Up around the corner

Ok, so heading out of Alexander Stephens State Site, I checked out a few other nearby things, including the Crawfordville Baptist Church, pictured above, where Harry and Eliza (see last post) and some of their descendents are buried.

Phillips Mills Baptist Church, just north of Crawfordville

"Elder Silas Mercer

Baptist Minister-Chaplain-Theologian-Statesman

Born Feb 25, 1745, North carolina, died Aug 1, 1796 Wilkes County, GA. Was converted and baptized circa 1775 into the Kiokee Baptist Church. Founded Phillips Mill Church, May 7, 1785 and served as pastor 1785-1796. Later founded Bethesda 1785, Powelton 1786, Clark's Station 1786, Sardis 1788 and others. Helped organize the first Baptist Association. The Georgia
Chaplian- Revolutionary War. Leader in merger of separate and regular Baptists in Georgia and South Carolina. Delegate to Georgia Constitutional Conventions 1789 and 1795. Established Salem Academy 1793. Defender of Calvinistic Doctrine. Silas and Dorcas Mercer had eight children, two sons were teachers, three sons, including Jesse Mercer, were Baptist Ministers.
Remains of Silas and Dorcas Mercer moved from original site at Ficklen to this site Oct 12, 1976"

Little Aleck

Ok, so here is the reason I came to Crawfordville, this is the home and burial site of Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens. We begin in the small on site museum displaying various artifacts from the Civil War.

Uniforms and weapons

Medical equipment

Pieces of railroad that was destroyed by Sherman's army enroute to Savannah.

Various reunion badges and ribbons

This was perhaps the most interesting thing in the museum. I had not heard of the Cross of Honor before, and certainly not in this context. The Cross of Honor was created by the Confederate government as a military award similar to the US Medal of Honor. After the war, around 1900, the Daughters of the Confederacy were authorized to give the awards post-humously. The awards pictured above, however, appear to be modern US awards, with the Southern Cross on bottom. For example the green and yellow striped one in the center is clearly the Vietnam Service medal and says so on the medal itself, but instead of the traditional round medal, it is cross shaped. Likewise with the blue and white Korean Service medal to is left. If anyone has more information on these, I am certainly interested to find out more.

Alexander Stephens was born, raised, and educated in Georgia, and rose to become a very succesful lawyer despite his small size and high voice. He began his political career in 1836 when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He then moved from there to the State Senate, then the US House until 1859. In spite of the fact that he opposed secession, when the South left, he was elected to the Confederate Congress, then became the Vice President of the Confederacy. Toward the end of the war, he realized the situation's futility and left Richmond to return to his home, where he was captured on May 11, 1865. He was held as a prisoner at Fort Warren, Massachusetts for five months before he was pardoned. In 1873 he returned to the US Congress until 1882 when he was elected Governor. Unfortunetly, he died four months later. His house named Liberty Hill, was purchased in 1845, but he tore it down and rebuilt it in 1875. Above is the master bedroom, built on the first floor right in front. unusual design, but built for him because by then he was crippled, hence the wheelchair by the bed. Another interesting feature is that the bed faces north-south. He was always a sickly person, and a widely held belief at the time was that the north-south magnetic lines were good for health.

This is what was known as the "man room", where his desk was, and where he played Whist. Many of the items in the house were his, and were returned when the State bought the house. Everything else is authentic period though. For example, the table here belonged to his college roommate. The bust in the back is of him, done by a youth who he payed to put through college. He did this with many students, both white and black.

This is the dining room. The wheelchair here was his first. Donated by a group of ladies from Philadelphia that were impressed by a speech he gave them.

The tea room, or "ladies room". The organ belonged to him, though he didn't play it. Although he was not married, he often had ladies at the house, and they would play the organ for him.

A guest bedroom for visiting family members, usually his half brother, Linton

Bedroom for visiting children

Ledger kept by his half brother Linton.

This room was specially reserved for Robert Toombs, his good friend. Toombs was a fellow lawyer, fellow college alumni, also served in Congress, and was the Confederate Secretary of State. He lived a few miles up the road in Washington, GA. I originally planned to visit his house too, but ran out of time.

His personal library, many of his original books are still here, as well as the ladder. This room is where he was captured by Union troops, and existed at the time because it is in a small separate portion of the house that was not rebuilt.

His bedroom back of the library, where he stayed while the main house was rebuilt.

His servant's house

Inside the servant's house

A photo of his house servants. The woman, Eliza, had belonged to him since she was 12. The male is Harry, who she met and wished to marry, but he belonged to someone else. The following letter was written in March 1850 from Stephens to Linton, who was watching the house while he was away:

"Dear Brother-

In my letter written at the house today I forgot to reply to the request Googer's Harry to take Eliza for a wife. Say to him that I have no objection-And tell Eliza to go to Simon and Henrys and get her a wedding dress including a pair of fine shoes etc. and to have a decent wedding of it. Let them cook a supper and have such of their friends as they wish-Tell them to get some "Parson Man" and be married like "Christian Folks". Let the wedding come off sometime when you are home so that you may keep order amongst them. Buy a pig and let them have a good supper-Let Eliza bake some pound cake and set a good wedding table. "

Stephens was known to be a kind master to all of his slaves, and following the war, he put one of Harry and Eliza's kids through college. Descendants of him recently held a reunion at Liberty Hall to pay their respects to Stephens.

This is the gas pump that provided gas to the lamps in the house. The large well on the left housed the tank, and the cabling led to a large stone weight. About twice a week, the machine was wound up, and then a back and forth type motion applied a continous pressure on the tank to send the gas.

Stephens grave, which reads:

This tablet is a tribute from the Old Guard of the Gate City Guard to the member of their departed friend Alexander Hamilton Stephens. Patriot and Statesman, Vice President of the Confederate States of America, born feb 11, 1812, died mar 4 1883. His remains rest beneath this tablet. Dedicated Oct 19, 1913

Grave of his half brother Linton Stephens reads:

Linton Stephens, Georgia, Lt Col 15thRegt GA Infantry Confederate States Army, July 1, 1823, July 14, 1872.

All in a day's drive...

Ok, so I have been noticeably absent from cyberland for a few days, but now I have to show a one day tip. So The kid managed to get so much Christmas loot, that we couldn't even haul it all home, so I had to go back and get it. Not one to turn down an oppurtunity, I made a few stops. Somehow I wound up in the DEAD CENTER of nowhere, and after arriving in Crawfordville, GA, I realized I had no money. Then I found out there was no ATM in town. I had to go 12 miles away to find the closest one. Word to the wise, ya know. Anyway, it was well worth it, as the next post will show. For now, above is the Taliaferro county courthouse in Crawfordville.

Couple markers on the way to Crawfordville. Also middle of nowhere.

On the Courthouse grounds

The colonial road from Charleston to Vicksburg followed the highway at this point. The route, used by Col. Langdon Welch on his expedition to the Mississippi in 1698, was thereafter followed by British traders. Through Taliaferro Co., it followed the present route, Raytown to Crawfordville to Union Point, then Ogeechee River Old Town. Wm. Bartram, celebrated traveler, crossed here in 1773 with the party, headed by Col. Barnett, which surveyed 2,000,000 acres of land ceded by the Creeks and Cherokees to the Colony of Georgia. Lafayette followed this road on his American tour in 1825.

This County, created by an act of the Legislature Dec. 24, 1825, is named for Colonel Benjamin Teliaferro, Revolutionary soldier in Lee's Legion and a member of Congress from 1799 to 1802. In this city stands Liberty Hall, now a State Shrine, beloved home in life and the last resting place of Alexander H. Stephens, affectionately known as "Little Alec" and "The Great Commoner." Born in a log cabin in this county in 1812 and graduating from the University of Georgia in 1832, Mr. Stephens began his public career by serving six consecutive terms in the Georgia legislature with distinction. He was elected to Congress in 1843 and served through 1859. He voted against secession in the Georgia Convention of 1861 but accepted his State's decision and was a delegate to the Montgomery convention at which the Confederacy was born. Elected Vice President of the Confederacy he served throughout the war, opposing many of the policies of President Jefferson Davis. Mr. Stephens was elected to the United States Senate in 1866 but a seat was refused him. He was again elected to Congress in 1873 and served until 1882, when he was elected Governor of Georgia dying in office on March 4, 1883. Among Taliaferro County's first officers were: Sheriff Asa C. Alexander, Superior Court Clerk Marcus Andrew, Inferior Court Clerk Henry Perkins, Coroner Solomon Harper and Surveyor Henry Stewart.

1917-1918

Dedicated to those of Taliaferro County, GA.

Who offered their lives in Humanity's defense

in the War of the Nations

and in memory of those who gave

their full measure of devotion.

A tribute from the Crawfordville Woman's Club

Confederate monument

In sacred memory of the men of Taliaferro County who mad the supreme sacrifice

World War I

Roy Dozier

World War II

L.A. Cason

Henry C. Simons

Roger W. Gunn

Charles Roberts

On fames eternal camping ground, their silent tents are spread and glory guards with solemn round the bivouac of the dead.

"They died that we might live"

Ok, so here is Union Point, where I had to drive to find an ATM

This monument read "Commemorating the site of the First Regimental reunion of Confederate Veterans. Survivors of the 3rd Georgia Regiment met at the Union Point Fairgrounds July 30-31, 1874."

Sodor Wars Episode One: The Phantom Thomas

A long time ago on an island far, far away.....
The Island of Sodor was a happy place. All the engines and other residents lived in peace and prosperity. Who's that coming around the bend now? It's Thomas! Hello Thomas! Thomas toots sadly that he has not seen any other engines for quite some time. Even his loyal friend Percy seemed to have disappeared.

Then as he came around the corner of Crescent Canyon, he found a new engine. "Oh, hello!" cried Thomas.

"Oh.... um.. hi...." replied the new engine.

"I suppose you are new to the Island?" puffed Thomas.

"Yes..... I suppose you could say that I am." replied the new train.

"Say," said Thomas. "You look a lot like me, what is your name anyhow?"

"um...er...uh.... I'm going to KILL YOU!!!!"

Thomas quickly tried to puff away, but the mysterious engine was far too fast for him, and plowed over his passenger cars. Thomas could hear the screams of the passengers dying in agony behind him as him engine sped up from the lightened load.

"Bustin' boilers!" cried Thomas. "That b*tch is trying to kill me!"
"Who are you?" cried Thomas. "Are you some kind of monster! And how were you not on the track?"

Then the mysterious engine raced after Thomas, seemingly bent on his destruction. He chased him round the bend and up the mountain going faster and faster until Thomas nearly thought he would simply die of exhaustion!

Then as they rounded the corner onto New Sodor Bridge, the new engine's larger size proved its downfall as it flew off the track, landing with a mighty crash!
Thomas continued down the track around Dead Man's Curve until he found Percy sitting high up on the canyon wall. "Oh Percy!" he cried.

"Hello Thomas," said Percy. "What is the trouble?"

"Oh Percy you wouldn't believe it! There is a new engine that tried to kill me! And he wasn't on the track at all!" explained Thomas.

"Now Thomas," replied Percy, "I'm sure he was on the track, you just didn't realize it..."

"Say Percy, what track are you on, way up there?" asked Thomas.

"Oh, this is a new line they have been working on. It is a special bypass for the New Sodor Bridge." replied Percy.

"Oh alright." Said Thomas. "Well I best go find Sir Topham Hat and tell him about this new engine."

As Thomas puffed slowly away, Percy peered after him and muttered to himself, "yes, I don't think we will have to worry about this half-wit Thomas..."