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 7
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"Mr. Ross."
"Well, gentlemen?"
"We have business with you, sir."
Our first impression was that there had been a struggle for the boundary and that these men had come to make remonstrance; but instantly we saw the truth. The room was filled with Georgia Guards, their bayonets fixed, and some, if not all, with their pis- tols and dirks or dirk knives. An exceedingly long, lank man with a round-about jacket planted himself by my side, his pistol resting against my breast.
"You are to consider yourself a prisoner, sir!" said he to Ross.
"Well, gentlemen, I shall not re- sist. But what have I done? Why am I a prisoner? By whose order am I taken?"
"You'll know that soon enough. Give up your papers and prepare to go with us."
And then a scramble began for pa- pers. I had not moved from my place when the long, lank man, whom I after- wards found was Sergeant Young, ** leader of the gang, began to rummage among the things upon the table.
"These, sir, are my papers. I sup- pose you don't want them," I observed.
Young, his pistol still pointed, struck me across the mouth.
"Hold you damned tongue!" he vo- ciferated. "You are here after no good. Yours are just what we do want. Have your horse caught and be off with us. We can't stay."
It was useless to reply. I asked for my saddlebags. They said I might take them if there were no arms in them. I said there WERE arms, and my pistols were required. The ser- geant took them and was at a loss to manage the straps which confined them under my vest.
"How the devil are these put on? Come, put them on me!" he exclaimed.
This was too much. I turned upon my heel and this unfortunate crea- ture seemed for a moment to feel the reproof, and blundred into the para- phernalia as best he could. A person, whom I afterward learned was mere- ly an amateur in this lawless affair, Mr. Absalom Bishop, a brother of the captain of the Guard, the one com- monly called Colonel, was exceedingly officious with Mr. Ross. He insisted on the correspondence, especially the recent letters of the Principal Chief, and was peculiarly pert and peremp- tory in handling the contents of Mr. Ross's portmanteau. There was an- other amateur in the affair, Mr. Joshua Holden, a big, sanctimonious-visaged, red-skinned man, whose voice I never heard, but who, from the evening of our capture I saw busy, moving to and fro on all occasions, apparently as a sort of factotum for the dirty work of the establishment.
We set away. The greater num- ber of the horses had been left at a distance in the road. When we were all mounted, our cavalcade consisted, I believe, of six and twenty, Mr. Ross and myself included, and we two were permitted generally to ride together, the Guard being equally divided in
*Sleeping Rabbit ?
** His first name was Wilson.
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JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S ARREST BY THE GEORGIA GUARD
HOME OF JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S SWEETHEART.
"Harden Home," Athens (reconstructed), where Payne visited Gen. Edward Harden in 1835 and fell in love with Miss Mary Eliza Greenhill Harden. In the oval are Indian mocca- sins, a beaded purse and a shark's tooth presented the young lady by her middle-aged lover. One of the moccasins has been donated to Rome by Miss Evelyn Harden Jackson, of Athens.
front and rear of us. The earlier part of the night was bright and beau- tiful, but presently a wild storm arose, and then rain poured in torrents. The movements of our escort were ex- ceedingly capricious; sometimes whoop- ing and galloping and singing obscene songs, and sometimes for a season walking in sullen silence. During one of these pauses in the blended tumult of the tempest and of the travellers I chanced for a while to find myself beside the smooth and silky Mr. Ab- salom Bishop. My mind was absorbed in recollections of the many moments when abroad I had dwelt upon my in- nocent and noble country. I remem- bered that in one of those moments I had composed a song which has since met my ear in every clime and in ev- ery part of every clime where I have roved. At that instant I was startled by the very air on which I was mus- ing. It came from the lips of my companion. I could scarcely believe my senses. It almost seemed as if he had read my secret thoughts.
"What song was that I heard you humming?"
I believe.
"That? Sweet Home, they call it, Why do you ask?"
"Merely because it is a song of my own writing, and the circumstances under which I now hear it strike me as rather singular."
My partner simply grumbled that he was not aware that I had written the song; but added knowingly that it was in the Western Songster, and the verses generally had the authors' names annexed.
We halted at Young's. It happened, , curiously enough, that the Western Songster was the first object that caught my view upon the table, stand- ing open at "Sweet Home," and for- tunately for my character, with the "author's name annexed." I pointed it out to Mr. Ross, and we both smiled. This man Young, at whose house we halted, like others connected with the Guard, keeps a tavern. Excursions of this nature present favorable opportu- nities for taxing the state for ex- penses, and I am told they are seldom overlooked. Our band of six and twenty took supper at Young's. They had scarcely entered the room when some- one struck up:
"We're crossing over Jordan, Glory Hallelujah!"
And our sergeant landlord sprawled before the fire and began to talk liter- ary. He reckoned I had heard tell of Marryboy. I assured him I did not remember any such author.
"What! Not his system of nater?" I replied that perhaps he might mean Mirabeau.
"Ah, yes, that might be. He and Wolney and Tom Paine were great authors. Was Tom Paine any kin of yourn?"
Something was said of the Bible, but of that our friend disclaimed much knowledge. He didn't believe he had ever read fifteen chapters, but Marry- boy he liked of all things.
It was announced that we had lin- gered long enough, and the horses were brought out. Young himself re-
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
mained at home, but most of the resi- due dashed recklessly onward. Our four and twenty miles through the forest was completed by daybreak. All were drenched in the heavy showers and covered with mud. As we enter- ed the enclosure, the Guard were or- dered into line; their musquets were discharged in triumph for their splen- did crusade against one little goose- quill, and we were directed to dis- mount. We went to our prison; it was a small log hut, with no window and one door. At one end was what they called a bunk, a wide case of rough boards filled with straw. There were two others on one side of the room, and opposite to them a fireplace. Overhead were poles across, on which hung saddlebags, old coats and various other matters of the same description. In one corner sat an Indian chained to a table by the leg, his arms tightly pinioned. We found it was the son of the Speaker of the Council, Going Snake. They had charged him with refusing to give in his name and the number in his family to the United States Census Taker. He denied the accusation, but his denial went un- heeded. He smiled and seemed pa- tient; they removed him and left us the only prisoners, but never alone. The door was always open; the place was a rendezvous for the Guard and all their friends. Two sentinels with musquets loaded and bayonets fixed kept us always in view. The place of one was on the inside and the other on the outside. I was wet to the skin, fatigued and unconsciously sighted. At that moment I saw two of the young men exchange looks and laugh. Throughout the day heard dark phrases which seemed to betoken some intended mischief. Several people came in to look at us and we were shown the largest bunk, which was set apart for our use, and there we tried to sleep. Presently my saddlebags were demanded, examined and after a while returned.
I heard a guard say that not a soul ought to leave the lines that day, that all were bound to remain as witnesses. Another asked a companion what he would be doing were it not Sunday. The companion made a motion of wielding a scourge and with a grin declared, "That, and glad of a chance, too!"
"Where's Tom?" asked one.
"Gone to preachin'," was the reply.
"Oh, hell!" rejoined a third, and a
hoarse laugh followed. Then someone struck up
"Jenny, will your dog bite? No, sir, no!" Which was responded to by "Jesus the Glorious Reigns here victorious!"
And from another side came "I'll not go home 'till morning, 'till morning, "I'll not go home 'till morning!"
And then there would be a hud- dling off to fire pistols, and thus pass- ed the Sabbath. I ought not to forget that in the course of the day I saw Mr. Absalom Bishop talking to some strangers. All stared frowningly to- wards me and I heard Mr. Absalom as I passed muttering low, "best leave the country."
Towards evening I asked who was the officer in command. I was told the quartermaster. 1 sent for him, and he answered that he was busy, but would come by and by. When he appeared I asked if he would send a letter for us to an officer of the United States troops at the agency, provided we would pay the cost of an express. He asked why we wanted to send. I said perhaps a message would he returned which might set our af- fairs right. The quartermaster mut- tered "That would be rather contrary to orders," gave a puff or two of his pipe and walked away, all the rest in the room following and leaving us for the first time a moment by ourselves. The long night came. Some ten or twelve remained in our room, the floor being paved with sleepers. I heard an order spoken of that night that nobody was to be allowed to en- ter that room; but that when the drum was tapped at daybreak, every man was to fly to his gun. Long before morning several got up and sat around the fire, smoking and talking.
"Ah!" said one; "there must have been some beautiful slicking* done last night!"
"First one timber fell, and the fam- ily tumbled on their knees."
"Ha, ha, ha!"
"And one began to beg." Here was another roar.
"And the little ones squalled 'Mam- my! Mammy!'"
Now they all mimicked crying chil- dren.
*Refers to summary punishment administered by vigilance committees.
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JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S ARREST BY THE GEORGIA GUARD
"And then the old woman fell to praying."
Here was a deafening shout of laughter, which was so long continued that they became exhausted, and we had some repose. Somewhere about this time a house in the town had been attacked, as far as we could gather by a mob, and violence committed; but all knowledge of the rioters was de. nied by the Guard among themselves, though the attack was a constant theme of conversation, and all the particu- lars connected with it detailed.
The time dragged on most drearily. In a day or two Young returned. He seemed in better humor. He brought me a couple of volumes of Gil Blas and the "Belgian Traveller." He also brought some clothes for Mr. Ross. He said, too, he had my pistols, and I could take them when I liked. He told me he wanted to subscribe for my periodical. He hoped if I ever mentioned him I would speak well of him. I assured him I would speak as well as I could, but I must tell the truth.
"Ah," said he, "you've abused us already. We've got a letter where you say the Guard look like banditti."
I replied that the letter was never published, and of course could form no part of the excuse for my arrest.
"No matter," added he, "you oughtn't to have abused the Guard."
I need not remark that this was the letter I have alluded to before. I pressed Young to let us know on what grounds we were arrested.
"Why," he said, "I can tell you one thing they've got agin you, only you needn't say that I told you. They say you're an Abolitionist."
I could not help laughing at the ex- cessive absurdity of this, and consid- ered it as a mere dream of the man, whose brain often seemed in the wrong place. At the same time, he told Mr. Ross that the charge upon him was that he had impeded taking the Cen- sus. Mr. Ross repelled the accusa- tion vigorously, and required to be heard, and to know his accuser. Young said all he could tell was that Major Currey gave him the order for our ar- rest; that he had not only a written but a verbal order, and upon that we
were taken. What the verbal order was he would not tell to anybody. We asked how long we were to be con- fined. He said till Col. Bishop re-
turned from Milledgeville. We re- quested to know when that would be.
"About Christmas."
I then asked to write the President of the United States. It was refused. I asked to write to the Governor of Tennessee. It was refused. I asked to write to the Governor of Georgia. It was refused. I was also denied my request to communicate with my friends at home. asked Young if he was an officer of the United States. He replied that he was not. Mr. Ross then asked him if he were not an of- ficer of the United States, how he came to obey the order of Major Cur- rey by passing over the boundaries of Tennessee. He replied that in Geor- gia it was not law, it was all power. I then observed that the rights of an American citizen were sacred. They were secured to him by the Constitution. and that to trample upon them thus wantonly would render his, or any man's situation, a very dangerous one with the people of a country like ours, who must look upon it as their com- mon cause.
"Pooh!" replied he; "that might have done very well once, but Lord! don't you know that's all over now?"
This was of course unanswerable.
In the meantime, a suggestion was made to us in a very unexpected way of a plan of escape. We looked upon it with suspicion, and thought it best not even through curiosity to give it encouragement. It appeared us that it might be a plan that, even should it succeed, would make us seem in the wrong; and we knew that at- tempts of that nature, which had not succeeded, had been fatal. We thought it safer to be patient.
I contrived, however, to elude the vigilance of our watchers. I found among my clothes a letter of intro- duction from one of the first mer- chants in Athens to a lawyer in Floyd County, Ga. There was blank room enough in it to allow me to turn the sheet and to write inside. I had a pencil in my pocket. While pretend- ing to read a newspaper I scribbled by snatches an appeal to the Gover- nor of Tennessee .* It was conveyed out of the lines to a friend who inked the superscription and made a copy from the inside, which he afterwards gave me, but I have mislaid it. An express with the most kind friendship flew across the country with this let- ter to the Cherokee Agency, and thence it was forwarded by another express
*Wm. Carroll.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
to Nashville. I have not yet learned the result.
We now heard that a brother of Mr. Koss and another gentleman had in vain sought to see us. We next ob- tained information that a son and a friend of Mr. Ross had arrived. After much demur Mr. Ross was allowed to speak with his son, provided he only conversed on family affairs. The father and son met at the steps of one entrance to the enclosure. The steps were filled with curious listen- ers. When attempting to utter a syl- lable of domestic inquiry to his son in Cherokee, Mr. Joshua Holden sudden- ly interdicted Mr. Ross from proceed- ing.
One afternoon subsequently there was an arrival which gave great joy to Sergeant Young. Some guards re- turned from furlough with Governor Lumpkin's valedictory message, with news that Mr. Bishop had got the bet- ter of an old enemy in a street affray at Milledgeville, and that a sort of patron of Young, by the name of Kenan,* had been elected Judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia. At this last intelligence, Young frisked about like a lunatic. He drew my pistols and fired them off in triumph. He whooped, he laughed, he capered. He ran into our room.
"Aha!" exclaimed he. "He's the fel- low that will bring down the consti- tution !"
I replied that I thought it would have been much better to have found a fellow that would bring it up-it was down low enough already. But Young seemed to look upon this elec- tion, especially when coupled with the appointment of two of his family con- nection to high places in the state, as a source of great hope for his own advancement, and was perfectly be- wildered with exultation. In the eve- ning, a newspaper was produced, con- taining Gov. Lumpkin's valedictory message. There were some envenomed passages in it against Mr. Ross. Young had already put it into the hands of Mr. Ross, and then desired me to read it aloud. I objected. I appealed to his own sense of decency, but he per- sisted and when Mr. Ross united with him, I read the passage and gave the hearers full benefit of this petty triumph over a prisoner in their power.
The next change which occurred was the determination of the Sergeant to post off to Milledgeville. When he communicated this to us, Mr. Ross asked to be conducted with him thither,
that he might learn from the Governor of the State why he was detained, and answer his accusers. This was denied, but the sergeant promised he would take a letter. Soon afterwards the polished Mr. Absalom Bishop made his appearance. He had understood from Mr. Young that Mr. Ross wish- ed to address the Governor. If on seeing the latter, Mr. Absalom Bishop should find it might facilitate the set- tlement of the Cherokee question, he would himself be the bearer. This seemed to me, especially in an unoffi- cial position, a piece of the most ar- rant impertinence I had ever heard. I took occasion myself at the same time to repeat my request for leave not only to write to the Governor of Geor- gia, but to the Governor of Tennessee, to the President and to my friends. I received this extraordinary reply :
"Your fate will be decided and the result made public before you can reach either of the persons you have named."
I pressed to know on what charge I was imprisoned. Mr. Absalom Bish- op remarked that I would learn ere long from the proper authority, and added with a simper. "You are not in so bad a fix as Arthur Tappan, for I see by the papers that they are parading him with a halter around his neck."
Mr. Ross. with some warmth, ex- claimed, "I hope, sir, you do not com- pare our case with his!"
"Indeed, sir," smiled the gentle Mr. Absalom, "Mr. Payne has for some time been under suspicion as an Abo- litionist." And still the charge seem- ed to me so ridiculous that I could not but join Mr. Absalom Bishop in his smile, and I answered:
"Oh, if that's all, it can soon be settled !"
"No," replied my comforter, "that's not the only charge, but you will know in time, and a fortnight can not make much difference."
Mr. Ross was now supplied with paper, and Mr. Absalom Bishop re- mained to watch him. When the let- ter was completed, the Guards were already crowding the doorway, their eyes and ears and mouths distended with curiosity. Mr. Ross folded the letter and handed it to Mr. Absalom, who very deliberately opened and read it, and replied he thought it might do; he then went out, followed by Sergt. Young. After a while, both
*Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, judge of the Tallapoosa Circuit, Superior Court.
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JOHN HOWARD PAYNE'S ARREST BY THE GEORGIA GUARD
returned. Mr. Absalom Bishop ob- served that he wished a postscript, more distinctly assuring the Governor that he was desirous of making a Treaty speedily, and that he urged a release forthwith, merely in order to accompany the delegation to Washing- ton and accelerate the treaty. Mr. Ross pointed out a part of his letter which already stated as much; but Mr. Absalom Bishop thought a postscript desirable, and so the postscript was added and pronounced satisfactory, and the letter and its bearer disap- peared. I could almost fancy the genius of this country exclaiming after him, "Oh, Absalom, my son, my son!"
The departure was fixed for the next day, but in the meantime there arose trouble in the camp. Sergt. Young heard a guard complaining of him, and rushed at him with a club. The guard struggled and Young drew my pistol on him. The rest of the troop caught Young's arm and saved their comrade. Young afterwards was grumbling at his failure. "I have paid $1,500 already," said he, "for shooting and stabbing, and I think I can raise another $1,500." He next entertained us with a story of revenge upon a negro slave of his whom he had caught stealing. He had shaved the fellow's ear off close with a razor, "and the damned rascal," added he, "said he never could hear after that, and it was a damned of a while before the place healed up."
I confess it somewhat annoyed me to find my pistols in the constant wearing of this person. I had fre- quently given him hints after he had promised to return them, but he took no notice. One morning I remarked, "Those pistol straps will be worn out before I have a chance of putting them on." "I reckon not," said Young, "they'll last till spring, I take it."
But now that he was preparing for a long journey and an indefinite ab- sence, I thought it expedient to re- quest their return explicitly. He de- murred; would take it as a great favor if I would lend them to him. He would be back long before I could get out; he would do as much at any time for me. Then suddenly recollecting him- self, he said: "I know I've behaved like a damned mean man to you." "Yes, you have," replied I; "you struck me." "I know I did, and I've hated it ever since." "I never named it," I replied, "but I never forgot it." "But you'd better let me have the pistols. I'll buy them-what did they cost?" I
named the cost and he cried, "I'll leave 'em. I'll give 'em to the quartermas- ter to keep."
The pistols were eventually sent out of the lines to a son of Mr. Ross, from whom I have since obtained them; but their withdrawal seemed to sink deep into the Sergeant's mind. In speak- ing of it to him I remarked: "My own things may as well be under my own command. I did not seek the pis- tols because I thought them of any great importance as a defense; what- ever may chance, I suppose our lives are safe enough."
"Maybe not," observed the Sergeant.
Soon afterwards, another conversa- tion arose. "Did I understand you rightly," observed I to the Sergeant, "or were you only joking when you said a while ago that our lives were in danger here? You surely could not mean that we are in danger."
"You see the sort of company you've got into," replied he; "I can't an- swer for anybody when I'm once away. However, there's one honest man here and I'll put you under his charge. Riley Wilson's an honest man. I've plenty of enemies in these lines, but I'll not be made an instrument of by any man. When I go away now, I'll wash my hands of the whole concern. No man shall make me an instrument. I'll not bear the whole brunt of this affair, I'll assure you."
I made a very serious appeal to him, but he took no heed of it, nor did he recall his words, but left us thus for Milledgeville. He had not long been gone when I chanced to fall into con- versation with a young man of the party, and asked him if there was any prejudice afloat against us. If there was, I should be glad to know what it was and whence it arose. He in- quired why I made the question. I told him Young's assertion of our being in danger. It flew like wildfire through the lines. The room was filled in an instant and I told the whole story, which was confirmed by Mr. Ross. Some proposed to pursue Young im- mediately, tie him to a tree and "give him the hickory." Others threatened to fling him over the lines whenever he should return. I assured them I did not believe he meant more than to annoy us; but they declared he was too fond of tormenting prisoners; that there was no person there at all in- clined to impose on a prisoner but Young, and it was time he be taught better or withdraw. They asserted
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
there was not a man on the hill but respected both of us, and we might rely on their support. The burst of good feeling that appeared on this oc- casion convinced me that most of those persons, in conscientious hands, might be moulded into valuable char- acters. It is their misfortune to be governed by men whose fitness may be gathered from the facts I have detail- ed, and youths, as many of them are, of unformed principles and habits, can not but be endangered by such direc- tors, especially as their captain, for electioneering purposes, cajoles them into a blind devotedness to him and to anything he may propose, no mat- ter how outrageous.
They now seemed for a moment to feel how much their reputation had been darkened by their leaders. "Yes, this is the way that that Indian lost his life. He was told by a man that talked Cherokee that the Guard meant to come in during the night and cut his throat, so he hanged himself on the pole there that crosses at the foot of your bed."
In the afternoon of this day there came a great and unexpected revolu- tion in the affairs of our little world. There was a sudden announcement of the arrival of the Captain-Colonel Bishop. An express was instantly sent off to recall Young and Absalom Bishop, with their letter, from Mil- ledgeville. Next morning at breakfast time the mighty chieftain appeared. He is a dapper and well-dressed and well-made little man, with a gray head and blue coat, well brushed, and bright yellow buttons. I had already remark- ed that this Bucephalus seemed train- ed to curvet and plunge like circus horses, with a great show of mettle, but perfect safety to the rider. In manner his grandeur was somewhat melodramatic.
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