Columbian-Progress from Columbia, Mississippi • Page 11

www.columbianprogress.com THURSDAY December 4, 2014 11 A MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU A Paul Broom Steve Boyd Otis Smith Luke Ballard Rebecca Dement-Downing Virgil Henson Sam Jenkins Jeff McCain Brad Livingston Randy Meadious John Parker William Rowley Shanna Graves Doyle Harrison Gary Farlow Sherry Broom MACK GRUBBS FORD Hwy 98 Columbia 601-731-1953 www.grubbsmotors.com 2015 Ford Fusion $2,500 cash back OR $1,000 cash back PLUS for 60 months Some cash back offers and financing require financing thru FMC and is subject to credit approval. Not all buyers qualify 2014 Ford F150 XLT $4,250 Cash Back PLUS $1,500 Trade Assistance 2015 Ford Explorer $1,500 cash back OR for 60 months 2014 Ford Edge $3,000 Cash Back OR for 72 months 2014 Ford Escape $1,000 Cash Back PLUS for 72 Months event because nothing has been the same after that as it was before. It Watts said the U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment under John W. Davidson in Baton Rouge, decided in November 1864 to raid the Mobile Ohio Railroad in Alabama, which was supplying Confederate forces in Tennessee.

While they were in Alabama, the Union horsemen would also try to put a dent in Mobile, one of the last Confederate strongholds. knew that they had to move as quickly as they could because there were scattered units across he said. want them to have a chance to rally against them. In order to complete their mission, they brought their own bridge with them. They had a pontoon corps; they had 80 pontoon wagons, pontoon boats and bridging.

They were like the Seabees (the World War II Construction Battalions); they were construction guys. They had about four artillery pieces. They were on the move and they meant After leaving Baton Rouge, the Union regiment went to Greensburg and Tangipahoa, Watts said. The soldiers picked up stragglers, slaves and spies along the way. you were an able-bodied man and you might could help the Confederacy, you were going with he said.

went to Franklinton and camped there. For whatever reason, at that point they started to turn a little north. The weather and roads got so bad that they only made about three miles the next On Dec. 3, the Union soldiers came to Marion County, Watts said. They went to the John Ford Home, which was then the Rankin Plantation.

They took food and blankets and used the fence rails for firewood. Because they had reached the Pearl River at nightfall, the cavalry regiment camped before crossing the next day, Watts said. many men were camping on the sides of the road that the encampment was about five miles he said. of the federal regiments included soldiers from Missouri, Louisiana and Texas. The Louisiana cavalry had guys from Mississippi in it, including about 20 guys from Perry County.

There were also soldiers representing New York, Wisconsin and Watts said the horse soldiers planning to stop in Columbia, but some riders were left behind. never stopped at Columbia because they were using speed and he said. were not trying to hold territory, but they were trying to cut through as quickly as they could. They did not stop in Columbia and they were trying to make up time because they lost a day in the mud in But while the Union soldiers were in Columbia, Davidson suspected that there was Confederate activity around Monticello to the north. So he sent a portion of the 11th New York cavalry north to check it out while the rest of the column kept going east.

But the 11th New York cavalry left Companies and which amounted to about 200 men, to guard and occupy Columbia. Watts said Columbia was probably considered a village in 1864. in that day and time probably had a population of 600-800 he said. courthouse of that day stood at the exact same spot where the one now stands and was considered the center of the Watts said the 200 soldiers who were left behind vandalized and pillaged the courthouse. an occupation force of about 200 men, what are you going to occupy in Columbia in 1864? The he said.

been in the saddle and wet, cold and hungry. You stop for a little while and what are you going to do? going to build a fire. What are you going to burn? Well, the courthouse. rough-hewn benches and pews. I suspect that they burned them.

I also suspect that they burned some of the books. I prove that, but I suspect Watts said one courthouse book, an Appearance Docket from the 1860s, appeared to be damaged. is an Appearance Docket, Book that they vandalized while they were he said. was in use at the time. You can see where pages have been torn out.

And there are several knife cuts in The book also contains an open letter on one of the pages from the Union soldiers, Watts said. reads, he said. pride is ever that we are sons of this most glorious and Heaven- favored realm sacred to freedom, righteousness and law, the scourge of treason by Satan led, Mammon nursed, thrice armed, thrice doomed to everlasting Watts added that the commander of the Union forces that rode to Monticello also had a Columbia connection. guy leading the 11th New York on to Monticello was Maj. Seth Pierre he said.

has a son named Frederick Remington, the Western sculptor and painter. His maiden name was Bascom; so Earl Bascom and Frederick Remington are first cousins. Bascom came to Columbia in 1936 and put on the first rodeo held outdoors at night under electric After crossing the Leaf River and approaching the Chicka- sawhay River, Davidson held back the Union troops, Watts said. decided that they need to cross the river because he found a Confederate newspaper that detailed his he said. he knew that they were waiting on the other side of the river for his Davidson sent a small group of soldiers to try to cut off the supply line, but they met stiff resistance within a few miles of the railroad.

They were forced to retreat near Mill (now Leakesville) and try to catch up with ranks. Watts said the raid by Davidson failed to accomplish its two objectives: cut off the supply route and attack Mobile. finally met back up and they continued all the way to Pascagoula, pretty much aborting what their mission he concluded. the weather defeated them more than anything Union continued from Page 1A DAVIDSON The Marion County Office has issued a BOLO this Christmas season. Deputies are asking residents to on the for toys they believe children in the community would enjoy unwrapping from underneath the tree Christmas morning to donate to the inaugural Marion County Office Toy Drive.

feel it is important to invest in the futures of our children and give back to the community that gives us so Sheriff Berkley Hall said. The Toy Drive is currently under way and will continue until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19. Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Office located at 219 Broad St.

However, deputies are also asking for assistance locating those less fortunate. you know of any families that are in need of help this Christmas, please let us know by giving us a Investigator Jamie Singley said. think a good way to show our love and appreciation to those less fortunate this Hall said he wants everyone to have a Merry Christmas. want to make this an enjoyable time of year for as many children as we he concluded. For more information, contact the Office at (601) 736-5051.

Deputies hope to make holidays brighter By Adam Prestridge Publisher.