USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 18
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
About Sept. 1st we took a line of march into Kentucky. We crossed the Cumberland Mountain at Pine Gap on Sunday. The hardest day's work we had there, pushing and pulling up Artillery.
239
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
We were all day crossing the mountain. After crossing over we came in contact with a squad of bushwhackers of which some were killed and wounded. Some made their escape. We captured the great town of London, Tenn. Next town was Richmond, Ken. There was a fight, but my Brigade was two days after the fight. There we captured 1000 stand of arms, the prisoners were paroled. We camped 3 or 4 days, got rations a plenty while there and whiskey to drink. I remained there at the Hospital a week. This time when I got able to travel, the regiment being over 50 miles at Frankfort, Ken., a squad of 30 of us started to overtake it. We fared the best on the road, the kindest folks to us, giving us everything we wanted to eat and wine to drink, grapes to eat a plenty."
CHAPTER XXXIV CONDITIONS IN WILKINSON DURING
THE WAR
S UCH a large number of the men of Wilkinson going off to war soon had its effect upon the economic conditions of the county. Many left no slaves nor any one else to pro- vide food for their families. Thus within a short time want was staring many women and children in the face.
To remedy the situation heavy taxes were levied by the Inferior Court, and Committees of men were appointed in each militia district to distribute food, and to report to the Inferior Court the destitute families. Extracts from the minutes of this court portray the conditions :
"Ordered by the court that the County Treasurer be authorized to pay over to the committees of the district appointed at this term of the court five hundred dollars to be distributed by said committee to the needy families of those who have gone to the war, out of any money in his hands at the time of the passage of this order.
"The Committee of Ramah District exhibited their book with amount furnished families in their district, to wit : 8 lbs. bacon, 14 lb. meal, each, and I gal. molassas, to five persons, which was satisfactory to the court and adopted for the government of committees at present.
"Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, 1861. .
"The Honorable the Inferior Court met in chambers for the purpose of hearing the report of the Committee from the several districts appointed by the court; to re- port the names of such families of volunteers as are needy. "Ordered that N. W. Hughs be appointed on the Relief Committee for High Hill, in place of Rev. G. B. Hughs. "Ordered that Gabriel Jones, Vincent Jeans and John
(240)
241
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
Temples be appointed a committee in Bloodworth's Dis- trict to report the families in said district destitute, whose husbands are in the war."
SCARCITY OF SALT
The strict blockade of the coast by the Federal navy preventing imports produced a great scarcity of salt in the South. The smoke-houses of Wilkinson County were all scraped, their earth floors digged up and boiled so that the salt becoming diluted in the water could be used. Even this was insufficient and a meeting was called at Marion in Twiggs County for Wilkinson, Twiggs and Pulaski counties to devise plans by which salt could be obtained. A later meeting was held at Allentown and steps were taken for the manufacture of this salt. An overseer was appointed and slaves were sent with him to the coast.
Old Jack Whipple, a slave belonging to the Whipple family, was one of these which were sent. When he was nearly one hundred years old, he told the writer of how he went to the coast and helped make salt during the war, recalling distinctly the evaporation of the sea water in boilers and vats.
THE SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC
To add to the troubles of the people of the county in the fall of 1862 there was an outbreak of smallpox in Ra- mah District. The Inferior Court at once appointed a board of health composed of E. J. Massey, Benjamin Fin- ney, William Rivers, J. H. Jones, David Solomon, A. O. Flemister, and M. J. Dykes. Quarantine regulations were enforced and vaccinations were provided for all unable to pay for it. Many patriotic citizens allowed their resi- dences to be converted into hospitals for the treatment of those afflicted. Among these were the homes of the Bridges, the Barrentines, Jessups, and Sanders.
In January, 1863, the dread disease broke out in Griffin
242
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
District, and a board of health was appointed, composed of T. W. Dupree, T. J. Holliman, Zenus Fordham, J. R. Billue, Benj. Fordham, Etheldred Ogburn, and James Pierce, with full power to quarantine any part of the dis- trict, appoint guards and compel service.
Not only was there great suffering for food among the needy families of Wilkinson but there was a need for clothing. Many had no means of preparing cotton and weaving it into cloth. To remedy this situation the state distributed great quantities of cotton cards among the destitute.
With so many companies of men at the two battle fronts which were frequently calling for recruits to fill the thinning ranks, Wilkinson County rapidly "Bled herself white." However, the slaves were proving loyal and were growing large crops of foodstuffs for the Confederate armies. The tithing tax was rigidly enforced and the buildings then in front of the courthouse were converted into Confederate granaries. Leroy Fleetwood was in charge of these, and under the immediate command of Captain Dickerson of Macon.
The following extracts from the minutes of the Infe- rior Court tell the story of the suffering in Wilkinson County during 1864 and 1865 :
"We, the court, order that the committee of each Dis- trict take off all children from their list that receive help from the county over ten years (10) old and must not furnish any one over that age with anything unless dis- abled so they are not able to labor. We further order that they furnish no one anything unless they have no visible means of support if any question is made between them and their neighbors about their means of support it must be settled by swearing the claimant and learning their true condition. It being the intention of the court to furnish the needy in district and such as cannot furnish themselves and none others. We further order that each committee
243
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
keep a regular act book of all their acts so that fault find- ers and scruplers may have no chance to complain and re- port to the court every three months.
"March 7, 1864. It appearing to the court that the sol- diers' families in some parts of this county, are greatly in need of corn. It is ordered that the Clerk of said Court forward to Captain Dickerson at Macon, Georgia, a re- quest for the release of seven hundred (700) bushels of tithe corn for supplying the above named families.
"April 14, 1864. It appearing to the Court that a great many of the indigent soldiers' families in this county have not made a sufficient amount of bacon to support their families which consist in many cases of helpless children : it is ordered that the Clerk of said court forward to Cap- tain Dickerson a request allowing such families to com- mute their tithe bacon at government price which will greatly alleviate their suffering condition.
"April 14, 1864.
"Mr. L. Fleetwood :
"Sir, you're directed in accordance with orders from Captain Dickerson to turn over seven hundred (700) bushels of the tithe corn which has not been delivered to you to the committees appointed in each district in the fol- lowing manner :
"T. W. Dupree, Griffin, 25 bu .; J. R. Thompson, Lords, 100 bu .; A. Baum, Irwinton, 100 bu .; M. M. Bloodworth, 3731/2 bu .; James Jackson, Fork, 50 bu .; John Bragg, 51 1/2 bu. Total, 700 bu."
The following named persons were appointed as police- men for the county in July, 1864:
William Dickson, M. J. Carswell, William Manson, Nimrod Burke, L. Hanks, J. T. Coney, Joseph W. Parks, G. B. Burney, Wiley T. Holland, William A. Hall, J. N. Wall, A. O. Flemister.
"July 11, 1864. The honorable Inferior Court met for the purpose of selecting Physicians and Millers to remain
244
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
at home in compliance with Governor Brown's Procla- mation, and knowing the following named physicians to be men skilled in their profession, order that they be exempt from militia duty : Wm. Taylor, R. C. Carroll, and J. T. Hudson. And knowing scarcity of millers in the county recommend that all who are now engaged in that business remain at home.
"Aug. 11, 1864. It is ordered by the court that the county treasurer borrow seven thousand (7,000) dollars to be returned Ist November in the currency for the relief of soldiers' families there being an insufficient on hand for said purpose.
"Aug. 11, 1864. In obedience to special order from General Waynes' office of Aug. Ist, 1864, we the Inferior Court of said county make the following report :
"Number of slaves in county 5,000; number of men between fifty-five and sixty years of age whose names ac- company this report, 26; number of men between the age of fifty-five and sixty unable to ride and perform police duty, 25.
"Aug. 11, 1864. There being a deficiency in the num- ber of old men able to ride and perform police duty al- lowing one man to every five hundred slaves we recom- mend that the following named men subject to the late call of the Governor be detained for police duty in this county who are accustomed to the management of ne- groes and who we know to be men of distinction and en- ergy and who perform their duty faithfully :
"Nimrod Burke in Captain Cumming's Company; A. O. Flemister in Captain Lingo's Company ; J. N. Wall in Captain Cumming's Company ; M. J. Carswell in Captain Cumming's Company ; Wm. Dickson, Wm. Manson, J. T. Coney, J. W. Parks, W. A. Hall, all at home.
"Nov. Ist, 1864. Owing to the great scarcity of corn in the county it is found to be impossible to procure a suf- ficient quantity to relieve the necessities of the indigent
245
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
soldiers' families and it being the interest of the govern- ment to relieve the wants of such families as much as pos- sible. It is ordered by the court that Captain A. Dickerson be requested to sell this court for the relief of such fami- lies ten thousand bushels of corn of the new crop for their consumption for the year 1865.
"Dec. 5, 1864. It is ordered by the court that the county treasurer pay over to Leroy Fleetwood, Depot Agent, One Thousand and Sixty-two 10/100 Dollars in payment of the tithe corn purchased by this court for the relief of soldiers' families.
"Dec. 5, 1864. It is ordered that E. F. Hughs proceed to Macon with a memorial to Capt. Dickerson request- ing the release of the tithing corn of this county and ba- con for the use of families whose provisions have been destroyed by the enemy and that he draw upon the county treasurer the amount of money he expends while so en- gaged.
"February 6, 1865. We, the Justices of the Inferior Court, having assembled as required by law for the pur- pose of placing to the best of our knowledge and belief the market value upon slaves of different ages in our county do certify that we believe the following sums placed opposite each age to be the fair market value in Confederate Treasury.
"Notes of the slaves of different ages in our county, viz :
Ist slaves under two years of age are worth $400.00.
2nd slaves from two to six years of age are worth $650.00.
3rd slaves from six to twelve years of age are worth $1,200.00.
4th slaves from twelve to sixteen years of age are worth $1,800.00.
5th Male slaves sixteen to twenty-five years of age are worth $3,500.00.
246
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
Female slaves sixteen to twenty-five years of age are worth $3,000.00.
6th Male slaves twenty-five to thirty-five years of age are worth $3,000.00.
Female slaves twenty-five to thirty-five years of age are worth $2,500.00.
7th Male slaves thirty-five to forty-five years of age are worth $2,500.00.
Female slaves thirty-five to forty-five years of age are worth $1,500.00.
8th Male slaves forty-five to fifty-five years of age are worth $1,500.00.
Female slaves forty-five to fifty-five years of age are worth $700.00.
9th Male slaves fifty-five to sixty-five years of age are worth $750.00.
Female slaves fifty-five to sixty-five years of age are worth $300.00.
"April 1865. We, as Justices of the Inferior Court of said county, report that we wish our county to be supplied with her quota of cotton cards at the next distribution by the state for the benefit of the indigent wives and widows of soldiers and we hereby authorize J. B. Campbell, Esq., Secretary Executive Department, to receive and receipt for in our names the executive warrant on the State Treas- ury for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars part of the appropriation due this county for support of indi- gent soldiers' families and children and to pay over same to the agent of the State card factory for said cards at 20c a pair, and other expenses. The agent of the State for said factory will send the cards to Gordon consigned to Joel Deese at Milledgeville, Ga.
"Ordered that the Road Commissioners be authorized to receive ten dollars in Confederate money for every dollar on the old basis of one to three dollars a day.
247
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
"April 8, 1865. It is further ordered that John R. Bragg be appointed agent for the district of Turkey Creek, Lords, Griffin and High Hill and that to give bond in the sum of two hundred thousand dollars.
"Ordered by the court that the Clerk of the Superior and Inferior Courts and Ordinary proceed to buy books to have the minutes and such other records as are so de- stroyed by the recent burning of the court house in the different offices and that each one of the offices aforesaid proceed at once to transcribe the records aforesaid on the new books so purchased at once and that the sum of five thousand dollars be appropriated for that purpose and that we pay them for said services such terms as may be allowed by law for recording and that the clerk of this court be authorized to draw his warrant for the amount on the Treasury so specified as above.
"It appearing to the court that there is great distress among the people and no money in the treasury, it is or- dered that the county treasurer be authorized to have struck at once the sum of one thousand dollars in bills of from fifty cents to five dollars which said script shall be received in payment of any tax or dues to the county here- after accruing, said script to be signed by the county treas- urer in each and every case.
"Ordered that one hundred and seventy-five dollars be paid to G. B. Burney for the rent of two houses for a court house and that it bears interest till paid from Ist Jan, last.
"It is ordered that the county treasurer cause to be struck one thousand dollars on the same terms and condi- tions as the order of Jan. 8th, last, passed.
"It is ordered that Alexander Baum in Irwinton Dis- trict ; J. J. Todd, in High Hill District; T. W. Dupree, in Griffin District, E. J. Rozar, in Turkey Creek District; Joel Deese in Lord's District; S. J. Stubbs, in Fork Dis- trict; M. M. Bloodworth, in Bloodworth's District; and V. W. Tharpe, in Ramah District be appointed agents in
248
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
the several districts aforesaid to receive and to distribute such monies or provisions to the several persons entitled to the benefit of an act appropriating money to feed and provide for soldiers' families and other destitute per- sons."
CHAPTER XXXV WITH THE WILKINSON COUNTY COMPANIES IN VIRGINIA
W E now return to the Virginia front where the four Wilkinson County Companies are found in A. P. Hill's forces. McClellan with vastly superior forces was approaching Richmond and A. P. Hill stood in his direct path. Then came the Seven Days Battles Before Rich- mond. McClellan having received reinforcements in- vaded Virginia and was bent upon capturing Richmond. Again and again the Wilkinson County companies under Hill were called on and in every battle of the seven days they were found on the first line. Company B of the 14th lost twenty-three men in the campaign, or near one-fourth killed besides numbers wounded. When these battles be- gan, Folsom, who had now been promoted to Colonel of the 14th, was ill and in the hospital. Notwithstanding this he arose from his bed and led his regiment all through these battles.
During these Seven Days Battles all the Companies from Wilkinson fought with a ferocity unexcelled in history. They were in Hill's furious charges at Mechanics- ville ; they were in the front ranks at Cold Harbor, when Hill was moving heaven and earth in his endeavor to hold his ground against the overwhelming odds of five to one attacking him, breaking the enemies' assaults and in the face of such odds, countercharging and driving them back, bearing up under the heavy artillery fire which was then turned upon them, decimating their ranks, and then slowly being forced back by overpowering assaults with every possible reserve in action, with defeat and possible cap- ture staring them in the face, the timely arrival of Stone- wall Jackson turned defeat into a glorious victory.
And again at Frazier's Farm, A. P. Hill's forces were
(249)
250
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
in the advance. This time the 14th and 49th were with Longstreet, the 14th forming his left wing, while the 49th formed part of his right wing. Jefferson Davis, in his Rise and Fall of the Confederacy tells in the highest of terms of how the Georgians charged like Demons that day, fighting successfully against overwhelming number. How calmly and cooly the men marched into battle at the com- mand of Hill, and that never did soldiers display more bravery than did those at Frazier's Farm. Davis says that in many respects this was one of the most remarkable bat- tles of the war, and tells how the infantry charged through hails of canister and grape shot capturing bat- teries of artillery, and how the bayonet was freely used, and when these could not be used by reason of the proxim- ity of the combatants the butts of the guns were used (W. I. Thigpen, of Company A of the 49th Georgia, has a most vivid recollection of this battle and gave the com- piler the information as to the location of the 49th.)
CEDAR RUN
The enemy attacked General Early's command, and Thomas' Brigade, in which the 14th and 49th were, was sent to re-inforce him, and the battle became general. In the meantime, Jackson's left had been overpowered at one point by superior numbers and the southern army was threatened. It was here that the 3rd Georgia was called on to assist in replacing the line.
SECOND MANASSAS
Here, the Georgians under A. P. Hill formed the en- tire left wing of Jackson's command. The enemy learning that Longstreet upon whom Jackson was depending for reinforcements could not get there immediately, attacked with large numbers of fresh troops. Charge after charge was made against the lines held by the Wilkinson County companies. A short distance from where these were sta-
251
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
tioned, the enemy broke A. P. Hill's lines. Unless this line could be re-established it meant the defeat of the army. The 49th Georgia was called upon to hurl them- selves into the breach and repair the line at all costs.
It was here they again covered themselves with glory. With the wild rebel yell they bore down upon the advanc- ing troops of the enemy with such a fury that no power could resist. They restored the line, and W. I. Thigpen yet lives to tell the story of that charge and to corrobo- rate Jefferson Davis in his description.
In describing the Second Battle of Manassas on Aug. 29, 1862, John Esten Cooke in his "Life of Stonewall Jackson" says :
"About that time the enemy advanced a heavy column, consisting in part, it is said, of Banks', Sigel's, and Pope's divisions; and, supported by a heavy fire of artillery, threw themselves with great fury upon Jackson's left, consisting of the division of A. P. Hill. Their evident de- sign was to turn his flank; and in spite of the destructive volleys poured into their faces they pressed on, crossed the cut in the railroad extending along Hill's front, and, penetrating an interval of about one hundred and seventy- five yards, separated the right of Gregg's from the left of Thomas' brigades. This success proved almost fatal at the moment to General Gregg. He was entirely isolated, and but for the stubborn stand made by the 14th South Carolina and 49th Georgia, on Thomas' left, would have been cut off and destroyed. These regiments attacked the enemy with vigor ; their triumphant advance was checked at the instant when they were carrying all before them; and the Federal column was forced to retreat beyond the cut again, with heavy loss. In this sanguinary conflict the men fought almost breast to breast; and General Mc- Gowan reported that the opposing forces at one time de- livered their volleys into each other at the distance of ten paces." (page 291.)
252
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
CHANCELLORSVILLE
Never did two contending armies fight harder than at Chancellorsville. The first day of the battle was in- decisive. Both sides had lost heavily. A. P. Hill's com- mand was in the reserves and at dark of the first day was sent forward to the front lines. Jackson, mistaken by his own men, was mortally wounded. The command devolved upon A. P. Hill, but he was also soon wound- ed and sent to the field hospital. Jeb Stuart was now in command. At daybreak the next morning every man knew the crisis of his life was at hand. Not only was A. P. Hill lying wounded a short distance in the rear, the great Jackson, himself, was also lying helpless in the same hospital. The enemy was in overwhelming force and well entrenched, but when Jeb Stuart, the Chevalier Bayard of the Confederacy, in his plumed hat and on his prancing steed came down the line to lead that charge in person, and shouted "REMEMBER JACKSON!" the cry was taken up by every man from one end of the line to the other. No power on earth could stop the mad charge that followed. It was a mass of yelling demons that swept across the bloody field that day, striking terror into the hearts of the Yankees in front. Even the officers could not stop their men after the objective had been captured. As was told me by W. I. Thigpen who was there when that cry went down the line "REMEMBER JACKSON," every man wanted to shed his last drop of blood. J. T. Dupree of the 3rd Georgia bore to his grave the wounds received that day. Mr. Thigpen of the 49th still bears his wounds.
The following clipping from the Union Recorder of September 8, 1863, will be of interest :
"Col. R. W. Folsom has presented the Governor the battle flag of the 14th Georgia Regiment. The patriotic emblem, tattered and pierced by bullets of the enemy, has
253
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
been handsomely acknowledged by Gov. Brown, who gives it honorable preservation in the Executive Department."
GETTYSBURG
One cannot think of the Wilkinson County Companies in the battle of Gettysburg without sinking of heart. One of Lee's generals blundered and against the army of the south, overwhelming hordes were advancing. The companies from Wilkinson were in the center and on the front lines. The second day of the battle was the hardest fighting in history. Company B of the 14th held this ground against eight lines of the enemy. Com- pany A of the 49th in one of the charges that made it famous was almost completely destroyed. It seems that the 3rd Georgia was supporting Longstreet and was in the ter- rific charges made that day. In the second day's battle they were fighting on the identical ground on which Pickett had made his ill-fated charge the day before. In charging Cemetery Heights, the 3rd Georgia penetrated the ene- my's lines further than any other Confederates.
IN PICKETT'S CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG
It is not generally known that two of the Wilkinson County Companies, Co. B of the 14th Ga., and Co. A, of the 49th Ga., were numbered among Pickett's immortals in that charge at Gettysburg. Historians generally fail to mention these Regiments as taking part, such however, is unquestionably true. The attention of the compiler was called to this fact by Hon. Warren Grice, of Macon, who also supplied him with an article published in the Macon Telegraph by James Callaway, several years ago on Gen. Edward Loyd Thomas, who commanded the brigade in which the 14th and 49th Georgia Regiments were. Quoting from Mr. Callaway's article :
"He (Thomas) was in every battle fought by Gen. Lee in Virginia, and only missed Sharpsburg by reason
254
HISTORY OF WILKINSON COUNTY
of being detached at Harper's Ferry to receive the parole of nearly 12,000 prisoners captured.
The Count of Paris, in his history of our civil war, states that in one of the battles, when the front line of one of the Confederates had been broken by the federal forces, Gen. Thomas struck the advancing column in such a way as to turn their expected victory into defeat.
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.