The Republic of Jones

richard · #1 07-02-2005, 07:55 PM

In researching information about Sulphur Tressel, I ran across a story published in "The Indianan" in 1875 written by Col J.B. Dodge. In the story, he discribes the republic of Jones located in Jones county Mississippi. He then relates a story about how a group of captured union offices along with a CSA Major Ward, defend Enterprise, Al from a force of the Jones seeking to plunder the union officers and the town.

I an intrested if anyone has heard of or read about this

ole · #2 07-02-2005, 09:40 PM

Richard:

No, but it certainly sounds interesting. Will look forward to any more you can come up the in that regard. And who is Sulphur Tressel?

gunny · #3 07-03-2005, 03:46 AM

Sulfer Tressel was a battle that Forrest had in northern Alabama just prior to the Tennessee campaign. Pretty big deal really. The Feds defended with all their might. Quite a few casulaties for the number engaged.

Jamie

larry_cockerham · #4 07-03-2005, 10:16 AM

Gunny, do you have the approximate location for Sulfer Tressel? In Lauderdale County or further east? Would this have been after Forrest's raid on Johnsonville? Looks like I need to do some research! Thanks.

richard · #5 07-03-2005, 11:59 AM

Larry, it is located in Linestone county near Athens. It consisted of a block house and about 1000 men. http://yesteryear.clunette.com/#hemphill. This is the link to the story of the republic of jones that I found.

larry_cockerham · #6 07-03-2005, 12:58 PM

I'm learning! Nice account by Col. Dodge. This railroad the Nashville-Decatur has been of considerable interest to me for some time. My gg grandfather Cockerham, a farrier, was stationed during early 1864 at the headquarters of his regiment in what was to become Tullahoma, Tennessee, a construction site for the railroad. Later this line was the Nashville-Chattanooga and drew considerable attention during the war since it was the federal supply line to Chattanooga for supplies downloaded from boats at Nashville. The half-mile long tunnel going south from Cowan near the TN-AL line was constructed prior to the railroad. The tunnel completed about 1855 and the railroad not until 1859 just in time for the war. The northern terminus of the Nashville-Decatur was near the site of Ft. Negley here in Nashville and was probably the main reason the fort was built there rather than on some other sites. Forrest, as you probably well know, made a career and legend blowing up, capturing or otherwise destroying these federal blockhouses. I met a gentleman at the library in Killen, Alabama (then known as Masonville) who claimed to have a Forrest campsite at his home near Lock 6 on the Tennessee, just a few miles upstream from Shoals Creek. I don't have the date of that camp tied down, but I do know the 10th TN US was headquarted at Tribble Springs nearby in early November 1864 and spent at least a week at the Lauderdale Mill on Shoal's Creek around Nov 5-17. I'll bet Major Lilly and the Indiana boys weren't too far away during that period.