I’m tweeting some stuff about Southern Unionism in Alabama… after all, today is the 150th anniversary of Alabama’s vote to secede… but, at 61 for and 39 against, it calls for closer examination.
The online Encyclopedia of Alabama has a nice piece about Alabama Unionists => here (written by Margaret M. Storey, who is also the author of a larger look at Alabama’s Unionists in Loyalty and Loss: Alabama’s Unionists in the Civil War and Reconstruction). Here’s a paragraph from that piece in the online encyclopedia…
These delegates convened in Montgomery on January 7, 1861, and debated secession for four days. On January 11, 1861, the convention passed Alabama’s Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 61 to 39. Many of those who voted against the ordinance, however, ultimately did support secession, and four immediately reversed themselves and signed with the majority. Among the opposition, 33 delegates subsequently signed the “Address to the People of Alabama,” in which they pledged to consult with their supporters and then act on their wishes. Ten signatories of the address signed the ordinance to satisfy their constituents. Other delegates who rejected the ordinance eventually took active part in the war. Only three signers—Henry C. Sanford of Cherokee County, Elliot P. Jones of Fayette County, and Robert Guttery of Walker County—never signed the ordinance and maintained their Unionism throughout the war. Only two wartime Unionists—R. S. Watkins of Franklin County and Christopher C. Sheets of Winston County—signed neither the “Address” nor the Ordinance of Secession.
I’d like to point out where some (if not all) of those in favor were leaning. Specifically, we have the quote from William Lowndes Yancey who lashed out at those who opposed secession:
The misguided, deluded, wicked men in our midst, if any such there be, who shall oppose it [secession], will be in alignment with the abolition power of the Federal government, and as our safety demands, must be looked upon and dealt with as public enemies.
Strong words indeed, and focused on those who opposed secession as if they were in favor of abolition (in most cases, an inaccurate claim)… rather than those who were in favor of secession and clearly on the quest to preserve of slavery.
Still, that’s not so much my point this evening. Rather, I’m interested in those named as absolutely against secession. Who were they? Well, while the same encyclopedia provides a quick sketch of Henry C. Sanford, there are no sketches for the others listed. Here’s what I’ve come up with in a quick search through the Web:
Elliot Priest Jones (1819-1880): A native of Lawrence County, Alabama. Democrat. Elected Judge of the County Court of Fayette, 1847; State Senator, 1850. Reelected 1853, 1855, and 1857. Member of Alabama’s Secession Convention, voting against. In 1865, a member of the Constitutional Convention to reorganize the State. Elected in 1865 to the Senate from the District composed of Fayette and Marion counties, serving through the sessions of 1865-66, and 1866-67. Honored by the Legislature of 1866 by a county named for him, though as others came into politics, this was no longer named, the county later being called Sanford. Source: Reminiscences of Public men in Alabama for Thirty Years (1872) by William Garrett.
Robert Guttery (1801-1877): Known as the father of the Primitive Baptist Church in Walker County. Elder in the Primitive Baptist Church. Regretfully, I could find little else about him. There was, however, another Robert Guttery who was a nephew, AND member of the 1st Alabama Cavalry (US). This Robert Franklin Guttery of the 1st Alabama, was a son of Rev. Johnson Guttery (1806-1876), brother to Elder Robert Guttery.
Richard Sharp Watkins (1815-1881): Born in Abingdon, Virginia. Relocated to Tuscumbia, and later Russellville, Alabama, where he practiced law. For sometime, associated in his practice with William Skinner, a Whig. Elected to Probate Judge of Franklin County, Alabama, 1843, remaining in that post until 1849, when he resigned. Watkins represented Franklin County in the lower house of the State Legislature from 1849-1854. Also served as revenue officer for some time, having sixteen counties under his supervision, and was Chancellor 1873-74. Delegate to the Alabama’s Secession Convention. Both Watkins and John Anthony Steele (1835-1916… see more about him => here… he later embraced secession and served as an officer under Nathan Bedford Forrest) represented Franklin County, and both voted against secession. Both also served on the famous “Committee of Thirteen” in that convention. Watkins brother-in-law, Henry Cox Jones (later a member of the Provisional Congress of the C.S.A.; see a biographical sketch => here), represented Lauderdale County at the convention, and also both opposed the ordinance and refused to vote for it. Watkins was also a Freemason. Source: Distinguished Men, Women and Families of Franklin Co., Alabama, (ca. 1928) by R.L. James.
Charles Christopher Sheats, also known as Christopher Columbus Sheets (1839- 1904): See his Congressional biographical sketch => here, and his Encyclopedia of Alabama biography, => here. Also, the following piece is an entertaining read:
From The Mountain Eagle, June 24, 1914:
Chris Sheets Was Born in Walker County. Some Political History—Elder Sheets Lived in Five Counties Without Moving. Many people of North Alabama were consistently and bitterly opposed to secession. Several of these have been mentioned in these annals, but there were thousands. Some of them were good people and held the respect of their neighbors, but others were consistently wrong on all moral and political questions. When the secession convention was called by Governor Moore under instructions from the legislature, one of the delegates was C.C. Sheets, of Winston. Mr. Sheets was born in Walker county, of Georgia parents, April 10, 1836. The elder Sheets, the father of C.C. Sheets, used to remark that he had lived on a farm in Cullman many years; that during his occupancy it was in four counties. After that it was put in Cullman county, making five counties. Young Sheets got his education in the neighborhood schools, and in the academy at Somerville, Morgan county.
At the age of 18 young Sheets began to teach and took art in public affairs. At 22 he was elected a member of the most important convention the state had from the time of its admission, the secession of 1861. He was elected as a Union man and he opposed secession right through from the first day till the ordinance was passed, but took no part except to vote. He voted against it and refused to sign it, but he did not sign the statement made by those who opposed it. He went back home and became a candidate for the legislature the same year and was elected. In order to take his seat in the body he had to take oath of allegiance to the Confederate States to the State of Alabama, then out of the old Union. Mr. Sheets did take the oath and was seated.
His conversation caused an investigation of his loyalty and the committee recommended his expulsion and he was duly expelled in 1862. Sheets was soon arrested for treason and was imprisoned, his own words being the strongest evidence against him. George H. Thomas, of the Union army, arrested General McDowell and held him until Sheets was released by the Confederate government. The case was that Sheets had voluntarily taken the oath of allegiance and had violated it and had said in private that he would do what he could against it. He was under suspicion and under military survellance till the war ended.
After the war, Sheets promptly became a Republican and was elected to the convention of 1865 to restore Alabama to the Union. He was one of the few men in both conventions. He was a candidate for Congress in 1865 but was defeated. He was on the Grant electoral ticket in 1868 and was rewarded in 1869 by an appointment as counsel to Denmark, where he stayed three years. In 1872, in the dark days, Mr. Sheets was elected to Congress from the state at large and served a term. In 1874 he was again a candidate, but the white people won the election. After that he was “taken care of” in one office or another until Cleveland’s election when he dropped out of public sight very largely, but was made a United States commissioner. Sheets was a good stump speaker, particularly pleasing to the ignorant. He lived until a few years ago, with strong friends and bitter enemies.—Birmingham Ledger.
In yet another article, the following…
The Southern Confederacy, November 22, 1862
A Public House Without Sheets – The Alabama House of Representatives yesterday decided by a nearly unanimous vote, that Christopher Columbus Sheets, of Winston County, is no longer worthy to occupy a seat in the Legislature as a representative of any portion of the people of Alabama. The evidences of his complicity with the enemy were complete, and it was therefore due to the dignity of the House that he should be expelled. – Montgomery Advertiser
… and this is also interesting…
Mountain Eagle, September 8, 1886
In Winston county there are only seventeen negroes, and out of that number only one voter. Another singular fact is that Winston, the whitest of all the white counties, was until recently the banner Republican county of the State. It furnished quite a number of soldiers to the Federal army. C.C. Sheets, who is a native of Winston county, has always been the leader of the people there and they followed him implicitly. – Advertiser.
… and lastly, this…
Mountain Eagle, May 7, 1902:
Christopher Columbus Sheets has been put on the pension list, and now draws a salary of $30.00 per month. Senator Pettus, in making the argument, said: “The beneficiary is a very old man, and was late a recruiting officer of the U.S. army in the civil war.” This is news to us, and we regard it as an injustice to the brave federal soldiers who are now receiving only about $10.00 per month. – Moulton Advertiser.
My wife’s ancestors being from Marion County (some being identified as Unionists, while others served… possibly conscripted… in the 5th Alabama Cavalry, CS), I was curious to check on the delegates from that county… and as to how they voted. The findings didn’t disappoint… one, Winston Dilmus Stidham (1810-1895), voted against secession, and appears to have experienced division within his own family. The other, Langdon Cheevies Allen (1833-1902), is a little more difficult to figure out… but in the end, he did (as you can see) embrace the Confederacy, serving as a major in the 5th Alabama Cavalry.
So, while certainly a part of Dixie… don’t be mislead to believe the commitment to the Confederacy in the “heart of Dixie” was absolute.
As a dual post, this same post can also be found at Southern Unionists Chronicles.
Ken
January 12, 2011
Very interesting article. I like many Alabamaians still consider these unionist traitors. Many joined the federal army[1st alabama union] and fought against their neighbor.[days gap and Atlanta] After the war they became republcans and were appointed to seats of power in Alabama.[sheriffs, judges etc.] White former soldiers could not vote until 1868 and Alabama was at the mercy of former slaves and scalawags. When writing about these traitors the whole story should be told. Thanks Ken
Marc Ferguson
January 12, 2011
“Alabama was at the mercy of former slaves and scalawags.”
Now there’s some rich irony for you!
;^)
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
What comes around, goes around… eh, Marc?
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
Thanks for your comment, but I have to ask, traitors to what, exactly? Per the July 1861 meeting at Looney Tavern, the Free State of Winston established that it wished to remain neutral, and out of the war. At heart, it appears they were Unionists, but wished to neither fight for the Union or the Confederacy, and from what I have seen, they did not wish to go to war against their neighbors. Their position was that they did not agree with the radicals who sought secession, and it appears clear that it was all about not fighting the rich man’s war. Nonetheless, the Confederacy, and specifically, the state of Alabama, didn’t see things this way, and began enforcing conscription in the county. In turn, this caused many to flee to the mountains… and turned many away from the neutrality line to serving in the Union. Therefore, I would agree, let’s tell the whole story, indeed. They just wanted to be left alone… sound familiar?
Ken
January 12, 2011
Robert your comments about winston county are true. The people of winston county suffered after the war for the choices they made. This was for years the poorest county in the state. This was the only republican stronghold for years. Some joined the union army early in the war, but most chose to wait until after 1863 when the union army had the upper hand and had occupied north Alabama and Mississippi. [check roster] Not a few were former confederate soldiers who had been in prison camps. Some enlisted as late as 1865. This tells me a lot about these traitors and their character. ‘ No monuments for these traitors’ Thanks Ken
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
I’ll respond at length later, but regarding monuments, you are incorrect. Winston County’s statuary monument recognizes her sons on both sides, and I’m also familiar with plaques on Marion County’s Courthouse, one of them recognizing her sons in the 1st Alabama. They are well deserved
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
Ken, Again, I’m going to ask, what were these Unionists betraying? Why were they traitors? Frankly, since you call them traitors, shall we not also address the treason of those who called them traitors at the time of the war?
Craig Swain
January 12, 2011
“Alabama was at the mercy of former slaves and scalawags.”
Sarah Wiggin’s book is the most often cited for this. But as even she pointed out, many of that number were opportunists, certainly not idealists. The question then arises as to the “flavor” of Unionism in the individual examples. In several examples (Robert offers), individuals actually took up arms. Yet compare that to the merchant, who near the close of the war reversed his support for the Confederacy. I think there’s more depth and diversity to the story of “scalawags” than simply leaving it at “they oppressed their fellow southerners.”
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
Indeed, Craig, there were opportunists from both sides, at various times, and I’d submit that this went much farther than the reconstruction years, and included some who applied for Southern Loyalist claims and even pensions as Confederate soldiers. Principles held during the war were subject to compromise, even into the 1920s and 1930s. In some instances, it boiled down to what mattered at that time. Money is necessary to survive.
Robert Moore
January 12, 2011
And scalawag is frequently used as a term of convenience in the name of animosity, rather than a reflection of ability to consider all there is to be considered. If the whole story is to be considered, and time is taken to reflect on all, there is no room for the term “scalawag”.
Richard
January 13, 2011
I have recently been reading about the battle of Monroe’s Crossroads. Went past this site many times when I was in the NC Army National Guard and had no idea that the 1st Alabama Cavalry (Union) took part in this battle. Like most people I thought they were Confederate.
Liese
February 3, 2011
My gggrandfather was one of a group of men in Winston County who did their utmost all during the war to assist “outliers” (men who hid from conscription into the Confederate army) and deserters to keep out of the way of the (frequently violent) reprisals from the Confederate government. As to their being “traitors”, you could easily say the same about southerners who joined the Confederacy being “traitors” to the US. Many of these people never took an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy – without such an oath they could hardly be considered traitors. Most of these people were following their conscience. My gggrandfather’s obituary in Blount Co. in the early 1900s specifically stated that “he was a Republican because he sincerely believed in the principles of the party.” I find Ken’s negative comments insulting to people he could never have known and so could not possibly judge their motives and convictions. I have ancestors who fought on both sides, and feel proud of all of them.
Robert Moore
February 3, 2011
Thanks for your comment. Great to hear from someone who can appreciate the story of their ancestors as told from both sides… and… I couldn’t agree more.
Beverly Wood Burke
February 14, 2011
My great-great-greatgrandfather was Robert Guttery. His son, Robert Malone Guttery (my great-greatgrandfather), was in the 28th Alabama Infantry, Company E, CSA and is buried in Boshell Cemetary in Walker County, AL. I have lots of information to share. I have a vast collection of information on Walker County, AL. My ancestors were some of the first families of Walker County (Sides, Rutledge, Tirey, Tittle , Guttery families (the spelling of Guttery changed over the years according to who did the census). My mother was Mary Frances Guthrie, her father was John F. Guthrie, Jr., his father was John F. Guthrie, Sr. His father was Robert Malone Guttery and his father was Robert Guttery who was the son of William Guttery from Hall County, GA. Feel free to contact me- Beverly Wood Burke, Cullman, Al, 256-736-5998 or armybrat54@bellsouth.net. I am a Columbus/Fort Benning, GA native (father US army for 24 years- William Andrew Wood.
Roger Brothers
March 29, 2011
Thanks for posting this Robert. Very interesting. I had one “layout” Alabama direct ancestor myself and had a couple of collateral’s that joined the federal army after deserting the confederate.
A couple of questions for you. Since only 5 of the delegates to the Alabama secession convention could be considered “unionists” (most of the rest of the 39 who voted no in the first vote were “cooperationists” who wanted to secede in “cooperation” with other Southern States instead of doing so independently) would it not be fair to say that the overwhelming majority of the people of Alabama wanted to leave the union? Would it not be fair to say that rarely if ever has a political community acted with more unanimity in such a grave and momentous action?
Robert Moore
March 29, 2011
“Would it not be fair to say that the overwhelming majority of the people of Alabama wanted to leave the union?”
No, I don’t believe that would be fair to say. Certainly, there were many who wanted secession, but what evidence exists that “the overwhelming majority” wished to do so, especially among the common people? If calculating purely on the numbers of those who enlisted in the first big push, there’s much more to consider than the “action” as a display of pure dedication to “cause”.
“Would it not be fair to say that rarely if ever has a political community acted with more unanimity in such a grave and momentous action?”
I encourage you to read more about the actions of delegates, and how their actions measured with the sentiments of the people who put them there. There is a book that comes to mind, but I don’t have the title handy at the moment.