IN my visits to the City Hotel and other places it was my delight to
scale the “breast works” that barred the way, built of huge bales of
cotton belonging to northern speculators. Cotton, which had long reigned
king in the South, was now “Uncle Sam’s” servant and was made to do his
bidding.
Vast quantities were stored away in warehouses and depots, awaiting
shipment, when one night the cry went around, “The rebels are coming,
the rebels are coming.” The cotton was seized by the military
authorities, piled up in the form of a wall around the most exposed
parts of the town and earth thrown over it. The soldiers worked all
night in constructing these fortifications. Ah! how well I remember the
night. We were awakened near the hour of midnight and told to prepare to
fly at a moment’s warning, as the rebels were rapidly advancing on
Jackson. We packed our few belongings, and after listening a while with
bated breath, lay down again with our clothes on and slept securely till
morning. With the morning’s dawn preparations were made for a mighty
battle. Artillery was planted in different parts of the town, three
lines of battle were formed, one of them being drawn up in front of the
hotel, and there the soldiers stood all day, their bayonets flashing and
glittering in the sunlight. The greatest excitement and enthusiasm
prevailed; officers and orderlies on horseback went dashing by, here,
there and everywhere, but the battle was never fought, for the rebels
never came. Four days later, on the 20th of December, the same troops,
headed by Earl Van Dorn, a dashing young cavalry officer, entered Holly
Springs, Miss., surprised and captured the Federal forces, which they at
once released on parole, fired the Union stores, blew up the arsenal and
paymaster’s quarters, and gained such a victory withal, as to set all
their hearts adancing, and all their flags aflutter. It was a great day
for the people of Holly Springs, and they yet speak of it as the
“glorious, glorious twentieth.”