Mrs. Amanda Gardner

At Cahaba (Alabama)

Mrs. Amanda Gardner at Cahaba [Source]:

A Sergeant From Michigan

"For the first day or two after our arrival at Castle Morgan it was moderately cool, and at that time fresh beef was supplied instead of the usual bacon. When the weather was cool the beef did not become offensive by the time it was brought into prison, but as it was usually exceedingly hot, especially during the middle of the days of the summer and early fall months, sour, nauseating beef was more often the rule than the exception."

Cahaba River In Alabama - Confederate POW Site

"The aroma perceived while cutting it was not like that of the new-blown rose, so I sought among the men of my company for one whose stomach would not easily revolt. I found a sergeant of a Michigan regiment — one who declared that nothing could make him sick — and persuaded him into relieving me from the duty of dividing the beef among the different messes." [Source]

Dispersing A Kansas Constitutional Convention

Source

Excerpts From Territorial Kansas Timeline:

January 24, 1856 - Pres. Pierce declared Topeka gov. to be in rebellion.
April 1856 - Major Buford arrived with men from S.C., Georgia, Alabama.
May 24-25, 1856 - Pottawatomie Massacre; five killed.
July 4, 1856 - Topeka legislature dispersed by U.S. troops.


More about Major Buford, et al, in this blog.

Hankins Was A Savage Rascal

One of the most savage rascals we had to guard us was a murderer named Hankins. One day a boyish soldier named "Teddy," a member of the Third Michigan Cavalry, made an arrangement with Hankins to bring him in a few sweet potatoes when next he should come on guard. Hankins was stationed that day near the gateway between the cook-yard and the sleeping-yard.

Teddy approached Hankins when he came on guard again, and from him received and paid for his sweet potatoes. Starting to go into the sleeping-yard, he had just got into the gateway when some friend hailed him from the outside; without thinking where he was, he stopped for a moment and looked around.

That was an opportunity Hankins had wanted; the face of his intended victim was turned away, and no comrade saw the danger in time to warn the boy.  Raising his musket quickly to his shoulder, a big bullet was sent crashing through his body, and Teddy fell to the earth.

Source

Two days after, in the same place, Hankins killed another man with whom but a few moments before he had been in pleasant conversation, and with whom he had not passed an unpleasant word.

In six days of that single week Hankins killed three men, and in each case there was not the least shadow of reason or excuse for the murders. By an Iowa acquaintance I am informed that "when General Wilson's cavalry captured Cahaba some of his men, who had formerly been in Cahaba prison and knew of the kindness of Mrs. Gardner toward the prisoners there, requested to be allowed to go ahead and surround Mrs. Gardner's house, to protect it and its inmates. They also intended to capture and burn Hankins at the stake  but on their arrival Mrs. Gardner told them that Hankins was taken sick and died a natural death in Cahaba after the prisoners left."   [Source]

Cahaba Prison Grounds In Alabama

Zilpha Garrett, Deceased

Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985  Lowndes Minutes 1864-1868 vol 15-16:

Image 112
26 August 1865

Mr. William Hayes Acklan (Acklin)

Source

"'And who was the most beautiful woman you ever met?'" asked a coterie of Boston women of  Edward Everett, on his return from a visit to the South.  "'Mrs. Hayes,"' replied the distinguished orator.  No one who has ever seen the features of this celebrated beauty as preserved on Erie's canvas will think the compliment undeserved.'

Robert Anderson's Will

Kentucky Probate Records...Muhlenberg Will records...:

1-135 

Robert Anderson's Will

28 April 1812

Daughter Ann Dobyns

Son Thomas Anderson

Daughter Martha Morris

Daughter Franky ($1.00 cash)

Grandson Robert Littlepage

D.R.D. Dobyns, President of the Cruce Banking Company since its incorporation in 1885, and retired farmer,...was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky, in 1814 and is the son of Dr. Lew and Ann (Anderson) Dobyns, natives of Virginia. The parents were married in Kentucky and there the father died in 1845.  His father, Batton Dobyns, was a native Virginian. Mrs. Ann (Anderson) Dobyns died when her son D.R.D. Dobyns was but eight or ten years of age and the father was married the second time. Her father, Robert Anderson, was born in Virginia and died in Kentucky. Source

FindAGrave memorial for Frances (Anderson) Littlepage Wells here.

Ephraim Kirby

Source

Source

Castle Morgan

Sign At Castle Morgan

"It is proper here to give a general consideration to the position that Castle Morgan should occupy in the history of the Rebellion before entering into its details. As a depot for Federal prisoners, Castle Morgan is almost unknown to history and in tradition."

View From Castle Morgan (Alabama)

"This statement is surprising, when one becomes aware that it was one of the large prisons of the South (it contained two and one half times as many prisoners as Libby); that it was by far the most crowded prison of the Confederacy; that while its inmates endured nearly all the rigors of other prisons, in some of its particulars their hardships and sufferings far exceeded those known in any prison." [Source]

Captain Henderson In Charge Of Cahaba Prison

In these memoirs of Cahaba a prominent place should be given to Captain (later Colonel) Howard A. M. Henderson. Colonel Henderson entered the Confederate service, from Kentucky, as a captain of the Colonel Clay Cadets. For a time he was in field service, then was sent to take charge of the prison at Cahaba.

River At The Prison At Cahaba In Alabama

Here [at Cahaba] he was promoted, and appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Exchange of Prisoners of War, and assigned to duty for the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. He had charge of the prisoners at Opelika, Macon, Cahaba, Selma, Meridian, and Enterprise, Miss. The relations of Henderson with the officers of the Union Army, as an officer connected with the exchange of prisoners, were often intimate and cordial, and by many of the non-commissioned officers and privates he is remembered with kindly wishes.   [Source]

From Henderson's Civil War File at Fold3.com:

West Florida And Colonel Reuben Kemper

When the Spanish authorities of Baton Rouge were deposed, it was anticipated that Governor Folch of the Mobile district would attempt to interfere with the organization of the little republic. So the convention posted a line of sentinels along the banks of the Pearl river, the western boundary of the part of West Florida in revolt.

Replica Of Flag Of Republic Of West Florida (Mississippi)

The maintenance of this line was found to be an uncertain and expensive means of safety against attack. It was determined to settle the matter at once by a resort to arms. War was declared against Mobile. An expedition under the command of Colonel Reuben Kemper made its way to the shores of Mobile bay, but being poorly equipped was compelled to defer its attack until a supply of arms and munitions could be procured.

Mural In Baton Rouge, Louisiana

An agent of Kemper managed to purchase of Henri de la Franci, a citizen of Baton Rouge, a lot of arms; and the convention bought a flat-boat load of western produce, transferred it to a keel-boat and sent it to the relief of Kemper.  [Source]

Squier At 4 Mile Creek

59-14 Ovs 50 Folder 21 

Second Michigan Cavalry: Monthly Returns, 1864

59-14 Ovs 50 Folder 21 Doc 8

59-14 Ovs 50 Folder 21 Doc 11   

"In pursuit of Forrest near Tullahoma, Tenn."

Lieutenant Martin Squier, et al, 2nd Michigan Regiment of Cavalry 

September, 1864

Trousdale's Regiment At Fort Mitchell

The Evening Post

New York, New York

13 Sep 1836, Tue  •  Page 2

Columbus (Geo.)
September 1

Tennessee Volunteers--It is now understood that the Tennessee volunteers will all go to Florida.  It is Colonel Trousdale's regiment, now at Fort Mitchell, will move in a few days, and the other regiment on or about the 10th instant.  So it is stated by an officer in the Tennessee brigade....The last Federal Union states differently as follows:  Florida--it is stated that the services of the Tennessee has been rejected by Governor Call.

A more extensive report can be found here at Niles' Weekly Register.

General Gaines' Letter

Headquarters

Augusta, Georgia

20 August 1819

To Major James E. Dinkins...
Tensaw, A. T.

Source

"...at which time he is directed to hand you his sword and be in arrest."

Colonel William King of the Fourth Regiment....court martial....

Also see my War of 1812 Chronicles blog post, Neil Cameron, Deserter.

Illness At Camp Big Springs

See a description of Camp Big Springs at Detour Through History.

"Upon the departure of General Halleck, General Grant took command of all the troops in West Tennessee and Mississippi and fixed his headquarters at Corinth."

LOC Source of 1863 Map That Included Corinth, Mississippi

"Hamilton's and Stanley's divisions 5 miles southeast of Corinth at the Big Springs, very beautiful camping grounds, with the finest water. Here, although the weather was intensely hot in July and August, we drilled industriously, practised outpost duties, and fitted ourselves, I believe, for future usefulness." [Source]

"JohnWelch was discharged on July 15, 1862, at Camp Big Springs, Mississippi, for disability. His discharge certificate makes no mention of consumption." [Source]

"At the age of 19 James [Willard] enlisted in the Civil war, in...Illinois. James [after contracting measles] was taken prisoner while on a march from Camp Big Springs, Mississippi to Tuscumbia, Alabama July 22, 1862." [Source]

"Eugene [Clarkson] contracted malaria while camped at Camp Big Springs in Mississippi in July 1862. He was twice hospitalized for malaria and liver disease that year. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in January 1865." [Source]

Caswell Garrett, Administrator In Lowndes County

Alabama Probate Records, 1809-1985  Lowndes Minutes 1857-1861 vol 11-13:

Source

12-651

[Image 690 and 691]

26 June 1860

Caswell Garrett, Administrator of Geo. W. Garrett, dec'd.

Ira F. Collins

Source

Source

Per Wikipedia:

The Battle of Brice's Cross Roads (also known as the Battle of Tishomingo Creek and the Battle of Guntown) was fought on Friday, June 10, 1864, near Baldwyn, Mississippi, then part of the Confederate States of America.

Walter Goodman, Born In Huntsville

Huntsville, Alabama, Garden

Source

To Spanish Fort

" After remaining in my pleasant quarters on the gun-boat long enough to recruit my shattered forces, I bade my kind friends farewell and went to Memphis, where I reported to the general in command. He granted me a thirty days' furlough, as I was still far from being strong or well.

Near Spanish Fort

I went home and remained a few days, but the desire to rejoin my comrades was so strong that I could not resist, and in less than two weeks I reported to my regiment at Bowling Green, Ky. We were soon ordered to New Orleans, and from there to Spanish Fort, and took part in one of the last battles of the war." [Source]

Battle Of Calabee Creek

Sign At Fort Mitchell, Alabama (Jim's Photo Collection)

"In January 1814, having recovered from his wounds, Floyd was ready to make a second advance...".

Source