RobertBruceFerguson
Private
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2014
- Location
- Central Mississippi
On February 19, 1863, the engine HERCULES pulled out of Meridian Station, Mississippi between 3 and 4 a.m. The Hercules with one tender and three cars headed west along Mississippi's Southern Rail Road. On the Hercules was about one hundred passengers, both civilian and solider. The soldiers' destination was Vicksburg where General Uylless S. Grant was preparing a re-newed assault on General John C. Pemberton's Vicksburg defenses.
The Chunky River basin was swamped due to heavy rains. The bridge was submerged under water, and heavy debris with strong currents likely shifted the bridge's bents. Absalom F. Temple, the section master, had set warnings concerning the bridge. Temple had set a pole in the center of the rails about 150 yards from the bridge. This was the usually method for stopping trains. Temple also informed a Mr. Hardy, an employee of the railroad, to post a "negro" at the bridge.
At about daybreak (c. 6 p.m.), the Hercules reached the western most Chunky River crossing. As the train attempted to cross the bridge, it collapsed.
Henderson M. Walsh, of the 35th Mississippi Infantry, was on the train. He survived and likely sent word of the crash toward Hickory Station, Mississippi.
Not far from the crash site was a recruiting camp. This particular camp was to recruit American Indians for Major J. W. Pierce's 1st Choctaw Battalion. S. G. Spann, a captain at the time, was there attempting to spread interest for his coming independent battalion.
When word reached the Indian recruiting camp, Spann ordered the Indians to "fly to the rescue." Several Indians conducted rescue and recovery efforts. Jack Amos (Eahantatubbee) and Elder Williams (Ittola) led these Indians. Other Indians known to have participated in the rescue were: Isaac Johnson (Nenakanubba), Solomon, John Urickson, and John Wallace.
William P. Grayson, who died, had somewhere between $40,000 and $80,000. Grayson was a cashier at the Bank of New Orleans. He was a Confederate government "agent" who dealt with cotton exchange. Willis R. Norman, a fifty-eight year old, was in the car closest to the engine when it crashed into the murky water. Norman suffered internal injuries but managed to swim to safety. Norman was a wealthy land speculator.
The news of the train wreck was found in headlines around the country, from New York City to Washington state (at the time a territory).
Source: The Athens Post., Athens, Tenn., March 6, 1863; The Daily Southern Crisis, Jackson, Miss., February 26, 1863; The American Citizen., Canton, Mississippi, February 27, 1863; The Meridian Press., Meridian, Miss., March 22, 1903; Confederate Veteran., Nashville. Tenn., December, 1905.
Sketcher: ROBERT BRUCE FERGUSON, 2017
The Chunky River basin was swamped due to heavy rains. The bridge was submerged under water, and heavy debris with strong currents likely shifted the bridge's bents. Absalom F. Temple, the section master, had set warnings concerning the bridge. Temple had set a pole in the center of the rails about 150 yards from the bridge. This was the usually method for stopping trains. Temple also informed a Mr. Hardy, an employee of the railroad, to post a "negro" at the bridge.
At about daybreak (c. 6 p.m.), the Hercules reached the western most Chunky River crossing. As the train attempted to cross the bridge, it collapsed.
Henderson M. Walsh, of the 35th Mississippi Infantry, was on the train. He survived and likely sent word of the crash toward Hickory Station, Mississippi.
Not far from the crash site was a recruiting camp. This particular camp was to recruit American Indians for Major J. W. Pierce's 1st Choctaw Battalion. S. G. Spann, a captain at the time, was there attempting to spread interest for his coming independent battalion.
When word reached the Indian recruiting camp, Spann ordered the Indians to "fly to the rescue." Several Indians conducted rescue and recovery efforts. Jack Amos (Eahantatubbee) and Elder Williams (Ittola) led these Indians. Other Indians known to have participated in the rescue were: Isaac Johnson (Nenakanubba), Solomon, John Urickson, and John Wallace.
William P. Grayson, who died, had somewhere between $40,000 and $80,000. Grayson was a cashier at the Bank of New Orleans. He was a Confederate government "agent" who dealt with cotton exchange. Willis R. Norman, a fifty-eight year old, was in the car closest to the engine when it crashed into the murky water. Norman suffered internal injuries but managed to swim to safety. Norman was a wealthy land speculator.
The news of the train wreck was found in headlines around the country, from New York City to Washington state (at the time a territory).
Source: The Athens Post., Athens, Tenn., March 6, 1863; The Daily Southern Crisis, Jackson, Miss., February 26, 1863; The American Citizen., Canton, Mississippi, February 27, 1863; The Meridian Press., Meridian, Miss., March 22, 1903; Confederate Veteran., Nashville. Tenn., December, 1905.
Sketcher: ROBERT BRUCE FERGUSON, 2017
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