The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, November 3, 1886, Page 9

THE JONES CONFEDERACY. A Queer Chapter of War History—A Mississippi County that Set Up in | Business for Itself and Main- | tained Itself a Belligerent to the End. From the Forum. It is not generally xnown, or re- membered, if ever known, that in the second year of the late civil war a county mn Mississippi tormally seced- ed from its parent state and the south- ern contederacy and orgamzed a distinct government ot its own. Jef- terson Davis was much mortified when the news reached him of such rebellious proceedings in his own commonwealth, therefore as_ little publicity was given to the attair at the time as possible. It was in the latter part ot 1862 that a convention assembled at te court house in Ellisville, the seat ot justice of Jones county,and passed an ordinance ot secession, severing the county from the southern government altogether,declaring that as 4 part ot a state which had established a pre- cedent by itsrecentaction.the county had a perfect right to exercise simular power. It called itself the ‘Jones County Contederacy.”’ Its ordinance ot secession was a weighty document and read as follows: **Whereas the State of Mississippi has seen fit to withdraw trom the Federal Umon, tor reasons which appear qustifiable ; and whereas we,the citizens ot Jones county, clam the same nght, think our grieyances are sufficient by rea- son of an unjust law passed by the Congress ot the Contederate States ot America, forcing us to go to distant parts, etc., etc. Therefore, be it re- solved, that we sever the union here tofore existing between Jones county and the State of Mississippi and pro- claim our independence of said State and of the Contederate States of America—and we solemnly call upon Almighty Good to witness and bless this act.’’ (> Per Cent Interest. e borrower paying « reasonable com- ission. Option granted to pay part or ll of principal before maturity and stop nterest. oney on Hand no Delay. e pay you the money and clese the loan fore any papers go out of our hands. bstracts of Title Furuishe t any Tract of Land or Town Lot in Bates County. Walton & Sucker, Land Mortgage Co. BUTLER, MO. A resolution was offered in the convention to join **the United States ot America—for offensive and de- but almost im. mediately voted down—many mem- bers of declaring that *tsuch an act would be extreme- ” fensive measures, the convention ly inconsistent, as the United States were now pursuing a coercive Confederate States.’” The president chosen was Nathan Knight—*Nate”’ Knight, as measure towards the he was tamilariy knowr, a man ot intense force of character, bold, de- fiant, and without fear, but one ot the most literate cit.zens of Jones county. As is generally the case with such characters, his honesty was doubtful; yet he would have made an able commander in the field had the opportunity offered in a le- gitimate way. aad he was exceeding ly popular with the people of his litle confederacy. The new gov- einment had its congress—both branches—and Knight chose his cabinet trom ameng the most ardent secessionists inthe county: and the numerous small offices in his gift were taken in groups: in many in- stances one man performed the duties of several. A code ot laws was prepared to meet the require- ments of the miniature confederacy. Conscription and confiscation acts were pissed, and then written out on common paper, and nailed to the trees in the vicinity, as not a news- paper existed in the entire county at that time. The community was a mixture of oer in J IPERA HOUSE BLOCK, i? : i N I NK all sorts of people. Many were op- iS le UTLER NA‘TIO A BA posed to the war, at least so far as J | taking a gun or hand was concerned. Its vast and almost impenetrable 7 swamps made the county a forbidden ground for recruiting agents; and deserters trom the Confederate armies 1n the field found a hayen ot retreat from the storm of conflict, and there was plenty of work for willing hands in the saw mills and | econ the sheep farms. In 1560 the total population of this county was 3,323—the white male portion In a little more than a CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $70,500. | Does a General Banking Business. W. E. WALTON, Cashier being 1,462. 20,000. Gamblers, laborers, preach A ers, dudes, deserters and 1 | year it hadincreased to more than { | desperate H i men and determined women—refu- | gees from the “Davis goyernment,” who had been forced by the pressure of war and conscription act to leave their homes—tormed a large portion ot this motley population. The Southern Contederacy had met with severe losses about this time, New ome had tallen, the Merrimac was none, Lee had retreated trom | Maryland, and the Union victones in the southwest had a depressing effect. The Richmond fathers in Passing a conscription act displeased many. The people protested against such arbitrary proceedings, and held trequent and heated indignation meetings ; finally, they met, as we have seen, in solemn conclave, re- solving to set up a confederacy of their own. Then followed what was styled “the reign ot terror in Jones county.”’ President Knight issued an order requiring all aliens—enemies—to leave the county. A refusal to com- ply with this order gave an excuse tor bloody butchery and the burning of dwellings. An act of conscription was passed in 1863 by Knight's governmeat, calling into service all ablebodied citizens of Jones county, between the ages of 18 and 45 years, and ordering them to report at once to Knight; this order was strictly enforced and the torch freely applied to the houses of absent confederates, Confiscation of horses, mules and cattle were unceremoniously exe- cuted. On several occasions Knight’s cavalry raided into the hostile coun- try and sately returned with captured cattle and forage—on one occasion, an expedition sent out, captured and bronght in a Contederate wagon train, which greatly emboldened the Participants to other and like deeds. Gen. Lowery, the present gover- nor of Mississipp1, commanded the Confederate forces sent to crush out the Jones county rebellion, and met with stubborn and well planned re sistance. But for the timely arrival of his artillery ke would have had much more serious work. Knight and his men took to the swamps and carried on their wartare from these fastnesses until after the surrender of Gen. Lee. Strong defensive earth works were thrown up, and rifle pits weve made ; into these men, women and children—old enough to hold a gun, took their turns at keep ing at bay the real Contederates. It has been estimated that an army of 10,000 people were under Knight’s command, in armed resistance to the Davis The Knight government was not without its ene- mies within itself, and many house- holds divided in teeling, tamilies were broken up and _ those members who would not espouse the cause ot the fones county ceces- sionists were driyen beyond the county lines with threats and bitter denunciations. At the close of the war a number of these exiles return- ed to the county to find their homes gone, and meet with a receptioa trom those who had remained stead- tast to Knight’s polhcy more bitter than the scenes at their expulsion. The old wounds of Knight confisca- tion and exile acts were opened afresh, and those who had fled before the fire, sword, or halter would not be admitted to the hearthstones of their tormer homes and families; ammosities were rekindled at the sight ot some father or brother who had served the real confederacy as a volunteer, and had now returned at the close of the war. A sort of Ku- Klux was organized in the county and mysterious disappearances were frequent; the torch was freely ap- pled and quarrels between the Knight loyalists and Davis loyalists were settled by the pistol and knite only. Ex-President Knight at this late day is never seen outside with- out his trusty revolver and rifle, and though he seeks no quarrel with any one, he would be a bad man with whom to debate. His home 1s some distance trom Etlisville, where he has lived in retirement since his ce- thronement, working industniously | on his farm. Like his more illustri- \ ous exemplar Davis, he. too, refuses | to be reconstructed. He has lived | ia the midst of his enemies in defi- ‘ance ot their threats almost under shadow of the revolver. His past 1s a sealed book with him, and } nothing will mduce him to talk ot ithe war, or of the attempt of the government. were People ot Jones county to establish a government for themselves Many ot the names ot those most promis nent MES county rebeltion are w * prudent reasons, as the teud and vendetta system still exist in some parts of the county. A tew years ago a sanguinary affair took place which might rank with any Cotorado romance at the pres- ent day. Two brothers, one who had served the Davis government, the other the Knight confederacy, met after an absence of years to renew the animosities engendered by this double contederacy, a deadly encounter with short sharp knives at once ensued blood-curdling in the extreme, the brothers being allowed to continue in their murderous work until both fell to the ground in a sem.- lifeless condition, and were litted to their feet amidst the plaud- its of brutes in the torm ot men, and allowed to hack at each other in a death grapple sickening to relate. Both me. tell, dying almost simul- taneously with their knives in each others bosoms. And this is only One of a senes of anmbuilations which would furnish food for the dime novelists for a generation or two. Since the war, many tamulies have moved out of the county to escape having their property burned or be- ing put to death, and in some instan- ces have been pursued to the death. Knight and his ex- confederates tully realizing their position, have kept aloof from their old associates, Jones county 1s low and flat, the soil being generally unproductive. Turpentine, lumber, rosin, and woo! are the staples. There is fine graz- ing in some parts, and since the wae many fine large sheep ranches have been established ; several large lum- ber mills are owned and worked by the citizens, and a portion of the tand has been bought by Northern capi- talists, who work the forests «od raise stock, Near Ellisville there is a settlement of thritty Germans en- gaged in the lumber business. In politics Jones county 1s demu- cratic toa man. It is also a strong prohibition county. The county building in Ellisville is an unpreten- tious, barn like structure, seeming pertectly unconscious of having ever played the part of a capital, in an affair which now reads tike a chap ter ot the imagination. G. Norton GALtoway, Historian Sixth Army Corps. Farmers, Don't Forget Atthe old Star Blacksmith Shop, just cust of the Grange store, on the southeast corner of the square, you can find your old friend, Jack Gipson, who will do your work prompt and treat you like a gentleman in every respect. We invite ail new comers to give The Star Blacksmith a trial and see if you can’t get youw horse shoeing, or plow work, or buggies repaired just to suit you. Try him once and satisfied. He Guarantees Satisfaction. To Exchange. A Livery Stable and House for stock of goods. A Livery Stable and House for farm in Bates county. A Livery Stable and House for Butler property. A 2-story Brick Business House on public square for farm or Butler property, J. H. Sisson, But.er, Mo. Notice. Notice ie hereby given, Notice eby given, a prea ave been granted to the bv the Bates county pg ood court, county, Missouri, bearing date September 1986. All persons wing against eaid estate are required to exusl to him for allowance within date of said setbers oe eet any benefits of such estate, eter te not exhibited withis two years the date of the publication of this motion will be torever barred. Joux 8. hase a