PIONEER TALLADEGA, ITS MINUTES AND MEMORIES
CHAPTER XXIV
On the 4th day of February, 1861, delegates from six of the seceded states assembled at Montgomery, Alabama, and established a government, (and on February 18th, Jefferson Davis was Inaugurated) as Provisional President and Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, as Provisional Vice-President. Many of our people yet hoped that there would be neither war nor bloodshed, but on the morning of April 12, 1861, at half past four o’clock, the first great gun of the war was fired by a Confederate battery, on Fort Sumpter, which capitulated after a bombardment of thirty-four hours without any loss of life. The first bloodshed of the war was on the 19th of April, 1861, when the first Massachusetts regiments were passing through Baltimore, they were fired upon by the citizens and three men were killed.
In Talladega, all was bustle and confusion. Tailors were hurrying with new uniforms; blacksmiths were making formidable long knives; street comer orators were talking fiercely of whipping cow-pens full of Yankees; the local papers printing thrilling war news, the bulk of which had come over the “Grape-vine” telegraph.
Many of the lookers-on broke for the woods and fled for their lives, thinking that the engine had exploded.
Talladega then was a dinky little hamlet, with the bumptiousness always appertaining to a small, narrow, rural village. The railroad had reached here only two years before-extending from Selma to this point -there was no telegraph line into Talladega. The population was entirely agricultural; the citizens of the town were mostly farmers who had moved from the country in order to educate their children. When the Alabama and Tennessee Rivers railroad, now the Southern, completed laying its rails to the tank in the northwest portion of the city, in 1859, and the first train steamed up into the grove by the present Chinnabee Cotton Mills, it found a crowd of 5,000 people awaiting with mouths agape, and breathless interest for the “bull-gine” and’ the cars. Some of them had traveled fifty miles to see the sight, and hundreds had camped all night in the grove waiting for the arrival of the steam engine. Out of that crowd of 5,000 people, at least 4,800 had never seen a train of cars, and when the engine whistled and came in with clouds of smoke and with steam hissing, many of the lookers-on broke for the woods and fled for their lives, thinking that the engine had exploded.
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Soldiers were necessary to garrison the forts seized by the Governors of Alabama and Florida, so that two companies were speedily organized an Talladega, composed from the best families, and sons of the leading citizens in the community. In Order Book “B” of the Chancery records of Talladega county, is the following unique entry by the official who kept the records, Mr. Bolivar Eason, on the last pages of the volume: “It is ordered by the Register that the muster rolls of the different volunteer companies that have gone from Talladega County, be pasted in the back of this book as they have been printed, for future references. Col. Forney’s Regiment, Confederate Army. B. Eason.”
Both these companies were the first military organizations of the war raised by Talladega county.
And then B. Eason, Register in Chancery, who was with Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, pastes in a printed list clipped from the Talladega Reporter headed “Muster Roll of the Alabama Rifles” as follows:
“J. H. Johnson, Captain, R. H. Isbell, 1st. Lieut, W. S. Chapman, 2nd Lieut, S. L. Knox, 3rd Lieut, A. B. Knox, 1st Seargt, J. M. Huey, 2nd Seargt, H. L. Jones, 3rd Seargt, T. J. Taylor, 4th Seargt, S. P. Bradford, 1st Corp L, W. H. Fant, 2nd Corp’l, F. N. Goodgame, 3rd Corpl, H. J. Cliett, 4th CorpL, Privates Allers, Charles; Acree, F. H. J.; Barnett, W. M.; Bailey, J. A.; Bailey, W. F.; Bailey, W. E. Braddy, J, A.; Braddy, W. M.; Curry, Walker; Conant, J. H.; Cater, R. B.; Chandler, A. D.; Chandler, R. N., Childress, J. A.; Coggins, Nelson; Copeland, J. P.; Copeland, W. W.; Cummings, Wiley; Cummings, W, M.; Donahoo, H. B.; Davis, J. B.; Dillard, J. H.; Extine, George; Farmer, S. L.; Goodlet, D- Z.; Holley, Horace; Hurst, W. W.; Hutchinson, M. L.; Hutchinson, W. P.; Ingram, Emanuel; Kennedy, S. V.; Lakey, Henry; Matson, A. J,; Mayfield, Valuntine; McGee, J. T.; Caldwell, John; McNeill, J. A.; Paine, H. S,; Partridge, J. M.; Patterson, M. N.; Ponder, J. T.; Porter, A. T.; Porter, W. H. C.; Reynolds, J. W.; Riley, N. W.; Runnell, J. J.; Sims, W. S.; Smith, S. C,; Strong, Christian; Shehan, John; Varner, Elijah; Wade, B. S.; Worthington, Ben; Worthington, H. C,; Wallis, Willis; Waller, J, T,; Waller, J. W.; Wallace, Charner; Watkins, J. H.; Whited, A. R,; Wright, Wm.; Young, J, S,; Young, Sam W.
Following this is a note on the record in the handwriting of Register, B. Eason, reading: ‘The Alabama Rifles left Talladega about the
1st. of April, 1861, and are now stationed at Fort Barrancas, Pensacola, June 6th, 1861.”
Then follows the muster roll of the Talladega Artillery, with a statement in the handwriting of B. Eason, on the page containing the list, reading: “This Company mustered into the service of the Confederate States about the 1st of May, 1861; went from Talladega to Pensacola, and from thence to Richmond, Va.; thence to Manassas Gap, or Junction, where they are at present June 21st, 1861. B. Eason.
“Muster roll-Officers; C. M. Shelley, Captain; M. J. Brown, 1st. Lieut.; W. T. Renfro, 3rd Lieut.; J. F. Slaughter, 1st Sergt.; H. C. Estell, 2nd Sergt.; N. S. McAfee, 3rd Sergt.; A. Swicegood, 4th Sergt.; Temple Wilson, 5th Sergt.; J. S. Shaw, 1st Corp.; A. L. McCain, 2nd Corp.; M. A. Porter, 3rd Corp.; E. H. Sapp, 4th Corp.; Jas. Kinnear, Quartermaster; Privates: Attaway, K.; Anthony, D. G; Bailey, H. C; Bailey, Jas.; Baggett, J. M.; Buchanan, J. M.; Bell, A. T.; Barry, J.; Barclay, J. D.; Barton, J. J.; Bruce, A. J.; Burns, J. A.; Bailey, L.; Burk, W. A.; Ballard, A. M.; Chapel, A.; Carson, J. B.; Carpenter, J. N.; Camp, J. A.; Carter, G. W.; Carril, J.; Caldwell, W.; Campbell, T. J.; Darling, C. F.; Duke, J. M.; Duncan, J.; Estill, W. J.; Gio, D.; Goff, J.; Harper, G. W.; Hoard, J. A.; Hammond, T. W.; Hammond, C. L.; Hanna, G. W.; Hill, J. W.; Johnson, W. H.; Johns, W. W.; Jack, J. G.; Jones, D.; Kennedy, H.; Lowrey, E. M.; Lee, E. H., Lewis, H.; Martin, J. P.; Miller, N. M. J.; McConnell, Felix G.; McCall, E. L.; McRight, T. F.; McCoy, J. L.; McCain, J.; Quinn, A. O.; Prickett, H. T.; Price, W. C.; Philips, C.; Perkins, J. H,; Riddle, D.; Straub, W. T.; Strickland, D. T.; Smith, W. L.; Smith, M. Van B.; Sparks, D.; Sparks, J. J.; Salmon, J. D.; Vaughn, D. T.; Watts, J. G.; Wilson, J. H.; Wilson, S. J.; Wallace, T. J.; Wright, G.; Wilson, T.; Waiters, J.
Both these companies were the first military organizations of the war raised by Talladega county. They were in existence when the Ordinance of Secession was passed. The armory of the artillery was up stairs over a building on the South west corner of The square, that of the Alabama Rifles was over the “Pee Dee” Simmons building on the southeast corner of the square. It is likely that the Alabama Rifles was first organized. Capt. Philander Morgan was, in 1860, Captain of the artillery.
The ‘Talladega Artillery” were the proud possessors of a brass tenpound cannon, which was carried with the company at Fort Morgan. After sixty days at Fort Morgan the company became a part of the 5th Alabama regiment of the Virginia army. B. Eason, the register in chancery pastes in another clipping of July 4, 1861, from the Democratic Watch tower of that date, showing a list of recruits to this company and reading as follows:
“That veteran soldier and Commissary General of all our Volunteer Companies, Maj. William P. Shelley, left our depot on last Thursday with the following recruits for Cap t C. M. Shelley’s Company, now in Virginia.
“Names, Age, Weight, W. P. Shelley, age 60, weight 185; J. F. Puckett, age 43, weight 165; M. A. Rowe, age 19, weight 141; J. M. T. Caldwell, age 20, weight 140; C. N. Johnson, age 21, weight 135; A. P. Johnson, age 18, weight 128; Elijah Garrett, age 19, weight 140; R. E. Snapp, age 18, weight 135; T. L. McCain, age 22, weight 150; Elihu Armstrong, age 25, weight 160; Isaac N. Morris, age 36, weight 163; T. J. Wyatt, age 20, weight 140; J. P. Caldwell, age 19, weight 150; G. N. Scott, age 21, weight 125; D. M. Buchanan, age 18, weight 125; J. M. Yarborough, age 20; C. M. Loyd, age 31; J. W. Dewberry, age 31; B. F. Williams, age 45; W. H. Buchanan, age 24.”
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The note by Mr. Eason on the margin of the record recites: “These recruits left Talladega on the 4th day of July, 1861, for Fairfax Court House, Virginia.”
The next muster roll contained in this order book is a list of the Talladega “Davis Blues,” which afterward lost its identity becoming “Company E. Tenth Alabama Regiment Army of Virginia,” which Register Eason certifies: “The Davis Blues left Talladega for the seat of war Monday, June 24th, 1861. B. Eason.” “Muster Roll: John J. Woodward, Captain; James E. Shelley, First Lieut.; James B. Martin, Second Lieut.; Walter Cook, Third Lieut.; Lewis W. Johnson, First Sergt.; William W. Draper, Second Sergt; Benj. M. Huey, Third Sergt.; Benj. F. Samuel, Fourth Sergt.; Elbanon B. Sims, First Corp.; Frank S, Mallony, Second CorpL; Augustus R. McClellen, Third CorpL; Joseph Tanner, Fourth Corpl,; Privates: Allen, Samuel B.; Adair, Green P.; Adams, Jesse.; Brasher, Alonzo A., Brasher, Eron T.; Brasher, Austin B.; Brasher, Thos. B.; Brasher, Constantine; Busbee, J, L.; Bloxton, J. O,; Brown, J. L.; Brassell, J. W.; Christian, McT, W.; Christian, Jno, A-; Castleberry, D. T,; Cunningham, R. J.; Cunningham, A. C.; Cook, Richard E.; Collins, Virgil; Caldwell, Augustus; Dye, James C.; Dickerson, A. Z.; Dickerson, W. H.; Dickerson, Isaac; Elliott, James K.; Edwards, William; Foy, P. H.; Fullenwilder, J. A.; Green, William, Gorman, A. S.; Glasscock, Columbus; Goodwin, William; Griffin, W. C.; Guy, Joel W.; Gregory, Jno. W.; Graves, J. W.; Glover, J. A.; Glover, Jas. W.; Hendricks, J. C.; Hannah, J. F.; Heacock, Jos. W.; Heacock, John W.; Harrell, Tip ton B.; Harris, James M.; Haynes, S. H.; Henderson, Thos.; Jarrett, Francis M.; Keith, J. A.; Landrum, Wm. M.; Leeper, Jno.; Lewis, James; Long, William; McGregor, Wm. M.; McGuire, Robt.; Mallory, Jas- O.; Montgomery, A. H.; Montgomery, T. P.; Morris, Geo. W.; Morris, Hiram J.; McClanahan, J. T.; McGowan, T. M.; Millican, W. H.; Miller, L, B.; Miller, E. S.; Nelson, Jacob; Orr, Alonzo; O’Neal, Jno. T.; Plowman, A. W-; Pritchett, F. D.; Pritchett, Devenport; Patterson, J. M.; Pritchett, S. N.; Ryan, W. G.; Riser, W. E.; Rhodes, Jno. W.; Richey, J. W.; Richey, W. A.; Robinson, A. M.; Rasberry, Green S.; Sides, B. F.; Stephens, F. W.; Smith, S. B.; Simmons, J. F.; Simmons, H. F.; Spence, B.; Steinhart, A.; Saxon, H. H.; Saxon, W. C.; Schulein, Joseph W.; Swan, Jno. T.; Spence, James; Smith, Richard; Truss, G. N.; Truss, Sam W.; Terry, A. C.; Taylor, J. C.; Thompson, Jarrett; Wilson, M. L.; Wilson, J. D.; Watson, John B.; Woodward, E. P.
The remaining list, and the last one that will be set out in detail in this history, is the muster roll of the company organized in the lower end of this county, containing representative names of the leading people of that section. The names of all of these brave boys should be enshrined in the hearts of every partiotic Alabamian, instead of being permitted to be forgotten.
MUSTER ROLL OF THE FORT WILLIAMS RIFLES, FAYETTEVILLE, TALLADEGA COUNTY, ALA.
Capt. John C. McKenzie, First Lieut. E. G. Oden, Second Lieut. J. A. Oden, Third Lieut. M. O. Calhoun, “First Sergeant, J. P. Olen, Second Sergeant, W. R. Phillips, Third Sergeant, J. T. McMillan, Fourth Sergeant, H. N. Colman, First Corporal, G. M. D. Patterson, Second Corporal, B. C. Heaslet, Third Corporal, S, W. Conley, Fourth Corporal, A. M. Lyon.
Privates: J. H. Bailey, J. G, Ball, Sydney Brady, M, N. Coe, P, T. Carmical, J. D. Cooper, D. R. Caldwell, H. R, Caudel, J. A, Cox, A. N. Crowson, J. A. Calahan, J. D. Darby, D. M. Dye, G. M. Dye, G. W. B. Dye, B. D, French, W. D. Frazier, W. L. Goodman, J. M. Giddens, R. N., Giddens, S. Gardner, J. N. Griffin, J. G. Gray, Benjamin Gray, W. R. Gray, J. J. Hightower, H. M. L. Heaslet, W. W. Hamilton, R. A. Johnson, J. J. Lesley, F. W. Lyon, D. D. Morris, J. E. McClung, J. H. McClung, Thomas Martin, Michael Mizzles, J. C. McDermitt, W. H. Malone, S. R. Morris, S. J. Morriss, C. P. McNeely, Robert R. Moss, Bushrod, Moss, E. G. Oden, J. A. Oden, H. Ferryman, J. Ferryman, H. W. Pike, J. T. Pike, W. H. Pike, N. P. Rives, M. D., T. F. Russell, B. T. Rayfield, N. B. Robinson, H. L. Stewart, L. E. Stewart, H. W. Staples, J. D. Smith, J. C. Smith, J. W. Smith, W. J. Shackleford, J. M. Taylor, A. J. Taylor, H. T. Teague, W. O. Wesson, T. J. Wesson, M. S. Watson, J. A. J. Wallace, J. A. C. Wood, Josiah Pope, S. C, Pope, T. G. Lesley, T. W. R. Vardeman, W. A. Bell, J. W. Lindsay, T. W. Robertson, J. J. Vardeman, B. W. Averiett, John C. Rice, B. H. Griffin, Wm. Rogers, M. Patterson, H. H. Stovall, Win. Evans, W. B. Vardeman, J. K. McMillan.
Other companies volunteered and were mustered in later during the early months of 1861, but the four volunteer organizations above given were certainly the first Talladega troops to offer in the Confederate war.
Alabama was not prepared for war.
It was a gala occasion when these fine-looking companies drilled in the town of Talladega. McCann’s Jim, or Jim McCann, as he was afterward known, was the “Fife-er” whose marshall msuic timed the steps of the soldiers. Jim was ably assisted by two other colored brethren one of whom played the kettle drum, and the. third one performed on the bass drum. The invariable air selected by Jim—in fact the only one he knew—was “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” which on all occassions he shrilly gave on an ear-piercing fife, swaying his fat, yellow body to its thrilling strains as he proudly walked at the head of the company. Many of the Negroes, especially those who had “young masters” in the companies, were as anxious to “go to the war” as were the whites.
Alabama was not prepared for war. In January, 1860, when the Secession Ordinance was passed, the state was full of volunteer companies, drilling and anticipating a struggle. By the first of October, 1861, Alabama had furnished twenty-seven thousand men, out of a voting population of ninety thousand, as soldiers for the Confederate cause. Many of these troops were mere boys, the majority of them being drawn
from the very flower of the land, No efforts will be made in this history to trace the service of the Talladega counties as, by the fortunes of war, our men served in widely different sections-enlisting as chance or circumstance determined in regiments scattered among various armies. Talladega furnished thirty-five infantry companies and six cavalry companies to the Confederates, so the local papers of 1865 state. While these figures are not precisely correct, they are within reasonable distance of the number. The entire white population of the county did not exceed eighteen thousand.
The State of Alabama witnessed the inauguration of the Confederacy and on her soil, four years later, was fought the last contest of the war-a fight in Chambers county between 104 youths and convalescents at Fort Taylor and General LaGrange with 3,000 Federal troops sent to reinforce the raiding regiments of General Croxton, April 16, 1865. This was the last day and place where the Confederate flag floated over contending forces.
SOURCE
Transcribed from – The Alabama Historical Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 01, Spring Issue 1954
Descendants of JOHN GREEN (1768-1837) Bibb County, Alabama with Genealogy Notes and Sources
John Green was born Jan 17, 1768 in South Carolina, son of Benjamin Green. The Greens ran a tavern in Chester Co, PA. They were an English Quaker family who immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1686. By the 1760’s and early 1770’s, they were in Long Cane Creek in Granville, South Carolina. Some of their children and descendants are in Alabama while others moved to Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. Descendant surnames include: ALLEN, ANGELL, ARNOLD, BATTLE, BIRDWELL, BLAKE, BOWMAN, CAFFEE, CARTEE, CHAMPION, CHURCH, CLARDY, COLBURN, COOK, CORLEY, CURT, DAVIDSON, DEASON, DERAMUS, EADY, ELLIS, FANCHER, FARRINGTON, FITCH, GEDDIE, GRIFFITH, HARRISON, HESTER, HUBBARD, JADIE, JAMES, JONES, KAGLE, KEESE, KELLY, KERR, KINNEY, KORNEGAY, LAMONT, LANGSTON, LAWLEY, LNU, LOWERY, LYNCH, MITCHELL, MORGAN, NICHOLS, OWEN, PARKER, PEET, PHELPS, PRATT, RANDOLPH, RAWLINSON, RAY, REACH, REED, REYNOLDS, RILEY, RUSSEL, SHERBERT, SHUTTLESWORTH, SMITH, STARR, STORY, THOMPSON, TIMBERLAKE, TROTT, TRUCKS, WARD, WILLIAMS,WOODS, WOOLLEY, WORTHINGTON, WALLACE, WHITFIELD, YEAGER, ZACHIE
