Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 31

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II > Part 31

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Mississippi Sound, Naval Engagements, 1814. Commodore Dan- iel T. Patterson had been in command, from near the beginning of the war, of what there was of the United States navy on the New Orleans station. The insignificance of the naval force anywhere was the main cause of the humiliation of America. In 1812 there had been begun the building of a flat-bottomed frigate, or gunboat, in Lake Pontchartrain, to carry forty-two cannon, but the con- struction had been suspended, despite the protests of Patterson and Claiborne. Patterson had a few gunboats when the time of need ar- rived, a mere shadow of naval strength compared to the British arm- ament. A letter was sent him from Pensacola, December 5, announc- ing the arrival there of a British fleet of sixty sail, men of war and transports of an army for the capture of New Orleans. Gen. Jackson was already in the city beginning his preparations for defense. Patterson, for his part, did what he could to thwart or at least watch the hostile movements. He sent five gunboats, a tender and despatch boat, toward "the passes Mariana and Christiana," under the command of Thomas Catesby Jones, with orders to make a last stand at the Rigolets and sink the enemy or be sunk. Lieu- tenant Jones detached two gunboats, under Mckeever and Ulrick. to go as far as Dauphine island, where they espied one or more of the British advance scouts, the Seahorse, Armide and Sophie. Vice Admiral Cochrane, commanding the British expedition, re- ported (from the Armide, off Cat island, Dec. 15) that the two gun- boats fired upon the Armide. But they could not have sustained an action, and turned about and joined the other three gunboats off Biloxi. As Cochrane intended to anchor at Isle au Vaisseau (Ship Island), and send the troops in small boats to land at the Bayone Catalan (or des Pecheurs) at the head of Lake Borgne, "it became impossible." he said, "that any movement of the troops could take place till this formidable flotilla was either captured or destroyed." Rear-admiral Malcolm came up, with the fleet, on the 11th, and anchored between Cat and Ship islands, and Jones retired to pass Mariana, and next day, off Bay St. Louis, obeying orders to avoid being cut off from the Rigolets. Cochrane, on the 12th, put "the launches, barges and pinnaces of the squadron," under the command of Captain Lockyer, of the Sophie, aided by Captains Montressor and Roberts, against Jones, who then determined to

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take station near the Malheureux islands. About 2 p. m., on the 13th, the British boats were at Pass Christian. The water was so low because of westerly wind, that three of the gunboats could not be got afloat, even by throwing overboard all that could be spared, until flood tide at 3:30. Three of the British boats entered bay St. Louis, to cut off the schooner Seahorse, that Jones had sent in to remove the stores deposited there. A few shots drove the barges out of range, but they were reinforced by four others, and the attack renewed. Sailing-master Johnson, of the Seahorse, was supported in the fight by a shore battery of two 6-pounders, and after a sharp action of 30 minutes, the enemy drew off, with one boat damaged and several men killed or wounded. But it was necessary, at 7:30, to blow up the schooner, and burn the public store house. Early in the morning of the 14th Jones was com- pelled by a failure of wind to drop anchor "in the west end of the Malheureux island passage." At daylight the calm continued, and the British rowboats, anchored about nine miles distant, prepared to advance. Jones called his subordinates on board his flagship, gunboat No. 156, and gave orders. The boats took position in a close line across the channel, anchored by the stern with springs on the cable, against the strong curren of ebb tide. "Thus we re- mained," he wrote in his report, "anxiously awaiting an attack from the advancing foe, whose force I now clearly distinguished to be 42 heavy launches and gun-barges, with three light gigs, manned with upwards of one thousand men and officers." He had, as stated, five gunboats, with 23 guns and 182 men, under the command of Lieutenants John D. Ferris, Isaac Mckeever, Thomas A. C. Jones, Robert Spedden and George Ulrick. The sloop Alligator, 1 gun and 8 men, under Master R. S. Shepperd, was two miles away to the southwest, held by the calm. This boat was first captured by a detachment of Lockyer's boats, after which the attacking force was united. "At 10:30," says Jones, "the enemy weighed, forming a line abreast in open order, and steering direct for our line, which was unfortunately in some degree broken by the force of the cur- rent, driving Nos. 156 and 163 about 100 yards in advance. As soon as the enemy came within reach of our shot, a deliberate fire from our long guns was opened upon him, but without much effect, the objects being of so small a size. At 10 minutes before 11, the enemy opened a fire from the whole of his line, when the action became general and destructive on both sides. About 11:49 the advance boats of the enemy, three in number, attempted to board No. 156, but were repulsed with the loss of nearly every officer killed and wounded, and two boats sunk. A second attempt to board was then made by four other boats, which shared almost a similar fate. At this moment I received a severe wound in my left shoul- der, which compelled me to quit the deck, leaving it in charge of Mr. George Parker, master's mate, who gallantly defended the vessel until he was severely wounded, when the enemy, by his superior numbers, succeeded in gaining possession of the deck about 10 minutes past 12 o'clock. The enemy immediately turned

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the guns of his prize on the other gunboats and fired several shot previous to striking the American colors. The action contin- ued with unabating severity until 40 minutes past 12 o'clock, when it terminated with the surrender of No. 23, all the other vessels hav- ing previously fallen into the hands of the enemy." Lieutenants Spedden and Mckeever were also wounded, Spedden losing an arm, and a considerable number of men were killed and wounded. The British reports show 45 boats, with 43 cannon, engaged. Capt. Lockyer reported that on his barge, that fought Jones' boat, he was severely wounded, and most of his officers and crew were either killed or wounded. He succeeded only by the aid of the Tonnant's boats, under Lieut. Tatnall. The total British loss was 17 killed and 77 wounded, including the captain and 15 officers. For his victory Lockyer was promoted to command of the captured flotil- la, and Montressor, in temporary command, at once made use of it to secure possession of Lake Borgne. (See Latour's Historical Memoir and appendix.) The advance guard of the infantry was landed on "Isle aux Pois, a small swampy spot at the mouth of the Pearl river," on December 16, and was joined there by Maj .- Gen. Keane and Admirals Cochrane and Codrington on the next day.

During the remainder of the campaign Ship Island harbor was the station of the Brtish fleet, under Vice Admiral Cochrane, whose flagship was the Tonnant, 80 guns, and Rear Admirals Codrington and Malcolm, the latter of whom carried his flag on the Royal Oak, a seventy-four. There were three other "seventy-fours" in this Mississippi harbor, the Norge, Bedford, Raminies, and Asia; the Dictator of sixty-four, Diomede of fifty, Gordon of forty-four, and eleven ships whose guns were in the thirties, besides ten others of inferior armament. Some of these great men-of-war were then or afterwards famous in the annals of sea fighting.

Mississippi State Medical Association. This association was formed in the winter of 1866, and held its first annual meeting on April 20, 1869. According to Dr. H. H. Haralson, of Vicksburg, an ex-president and an ex-secretary of the association, the follow- ing gentlemen were among its founders: Drs. W. Y. Gadberry, of Benton ; M. S. Craft, S. C. Farrar and A. B. Cabaniss, of Jack- son; H. Posey, of Brandon, and C. B. Galloway, of Kosciusko. There is also evidence to show that the following members of the profession joined the association in 1866: Drs. P. T. Baley and J. F. Harrington, of Jackson; L. P. Blackburn, of Natchez ; W. B. Harvey, of Canton, and W. B. Williamson, of Edwards. Its first officers were: Dr. W. Y. Gadberry, president; Dr. M. S. Craft, of Jackson, recording secretary. The object of the organization is, "To advance knowledge upon all the subjects connected with the healing art, the elevation of character and the protection of the proper rights and interests of those engaged in the practice of medicine, and the study of the means calculated to render the medi- cal profession most useful to the public and subservient to the greatest interests of humanity."

Said Dr. Wirt Johnson, president of the association, in his ad-

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dress to the members assembled at Meridian, in April, 1883: "The association together of the members of a learned and liberal pro- fession is not purposeless. The advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of the character and standing of the profession and the enlargement of its sphere of usefulness to the public, and, inci- dentally, the enjoyment of social pleasures, are among the definite and practical objects in view. I dare say there is not one among us who does not return to his home after these annual meetings with a consciousness that something has been learned, with a more elevated opinion of his profession, and with freshly aroused interest in the work before him. It is true that by individual effort one may acquire distinction and wealth, but it is to be expected that well directed, organized work, alone will result in general and permanent good to the whole profession. I am proud today to be able to congratulate you upon the success and standing of this association. It is strong in numbers and intelligence, and upon its roll of members are the names of many of the most learned and eminent of the medical profession in the State. It can be said to be on a sure and permanent foundation, and it is safe to predict for it a future of great usefulness. Its scientific papers will compare favorably with those of kindred organizations, and have received favorable comment from the medical press of the country. This, while gratifying, should only serve to stimulate us to greater improve- ment. It was through your efforts that a law was enacted by the last legislature to regulate the practice of medicine in this State. A law which, if it should continue in operation, and is wisely admin- istered, is sure, in the course of time, to elevate the character of the profession. It will not only accomplish this, but will also result in even more good to the people of the State, as by it they will be protected, in life, from the ignorance of the incompetent, and in purse, from the cupidity of quacks." The association has steadily grown in membership and practical influence. Its sessions are held annually at different points in the State, and its transactions, em- bodying the president's annual address, and a program of prepared papers on subjects of particular interest to the profession, are pub- lished in annual reports. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of the long list of papers which have been presented at the annual meetings of this association, and extending over a long series of years. They make up a body of literature of lasting benefit to the profession at large, and of particular 'value to the profession and people of Mississippi.

Misterton, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Grenada county, 15 miles from Grenada, the county seat. Population in 1900, 50. It has a saw mill and a fine Munger system cotton gin.

Mitchell, a postoffice of Tippah county, 6 miles east of Ripley, the county seat and nearest railroad and banking town.

Mize, a post-hamlet of Smith county, on the Laurel branch of the Gulf & Ship Island R. R., 10 miles south of Raleigh, the county seat. Mt. Olive is the nearest banking town. Population in 1900, 25.

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Mizpah, a postoffice of Copiah county, situated on Fosters creek, a tributary of Bayou Pierre, 15 miles west of Hazlehurst, the county seat.

Mobile, County of. After January, 1811, the gulf coast from Pearl river to the western shore of Mobile bay, constituted the parishes of Viloxy and Pascagoula in the Orleans territory, until the region was annexed to the Mississippi territory under the act of Congress of May 14, 1812, covering all the coast belt of the present States of Mississippi and Alabama, from the Pearl to the Perdido, and south of the 31st parallel. Gov. Holmes issued his proclamation September 17, 1812, establishing the county of Mobile, to include all this region, declaring the extension therein of the rights of citi- zens in Mississippi territory, and inviting the inhabitants to be obedient to the laws, maintain order and demean themselves as peaceable citizens. Judge Toulmin was entrusted with the distri- bution of commissions and the supervision of the organization of the county. Theodore Brightwell was appointed sheriff and a day was set for the election of one representative to the general as- sembly. But the officers of the county were forbidden to exercise any authority in the town and port of Mobile, which remained in the possession of the Spanish commandant, Perez, and his garrison of sixty men at Fort Charlotte.

In October, 1812, Gov. Holmes wrote to Gen. Wilkinson approv- ing his suggestion that "the safety and interest of an important part of the Territory would be greatly advanced by having posses- sion of Mobile," but he was very clear that he had no authority to take any steps to that end. A bill to authorize the president to take possession of both East and West Florida was introduced in the House in 1812 by congressman Troup, of Georgia, and adopted by that body in secret session. The senate rejected it, in July. But the president was authorized under the law of 1811 to take pos- session of both Floridas in certain contingencies.

December 18, 1812, an act of the general assembly divided the new county on the ridge west of Mobile bay, confining the name of Mobile county to what lay east of that. The western portion was divided into the counties of Jackson and Hancock.

Gen. Wilkinson, commanding at New Orleans, was ordered, February 16, 1813, to take possession of Mobile, whereupon he prepared an expedition of about 600 men, equipped for a siege, who were transported through the Mississippi sound. From Pass Christian the general wrote that he had had a narrow escape from drowning. From there he sent gunboats to enter Mobile bay to assist a force from Fort Stoddert under Col. Bowyer, in cutting off communication with Pensacola. April 12, being encamped near Mobile, Wilkinson, in pursuance of his orders, informed Perez, that he had arrived to "relieve the garrison which you command from the occupancy of a post within the legitimate limits of the United States," to which Perez replied that he could do no less than protest and evacuate if furnished transports. The evacuation occurred April 15, 1813, after which Fort Bowyer was built on

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Mobile point, and works constructed by Colonel Carson on the Per- dido river.

"The governor of Pensacola has lately demanded possession of the town of Mobile and the whole country of Mobile," wrote Gov. Holmes to Gov. Blount of Tennessee, in July, 1813. Holmes de- pended upon the power and patriotism of Tennessee to hold the region against Spanish or British. See War of 1812-15.

April 14, 1813, Gov. Holmes wrote the secretary of state that he had just received information from Gen. Wilkinson at New Orleans, that he was about to proceed to Mobile to take possession of Fort Charlotte. The governor had been frequently urged, from respect- able quarters, to sanction such a measure, but had refused to do so without instructions from the president. Now he rejoiced that such instructions had been given, and he proposed to start at once for Fort Stoddert to organize government in the town of Mobile when it should be occupied.

Captain Perez and his troops had been permitted to remain at Mobile as an act of courtesy merely, was the statement of Gov. Holmes to Gov. Zuniga, in a letter complaining of the arrest and imprisonment by Perez of Capt. Diego McVoy, of the Territorial militia.

The appointment of pilots in Mobile harbor appear in the gover- nor's journal of May, and a recommendation that the laws be published in the Mobile Gazette.

The governor returned from Mobile May 5, full of confidence in the future importance of Mobile as a commercial port. He recommended the immediate appointment of a new Territorial judge to assist Judge Toulmin. The prospect of extensive smug- gling from Pensacola to Mobile was one of his reasons for this.

Mobile, Kemper Invasion. A movement in eastern Mississippi territory in sympathy with the Baton Rouge revolution seems to have begun as early as September 1810, when, upon a report from Col. Sparks, commanding at Fort Stoddert, Gov. Holmes advised Colonels Caller, Carson and Patton, of Washington, Wayne and Baldwin counties, that "the rumor of an illegal combination" by part of the citizens of Tombigbee to invade Mobile and Pensacola, continued to excite concern, expressing his sympathy with their hardships, but saying he would rely upon them to suppress any armed demonstrations.

But this was followed by the order to organize a battalion for active service, and the instructions from Gov. Claiborne to Col. Sparks early in December seemed to open the way to drive out the Spanish government. Col. Caller said he received suggestions from Gen. F. L. Claiborne which justified his subsequent conduct. Reuben Kemper arrived as the agent of the West Florida republic, and Caller joined with him in the organization of a filibustering ex- pedition. They went down the Tensas in flatboats, were joined by insurgents below the line, and to their camp at Blakeley a keel- boat load of provisions was sent from Baton Rouge. A party under James Hargreaves crossed over to menace Mobile from the west,

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but were surprised by the Spanish troops, in November, and sev- eral killed and wounded. Hargreaves, Cyrus Sibley, and nine oth- ers were sent to Moro castle and imprisoned for five years. On their return to Mississippi territory Kemper and Caller were ar- rested by Sheriff B. L. Smoot, on authority of Judge Toulmin, charged with setting on foot a military expedition against Spanish possessions, and there was a court of inquiry under Judge Toulmin, in the public building at Fort Stoddert, in which Lemuel Henry acted as prosecutor. A detachment of United States troops were sent to Fort Stoddert, under Col. Cushing, and Maj. Gaines with 80 men encamped in the vicinity of the town of Mobile, to preserve order.

Gov. Holmes wrote to Judge Toulmin, December 26, regretting the unfortunate circumstances below the line. He said the militia officers had been ordered by him "to suppress any attempt to arm and embody for the purpose of committing aggressions in Florida."

In February the governor reported to Washington that under the instructions of Gov. Claiborne to Col. Sparks, the latter supposed himself authorized to take Mobile, and called out the militia to as- sist in the campaign. But upon the arrival of Col. Cushing he ordered the militia to be dismissed. This complication, coupled with the arrest of certain inhabitants for joining with Kemper for the purpose of conquest, "occasioned a considerable degree of irrita- tion."

Col. Caller denounced Judge Toulmin as a Spanish intriguer and traitor, secured the signatures of the militia to a petition for his removal, persuaded a grand jury to make a presentment against him, and the general assembly of the Territory by petition in- duced an investigation by congress, which resulted in approval of the judge's conduct.

Mogul, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Pike county, 10 miles southeast of Magnolia, the county seat, and 4 miles east of Osyka, on the Illinois Central R. R., the nearest railroad and bank- ing town. Population in 1900, 45.

Molino, a post-hamlet of Union county, situated on Wilhite creek, one of the head-streams of the Tallahatchie river, 10 miles northeast of New Albany, the county seat. Population in 1900, 22.

Money, a post-hamlet of Leflore county, on the Yazoo & Missis- sippi Valley R. R., 10 miles north of Greenwood, the county seat. Population in 1900, 40.

Money. Francis Baily, a young Englishman traveling down the river in 1797, sold a lot of goods which he brought along to trade with the Indians, to Joseph Vidal, secretary of the district govern- ment for 680 pesos, the pesos being about equivalent to a dollar, and when Baily asked for the money, Vidal offered a certificate. These certificates, it is stated in Baily's Journal, were a sort of paper money drawn by the commandants and paid out to soldiers and workmen, and received as money by the merchants. They were a kind of bank notes, "received upon the faith of government, though it must be observed that oftentimes there is no great sum

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of money in the treasury, and these certificates are returned unpaid, so they generally bear a discount; and this discount is proportioned to the degree of confidence put in the prospect of getting the money. It happened that they bore at this time a discount of 12 per cent., and yet this unreasonable rascal wanted me to take them at their full value." Baily was unable to obtain any relief from this imposition from Gayoso or Carondelet. Gayoso told him the cer- tificates were legal tender, and he could take them or go to the cal- aboose.

A glimpse of the conditions in Territorial times may be gained from the following extract from the governor's message of 1809: "In some counties after certain periods, territorial paper has been refused in payment of taxes. That we might know the proportion the specie collected for taxes bears to that paid in the treasury, I called on the respective collectors, and find there have been col- lected from the four counties on the Mississippi (no answer having been received from 'Bigbee) about twenty-five hundred dollars, of which sum six dollars, ninety-nine and one quarter cents only have been paid in the treasury." It also appeared that certain in- dividuals high in public station and confidence were permitted to have specie at par, from the collectors, and others not so fortunate were compelled to pay their taxes in paper at a vast discount.

The first currency peculiarly Territorial was the issue of the Bank of the Mississippi. (See Banking.) With this was associated the bills of the United States bank, until that concern succumbed to the campaign of President Jackson for hard money. The cur- rency of the Planters' bank was entirely reliable for a long time, until the advent of the "flush times," (q. v.) characterized by the chartering of many wildcat banks, with the power to manufacture money. The issue of the Brandon bank was typical of the climax, when the money became worthless and involved thousands in ir- retrievable ruin. The money was not bad because it was issued by State banks, but because legislatures were too close to the spec- ulators who were exercising banking privileges, and neglected to require them to obey the rules of safety.

During the period of worthless bank notes, notes were issued by towns, hotels, blacksmith shops, and sometimes by individuals, and were known as "shin-plasters." An act of legislature Feb. 18, 1840, prohibited their issue under severe penalty. After 1840 the currency of the State was mainly the notes of banks in adjoin- ing States, and these suffered heavy depreciation and many became worthless in 1857-60. After the war began the State issued money (see Pettus Adm.), the most famous sort of which was the cotton notes, (q. v.) There was also an issue of notes by banks that had special permission, and by railroad companies, besides the notes of the Confederate treasury. All paper money of the Confederate period ultimately became worthless, and possessed very little pur- chasing power before the war closed.

The legislature in 1870 authorized the issue of notes for $1, $2, $3 and $5 called "certificates of indebtedness," receivable for taxes,

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to partly take the place of State warrants, that were selling at a heavy discount-thirty to forty per cent. This expedient was bor- rowed from Alabama, where it originated with Gov. Patton, after a consultation with the attorney-general of the United States. Though political and financial influence was exerted to defeat this method of curtailing the profits of the money brokers, said Gov. Alcorn, the railroads agreed to take them at par, thus aiding in gaining public confidence in the notes, and "The certificates of in- debtedness triumphed over all the attempts to break them down." The notes were printed by a bank note company in New York and were artistic, but depreciated in value before long, though supported by State bonds. In 1894 there was a similar attempt at State credit money, called Special Warrants (q. v.), which caused unpleasant complications, there having been Federal legislation meanwhile to prohibit the issue of notes bearing a resemblance to United States currency.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. II, Part 31

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1032