The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-26
Historical,

After the fall of Fort Donaldson, Flor
ence, Ala, being the head OF navigation
on the Tennessee River, was the point TO
which gunboats AMI transports brought
large numbers of Federal soldiers as
early in tie Civil War as the Winter
of 1862. From that point they were
marched through the country, devastating
and destroying all that came within their
reach. Regiments of Southern forces be-
ing encamped through this section sew
eral severe conflicts took place between
the two armies. Owing to the fact that
Southern boys were in the Tennessee
Valley one week. being kindly treated
and feasted by every one, and followed
by an encampment of Yankee soldiers,
caused more suffering and destruction of
property in this section than in any other
part of Alabama. At the time of the
death of President Lincoln a fleet of gum
boats brought several regiments of SOL
diers to Florence. They marched up
Court Street, the gen aral in command an
nounced the death of Lincoln, proclaim
ing TO the citizens that If there was the
least demonstration of joy made by any
one, the home of that person would be
burned and if there was Knowa to be r.
joicing by the citizens, the town would
be destroyed.
l tic nix it was the Winter Of 1853 that
General Sherman's army encamped near
Florence On the plantations of Hon. r.
NJ. Patton, WHO was known to have been
one of the truest men to his beloved State
and Southland. His home place, Sweet
Water" situated at the head of beau
tiful stream by that name, wendell its
course through two large plantations
flowing into the Tennessee River. Along
this stream both armies encamped, as the
supply of water was inexhaustible. Here
General Sherman with his army, COM
posed Of wharf rats. Jail birds and for
eigners Of all nationalities, encamped.
They sustained their reputation as thieves
and robbers during their stay at Florence
and one OF their chief targets was the
home of Hon. Il. NJ. Patton. His smoke
house was emptled of hundreds of hams,
shoulders and cured meats, put there for
the maintenance of the family and the
hundreds of slaves on the plantations.
Squads went into the yard and shot tur-
keys, ducks and chickens, carrying them
off as booty tied to their saddle skirts
The wine cellar was emptied, catsup bot
ties carried off by dozens, preserved
fruits, pickles everything that could be
found in their search through the house.
The horses were taken from the place
and the cattle driven to the camp to be
slaughtered TWO cases of smallpox
among the soldiers died in two new cab
ms, each of which was burned. cremating
the bodies OF the poor victims One MEM
orable night is still remembered by the
Patton family as one full OF horror Mr..
Patton his wife, married daughter,
with her husband furloughed from the
army because of illness, grown daugh-
ter and two little sons comprised the
household. The family had retired, when
at IL O'Clock the faithful servant, Ed
mond, raped on the window by Mr.. Pat
tons bed, saying, quick, master, let
me in. Being admitted. he told him
that squad of Yankees was coming in
and to be ready for them. He ran to the
apartments of the two ladies to give the
alarm ana mad just reached the foot of
the stairway as eight soldiers with their
guns on their shoulders, rafting swords
and belted pistols. pressed into the house
through a side entrance, and made direct
to the foot of this stairway. This faith
full servant stretched his arms across the
lower step and said, My two young mis-
tresses are up stairs and you can't go
there unless over my body; If you have
come to search the house, take this floor
first" And such a search as they made.
Every mattress was thrown TO the floor
bureau drawers and wardrobe shelves
were empued and every crevice of the
house searched for Confederate soldiers