The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08


OF the war, only less so than that which at
Franklin was merely butchery. 1t was
from this town, Columbia, that Steadman
went with reinforcements to help Scho-
field in the defeat of Hood in intrench-
ments that literally ran with blood,
Duck river and Stone river we're crossed
and recrossed by victorious and retreating
forces and their contributing creeks wit
messed many skirmish and affair" the
heroism OF which was lost in presence OF
the carnage that made the greater battles
weightier in results. Looking about
among the smiling fields Of plenty
one can hardly believe that here
only a generation ago all was desola-
ton, ruin and death. But so II was. Ma
ture is kind and gentle, man onlyis savage.
She heals the wounds OF war while
man reopens and makes them
hideous, running sores. Several OF
the most noted of the Confederate
generals who fought at Franklin were
from this part of the State. Bluff, brave
Frank Cheatham commanded the corps
that brought on the engagement, one divis-
ion OF which was commanded by John &.
Brown, OF Pulaski, and the other 10y
w. b. Bate, of Nashville. q. W.
Gordon, who was born and reared here,
commanded a brigade of Browns division
and for while held the key to the Fed
eral position. Dan. Govan, OF Arkansas,
who married one OF the beautiful daugh-
tiers of Bishop 0tey, commanded
division OF Cleburne's corps and
fell in the ditch at Franklin, among
the dead and dying and was taken out OF il
literally covered with the blood OF his com
rades. Gen. Lucius Polk, nephew OF the
reycred Leomidas, and who survives TO
this better day, was also conspcu-
Gus on this field Of carnage. The
awful penalty OF war was never paid
in better currency by the south at any
time in her history than at Franklin, the
carnage OF which has never been ade-
quately painted in words and has never
been attempted on canvass II was here
abouts, too, that Forrest, greatest cavalry
officer OF the war on either side, achieved
some Of those victories that were preceded
by marvellous CELEBRITY and the surprise of
the enemy. Gen. Joe" Wheeler. now n
useful member OF Congress from Alabama,
also roamed at will in all the highways
and byways that lead TO Nashville aud the
Cumberland river, where he captured and
destroyed fleet OF boats filled with quar-
termasters' and commissary stores. Gen.
Van Dorm was another OF the conspicuous
cavalry commanders that were q terror 10
the enemy for daring and enterprise. This
certainly was where the battles were fought,
the most desperate and bloody OF the war.
o, what courage and seli-sacriiice, what de-
yotion and seli.abncgation, what patriot
ism.
On the left bank of Duck river, thus
made famous during the early settlement
Of Tennessee and later during the civil
war, nestles Columbia, the capital OF
Maury county, the center Of this rich
region and Of thriving industries and
trade, and seat OF learning famous for
It's schools. II is n noted point and his
toric The country round about Il was
settled by Evolutionary heroes, some OF
whom served under the eye Of Washing
ton himself. Even in itn wild condition
IL was goodly land, the rich promise Of
which was traditional with the Indians,
and because Of that promise il became the
scene OF iercely fought battles, 30 that
with all the lands south and west OF IL
toward the Tennessee and on up to the
Ohio Il was known 10 them rs the dark
and bloody ground" And such Il proved
TO be 10 the first settlers, whose story is
one Of the most stirring and pathetic In
OF the earliest victims OF the Indians re.
vcngciul cruelty had hardly died away ere
other white families came 30 take their
places. The impulse Of colonization aud
settlement was too urgent 10 be resisted.
These victims Of the Indians cruelty
and reyengcful spirit were part OF |
turn back upon itself and must cx-
- AZ Of
Ter. Danger was the common lot OF all alike. |
Women were sometimes captured ut the |
spring In sight OF husbands, brothers aud |
parents, and the men at the pillow were |
often scalped within hearing Of the cover
ing wife and children, for whom there was /
no escape. But the Indian was finally com.
PEELED TO succumb. The organization and
discipline Of the white man was too much
for him, as the close columns Of the Ro-
mans were 10 much for the Calls. The
"Mero District" (so named 10 placaie n
Spanish Governor Of the adjoining Terri.
tory, WIS cut up into several counties and
the settlers, secure at last, turned their at.
tontion 10 tie Spnniards, ''tlic Dons," as
jackson used 10 call them, and with whom
they shared with the British m immcas-
urablo contempt and hatred. These, too,
after much Of diplomacy, were pushed,
the latter from this part Of the North
American continent, and the former 10
the other side OF the Sabine, where
they remained until the Mcxicans drove
them altogether from the continent
In 1921. Up to this time Ten.
ncssce was acquiring population with
apidity and her public men
were already conspicuous among the first
In the union. The turbulent aud im-
petuous Jackson" M one Of his political
ioomon dubbed him, had already finished
n history that Is an impcrshable page In
that OF the State and Union, and he was
the idol Of the people and their candidate
for the presidency. The "hcro Of New
Orleans knew the State too well 20 10
satisfied with home In nyother than the
best part Of Il, and long before the "iIcr-
mitage" became famous "Cloycf Bottom"
and is fleet racers were known Ear beyond
the confines OF Tennessee. This inviting
spot no temptingly named Is within the
radius Of country Of which Maury county
Is the center, the latest Of fat lands with
prospects and reaches In every direction
10 tempt the eye Of the artist. Here IL
was the Folks and Pillows found rest after
The revolution, and here they recupcrutcd
their strength and increased their mum.
bers, maintaining always the pres.
iige that preceded them from the
mother State OF North Carolina.
Commodore Maury Qior one Of whose
Iamily the county was named) resided here
before he entered the navy 10 distinguish
himself ~ q navigator and become famous
or his ocean current charts. Here, too,
'ame another Nirginian, Bishop 0tey. ono
)i the greatest minds the south has yet
produced, and here lac made coy nest,