CIVIL WAR

CIVIL WAR TRIP Part 2


5-24 FRIDAY,
Days Inn,Perry, Al. Got up at 7:00 a.m. Curtis called Andersonville Nat'l. Historic Site (912-924-0343) on MCI to check on motels. Told everything was probably booked, but referred to the Jameison Inn at Americus, GA. (912-924-2726). Alternative would be a Perry, GA. about 35 miles away. Called Jameison Inn, they were full. Checked motel books and called Days Inn in Perry, GA. and made confirmed reservation. With Curtis driving, went south on Hwy. 92. Missed turn and crossed Chattahouchee River on Hwy. 166. Back tracked 4 miles and crossed river on Hwy. 92 near old town site of Campbellton, Ga. On the McCook Raid the 5th Iowa Cav. crossed the river on a pontoon bridge about 5 miles down stream to the west. Photographed and taped river at the bridge. Saw old buildings of Campbellton, which isn't even on the map now; however, we didn't take any pictures. Went south on Hwy 154 connecting with Hwy. 29 just outside of Palmetto, Ga. Found current railroad depot at corner of Main and Tombs St. Photographed historical marker at depot; however, it concerned the  Confederate Army of Tennessee that moved there in the Fall of 1864 when Gen. Sherman moved into Atlanta. Nothing about the McCook Raid. Photographed and taped depot. It is now occupied by the city Police Department, probably to protect it from Yankees. Talked with the Chief of Police, when Clark said our great grandfather burned the station in 1864, the Chief offered him a lighter. The Chief seems to want a new office. Got directions for road we wanted to Fayetteville, Ga. Went south on Fayetteville Rd. and then left on Collinsville Rd. through Tyrone, Ga. eventually coming to Hwy. 54 which we took into Feyetteville, Ga. Didn't see any historical markers. The only ones we have seen relate to Confederate accomplishments. Took break in Feyetteville. Stopped at Police Dept. and picked up a county map. Continued east on Hwy. 54, then onto McDonough Rd. toward Lovejoy, Ga. Stopped at the Flint River which forms the eastern border of Fayette County. Photographed and taped the river and the west side of the bridge. This may not be the exact site; however, it was at the Flint River on the retreat from Lovejoy Station that the 5th Iowa captured the bridge and supported two Parrot Guns while McCook's Army crossed. Couldn't find the railroad depot at Lovejoy Station. Stopped at City Office and got map of town and a copy of a brief history of the town. Noted in the history there were a few buildings along the railroad, including a bank, that were over 100 years old and determined the depot must have been in the area of those buildings. Had lunch and then photographed and taped the railroad and old buildings. This finished tracking the route of the 5th Iowa during the McCook Raid. Went south on Hwy. 19 & 41. Just outside of town found a historical marker on Lovejoy Station; however, it was about the period after the McCook Raid. At Griffin, Ga. followed Hwy. 19 going to Ellaville, Ga. where we took a break and then went east on Hwy. 228 arriving at Andersonville National Historic Site (Rt. 1, Box 800, Andersonville, GA. 31711: 912-924-0343) at 4:00 p.m. Office very busy. They were to close at 5:00 p.m. Boy Scout s were arriving to put flags on the graves for Memorial Day. Told Mrs. Joan Burnett at the desk we had a transcribed diary of an Andersonville prisoner we would like to donate along with a photograph. She wasn't sure if it should go to her husband Bill Burnett, the librarian, or a "Margie" who is the historical curator. "Margie" happened to walk by and we were able to talk with her; however, she didn't seem too interested. She only deals with original diaries. Mr. Bill Burnett arrived and was ringing wet from sweat. He is an older man and appeared to have had a long day. Realizing he was tired, we told him what we had and arranged to meet with him in the morning. Did brief tour of museum and watched a 16- minute video tape on Andersonville. Checked at desk and found the tape we watched was part of a longer tape they were selling. Purchased tape and a book of photographs of the prison. Discovered computer files and card files on Andersonville prisoners. Checked for "Carley," no listings. Punched in 5th Iowa Cav. on computer and came up with 14 names, 3 from Co. E. Lawson H. Carley, our great grandfather was not among them. Checked "Lightcap" in the card file and it said there was additional info. available. Informed by clerk that they had pretty good records on prisoners that died at Andersonville; however, they don't have much on others that were in the prison unless family members contact the historic site with information. She didn't know what the additional info. was on Lightcap and said Mr. Burnett would be able to tell us in the morning. Clark checked the card files for Confederate guards and found 3 Barnett's; however, he didn't know which one might be the relative of his friend in Bowling Green. Made quick driving tour of Andersonville before the gates closed to see what we would have to cover tomorrow. It appeared we would have another long busy, but rewarding day. It appears we will be making a significant contribution to the family history by getting our great grandfather's name added to the list of prisoners at Andersonville. Left at 5:00 p.m. and drove to Perry, Ga. Gassed truck. After supper went to K-Mart to get film, they didn't have slide film. Checked another store, they didn't have it either. Got compressed air can at Radio Shack. Clark checked with his friend T. M. DeMoss in Nashville, TN. to get correct name of his great grandfather that was a guard at Andersonville. Had small thunder storm after dark. Heavy storm hit Atlanta. Caught up notes.

5-25 SATURDAY, Days Inn, Perry, GA. Got up early at 6:00 a.m. because we wanted to be sure to be at Andersonville around 8:00 a.m. Only loaded files, cameras and recording equipment for the day. After breakfast went south on I-75 and then southwest on Hwy. 224 to Hwy. 26 around Oglethorpe and south on Hwy. 49 arriving at Andersonville National Historic Site a little after 8:00 a.m. Dark over cast morning with light rain falling off and on. When Visitor Center opened at 8:30, met with Mr. Bill Burnett and gave him transcribed copy of the diary of Lawson H. Carley with his life history sheet and photograph with his military record on the back. Bill accepted the material and said Lott would be put in the computer in about two months. They wait until they have a hundred or so to enter. He did seem disappointed that we didn't have copies of Lott's official military records. He said the main one is a document called "Memorandum From Prisoner of War Records." He gave me a photo copy of the "National Archives Order for Copies of Veterans Records" that gave instructions on how to order info. Told him I would get a copy and send it to him. Asked why Lott wasn't already in the records and was told there is a good record of deaths at the prison; however, they entered prisoners by as many as 200 at a time into the stockade and didn't record the names as they entered. We asked if there was a specific area of the stockade the 5th Iowa might have been assigned to. He said the states tended to keep together; however, they didn't have a specific area. Confirmed that due to his date of capture, and the notation in Lott's diary that he slept on the ground in the new barracks, that he would have been along the north wall of the newly expanded stockade. Confirmed the new buildings were barracks rather than hospitals as I was told by Mr. William Marvel. The "barracks" really only had a roof, there weren't any sides. We asked if the Confederate prisons at Savannah and Millen, GA. were preserved in any way. He said they weren't, he didn't even think the locations of the prisons were marked. Apparently they are all private property and unrecognizable. He commented that the bodies of troops that died at Millen were moved to the National Cemetery at Bezufort S.C. Asked him if he was awar of any maps of the period that would show the railroads and roads as they existed then. He didn't know of any, but said many roads today follow the roads that were present then. Asked him if there were any markers or other things to see at Jonesboro, GA. We had been to Lovejoy Station and there wasn't anything. He said there wasn't anything at Jonesboro, the south was reluctant to put up signs and markers unless they had to. Asked about codes on the computer files and index cards. Told the "M" stands for military records, while the "P" stands for pension records. The first digit of the "code number" for each prisoner is significant. If the first digit is a "1" or "2" the person is known to be buried at Andersonville. If the first digit is a "3" the person is reported to have died at Andersonville. A "4" means the person survived. To determine the grave number of a person buried at Andersonville, change any "1s" to "0" and "2s" to "1." A code number of 18457 would translate as a grave number of 8457. A code number of 21098 would translate as grave number 11098. Checked additional file information on William H. Lightcap (Code # 43221). Discovered records were recently entered on April 13, 1996 and were provided by Tom Lightcap (5270 Chemin de Vie, Atlanta, GA. 30342: 404-252-0316). Found 64 page memoir detailing his experience during the McCook-Stoneman Raid and his capture. It didn't mention L. H. Carley or many other members of the 5th Iowa by name; however, his experiences must have been similar to Lott's. This manuscript had not been available from the archives in Iowa City, Iowa. Of the 14 5th Iowa prisoners in the files, 10 died at Andersonville. However, more 5th Iowa could have been captured and survived. If they survived they might not have made it into the records at Andersonville. There was additional file info. on the 4 that survived. They were W. H. Lightcap (#43221), Sampson Caskey (#42954), Jacob Gaacon [or Cash] (#43454), and George Lappin (#43213). Lightcap and Gaacon were the only 5th Iowa recorded from Company E. Checked records of the other 3 survivors, they mainly consisted of enlistment, capture, parole, and discharge info. Checked computer files again and recorded date and cause of death on the 10 5th Iowa that died. Clark checked the prisoner files for the family names of Andrew, Booser, Bowland, Calkin, Campbell, Clark, Craghead, Dunn, Evans, Ferguson, Gill, Hallman, Hanson, Henry, Loder, Misamore, Reightmier Scothorn, Shelton, and Wright. Andrew produced a list of "Andrews," and Calkin produced short list of "Calkins." Had quite a number of Dunn and Hanson names. No names appeared for Craghead, Hallman, Misamore, or Scothorn. The Confederate guards are not in the computer but are in the card files. There is no indication on the cards as to availability of additional info. on the guards. Check of guard files for family names of Andrew, Bowland, Carley Calkin, and Dunn came up with only A. J. Carley, Pvt. Co. E, 1st Georgia Reserves. A. J. Carley sounded familiar to Clark, it may be in his list of "Other" Carleys. Acquired 2-page list of definitions of common ailments that affected the prisoners of the Civil War. Clark made copy of half-hour audio tour tape for tour of the stockade area. Took tour, sun was starting to come out and it was getting hot again. Drove to Andersonville and had lunch. Quite a few people in town for the Memorial Day celebration. Crowds weren't as bad at the cemetery or stockade as we thought they would be. The morning rain may have kept them away. After lunch we located, photographed, and video taped the head stones of all 10 of the 5th Iowa Cav. that died at Andersonville. Also recorded the graves of the 6 raiders hung at Andersonville. Recorded the impressive monument placed in the cemetery by the State of Iowa. Took pictures and tape of the cemetery. Very hot sweaty job. Wore us out. BIG blond, female park ranger kicked Clark off of head stone he was resting on. Ready to return to motel, but decided to drive around stockade site. At southwest corner determined the sun conditions were just right to photograph the stockade. Although tired, we took at least 45 minutes to get the job done. Left at 4:30 p.m. and stopped at Oglethorpe, Ga. and checked at County Jail for place to get a cold drink. No restaurants in town, sent to Montezuma, Ga. Checked drug store for slide film, all they had was print. Can't find any slide film in this part of Georgia. Got to motel at 6:00 p.m. Made motel reservation at Newnan, Ga. for next two nights. Curtis called home, machine on, left info. Had late supper, caught up notes. Hot, humid, exhausting day!

5-26 SUNDAY, Ramada Limited, Newnan, GA. Got up at 7:00 a.m. Checked out of motel and drove 21 miles to Montezuma, GA. where we had breakfast. Arrived at the town of Andersonville at 9:30 a.m. Photographed and taped historical marker on Hwy. 228 on Capt. Henry Wirtz who was in charge of the Andersonville Stockade. The sign obviously represented the southern perspective. Photographed and taped historical marker at junction of Hwy. 228 & 49 on the town of Andersonville. Went in to Andersonville and got permission to photograph the depot and railroad. They were charging $3 for entrance for their Memorial Day events, and we didn't want to pay that. Learned depot was not the original which was sold. Current one was purchased from the town of Mauk, GA. in Taylor County east of Columbus, GA. Photographed historical markers at depot re town of Andersonville and minister who tended the prisoners at the stockade. It appeared to us that the distance from the depot to the stockade was greater than the 1/4 mile all the literature reports. We measured it off with the truck and it was 0.55 to 0.56 miles. Went to Andersonville NPS Visitor's Center and video taped 1864 stockade photographs that were displayed on the wall of the men's room. Got some odd looks from those who came in as we were taping. Video taped old diary and cover that was on display in the museum. We felt the type of cover could be similar to the destroyed cover of our great grandfather L. H. Carley's diary. Checked a few more names on the prisoner computer files. Not much of interest. Went to the site of the stockade at 10:30 and spent until 1:45 p.m. photographing and video taping the features of the stockade. We paid particular attention to the area along the north wall where the barracks were erected in August, 1864 and where we believe our great grandfather was located while in the stockade. Also well documented the reconstructed "North Gate" where the prisoners entered the stockade. Hotter than yesterday with high humidity. Learned construction is starting on the new Visitor's Center and POW Museum which is to be done in 18 months. They can sure use it, the Visitor's Center is quite small and crowded. Returned briefly to Visitor's Center which was getting quite crowded due to people arriving for Memorial Day ceremonies at the cemetery. Drove back to Montezuma, GA. where we had a late lunch. About 3:00 p.m. we started west on Hwy. 26 en route to Newnan, GA. Turned northwest on Hwy. 27 - 280 and then north on I-185 at Columbus, GA. Stopped briefly to try to get slide film, could only get Ectachrome. As usual, found more print film than you could shake a stick at. Took short break. Continued north to LaGrange, GA., then northeast on I-85 getting off at Exit 8, Hwy. 27 and arriving at motel at 6:10 p.m. Called Dr. Kerry Elliott (770-251-3743) and arranged to meet him at breakfast and spend the morning reviewing information he had on the "Battle of Brown's Mill" and the McCook-Stoneman Raid. After supper cleaned up and prepared the day's notes.

5-27 MONDAY, Memorial Day, Ramada Limited, Newnan, GA. Got up at 6:00 a.m. Read over Lott's diary again. Discovered that on Aug. 18 he mentioned that "Hanover lays close by dieing." The name "Hanover" isn't in the Co. E roster, will have to check the rest of the roster of the whole 5th Iowa. "Hanover" was not on the computer list of 5th Iowa at Andersonville either. Dr. Kerry Elliott arrived on time at 7:30 a.m. Went to breakfast at Denney's and discussed the Battle of Brown's Mill. Learned a new book called "Sherman's Horsemen" by David Evans of Athens, GA. is to come out in late July (published by Univ. of Indiana Press) and it should have greater detail about the battle. The battle wasn't actually fought at the mill; however, that was the nearest location with a name and McCook retreated past the mill. The battle was just east of the junction of "Millard Farmer Road" and "Old Corinth Road." At the time, "Millard Farmer Road" was called "Ricketyback Road" which was tortuous and serpentine. Dr. Elliott had photo copies of descriptions and a map taken from William R. Scaife; however, the newest information indicates McCook didn't start down "Ricketyback Road," but went further south on what is now Hwy. 29 toward Moreland, GA. and then turned west on "Young Road" (Emmit Young Road). They apparently think McCook came this way because there is a record of a farmer living on the road that complained because Union shoulders stole a horse from him. At its junction with "Corinth Road" (Old Corinth Road on U.S.G.S. topographic map) they turned northwest on a road that no longer exists and crossed a south branch of "Sandy Creek" where the mill was located. As they approached "Ricketyback Road" they encountered Ashby's 2nd & 5th Tennessee and the battle began. McCook retreated back passed Brown's Mill and took "Corinth Road" ("Old Corinth Road on USGS topo) to the town of Corinth, went west on approximately what is now Hwy. 100, then southwest on what is now called "Minardi Drive" which lead to what is now Hwy. 27 north of LaGrange, GA. Ten miles north of LaGrange is "Philpot's Ferry Road" that leads west to the Chattahoochee River. The road dead ends and a trail follows the old road cut to the water's edge of what is now "West Point Lake." Returned to motel and loaded cameras etc. in Dr. Elliott's vehicle. Drove to down town Newnan, GA. and photographed historic markers at court house. Confederate marker exaggerates General Wheeler's efforts in that it says he prevented Newnan from being captured and he captured 2,000 Union troops. Newnan was not in danger of being captured, that wasn't McCook's objective. More like 500 were captured. McCook's forces had entered the town on "East Broad Street" where it encountered Confederate cavalry at the railroad and then retreated. East Broad Street is also "Lower Fayetteville Road" coming in from Fayetteville, GA. McCook's main column went south on "East Newnan Street" swinging southwest around the town to what is now Oaklawn on Hwy. 29. Interestingly enough, our motel is at the junction of "East Newnan Street" and Hwy. 29. McCook then went south toward Moreland, GA. and then west on "Young Road." We next followed McCook's route back passed our motel and down to "Young Road." The road has now been cut off by I-85 and is being used to dump trash. Photographed and taped old road cut. Clark tripped on some trash and fell. Didn't appear to be any serious damage. Returned to motel and went northwest on "Pine Road," then southwest on "Corinth Road," then west on "Millard Farmer Road" which had been "Ricketyback Road" during the Civil War. Next we turned south on a dead end dirt road called "Moody Farm Road" where we came to a locked gate. We couldn't see it; however, Sandy Creek and the old site of Brown's Mill were over a ridge to the south. The mill had been washed out in the 1920s. The Battle of Brown's Mill had been just west of here along "Millard Farmer Road." Returned to the Millard Farmer Road and continued west a short distance to where the log cabin of Rev. Cook is thought to have been located. This is where David Conzett was killed. The Union Parrot Guns would have been located on a ridge just south of the house. The two ridges to the west were where the heavy fighting took place. Dr. Elliott has a metal detector and has found a lot of bullets in the area. One reason they are changing how McCook moved his army and where the fighting was is by where collectors with metal detectors are finding artifacts. They haven't found anything on the east end of "Millard Farmer Road." Photographed old road cut of "Ricketyback Road" and the monument to Gen. Wheeler that had been placed by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1908. The monument is in a fenced enclosure on the southeast corner of "Millard Farmer Road" and "Old Corinth Road." Dr. Elliott thought the area was probably not as densely vegetated in 1864 and that there was more agriculture along the roads then. From the monument, went south on "Old Corinth Road" to "Corinth Road" and then west on Hwy. 100 about a mile to "Minardi Drive." Went southwesterly about a mile but felt the road was too rough for the distance we had to travel. Returned to Hwy. 100 and went west to junction with Hwy. 27 and then south to 10 miles north of LaGrange, GA. "Minardi Drive" would have brought us to this point, but not as fast. Much to our surprise, at this point there was a black topped dead end road going west that was called "Philpot's Ferry Road." It was at Philpot's Ferry that the 5th Iowa crossed the Chattahoochee River on their retreat from Newnan and lost a number of horses when the Confederates caught up with them. About a mile to the west the road ended and the old dirt road bed had been blocked with large boulders. Dr. Elliott and Curtis walked down the old road bed about a quarter mile to where it went into "West Point Lake." They couldn't tell for sure where the road came out of the lake on the other side. Here the lake was about 200 yards wide. Photographed and taped the path down the road and where the road entered the lake. Returned to Hwy. 27 where Dr. Elliott called home on his cellular phone to see how much more time he could spend with us. It appeared he had about another hour. While he called, Curtis and Clark photographed the "Philpot's Ferry Road" sign; however, Clark's 35mm camera "locked up" on him. Returned to motel close to noon by way of Hwy. 27, 100, Corinth Road, and Pine Road. Dr. Elliot suggested we call him in the evening to look at some of the artifacts he has found. We were great full for Dr. Elliott's help, he put the battle in perspective for us and expedited our locating the route of travel and local place names we had read. However, we felt he was more of an artifact hunter than historian. We didn't feel he had read some of the material in the 5th Iowa Historical Sketch, Lott's diary, or J. Conzett's writings because he wasn't aware they used Parrot Guns in the battle, or that Lott was marched to LaGrange, GA. after capture. Our questions may have stimulated him to study the material. It sounded as though he had several newspaper articles on the battle and he said he would provide a copy if he can find them. Requested motel room be cleaned while we went to eat. Motel appears to be operated by East Indians, some of which don't appear to speak any English. After lunch Clark laid down to relax his legs and back. Curtis checked phone book for camera stores, examined Clark's camera and discovered the battery compartment had come open and the batteries were missing. Curtis started preparing notes on the morning's activities. Left motel at 3:30 p.m. and returned to the "Wheeler Monument" at the corner of "Millard Farmer Road" and "Old Corinth Road." Took another set of photos because monument was better lit. Looked for Clark's camera batteries. Drove to "Philpot's Ferry Road" and looked for batteries at its junction with Hwy. 27. To our surprise, we found both of them undamaged where Clark had gotten out of Dr. Elliott's vehicle. Camera seemed to work fine. Went down to water's edge and took another set of photos and video tape. Went north on Hwy. 27 through Franklin, GA. and then west on Hwy. 34 to Rock Mills, Alabama. This really surprised us, we thought it would just be a wide spot in the road. It was a small community with a woolen mill industry next to a pretty stream. Even had a nice water wheel at the mill. Originally there had been a grist mill and then a saw mill at the location. A small dam had been built by the highway and some kids were swimming in the pool behind it. Below the dam the stream dropped rapidly down a series of falls and went around a bend to the south. Photographed and taped historical marker about the mills. It looked as though we wouldn't have any trouble finding people to talk to tomorrow. Continued west to Roanoke, AL. Watched for car dealers in the 4 miles to Roanoke because Dr. Elliott said there was one on the right side of the road where he and his friend Russ Styanoff talked with the owner about a year and a half ago about battles in the area and were taken to the  "Liberty Hill Cemetery" where a Union shoulder died during McCook's retreat. Only one we saw was right on the west edge of Rock Mills. Gasoline warning light had come on, so we got 3 gallons of gas at Roanoke. Also checked Wal-Mart, and finally found slide film that we had been unable to find in Georgia for some reason. Nice looking town, nice all through this area of Alabama. Returned to Newnan by the route we came, except we turned west from "Old Corinth Road" onto "North Road" which took us to "Corinth Road." Had supper a short distance from the motel and gassed the truck. Got to motel about 8:00 p.m. just before a thunder storm hit. Clark checked his messages at home and Curtis called home. Had to leave message on answering machine. Called by Dr. K. Elliott who was checking to see if we got back to town okay. Told him we just got in and a thunder storm was coming in from the west so we wouldn't come to visit him tonight. Discussed printed material we each had and would send to the other. He will see if he can find a record of the location of Rev. Cook's lands during the "Battle of Brown's Mill." Did afternoon's notes. Curtis called by Sara about 10:00 p.m. She had been and Nick & Jennifers helping them paint inside. Everything seemed okay. Nick's word processing program is "Word Perfect." Had heavy rains during the night. ----------

CIVIL WAR TRIP Part 3


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