Forrest’s Dispatch
General Nathan Bedford Forrest Sons of Confederate Veterans, Rome, GA.
Camp 469 Newsletter – November, 2004
“A Historical Education & Preservation Organization”
COMMANDER DON ADAMS' COMMENTS
I just found out last week that the Cedartown SCV Camp has disbanded. One member, who drove all the way from North Carolina to be at the meeting, is now a member of our Camp. What a loyal member he must be. At this time I would invite all the members from Cedartown to join with us to make the Rome SCV Camp better and more dynamic. The Adjutant and I are perusing this matter closely. I also wish to thank all who came out for the McEver Memorial Service. The service took place on October 10th at Mt Zion Cemetery close to White, Ga. There were about 75 present, of whom about 20 were SCV members and their families, about 25 were visitors from the area, and the remaining 30 being members of the McEver family. Company A, Floyd Legion performed a 3-round musket salute, accompanied by a 3-round salute by our cannon "Little Emma". The McEver family was impressed with our display and devotion and sends their heartfelt thanks and respect for a job well done.
E-MAIL FROM ADJUTANT CONCERNING DUES
After next meeting you will be in arrears for your 2005 dues. Please come to the meeting and pay your dues or mail them to me at the following address: SCV Camp 469, 76 Plantation Dr., Rome, GA 30165. You can e-mail me at: [dadcarnes@yahoo.com], or [romescv@comcast.net], or call me at 234-8974. However, e-mailing will be better. Stephen Carnes, Adjutant
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 4th - Camp meeting, Rome-Floyd County Library, 7:00 PM. Dr Studdard will speak on Religion in The Confederacy
December 2nd - Camp meeting, Election of Officers for 2005, Covered dish supper honoring Jefferson Davis held at Adams Furniture Co, 519 Broad St in Rome. Family and friends invited. 7:00 PM
December 6th - Christmas Parade in Chickamauga, 6:00 PM
December 9th - Christmas Parade in Calhoun. Time to be announced
CONFEDERATE MEMOIRS OF H H WIMPEE:
"A Boy's recollection of the Civil War at Rome, Georgia"
(from the U D C collection)
At the beginning of the Civil War, I was ten years old, and was attending school. My teacher was Prof S G Wells, who taught school at his home on Broad Street, at what was then known as the old Varanda Hotel, at this time known as the Yancey Block. I did not remain in school long, as it was closed on account of the war. The people of Rome began to organize military companies, and drilled them on Broad Street. About all one could hear was "war". Stump-speakers would tell the people that one Southerner could whip ten Yankees; others would say the war would only be a picnic for the soldier boys who went to the front. The first company that left Rome was the "Floyd Infantry", under Capt Fred Cooper. Then the "Miller Rifles", commanded by Capt J R Towers, and the "Rome Light Guards" by Capt E J Magruder. They went from Rome to Richmond, Va., and with other companies from Atlanta and other Georgia cities, formed the 8th Georgia Regiment. Later on the "Floyd Sharpshooters" and the "Cherokee Artillery" left for the front. There were other companies - some went to the coast, and others to the Army of Tennessee. I went to selling newspapers on the streets to the soldiers who were passing on to the front. I sold the Memphis Appeal and the Chattanooga Daily Rebel, and other papers the names I do not remember. Rome was a very lively place, and soldiers were seen on the streets day and night. After the battle of Manassas was fought, Rome went wild with excitement. The companies from Rome lost heavily in that engagement, both in killed as wounded. Then hospitals were established, and the sick and wounded soldiers were brought here from other places. Rome was under military rule, had provost marshal and guards. The Noble Brothers then began the manufacture of cannons for the Confederate Government at their Foundry and Machine Works, and a rifle factory was built near the Land Company's bridge on Second Avenue, but was destroyed by fire before any of the rifles were finished. By this time the prices for food and clothing began to go up skywards. Everything was hard to get even if you had the money to pay for it. Times were so hard that the county and town had to establish a commissary for the soldiers' wives and children, who had nothing to eat. Salt and coffee were hard to obtain at any price. Okra seed and corn seed were parched to make a substitute for coffee, and old closets and garrets were ransacked fro old shoes and clothing. How the people managed to get through the war is a question no one can answer. Everything was scarce in the way of clothing, food and medicine. Kind providence took care of the women and children, and we had very little sickness. Through it all, there was very little grumbling, as the war spirit was on us all and the people would do anything for the Confederacy. I saw hats made by plaiting corn shucks, and squirrel skins tanned for shoe tops. Every make-shift that could be thought of was brought to bear to make some garment or other.
About this period of the war (1863) the news was brought to Rome by one John Wisdom, of Gadsden, Alabama, that Col Streight's command, 1600 strong, U. S. A. Cavalry was on the way to Rome to destroy the Nobel Foundry and other Government works, to burn bridges, tear up railroads, etc. The excitement was something awful; drums beating and soldiers marching, and everything stirred up; the hauling of bales of cotton up to Bridge Street, (now 5th Ave.) to make breastworks, the soldiers and citizens with shot-guns or any arms they could get were on their way to help fight the yanks back. Straw was placed on the bridge to burn it if it became necessary to do so. A part of Streight's command, 200 strong, came as far as Shorter Springs and camped for the balance of the command to get there. They were recalled to their command which had surrendered to General N B Forrest near Cedar Bluff, Alabama. These were the first United States troops that the people of Rome ever saw. Someone, thought the excitement, thought it would be a good idea to shoot off the cannon they had on the breastworks on Bridge Street, and one of the balls went through a house in DeSoto and destroyed a clock belonging to one Mr Mathis. That was all the damage done to Rome.
Battle after battle was fought, and then began the retreat of the Army of Tennessee under Gen Joe Johnson. Sherman's army swung around towards Rome; our cavalry held them in check out at Dry Creek and skirmished with them until night. The people that could get away left Rome, others that had no conveyances had to stay and take the consequences. By next morning, the streets were about deserted, only a few straggling soldiers. The DeSoto and Broad Street bridges were fired. The Yankee skirmishers crossed the Oostanaula River above town, and by 12 o'clock noon had advanced their line to Maiden Lane (now 3rd Ave.). Our people had a battery on Myrtle Hill, and the yanks had one on the hill where now is Shorter College. They fought an all day duel and at night the Confederates retired, and Rome was in the hands of the enemy. A pontoon bridge was placed across the Oostanaula River at the Printup wharf, and the 14th and 16th Army Corps, U. S. A., with their wagons crossed over into Rome, and out by the way of Kingston to join the main army. Rome was now garrisoned by Federal troops. General Vandiver was commander of the post. His headquarters were on 4th Avenue in the Charlie Smith (Bill Arp) home. General Vandiver, although he was an enemy, was a kind hearted gentleman, and his treatment of the citizens of Rome was to his credit. It was only a short time after the town was in the hands of the enemy when the 1st Alabama Regiment Cavalry, U. S. A., was formed here, which consisted of the deserters from the Confederate Army, and the scum of the earth. They scouted around over Floyd County, plundered the peoples homes, and destroyed what they could not use. The negroes began to flock into town from the country, and were shipped back North with a lot of white people what we could well spare.
It was an unhealthy year for the Yankees in Georgia in 1864. The business houses and all suitable houses here were converted in hospitals. I have seen train loads of wounded and sick soldiers from the front. While Sherman and Johnson were fighting at Alatoona, Kennesaw, and New Hope Church this die of Atlanta, I have seen the trains come in here with blood dripping from the cars which were loaded with wounded soldiers. It was something awful to hear their screams and groans - well could Gen Sherman say that war was hell. To show the feelings of the Southern people towards the Yankees, I will give an account of what was done by myself and another boy my age. There was a wagon train of rifle ammunition, cartridges and caps, parked between the two rivers near where the Central of Ga R.R. freight depot is now located. The wagons were backed up forming a circle with the wagon tongues on the outside where the mules were hitched and fed; in the circle the yanks had a fire built out of barrel staves which they had brought down from the gas house near by. We were strolling around and wondering what we could do in the way of 'mischief' when we saw the mules break loose and gallop off up Broad Street. The drivers left the wagons to get the mules; we saw a chance to do the Yankees some damage - no time was lost, we both ran to the fire and with the barrel staves on fire, we threw them on each of the wagons on the hay covering the boxes of ammunition. We then ran down the river bank, and the last thing we saw were the wagon covers burning. Later on, we learned that four of the wagons and contents were burned. It has been said of the retreat of Gen Joe Johnson, he never lost a wagon, well, General Sherman lost four wagons in Rome.
After the Battle of Atlanta, and Hood's flank movement towards Tennessee, Sherman evacuated Rome and marched on to the sea. The people of Rome began to return home, but our troubles were not over. The scouting bands of guerrillas and robbers began to infest the country, and Rome was visited by such a gang. Mr Burwell, Mr Omberg and J J Cohen were hung up to make them give up their valuables. We were certainly in a bad fix. If you had a cow it was driven off at night; you could not have a chicken. If you stepped out from your home your house was plundered, and if you complained, you were threatened to have your house burned over your head. Conditions were such you could not tell who was your friend. But a change did come over the scene when Major Z B Hargrove (or Little Zack) arrived in Rome. He had a commission from the Confederate Government to enlist a battalion of troops for the Confederacy. He enlisted a few good men, and began to gather in the stragglers and to form them into companies. He patrolled the town and county, he brought order and discipline to bear on the lawless, and he soon had confidence restored among the people. Major Hargrove had strong convictions of right, was a brave soldier, a born gentleman and a true friend to the poor. When the war was over it left the people in a very destitute condition. With free Negroes and the reconstruction days it is wonderful to think how the South has prospered, and yet, old Georgia is the Empire State of the South. (from the Northwest Georgia Historical & Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 25, no. 4, pg. 3)
FEATURED ANCESTOR
JEFFERSON RANDOLPH BRANDON is the most honored ancestor of Hugh Randolph Brandon, a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 469 in Rome, GA.
Jefferson R Brandon was born May 9, 1839 in Bartow Co., Ga. The son of Thomas Wiley Brandon and Louise Avery Green Brandon, he joined the Methodist Church in his early youth and committed his life to Christian precepts. In 1861 he helped to organize and joined Company F, 18th Georgia Regiment, and served bravely and gallantly throughout the Civil War. He was elected Sergeant, and afterwards was made a First Lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Seven Day's Battles about Richmond, Gaine's Mill, Fredricksburg, Chancellorville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, the Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Cedar Creek, and then in the sieges of Richmond and Petersburg. At Gettysburg he was slightly wounded, but remained in the service until April 6, 1865, when he was captured and sent to Johnson's Island and there held until June 19, 1865.
Upon his release from Johnson's Island, he returned to Bartow Co., and Stilesboro. In 1878 he married Miss Kate Sumner. They then had five sons: Paul M., William B., Moses, Claude S., and Hugh Randolph Brandon. His life was well spent. Family and friends look back with laudable pride upon his record as a Confederate soldier, his performance of the duties of citizenship, and his kindly indulgence to his family. His comrade of P.M.B. Young Camp, U.C.V., with willing tongues and earnest hearts declare: "He resteth well. Life's battles bravely fought and nobly won, He laid him down content at set of sun, As twilight shadows fell." Jefferson Randolph Brandon, the grandfather of Hugh Randolph Brandon, died on February 29, 1920 at the age of 81 and is buried at Stilesboro, Ga., in Stilesboro Cemetery.
Anthony N Warren, Editor
683 Marion Dairy Road
Lindale, Georgia 30147
706-235-5900 e-mail: [tonywarrensr@aol.com]
Ideas, questions, comments, and suggestions welcomed