The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-21
GEN. ROGER PRYOR
SAW WAR TIMES
IN MISSISSIPPI
Famous JuTiSt Who Recently
Died in New York Served as
Private in Ranks Where He
Played KnightIy Part.
BY r. E. BlRDSALL
lstaff Correanondent.l

YAZOO CITY, Miss, March q. (Spl.)
Roger Atkinson Pryor. former justice
Of the New York supreme court, famous
as a Confederate soldier. and Journal
list Of national note, who died in New
York, March II. was prominently con-
nected with one OF the most dramatic
events of Mississippi history. Judge 4.
II. Campbell, Sr,. of Yazoo City. his
nephew, tells the story and adds an
incident of the Civil war IN which Gen.
Pryor, serving as a private, saved the
life of his father.
on June Is, 1868, Gov. Humphreys
of Mississippi was removed by federal
soldiers and was succeeded by Adelbert
Ames as military governor. Ames was
a West Point graduate, u lieutenant
colonel of the 24th infantry, assigned
to Mississippi In the reconstruction
period. Gov. Ames took. possession un-
der force Of arms. lie had little care
or regard for civil authority. He served
until March 10, 1870. in January, 1874,
Gov. Ames again took charge of the
executive mansion of the state under
authority of ar election with federal
supervision. In his official family there
were three prominent negro officials,
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, the secretary
of state. and the superintendent Of ed
uCation.
Needless to say there was bitter
strife I'm political circles in Mississippi,
A storm that only a Southerner can
understand gathered about the state
capital and drew resources from the
fartherst counties OF the state. In
1875 IA Democratic Legislature was
elected. The legislature met in Janu-
airy OF the following year and one Of
its first acts was the appointment OF
a committee composed of members of
I IL -..-- - .--.--Ng-aa H. lEFfatal
conduct of the governor, The commit
tee was in session 3S days. It recon-
mended the impeachment OF Gov. Amcs
on IL charges.
Pryor in Mississippi.
1t was at this time that Gen. Pryor
came to Mississippi to aid in the set
| tlement of Gov. AmeS' difficulties. He
went into conference, representing Gov,
Ames, with Senator J. u, George, At
torney. Wiley p, Harris, and Ethelbert
Barksdale, a political leader Of the state
at the time. The conferences came to
an agreement which reached the public
In the form Of the withdrawal of the
articles of Impeachment n the res
ignation Of the governor on the same
day, At that time Gen. Pryor achieved
a very great prominence in Mississippi
affairs and his recognized ability and
evident efforts m behalf of an amicabte
settlement OF Mississippi's difficulties
to the satisfaction OF MissiSsippiS peo-
pie VOL for him many friends.
Gen. Pryor entered the Confederate
army as a colonel and was soon pro-
noted to brigadier-general, Disagree
ment arose over a minor matter Of mill
tary policy between Gen. Pryor and
President Davis,of the C~onfederacy, and
Gen. Pryor resigned his commission and
entered Fttzhugh Lees cavalry as .
private. His resignation was never &C
Cepted. but he served as a private and
scout.
Judge C~ampbelrs father resided a
Nottaway Courthouse, In Virginia, A
miles from Petersburg. He had beer
very active In the securing Of the con
fiscation Of United states property II
that vicinity by the ConfederaCy. ant
the federal government offered a re
ward Of $4,000 for his capture Gen
Wilson. IN command of federal troops
began a raid from Petersburg 20 Not
taway Courthouse n Judge Camp
BELLS father, with another Southern
sympathizer, loaded some household
vaiuables into a wagon and drove int
tine hills. They left the wagon in tn
woods and hid I'm the uudeTbrush Al
old negro servant carried food to then
and called them 70 the wagon by rap
ping four times on the wheel Of tn
wagon.
-Four Of Gen. Wilson's scouts, aheal
Of the advancing troops. bribed tn.
= negro carriage driver to lead them 4
) Mr.. C~ampbel's hiding place that the,
= might make the capture and secure tn
reward. Meantime Fitzhugh Lees cav
: airy met and defeated Gen. Wilson
- forces, driving them back, Gen. PryO
called at the Campbell home and va
! told by other negroes Of the impendin
capture Of the head Of the household
e He and a companion, whose name wa
t Bob Nesbit, set out In pursuit, The fou
federal soldiers reached the wagon an
r raped on the wheen. They made tn
mistake of rapping only twice and Nj
:, Campbell was cautious, Gen, Pryo
/ and his companion arrived and fired O
= the federal soldiers just as he We
u coming from hiding, They killed tw
= and captured two. Back to FtZhug
- Lees headquarters went the two pris
onkrs and their story. Gen. Lee ha
i a guard summoned, placed the prison
ers in their charge, and ordered tn
guard 10 Petersburg, 90 miles ava,
with the prisoners, requesting that the
a return and report TO him in 10 mir
n utes. The orders were understood.
' He Refused Unique Honor.
Offered the distinction Of firing Il
first shot that was to preCipitate Il