published a pamphlet, urging the preservation of the Union at all hazards. In Sept., 1861, he joined the army as Colonel of the 51st In- diana Volunteer Infantry. In April, 1863, Streight was sent by Rosecrans with a force of men to cut the rail- roads in western Georgia, over which supplies were being sent to Bragg's army. The force divided and Streight was overtaken and forced to surren- der to a force under General Forrest. He was imprisoned in Libby prison for eight months, when he escaped. He was recaptured and put in irons in a dungeon. On Feb. 8, 1864, he escaped with 108 others through a tunnel under the prison wall. After a few weeks in Indianapolis he went to the front again.
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