USA > Mississippi > School history of Mississippi; for use in public and private schools > Part 18
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315. Southern Students in Northern Schools .- The hostile attitude assumed by the North towards slavery in the South caused the people of the latter section to oppose the patronizing of Northern educational institutions. Several of the most prominent citizens of the State contended that it was " not possible for Southerners to be educated safely at the North." "Our sons and daughters," says the Rev.
Lyceum Building
Library Building
Observatory Chancellors Residence
Physical Laboratory
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI (248)
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C. K. Marshall, "return to us from their schools and colleges in the North with their minds poisoned by fanati- cal teachings and influences against the institution of slavery, with erroneous religious opinions on the subject, and with the idea that it is a sin to hold slaves." This senti- ment seems to have been widespread, since there was a gradual reduction in the number of Southern students in Northern institutions for several years before the War between the States .*
316. Southern Text-Books .- With the growth of abolition sentiment in the North, ideas repulsive to the people of the South began to find their way into the text-books of the country.t There arose in the South a demand for Southern text-books. In 1856 the Rev. C. K. Marshall of Vicksburg, who led this movement, addressed a com- munication to the New Orleans Picayune, in which he recommended that the legislatures of the Southern States place " at the disposal of their governors from $5,000 to $10,000 to be used in the encouragement of the writing and printing of home text-books." "There are cart-loads of manuscripts and books," says he, "all over this region- designed for schools and colleges-by the first and best pens of our States, from gentlemen and ladies as capable as any in America to write such books, that may never see the light unless a strong public influence shall breathe upon them the life and energy of promise and hope. The legislature of Mississippi will act on this matter, I believe, at its approaching session. It would have done so last winter, I think, but for the sudden and protracted illness of the Hon. William Sharkey, who took a warm interest in
*See De Bow's Commercial Review, Vols. XVIII., p. 431; XX., p. 148; XXIII., p. 490.
+De Bow's Commercial Review, Vol. XXI., pp. 519-523.
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the matter, and was preparing a bill to introduce, when he was taken sick."
In another communication he says, " If we use Abolition text-books at home, we might as well send the pupils to" the land where the text-books originate. We can, and we must have our own text-books-the fruits of Southern scholarship. We can, and we must print, publish, and teach our own books; we must not permit our foes to compose our songs and prepare our nursery tales, reserving for our- selves only the privilege of framing husky statutes, and holding commercial conventions."* The outbreak of the War between the States prevented his hopes from being realized.
317. Literature .- There were thirty newspapers pub- lished in Mississippi in 1837. One of these was issued daily. Two of them were religious papers and one a tem- perance paper. After this date newspapers multiplied rapidly. "The Flush Times," with its great schemes, created a demand for more newspapers. It was a period of inflation, and the press caught the infection. A printing press was an essential feature of every prospective town. After this came the stirring political campaigns-State and national-which led to a further increase in the number of newspapers. There were no neutral or independent papers. " The public appetite craved politics-politics only."t The politician of the tripod became a rival of the politician of the stump. The success of an editor depended less upon his skill in gathering the latest news than upon his ability to defend his party or to attack the opposition.
The attacks of the Abolitionists upon the institution of slavery led to numerous efforts in its defence. This led
*See De Bow's Commercial Review, Vol. XXII., p. 312.
+See Goodspeed's Memoirs of Mississippi, Chapter IX.
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to the writing of three books by Mississippians on this subject .*
There were in this period a few poetical works from the pens of Mississippians.t The writers of short stories were more successful in their efforts than were either of the two classes just mentioned. In 1851, Mississippi Scenes or Sketches of Southern and Western Life, by Joseph B. Cobb, of Longwood, Mississippi, made its appearance in book form, many of its stories having already appeared in the papers of the State. The work was modeled on the plan of the Georgia Scenes, and dedicated to Judge Longstreet, the author of that book. It gives several stories intended to show the devotion of the slaves to their masters. Two years later (1853) Joseph Baldwin's Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi appeared in book form after having ap- peared serially in the Southern Literary Messenger. It has been said that Baldwin and Longstreet, better than any other writers, painted with pen and ink the real life around them-" this Southern life, rich in every element of humor and pathos."# Both of these gentlemen spent a part of their lives in Mississippi, and were identified with its history. Judge Longstreet's book was written, however, before he came to this State. Professor Ingraham, who was for several years connected with the St. Thomas Hall School, at Holly Springs, began his literary career in this period. His Prince of the House of David was first published in 1856.
"These were Fletcher's Studies on Slavery, Estes' (M.) Defense of Negro Slavery, and Thornton's (Rev. T. C.) Inquiry into the History of Slavery.
+ Carpenter's (Marcus) Memories of the Past (1850) and Progress of the Mind (1851); Josselyn's (Robert) The Faded Flower, and other Poems; Cheve's" (Mrs. E. W. Foote) Sketches in Prose and Verse (1848); Mrs. Catherine A. Warfield of Natchez published sev- eral novels and with her sister, Mrs. Lee, two volumes of poems. #Ingle's Southern Sidelights, p. 210.
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It consists of a number of letters supposed to have been written by a Jewish maiden, while on a long visit to Jerusa- lem, to her father at Alexandria, during the closing events of the life of Christ. The author tells the story in a style, which a reviewer of the times says, "from its force and beauty and simple pathos and eloquence must touch the hearts of all who read it." In 1859 The Pillar of Fire appeared from the pen of the same author. The plan of this book was similar to that of the former work by this writer. It treats of the bondage and deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, and was written for the purpose of leading to a study of the Old Testament by many unfamiliar with its pages.
Mrs. Dorsey, a native of Natchez, began her literary career in the latter part of this period.
The demand for Southern works on sociology met a re- sponse in Henry Hughes of Mississippi, whose Treatise on Sociology appeared in 1854.
In the decade before the War between the States the legislature became fully aroused over the importance of having a thorough study made of the resources of the State. In 1854 a treatise on Agriculture and Geology of Mississippi, prepared by B. L. C. Wailes, of Washington, Mississippi, was published under the direction of the legislature. It is a valuable contribution to the early political and agricultural history of Mississippi, and has been largely used by subse- quent writers on these subjects. Three years later an Agricultural Survey of Mississippi, by Professor L. Harper, of the State University, was also published by the legisla- ture. With reference to this work a reviewer of the times says that it gives evidence of the growth in Mississippi "of very sound opinions upon the connection between geology and agriculture, and puts that comparatively new State far
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in advance of many of her sisters in this particular."* The most prolific writer on scientific and historical subjects in the State in this period was Dr. John W. Monette of Washington. His experience in the great epidemic of yellow fever that visited Natchez and Washington in 1825, shortly after lic had begun his career as a physician, enabled him to gain his first distinction as a contributor to the medical literature of that day. In 1838 and 1839, when Natchez was subjected to another epidemic of yel- low fever, Dr. Monette resumed his investiga- tions and published a small volume entitled Observations on the Epi- demic Yellow Fever of Natchez and the South- west from 1817 to 1839. He was probably the first physician in the United States to advocate the establishment of quaran- tine systems in order to prevent the spread of yel- JOHN W. MONETTE low fever. Under the influence of his writings the citizens of Natchez in 1841 instituted the first quar- antine against places infected with that disease. As early as 1833 Dr. Monette commenced the great literary work of his life, the Physical Geography and the History of the Mississippi Valley. Although this work was rewritten and enlarged several times, its author could never consent to place it in the hands of a publisher. About 1841 some of his friends prevailed upon him to write the History of
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*De Bow's Commercial Review, Vol. XXIII., p. 644.
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the Mississippi Valley as a separate book, which was pub- lished in two volumes in 1846 .*
The writings of Dr. Knutt and of Dr. S. A. Cartwright of Natchez were also valuable contributions to the scientific literature of Mississippi in this period.
Colonel J. F. H. Claiborne, the historian of Mississippi, began his literary career as one of the editors of the Mississippi Free Trader in July, 1841. His sketches, entitled Trip Through the Piney Woods, and his first contributions to the history of Mississippi appeared in that paper shortly afterwards. Before the outbreak of the War between the States he had prepared a History of the Southwest, which was lost. His Life of Sam Dale, the Mississippi Partisan, and his Life and Correspondence of John A. Quitman (two volumes) were published in 1860.t
Summary
1. This was a period of church expansion, in which two new denominations entered the State and all of the older churches made great progress in educational and evangelical work.
2. As early as 1843, A. G. Brown insisted upon the establish- ment of a system of public schools. Three years later an unsuc- cessful effort was made to organize a public school system. This was followed by numerous other acts which made the system more complicated and less effective year after year.
3. There was a great educational revival in Mississippi in the latter part of this period and several private schools and acade. mies were organized in different parts of the State.
*De Bow's Commercial Review, Vol. XI., pp. 92-94.
"The account given above is not intended to be an exhaustive treatment of the literature of the State between 1832 and 1860. It is hoped that the student will be encouraged to make a more detailed study of this important subject.
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4. In 1846 work was begun on the buildings of the University of Mississippi, and two years later the first session began with four professors and about fifty students.
5. The hostile attitude assumed by the North towards the institution of slavery caused many of the wisest people of the South and of Mississippi, especially, to oppose the sending of Southern students to Northern schools or the use of Northern text-books in Southern schools.
6. Mississippi literature might be said to have had its birth In this period (1832-1860). The newspapers of the State increased in number and influence and a few books of great value appeared from the pens of Mississippians.
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EPOCH VII IN THE CONFEDERACY (1861-1865)
CHAPTER XXXII
BEGINNING OF THE CONFLICT
318. Preparations for War .- For some time after it had become known that Lincoln was elected to the presidency, military companies were organized in Mississippi at the rate of seven or eight a week, numbering from . fifty to sixty E STA men each. At the time of the signing of the ordinance of seces- sion (January 15, 1861) there CON 3HLI were sixty-five companies of volunteers in the State, aggre- gating almost four thousand men. Ten months later Gover- FEU 22 DEO VIN 1862 . nor Pettus estimated that the number of Mississippi volunteers had increased to over 35,000, SEAL OF TIIE CONFEDERACY "which is probably," he adds, "a larger proportion of the adult male population than any State or nation has sent to war in modern times." The students of the University of Mississippi and of Mississippi College formed themselves into the University Grays and the Mississippi College Rifles, respectively, and were among the first to enter the conflict. The problem of arming and equipping this large number of troops was a serious one. Flint-lock muskets were changed for the use of percussion caps, and with these a large number of troops were armed for the
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conflict. Churches gave their bells to be used in making cannon, and citizens from all parts of Mississippi promptly placed their money at the disposal of the State, several of them equipping and arming companies for the war. The women of the State, no less patriotic, began to spin thread" and weave cloth with which to clothe the soldiers.
Jefferson Davis
319. Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy .- The Senators and representatives from Mississippi in Congress resigned their seats in that body and left for their homes upon learning that the State had seceded from the Union. When Mr. Davis returned from Washington, he found his 17
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commission as major-general awaiting him. He devoted a short time to the work connected with this position, and then returned to his plantation (Briarfield), in Warren county. In the meantime a convention of the seceding States had met at Montgomery, Alabama, February 4, 1861, for the purpose of organizing the government of a new nation. It adopted a provisional constitution, and then proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted in the choice of Jefferson Davis as President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, as Vice-President of the Confederate States of America. Although Mr. Davis had neither sought nor desired this position, he promptly went to Montgomery, where he was inaugurated February 18, 1861.
320. Mississippi Troops Enter the Conflict .- The first body of troops to leave Mississippi to engage in the War between the States consisted of 1,500 men sent to Florida, in the spring of 1861, for the purpose of attacking Fort Pickens, which was held by a Federal force. They reached Pensacola only a few days before the capture of Fort Sumter (April 13, 1861), which was the first engagement of the war. In the same year other troops from Mississippi were sent to various parts of the Confederacy.
321. The Capital Changed and the Confederacy Com- pleted .- When it became certain that an attempt would be made to force the seceded States back into the Union, Virginia seceded and joined the Confederacy. The capital was then (May 20, 1861) transferred from Montgomery to Richmond. At that time the new nation was composed of the following States, given in the order in which they seceded: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina. With the addition of Tennessee in the following month, the Confederacy was completed.
322. The State Government in 1861 .- In October, 1861,
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Governor Pettus was reelected almost without opposition, and seven men were chosen to represent the State in the lower house of the Confederate Congress .* The State legislature met early in the following month. The greater part of the session was devoted to the consideration of matters pertaining to the war, and to the welfare of the soldiers in the army. Two Senators-A. G. Brown and James Phelan-were also chosen to represent the State in the Confederate Congress.
323. Character of the War .- In the great struggle of four years (1861-1865) between the States, over 2,200 engage- ments were fought, eighty of which were on the soil of Mississippi. This was the bloodiest and most stubbornly contested war of modern times, battles being fought in almost every part of the South, and also in many of the Northern States. The combined armies of the two nations numbered about 3,378,000 men, about 2,778,000 of whom were in the service of the Union, and about 600,000 in the service of the Confederacy. It is a remarkable fact that there were about 2,178,000 more soldiers in the Federal than in the Confederate army. The losses of the four years in killed, wounded, and died of disease were about 360,000 men in the Union and 325,000 men in the Confederate army.
It may be safely said that over 1,000,000 men lost their lives as a result of this war, or were permanently disabled thereby. Besides these, thousands of survivors remained sufferers from the effects of it for years afterwards. The loss in money and property was almost incalculable. The expenses incurred and the property destroyed by the war is reasonably computed to have been not less than ten bil- lions of dollars ($10,000,000,000). The sacrifices, hard- ships, and losses, incurred by the people of the South in
* For a complete list of all the Senators and representatives in the Confederate Congress see Appendix,
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contending against the great resources of the United States, have been unequalled in history.
The great battles of the war were: Antietam, Manassas, Perryville, Fair Oaks, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, Stone River,- Chancellorsville, Chickamauga, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Atlanta, Franklin, Vicksburg, and Seven Days' Battle around Richmond. They were among the bloodiest battles in history. In the battle of Antietam 20,985 men were killed and wounded on both sides; 22,114 men killed and wounded at Chancellorsville; 26,930 at Chickamauga ; 40,228 at Gettysburg; 25,033 at the Wilder- ness, and the losses in many other battles were as large in proportion to the number engaged. These battles and losses are especially mentioned to give an idea of the bloody conflict .*
324. Mississippians in the War .- The troops of Missis- sippi (over 70,000 in number) were distributed in all of the armies of the Confederacy, as were the troops of the other States. They fought on the soil of nearly every Confederate State. They did heroic service in the armies of Lee, the Johnstons, Beauregard, Bragg, Hood, and of other Con- federate generals in less important commands. A list of all the gallant officers who were furnished by the State to the Confederate army cannot be given here. A history of this period would not be complete, however, without mentioning
* To give an idea of the desperate fighting in the Confederate army the following Mississippi regiments are selected: The Sixth Mississippi at Shiloh lost 300 men out of 425 present, or 70.5 per cent of those engaged; the Sixteenth Mississippi, at Sharpsburg. lost, 63.1 per cent of those present; the Twenty-ninth Mississippi, at Chickamauga, lost 52.7 per cent of those present; the Eighth Mississippi, at Murfreesboro, lost 47.1 per cent of those present. Featherstone's Mississippi Brigade, in Virginia, lost in one pro- longed battle (Seven Days' Battle around Richmond, at Gaines' Mill and Glendale) 49.3 per cent of those present. Longstreet's Division lost in the same battle 50 per cent.
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the following Mississippians, most of whom rendered valiant service in other States: Major-General Earl Van Dorn, the dashing cavalry leader ; Captain Isaac N. Brown, the brave commander of the Confederate ram Arkansas; Brigadier-General Richard Griffith, who fell in the Seven Days' Battle around Richmond; Brigadier-General Carnot Posey, who was killed at the head of his command at Bristow Station; Brigadier-General William Barksdale, whose services at Gettysburg have made " the place where Barksdale fell " a spot of historic interest; Major-General E. C. Walthall, who served throughout the war without asking for "a hard place for glory " or "a soft place for comfort." In the Georgia campaign Major-General Wil- liam T. Martin and Brigadier-Generals Wirt Adams, W. S. Featherston, S. W. Ferguson, M. P. Lowrey, C. W. Sears, J. H. Sharp, and J. A. Smith rendered conspicuous
services. Mississippi was represented in Virginia by Brigadier-General B. G. Humphreys, Nathaniel H. Harris, Joseph R. Davis, and Colonel J. M. Stone. Generals J. R. Chalmers, Robert Lowry, S. G. French, and others also rendered valuable services in this great conflict.
325. The War in Northern Mississippi .- At the outbreak of the war the western part of the Confederacy was pro- tected by forts and armies along the southern border of · Kentucky and Missouri, and by a few small boats on the Mississippi. Shortly after the beginning of hostilities the importance of opening the Mississippi River to the con- merce of the Western States that were still in the Union became apparent, and efforts were promptly directed to accomplish this result. The ascent of the Tennessee River by Generals Grant and Buell rendered it necessary for the Confederate army under General Albert Sidney Johnston to retire to the south of that stream. The Confederate troops were concentrated at Corinth, near which place the
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bloody battle of Shiloh was fought, in April, 1862. In this engagement the death of General Johnston on the eve of victory, and the timely arrival of General Buell, bringing
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WAR MAP OF MISSISSIPPI
reinforcements to General Grant, turned the tide of battle, and caused the Confederates under General Beauregard to retire to Corinth. Here the Confederate army was rein- forced by Generals Van Dorn and Price, who had crossed the Mississippi River from Arkansas, after fighting the
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battle of Pea Ridge. The Union army, consisting of 100,000 men, then entrenched itself before Corinth, and General Beauregard, having only 53,000 men, quietly vacated that place and retired fifty-five miles south, to Tupelo, which he made a base of operations. Here he was superseded by General Bragg. General Rosecrans, the Union commander, made Corinth a base of supplies, and fortified the place. About this time Holly Springs fell into the hands of the Federal army. General Rosecrans attacked General Price at Iuka September 19th, and was defeated. Later, General Price had to retreat to Baldwin, as Rosecrans was reinforced.
The Confederates under Major-General Van Dorn of Mississippi made a daring and bloody attempt to recapture Corinth (October 3 and 4, 1862), but were repulsed with great loss, after having taken a part of the town. The Confederate army then retreated towards Ripley and later to Grenada, where, in December, 1862, was inaugurated the second campaign against Vicksburg. As the three campaigns against Vicksburg were among the most impor- tant of the War between the States, a more detailed account of them will now be given.
Summary
1. Within ten months after the signing of the ordinance of secession the number of Mississippi volunteers increased from almost 4,000 to over 35,000, and great efforts were made to arm and equip this force.
2. After serving a short time as major-general of State volun- teers, Jefferson Davis accepted the position of President of the Confederate States, and was inaugurated in February, 1861.
3. The first troops to go beyond the borders of Mississippi in the War between the States were sent to Florida in the spring of 1861.
4. In May, 1861, the capital of the Confederacy was removed from Montgomery to Richmond, and in the following month the Confederacy was completed, consisting of eleven States.
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