The Facts Unravel #6 After six generations few military traces of the American Civil War 1861-1865 survive in Jefferson County MS. Ravenous armies stripped the land of livestock and food (and presumably fence rails) although no great battles or orgies of destruction occurred there. War and Reconstruction also stripped away the region's cloak of prosperity leaving bare poverty, but that's another issue. One scar remains today for all to see, a Union 24-pound cannonball imbedded in the brick front wall of the Old Presbyterian Church in Rodney MS. Before the Civil War Rodney was the largest town in Jefferson, erstwhile contender for the MS state capital, at one time reckoned the busiest river port between New Orleans and St. Louis. After the War in 1876 the Mississippi River shifted a few miles west, leaving the town high and dry. Today Rodney has all but withered away, leading some to call it a ghost town, though I believe the current resident disputes that. In the summer of 1863 Union forces seized control of the Mississippi River and cut the Confederacy in two. Vicksburg MS surrendered on the Fourth of July (and never again celebrated the holiday until 1944) and Port Hudson LA a few days later, severing the Trans-Mississippi states from the Richmond government. For the next two years Federal warships patrolled the Father of Waters to shut down all Confederate river traffic. During most of this period the "tinclad" gunboat USS "Rattler" enforced Washington's will at Rodney and vicinity. USS "Rattler" was one of 60-odd mixed-bag riverboats purchased and armed by the U.S. Navy, called "tinclads" to distinguish their bullet-proof light armor from the heavier cannon-proof ironclads. Drawing on average only 4 feet of water, the tinclad fleet flaunted the Stars and Stripes with near-impunity along the Mississippi and connected rivers. Named for the poisonous snake, "Rattler" began her career as the smallish 165-ton stern-wheel flat-bottom steamboat "Florence Miller." (One wonders what humorous combinations the sailors made from the boat's names.) Designated Tinclad #1, she boasted two long range Parrott rifles firing 30-pound shot and four 24-pounder smoothbore Napoleons, the equivalent of one and a half Army artillery batteries. (Gunners preferred the reliable Napoleons, as Parrotts had a reputation for bursting.) About 100 feet long and 30 feet wide, in a photograph "Rattler" resembles a two-story flat-roof motel for thirty or forty resident crewmen. Photograph and drawing of USS "Rattler" at the U.S. Naval Historical Center website http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-r/rattler.htm address current autumn 2003. On a quiet Sunday morning in late summer, September 13, 1863, "Rattler" lay stationary near the Rodney town wharf, her crew under Admiral Porter's standing orders to remain in the boat and endure the unremitting boredom of Navy shipboard life. Whether drawn by the desire for spiritual communion with a pro-Union divine, as one source opines, or by the lovely young ladies of Rodney parading in their finery on the way to church, as another suggests, Captain Fentress brought at least half his crew ashore. Playing truant in their Sunday-best uniforms, they quietly entered the Presbyterian Church and took pews. Apparently the men of "Rattler" made a habit of attending Sunday services at Rodney Presbyterian Church, for Confederate cavalrymen laid a trap and silently surrounded the building. (Fentress should have taken a lesson from the Scottish Presbyterian Covenanters, who always posted sentries before worshipping.) In the middle of the second hymn Lieutenant Allen of the Confederate Army interrupted the services with an apology to Rev. Baker and ordered the U.S. Navy men to surrender. A general fracas ensued. One Union man dodged behind a door and fired his pistol at Lt. Allen, the report deafening everyone in the building. Another tried to disappear under the voluminous hooped skirts of his local lady friend (and future wife.) Most of the congregation dived beneath their pews. One strong minded Mississippi matron stood her ground, shouting "Glory to God!" as the Rebels overpowered the Yankees. When the dust settled, 17 sailors including Capt. Fentress were Lt. Allen's prisoners. To their eternal embarrassment, "Rattler's" men were the only Northern sailors captured by Southern horse cavalry in the Civil War. Some sources vary in count and description of "Rattler's" men. 23 men left the boat, the 17 below were taken prisoner, and 6 unnamed sailors evaded capture and rejoined the boat. -- Prisoners of War, Officers: Walter E. H. Fentress, Acting Master (modern Lt. Cdr., boat's captain) Simon H. Strunk, Acting Ensign (probably second or third lieutenant in the boat) (Navy "acting" ranks equated to Army "brevet" ranks, wartime promotion above the peacetime limits set by Congress.) -- Prisoners of War, Enlisted men: Arthur Rodgerson, Gunner's Mate (senior gunner) John A. Roycroft, Ship's Corporal (boat's policeman) C.C. Devinney, Paymaster's Steward (boat's bookkeeper) Noah Parks, Quartermaster (boat's pilot) Oloff Nelson, Quarter Gunner (probably #2 gunner) James Robertson, First Class Fireman (engine room) Edwin Corbett, Thomas Brown, Frederick Plump, John Stark, Thomas Burns, John D. Masten, Walter Keef, Daniel Ryan and Maurice Ivory, Seamen. Alerted by the commotion and by six Federals who escaped the Confederate cordon, the senior lieutenant in "Rattler" assumed command and directed his men to fire into the village. One cannonball struck the Church; other shots damaged four houses. To prevent total destruction of the town, Lt. Allen sent a message to "Rattler" under flag of truce. "The people of Rodney were in no way responsible for what my men have done, and if a solitary shell is thrown into the town, I will proceed to hang my prisoners." The bombardment ceased, the cavalry decamped with their unhappy captives, and Rodney escaped lasting damage. Except for one Union 24-pound cannonball still imbedded in the brick front wall of the Old Presbyterian Church in Rodney MS. See modern photographs of the Church at http://www.civilwaralbum.com/vicksburg/rodney.htm address current autumn 2003. Epilogue. A few weeks later Fentress and his men were exchanged for a like number of Southerners, and resumed their Navy service at other posts. At the end of 1864 USS "Rattler" sank near Grand Gulf MS in a storm, her crew saved but the boat a total loss. In 1930 Gov. Bilbo extinguished the Town of Rodney. In 1966 the United Daughters of the Confederacy took over the Church, and in 1990 dedicated the building as their Official State Shrine. Bruce D. Liddell, BDLiddell@yahoo.com Birmingham AL, 12-Oct-2003 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

That is a most worthwhile and wonderful posting. I am printing it out and intend to use some of it in my genealogical research. Only recently, I researched Rodney, Ms- while trying to find information on my ancestor, Eusebius Bushnell, (originally from CN) who had a Spanish Land Grant in Spanish West Florida. Supposedly some of the boats landed in Rodney from other areas (maybe flatboats?) enroute to the Spanish Settlement. I have received a copy of his Land Grant, but much of it is in Spanish, and it states the land grant was around 12 mile Swamp. Incidentally 2 of Eusebius Bushnell's gr. grandsons were killed in the Civil War. One brother was attempting to put the flag back on the flag pole and was shot, the brother climbed up to finish the job and was killed also. True Grit!! Ethel (a proud Southerner).

Ethel - Thank you very much for your kind words. You've helped me realize my goal in writing these essays, sharing what I know so others can use it. But please remember, some of it just my opinion. For example, no source mentioned an ambush at the Church or repeated visits by "Rattler's" crew. But Lt. Allen's cool and polite behavior suggested he expected the Navy men to be in the Church, and if so, any good officer would bring plenty of Army men to surround the building. Ethel >> Eusebius Bushnell, who had a Spanish Land Grant in Spanish West Florida. Some of my Stampley ancestors had Spanish land grants. Their land was measured in "arpents" (1 arpent = about 1 acre) with river frontage in feet, and their city lots were in "toises" (1 toise = 1.949 meters = about 6 feet 4 inches.) Ethel >> Supposedly some of the boats landed in Rodney from other areas (maybe flatboats?) enroute to the Spanish Settlement. I have received a copy of his Land Grant, but much of it is in Spanish, and it states the land grant was around 12 mile Swamp. Rodney, originally called Petit Guelph or Little Gulf (as opposed to Grand Gulf upriver), was the first English-speaking settlement north of Spanish Natchez. Natchez District was an oasis of clear title in a continent of land fraud. I reckon that's what attracted your folks and my folks to the place. Before steamboats came to the Mississippi River in the 1820s, almost all downstream traffic was in flatboats. A small party could build a flatboat in a few days, and sell it for lumber or firewood when they arrived. (Do you remember the flatboat scenes in the movie "How the West Was Won"?) Ethel >> 2 of Eusebius Bushnell's gr. grandsons were killed in the Civil War. One brother was attempting to put the flag back on the flag pole and was shot, the brother climbed up to finish the job and was killed also. My father was a Southerner, but I'm 100% American. So far I've found 5 Civil War ancestors: 2 MS Rebels and 3 IN Yankees -- 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 3 privates -- 3 early volunteers, 1 late volunteer for the bounty money, 1 religious pacifist drafted -- 2 dead, 1 crippled, 2 survived intact. Almost a cross section of the national experience. Likewise I prefer the title "American Civil War" because most folks don't recognize the proper name, "The War of Damyankee Aggression." Grin. Thank you again for your note. Good luck with your research! Bruce __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com

My thanks to you, Bruce. Eusebius Bushnell and his wife Boridel Latimer had brought their family with them when they left Connectcut. They migrated down thru Tennessee, stopped off for some time (as he wrote letters back to some people in CN, praising the country), and bought and sold land (found in records of TN). His wife died in TN, and he continued on to New Orleans, LA, later remarrying a woman in New Orleans. He ended up in Spanish West Florida, where he died about 1805. His children settled around New Orleans. Ezra, his son, married Clarissa Mills, and they had several children (appears they may have lived around Evangeline Parish near the Rapids Parish line). Through this line came the 2 gr.grandsons of Eusebius Bushnell, who were killed in the Civil War. These 2 Bushnell brothers were born and raised in Louisiana. My gr.grandmother was their sister! Ethel

ETHEL, I don't know if we have corresponded before, I have talked to or corresponded with hundreds of people over the years. I have some on the BUSHNELL family as I collect info. on ALL RAWLS everywhere. And I have were MATTHEW BUSHNELL married SERENA RAWLS on the 6th of JUNE 1820 in OPELOUSAS, ST. LANDRY parish, LOUISIANA with CLARISSA STEPHENS giving her consent for her son MATTHEW BUSHNELL to marry. CLARISSA (X) STEPHENS and DENNIS M. STEPHENS signed the record apparently CLARISSA had married DENNIS M. STEPHENS after EZRA BUSHNELL died. The successions of SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA by the REV. DONALD J. HEBERT list thousands of records for that entire region if you don't already know that. EUSEBIA BUSHNELL is listed. Someone I contacted or vise versa gave me a lot of info. on MATTHEW BUSHNELL and his wives and their children, but I forget who and I have lost a lot of my e-mail records. I have that info. here somewhere in my thousands of pages of records SERENA RAWLS was the daughter of AMOS RAWLS (one of STEPHEN F. AUSTIN'S "old three hundred and a Captain of one of his five militia company's ) and LUCY SCOTT. You say CLARISSA was a MILLS. Was she kin to ROBERT MILLS of SUMNER county, TENNESSEE and the HOSKINS family? another branch of RAWLS were married into the MILLS family from there, WILLIAM RAWLS married SUSAN B. DICKASON, JUNE 8, 1837 at HARTSVILLE, SUMNER county, TENNESSEE. WILLIAM RAWLS and his cousin ROBERT MILLS operated flat boats on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER in the 1830's to 1840's. they lived in TUNICA county, MISSISSIPPI, at COMMERCE LANDING. WILLIAM'S brother THOMAS H. RAWLS married NANCY ANN McLAURIN {widow of ARCHIBALD CAMERON" May 31 , 1838 in JEFFERSON county, MISSISSIPPI BRUCE do you have anything on the WILLIAM RAWLS or ROBERT MILLS as they operated flat boats and you seem to know something about the early boat operators of MISSISSIPPI? I appreciate anything you can tell me. thanks very much BOBBY RAWLS BIG SPRING, TEXAS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ethel Sacker" <paulsacker@centurytel.net> To: <MSJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 12:57 PM Subject: Re: [MSJEFFER-L] The Facts Unravel #6 > My thanks to you, Bruce. > > Eusebius Bushnell and his wife Boridel Latimer had brought their family with > them when they left Connectcut. They migrated down thru Tennessee, stopped > off for some time (as he wrote letters back to some people in CN, praising > the country), and bought and sold land (found in records of TN). His wife > died in TN, and he continued on to New Orleans, LA, later remarrying a woman > in New Orleans. He ended up in Spanish West Florida, where he died about > 1805. > His children settled around New Orleans. > Ezra, his son, married Clarissa Mills, and they had several children > (appears they may have lived around Evangeline Parish near the Rapids Parish > line). Through this line came the 2 gr.grandsons of Eusebius Bushnell, who > were killed in the Civil War. These 2 Bushnell brothers were born and raised > in Louisiana. My gr.grandmother was their sister! > Ethel > > > > ==== MSJEFFER Mailing List ==== > "In the South, the breeze blows softer...neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative.- Charles Kuralt in Portrait of a People" >