The Rev. Walter Blackman, pastor at East Highland Baptist and a Civil War historian, (right) talks with an attendee of Down Memory Lane, one of the first events of the 31st annual Depot Days. The event was held Monday night. | Clif Knight

Speakers link county to Civil War

While Hartselle didn’t exist as a town in 1861 and Decatur’s population was less than 800, Morgan County still played an important role in the War Between the States.

Two railroads running east and west and north out of Decatur was one of the reasons, according to local historian David Burleson. Another was the rich salt peter (nitrate) mines in the northwest sector of the county, according to Morgan County Archivist John Allison.

Burleson pointed out that the Memphis & Charleston Railroad and North Alabama & Tennessee Railroad were a primary target of Union forces because they were needed by the Confederacy to move munitions and supplies throughout the south.

“The town of Decatur was occupied by Union forces eight times after the Battle of Shiloh and only five buildings remained at the end of the war,” Burleson stated. “One of the buildings was the home of Dr. Aaron Burleson, which was used by Union soldiers. The doctor and his wife and their daughter Anna were ordered to evacuate the town along with other families. They left with two wagons and some personal possessions and moved to Memphis, Tenn. Later, Anna married James Varden who became governor of Mississippi and a U.S. senator.

Burleson told the story of a 1883 edition of Lord Byron’s “Compete Poetic Works,” which was stolen from the Burleson home by a Union soldier. The book was later confiscated by Lt. Samuel Weeks, a friend of the Burleson family, and returned to Anna Burleson Varden in 1900.

Burleson read two letters from Weeks to Anna, apologizing for the theft and for the long delay in getting the book of poetry returned.

Allison told of bat caves located in the Trinity area and the role they played in the war. He said some residents of the county preferred to dig dirt from the bat caves instead of volunteering to serve in the Confederate Army.

The dirt was so rich in nitrate that a 50-pound bag would produce enough nitrate (black powder) to fire eight musket balls.

The Yankees eventually took over the caves and some of the workers were jailed and sent to prisons north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Allison also related that the Morgan County Commission continued to conduct business at the courthouse in Somerville during the war. The Commission’s Court of Records was preserved and is available for viewing at the Morgan County Archives.

Allison said efforts are underway to establish a Civil War Museum in the ground floor of the Archives, with the help of Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur.

Burleson and Allison were among those featured on a Down Memory Lane program entitled “A County Divided.” Other speakers were Paul Wirey, vice president of the Morgan County Genealogy Society, the Rev. Water Blackman, pastor of East Highland Baptist Church and a War Between the States historian, and Dr. Herman Springer, lecturer on the War Between the States.

The program was co-sponsored by Hartselle Historical Society and Cracker Barrel in keeping with the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States. Memorabilia from that era was displayed at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center for public viewing an hour and one-half before the program.