The script for this presentation is composed of quotes from History and Reminiscences of Denton County, a book by Edmond Franklin Bates. At the time this book was written, Mr. Bates was the Secretary of Old Settlers’ and Veterans’ Association of Denton County and was chosen by the organization to undertake the collection of data and writing of this work. The quotes in this presentation are taken from two chapters from the book, “Secession and War—Our Contribution of Men—Its Effects on the Morals of Our People” and “Reconstruction and Crime Wave.”
Mr. Bates was born in 1851, which means he was a young teen in 1863 when Denton County soldiers enlisted in the Confederate cause during the Civil War. In the preface, Mr. Bates notes that early public records for Denton County were destroyed in 1875 when the courthouse burned. This book and the quotes that follow provide a first-hand account, a primary source document, of both history and reminiscences of Denton County just before, during, and after the Civil War.
Speaking the words written by Mr. Bates, Nicholas Vitale provided the narration for this presentation.
Image: Fort Sumter
“The spring of 1861 was ushered in with a great blazing star in the northwest, considered by the superstitious to be an ‘omen of bad luck,’ although a natural phenomenon. There soon followed in its wake a wave of death and destruction. We had not means of rapid communication. Three weeks after the fall of Fort Sumter the startling intelligence reached us. The words, ‘Fort Sumter has fallen! To arms! To arms!’ passed from mouth to mouth towards the setting sun, and like the waves of tempestuous sea, spread awe and consternation in their wake" (97).
Photograph: Confederate Soldier: Third Lieutenant John Alphonso Beall
“The peaceful people, fully accustomed to the midnight alarms of the ferocious savages, were alarmed as never before. There was not exceeding eight or ten negro (sic) slaves then in the county. Speakers came and the men gathered in groups here and yonder and ‘the rights of states to secede from the Union’ was made the issue. The hearts of our people were fired with human liberty as never before. Drilling grounds were designated in several parts of the county and weekly drills ordered" (98).
Photograph: Confederate Solider 2: Private Simeon J. Crews
The military spirit prevailed and young Denton County, sixteen years old, furnished eight companies as brave, hardy, and fearless soldiers as could be found in the State, with many joining companies from other counties. Nearly one thousand men enlisted from the county and went to the front. The poorest men imaginable for such a fearful undertaking" (98).
“Whatever the real issues were, it matters not now. We passed through its strike and when the struggle was over the remnants of our boys in gray came home, not whipped, but overpowered—not conquered, but disarmed—not heralded as the saviors of the nation, but as heroes of the lost cause!” (112).
Photograph: Monument
The United Daughters of the Confederacy were organized in 1905 by Miss Katie Daffan. This group of thirty-six women held monthly meetings, visited aging Confederate soldiers, and put flowers on the graves of fallen heroes from the Civil War (115-117).
“These Daughters of the Confederacy are now engaged in building on the courthouse square, at a cost of two thousand dollars, a monument to the memory of the Confederate soldiers who enlisted from Denton County. The contract has been let and the monument is assured. The monument is to have a granite base and is to be finished in blue Georgia marble. This is part of their present activities—their crowning work, perhaps” (117).
Work Cited
Bates, Ed. F. History and Reminiscences of Denton County. Denton, TX: McNitsky Printing Company, 1918. Print.
"Our Confederate Soldiers" VoiceThread produced by Judi Moreillon
Direct Link to VoiceThread: "Our Confederate Soldiers"
"Our Confederate Soldiers" Script
The script for this presentation is composed of quotes from History and Reminiscences of Denton County, a book by Edmond Franklin Bates. At the time this book was written, Mr. Bates was the Secretary of Old Settlers’ and Veterans’ Association of Denton County and was chosen by the organization to undertake the collection of data and writing of this work. The quotes in this presentation are taken from two chapters from the book, “Secession and War—Our Contribution of Men—Its Effects on the Morals of Our People” and “Reconstruction and Crime Wave.”
Mr. Bates was born in 1851, which means he was a young teen in 1863 when Denton County soldiers enlisted in the Confederate cause during the Civil War. In the preface, Mr. Bates notes that early public records for Denton County were destroyed in 1875 when the courthouse burned. This book and the quotes that follow provide a first-hand account, a primary source document, of both history and reminiscences of Denton County just before, during, and after the Civil War.
Speaking the words written by Mr. Bates, Nicholas Vitale provided the narration for this presentation.
Image: Fort Sumter
“The spring of 1861 was ushered in with a great blazing star in the northwest, considered by the superstitious to be an ‘omen of bad luck,’ although a natural phenomenon. There soon followed in its wake a wave of death and destruction. We had not means of rapid communication. Three weeks after the fall of Fort Sumter the startling intelligence reached us. The words, ‘Fort Sumter has fallen! To arms! To arms!’ passed from mouth to mouth towards the setting sun, and like the waves of tempestuous sea, spread awe and consternation in their wake" (97).
Photograph: Confederate Soldier: Third Lieutenant John Alphonso Beall
“The peaceful people, fully accustomed to the midnight alarms of the ferocious savages, were alarmed as never before. There was not exceeding eight or ten negro (sic) slaves then in the county. Speakers came and the men gathered in groups here and yonder and ‘the rights of states to secede from the Union’ was made the issue. The hearts of our people were fired with human liberty as never before. Drilling grounds were designated in several parts of the county and weekly drills ordered" (98).
Photograph: Confederate Solider 2: Private Simeon J. Crews
The military spirit prevailed and young Denton County, sixteen years old, furnished eight companies as brave, hardy, and fearless soldiers as could be found in the State, with many joining companies from other counties. Nearly one thousand men enlisted from the county and went to the front. The poorest men imaginable for such a fearful undertaking" (98).
“Whatever the real issues were, it matters not now. We passed through its strike and when the struggle was over the remnants of our boys in gray came home, not whipped, but overpowered—not conquered, but disarmed—not heralded as the saviors of the nation, but as heroes of the lost cause!” (112).
Photograph: Monument
The United Daughters of the Confederacy were organized in 1905 by Miss Katie Daffan. This group of thirty-six women held monthly meetings, visited aging Confederate soldiers, and put flowers on the graves of fallen heroes from the Civil War (115-117).
“These Daughters of the Confederacy are now engaged in building on the courthouse square, at a cost of two thousand dollars, a monument to the memory of the Confederate soldiers who enlisted from Denton County. The contract has been let and the monument is assured. The monument is to have a granite base and is to be finished in blue Georgia marble. This is part of their present activities—their crowning work, perhaps” (117).
Work Cited
Bates, Ed. F. History and Reminiscences of Denton County. Denton, TX: McNitsky Printing Company, 1918. Print.
Presentation Script (.doc)