The Tupelo journal., 1906-09-21

pEN.plCTURES OF THE 0LDEN Time
bY COL w I. CLAYTON.

time he was marshal, as best
my memory serves me and set
tied the place where he lived to
the time of his death, and where
his family have resided ever
since. When Lee county was
organized in 1866 his residence
fell in the territories of that
county. Col. Tison did not for
get the wants and needs of his
people during the year of his Of
fetal position under the United
States government, but kept his
eye on every political movement
as if he had then been a candi-
date for office at the hands Of
the people, and in the memorable
contests between the wings and
knownothings on the one hand
and the democrats on the other
from 1855 to 1860 he was in the
midst of the fight. His lance
was even in theipoise to be thrust
at any who opposed Democracy
whatever may have been his po-
sition or talents. l very well re-
member an incident which occur
red at Mooresville in 1860 during
the Presidential campaign, where
in Col. Tison was an actor, and
in which he was refused division
of time. D. w. Owen was the
speaker for the wigs, and hear
ing of the meeting, Tison with
a number of friends, attended and
demanded a division of time.
Owen and his friends threw their
heads together and refused the
demand. But as Col. Tison
was there and the people were
on hand ready to hear, and the
speaking was to begin at eleven
o'clock in the morning, the ques-
ton was how to prevent him from
speaking when Owen should con-
clude. But the Democrats "sec-
oned" without their host.
Owen was a ready talker and ell
oquent speaker, and had many
documents to read, and so just as
the sun was sinking to rest in
his beauty and glory that Sept.
day, the speaker closed out his
effort. We remained to the close
and Col. Tison rose and made
an appointment to answer the
speech at an early day, urged all
to come, and especially invited
Owen to meet him in joint debate
At the appointed time and place
Col. Tison was there in all his
glory, and made a magnificent
speech with none to reply. He
was specially severe on oath
hand secret political parties, who
met at midnight and issued their
orders to their followers. He was
in favor of principles, and would
ad ,ocate nothing, which could
not stand the light of reason.
When the war of secession
came Col. Tison made no hesita-
ton, but resigned his office of
marshall and entered the confed-
crate service. He raised a COM
pany and was elected it's captain
and called it Jake Thompson
Guards, in honor of his old
friend Jacob Thompson, through
whose influence he was appointed
marshal of the northern district
of Mississippi. This company
was in the the 10Th Miss. Reg.
where he served for a year and
was then elected Lieut.. Col. of
the 32nd Miss, Reg, and then
was promoted to the colonely Of
said regiment when his Col. was
advanced to a Brigadier-general-
ship. Col. Tlson was in the
battles of Perryvllle, Chickama-
uga, Missionary Ridge, Ring
Cold, Recocoa, Kenesaw Noun
tain, New Hope church, Peach
tree Creek Atlanta, Jonesboro,
Lovejoy anu Franklin, besides
many smaller fig hts and skirmish-
es. He was slightly wounded
at Atlanta and severely at Frank
lin. His wound at Atlanta was
III the neel, and the Doys Used to
rig n,m about beng hit III re-
treat. rne truth Is our forces
We're Oh the retreat at the time.
But Col. Tlson lid not much rel
lsh the joke. an voc to any one
who should have run it on him
unless he were a friend! After
the severe wound in the thigh at
Franklin he was carried home
and did not again recover so
that he could return to his COM
mand before the final surrender.
My command was on the right
of the confederate army on the
22nd Of July 1864 in the Atlanta
fight, and we heard Of Col.
Tison's being wounded, and felt
about him till we got further
particulars. After being woun-
ded at Franklin Col. Tison called
for Capt. J. L. Kennedy, the
senior Captain of the regiment,
and turned oyer the command
of the regiment to him, and ur-
ged him to look well to the wants
Of the men.
Col. Tison was cool and calm
on the field of battle and bore