Just after the war between the States the town of Jefferson was thrown
into panic by the murder one night of a “carpet bagger”—carpet bagger
being the name given to those men who came into the Southern towns
immediately following the war to stir up the people, and especially the
negroes, against the authorities,—it was necessary for the government to
send troops to Jefferson to restore order. A stockade was built on the
hill called “Sand Town,” this stockade was made of immense timbers, and
was about 70×100 feet, with walls fifteen feet high and broad enough on
top for the soldiers to walk constantly. Many prominent men of Jefferson
were placed in this prison, where life was most cruel and unbearable.
Many died from exposure and pneumonia. Mr. Lev. Gray told us that he
made just one visit to the stockade, going with his mother and Mrs.
Slaughter. Just after leaving to go home Mr. Slaughter escaped. Mr.
Slaughter had only one arm but he proved himself a fast runner. He made
his way to the river and cast a stone across. The soldiers, hearing the
noise and seeing the water disturbed, began searching for Mr. Slaughter
on the other side, while he followed the bank of the river into the City
and to Allen and Ligon Wholesale and Retail Grocery Store on Dallas
Street. Major Allen hid him in the basement of the store. When the
soldiers came to look for Mr. Slaughter and started down in the basement
Major Allen said: “All right, but what if there is a bull dog down
there?” The soldiers left immediately.
This is just one instance of many narrow escapes from the Stockade.