Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-10-31
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In his interesting ~Reminiscenees-
Of a large part OF the worlds most
syentfal century. Lieut. Col Frank A.
Montgomery. First Mississippi Cavsl-
y. Armstrong; brigade. offers. as one
ot the many good reasons for the
books existence. the sad fact that so
little true history has been written u
the war between the States. and what
aas been written Of our side has dealt
almost wholly with the great leaders,
md their work. He does not wish to
withhold from these great men one
tota Of the fame they earned. for he
believes that the great mss who com
manfed our armies. with few exeep-
tons. deserve the houors they won:
but II Is the unknown and forgotten
who won their honors for them And
IL Is OF the unknown to fame and
forgotten" by history Of whose gal
liant lives and glorious deaths Col
-.ortgomery knew that he writes so
entertainingly in his book He regrets
that so few OF the men who made
sacred ~the gray" have written their
experience rs a contribution to his
tory.
IL has often been urged In this co..
unn that the men who fought this
good fight" and who recalled Incl
dents OF special interest should write
them and give them publicity through
the various county papers. and in this
way their children and their children
children would learn Of deeds Of valor
that would cause them to rejoice in
their fathers name and fame as sol
diers. In thes tories told around the
veterans camp fires now there is
enough Of tragedy to wiring the heart
OF the strong New South. as we'll as
Of dear old Dixie: there Is also at
times much OF laughter mingled with
the tears. and the listeners heart beats
high and his blood runs quick at
deeds Of heroism Of which the woriI
hears naught- The history OF that
four years war and Of the men and
women who made possible and gIori-
ons the unequal struggle should not be
allowed to die Save 50 much as Is pre-
served between the lids Of the enc
tales and a few histories dealing
largely with special events AMI
phases OF the war and the careers %
certain Of the leaders. there is all too
little for our children 20 read AMI
learn from In speaking OF this. Col
Montgomery says. There were men
in the ranks who could. IL they would.
have told Interesting stories. and even
yet there are many who can do il il
they will. and | hope others may yet
do 1t But whatever Is done must Be
done soon. for a few more years and
there will be none left to tell. espe-
cially what Mississippi and Nississip-
plans did in that great war, and thus
aid the historian who Is to come in
writing the history Of the war and
Of the State
The name OF every man who fought
'neatn the Union flag is preserved I'd
history and their dead lie in beautiful
cemeteries which the people delight to
keep in perfect order. We are glad
that this is so. for we would not visa
It to be otherwise. But it cuts to the
quick to remember that so many Of
our bravest sleep where they fell. In
land bought only with their blood.
and where kindly nature weaves the
only garlands that on Decoration
day" mark these lonely unknown"
bits Of sacred ground With Col.
Montgomery we, too. believe that JUS
tiee may yet be done to many Of these
brave men. but IL it were done 'txere
well 'twere done quickly
Dr. Riley's recent publication con
eerning Mississippfs lost villages
recalls to our Oldest Inhabitants many
incidents touching some of the towns
that live now only in their memories.
Col Montgomery refers to one Of the
oldest and most interesting sections
Of the State. a neighhorhood enriched
by these memories. as follows: "Iw was
born in Jefferson county within a
mile OF Selsertown- The
place Is twelve miles from Natchez.
and a tavern was kept there for a long
time. perhaps is still. though the rail
road which now runs near IL, from
Jackson % Natehez. has nearly de-
stroyed the usefulness OF the highway
upon which it was situated. This was
the road cut in the earliest history of
the territory OF Mississippi from
Nashville. Tenn. to Natchez. along
which Gen. Jackson rode when he
sought and found his bride at the
nome Of his friend. Col Thomas NJ
Greene. on the banks OF Coles Creek,
and along which he marched his vic
torious troops when returning from
the battle Of New Orleans. Il was
then the great thoroughfare for all
travel north from Natchez. and most
ef that south TO Natchez, for fen cared
20 risk the dangers OF river travel in
those days At intervals OF about six
miles along this road. in the early see-
tiement or the territory. little villages
had been located. as l ermember. be-
tween Natchez and Port Gibson; first.
Washington. once the capital Of the
state; then Selsertown. Uniontown.
Greenville. Raccoon Box and one
other. the name Of which I have for
gotten tRed Lick. helievel, and then
Port Gibson All Of these villages are
gone. save only their names. and these
forgotten save by few old men like
myself. and except that Washington
sill remains. preserved. perhaps. by
the college which Is located there.
The history Of this part Of the State
has always possessed. and still does, a
romantic interest for me. because. per
hapss when boy I knew many Of
those who had been either among its
earliest settlers or were their descend
ants. then grown. and who loved 20