USA > Georgia > Troup County > History of Troup county > Part 8
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
MUSIC. In addition to the customary regimental band, in the militia there was the inevitable drummer and the accompanying fifers. These were afterwards replaced by the use of buglers in a system of calls ranging from reveille to tattoo and taps. Many an old soldier recalls the thrill that came with the "long roll" of the snare drummer as a call to arms. The regi- mental bands were always on duty for every formal occasion from that of guard mount to dress parade, and frequent concerts were given to while away the monotonous rounds of the daily camp, or garrison life.
FLAGS. Each regiment formerly carried the regimental colors with a suitable escort in all formal assemblies of the regiment, and at the time of the Civil War each company also carried its company flag in order that scattered squads might recognize the rallying point of their company.
These company flags, as well as the regimental colors, made a shining target for the opposing artillery, and in consequence the mortality among the color bearers was always high in every important engagement. The use of conspicuous uniforms and objects were carefully avoided in the gigantic struggle of the World War, because they were markers for the hovering planes, who telegraphed to the hidden gunners the result of each salvo of murderous shells upon such a marked enemy. Thus the use of flags in the battle lines was suppressed.
PENSIONS. The bloody struggle of the Civil War left many homes be- reaved and deprived of their normal support, and the Federal government extended pensions to such needy families, and the benefits were afterwards offered to all who in any way assisted in the inglorious War Between the States. The states of secession were stripped of all their resources, and then burdened with the wild orgy of reconstruction and cost of the pensions added thereto, but nevertheless they soon increased their slender budget to include a modest pension to the patriotic soldiers of the "Lost Cause" and their dependents. The World War, with its millions of the conscripts, gave an additional tax burden in a still wilder orgy of pensions. There were 908 white and 688 colored citizens certified for the World War service in Troup County.
INDIAN WAR OF 1836. The antagonism between the early settlers and the Indians continued to grow and culminated in warfare and pitched bat- tles. In 1836 quite a panic was produced by an uprising of the Indians. The people of LaGrange expected momentarily to be attacked and there was an exodus of citizens towards the eastern part of the county. Rufus Broome, grandfather of Mrs. J. E. Dunson, Jr., gathered all the remaining women and children in the court house, and strongly barricaded it, resolving to protect them or die.
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TROUP COUNTY MILITARY
Judge Blount C. Ferrell used to tell an amusing story of a stranger in the town, who becoming frightened and fearing to lose his scalp, bought a small Indian pony on which to flee. The man weighed about three hundred pounds, and the poor little pony had only gone five miles when he suc- cumbed. Fortunately for him the hastily assembled militia had pursued the Indians across the Chattahoochee River, and soon afterward destroyed their village.
Col. Julius C. Alford was commander of the battalion of cavalry, and Captain Robert H. Sledge with Walker Dunson as First Lieutenant are known to have participated in these conflicts, and it is probable that all the militia companies were assembled for the conflict.
The first alarm brought into West Point, where the Indians were thickly settled on the west banks of the Chattahoochee, was a report by a Mr. Freeman, who came from Blackstone, now called Cusseta, Alabama. He reported all the inhabitants killed except himself. At this disquieting news, Major John C. Webb at once summoned every militia member in the 701st district to appear with arms and ammunition. Major Webb moved forward with his command to Blackstone, and to his amazement found the people all alive and the Indians quiet.
The last act on this condition of affairs was the burning of an Indian village on the banks of the Chattahoochee in land lot 44 of the 16th dis- trict in reprisal by the pioneers for the continual raids and annoyances by the dissatisfied tribesmen. The following story is quoted from White's Historical Recollections and is reprinted with some minor corrections.
THE BURNT VILLAGE. The burnt village lies six or eight miles west of LaGrange, in the county of Troup, on the west bank of the Chatta- hoochee River, where the great Wehadkee Creek pours its waters into that river.
Previous to the year 1793, it was the great central point of the Muscogee nation, the crossing place of all trading and marauding parties of that nation on the west, where the untamed savages met to arrange and mature their plans for making those nocturnal attacks upon the helpless and unpro- tected settlers on the outskirts of the white settlements, by which conster- nation and dismay were spread throughout the land; and the sparse popula- tion of the country at that time, for mutual safety, was forced to concen- trate in forts, hastily thrown up on its borders; the place where the scalper with the crimsoned tresses of many a maid and matron, and the flaxen locks of the little blue-eyed boy, would pile the blood-stained trophies, and de- scribe to the half-astonished and delighted women and children of the forest the dying shrieks and screams of the slaughtered victims.
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
It was after one of those predatory excursions of the Creek Indians into the settlements of the whites (and the ashes of many a building and mur- dered family told of their prowess) that other plans of murder and plunder had been arranged, and the warriors of the nation had assembled at the little town of which we are speaking, to the number of several hundred, to cele- brate the Green Corn Dance, as was their custom, and to take the black drink, an ablution deemed necessary to reconcile the Great Spirit to the enterprise in which they were about to engage.
A few hundred men under the command of Colonel M. and Major Adams, who had volunteered and resolved to strike a blow at the heart of the nation, arrived within a few miles of the river, and waited for the setting of the sun to advance to its bank, to cross and take the enemy by surprise.
Night came, and they were halted in silence on the bank of the river opposite the Indian town. All was hushed and still as death-not a sound was heard save the savage yell and war-whoop of the Indian, with occasion- ally a monotonous war-song, bursting forth amid the revelry, in which all ages and sexes seemed to join. The moon had begun to shed a dim light through piles of clouds, and the water breaking over the rocks had the appearance of the ghosts of the murdered whites, calling on their brethren upon the bank to take signal vengeance, or admonishing them of great danger; and many were there who heard sounds in the air-strange moan- ings and screams of "Beware." But there was among them one who was unappalled. The night was far spent, and the noise from the other band had ceased-the voice of the wearied Indian was hushed and still-all had sunk to rest, or the little army had been discovered. Not a sound was heard save the rippling of the stream; 'twas a solemn pause; but time was precious, the blow must be struck, or all would be lost.
It was proposed to Colonel M. and Major Adams to cross the river and ascertain the situation of the Indians, so as to be able to lead their little band to certain victory. Colonel M. declined the hazardous enterprise. Major Adams resolved to go, and sought a com- panion; but he had nearly despaired of finding one who would volunteer to share his dangers, when a small and very feeble man, whose name was Hill, advanced from the ranks and proposed to accompany him. Major Adams and his companion set out together; but the force of the river cur- rent soon overpowered the brave Hill and swept him down the stream.
Major Adams sprang to his relief, and at the eminent hazard of his own life, rescued his friend from a watery grave; with his athletic arms he buffeted the rapid current, and bore the exhausted Hill to the bank which they had left. He then set out alone. The ford which he had to pass
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was narrow and difficult-making in a direct line across the river, nearly half way, opposite which was an island; it then turned down the stream a quarter of a mile or more, over rocks and shoals, sometimes scarcely knee deep, then up to the neck-and the trunks and limbs of trees, which had drifted upon the island, with the dim light of the moon, shining through the clouds, cast upon them, had the appearance of so many savages ready to pounce upon their victim; but with a firm step Major Adams proceeded, and soon reached the bank in safety.
The town was situated on the edge of the river swamp, about 300 yards from the water, and so numerous and intricate were the paths leading in every direction from the ford into the swamp, and the darkness produced by the thick undergrowth was so great, that when he reached the hill, or dry land, he discovered by the fire around which the Indians had kept their revels and dance, shooting up occasionally a meteoric blaze, that he was far below the point at which he aimed. Bending his course cautiously along the margin of the swamp, he soon reached the border of the town; an Indian dog seemed to be the only sentinel, and after a few half growls and barkings, as though he had but dreamed, sank away into perfect quiet. In a few moments he was in the center of the town. In addition to those in the cabins, innumerable warriors, with their rifles and tomahawks in their arms, lay stretched and snoring in every direction; the earth was literally covered with them.
Major Adams examined the fastenings of the cabin doors, by running his hand through the cracks and feeling the log of wood or the peg by which they were secured. He was convinced that no alarm had been given, and that the Indians did not suspect an enemy was so near. A huge savage, close to whom he was passing, raised himself upon his elbow, grasped his rifle, and looked around, as though he heard, or dreamed that he heard strange footsteps. Major Adams, perceiving him stir, threw himself down amidst a group of snoring Indians; the warrior, perceiving nothing unusual, concluded he had dreamed, and again sank into the arms of sleep. Our hero proceeded cautiously, examining with a military eye every point of attack and defense, arranged his plans, and was returning to the anxious army on the other bank of the river. His exertions in crossing the river had been great-he was tired, and perceiving an Indian pony tied to a sapling and believing that the little animal would pursue the ford to which it was accustomed, and probably show him one less difficult than that at which he had crossed, he resolved to ride it over the river. He did not see the bell which hung around its neck; frightened at his approach, it snapped the rope of bark with which it was fastened and scampered off
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
through the town with a hundred dogs at its heels, whose yells and the tingling bell produced a frightful roar through the wilderness. The chat- tering of Indian voices was heard in every direction. Major Adams sprang towards the river, but missed his path and found himself surrounded by the briers and thick undergrowth of the river swamp. The Indians passed within a few paces of the place where he stood, half suspended in the air by the briers; and returning from their fruitless search, he thought he heard them speak of strange sights and sounds, such as were told in Rome of the fall of Great Caesar. They returned to the town and again slept.
Major Adams proceeded in a direct line to the river, glided into the stream and swam quietly and safely to the other bank. He told what he had seen and stated his plans of attack. The little army listened, amazed and delighted with their gallant leader; each individual felt that the danger to which he had exposed himself was that their danger might be lessened, and with one voice, when orders were given to march, declared that they would be led by no other commander than their own intrepid Adams. Colonel M. was forced to yield. They were led across by Major Adams, and it was needless to say, to victory, without the loss of a man. Scarcely a warrior escaped. The town was burned; but as far as possible, the women and children, of even savages, were saved. Posts may yet be seen standing in the midst of saplings, grown up where the town was burned, which are the only remains that serve to point out to the traveler the place where stood the "Burnt Village."
REMARKS. The above account appears at the present time liberally ex- panded in accordance with poetic license, for there remains no record of any family that was wiped out by the blood-thirsty warriors in this county. There was more excitement than bloodshed in these repeated alarms.
The location of the "Burnt Village" was about one mile below the mouth of Wehadkee Creek, and the site at present is a cotton patch near the river.
Finally the Creeks gathered about them the remnants of their tribe, and under the escort of United States soldiers bade farewell to the haunts of their youth, and found a resting place in the territory that lies beyond the Mississippi.
The records of some of these old militia companies have been lost or destroyed, and the full rosters of only two of the twelve remain intact, those of the LaGrange and Harrisonville districts, and these two are repro- duced after the roster of the Confederate soldiers. A partial list of a com- pany which participated in the Indian conflict, made up by the old members from reminiscent recollections of old citizens, is given below:
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TROUP COUNTY MILITARY
A PARTIAL ROSTER OF CAPTAIN ROBERT H. SLEDGE'S COMPANY OF J. C. ALFORD BATTALION OF CAVALRY IN THE CREEK INDIAN WAR OF 1836.
JULIUS C. ALFORD, Colonel of the Battalion WILLIAM M. MARCUS, Lieutenant Colonel HUGH J. LESTER, Ensign of Battalion
ROBERT H. SLEDGE, Captain
HADIJAH ELAM, Orderly Sergeant
WALKER DUNSON, First Lieutenant
JOHN B. LEE, Second Lieutenant
JAMES H. HARRISON, Second Sergeant WRIGHT GREEN, Third Sergeant
JOHN P. WARMACK, Quartermaster
Bledsoe, Peachy
O'Neal, Hilliard
Bruster, Sheriff
Lee, John B., Second Lieutenant
Bruster, W. B.
Riley, W. B.
Davenport, Benedict
Satterwhite, Elijah
Davenport, Presley
Scott, George E.
Davidson, Allen
Scott, James H.
Dunson, Walker, First Lieutenant
Sledge, John
Elam, Hadijah, First Sergeant
Sledge, Mincey
Farrar, John
Sledge, Robert H., Captain
Gates, James R.
Sledge, Shirley
Green, Wright, Third Sergeant
Sledge, Thomas
Greer, Young
Smith, Anderson S.
Hardin, William O.
Stockton, J. T.
Harrison, James H., Second Sergeant
Tankersley, Baldwin
Harrison, J. W.
Thornton, J. T.
Howell, Daniel
Vann, James
Hughes, William C.
Vickers, Jefferson
Hunter, James
Warmack, John P., Quartermaster Weaver, David.
Jordan, Joshua
LAGRANGE LIGHT GUARDS, Co. B, 4th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This com- pany was organized in 1842 under the name of LaGrange Volunteers, with T. C. Evans as captain, and J. S. Herring and Thomas Brown as lieutenants. The arms that they bore were the old flint-lock muskets. In the same year the state of Georgia obtained a supply of the then comparatively new Spring- field rifles, and the LaGrange Volunteers were able to exchange their old flint-locks for the new rifles. After the death of Captain Evans, Charles Broome succeeded to the captaincy. In 1850 the name of the company was changed to LaGrange Riflemen with Milton Bacon as captain.
On March 5, 1856, the company was reorganized and incorporated as the LaGrange Light Guards. E. Y. Hill was elected captain, and Abe Rogers and Thomas Scott as lieutenants. This company was not attached to any regiment, and the membership numbered from forty to fifty members.
In 1861 the company was offered to Governor Joseph E. Brown for active service in behalf of the Confederacy. On April 26, 1861, they left LaGrange
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
for mobilization with Robert S. Smith as captain, Miles H. Hill, Gustavus A. Bull, and J. Brown Morgan as lieutenants. They enlisted first for twelve months, and then reenlisted for the duration of the war.
During the war this company had three captains: Robert S. Smith, pro- moted; Miles H. Hill, resigned; and Allen C. Gibson. The lieutenants were: Gustavus A. Bull, killed; J. Brown Morgan, promoted; Eugenius Ware, killed; James A. Norwood, resigned; Robert C. Humber, retired; Allen C. Gibson, promoted; John T. Gay, killed; William S. Evans; and Robert B. Ridley. This company again tendered their services in the Spanish American War in 1898, but were not accepted as a unit.
WEST POINT LIGHT GUARDS, Co. D, 4th Reg. G. V. I., C. S. A. No data could be found of the original organization of this company. On April 26, 1861, this company left West Point for mobilization at Augusta, Georgia, with John J. Matthews as captain, and L. L. Croft, Wade Hill, William H. Lanier, and George F. Todd as lieutenants. The captains of this company were: John J. Matthews, promoted; George F. Todd, killed; Adam C. Frost, killed. The lieutenants were: Thomas J. Atkinson, died; William C. Cherry, captured; L. L. Croft, resigned; James L. Greer, captured; Wade Hill, re- signed; William W. Hulbert, captured; William H. Lanier, killed; O. D. Winston, resigned.
THE EVANS GUARDS, Co. K, 13th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was named in honor of Gen. Thomas C. Evans of the Georgia militia. It was recruited largely from the east side of the county. It was mustered into service on July 8, 1861. The captains of the company were: James A. Long, promoted; Divany A. Kidd, killed. The lieutenants were: B. F. Curtright; Y. R. Frazier, wounded and captured; C. M. Heard, Jr., resigned; J. D. Hill, promoted; D. L. Owens.
THE BEN HILL INFANTRY, Co. F, 21st Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This' com- pany was named in honor of Benjamin Harvey Hill, Confederate senator. The captains of this company were: John T. Boykin, resigned; Ujanirtus C. Allen, killed; Edward M. Henderson. The lieutenants were: James T. Bagby; D. Eugene Dawson, died; Oliver T. Fears, killed; Jesse B. Haralson; Leroy T. Waller, resigned.
TROUP LIGHT GUARDS, Co. E, 41st Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This com- pany was sometimes called the Curtright Company. In the Army of Ten- nessee. The captains were: John C. Curtright, killed; Joseph U. Leonard. The lieutenants were: William W. Cato, resigned for promotion; Robert O. Douglas; Thomas C. Evans; William B. Johnson, promoted; William P. Leslie; John B. Reid; John A. Wright, killed.
FANNIN GUARDS, Co. B, 60th Reg., G. V. I., C. S. A. This company was organized by James H. Fannin, who was afterwards colonel of the 1st
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Regiment of reserves. The captains were: Waters B. Jones, promoted; John McGee, wounded; John Fuller; W. Dawson Burks, killed. The lieu- tenants were: Thomas J. Caudle; John McGee, promoted.
FERRELL BATTERY, Co. C, 14th Artillery, C. S. A. This company was organized by the captain, Coleman B. Ferrell, and named for him. The lieutenants were: Sidney Moses, William C. Henderson, James M. Truitt and Buck Osburn. The battery served in Montgomery's battalion under General Roddey.
SALLIE FANNIE REID GUARDS. This company was equipped by Miss Sallie Fannie Reid, a belle of the sixties, and was commanded by Capt. Ben Cam- eron.
NANCY HARTS. During the Civil War, LaGrange had the unique dis- tinction of having a company of women soldiers, under the captaincy of Mrs. J. Brown Morgan, and who called themselves the Nancy Harts in honor of the revolutionary heroine of Georgia. This company was organ- ized by Mrs. Morgan for the protection of the homes and the children in the absence of the men. In 1865 when a detachment of Wilson's raiders under the command of Colonel LaGrange rode through the town that bore his name, the Nancy Harts lined up for action, but surrendered on the promise of the diplomatic colonel to spare the city from looting and de- struction.
GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDS. This organization was incorporated by the General Assembly of Georgia on February 6, 1850, and was desig- nated as a cavalry troop. No records of its officers and the activities of the troop have been available.
TROUP HUZZARS. In 1890 this troop of cavalry was organized with John M. Barnard as captain, S. D. White, W. J. McClure and J. E. Dunson as lieutenants. Captain Barnard was promoted to major of the battalion, and Thomas J. Thornton was elected as captain.
ROSTER OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. The roster of the Confederate sol- diers, which includes the names of many Troup County citizens that served in widely scattered organizations, is arranged alphabetically in another later chapter of this history. It is not complete, but includes all that could be found and identified as Troup County soldiers.
FOURTH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. The Fourth regiment was mus- tered into service on April 26, 1861, and mobilized at Augusta, Georgia. Companies B and D, the LaGrange Light Guards and the West Point Guards were members of this regiment. The principal dates of this regiment:
1861, April 26. Mustered into service.
May 3. Mobilized at Augusta, Ga.
May 30. Arrival at Camp Jackson, Va.
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
1862, May 8. Advance to the front after one year of training.
May 31. Seven Pines Battle.
June 25. King's Schoolhouse.
July 1. Malvern Hill. Sept. 17. Sharpsburg.
Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va.
1863, Feb. 9. Retirement to winter quarters at Grace Church.
May 1. Chancellorsville, Va.
July 2. Gettysburg, Pa.
July 6. Williamsport, Md.
Dec. 20. Retirement to winter quarters at Orange.
1864, May 4. Wilderness, Va.
May 10. Spottsylvania, Va.
July 9. Monocacy, Md.
July 11. Advance on Washington, D. C.
July 18. Snicker's Gap, Va.
Sept. 19. Winchester, Va.
Sept. 22. Fisher's Hill, Va.
Oct. 19. Cedar Creek, Va.
1865, Mar. 25. Fort Steadman, Va.
April 2. Petersburg, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va., the surrender.
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This was the regiment of the Evans Guards, which was Company K of the regiment.
1861, July 8. Mustered into service. Sent to Army of West Virginia. Dec. Charleston, S. C.
1862, Whitmarsh Island, Ga. June 25. King's Schoolhouse.
All other dates the same as the Fourth Regiment.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was a part of the Army of Northern Virginia. The Ben Hill Infantry was Company F of the 21st regiment. The muster date was July 9, 1861.
1861, July 9. Mustered into service. 1862, March 22. Kernstown, Va. June 1. Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). June 8. Cross Keys, Va. Strasburg, Va. Aug. 8. Cedar Mountain, Va. Aug. 30. Second Manassas. Sept. 15. Harper's Ferry. Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va. 1863, May 1. Chancellorsville, Va. July 1. Gettysburg, Pa.
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TROUP COUNTY MILITARY
1864, May 5. Wilderness, Va.
May 15. Drewry's Bluff, Va.
June 3. Cold Harbor, Va.
July 4. Monocacy, Md.
July 22. Kernstown, Va.
July 17. Snicker's Gap, Va.
Sept. 8. Winchester, Va. Sept. 22. Cedar Creek, Va.
1865, March 25. Fort Steadman, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va., and surrender.
FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was a part of General Maney's Brigade of Cheatham's Division of the Army of Tennessee, and the Troup Light Guards as Company E of the 41st regiment.
1862, March 4. Mustered into service. Oct. 6. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Oct. 8. Perryville, Ky.
1863, May 16. Baker's Creek, Miss. July 4. Vicksburg, Miss. Captured.
July 6. Paroled in exchange. Nov. 25. Missionary Ridge, Ga.
1864, Feb. 5. Rocky Face, Ga.
June 18. Kennesaw Mountain, Ga.
July 31. Jonesboro, Ga. (Atlanta).
1865, Feb. 18. Columbia, S. C. March 14. Kinston, N. C.
April 26. Greensboro, N. C. Surrendered.
This regiment was combined with the 43rd and some other units to form the 40th Battalion, and as such surrendered at Greensboro.
SIXTIETH REGIMENT, G. V. I., C. S. A. This regiment was composed of the Fourth Battalion of Georgia and some scattered units, one of which was the Fannin Guards, Company B of the 60th regiment. The records of this regiment are very imperfect and exact dates cannot be given.
1862, April. Mustered in service to Lawton's Brigade. June 1. Seven Pines, Va. White Oak Swamp, Va.
Aug. 30. Second Manassas. Dec. 13. Fredericksburg, Va.
1863, Mary's Heights. July 2. Gettysburg, Pa.
1864, May 4. Wilderness, Va. Sept. 19. Winchester, Va.
1865, April 2. Petersburg, Va.
April 9. Appomattox, Va., and surrender.
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HISTORY OF TROUP COUNTY
FOURTEENTH ARTILLERY, C. S. A. This battalion of artillery was com- posed of seven companies, among which we find Ferrell Battery as Com- pany C. It served the Army of Tennessee during the year 1862, after which the companies were scattered, and the battalion was not preserved as a unit. Ferrell Battery was attached to General Roddey in Mississippi, and afterward retreated by the way of Selma, Alabama. At Opelika, Alabama, one part of the company was sent to Columbus, Ga., and the other part was engaged in the battle of West Point on April 16, 1865, two of whom were killed in that engagement: Robert Hamlin and Henry Moore.
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