Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 34

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 34

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).

By the end of December the ketch Vesuvius, 14 guns, the schooner Revenge, 12 guns, the ketch Etna, 14 guns, and five gun- boats of two guns each, under Commodore Shaw, were anchored in the vicinity of Natchez, and other boats were stationed lower on the river to meet the imaginary army of invasion. Earlier in the month Blennerhassett's island home near Marietta, Ohio, had been raided by the Virginia militia, a few boats captured, four- teen boys arrested and the wine cellar emptied. The boys, being

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acquitted, took Mrs. Blennerhassett and her children, and pushed off down the river to land finally at Bayou Pierre. In the news- papers, fancy ran riot about the expedition and its purposes. In the middle of December Burr visited Andrew Jackson, who seems to have felt an assurance that a campaign for the liberation of Mexico was the aim of the movement, and was first aroused to suspicion when informed of Wilkinson's connection with the en- terprise. Now he asked Burr for assurance that he had no hostile designs against the United States, declaring he would heartily support the Mexican project. Burr replied that to ascribe to him an intention of separating the Union would be an imputation of insanity. From Jackson he received money and Jackson's friends made up a party to accompany him. But when the whole expedi- tion had come together in the Ohio, including the Tennesseeans, the Indianians under Floyd Davis, and those from further up the Ohio under Blennerhassett, Tyler and Smith, there were only nine boats and less than sixty men. "Burr could now have had no other purpose in view than to begin the settlement of his Washita lands-there was no other alternative." (McCaleb.) After Burr's departure Jackson received the proclamation and the orders of the secretary of war. An intimation that he was a par- ticipant in "treason," aroused the future president ; he replied that he would do his duty, but he seemed to be expected to play the part of a "smiling assassin." Bissell, commandant at Fort Mas- sac, was notified by Burr when the flotilla reached there, and the officer reported that there was nothing about the party to sug- gest anything but "a' man bound to market." Burr was told by Bissell that Wilkinson had compromised with the Spaniards, and said he was very sorry, he "ought to have fought them." He did not know all that Wilkinson had done. But he knew that Wil- kinson was no longer in cooperation. Upon the report from Bis- sell, Jackson disbanded his militia and took no more notice of the prevalent hysterics. When he was called to Richmond as a wit- ness against Burr, the prosecution decided not to put him on the stand. He was convinced that whatever Burr may have been guilty of, Wilkinson had "gone hand in hand with him." Burr stopped at the Chickasaw Bluffs fort, January 4, 1807, and reached Bayou Pierre January 12.

Governor Claiborne had sent J. W. Gurley to confer with Mead about the matter December 6, and the Mississippi executive sent the affidavit of Capt. Abrams, affecting "the neighbors and pre- tended friends" of Claiborne. Mead promised to "fight the battle

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of Leonidas," and believed if he could stop Burr, all would be well, but if Burr should get past with two thousand men, "I have no doubt but the General will be your worst enemy." In the fol- lowing weeks Mead had also to consider the Spanish relations on the Mississippi frontier. Grand Pré began militia preparation for defense in the latter part of December, which was followed by the arrival at Baton Rouge of Governor Folch, from Pensacola, with three hundred soldiers. This, of course, could be construed by the nervous as a Spanish movement in support of Burr.

On the meeting of the general assembly December 15, Acting- Governor Mead informed that body of the "existence of a plot de- signed to destroy the connection which exists between this terri- tory and the United States," and asked provision for a battalion of minute men, 285 in number. The legislature replied that "what- ever measures you may deem advisable to pursue in order to de- feat the views of a conspiracy so diabolical, and to secure the wel- fare of the territory by preserving that connection which so hap- pily exists between it and the government of the United States, will meet the approbation and cordial support of the legislative council and house of representatives." On the 23d Mead issued his proclamation against an "association whose object is the dis- memberment of this and the adjoining countries from the gov- ernment of the United States," asserted his purpose of "guard- ing the good people of the territory against the agents of this diabolical plot;" inviting all those misled to "return to the bosom of their country," and urging the public officers to be on the alert to bring the guilty to justice. All officials who had not done so were required to take the oath of allegiance. Major Joshua Baker occupied Fort Adams with 25 men December 14, and the 1st, 2d, 4th and 5th militia regiments were ordered to muster at Washington, Greenville, Gibson Port and Percy's plantation in January.

Half of Burr's boats were loaded with provisions. He tied up across the river from Bayou Pierre and with part of his men and boats, January 12, crossed to the home of his old friend, Judge Bruin, from whom he learned of the state of public sentiment and the measures of Wilkinson, Claiborne and Mead. He thereupon addressed a letter to the governor, which, according to Mead, avowed "the innocence of his views and the fallacy of certain rumors against his patriotism-his object is agriculture, and his boats the vehicles of emigration .. .

he hints at resistance to any attempt to coerce him and deprecates a civil war." On the

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day of the landing at Bruin's, before Mead was informed of it, the secretary had adjourned the legislature for a week, inviting the members "to suspend the eloquence of debate for the clangor of military array," and expressing the hope that in his "revolu- tions through the Territory," he would find them all at the post of duty. On the same day Col. Fitzpatrick was ordered to send a company of sixty-four men to headquarters, Col. Wooldridge likewise; Col. Ellis was directed to reinforce Capt. Baker, and Wooldridge was authorized to take command in the vicinity of Walnut Hills, where Burr was expected to land. Next day came news of the arrival and the letter from Burr, and meanwhile, with- out knowledge of the pacific nature of the communication, Col. F. L. Claiborne was getting off an expedition of three hundred men from Natchez to the mouth of Cole's Creek. When Wool- dridge arrived at the mouth of Bayou Pierre with thirty-five men, Burr had departed and landed on the Louisiana side about three miles down. With Capt. Regan and Lieut. Lindsay he "waited on Col. Burr, who sent his skiff for us; the Colonel appeared glad to see us." After a two hours' visit Wooldridge returned. He had seen no arms, Tyler said there were none; there were "fifty- five or sixty men, some women and children and a few negroes." "So much for the first campaign," he wrote to Mead, who had not yet begun to "revolve about the Territory." Military operations were not pleasant without tents or a commissary department, in the coldest winter the inhabitants had ever known. Wooldridge tried to muster his whole regiment but was compelled almost im- mediately to disband. His quartermaster had no money of his own and had no success in using the credit of the United States or the Territory. "'Tis now snowing," reported the colonel, "I am dam cold and must close my letter or my ink will freeze and fingars."

Next day Col. Fitzpatrick visited Burr, who told this officer that he would submit himself to trial upon any charge against him be- fore the civil authority, provided he were tried promptly and in the Mississippi territory, in which case he would surrender im- mediately. Fitzpatrick was about to make arrangements accord- ingly with the governor when informed of the warlike approach of Col. Claiborne. Then, on the 16th, the governor's aides, George Poindexter and William B. Shields, appeared on the scene, and an agreement was made, in which Mead proposed an interview at the house of Thomas Calvit, on Cole's Creek, next day, and pledged "himself to protect the said Aaron Burr during his stay

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in the territory, and that he shall be restored to his present posi- tion in a suitable manner as soon after the interview as he may please," and in the meantime there would be no restraint of his person or violence against his party, who, Burr on his part en- · gaged, would keep the peace. At the interview at Calvit's Burr agreed to go to the town of Washington, under the care of the civil authority, and that his boats might be searched for military stores. Mead visited Colonel Claiborne's camp, where the men, without tents, or any comforts, had suffered from a heavy snow storm, and discharged them from service. Burr rode with Shields and Poindexter to the capital, was arraigned before Judge Rod- ney, and bound over under $5,000 bail to await the action of the grand jury. Col. Benajah Osmun, with whom Burr passed much of his time while waiting, signed the bond, with Lyman Harding. Colonel Fitzpatrick searched the boats for signs of a military ex- pedition, in vain, and subsequent rummages along the river bank proved futile. The boats were brought down to Natchez and the men paroled. On January 22 Mead ordered the arrest by Col. Claiborne of every one of the "restless spirits about Natchez who evince a hostile disposition to the views of the government and favorable to the designs of a man now in custody."

Comfort Tyler, Harmon Blennerhassett, Senator Smith of Ohio, and other distinguished characters arrived after the arrest of Burr, and the number of boats was increased to about thirteen, the total number of the party to about one hundred. According to the Natchez Herald; Burr and his men were caressed by a number of the wealthy merchants and planters of Adams county; several balls were given to them as marks of respect and confidence." Judges Rodney and Bruin opened court February 2, with a venire of 72 free holders present, from whom 23 were selected on the fol- lowing day for a grand inquest. Burr appeared in person and by his attorneys, William B. Shields and Lyman Harding. A sol- emn charge was delivered to the jury by Judge Rodney. On the third day Attorney-General Poindexter moved to discharge the grand jury, saying he had discovered no testimony which brought the offences charged within the jurisdiction of the courts of the Territory ; that the court was not a court of original jurisdiction, but of appeal; that steps should be taken to convey the prisoner before a court with proper jurisdiction. Burr addressed the court against the motion and hoped the jury would not be dismissed, because if the attorney-general had no business for them, he had. Bruin was opposed to the discharge of the jury unless Burr also

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were discharged, and the court disagreed. Next day the jury, of which Philander Smith was foreman, on its own motion took ac- tion as follows :

"The grand jury of the Mississippi Territory, on a due investi- gation of the evidence brought before them, are of the opinion that Aaron Burr has not been guilty of any crime or misdemeanor against the laws of the United States or of this Territory, or given any just cause for alarm or inquietude to the good people of this Territory. The grand jury present as a grievance, the late mili- tary expedition unnecessarily as they conceive, fitted out against the person and property of said Aaron Burr, where no resistance has been made to the ordinary civil authorities. The grand jury also present as highly derogatory to the dignity of this govern- ment, the armistice (so-called) between the Secretary, acting as Governor, and the said Aaron Burr. The grand jury also present as a grievance, destructive of personal liberty, the late military arrests, made without warrant, and as they conceive, without other lawful authority ; and they do seriously regret that so much cause should be given to the enemies of our glorious constitution to rejoice in such measures being adopted in a neighboring terri- tory, and if sanctioned by the executive of our country, must sap the vitals of our political existence and crumble this glorious fab- ric into the dust." The grand jury was dismissed, but Burr was refused release from his recognizance. Next day he did not ap- pear. Wilkinson was trying to secure his person; he offered Dinsmore, the Choctaw Indian agent, $5,000 to pay the expenses "to cut off the two principal leaders." A party of sailors from Commodore Shaw's flotilla, opposite Natchez, raided the home of Louis Evans and mistreated his overseer. A military reign of ter- ror seemed possible. Burr, after consultation with his friends, went into hiding. He wrote the governor that because of the "vindictive temper and unprincipled conduct of Judge Rodney he withdrew for the present from the public." February 6 Governor Williams proclaimed that he had forfeited his bond and fled, and offered a reward of $2,000 for his apprehension, to which Burr replied on the 12th, asking the governor to correct his error. Williams rejoined that Burr could be considered in no light but as "a fugitive from the laws of your country."

"So, mounted on Colonel Osmun's fleetest horse and accom- panied by Chester Ashley, he set out from his hiding place near the home of the Colonel who had so kindly befriended him. Tradi- tion has it that he took leave last of Madeline, who lived in a cot-

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tage near by his retreat. During his short stay of three weeks in Mississippi he had become enamored of her whom Claiborne pronounced a miracle of beauty. Burr's passion was returned, and only from Paris did he write releasing her from a promise of marriage. Fiction one may say, but it is vouched for by the his- torian of Mississippi-and at least it may be admitted as an inter- lude in the desolate waste of blighted hopes which spread before him who had for four years been vice-president of the Republic." (McCaleb.)

Nicholas Perkins, of Washington county, caused the arrest of Burr and Ashley, and with the aid of Sheriff Brightwell and Lieut. Gaines, Burr was seized by the military, detained at Fort Stod- dert, and conveyed to Washington, where Perkins was paid some- thing over $3,000.

When Burr disappeared his party was put under arrest, soon to be released, except Floyd, Ralston, Tyler and Blennerhassett, who were taken before Judge Toulmin, who bound Blennerhas- sett over to trial in Virginia, because a prosecution in Missis- sippi territory, said the judge, would be an "idle parade." Louis Ker and Judge James Workman, of New Orleans, were tried at Natchez in March for planning the conquest of Mexico, and ac- quitted by the juries. March 30, Burr was brought before Chief Justice John Marshall at Richmond, and released on bail. He was before the United States circuit court at the same city May 22; the grand jury, after hearing witnesses, including Wilkinson, returned two indictments against Burr and Blennerhassett each,. one for treason, and one for misdemeanor in organizing a military expedition against the Spanish possessions; also indicted several of the associates for treason. Wilkinson escaped indictment by a vote of nine to seven, but John Randolph moved an investigation by Congress. August 3 the trial of Burr began; on the 20th the prosecutor declared he had adduced all his evidence to establish the essential fact of treason; thereafter for ten days there was a. titanic legal argument ; at the close of which John Marshall ruled : "The present indictment charges the prisoner with levying war against the United States, and alleges an overt act of levying war. That overt act must be proved, according to the mandates of the Constitution and of the act of Congress, by two witnesses. It is not proved by a single witness." The government abandoned the case, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Wilkinson wrote to Jefferson that the court had sought "to conceal the crimes of a traitor;" and Jefferson replied that the rulings of the

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court "are equivalent to a proclamation of impunity to every traitorous combination which may be formed to destroy the Un- ion." Judge Thomas Rodney and Thomas H. Williams were at Richmond as witnesses, and Williams carried some of Burr's let- ters which the governor believed were strong evidences of guilt. Among others a Dr. Cummins, with whom Burr stopped in his flight, was subpoenaed. It was his negro boy that bore a note addressed "C. F. and D. F.," which was ascribed to Burr, asking his party to hold together. On the strength of it Governor Will- iams had the whole party put under arrest again, in February.

Floyd and Blennerhassett returned to Kentucky, Tyler went to New Orleans, and Smith took refuge in Florida (Baton Rouge) but later surrendered to Governor Williams and was sent to Rich- mond under military escort September 24, 1807.

Edmund P. Gaines drew on Governor Williams for $1,000, through Judge Toulmin, in January, 1808, one half of the reward offered by the governor for the arrest of Burr, the remaining $1,000 to go to Maj. Perkins. The governor replied that he would for- ward the claim to the general government, with the understand- ing that Col. John Caller and Sheriff Brightwell were also claim- ants.

Burr was held for misdemeanor, of which he undoubtedly meant to be guilty, but there was no evidence to convict him on that charge, and another verdict of not guilty was returned. His associates were all discharged, and he went to Europe. Denun- ciation of Burr as a traitor was thereafter considered essential to loyalty to the administration, but there was widespread, quiet remonstrance, which was one of the strongest influences tending to the founding of the Democratic party, which, with the aid of Burr, elected Andrew Jackson to the presidency. Authorities: "The Aaron Burr Conspiracy," W. F. McCaleb (a - product of great research) ; Claiborne's Mississippi, Mississippi archives.

Burrow, a post-hamlet in the western part of Alcorn county, about 16 miles from Corinth, the county seat.

Burt, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Lafayette county, on the Tallahatchie river, about 15 miles northeast of Oxford, the county seat. Abbeville station on the I. C. R. R. is 7 miles directly west.

Burt, Erasmus R., was elected auditor of State in 1859. In 1860, or early in 1861, he organized at Jackson a volunteer com- pany, of which he was captain, known as the Burt Rifles. They were mustered in April, 1861, and going to Corinth became part

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of the 18th regiment, of which he was elected colonel, and com- missioned June 7. At the first battle of the regiment in Virginia, Leesburg, October 21, Col. Burt was mortally wounded, and died on the 28th. His body was brought back to Jackson, and the funeral, November 4, was attended by the legislature.

Burtons, a postoffice of Prentiss county, 14 miles directly east of Booneville, the county seat and nearest railroad town. Popula- tion in 1900, 75.

Busby, a postoffice in the extreme southwestern part of Union county, about 12 miles from New Albany, the county seat. Popu- lation in 1900, 27.

Bush, a postoffice of Simpson county. A saw-milling plant is located here.

Busyton, a post-hamlet in the north-central part of Calhoun county, about nine miles from Pittsboro, the county seat.

Buttercup, a postoffice of Lauderdale county. .

Byhalia, an incorporated post-town in the northwestern part of Marshall county, is a thriving station on the Kansas City, Mem- phis & Birmingham R. R., 16 miles northwest of Holly Springs, and 28 miles by rail southeast of Memphis. The name is an Indian word meaning "standing white oaks." It is located in a good cotton district. It has three churches, two select schools, several general stores, two cotton gins, an agricultural implement factory, and a Democratic weekly newspaper, the Journal, es- tablished in 1883, edited by S. C. Mims, Jr. The Byhalia branch of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of Holly Springs was estab- lished here in 1903. The town is supplied with an electric light and water-works system. Population in 1900, 760, which is an increase of more than 75% in ten years; in 1906 the estimated population was 1,000.

Byram, a station on the Illinois Central R. R., 9 miles south of Jackson, in Hinds county. It has a money order postoffice, and is surrounded by a fine cotton growing and truck farming dis- trict. Population in 1900, 75.

Byrd, a postoffice of Greene county.

Byrd, Honorable Adam Monroe, of Philadelphia, the representa- tive in Congress of the Fifth Mississippi district, was born July 6, 1859, in Sumpter county, Ala., a son of John and Elizabeth (Tann) Byrd. The paternal ancestors removed from Georgia to Alabama in early days. Alfred Tann, the maternal grandfather, was a resi- 'dent of Indiana, and saw active service with General William Henry Harrison in the campaign against the Indians under Tecumseh.

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He was one of the participants in the battle of Tippecanoe, and in his later life became a pioneer of western Alabama. John Byrd was a soldier of the Confederacy and died in the service. The subject of this sketch, after a due preliminary training in the common schools of Neshoba county entered Hiwassee college in Tennessee when twenty-one years of age. He remained there but one year and then matriculated at the Cooper institute of Daleville, Miss., and after taking three years' work left just six months before grad- uation. He then entered the law department of Cumberland uni- versity in Tennessee, and was graduated at that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1884. After being admitted to practice in the courts of Mississippi he located in Philadelphia and has since that time been most successfully engaged in his profession. For the years 1887, 1888 and 1889 he was superintendent of educa- tion of Neshoba county and from the latter year until 1895 was a member of the senate of the state legislature. In 1895 he became Neshoba county's representative in the lower house of the same body and a year later was chosen district attorney. From 1897 until he took his seat in Congress he was chancellor. Mr. Byrd's first election to Congress occurred in November, 1902, since which time he has been re-elected at each successive election. In religious matters he associates himself with the Methodist Episcopal church and in a fraternal way is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having taken the Shriner's degree. Mr. Byrd has been twice married. On December 16, 1887, he led to the altar Miss Mag- gie Simmons. In August, 1898, death severed this union and sub- sequently Miss Mary R. Gulley, daughter of James A. and Leola Gulley, of Meridian, became his wife. By his first marriage Mr. Byrd is the father of two children, Annie Kate and Eddie Lee, and the second union has been blessed with a daughter, Lena Elizabeth, and a son, Adam Monroe, Jr.

Cabaness, Alfred B., was born in Huntsville, Ala., December 10, 1808, graduated at Transylvania university, Lexington, Ky., in 1833; attended Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia; began the practice of medicine in Hinds county. For a long time during the war he was post surgeon at Jackson; was appointed superintend- ent of the State Insane Asylum soon after the war, and served in this capacity four years. He died November 21, 1871. "He made a reputation for skill and kindness unsurpassed by any phy- sician in Mississippi"-(Memorial by Legislature of 1872).

Cadaretta, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Webster county, about 12 miles from Walthall, the county seat. Eupora

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station on the Southern railway is the nearest railroad and bank- ing town. It has a church. Population in 1900, 72.

Cadillac, Antoine de la Motte. M. Antoine de la Motte Cadillac was born in Gascony (France); and, before he came to Louis- iana, had served with distinction as an officer in Canada. He had been a partner of the rich merchant Crozat, and when the latter obtained the royal charter which gave him a monopoly of the trading privileges in the Province of Louisiana, in 1712, he was appointed Governor to succeed Bienville. He arrived in Mobile Bay with his wife and family, on March 17, 1713. On the same vessel, the Baron de la Fosse, arrived the other Crozat appointees. Bienville was retained as lieutenant-governor of the colony. Cadillac now styled himself "Antoine de la Motte Cadillac, seig- neur of Davaguet and Monderet, Governor of Dauphine Island, Fort St. Louis and Biloxi, and of the province of Louisiana. "He refused to act in concert with Bienville, quarreled with him on every occasion, and was exceedingly jealous of Bienville's popu- larity. Two parties grew up in the new colony. "On one side," says Gayerre, the historian of Louisiana, "was the Governor, the . Agamemnon of his party, backed by Marigny de Mandeville, Bagot, Blondel, Latour, Williers, and Terrine, scions of noble houses, and all of them young and brilliant officers; and the fan- atic Curate de la Vente, who stimulated them to the contest. On the other side was de Bienville, the Hector of the opposition, Duclos, Boisbriant, Chateaugue, Richebourg, du Tisne, Serigny, and others of note and influence, who were at least fully a match for their antagonist." The historian Claiborne says of Cadillac : "He seems to have been greatly soured and disappointed, and his whole correspondence was in disparagement of the colony, his predecessor and friends, and must have been very discouraging to Crozat." Crozat never visited the colony in person, and his emis- sary, Cadillac, was particularly instructed to open up trade rela- tions with the Spaniards in Mexico and Florida, and to send agents up the Mississippi and its tributaries to secure the valuable furs and peltries of the various Indian tribes, and to explore for mines. M. Jonquiere and Dirigoin, the latter a director of the company, and later, M. Juchereau de St. Denis, sought to establish favorable trade relations with the Spaniards, but with little success. In De- cember, 1714, Cadillac was shown some specimens of lead ore from southeastern Missouri, which showed traces of silver, and he ac- cordingly set out to visit that section in January, 1715. It was re- ported that the mines were located about 14 leagues to the west-

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 34

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1030

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030