By Berry Craig
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-985588.mp3
Murray, KY – The Commonwealth managed to remain neutral for the first few months of the American Civil War, but given its strategic importance, that condition wouldn't last long. When the war came, it arrived first in the Jackson Purchase; and on today's Kentucky Civil War Dispatch, we find out how people in the Purchase reacted when first the Confederates, then the Federals, took up residence.
On this date in 1861, many citizens in Hickman and Columbus, Kentucky were celebrating the arrival of Confederate troops. At the same time, the majority of Paducahans were chafing under Union occupation.
Most Smithland residents also resented the Yankee soldiers who came to their town.
Leading Columbus secessionist George C. Taylor welcomed the Rebels to his community "with the liveliest delight."
Soon after General Gideon Pillow took Columbus, his superior, General Leonidas Polk, came to town. A group of townsfolk gave him a letter beseeching him "to permit a few of the citizens of this city and its vicinity, so recently oppressed and suffering from the tyrannical rule of the Northern government, to express to you our profound gratification at the advent of the army under your command."
Apparently, Polk's soldiers were happy to be in Columbus. Private John Milton Hubbard of the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry wrote, "The Kentuckians seemed pleased with our coming and recruiting went forward accordingly." Hubbard called the Jackson Purchase " hog and hominy' country" and said "the soldiering was of the holiday kind."
The Memphis Appeal published a letter from another appreciative Tennessee soldier in Columbus. He reported that "a more generous, kind and hospitable people that occupy this and Fulton county below here, it has never been out good fortune to meet."
Later, the Appeal published an "Open Letter to the Citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky" from Columbus: "You may ask fellow citizens, why we citizens of Kentucky desire that no censure be attached to the Confederate army. We promptly answer, that if we must have an armed soldiery quartered in our midst, our experience and observation, as well as our sympathy and judgment, induce us to prefer the Southern to the Northern soldier."
Most Paducah and Smithland residents held similar views. Smithland had voted a secessionist to the General Assembly in August and several Paducah and Smithland men were already in Confederate gray.
When Paducahans heard the Rebels were in Hickman and Columbus, they expected to see Southern troops in their town any day. They hoisted Rebel flags of welcome.
In his memoirs, Grant recalled viewing the Confederate banners when he and his troops arrived. He wrote, "I never after saw such consternation depicted on the faces of the people. They were expecting rebel troops that day."
Standing on the Paducah riverfront, Grant read an official occupation proclamation in which he promised he came to defend the city against the Confederate "enemy." A St. Louis Republican reporter dryly noted that "The citizens did not appear to appreciate the favor."
But at least one of Grant's soldiers, an Illinois sergeant, was taken with some Paducahans. In a letter home, he wrote, "I never saw so many pretty women in my life. They hollered Hurrah for Jeff [Davis]' at us but that's all right. I could write until tomorrow about Paducah."
WKMS produces Kentucky Civil War Dispatches from West Kentucky Community and Technical College history professor Berry Craig. The Murray State alumnus is the author of Hidden History of Kentucky in the Civil War, Hidden History of Kentucky Soldiers and True Tales of Old-Time Kentucky Politics: Bombast, Bourbon, and Burgoo. For WKMS News, I'm Todd Hatton.