USA > Mississippi > Newton County > History of Newton County, Mississippi from 1834 to 1894 > Part 6
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The arrival of the cars at Newton was welcomed by a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen, mostly from . Garlandsville, in Jasper county, who came to Newton and gave the railroad officials who were there, quite an ovation. A fine dinner was spread for the officers' benefit. Mr. Vossburg, the very accomodating rail- road official, welcomed them, and gave all the crowd a free ride to the tank below Forest and return. Newton county came near losing the passing of the road through its territory. The crossing of the many streams east of the town of Newton, and the Chunkey Hills, offered a barrier that the builders of the road would gladly have missed. One of the directors lived at Garlandsville, in Jasper county, who appreciated the value of a railroad, proposed to carry it through the entire length of Jasper county. The direction indi . cated was to turn south, west of Lake, and go to Gar- landsville, then go down the valley of Souinlouvy to
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Enterprise. In that event Enterprise would have been the city that Meridian is, probably larger. Jasper county would have had a railroad running through its entire length from east to west, and Newton coun- ty would have been left without a probability of a road for all time. But the voters of the counties of Jasper and Clarke could not see it to their advantage, and re- · fused to be taxed a very small sum, and thus they lost the prize of a great railroad. . This opportunity lost to them is never in all probability to offer again. They are behind the counties who have railroads.
This is a great railroad age, and yet there are some who complain that the roads were allowed to come into the country, saying that they did better in the good old days of long time ago, before they were intro- duced. This is an erroneous impression entertained by persons usually denominated "constitutional grum- blers." There cannot be too many railroads for the convenience and benefit of the people. There can be too many for the benefit of the companies operating them.
If the people will do their duty and make something to send to market, the great thoroughfares of the country will carry them cheaper than the same things will reach the same market by the old conveyance. If the Legislatures of our State would guard the grant- ing of too many charters to companies for the building of roads, and the State Railroad Commissioners would see that the people are not imposed on with exhorbi- tant rates of freight, but so as a fair profit may be made on the investment and great responsibility and loss many times attending the operation of roads, it would be an exercise of the law-making powers in the right direction.
All property near a railroad is enhanced by being
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in close proximity to it. More people move to a coun- ty where they are in operation. With such a state of things, where population is larger and property more valuable and greater quantities of it, taxes are re- duced. The road after a time becomes a large tax- payer. All classes of society are improved, if the people who live on the road will take the advantage of the situation and use the benefits offered, to their profit. It is all in the hands of the people who live on the road, to make the country good or bad, pros- perous or insolvent-all owing to the thrift, manage- ment and economy.
The advent of steam into the United States, as ap- plied to machinery, which was in the years of 1807 and 1808, may be considered as the commencement of great prosperity for our country. After a period of about thirty-six years the electric telegraph was brought in ; at a still later date the telephone and electric lights, and other uses to which electricity has been applied as a motive power. The use of steam as applied to machinery as a great motor has probably reached near the height of its ability and usefulness. But the use of electricity is as yet in its infancy, and wonderful events may be looked for, and to follow in rapid succession those already in operation. Elec- tricity is now produced at comparatively large cost when the means considered in its production is the consumption of coal to move the dynamos ; yet this is considered cheaper to be used for all purposes now practiced than steam or gas.
In the near future the production of electricity by great water powers of our country will be utilized and the great falls of water in various portions of the United States will be brought into requisition to save the consumption of coal and produce cheaper and in greater quantities the coming motive power.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON COUNTY.
Our railroad, first called the Southern, and chartered among the first roads of the United States, was opera- ted by that name, until after the war; when it was again changed to suit the times and occasion to the Vicksburg and Meridian road, and after that to the Alabama and Vicksburg road. These changes have come very appropriately, as the road has extended its connections, and enlarged its sphere of operations.
This road has had many changes, has been diverted long since from the original owners, and twice placed in the hands of receivers. It is a very useful road, running as it does from east to west, almost centrally across the State from Meridian to Vicksburg, one hun- dred and forty miles. It carries probably the largest passenger traffic in the State, and a heavy local freight. It carries heavy through freights to other States, and enjoys an immense transfer of coal from the coal fields of Alabama, which product is finding its way to all the adjoining States needing it.
The road running east from Vicksburg, enters New- ton county at the town of Lake, a portion of which is in this county, the other in Scott, runs almost due east a distance of twenty-six miles, through the south- ern portion of the county-the south line of the county being about eight miles from the railroad.
After the Southern railroad concluded to extend the line through the State, Congress made a grant of land in 1855, giving the road along the line the alternate even sections of public land for a certain distance, probably five miles on each side of the road. It was found that there were not a sufficient number of vacant section as near as five miles, and the grant was ex- tended to fifteen miles on each side of the road until a sufficient amount could be obtained. The original number of acres of land granted by Congress in New-
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ton county, was 34,240. Of this amount 12,880 acres still remain unsold.
When this grant was made by Congress it was stip- ulated that all government troops should be trans- ported free. The road was not completed before the Confederate States government was using this as a very important line for the transportation of troops, and continued to do so for the whole time of the war. Doubtless the value of the grant to the railroads of all the lands in the State was nearly met in the four years war between the States.
This road commenced to pay taxes on the land in Newton county in 1876-a little over twenty years after the grant was made. After this the State im- posed a privilege tax for the running of the road through the State, and also an advalorem tax on other railroad property in the State. It is now understood that this road pays one hundred dollars per mile. This would include the eighty dollars advalorem tax, and twenty dollars per mile privilege tax. The amount collected by the sheriff of Newton county is $2,500. This proves the road to be one of the largest tax pay- ers in the county, as well as being the great conve- nience and civilizer spoken of in preceding pages.
The railroads of the country and the people should be on the best of terms. They exist, or should do so, as a mutual benefit. The road should charge such tariff rates of freight as will be compensating to the owner. The managers should be frugal and careful in the operation of the road so as not to pay too much for the operation of its line and not be forced to charge its patrons what would be considered exces- sive rates of transportation. By such mutual inter- course and concession, one to the other, there will be a harmony and general good feeling that will redound
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to the welfare of all. The people want the road. The road wants the people. We cannot do without each other. Counties without the road would be pleased to have it transferred to them.
In connection with the railroad the county has two lines of telegraph; one running parallel with and on the line of railroad. This is the Western Union, a powerful and wealthy corporation, having lines all over the Union, and cable connections with Europe. The other is the Postal Telegraph, a line running about the same distance through our county as the Western Union, and on the public roads of the county. This corporation is also very wealthy and influential, having two cable connections and all the necessary facilities for doing a large business. These telegraph companies also pay a tax to the county and towns of the county, amounting to a considerable sum. With all these conveniences, few inland counties in the State are better equipped for doing business than Newton county.
This road through the county was completed and made the connection on the east side of Chunkey in June, 1861. The stage ran from Enterprise to Newton from September or October of 1860, until June of 1861.
Newton was for a time the terminus and a great num- ber of passengers came through on this route.
CHAPTER X.
1860-WAR SPIRIT-GREAT EXCITEMENT ON THE SUB. JECT OF SECESSION-NEWTON COUNTY PATRIOTIC AND TO THE FRONT -- VOLUNTEER COMPANIES -- PATRIOTIC MEN. AND WOMEN OF THE COUNTY- FIRST MILITARY COMPANY TO LEAVE THE COUNTY -MILITARY DISPLAY WHEN IT LEFT THE TOWN OF NEWTON-SUPPOSED NUMBER OF MEN ENLISTED FOR THE SERVICE DURING THE WAR.
Mention has been made of the rapid strides in the way of wealth and population, made in the county from 1855 to 1860. New ideas, new improvements, new citizens with their patronage of schools and churches, have diffused life and vigor into the masses. Many things done in this way to further prompt other and greater improvements. In point of wealth and political influence and the intelligence of its people, the county by this time has fully gained recognition for a place of prominence in the State and can no more be called "one of the cow counties of east Mississippi."
In the year 1860, the people in this county, as in every county of the State, had fully realized their po- litical situation. After the November election of that year in which Mr. Lincoln was elected President of the United States, the excitement ran to fever heat. There were quite a number of the voters of the county, as in every other county in the State, that were " Union men." Most of them belonged to the old Whig party,
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and were very conservative in their views on the sub- ject of secession. They were disposed to try the Re publican administration and wait for an "overt act," or to demand the rights which the South claimed and remain in the Union. There were some Democrats who were for the Union. But the prevailing sentiment was for secession ; some for secession per se ; some would qualify somewhat like the Whigs by asking further guarantees from Congress. But the majority in the county believed that the election of Mr. Lincoln to the office of President was a sufficient cause for Missis- sippi to withdraw from the Union; that the election of a Freesoiler meant danger to the property of the Southern slave owner, and that it was not only expe- dient, but the duty of the State to withdraw from the the Union.
Very great excitement on these political topics and public questions now prevailed. There was much public discussion at public places and at the court- house in the fall of 1860 and the spring of 1861 by men who believed strongly in the doctrine of secession. The people were aroused, and a majority of them were convinced of the necessity of an immediate withdrawal . of the State from the Union.
At the election held in the county to send delegates to the State secession convention-which was held in Jackson on the 7th day of January, 1861, and the or- dinance of secession of the State of Mississippi from the Federal Union was adopted on the 9th day of the same month and year-Dr. M. M. Keith and G. T. Flint, afterwards Captain of the Pinckney Guards, and Colonel of the Eighth Mississippi Regiment, were candidates. Dr. Keith was elected by a hand- some majority. Immediately after the withdrawal of the State, every county-and Newton was not behind-made preparations to resist the enemy.
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Everything now pointed to war. The people were very much divided as to the supposed length of the war-some claiming that as soon as the South showed resistance, she would be allowed to go in peace ; others claiming that it was necessary to secede to get our rights, and then go back into the Union; while others " swore eternal vengeance " against the whole yankee nation, and wanted the Union divided in fifteen minutes, with no possibility of its ever being again united. The war policy to the bitter end found many advocates and willing participants. The slogan of war was sounded. The spirit of resentment was fully aroused. Old men and young men were willing to leave home and sacrifice their interests and their lives in defense of the great question now at issue between the North and South.
When a free people, who are the immediate offspring of Revolutionary sires whose blood and valor had se- cured the liberty of a people oppressed and wronged- when they thought that their rights were taken away from them ; when they felt that every pledge hereto- fore made had been violated which secured the rights and inherent possession to their property ; when they felt that what they had acquired by honest toil and by inheritance was being taken; when they contemplated an invader's foot upon Southern soil ; when they real- ized Northern armies besieging Southern States, every feeling of resentment in the Southern patriot's breast asserted its rights. Every duty to defend the home, the fireside, the Southland, was fully impressed upon the people of the seceding States, and to demand a speedy redress of all grievances-supposed orreal-which had been imposed on a minority holding the same rights, and being and feeling equally free with the other and more populous parts of the Government. It was with
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these feelings of repeated wrongs being thrust upon the South, and with a confidence that these wrongs could be and would be redressed, that the Southern soldier went to battle against great odds.
. It is not intended in this brief history of our county, to argue the great questions which then divided the people of the two sections, and which culminated in one of the greatest fratricidal wars of modern times. It is not our purpose to pronounce upon the wisdom or unwisdom of such a course. It is not our wish to tear open wounds that should be allowed to heal, nor to widen the breach between the sections which are now at peace, and should remain so. Yet it is right to let the youth of the county know what part their fathers took in this great struggle, and to commend them for what they then thought was their right and their duty. Southern valor, heroism and sacrifice can not be too highly spoken of. What was true of the South was true of Mississippi soldiers, was true of her counties ; our own county of Newton was not an exception, and - was early to the front.
Great anxiety was felt in reference to going into the army. Many thought unless they applied early the number required would be filled, and that there would be no chance for them to participate. The call for sixty days troops was soon answered. The whole county was in great excitement and the question was who would be allowed the first bonor of being Confederate soldiers. Aside from the demonstrations of the men of the county, the women were equally patriotic and went heartily to work with their own hands in prepar- ing uniforms for the soldiers. Volunteer companies were now in order in the county, and the call for them was answered as fast as requisitions were made. There was nothing so attractive as the young volunteer don.
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ning his Confederate uniform, meeting his comrades in arms assembling on the parade ground, going through the various evolutions and manual of arms. These instructions were usually from an inexperienced drill- officer, a young captain or lieutenant, who had been chosen and was trying to impress the company with the imperfect knowledge he had of military tactics. It was all done with such a unanimity of feeling, and with such cheerful acceptance, that no one complained or offered a criticism.
These companies constantly received the congratula- tions and encouragement of their friends and especially the ladies. Every honor that a patriotic people could bestow upon the young soldiers of Newton connty was done cheerfully and lavishly. The restless war spirit of all classes had found congenial employment in tak- ing up arms and preparing the soldiers for the ap- proaching bloody conflict.
The call of Mr. Lincoln for 75,000 troops with which to subdue the South had cemented all political parties. The Whig and Democrat, the union and disunion men, all now agreed that the "overt act " had been com mitted-that time for resistance was at hand. Those who were opposed to secession were now forward among those to offer their services to go to the army. All, all now agreed that the time had come to throw off the yoke of Northern oppression and become a free and independent people in a Southern Confederacy- which were the slave-holding States. There was no trouble to make up a company then, and more men offered their services than could be accepted.
THE FIRST MILITARY COMPANY TO LEAVE THE COUNTY.
The first military company to leave the county was known as the Newton Rifles, commanded by Montgom-
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· ery Carleton. Every preparation was made for its organization and equipment. It was made up from various parts of the county, though organized at Decatur, where Capt. Carleton lived. The people all over the county were interested in the movement. A spirit of patriotism never known before was rife among the people ; the old and young, male and female, vied with other as to who should show the greatest solic- itude in accomplishing their successful equipment, and give encouragement to the movement. Some of the best men of the county were in this company. Capt. Carleton was the oldest man in the company, by far, being at the time about fifty-five years old. He then looked a "veteran," and to behold him now, heading and commanding the first company from his county, the flower and manhood of his section, to lead to battle this invincible body of young men, was the pride of his maturer life, the desire of this brave and ambitious man. Dr. M. H. Watkins was first lieutenant, John A. Keith was second lieutenant, and A. J. Smith was third lieutenant.
On the 13th day of May, 1861, the company came to the town of Newton to take the cars to their new field of active operations. This was not immediately to the "front," but were put in camp of instruction at Union City, Tenn., (after spending a short time at Corinth, Miss.) After becoming accustomed to the manual of arms, they were attached to the 13th Mis- sissippi regiment, that was commanded by the brave and lamented Col. Wm. Barksdale, and were sent im- mediately to Virginia and were favored with the great privilege of participating in the wonderful victory of the first Manassas battle, on the 21st of July, 1861.
It was a bright May day that the Newton Rifles left
the town of Newton. - The gay uniforms of the young
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soldiers and officers ; the excitement incident thereto, being the first military company to leave the county ; everybody was pleased, cheered and admired the scene. Ladies gathered from the surrounding country, not only from Newton but Jasper county, to do honor to the gallant Newton County Rifles.
The soul-inspiring strains of martial music from fife and drum were heard while the new company marched in line, obeying the quick commands of their officers. The fife on that day was played by Uncle Steve McMullen, an old colored Georgian. He was old then. He is still living and must be almost a cen- tenarian. Music is a wonderful contingent in battle. Military men well know its value. It has its effect- to soothe, to inspire, and to provoke to deeds of dar- ing. Many have been the soldiers who, under these same inspiring strains of martial music, have charged the enemy's breastworks, caring not for the missles of death flying thick and fast about them ; who, with in- trepid feet, fearless heart, strong hand, steady aim, have charged with fixed bayonets, the thundering cannon and apparently impregnable earthworks, have secured a victory amidst carnage and death, that would not have been done in the absence of this stimulant.
The time approached for them to take the train. Judge Watts addressed the company with great feel- ing, encouraging them and speaking good words to these young men, many of them leaving home for the first time. Other speakers addressed them, and upon the whole it was one of the most imposing scenes that has ever been witnessed in the county. Finally the train came, and then followed a general hand-shaking and bidding good-bye, with fathers and mothers, sis- ters and sweethearts. All bade a final farewell, and 6
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then departed the first military company from Newton county.
Then followed in rapid succession the raising of other companies until thirteen companies, including several companies of State militia, went from this county. The number of men usually ran up to about 100 to the company. Yet there were some having over that number and they were recruited from time to time, and it is computed that each company had from first to last, 120 men, which would make 1560 men furnished by the county. It is presumed that some of these men came from other counties, but New. ton county furnished a sufficient number of soldiers for other counties to make up for as many as were fur- nished her companies from other counties. The 1560 men taken from a population of 9560, and about one- third of these were negroes, shows that this county made as good an appropriation of men as any county in the State.
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CHAPTER XI.
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VARIOUS MILITARY COMPANIES TO LEAVE THE COUN. TY-NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT OFFICERS COMMAND- ING EACH COMPANY-NUMBER OF SOLDIERS SUP- POSED TO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES FROM THESE DIF- FERENT COMPANIES.
It is intended in this chapter to give as far as possi- ble some information as to who were engaged in the late war between the States. In doing this it is im- possible to get all the information wanted, as the ros- ters of the various companies are not to be had; ex- cept from the first company, which left the county there is no written record. After the fall of Vicks- burg, Col. J. L. Power, now one of the editors of the Clarion- Ledger, was commissioned Superintendent of Army Records for Mississippi, under Acts of Con- gress and of the State, his duty being to compile the best records possible, of the troops from this State, as well as to assist in the collection of amounts due de- ceased soldiers. The records that he succeeded in completing, shows the entire enrollment of each com- pany, the original officers, and changes by promotion, casualties, etc., the battles in which each company partipated and the casualties occurring therein.
There was only one company from Newton county seen by Col. Power. That was the Newton Rifles, called in the Regiment, Co. E., (in the first of the war, Co. D.,) 13th Mississippi Regiment. This statement
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made out by Col. Power, with the assistance of Thos. Keith, Thos. Shockley and M. R. Watkins, all be- longing to that company, and going through the war, and all now living, will be of interest to those who be- longed to that command, and also to their friends.
OAPT. CARLETON'S COMPANY.
This company, the first in Newton county, was organized at Decatur, and called the Newton Rifles. The organization was completed as early as the first of March, 1861, Montgomery Carleton being the Cap- tain; was mustered into service on the 9th of March, same year, by Capt. Yerger. On the 13th May fol- lowing it left the town of Newton for Corinth, Miss., and entered the 13th Mississippi regiment of infantry, commanded by Col. William Barksdale. From there they were ordered into camp of instruction at Union City, Tenn., and there remained six weeks ; from there to Jackson, Tenn., where they remained but one day, and were ordered to Virginia, where they participated in the first Manassas battle, on the 21st of July, 1861. The officers were : Montgomery Carleton, Captain ; 1st Lieutenant, Dr. M. H. Watkins; 2d Lieutenant, John A. Keith; 3d Lieutenant, A. J. Smith; 1st Sergeant, Robert M. Patterson ; 2d Sergeant, Jacob Dansby ; 3d Sergeant, A. F. Clarke; 4th Sergeant, John A. Clarke ; 5th Sergeant, James M. Stephens ; 1st Corporal, John Allen ; 2d Corporal, Job Taylor ; 3d Corporal, B. F. Quattlebaum ; 4th Corporal, Jourdan Oakley. When the 13th Mississippi Regiment was re-organized, 26th April, 1862, Captain Carleton was left out, and came home and organized another company, and Thomas W. Thurman, a lawyer from Decatur, was chosen captain. George W. Williams succeeded as first lieutenant, and Wm. C. Goodwin as second lientenant; A. F. Clarke,
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