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Before the Civil War, it was a typical southern home, dating back to 1854. The two-story brick colonial sits on U. S. Highway 411, just 11.1 miles from downtown Gadsden. Today, there are few who know the house was once know as the "Blount Plantation" and even fewer who know it was the scene of an important skirmish during the civil war. On May 2, 1863, the troops of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and Colonel Abel D. Streight clashed there.
From an article in the Gadsden Messenger, by Danny Crownover, The Vagabond, "History of the Old Blount Plantation," November 13, 2016: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Gadsden/permalink/10154125805556693/
"The action was of the rear-guard nature but it was a sharp fight and many regard it as the turning point in Col. Streight's futile attempt to reach Rome, GA., where he had orders to destroy the extensive munitions factories in the city.
The day following the skirmish at Blount's Plantation, Colonel Streight surrendered to General Forrest at Lawrence in Cherokee County. When Colonel Streight surrendered with his 1,466 men, he was surprised to discover that General Forrest had only 600 men. After the battle ended, the Blount house was used as a field hospital where wounded Union and Confederate soldiers received treatment and care.
The soldiers who were killed and who died from their wounds were buried on a hillside to the right of the Blount house. Colonel Gilbert Hathaway, of the Seventy-Third Indiana was among the fatalities. (Hathaway's body was buried in the rose garden directly behind the house and was later retrieved by family and reinterred at Pine Lake Cemetery LaPorte, IN.)
Excerpt from Streight's Report to Brigadier General William D. Whipple, from Chattanooga, Tenn., August 22, 1864.
Confederate sharpshooter, Corporal Joseph Martin, was the one that picked off Col. Gilbert Hathaway, commander of the 73rd Indiana infantry. Martin was posted on a ridge nearby and it was his duty to shoot and kill enemy officers. He made a perfect shot with his carbine and the bullet struck a fatal spot in Col. Hathaway’s body.
It is not determined the names of anyone buried at the cemetery on the hill, but it is believed there could have been 25-30 graves marked with rocks at one time. The book, "History of Etowah County" reports that 20 union soldiers, including Col. Gilbert Hathaway, were killed and no doubt the south lost a few men.
Also it is believed that slaves of the Blount family buried those which were killed in this battle and possibly other skirmishes as well. Therefore, some or all of the soldiers killed were buried in this cemetery, and of course others including slaves, could have been buried there.
Deed records at the courthouse show that most of the land comprising the Blount place, about 660 acres, was entered by William Lay in 1848. Since then, some small acreage has been added and the plantation had a total of 887 acres.
On Jan. 18, 1854, Mr. Lay sold the place to Joseph E. Blount and David E. Blount. On May 24, 1854 David E. Blount sold his interest to Joseph G. Blount. The latter created one of the finest and most productive plantations in the county. The estate borders on the Coosa River.
In 1878, Joseph G. Blount sold the property to James A. Blount, son of Joseph G. Blount. James A. Blount died in possession of the estate and the next record shows that Snowden McGaughey, active vice president of the first national bank of Gadsden, sold the property to H. C. Hopkins on Dec. 28, 1911.
The Hopkins family turned the plantation into a beef cattle farm which contained the first white-faced Hereford cattle in the Etowah County area. The Hopkin's sold the plantation to Joe L. McClain on July 29, 1944.
The McClains's converted the beef cattle farm into a large dairy farm. The McClain's sold the plantation on November 3, 1950 to Ralph Bowman. Mr. Bowman changed the property into a beef cattle farm on a large scale. Ralph Bowman sold the house and farm to James B. Allen on July 12, 1954.
The property was sold to Clyde and Henry McCleskey on November 28, 1956. The McCleskey brothers, who were reared on an adjoining farm, developed the Blount Plantation into the largest white-faced Hereford cattle farm in Etowah County. The house still stands today but is bricked over."
Below: Colonel Gilbert Hathaway, 73rd Indiana, mortally wounded at the Blount Plantation.
From an article in the Gadsden Messenger, by Danny Crownover, The Vagabond, "History of the Old Blount Plantation," November 13, 2016: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Gadsden/permalink/10154125805556693/
"The action was of the rear-guard nature but it was a sharp fight and many regard it as the turning point in Col. Streight's futile attempt to reach Rome, GA., where he had orders to destroy the extensive munitions factories in the city.
The day following the skirmish at Blount's Plantation, Colonel Streight surrendered to General Forrest at Lawrence in Cherokee County. When Colonel Streight surrendered with his 1,466 men, he was surprised to discover that General Forrest had only 600 men. After the battle ended, the Blount house was used as a field hospital where wounded Union and Confederate soldiers received treatment and care.
The soldiers who were killed and who died from their wounds were buried on a hillside to the right of the Blount house. Colonel Gilbert Hathaway, of the Seventy-Third Indiana was among the fatalities. (Hathaway's body was buried in the rose garden directly behind the house and was later retrieved by family and reinterred at Pine Lake Cemetery LaPorte, IN.)
Excerpt from Streight's Report to Brigadier General William D. Whipple, from Chattanooga, Tenn., August 22, 1864.
"The engagement at Blount's plantation revealed the fact that nearly all of our remaining ammunition was worthless, on account of having been wet. Much of that carried by the men had become useless by the paper wearing out and the powder sifting away. It was in this engagement that the gallant Colonel (Gilbert) Hathaway (Seventy-third Indiana) fell, mortally wounded, and in a few moments expired. Our country has seldom been called upon to mourn the loss of so brave and valuable an officer. His loss to me was irreparable. His men had almost worshiped him, and when he fell it cast a deep gloom of despondency over his regiment which was hard to overcome."
Confederate sharpshooter, Corporal Joseph Martin, was the one that picked off Col. Gilbert Hathaway, commander of the 73rd Indiana infantry. Martin was posted on a ridge nearby and it was his duty to shoot and kill enemy officers. He made a perfect shot with his carbine and the bullet struck a fatal spot in Col. Hathaway’s body.
It is not determined the names of anyone buried at the cemetery on the hill, but it is believed there could have been 25-30 graves marked with rocks at one time. The book, "History of Etowah County" reports that 20 union soldiers, including Col. Gilbert Hathaway, were killed and no doubt the south lost a few men.
Also it is believed that slaves of the Blount family buried those which were killed in this battle and possibly other skirmishes as well. Therefore, some or all of the soldiers killed were buried in this cemetery, and of course others including slaves, could have been buried there.
Deed records at the courthouse show that most of the land comprising the Blount place, about 660 acres, was entered by William Lay in 1848. Since then, some small acreage has been added and the plantation had a total of 887 acres.
On Jan. 18, 1854, Mr. Lay sold the place to Joseph E. Blount and David E. Blount. On May 24, 1854 David E. Blount sold his interest to Joseph G. Blount. The latter created one of the finest and most productive plantations in the county. The estate borders on the Coosa River.
In 1878, Joseph G. Blount sold the property to James A. Blount, son of Joseph G. Blount. James A. Blount died in possession of the estate and the next record shows that Snowden McGaughey, active vice president of the first national bank of Gadsden, sold the property to H. C. Hopkins on Dec. 28, 1911.
The Hopkins family turned the plantation into a beef cattle farm which contained the first white-faced Hereford cattle in the Etowah County area. The Hopkin's sold the plantation to Joe L. McClain on July 29, 1944.
The McClains's converted the beef cattle farm into a large dairy farm. The McClain's sold the plantation on November 3, 1950 to Ralph Bowman. Mr. Bowman changed the property into a beef cattle farm on a large scale. Ralph Bowman sold the house and farm to James B. Allen on July 12, 1954.
The property was sold to Clyde and Henry McCleskey on November 28, 1956. The McCleskey brothers, who were reared on an adjoining farm, developed the Blount Plantation into the largest white-faced Hereford cattle farm in Etowah County. The house still stands today but is bricked over."
Below: Colonel Gilbert Hathaway, 73rd Indiana, mortally wounded at the Blount Plantation.
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