Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 49

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Mississippi > Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II > Part 49

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The following statistics are taken from the twelfth United States census for 1900, and show in a striking manner the extent to which the lumber and allied industries outrank the agricultural. Number of farms in the county 1,148, acreage in farms 195,034, acres im- proved 24,872, value of land exclusive of buildings $557,390, value of buildings $298,020, value of live stock $367,169, total value of products $420,195. Total number of manufacturing establish- ments 50, capital invested $986,922, wages paid $228,154, cost of materials $679,351, total value of products $1,185,860. The popu- lation in 1900 was whites 9,808, colored 4,874, total 14,682, increase over 1890, 8,188. The population in 1906 was estimated at 20,000. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in Perry

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county in 1905 was $6,203,091 and in 1906 it was $10,854,794, which shows an increase of $4,651,703 during the year.

Perrytown, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Wilkinson county, on the Homochitto river, about 18 miles from Woodville, the county seat. Rosetta, on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., is the nearest railroad station, and Gloster is the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 42.

Petersburg, siege of, see Army of Northern Virginia.

Perth, a hamlet of Jefferson county, 7 miles east of Fayette, the county seat, and nearest railroad and banking town. It has a money order postoffice. Population in 1900, 33.

Perthshire, a post-hamlet of Bolivar county, on the Riverside Division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 10 miles northeast of Rosedale, the county seat and nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 61.

Petal, a postoffice of Perry county, 2 miles north of Hattiesburg. on the N. O. & N. E. R. R. It has three stores, two churches, a good school, two large saw mills, a cotton gin, and a population of 300.

Pettit, a post-hamlet of Washington county, on the Riverside division of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., 15 miles south of Greenville, the county seat. Population in 1900, 100.

Pettus, John Jones, was born in Wilson county, Tenn., October 9, 1813. A younger brother, Edmund Winston Pettus, was born in Limestone county, Ala., in 1821, and was elected United States senator in 1896. In his youth John J. Pettus became a resident of Kemper county, where he soon attained prominence. He repre- sented Kemper in the lower house of the legislature in 1846-48. In 1848-58 he was in the State senate from his district. He was elected president of the senate in 1854, and when Gov. Foote re- signed, he was acting governor January 5 to 10, 1854. Elected again by unanimous vote in 1856 he held over as president at the called session of 1857. In the course of his farewell address at adjournment he said: "Fourteen years have elapsed since I en- tered these halls as a member of the Legislature. Through all that time continued expressions of friendship and esteem have made pleasant my path. The accumulation of long years of kind- ness crowd on my memory as I stand before you tonight, and thrill my heart with emotions of deep and abiding gratitude."

He was elected governor in October, 1859, as a representative of the movement for Southern independence. See (McWillie Adm.) His administration is described in a separate article. After the fall of the Confederate States government he removed to Ar- kansas, where he lived the life of a recluse and died January 25, 1867.

Pettus' Administration. Governor Pettus was inaugurated No- vember 21. 1859, with a procession from the mansion to the capitol, including volunteer military companies, under the com- mand of Gen. Richard Griffith. marshal of the day.

It was inevitable that the governor should give much attention

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in his inaugural address to the "irrepressible conflict" that over- shadowed everything else. "The scene at Harper's Ferry is not the end, but in my opinion only the beginning of the end of this conflict." he said. The anti-slavery party had obtained control of nearly every State in the North and West, and the fugitive slave law was made of no effect. "The Southern citizen, left to this unequal contest for his property with societies, churches and States, must abandon his right for want of an adequate remedy, unless the Southern States make the cause of the citizen the cause of the State, and enforce his constitutional right by retaliating on the citizens of those States that have passed laws to defeat the rendition of fugitive slaves." He declared his belief that the move- ment contemplated the abolition of slavery and the "probable en- forcement here of the same policy in relation to the social equality of the races which has disgraced the statute book of Massachusetts and degraded her people to a level with the Afri- cans." The remedy he proposed was the "moral influence of a United South preparing to resent further insults and unyielding resist further aggressions." He would raise the ban- ner of a national party with the motto, "Superiority and Suprem- acy of the White Race," and he believed it would rally a million of free white men in the North, and the cry of "save this glorious Union" would be raised even in the "Black Republican camp." He believed the only effective counter-movement was to endanger the unrestricted commercial intercourse of the North with the South. In conclusion he said that if the Republican party elected the president in 1860, "I shall regard the institution of slavery so seriously threatened as to justify Mississippi in asking for a Con- vention of all the States interested in its perpetuation.

To this council Mississippi will send her truest and best men, and when a line of policy shall be marked out she will be found willing and ready to maintain her inalienable right of self- government, even if compelled to defend it by a war as long as that by which it was purchased. To nerve and sustain her in such a conflict the South has a better cause, double the population and twenty times the resources of the Thirteen colonies, and if we have only half their courage we may yet remain free."

As his staff, the governor appointed in December, Walter L. Sykes, adjutant-general; Nathaniel F. Barksdale, quartermaster- general ; C. G. Armstead, Henry Muldrow. V. T. Terrell, G. M. Fowler, aides; F. Labauve, W. A. Barbour. John C. Russell. Sam- uel H. Terral, assistant quartermaster-general. Col. B. B. Webb, secretary of state, died January 16, 1860, and an election was or- dered for April 2, at which C. A. Brougher was elected. The other officials of 1860-61 were T. J. Wharton, attorney-general; E. R. Burt, auditor ; M. D. Haynes, treasurer.

The proposition to pay the bonded debt of the State on account of the Planters bank was revived seriously in the legislature of 1859. but the majority declared it was impolitic to take it up when it was necessary to have public sentiment united on the sectional

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questions. William C. Smedes wrote into the records that nobody assumed to deny that these bonds were just and legal. "And yet the great State of Mississippi," he said, "proud of her achieve- ments on the battle-field, jealous of her constitutional rights, and boastful of her sovereignty, allows herself to be dishonored and discredited in the face of the world by failing to pay a just and admitted debt; an honest and undisputed obligation, which for years has been due, and in the hands of her injured and long suf- fering creditors, many of whom are citizens of the United States, of distinction and character, others widows and orphans, and still others citizens of foreign governments, all of whom cannot but look upon the State as faithless and discredited." An intelligent patriotic minority had always contended for the payment of all the just obligations of the State.

The legislature appropriated $150,000 to arm the State troops, and in the spring of 1860 Gov. Pettus sent Adj .- Gen. Sykes to visit the Northern armories, arsenals and factories, and obtain several thousand stands of the Mississippi rifles with bayonets at- tached. A convention of militia generals was called May 29, also a convention of the captains of volunteer companies, that were being rapidly organized. Carnot Posey, Richard Griffith and Erasmus Burt were conspicuous in this movement. (See Army of Miss.)

Jan. 23, 1860, Gov. Pettus sent to the legislature, yet in session. resolutions of the South Carolina legislature, declaring that South Carolina had in 1852 affirmed her right to secede, and forebore action "from considerations of expediency only," and urging now "that the slaveholding States should immediately meet together and concert measures for United action," which was approved by Governor Pettus. He suggested that while preparing for such a meeting, revenue laws should be enacted by Mississippi "to make her commerce less profitable to those who make war on her rights." He recommended a tax of ten per cent. on all goods and manufactures imported from without the State, and to discour- age Northern literature the requirement of a license in each county for book agents.

The political campaign of 1860, which resulted in the election of President Lincoln, was one of extraordinary excitement. As soon as the result was known in November, Gov. Pettus called the legislature in session to provide for a Constitutional conven- tion. (See Secession.)

December 31 was a day of fasting and prayer, by proclamation of the governor. On January 3, 1861, he called the legislature to meet again January 15th. The Constitutional convention (q. v.) . met on the 7th.

The military activity of the State may be judged by the record at Natchez. one of the centers of opposition to secession. In De- cember, 1860, there had been organized the Adams troop of cav- alry under Capt. William T. Martin, the Adams Light Guard. the Natchez Guards, the Natchez Fencibles (reorganized), and the

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Quitman Artillery, under Capt. W. S. Lovell. By February, the Light Guard had grown to a battalion, including two companies of adults and two of boys; the Home Guards and Silver Grays were organized among the old men, and in all over 600 were en- rolled in these companies, most of whom were armed and drilled.

While the convention was in session it exercised the powers of amending the constitution and making ordinances. A Council of Three was appointed, composed of Warren P. Anderson, Madi- son McAfee and T. C. Tupper, to advise the governor until the State should enter a confederacy. A military system was framed, and military control given to a board composed of the governor and five general officers: Jefferson Davis, major-general, Earl VanDorn, Charles Clark, J. L. Alcorn and C. H. Mott, brigadiers. Thus the governor's prerogative was considerably curtailed. As for the legislature, it adjourned after a week's session.

Under the ordinances of the Convention the State declared her- self an independent republic. The United States marshals were requested to complete their work on the census, and otherwise cease their relations to the Federal government; postmasters and mail clerks were authorized to continue their work and a post- master-general was provided for, but none was appointed; light- houses, marine hospitals and custom houses, and the military property on Ship Island, were declared the property of the State; also the arms received from the United States, the lands donated by the United States in trust for education and internal improve- ments, the Two per cent. fund, the Three per cent. fund, the Sem- inary fund, the Internal Improvement fund, etc., were assumed without question.

In his message of January 18 Gov. Pettus related the military operations in which the State was already involved-mainly the sending of seven companies to aid in the siege of Fort Pickens, Pensacola harbor. "From the facts stated," he said, "the legis- lature will perceive that a state of hostilities already exists be- tween the seceding States and the government at Washington, which may be soon followed by open war. It is yet possible that this may be averted. Justice and prudence on the part of the Southern people, in my opinion, may possibly avert it; and if not, will certainly mitigate its evils. But whether peace or war be the destiny of the State, a due observance of law and obedience to the constituted authorities are the only guarantees of a people for success, safety or civilization. We have embarked upon a stormy sea, and much of the peril which attends our voyage is to be apprehended from the thoughtlessness and passions of our own crew. Law and order must prevail, or there is no safety for the

ship. . I further recommend that the most prompt and efficient measures be adopted to make known to the people of the Northwestern States that peaceful commerce on the Mississippi river will be neither interrupted or annoyed by the authorities or people of Mississippi."

The music of fife and drum filled the air, yet much of the cir-

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cumstances of peace remained. Adelina Patti sang at Natchez January 31, seats $1.00. Dan Rice's circus and Christie's minstrels made their usual tour. March 29, 1861, the State, by ordinance of the Convention, adopted the constitution of a new federal govern- ment, the Confederate States of America, of which Jefferson Davis had been elected president.

The call for troops to enter the military service of the new gov- ernment began. Two regiments were ordered to Pensacola, eight ·more in April, and five more in July. In addition the Military board called the Army of the State (q. v.), 8,000 strong, to go into camp in August.

July 12 the governor proclaimed a special session of the legisla- ture to convene July 25. On the 22d came news of the great vic- tory at Manassas. His message began: "It affords me pleasure to announce to you that the revolution which you inaugurated last fall has so far been prosperous and successful. The people of this State have united in approving your action and sustaining the Confederate government with a unanimity which surpasses the expectations of the most sanguine. The call to arms has been re- sponded to in a manner unknown in modern times, and the call for means to support our volunteers is now being answered with such liberal devotion to the cause as to gratify the heart of the patriot."

To provide money for the war, the Convention in January au- thorized the issue of treasury paper to the amount of $1,000,000. Bonds were issued to the amount of about $55,000 and Treasury notes for the balance. These notes were in about equal numbers of $10, $20, $50, and $100. From the start it was impossible to exchange any considerable amount of the notes for gold or silver, and consequently they were paid out as money in the disburse- ments for military purposes. There were no banks in the State authorized to issue money. The banks outside had generally sus- pended. and their notes were depreciated before hostilities began. The railroads were empowered to issue script as money, to the amount of $1,250,000. In view of the great financial embarrass- ment, the governor asked the postponement of all legal sales on judgments, as early in the war period as the first famous battle. His advice was followed, and all actions for debt or the enforce- ment of contracts, and all sales of property under judgment, were suspended until twelve months after the close of the war. The effect of this was to suspend all the courts of the State.

The governor also said: "Private donations to the volunteer companies in uniforming. arming and subsisting them, have in the last few months amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars; but these contributions, from the more liberal and patriotic citi- zens, cannot, and in justice ought not to be relied on to carry on the war." He urged an increased taxation of slaves and land of one fourth of one per cent.

There was serious opposition for a time, to the reelection of Governor Pettus, largely on account of the August encampment.

August 26, by proclamation, the governor asked that provisions

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for the sick and wounded at the battle of Manassas be collected by the probate clerks to be forwarded to Virginia.

At the regular election in October, Gov. Pettus was reelected with very little opposition. He received 30,169 votes, Jacob Thompson 3,556, Madison McAfee 234, scattering 662. C. A. Brougher was reelected secretary of state; T. J. Wharton, attorney- general; M. D. Haynes, treasurer ; E. R. Burt, auditor. Col. Burt fell in battle in Virginia a few days later; A. B. Dilworth was ap- pointed in his place, and A. J. Gillespie was elected at a special election February 10, 1862.

The governor's message, at the opening of the regular session of the legislature in November, was mainly devoted to the war. On the first day of the session the legislature adjourned to attend the funeral of Col. Erasmus R. Burt. The adjutant-general's re- port indicated that 35,000 men of Mississippi were then enlisted for military duty, "which is probably a larger proportion of the adult male population than any State or nation has sent forth to war in modern times; and when it is remembered that not one of all these thousands has been required by law to enter the service, or constrained by any force save the patriotic desire to stand be- tween the State and her enemies, Mississippi may well feel proud of her volunteer defenders." In concluding his message he said, "I cannot close without paying a heartfelt tribute to the patriotic, self-sacrificing devotion exhibited by the women of Mississippi. If our brave defenders are supplied with clothing sufficient to keep the field in the winter campaign, the country will be indebted for it to the patient toil of the daughters of the South." The State was without any manufactories, it was without money and with- out credit ; the blockade had closed its market, the military enroll- ment ordinarily to be expected of its population was already ex- hausted. Yet, somehow, the war was maintained for more than three years longer, even after the river and coast, and northern border were in the possession of the Union troops. Extraordinary efforts were required to obtain so common a necessity as salt. (q. v.)

The financial situation received the attention of the Mississippi legislature. Some way to get cash for the cotton was of course the main point. The select committee of five of the House, be- lieved the condition was not yet hopeless; that the North also suffered, and that a balance sheet would show a larger amount of real money in the Confederacy than in the Union. They believed the only effective procedure was to unite all resources, banks, credit and cotton, "in getting up a sufficient number of gunboats and war vessels to break up the blockade." They expressed a misconception common in those days, that a cutting off of the cot- ton supply from the cotton mills of the North would produce gen- eral ruin in that region. The people were urged to listen to no overtures of peace and restoration of the Union. If the shipment of cotton to the North could be prevented, the North must admit Southern independence.

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Gov. Pettus himself urged that there be legislation to restrict the next crop of cotton, and turn agriculture into the production of grain and provisions.

The legislature authorized an issue of treasury notes to the amount of $5,000,000 to be advanced on cotton, and chartered the Bank of Jackson and other banks, permitting them to issue cur- rency notes, on condition that they received the treasury notes at par. The bank notes were to be receivable for taxes. Near the close of the session the legislature passed an act incorporating other banks of issue, without any requirement to protect the Treasury notes, which was vetoed by Governor Pettus.

An issue of treasury notes to the amount of $2,500,000 was also authorized, for a military fund. Under this act, treasury notes were issued to the amount of $1,610,375, including 65,000 each of $5's and $10's. This included $500,000 appropriated to the relief of destitute families.

The Cotton notes were issued to the full $5,000,000. Any owner of cotton could obtain them to the amount of the value of his cot- ton at 5 cents a pound. on promising to deliver his cotton when the governor called for it. These Cotton notes became the prin- cipal currency of the State.

Early in 1862 Mississippi began to be the theatre of war. Ship Island was occupied and the coast was harassed. The great bat- tle of Shiloh, almost on the margin of the State, was followed by the evacuation of Corinth and a fierce battle there. New Orleans and Memphis fell, and the river was occupied by the United States navy. Vicksburg was the key to the situation, and the world was watching the great campaign begun for its possession. When the legislature met in special session December 17, 1862. Gen. Grant was marching south on the line of the Memphis railroad and Sherman was seeking to gain a foothold at the mouth of the Yazoo.

In his message, December 20, Gov. Pettus recommended that "the entire white male population of the State, from sixteen to sixty years of age, be enrolled in the militia, and that such as are deemed able to go into active service be called at once to the defense of the State," the remainder to be organized for local defense and patrol service. Sheriffs, magistrates and constables should be required to aid the military "to enroll, and if necessary arrest conscripts and send them to the proper camps, and to arrest and send to their commands all who owe service to the country and either neglect or refuse to perform it."

Particularly he urged provision for the dependent families of soldiers, the action already taken having proved to be altogether inadequate. "Owing to the drought of the past season, which ex- tended over a large portion of the State, and the necessity of call- ing more men into the field, the number of destitute families will be greatly increased, and thereby add largely to the wants of our people, who are even now in some districts suffering for bread."

"The exorbitant prices asked for every article of food by those

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who are engaged in buying and selling for profit, and many who produce them, is putting the means of living beyond the reach of many of our poor citizens. If permitted to go unchecked it will transfer the property of the country to the hands of the worst and least patriotic of our population." (Governor's Message, 1862.)

Treasury notes to the full amount authorized by the legislature had been advanced on cotton, furnishing a circulating medium that was so far satisfactory.

Forty-six regiments were then in the Confederate service, be- sides cavalry and artillery, and various battalions and companies of which there was no State record. There were also minute men on duty in the State. The State armory, moved from Panola to Brandon, was doing its best to supply and repair arms.

President Davis and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston arrived at Jack- son two days after the legislature met, and a few days later visited Vicksburg and its defenses. Returning to Jackson on the 26th, they addressed the legislature and a large audience of citizens. As if their presence brought good fortune, the defeat of Sherman and retreat of Grant immediately followed. In the same month of December great victories in Tennessee and Virginia created a revival of confidence in the South.

The cotton of many planters had been burned or destroyed by order of the military authorities of the Confederate States to pre- vent its falling into the hands of the enemy. Senator Yerger in- troduced a resolution that it should be paid for by the State by a tax on cotton that had not been destroyed, but the same was ruled out of order.

The Senate did, however, adopt a resolution in favor of paying owners of slaves the damages resulting to slaves from their im- pressment in the service of the State or Confederate States, and for losses of slaves by killing, wounding or capture by the enemy while in such service.

The legislature responded to the governor's appeals by various acts, among them one regarding the military fund, under which the governor issued $1,115,000 Treasury notes, and a militia law, declaring that all white males between the ages of 18 and 50 were liable to militia service to the State, and that all such persons between the ages of 18 and 40, or such others as might be con- scripted by the Confederate government, be placed in camps of in- struction. It was made the duty of all military officers to arrest deserters and deliver them to the nearest provost marshal. The Confederate conscript or draft law was already onerous. The militia law was not very popular, and was denounced by part of the newspapers of the State. Afterward the governor said: "Had the efforts which have been made to organize the State troops re- ceived that support which, in view of the great danger threatening us, I had a right to expect, there is much reason to believe that the condition of Mississippi would now be much better than it is. A few thousand additional troops at Jackson in May might have held that place until reinforcements to General Johnston, then

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Encyclopedia of Mississippi History Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons, Vol. II, Part 49

Author: Dunbar Rowland Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Dunbar Rowland
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : S.A. Brant
Number of Pages: 1020