St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-02-02
Incidents That Will Be Re-
membered By the
Old Timers.
VOTING OFFICER WHO
PREDICTS HIS DEATH.
Whv jefferson Davis Was
Said To Be Disguised
In Skirts.

rheo. Smith, of Galveston, Texas
.,dast son of j. E. Smith, deceased,
! former prominent merchant OF
cov,neton and head OF the well
tnown Smith family, so many OF
,rhom are residents here now, re-
members many incidents OF the clVii
Var. though he was but II years OF
sre when he left here in 1864. He
has hunted many times where some
~ the handsomest Covington resi-
dances now stand. Most OF the OLD
timers. 81 hia day are gone.
His father then did the largest
business in Covington, his trade e1-
tending to Pearl River and Coaum-
,hfa. Miss The timber that mas no"
disappeared was, virgin forest, there
heing only several sawmills, run py
water. the principal ones being tne
old Penn mill and the Mortee MILL
and the lumber was loaded on rats
IN the B6gue Falaya and Tcnefunc'a
rivers s
school was taught on the Penn
propertx, now. the re3idence OF Cnas.
- Bradley, opposite the ~Parkvie"e
Theatre by Rev. Graham, and Kew
Geo. T.. Vickers, Methodist, near
the Wilson boarding house, next 10
where the Seller building now STANDS.
There were thirty or forty pnplis.
Mr.. Hatfield also taught school oppo-
site the residence site now occupied
by H. H. Smith, known as the oio
Covington Bank property Judse
James Thompson, deceased, once
district Judge, was one Of his pupils.
Mr.. Smith says he does not re-
member there being many Union SOL
diers about Covington, although ne
remembers the sinking Of two small
steamers in the Tchefuncta by the
Confederates, at the time OF ~he sur
render of New Orleans, to keep them
out OF the hands of the Fedora g.
Also q small foraging party OF Fed-
erals who attempted to bring small
cannon with them, through Madison
Vile. They landed at Duncan's saw
mill ON the river, but never got the
cannon through. Bill Helms, Wei
known here at that time, stole q
horse from one OF the soldiers. who
had been thrown and injured ana
was carried into the old Covington
Bank building, and got away with II.
Mr.. Smith did not see active SER
vice. but he started out as a recruit
in the summer of 1864 with James
McGrath and VIM. Kennedy to reach
Taylor's command, above Baton
Rouge, to join Company A., but
not reaching the command returned
to Covington. After returning from
this expedition, he was afterwards
captured at Capt Reauseau's resi-
dence on Pearl River, about l . miles
from Fort Pike, when he was taken
prisoner to New Orleans and confln-
ed in the Baronne prison, the others
being placed in the Press prison. He
was advised by Capt. Crawford.
Union officer not to attempt to es-
cape, as he would be shot. A pris-
oner. also named Crawford, who dfd
attempt to escape was shot and kill
cd. Mrs. Cordelia j. Whitmore. got
Jacob Barker, a New Orleans banker
to intercede for Mr.. Smith and he
vas parolled.
Emile E. Seixas. we'll known in
those days, was shot by Confed-
crate. sentry. S.eixas was riding
horse at rapid gait and could not
bring him to a stand when ordered
to hat. The cartridge used at that
time contained one large bullet,
known as the minnie ball, and three
smaller ones The minnie ball pass
ID through his side and the three
smaller ones entered his right arm.
Confident in the success Of the
Confederate cause. when Capt. Harry
Richardson and Lieut.. Edward j. Mi
toll organized company. the sentt-
ment was that the Yankees would De
licked in ninety days. There were
lie men in the company. Lieut. MI
j seil was bookkeeper for ]. E. Smith.
White being enthusiastic in the or
sanitation OF the company. Mizell
had presentiment that he would not
return alive. Miss Josie, daughter
of j. E. Smith (now Mrs. Josie E.
Ford), and Mizell were sweethearts.
end so strong was his feeling that
& ne would be killed in battle, he ex-
snanged rings with Miss Josie and
Aade Capt. Richardson promise that
should he be killed the ring should
Ne taken from his nnger and return
! g to Miss Josie. All happened as
as predicted and Capt Richardson
&spt his promise. The company left