The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13


out of the war; he performed his duties
with fidelity.
The early months of 1862 found North
Alabama invaded by Federal troops who
continued its occupation during the re-
mainder of the war, except a short while
in 1S62-63. The counties of Jackson, Mar
shall, Madison, Lawrence, Franklin mow
in Colbert, Limestone and Lauderdale
were the scenes of many stirring events.
The brave Inhabitants were in many in
stances the subjects of cruel treatment,
besides losing their possessions by pillage
and fire. At the close of the long con-
fict this beautiful and fertile region was
largely waste and desolate.
In the efforts of the enemy to extend
their raids through the state, many spir-
tied encounters took place. During the
latter part of 1862. at Little Bear creek,
in the vicinity of Tuscumba, a fight oc-
Cured between the Confederates, under
Gel. p. d. Roddy, and General Sweeney.
in which the latter fell back to Corinth.
Shortly afterward, at Barton Station,
General Roddy had a more sangulnary
encounter with the Federals, in which
they were again forced back. On April
%, 1868, an engagement without special
results took place at the railroad crossing.
of Town Creek, in Lawrence county, be-
tween Gen. G. NJ. Dodge, with 5000 troops,
and Gen. n. B. Forrest, with about half
that number. General Roddy was brave
ly resisting the advance of General
Dodge when Forrest came to the rescue.
At night the latter withdrew to go in
.xff s.T A II ai.r1,t a,,I (t1,,
eral Dodge fell back, destroying in his
retreat dwelling houses. barns, fences
and everything which his wicked vandal-
ism could reach.
General Forrest, on May 3, 1868, succeed
ed in capturing Colonel Streght and his
force of 100 men in Cherokee county.
The latter had left Tuscumbia a few days
previous with the intention of Selling the
Confederate stores at Rome, Ga. On this
pursuit Miss Emma SAMSON, modest
young girl of Etowah county, became ia
NOUS Ivy her daring and heroic conduct
in directing General Forrest, at great
peril to herself. to a ford of Black creek,
TIL bridge having been burned by
Strengths men. In recognition of her
courage, her patriotism, her devotion to
our cause" the general assembly, No
vember 81 1868, voted her gold medal
and section of public land in the state
The death on July 2S, 1863, of Hon. Will
liam Lowndes Yancey removed from the
councils of the Confederacy one of its
bravesc spirits and most devoted adher
EMS. He was the son of Benjamin Cud-
worth Yancey of South Carolina, and was
CT Ia
came to Alabama in 1886. lie was sue
cessivey planter editor, lawyer. member
of the general assembly and senate of
Alabama. member of Congress and polt-
zeal leader. In the latter capacity Mr..
Yancey was conspicuous. He was one of
the leading spirits in the Charleston con-
vention, and urged the extreme southern
view on the questions of the day. As
member of the secession convention of
Alabama, 1861, he twas the master spirit,
towering above all others, in the boldness
of his conceptions, in the energy of his
measures, and in the splendid gifts of
argumentative eloquence." In March, 1861.
President Davis appointed him commits
siouer from the Confederate States to
England and France. He was unsuccess-
full in securing recognition, and returned
home in 1862. He then took a seat in the
Confederate States senate from Alabama,
a position he held at the time of his
death. Hon. Robert Jemison. then a
member of the state senate. was chosen
as his successor. and in his parting adj
dress to that body refers to him 'as the
lamented Yancey, whose eloquence and
perseverance in the cause of southern
rights, contributed more largely than the
efforts of any other man to bring about
our separation from the old Federal
Union"
After two years of trying experience,
Governor Shorter was defeated for re-
election in 1863, by Thomas II. Watts.
Mr.. Watts was the second native-born
governor He was an active secessionist
On the resignation of Judah p. Benjamin
he was made Encouragement of the
Confederate States, position he held at
the time Of mis- election. He was an able
maj, but in his administration he en-
countered in multiplied form the difficult
ties and endorsements which had con-
fronted his predecessor.
The year 1864 was marked by numerous
local conflicts In March. Capt. ii. +.
Smith captured a Federal detachment and
a supply of stores at Claysville, Marshall
county. on May II. following, the Fed
eral stockade at Madison Station was
captured by a force under Col. Josiah
Patterson, aided by Stewards battalion.
A daring raid was made In July, 1864
nv General Rousseau, with force of
about 1000 cavalry. from the Tennessee
valley down the eastern section OF the
state. Reaching I.oachapoka he destroyed
the railroad tracks, at the same time
burning the depot buildings at this point.
M at Auburn and Opelika. Attacked by
a small force of Confederates and a num-
her of University cadets, then on their
vacation, he retreated into Georgia.
The first part of the state occupied by
the Federals was Limestone county, and
n number of substantial defenses had
been erected by them in Athens and vi
entity. In September, 1864. General For
res. captured Athens. Sulphur Trestle
and other small points.
The city of Mobile, on account of it's
great importance. had early been put in
a state of defense, and its Notifications
ha from time TO time been enlarged. 1t
now became an object Of attack by the