Butler County, Alabama - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read), 1885

The War Between the States Interferes with the Great Prosperity of the People - The County Furnishes Many Brave Soldiers - The War Robs Her of Some of Her Best Men and Sweeps Away the Wealth of Her Citizens, Etc.

Amid great prosperity and progress, the South was stirred from center to circumference in 1861, by a declaration of war between the States. The party issues of the country culminated in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the

United States in i860, and war was declared against the Southern States no sooner than he had taken his seat as Chief Executive Officer. The Southern States, feehng that their people deserved justice, seceded from the Union, and formed the Confederacy, to decide all party issues at the point of the bayonet. The author will not attempt to enter into the details of this bloody conflict between the North and the South. He is concerned only in the part that Butler County took in the matter, and how she suffered from the effects of the conflict.

Her men were brave and heroic sons of liberty, and espoused the Southern cause with as much patriotism as Roman soldiers. The Greenville Guards, with Captain H. A. Herbert in command, set out for Richmond early in May, 1861. Several military companies were soon organized and equipped by the citizens of the county, and sent to the battle-field to fight for justice to rule over the land. The whole county was enthusiastic on the subject of joining the Confederate Army, and sixteen companies were soon formed, and marched toward the scene of action, feeling almost confident that their arrival would determine the result of the contest in favor of the South. The noble and thoughtful women from all parts of the county greatly assisted in the equipment of these companies of gallant men, and underwent many hardships and privations for the soldier-boys far from home. They worked with untiring energy to provide for their families and keep the soldiers in clothing at the same time. These patriotic daughters of Butler County, many of whom are still living in our midst, should be praised as much for the noble part they took in the late war, as our gallant soldiers, who spilt their life-blood on the gory fields of battle, and each should wear a crown of gold for their many self-denials in "the times that tried men's souls."

The wheels of commerce were soon clogged by the struggles of war, and all the luxuries, as well as some of the necessities, of life were taken from the people. The cards, the spinning-wheel and loom of pioneer life had to be pressed back into service, for making clothing for the family at home and for the absent ones fighting for peace and justice. Coffee and tea were hardly to be had at any price. Meal, bran, okra, potatoes, sassafras and other things were substituted as a beverage for coffee and tea.

A few men remained behind to prepare food for the army by working the slaves of several plantations in connection, and these men generally succeeded in making a good harvest every year during the war. The negroes labored faithfully and showed no signs of discontent, and are to be highly commended for their conduct and action in this great struggle concerning their future freedom. News was constantly received of the death of a brother, father, son, other near relatives, neighbors, or of the defeat of the Confederates in some battle; but this did not discourage the men at home nor the brave-hearted women, for they continued to work without thinking of giving up hope of victory for the Southern people. It is, indeed, sad, that all their hopes, arduous labors, self-denials, earnest and tearful prayers should be in vain; and, though the bravest and most gallant men of the nineteenth century fought for the Confederacy, the South was defeated. And in the spring of 1865, while the South bloomed in all the beauty of her flowers, and shed sweet fragrance over the soil made sacred by the blood of her noble citizens, the whole country was pillaged and plundered by the Federal Army - not satisfied with the injury already done the rebels, these thoughtless victors proceeded to drain the last drop of blood from the veins of the Southern people. The horse or mule was taken from the plow, corn from the barn, meat from the smoke-house, the last cent from the purse, every piece of jewelry that could be found - all these, and any other valuables that were in reach, were boldly seized by the Union soldiers and either carried off or destroyed. The dome of heaven was often lit up by glaring light from the flames that laid in ashes the palatial home of some Southern family. During this great excitement the Confederate soldiers began to return to their homes, to find the whole country in perfect confusion.

Among the gallant officers that were left dead upon the battle-field were Colonel Samuel Adams, commander of the Thirty-third Regiment; Captains R. N. Cook, Zachariah Daniel, William E. Dodson, E. Y. Hill, Lewis A. Livingston, J. D. Mc- Kee, H. H. Rutledge and William S. Sims. Besides these officers, there were many privates whose names the author could not mention here for want of space, although they were noted for their gallantry and courage in many hard-fought battles.

The war being over and the freedom of the colored people established, great excitement prevailed among the negroes. Some went off with the Union soldiers, while others, more sensible, contracted with their old masters to stay with them the remainder of the year for a certain part of the crop. All the bonds issued by the Confederate Government had now no value whatever, and cash money was at a premium. The citizens of the county, being robbed of their wealth by the freedom of their slaves and the high taxes of the war, began at once to arrange their business matters, to provide for their respective households and make the best of the circumstances in which the country was placed by the late war. In addition to the many disadvantages and embarrassments of the times, the people had to endure the provisional form of government, and be ruled by men either directly opposed to the Southern cause, or who were in sympathy with the Union men, and had turned traitor to the South for the purpose of gain. Every office in Butler County was soon filled by an officer against the will of the majority of the most intelligent citizens of the county. Several years were spent in trying to readjust matters, to wind up bankrupt and insolvent estates, and get back into the old path of happiness and prosperity. Many wealthy citizens sank amid the financial crash, only to rise in poverty and obscurity. This state of things could not last always, and a change for the better was earnestly hoped for by the downtrodden people. They gave up all hopes of the negro as ever being of any more service to them financially, and began to concentrate all their energies to fight their own battle in the struggle for subsistence.