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This little city was to gain fame from the civil rights marches begun there in the 1960s when African Americans continued their struggle for recognition and equality, something the Civil War had started, but never really completed. In my 2005 visit to Barnhill’s Buffet in *******n, Mississippi, I noticed that while filled with the Tuskegee football team, the establishment was also about thirty per cent occupied by white customers. That would not have been the case before 1960. Driving through south Mississippi and Alabama in 2004, one can see folks of all races in both public and private situations with no animosity. If the Civil War contributed to that, it may have been worth the trouble.
Nathan Bedford Forrest’s troops surrendered 140 miles southwest from here in Citronelle, Alabama May 5, 1865 with the army in command of Lt. Gen. Taylor who had replaced Gen. John Bell Hood.
Next post resumes April 7. More events before the rest.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Last edited by larry_cockerham; 03-29-2007 at 12:04 AM.
When you finish this narration, Larry, I almost wish you'd start over again.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
[quote=larry_cockerham]This little city was to gain fame from the civil rights marches begun there in the 1960s when African Americans continued their struggle for recognition and equality, something the Civil War had started, but never really completed. In my 2005 visit to Barnhill’s Buffet in *******n, Mississippi, I noticed that while filled with the Tuskegee football team, the establishment was also about thirty per cent occupied by white customers. That would not have been the case before 1960. Driving through south Mississippi and Alabama in 2004, one can see folks of all races in both public and private situations with no animosity. If the Civil War contributed to that, it may have been worth the trouble.
Larry, good stuff and thanks and regret I am jumping in late and having to catch up on your chronicles. Mississippians have come a long way, probably in tandem with Alabama the ****hest in adapting to what you saw in *******n. I have to wonder though if the ACW and the follow up reconstruction period really had anything directly to do with this advance in retrospect beyond being the very infancy of the beginning of the end for segregation and Jim Crow. Without the efforts of the SNCC and SCLC among others, not to mention LBJs steamrolling over the Southern Democratic establishment (which lost the South for the Dems for the duration) it is highly unlikely that we would have witnessed what you saw in 2005 before the 70's much less before the 60's as you outlined.
Spartan
Gen. Wilson left Selma, but was forced to return because of rain-swollen nearby streams.
April 8, 1865
On this day Wilson was able to reach the town of Cahawba where he met with Nathan Bedford Forrest at the home of Col. Matthews a wealthy planter and Unionist. Wilson described Forrest: “I found him loosely put together, and he appeared rather under than over six feet. His frame was large and his body full and I guessed his weight at one hundred and seventy-five pounds. His countenance was serious, his conduct diffident, but self-possessed, and his bearing from military affectations. It took but a glance to discover that life and duties were all-important to him, and that whatever engaged his attention would receive most careful consideration.” After dinner Forrest denied the authority for a prisoner exchange, but offered Wilson information on Croxton’s location.
On the 8th Gen. Stewart received orders to consolidate the depleted regiments.
Some of the following is from a transcription of the diary of
William Taylor Mumford Company B First Louisiana Heavy
Artillery Regiment (April 1865)
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Appamattox Court House, Virginia. Robert E. Lee
surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant.
Much depleted after the Bentonville fight, Palmer's Brigade was reorganized. On April 9, 1865 the 63rd Virginia was consolidated with the 54th Virginia. ( Between the two regiments, they could barely muster 100 men).The new organization was designated the 54th Battalion of Virginia Infantry under the command of Lt. Col. Connelly H. Lynch. Brig. Gen. Palmer was placed in command of a brigade of 43 consolidated Tennessee regiments in Gen. Bates' Division. The 58th and 60th North Carolina Regiments were consolidated and transferred to Brantley's Brigade in D.H. Hill's Division which was under the command of Col. J. G. Coltart.
After the reorganization of the units, the 54th Va. Inf. Bn.( 63rd Va. and 54th Va. consolidated) with Pettus' Brigade was sent back to the Yadkin River as a rear guard to secure the bridges. The 63rd was here when news of Lee's surrender in Virginia reached them. While the 63rd was guarding the Yadkin River Bridge, President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet crossed the bridge and headed to Salisbury. Johnston surrendered his Army of Tennessee shortly after this.
Some soldiers, upon hearing of Lee's surrender, just went home.
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Sam, I'm not familiar with Breckinridge. Remember, I've been 'tracking' the 63rd Virginia at this stage of the war, primarily (Palmer's Brigade). Davis has never been a particular hero of mine. (note the Union guys listed on my 'signature'.) He (Davis) is an interesting character, however. This looks like an opportunity for me to learn something. I need to do some reading! Anything you can share might help speed that process?
__________________ Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
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