Arkansas Civil War

On this day in Arkansas during the Civil War one hundred and fifty years ago, 2-22-1862: Confederates evacuate Fayetteville, Arkansas. Because of constant pressure by U.S. troops under the command of General Curtis from out of Missouri, Generals Price and McCulloch both agreed that now was not the time for battle. Though the two generals rarely agreed, this one instance they did.

Because of the constant pressure by U.S. forces, as the Confederates evacuated Fayetteville, many shops and homes were burned to prevent the invading Yankees use of them. Even stores of ammunition were disposed of to prevent the invading U.S. forces from using it. This was an act that would eventually haunt the Confederate forces at Pea Ridge, who were forced to withdraw from the field of battle from running out of ammunition!

Thus one of the many ironies of the War Between the States in Arkansas!

Wayside panels will direct visitors to the site of Confederate General Thomas Hindman’s home confiscated and used by General Curtis on his arrival as his official quarters and the site of Saint Catherine’s Convent used as shelter for “Contrabands” at first and then as a hospital after July 1863.

The flagship of the project, Fort Curtis, is a reconstruction of the original fortification. Begun in August 1862 and completed in October, Fort Curtis stood on the block now occupied by the First Baptist Church and the Horner-Gladin House. It was an earthen fort, as were all Civil War era fortifications, constructed by laborers drawn from the ranks of soldiers and “Contrabands” alike.

The reconstruction is a faithful rendition of the original in ¾ scale and is the only replica of its kind known in Arkansas. Though obviously shifted from its original site, it still offers a panoramic view of Batteries A, B, C, and D plus the red brick, ante-bellum Moore-Hornor House just west, used by General Salomon as his quarters. The fort will begin its life as an educational historic replica in May 2012, under the auspices of the Delta Cultural Center, with a 24-pounder and a 32- pounder as well as a firing, display Parrott gun. As funds progress, the entire complement of seven cannon will be installed, as will be a simulated well, wooden flagpole with 35- star American flag, and garrison tents.

Every once in a while, a reader will email some of the most interesting research that has to be shared with the general readership. And sometimes what is sent is very shocking! This piece was sent over two years ago and was recently found as I was rummaging through old emails. Do not just read what I have transcribed, but copy and paste the link and browse through these OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN MARCH, 1861!

It is imperative that the reader examine these documents with the above-stated in mind- that these are official U.S. Senate documents and debates during the first year of the War, only weeks prior to Arkansas’ departure from the Union.

What this proves is that Arkansas was abiding by the law when she exercised her Constitutional right to withdraw from the Union. Therefore the acts of aggression in February, 1862 are seen as acts of terrorism, bullying by the U.S. government and military, and it is seen as brutal to wage illegal war against one’s citizenry. It was an absolute shame!

Enjoy!

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsj&fileName=052/llsj052.db&recNum=378&itemLink=D?hlaw:3:./temp/~ammem_iHF8::%230520379&linkText=1

Article 6. …”and no amendment shall be made to the Constitution, which will authorize or give to Congress any power to abolish or interfere with slavery in any of the States by whose laws it is or may be allowed or permitted.

Article 7. Sec.1. The elective franchise and the right to hold office, whether federal, State, territorial, or municipal, shall not be exercised by personas who are, in whole or in part, of the African race.

On motion by Mr. Doolittle, to amend the proposed amendment by inserting at the end thereof the following:

Article 8. Under this Constitution, as originally adoped and it now exists, no State has power to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Uniited States; and this Constitution, and all laws passed in pursuance of its delegated powers, are the supreme law of the land, anything contained in any constitution, ordinance, or act of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

It was determined in the negative,
Yeas: 18
Nays: 28

The “freedpeople throughout the Union-occupied South often toiled harder and longer under Federal officers and soldiers than they had under slave owners and overseers–and received inferior food, clothing, and shelter to boot.”–”Free At Last: A Documentary History of Slavery, Freedom, and the Civil War”, 1992 edited by Ira Berlin, & others.

Letter written by Federal Chaplain and Surgeons, dated Dec 29th 1862, Helena, Arkansas:

General, The undersigned Chaplains and Surgeons of the army of the Eastern District of Arkansas would respectfully call your attention to the Statements and Suggestions following. The Contrabands within our lines are experiencing hardships oppression & neglect the removal of which calls loudly for the intervention of authority. We daily see & deplore the evil and leave it to your wisdom to devise a remedy. In a great degree the contrabands are left entirely to the mercy and rapacity of the unprincipled part of our army (excepting only the limited jurisdiction of Capt. Richmond) with no person clothed with specific authority to look after & protect them. Among the list of grievances we mention these:

Some who have been paid by individuals for cotton or for labor have been waylaid by soldiers, robbed, and in several instances fired upon, as well as robbed, and in no case that we can now recall have the plunderers been brought to justice–

The wives of some have been molested by soldiers to gratify their licentious lust, and their husbands murdered in endeavering to defend them, and yet the guilty parties, though known, were not arrested. Some who have wives and families are required to work on the Fortifications, or to unload Government Stores, and receive only their meals at the Public table, while their families, whatever provision is intended for them, are, as a matter of fact, left in a helpless & starving condition.

Many of the contrabands have been employed, & received in numerous instances, from officers & privates, only counterfeit money or nothing at all for their services. One man was employed as a teamster by the Government & he died in the service (the government indebted to him nearly fifty dollars) leaving an orphan child eight years old, & there is no apparent provision made to draw the money, or to care for the orphaned child.

The negro hospital here has become notorious for filth, neglect, mortality & brutal whipping, so that the contrabands have lost all hope of kind treatment there, & would almost as soon go to their graves as to their hospital. These grievances reported to us by persons in whom we have confidence, & some of which we known to be true, are but a few of the many wrongs of which they complain—For the sake of humanity, for the sake of Christianity, for the good name of our army, for the honor of our country, cannot something be done to prevent this oppression & stop its demoralizing influences upon the Soldiers themselves ? Some have suggested that the matter be laid before the Department at Washington, in the hope that they will clothe an agent with authority to register all the names of the contravands, who will have a benevolent regard for their welfare, though whom all details of fatigue & working parties shall be made though whom rations may be drawn & money paid, & who shall be empowered to organize schools, & to make all needfull regulatiojns for the comfort & improvement of the condition of the contrabands; whose accounts shall be open at all times for inspection, and who shall make stated reports to the Department–All which is respectfully submitted. –Samuel Sawyer, Pearl P. Ingall, J.G. Forman

the above and more can be found at: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/blackcs.htm

Commemorate Black History Month With The Sons of Confederate Veterans!

fromL “Looking for Bob: Black Confederate Pensioners After the Civil War” By James G. Hollandsworth, Jr.

“Confederate general John B. Gordon wrote in his memoirs that Robert E. Lee liked to tell an anecdote about a black servant, a cook for one of the officers on his staff, who called on him one day at his headquarters:

“General Lee,” the old man said, pulling off his hat, “I have been wanting to see you a long time. I’m a soldier.”

“Ah?” Lee replied, “To what army do you belong—to the Union army or to the Southern army?”

“Oh, General, I belong to your army,” the man said.

“Well, have you been shot?” Lee asked.

“No, sir; I ain’t been shot yet,” he answered.

“How is that?” Lee asked. “Nearly all of our men get shot.”

“Why, General,” the old black man replied, “I ain’t been shot ‘cause I stay back whar de generals stay.”

Lee’s humorous anecdote may or may not have been true, but it does highlight several questions surrounding the service of African Americans assigned to the Confederate army during the Civil War. Were these men soldiers or servants? Did they get shot?

what was the nature of the relationship between black servants and their white masters in uniform? The answers to these questions may never be completely understood, but one thing is clear from a variety of sources: African Americans were an integral part of the Confederate war effort.

to read the full article, go to: http://mdah.state.ms.us/pubs/pensioners.pdf

To show your support of The Arkansas Toothpick, you can own your very own Black History Month bumper sticker! It’s yours free by donating at least $5. Go to the Support Us tab at the top of the page to donate now! Limited number available!

Where U.S. 49-B joins the Old Little Rock Road about a mile north of the Welcome Center, visitors will be on the most likely route traveled by Union General Curtis as he and his “Grand Army of the Southwest” entered Helena on July 12, 1862. Here, the groundwork has started on construct of Freedom Park, a four-acre, interpretive space commemorating the arrival of Union Forces and the hundreds of “Contraband” refugees who fled to the protection of the army for safety and their first taste of freedom. This event is deemed so significant to African-American history that the National Park Service has designated the spot as a key Underground Railroad site. Ground will be broken in March, 2012, with a scheduled completion in 2013 when the Delta Cultural Center will assume management responsibilities. This is also the area where modern Civil War tourists will be directed to other areas of interest by means of new attractive signage and over one hundred wayside interpretive panels, twenty-five of which are now in place.

Commemorate Black History Month With The Sons of Confederate Veterans!

French immigrant J W Bocage came to Chicot County before statehood and studied medicine before moving to Pine Bluff. In the 1880’s he preserved much of that city’s early history and in his reminiscences, wrote about the Independence Day 1840 celebration declaring;

“An immense barbecue was prepared. Buck’s tavern cooking was represented in superior style. Col James Scull own cooks unequaled in the culinary art in this or any other land, who occupied the first position. Mary John, the memory of whose splendid dinners at the Post of Arkansas will never be forgotten by the few survivors of her day, was on the grounds superintending.”

The mention of Mary John is significant because she was a successful business woman of color. Born a slave in Spanish LA during the last half of the 1780’s she was given the name Marie Jeanne by her master. In 1806 at Arkansas Post, she was sold to Jean Larguier for $800 by Marie Languedoc. In April of 1811, she was then sold to James Scull of Arkansas who was in the legal profession.

In Arkansas County Deed Book F, P. 447-48 manumission for Mary John is recorded on Sep 13, 1840 in Jefferson County with Hews Scull bearing witness. Somewhere in the mire of legalese, James Scull acknowledges a receipt of $800 for her freedom. This monumental turning point in her life occurred just two months after the holiday event.

The paper trail continues five years later with the following documentation beginning again in the adjoining county down the Arkansas River:

“We present Terence Farrelly and Lewis L Refeld as guardians of Mary John for keeping a public tavern at the post of Arkansas, County of Arkansas.

A true bill J S Smith
Witness: Richmond Peeler
foreman J W Smith
Minutes of Grand Jury (Ark. Co.)
W Doroaty

Commencing April Term A.D.1846

The need for a guardian likely points to the admission that points that people of color were not protected by the law. The speculation that she was too illiterate to operate a business successfully doesn’t hold up at this late date of operation.

The Federal Census of 1850 reveals Mary John, a black female, as the head of household #49 in Arkansas Township, age 62 and born in Arkansas. By now, the reader may yearn for more then a litany of Federal and County records to tell about an unusual person who rose above the condition of slavery to become a business owner who hosted some leading political and business figures during their AR River passage to or from the Capital.

As a finale to the paper trail, the probate office indicates Mary John died intestate (no will) in May 1857. Greater insight into the lifestyle and holdings of a free hosteler of color in the 1850’s is precluded by the absence of the inventory, appraisement or estate sales record. No mention was made if she was survived by any legal heirs. The record showed claims totaling $334.12 in favor of 2 women and eight men, mostly farmers were made against her estate. A $500 bond was posted by the administrator, William Refeld, with Gates C Taylor and John Maxwell as sureties.

To show your support of The Arkansas Toothpick, you can own your very own Black History Month bumper sticker! It’s yours free by donating at least $5. Go to the Support Us tab at the top of the page to donate now! Limited number available!