Huntsville, Alabama

“ I have crossed this continent many times, by almost every possible route, and I feel certain that at this time no single region holds out as strong inducements for industrious emigrants as that from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Huntsville, Alabama, right and left, embracing the mountain ranges and intervening valleys, especially East Tennessee, North Georgia and Alabama. ”

“ MEN WHO HAVE MADE ALABAMA
WILLIAM WYATT BIBB
On the extreme eastern boundary of Washington County, on a bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River from the west, is the site of old St. Stephens, the original, or territorial, capital of Alabama. At one time it had a population of perhaps three thousand, composed largely of immigrants from Virginia. At the time of its selection as the seat of territorial government it was about the only place in the territory fitted to become a capital, though Huntsville, on the extreme north, was also a town of considerable pretension. ”

“ Over the greater part of Alabama there were no class distinctions before 1860; the state was too young. In the wilderness classes had fused and the successful men were often those never heard of in the [Pg 7] older states. A candidate of “the plain people” was always elected, because all were frontier people. This does not mean that in Huntsville, Montgomery, Greensboro, and Mobile there were not the beginnings of an aristocracy based on education, wealth, and family descent. But these were very small spots on the map of Alabama, and there were no heartburnings over social inequalities. ”

“ I estimate that the district which could readily be rallied in support of a loyal organization of the government of Alabama, with its capital at Huntsville, to be equal to the area of New Jersey, or 8,320 square miles. With the occupation of the Alleghanies by an army of the Union, and such a base of operations, civil and military, in North Alabama, a counter-revolution in that State would not be difficult of accomplishment.2
It will thus be seen, that, in the South itself, there exists a tremendous groundwork of aid to the North, and of weakness to secession. ”

“ Southerners know to be a hopeless struggle. But we must not judge these Huntsville women too harshly. Here are the families of many of the leading men of Alabama; of generals, colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants in the Confederate army; of men, even, who hold cabinet positions at Richmond, and of many young men who are clerks in the departments of the rebel Government. Their wives, daughters, sisters, and sweethearts feel, doubtless, that the honor of these gentlemen, and possibly their lives, depend upon the success of the Confederacy. ”

“ This was, indeed, a reward that made a soldier’s heart swell with pride. How it gladdens the heart to receive such marked attentions from the hands of the beautiful and fair! Long and happily may the fair ones of Huntsville live!
On my route to Louisville, Kentucky, I passed over the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad to Nashville, thence over the Louisville and Nashville, and in sight of home. Yet not a muscle betrayed itself, nor was there a sigh to show that the “Rebel” had any desire to see loved ones. ”

“ Mr. JOHN C. BEASLEY, near Huntsville, Alabama, thus advertises a young girl of eighteen, in the Huntsville Democrat, of August 1st, 1837. "Ranaway Maria, about 18 years old, very far advanced with child." He then offers a reward to any one who will commit this young girl, in this condition, to jail.
Mr. JAMES T. DE JARNETT, Vernon, Autauga co. Alabama, thus advertises a woman in the Pensacola Gazette, July 14, 1838. "Celia is a bright copper-colored negress, fine figure and very smart. On EXAMINING HER BACK, you will find marks caused by the whip." ”

“ The territory was dotted over with straggling settlements of colonists who came from Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia and settled here and there, but the two chief settlements were in the opposite ends of the territory at St. Stephens and Huntsville. Roads were yet uncut, and in passing from one settlement to another the colonists would follow the trails of the Indians which threaded the forests through. To weld the widely separated communities into statehood and lay the foundation of a great commonwealth required more than ordinary statesmanship. ”

“ The Memphis and Charleston, extending across the entire northern part of the state, fell into the hands of the Federals in 1862, who captured at Huntsville nearly all of the rolling stock and destroyed the shops [Pg 260] and the papers. The rolling stock had been collected at Huntsville, ready to be shipped to a place of less danger; but because of the treachery of a telegraph operator who kept the knowledge of the approaching raid from the officials, all was lost, for to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy much more was destroyed than was captured. ”

“ If they want eternal war, well and good; we will accept the issue and dispossess them and put our friends in possession. I know of thousands and millions of good people who, at simple notice, would come to North Alabama and accept the elegant houses and plantations now there. If the people of Huntsville think differently, let them persist in war three years longer, and then they will not be consulted. ”

“ KILLINGSWORTH, HAYDEN H., Pvt., Calera, Alabama. KNOWLTON, GILBERT R., Pvt., 1318 Huntsville Ave., Birmingham, Ala. KOONCE, OSCAR H., Corp., Huntsville, Alabama. LACEY, PHILLIP, Pvt., Gardendale, Alabama. LAMBERT, WILLIAM C., Pvt., Jasper, Alabama. LAND, COLUMBUS C., Pvt., Dixonville, Florida. LANIER, JOHN C., Pvt., Chatton, Georgia. LASTER, HORTON, Pvt., Taft, Tennessee. LAURELL, RALPH, Pvt., 1731 19th Ave., Birmingham, Alabama. LEGGETT, MELVIN, Pvt., Hartford, Alabama. LINAM, ABNER, Pvt., Daleville, Alabama. LONGCRIER, PAUL J., Pvt., Sulligent, Alabama. ”

“ The negroes were pleased, and big and little came to school. The relations between the whites and blacks were pleasant, and all went well for more than two years, until politics alienated the races, and the negroes demanded a northern teacher or one of their own color. [1242] The schools at Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma, Tuscumbia, Stevenson, and Athens, where troops were stationed, were reserved for the northern teachers who were sent by the various aid societies. ”

“ CHISM, CARL, Pvt., Calera, Alabama. COCHRAN, STEWART H., Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. COFFEE, CARL, Pvt., Yolande, Alabama. COKER, EUGENE, Pvt., Greenville, Alabama. CONE, CLAYTON, Pvt., Lagrange, Georgia. COPELAND, ROY N., Pvt., Mulberry, Tennessee. COSTELLO, JACKSON, Pvt., Tampa, Florida. COTTINGHAM, CHARLES J., Pvt., Ramer, Alabama. COULTER, GEORGE D., Pvt., Huntsville, Alabama. COWART, VIRGIL, Pvt., Huntsville, Alabama. CROSS, ISAAC, Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. CROSS, DAN, Pvt., Letohachee, Alabama. CROSBY, WILLIS J., Pvt., Atmore, Alabama. DAVIS, DEWEY, Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. ”

“ Sgt.-Major, 902 S. Decatur St., Montgomery, HOLLOWAY, DAVID, Musician 3d class, Lenett, Alabama. HOLMES, HENRY G., Pvt., 707 1st St., Birmingham, Alabama. HOLSENBACK, FLOYD, Pvt., Anniston, Alabama. HOWARD, EMMET, Pvt., Acmar, Alabama. HOWELL FRANK L., Mechanic, 1107 2nd Ave., Birmingham, Alabama. HUBBARD, HENRY, Pvt., Grandville, Georgia. HUGHES, WILLIAM R., Huntsville, Alabama. HUNT, ALFRED M., Pvt., 812 Woodland Ave., Birmingham, Alabama. HUTTO, JOHN B., Pvt., Birmingham, Alabama. HUTTON, GEORGE, Pvt., Spring Hill, Alabama. JARRETT, MANUEL, Pvt., Ensley, Alabama. ”

“ I would advise the commanding officers at Huntsville, and such other towns as are occupied by our troops, to assemble the inhabitants and explain to them these plain, self-evident propositions, and tell them that it is for them now to say whether they and their children shall inherit the beautiful land which by the accident of nature285 has fallen to their share. The Government of the United States has in North Alabama any and all rights which they choose to enforce in war—to take their lives, their homes, their lands, their everything; because they cannot deny that war does exist there ”

“ WALLER, TOM, Pvt., Honoraville, Alabama. WEIR, WILLIE, Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. WHEELER, WILLIE F., Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. WHITED, HOMER, Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. WHITEHEAD, SAM, Pvt., Bessemer, Alabama. WINDHAM, SAMUEL C., Pvt., Oakland, Alabama. WILCOX, CURTIS P., Pvt., Mobile, Alabama. WILLBANKS, ROLGIER, Pvt., Walnut, Mississippi. WOODRUFF, ALTO, Pvt., Mt. Willing, Alabama. WOODS, OSCAR L., Pvt., Coal Valley, Alabama. WOOLEY, KNOX E., Pvt., Montevalo, Alabama. WORSHAM, JAMES B., Pvt., Camilla, Georgia. YANSEY, CLAUD, Cook, Huntsville, Alabama, YOUNG, JOHN O., Sgt., Birmingham, Alabama. ”

“ The provost marshal at Huntsville—Colonel Harmer—selected a number of men to answer certain political questions, who, if their answers were not satisfactory, were to be expelled from the country. Among these were, George W. Hustoun, Luke Pryor, and —— Malone of Athens, Dr. Fearn of Huntsville, and two ministers—Ross and [Pg 65] Banister. General Stanley condemned the policy, but General Granger wanted the preachers expelled anyway, although Stanley said they had never taken part in politics. ”

“ The negroes, especially, were demoralized by the issue of rations. Fear of the contempt of their neighbors would drive all but the meaner class of whites back to work, but the negro came to believe that he would be supported the rest of his life by the government.
As late as October, 1868, it was reported that there was great want in middle and south Alabama, and soup houses were established by the state and the Bureau in Mobile, Huntsville, Selma, Montgomery, and other central Alabama towns. ”

“ March 5, 1864, a reconstruction meeting, thinly attended, was held in Huntsville under the protection of the Union troops. Clemens presided. Resolutions were passed denying the legality of secession because the ordinance had not been submitted to the people for their ratification or rejection. Professions of devotion and loyalty to the United States were made by Clemens, the late major-general of Alabama militia and secessionist of 1861. [339] A week later the same party met again. No young men were present, for they were in the army. All were men over forty-five, concerned for their property. ”

“ Negro councils were organized, and negroes were even admitted to some of the white councils which were under control of the northerners. The Bureau gathering of Colonel John B. Callis of Huntsville was transformed into a League. Such men as the Rev. A. S. Lakin, Colonel Callis, D. H. Bingham, Norris, Keffer, and Strobach, all aliens of questionable character from the North, went about organizing the negroes during 1866 and 1867. Nearly all of them were elected to office by the support of the League. ”

“ Be one’s advantages never so much or so meager, self and self-worth are at last the determinative factor.
Girt with equipments like these borne from the Waddell school, young Collier reached Alabama just as it was emerging into statehood. His first residence was at Huntsville, where as a youthful pleader he opened his little office, but soon removed to Tuscaloosa as the partner of Hon. Simon L. Perry. ”

“ RABOUN, ALBERT G., Pvt., Thomasville, Alabama. RAGESDALE, ERNEST C., Sgt., Albany, Alabama. RAGSDALE, JOE T., Mechanic, Albany, Alabama. ROLLINGS, WALTER, Pvt., Dothan, Alabama. ROSS, PHILIP C., Pvt., 401 Gorden Drive West, Albany, Alabama. SANDERSON, JIMMIE, Pvt., R.F.D. No. 3, Athens, Alabama. SCHAFFER, JOHN F., Pvt., Mobile, Alabama. SCHWEND, GEORGE, 62 Pleasant Ave., Montgomery, Alabama. SCOTT, TADE, Pvt., Huntsville, Alabama. SHANHOLTZER, GEORGE L., Pvt., P.O. Box 63, Deer Park, Alabama. SHARER, GUY C., Cook, Brooksville, Alabama. SHERRILL, BEVE B., Pvt., Moulton, Alabama. ”

“ General Swayne was deeply interested in the education of the blacks, and thought that northern teachers could do better work for the colored race than southern teachers. Most of the aid societies had spent their funds before reaching Alabama, but Swayne secured some assistance from the American Missionary Association. The teachers were paid partly by the Association, but mostly by the Bureau. The Pittsburg Freedmen’s Aid Commission established schools in north Alabama, at Huntsville, Stevenson, Tuscumbia, and Athens, and also had a school at Selma. ”

“ Much of the destruction was unnecessary from a military point of view. [105] Athens and smaller towns were sacked and burned, Guntersville was shelled and burned; but the worst destruction was in the country, by raiding parties of Federals and “tories,” or “bushwhackers” dressed as Union soldiers. Huntsville, Florence, Decatur, Athens, Guntersville, and Courtland, all suffered depredation, robbery, murder, arson, and rapine. [106] The tories destroyed the railways, telegraph lines, and bridges, and as long as the Confederates were in north Alabama they had to guard all of these. ”

“ In looking over the new industries, either in the full tide of success or in encouraging progress, it is really singular that it has been left for poor colored people to inaugurate an enterprise that capital and experience have long tried in vain to establish in this country. The stor}' of the inception of silk culture in Alabama possesses elements of a highly romantic character, and the condition to which Mr. Samuel Lowery has brought the industry at Huntsville shows that the State may become the peer of France in this great business. ”