Columbus Porter Watts, Fireman First Class, USS Delaware

Location:
Johnson Cemetery
Fairmount, Gordon County, Georgia
N 34° 26.625 W084° 41.972

Date of Visits: October 3, 2009

Tombstone Inscription:

Columbus Porter Watts
Born
Jan 21, 1883
Died
Jan 17, 1911
Died on USS Dellaware First Class Fireman
Discussion:

Columbus Porter Watts, the son of Pleasant Marion Watts and Willie A. Mansell of Fairmount, Georgia, was a Fireman First Class assigned to the USS Delaware. The sixth version of the USS Delaware (BB-28) was a battleship that had been launched at Newport News by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company on February 6, 1909. On the morning of February 17, 1911 the Delaware was in route to Hampton Roads, Virginia from Guantanamo, Cuba. The Delaware was to pick up the remains the Chilean Minister Cruz and transport them home to Chile. An explosion occurred and Watts was killed. The incident was described in the New Your Times:

WARSHIP EXPLOSION KILLS EIGHT SEAMEN.
THEIR BODIES ARE DRAGGED FROM THE DELAWARE'S STEAM-FILLED BOILER ROOM ANOTHER DYING. STORY TOLD BY WIRELESS.
BATTLESHIP WAS SAILING TO HAPOTON ROADS FROM CUBA TO CONVEY THE CHILEAN MINISTER'S BODY HOME.
Washington, Jan. 17. -- Eight men met instant death and one man was so badly burned that he probably will die as a result of a boiler explosion aboard the battleship Delaware at 9:20 o'clock this morning, the cause of which is as yet unexplained, according to a wireless message tonight to the Navy Department from Capt. GOVE.The Delaware was on her way to Hampton Roads from Guantanamo, Cuba, and had been designated to transport the body of Senor Cruz, late Chilean Minister to the United States, back to Chile, instead of the South Carolina, whose propeller met with a mishap. The nine victims were on duty in the boiler room when the accident occurred. A terrific shock sent the crew scurrying below and nine bodies were dragged from the cloud of hot steam that hissed through the hold.Capt. GOVE'S message to the Navy Department reads:"At 9:20 A.M., Jan. 17, three backheaders, Nos. 8, 9, and 10 of Boiler "0" in Fireroom 4 blew out explosively, killing eight and injuring one, who will probably die, these being all the men on duty in the fireroom. Board of officers appointed immediately to investigate and report. Not yet reported. Extent of damage is ten backheaders injured in Boiler "0". Cause not yet placed."The dispatch also stated that details of the accident would be telegraphed to the department when the vessel arrived at the Norfolk Navy Yard.The dead are:CHARLES HENRY HARP, fireman.WILLIAM MORRIS WHITE, fireman.COLUMBUS PORTER WATTS, fireman.HERBERT ANDERSON BREWER, fireman.LEWIS ADDISON WHITE, coal passer.CLARENCE DE WITT, coal passer.CHRISTIAN JENSEN, water tender.An unknown man.EUGENE PHILLIPS, a fireman, was badly injured.HARP came from Violet, Ky., and had been in the navy some three years.WILLIAM MORRIS WHITE, who had been in the service one year, was from Vicksburg, Miss., where his father, S. P. White, lives. WATTS was a resident of Fairmont, Ga., and leaves a father, Pleasant M. Watts, there. He had been in the service about three years. BREWER was a native of Hermitage, Tenn., and had been in the service one year. His next of kin was India Brewer, an aunt, of Hermitage. LEWIS ADDISON WHITE was from Beaver Dam, Wis., where his uncle, Charles White, lies. He had been in the service one year. DE WITT was a resident of New Florence, Penn., where his mother, Mrs. Kate De Witt, survives him. He had been in the service less than four months. JENSEN was from Brooklyn, N.Y., where his father, Andrew Jensen, lives. He had been in the naval service about two and one-half years. PHILLIPS, the fireman, who was badly injured, was from Washington, D. C. He had been in the service eight years and ten months.The boiler explosion on the Delaware, which belongs to the first division of the Atlantic fleet, recalls a similar accident that occurred on the North Dakota, a sister ship of the Delaware. In a four hours' endurance test in November, 1909, when a seven-inch tube in one of the boilers burst as the vessel was off Cape Ann, speeding at over twenty-one knots an hour. Two firemen, a coal passer, and a water tender were badly scalded, but no lives were lost. On Sept. 7 last there was a more serious mishap on the North Dakota, three of her crew being killed and thirteen badly injured through the ignition of fuel oil in one of the compartments when the vessel was near Old Point Comfort, Va.The worst boiler accident in the history of the navy was that which came near destroying the gunboat Bennington on July 21, 1905. This explosion was due to the excessive pressure in one of the boilers. Sixty men lost their lives. The boiler was hurled back upon another boiler, causing that one also to explode.On April 13, 1906, two officers and eight enlisted men of the battleship Kearsarge were killed in a gun explosion. This accident was similar to the one that killed three men on the battleship Iowa a few years before.On July 14, off Cape Cod, Mass., a powder charge in one of the 8-inch turrets of the battleship Georgia prematurely exploded, killing eight officers and men. One of the officers was Lieut. Caspar Goodrich, a son of Rear Admiral Goodrich. These are not all of the accidents that have beset the navy in recent years, but they are the most serious.The accident on the Delaware, occuring on the return from Europe of the fleet, brings the number of vessels disabled during the homeward voyage to three, the others being the dreadnoughts Michigan and South Carolina, both of which lost propellers and were compelled to head for Hampton Roads for repairs instead of proceeding as scheduled for the drill grounds off the southern coast of Cuba.The Delaware was expected to arrive at Hampton Roads tonight, but she was delayed by fog, and probably will not report there until tomorrow. She was spoken indirectly by wireless and reported "hung up in the fog."



Sources:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, www.history.navy.mil

GenDisasters http://www3.gendisasters.com/virginia/13480/old-point-comfort-va-shore-battleship-explosion-jan-1911?page=0%2C1

The New York Times New York 1911-01-18

Side Panel of CP Watt’s tombstone in Johnson Cemetery.

Historical Marker: Euharlee Creek Covered Bridge

Location: Euharlee, Bartow County, Georgia
N 34° 08.556 W084° 55.851

Date of Visit: March 5, 2009

Transcription:

In 1886 the county contracted with Washington W. King, son of feed slave and noted bridge builder Horace King, and Jonathan Burke for the construction of this 138 - foot bridge. It was adjacent to a mill owned by Daniel Lowry, of which the foundation is still evident. The bridge replaced several previous structures, the last having been built two years prior. Construction in Town lattice design, the bridges web of plank crisscrossing, at 45- to 60- degree angles are fastened with wooden pegs, or trunnels, at each intersection.

Yondering Across North Georgia

October 10 - 11, 2009

We left Saturday morning headed to Baby Land Cabbage Patch Hospital in Cleveland. Georgia. Getting a late start Luke was immediately hungry and wanted lunch. We stopped to get a cache at fruit and barbecue stand at the intersection of Highway 52 and Long Branch Road east of Dahlonega. I think Almost Famous Barbecue could become famous!! It was mighty good. They made real French Fries from Irish potatoes right there in thegrease! Of course they were also selling mountain apples, boiled peanuts, and all kinds of jellies, jams, and fruit juices. We found Baby Land just has we left it many years before when we took Hannah and Luke. Isaac went in saw a Cabbage Patch Baby be born via an "easy-ottimy", asked where were the boy toys, and proclaimed he was ready to go. It is obvious that Isaac was not impressed by Xavier Roberts’s creations. We continued our eastward trek to Tallulah Gorge. We stayed at a new resort hotel called The Lodge. Very nice accommodations. Our children were impressed with the suspension bridge down in the Gorge. I was much more impressed with the fact that we walked all of those steps down into the gorge and walked back out. However, later in the evening we visited to most exciting place visited all day. Goats on the Roof is a general store of sorts between Clayton and Tallulah Falls on Highway 411. The attraction here is that there are really goats running around on the roof of the buildings. There are also chickens up there, but the goats walking over the rope bridge and eating food sent up little conveyer belts was just too cool. It was so cool that we went back Sunday morning and partook in roasting marshmallows in the early morning coolness. Sunday morning found me sore legged as we rolled out of bed to start our way back to Calhoun. Our goal was to find a Pumpkin Farm without going back to Burt’s Farm in Dawsonville. Bad idea!! Garminey got lost and then we got lost!!! We found a pumpkin farm, but we were not impressed so we struck out across the mountains for Dawsonville and Burt’s. Before this leg of the trip we did see the petro glyphs at Track Rock near Blairsville. Our route carried us across Blood Mountain and the Appalachians Trial. We arrived at Burt’s at 4:05 with about four thousand other people as another four thousand folks attempted to leave with their treasure trove of pumpkins and gourds of different size, shape, and color that were headed to elaborate fall displays in front years, doorways, and store fronts. We joined in with most of north Georgia in the fall fun, took a hay ride, bought a bunch of stuff destined to rot in the front year, and went went to Amicalola Falls. Once again we hiked off down into a gorge to see a water fall ad tumble over rocks. Once again we had to walk up whole bunch of steps wondering why we ever walked down. Thus ended our weekend yondering trip!!!

World War II Soldier: Bernard Larkin Scoggins

Cemetery: Armurchee Baptist Church
Location:
N 34° 23.637 W085° 13.695
Big Texas Valley Road
Floyd County, Georgia

Date of Visit: January 26, 2009

Inscription:

Bernard Larkin Scoggins
GMI
US Navy
World War II
Sept 28, 1915 July 6, 1943
Purple Heart
Pearl Harbor Survivor

Discussion:

Bernard Scoggins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Scoggins of Route 1, Rome Georgia. He reported to duty on the USS Helena (CL-50) on September 19, 1939. He served on this ship as a Gunners Mate 1st Class (GMI).

The USS Helena (CL-50) was a 10, 000 ton light cruiser of the St. Louis Class. She was built in the New York Shipyards and commissioned in 1939. On December 7, 1941 the Helena was tied to dock 1010 in Pearl Harbor. She received some torpedo damage on that faithful day. If is not clear if Scoggins was wounded during the Pearl Harbor attack. In June of 1942 the Helena returned to sea duty.

In the early morning hours of July 6, 1943 the Helena took part in the Battle of Kula Gulf off of New Georgia. During the battle the Helena was struck by three Japanese torpedoes and sank.
According to after action reports 170 seamen were lost when the Helena sank. Bernard L. Scoggins, GM1c, was listed as Missing in Action.

Sources:
Georgia Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard World War II Causality List, Access Genealogy

After Action Report, www.usshelena.org/actionreport.html

Confederate Soldier: Marcus R. Ballenger

Cemetery: Floyd Springs Methodist Church
Location:
N 34° 25.501 W085°09.367
Floyd Springs Road
Floyd County, Georgia

Date of Visit: January 26, 2009

Inscription:

Dr. Marcus Ballenger
Born Jan 10 1827
Died Jan 12, 1886

A beloved physician, an affectionate husband, a worthy patriot, a valiant soldier, a true friend.
“rests from his labors and his works do praise him”

Discussion:
Marcus R. Ballenger was elected to the captaincy of the Floyd Springs Guards on August 31, 1861. This company became Company C of the 23rd Georgia Infantry. On September 17, 1862 Captain Ballenger was wounded during the Battle of Antietam as was the regiment commander Colonel William Barclay. In November Ballenger was named Major of the regiment. On June 22, 1863 the regimental commander Colonel Emery F. Best was relieved of his command and placed under arrest. Major Ballenger assumed command of his regiment. Ballenger lead the regiment as a part of Colquitt’s Brigade during the investment of Fort Wagner, during operations in the Cape Fear District, the second defense of Fort Fisher and in the defensive positions around Petersburg and Richmond. He was named Lieutenant Colonel in August of 1864 and Colonel of the regiment in January of 1865. He surrendered the regiment in Greensboro, North Carolina on April 26, 1865.
He returned to Floyd Springs and served his community as a physician as he did before the war. Dr. Ballenger also served one term in the Georgia General Assembly.

Cemetery Visiting

August 22, 2009

I made a run to the east of Calhoun after Isaac's birthday party. My first stop was at Pleasant Hill Church cemetery (left) on Pleasant Hill Road. There were several marked Confederate soldiers buried here. I also visited Hopewell Church and the United Methodist Church in Oatman. I ended my adventure by visiting a unnamed cemetery on Johnson Road. This cemetery straddles Johnson Road and is the resting place of Zachariah F. Wilson (above). Mr. Wilson has a story to be told. His epitaph states: He was true to his friends He went north secured provisions for his friends during the sixties.

Cemetery Visits

Fourth of July Weekend carried me to several local cemeteries in search of Confederate soldiers or stories of interest. I visited the Salmon Cemetery and Franklin Cemetery (below)on Highway 53 on Saturday morning. Sunday afternoon I visited a cemetery on a hill above the Resaca Baptist Church (at top). I went east out Highway 136 and visited Mt. Zion Baptist Church. On the trip the graves of several Confederate soldiers were located. Several potential stories were also found!!

Great Fish -- Pickle Barrel

Date: Saturady Night

May 23, 2009

We went to the Pickle Barrel on Ritter Road in Amory, Mississippi. I rank their Catfish with Ezzell's Fish Camp over in Choctaw County, Alabama. You get your money's worth here!! Get some fried pickles to munch on while you wait on the fish. Warning -- do not order the extra-large fish basket unless somebody is going to help you.

Avery Cemetery, Winston County, Alabama

I My Dad and I made a trek into the backwoods of Winston County, Alabama on April 5, 2009 to see this cemetery. The cemetery located along a old road at N34 06.536 and W087 21.406. Original sandstone rocks and slabs are marked by slabs of more recent marble. There is on or two graves that appear to have been enclosed by a low sandstone wall. My Dad lived down here in the 30's and 40's. His recollection is that the Avery Cemetery was very old when he first saw it. I hope somebody can tell me more about the people buried and here.

The following was taken from Winston County, Alabama: An Historical Online Database

Avery Cemetery, Winston County, Alabama, T9S R8W S10 & 11 Approximately 10 graves, no names/dates.

The following are people buried in Avery Cemetery; from the Winston County Heritage Book:

1. Jesse Avary (10/29/1803 - 6/11/1885), s/o Robert & Lydia Avary

2. Minnie Avary (9/10/1802 - 11/2/1881), d/o Luke Crumpton & Polly Duke,w/o Jesse Avary

At the intersection of Hwy. 195 and County Road 4, head south on Hwy. 195 for about a tenth of a mile, and turn left on County Road 3065. Go 1.7 miles, and turn left on the logging road (not the other gravel road). You will go about 2 miles, and the cemetery will be on the right; it's on hunting club property, and you will probably have to walk the two miles.

Accessed: Winston County, Alabama: An Historical Online Database http://wcgs.ala.nu/averycem.txt
Date: 4/8/09

Mody A. Week - Distinguished Service Cross

World War I Veteran: Mody Andrew Weeks

Cemetery: Crews United Methodist Church
Location: Crews, Lamar County, Alabama

Date Visited: 4/8/2008

Inscription:

Mody Andrew Weeks
Alabama
Pvt. Co. F
7th Engineers
World War I
April 6, 1895 – February 22. 1964
DCS


Discussion:

Mody Andrew Weeks was born April 6, 1895. He was the son of Charles Monroe Weeks and Margaret Della Barton of Crews Depot, Lamar County, Alabama. He died February 22, 1964 and was buried in the cemetery of Crews Methodist Church. Mody’s military tombstone indicates that he was member of the 7th Engineers and that he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Bob Weeks told me that family legend was that Mody was awarded this medal for swimming the Rhine to pull a cable across while under fire. Research reveals a slightly different version of what happened.

On the evening of February 2, 1918 the 5th Division of the America Expeditionary Force occupied a front along the River Meuse near Brieulles, France. The division was ordered to force a crossing of the river. In preparation for this division level assault the 7th Engineers apparently were ordered construct a pontoon over the Meuse and across a nearby canal. Both of the areas were covered by German gun emplacements. For two days attempts were made cross the water hazards and dislodge the enemy. The following citation describes Mody Andrews Weeks behavior during the assault.



Mody A. Weeks, Private
Company F, 7th Engineers.
For extraordinary heroism in action near Brieulles, France, November 3, 1918. Private Weeks showed extraordinary daring and nerve in helping place cables across the River Meuse for a pontoon bridge and later placing cables across the Est Canal for the same purpose. The position was under direct observation of German machine gunners and snipers. Home address, C.M. Weeks, father, Crews Depot, Ala.

Heroes All – A Compendium of the names and official citations of the soldiers and citizens of the United States and of her allies who were decorated by the American Government for exceptional heroism and conspicuous service above and beyond the call of duty in the war with Germany, 1917-1919, Harry R. Stringer, Editor, Fassett Publishing Company 1919. Accessed at Google Books

The History of the A.E. F., Shipley, Thomas, Captain, 26th US Infantry, First Division, A.E.F. Doran Company, 1960. Accessed at Google Books

Confederate Soldier

Confederate Soldier: William H. H. Walters

Cemetery: Pisgah Baptist Church
Location:
N 34º 15.411 W 085 º 20.516
Hwy 20
Coosa, Floyd County, Georgia

Date Visited: 10/27/2008

Inscriptions:

Capt. William H. H. Walters
Co. H 18th Ga. Inf.
CSA


Discussion:
William H. H. Walters enrolled in the Rowland Highlander’s as a private in June of 1861. The Rowland Highlanders was one of ten companies in a new regiment raised by Major J. Johnson and Adjutant John Griffin from Bartow County, Georgia. This new regiment was designated as the First Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Georgia State Volunteers. The regiment began training at Camp McDonald in Big Shanty, Georgia. In August the regiment departed Georgia for Richmond, Virginia. After a six day train trip the men of the Rowland Highlander’s disembarked in Richmond on August 9, 1861. After arriving in Richmond the regiment was mustered into the Confederate States Army as the 18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteer Infantry. At this time the Highlander’s were designated as Company H. In November the 18th Georgia was brigaded with the 1st , 4th, and 5th Texas Infantry Regiments. This Texas Brigade would play a prominent role in the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia.

As a member of Company H of the 18th Georgia Infantry Captain Walters served through out the war. It was noted that he was injured while on detail at Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 19, 1862. The nature of this injury is not known. The date indicates that the injury occurred after the Battle of Antietam. Nothing is mentioned about any action taking place on this date in the after battle reports of General John Bell Hood (Division Commander), Colonel William T. Wofford (Commanding the Texas Brigade), or Colonel S. Z. Ruff (Commanding the 18th Georgia Infantry). Captain Walters was appointed 1st Sergeant in March of 1864 and Second Lieutenant in October of the same year. There is no record of his promotion to Captain. He appears on the roll of the regiment on January 31, 1865.


Sources

Official Record of the War of the Rebellion, Part II Record of Events, Vol. 6, p. 447

Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, 1861-1865, Volume 2, p.679

18th Georgia Regiment of Volunteers Infantry, http://www.angelfire.com/va3/southernrites/18thga.html#org, accessed December 25, 2008.

Confederate Soliders

Confederate Soldier: A. J. Bale and C.R. Bale

Cemetery: Sardis Presbyterian Cemetery
Location:
N 34º 15.940 W 085 º 22.707
Hwy 20
Coosa, Floyd County, Georgia

Date Visited: 10/27/2008

Inscriptions:

A.F. Bale, Maj. 6th Regt. Geo. Cav.
Born near Goshen, Ala. July 29, 1839
Killed near Dandridge, Tenn. Dec. 24, 1863

C.R. Bale, Lt. Co. H 6th Regt. Geo. Cav.
Born near Goshen, Ala. July 25, 1837
Killed near Resaca, Geo. May 13, 1864


Discussion:

Alfred and Charles Bale were the sons of John and Pheba Bale of Goshen, Alabama. This family was enumerated in Beat 4 of the 1850 Randolph County, Alabama Census. This family appears to have moved near Rome, Georgia. The records show that the brothers Alfred and Charles joined the Confederate Army. Alfred was soon elected First Lieutenant of Company G of Smith’s Calvary Legion on May 8, 1862. Later he would be named Captain of a company in this unit. In March of 1863 Company G became Company G of the 6th Georgia Calvary Regiment. At this time Alfred Bale was named Major of the Regiment.

In December of 1863 Major Bale and the 6th Georgia Calvary was brigaded with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Georgia Calvary Regiments under the command of Colonel C. C. Crews. The brigade, as a part of Longstreet’s Calvary, was in operations north of Knoxville, Tennessee. On Christmas Eve morning Col. A.P Campbell’s Union Calvary was in a sharp engagement with Longstreet’s Calvary at Hay’s Ferry near Dandridge Tennessee.
Crew’s Brigade found themselves in the rear of the Union Calvary. Two regiments, apparently one being the 6th Georgia Calvary, pushed out and captured battery. With no support they were soon compelled to retreat leaving Major Bale dead on the field. J. W. Minnich later described Bale’s death in The Confederate Veteran for February of 1925:

In attempting to swing around the left of the breastworks and within ten paces of it, our major, Alfred Bale, fell from his horse, shot through the head. We mourned his loss deeply. He was a man of deeply religious nature, quiet, and gentlemanly, and quite popular with all

Later Crew’s Brigade fighting dismounted forced the Union Calvary to retreat.

Charles R. Bale was a Lieutenant in Company H of the 6th Georgia Calvary. His death near Resaca occurred on May 13, 1864. There is no official recording of Lieutenant Bale’s death. The following was cobbled together from Official Reports of both Confederate and Union officers for May 13, 1864. This day was the eve of the Battle of Resaca. It is a day marked by skirmishes as the two armies reached out to test each other as Union forces maneuvered into position to crush the retreating Confederate Army. At some point in the day Colonel Hart, commander of the 6th Georgia Calvary, sent word to a Major West in Calhoun that the enemy had occupied the bridge on the opposite side of the river. General Iverson identified this point as being about two miles from Resaca. This is assumed to be the bridge on the road from Resaca to Calhoun that crosses the Oostanaula River. Colonel Hart is very direct in surmising that if the enemy is successful then his position along the river will become untenable. In response to Colonel Hart’s report General W.H. T. Walker is commanded to send a brigade of infantry and a battery to support Colonel Hart. As to the death of Lieutenant Bale it is speculated that the aforementioned position of the 6th Georgia probably resulted in some sort of skirmish in which he was killed.

Sources

Official Record of the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 31, p. 545
Official Record of the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 38, p. 706-708
Randolph County, Alabama 1850 Census, Beat 4
Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, 1861-1865, Volume 2
The Affair at Hay’s Ferry, J.W. Minnich, Confederate Veteran, Vol. XXXIII, Feb. 1925.

Vaction 2008: Yellowstone National Park

Well we have been home several weeks and now it is August and we have started to school. I guess it is time to write about one of the greatest yondering adventures that we have had as a family or that I undertaken as an individual. Another reason is because I have took to revisiting via the Internet the places we visited over those incredible 15 days in June and July. I never thought that traveling 5375 miles with a near 3 year old, a bored 15 year old and a very interested 14 year old and a wife that would rather be at the beach would be so much fun. We left Calhoun at noon on June 20th and 8 days into the trip on June 27th we were treated to a site that literally millions have witnessed. At 10:40 AM in Yellowstone Park we saw Old Faithful erupt. It was an awesome site ....one of many that we would experience over those 15 days.

Day 11

4:45 Mountain Time
Rapid City, SD

We have covered over 3500 miles and we are still a long way from home. We saw the Presidents later yesterday afternoon and then saw them bathed in light. It was an inspiring sight!

Four dollar gas does not seem to be a big deal. We have been crowded at most of the sights we visited. Campgrounds we have passed have been full of tents and campers and most motels we have stayed in have been at capacity.

Day 11 will find us in a water park most of the day. We plan to visit Crazy Horse and Deadwood before striking out for Omaha on Tuesday.

Starting Day 3

We are a little over a thousand miles from home this morning. We have made it a Comfort Inn and Suite in Amarillo, Texas. We will strike out for the Four Corners this morning. We have seen some wonderous sights!!!

Preparing for a Serious Yondering Spell

Friday at noon we will embark on our family vacation. This is an ambitious trip with highlights including the Grand Canyon, Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Little Big Horn, Mt. Rushmore, a nocturnal animal indoor zoo in Omaha and home via the Gateway Arch. We are planning on 14 days on the road. I hope to be able to blog as we go west -- this is yet to be seen.

Skirmish at Farmer's Bridge

May 21, 2008
Cemetery of Interest

Location:
N 34º 22.087 W 085 º 10.300
New Armurchee Baptist Church Cemetery
Floyd County, Georgia

The ten tombstones arranged in a slight arc mark the resting place of 9 privates and the Captain of Company G of the 12th Alabama Calvary Battalion. According to the epitaph on a nearby monument these men were killed on May 19, 1864 as they held the ground at nearby Farmer's Bridge against an overwhelming force of Union Calvary. . The dead included Captain William T. Lokey, Private B. Brown, Pvt. A.D. Turren, Private P.W. Ward, Private J.J. Morgan, Private Benjamin Garrett, Private Cullen Porter, Private W.H. Ellis, and Private Thomas Barnard. During this engagement six men were also captured. Privates Joel Weems and Edwin P. Morris would die in the U.S. Military Prison in Alton Illinois and Private Joseph Harper would die in a POW camp in Douglas, Illinois. Privates J. Brown, J.M. Robertson, and Marcus Formby were eventually released from their captivity.

Colonel Robert H. G. Minty’s after action report in The Official Record of the War of the Rebellion Series 1, Volume 38 report described the skirmish at Farmer’s Bridge:

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, John's Creek, Ala., May 16, 1864.
CAPTAIN: At 5 a. m. yesterday, the 15th instant, I marched from camp on Dry Creek. At about 8 a. m. my advance struck the enemy's pickets near Farmer's Bridge, on Armuchee Creek, and drove them in. The advance vedettes and a few of my scouts charged over the bridge, but the advance guard having halted to allow the column time to close up they were not supported, and consequently were driven back with 1 killed and 4 horses wounded. On my arrival at the bridge I sent scouts to examine the creek to the right and left. Bad fords were reported both above and below. I crossed two companies of Fourth Michigan Cavalry below and six companies above. I then crossed with the other battalion of the Fourth Michigan, followed by the Seventh Pennsylvania, the Fourth United States following the six companies of the Fourth Michigan across the upper ford. Captain Lokey, Twelfth Alabama Cavalry, was mortally wounded, and 9 men killed. We took 6 prisoners. I pushed forward rapidly to within three miles of Rome, where the enemy, in considerable force and holding a strong position, made a stand, showing four pieces of artillery. They at the same time moved strong columns on both my flanks. Immediately in my rear the Dalton road joins the Rome road-the one on which I had advanced. I, therefore, fell back to a position north of the junction of the roads. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Park, commanding Fourth Michigan Cavalry, reported that a column of infantry was moving around my left; at same time Smith's brigade of cavalry was discovered on my right. I fell back to Farmer's Bridge, where I reported to General Garrard. The rebels followed me up closely. Four times they charged the battalion of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, which formed the rear guard. They were received dismounted, and handsomely repulsed. During the entire day's skirmishing the Fourth Michigan was the only regiment engaged.
My entire loss was 3 men wounded, 1 severely, 1 slightly, and 1 man taken prisoner.
From all the information I could gain there are two divisions of cavalry and one of infantry at Rome, under Generals Jackson, Ross, and Smith. Some of the citizens state positively that Forrest arrived at Rome on the evening of the 14th. The Atlanta paper of the 13th, which I gave the general this morning, places Forrest at Tupelo, Miss. It also states that Lieutenant-General Polk is en route for Rome, where he will command the reserve division of general Johnston's army. The scout this a. m. under Captain Garrett, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, met the rebel pickets at the cross-roads near the bridge, and drove them across the creek, killing 1 and wounding another.
ROBT. H. G. MINTY,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Captain KENNEDY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Cavalry Division.

The history of the 12th Alabama Calvary was chronicled by Brewer in the 1872 book Alabama: Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men, From 1540 to 1872.
The 12th was organized from a battalion organized by Hundley of Madison County and Bennett of St.Clair County. After the battle in Chattanooga this battalion was reorganized by the addition of four companies. Captain Lokey’s Company G was raised in Cherokee County, Alabama and it is assumed that it was one of the four added at this time. Brewer states that at the time of the skirmish at Farmer’s Bridge the 12th Alabama was attached to Hagan’s Brigade of Wheeler’s Calvary. This action was a part of the 1864 retreat of Johnson Army from Chattanooga to Atlanta.

Historical Roadside Marker: Godfrey College and High School

Historical Roadside Marker
Location:

N 34º 05.505 W 087 º 23.619
State Hwy 195
Double Springs, Winston County, Alabama

Godfrey College and High School

Founded in 1880 by Robert Gold Isbell, President, alumnus of Vanderbilt University, under the jurisdiction of the Northern Alabama Methodist Conference, one mile west on the Cheatham Road at the town of Motes, Elijah Blanton, Hugh W. Isbell, W.R. Atkins, and Andrew J. Ingle, Trustees. Two-story college building and three-story dormitory burned in 1889. Abandoned in 1893.

Date Visited and/or Photographed: April 7, 2008

Notes:

The Isbell family was quite large and produced enough children to populate a school. According to Vicki Wheeler Paine, Hugh W. Isbell and Robert Gold Isbell were brothers. Their sister Mary Ann”Polly” Isbell married the Elijah Blanton mentioned as a trustee of the college. Polly and Elijah had ten children. Hugh and his wife Sallie Thompson had ten children also. Robert and his wife Emma Madora Andrews were not as productive. They had eight children. (Isbell-L Archive at Ancestory.com)

The school was built in a town then called Godfrey, later Motes. The school and town were located at the intersection of the Cheatham Road which connected Moulton and Tuscaloosa and the Houston-Columbus Highway five miles south of the present site of Double Springs, Winston County, Alabama. Neither road now exists. After the 1889 fire school continued in the Methodist Church, but the buildings were never rebuilt. In 1893 Robert Isbell bought the Farmer’s College in Millport Alabama. Most of the students followed Isbell to his new school
A very detailed history of the College may be found at AlGenWeb site for Winston County (http://wcgs.ala.nu/).

Reflections on Teaching My 15 -year old to Yonder

April 19, 2008: My beautiful 15 year old daughter is learning to drive. I have joined the ranks of generations of parents that have slid over to the passenger side and grabbed the door handle with white knuckles and jammed on non-existent brakes and they sucked in volumes of air through teeth that created a high pitch hissing sound. We went out driving and yondering three times today -- saw some nice road side markers and visited a couple of cemeteries. While the education the newest member of the driving world may be sometimes hazardous it does offer me an excuse to get out of the house and go see the world.

Historical Roadside Marker: Wise's Gap

Historical Roadside Marker
Location:

N 33º 53.975 W 088 º 19.978
US Highway 278
Monroe County, Mississippi

Wise’s Gap, 1816

The first community in N. Miss. Begun here by John Wise in 1816, had stores, a cemetery, a campground, a church called “Uncle Jimmy Wise’s Meetinghouse, a blacksmith shop in which the future Governor Tucker worked.


Date Visited and/or Photographed: April 5, 2008

Notes:

Governor Tucker mentioned here is the thirteenth governor of Mississippi Tilghman Tucker. Governor Tucker and his wife was the first couple to occupy the Mississippi Governors Mansion. Tucker was born February 2, 1802 in North Carolina. With his family he made the Carolina to Alabama to Mississippi migration that along the route took by many of our ancestors. He worked as a blacksmith at Wise’s Gap before reading law under Judge Daniel W. Wright in Hamilton in Monroe County. He opened his first law practice in Columbus and then in 1831 entered started a political career that would include stints in the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate, a term as Governor, and one term in the United States Senate. He died April 3, 1855.

Source:
Sansing, David. At Mississippi History No, http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/, accessed April7, 2008