“Rocky Mount was in important antebellum location along the Catawba River….”
City Directories and History: The house was a large two and one-half story frame house. Four large solid cypress columns on the porch were hand turned and perhaps made in the coastal area of South Carolina and brought to the area on river barges. However, no documentation exist for their origins. Two massive chimneys were at either end of the house and the brick may have been used at Fort Dearborn. The paneling, wainscoting, and
woodwork were of high quality.
In 1865 federal troops after leaving Winnsboro, spent eight days and nights here because the waters of the Catawba River were high. The outbuildings and other plantation buildings were all destroyed by the troops prior to leaving but James Barkley’s son in law, James Gaston Johnston being a mason helped save the house itself. [Central Midlands Historic Preservation Survey Book]
Also see Sherman’s route map page for additional details.
MEMORIES, TRADITIONS, and HISTORY of ROCKY MOUNT and VICINITY By the late L. M. Ford
“Sherman Occupancy of Rocky Mount”
Concerning the occupancy of this section by Sherman’s army the late Robert Ford writes as follows: The writer who tells of Sherman’s march through South Carolina has a prolific as well as a sorrowful time. Several days before the arrival of the army at Rocky Mount, February 22, 1865, southern heavens were covered with the smoke of burning buildings. Each day the smoke appeared nearer and nearer, and the hearts of the people beat faster. Next came a throng of fugitives fleeing from their homes, endeavoring to save their stock and some valuables. Then heard the skirmish near Gladden’s, then the smoke of the neighborhoods’ buildings was seen in black columns ascending heavenward, then came the sound of taps on the drum. The Yankee soldiers dashed up to the doors; gold and silver and silver plate were demanded; and whether given or not, the houses were thoroughly searched, and everything they wanted was stolen. Often when they did not wish the articles themselves, they took them and gave them to the negroes. Yards were cleared of dogs. In one …..which had fled to its mistress feet for protection. Had not an officer ordered him to desist, death might have been the result to the lady, Mrs. Robt. Ford. Firearms were taken and destroyed, a great many were thrown into the Catawba River. The poultry was all taken. Bacon, flour, cornmeal, corn and provisions of all kinds were removed. Every locked door was forced open, gin-houses and cotton were burned in every instance. This much was done by the first installment. Later in the afternoon they put pontoon bridges across the river and a part of the army went over in the afternoon of the 22nd. It rained and the water broke the pontoon. On the morning of
the 23rd the encampment reached from Mitford on both roads to Rocky Mount ferry. The six days and nights the army spent here was a time of much sorrow and fear to the ladies and a few old men who were left at home.
Gen. Jeff. C. Davis, of the U. S. army, had his headquarters at the residence of Robert Ford for twenty-four hours. He drove Mrs. Ford, her aged mother-in-law and the children of the family from her room to an open portico to spend the night, an unpleasant and wet one. He occupied the room much to her discomfort. Gen. Davis traveled in a fine silver-mounted carriage drawn by two white steeds, all stolen on the march. His meals were served on silver waiters. Gen. Sherman traveled the vicinity on horseback and, save the wanton destruction of property, did nothing to render himself obnoxious. He had ten buildings belonging to Robert Ford burned, among them a large barn and stable. Several secret efforts were made to burn the dwelling house, but it was saved by the kind efforts of an Indiana soldier, whose name I would gladly mention if it were known. The family of Mr. Ford had a steadfast friend in the chief artillery. He found some Masonic articles about the house and asked Mrs. Ford if her husband was a Mason. Being answered in the affirmative, he soon had the house and yard cleared of pillagers and gathered a few provisions and sent them in and placed a guard over the premises. When he moved, he left a paper which he hoped would be some protection. There was little left then to protect. The Yankee soldiers shot down all kind of stock, destroyed all farm implements, and burned the fencing. During their six days’ stay at Rocky Mount they foraged the country for miles around, going in squares from four to ten, sometimes without arms. Gen. Sherman’s headquarters were near the Barkley mansion. He treated the ladies in this section politely.
The neighborhood was so pillaged that the people for several days had to subsist on the gleanings from the camp. Mr. Joseph S. Stroud of Chester county was very kind to the people in their distress. He sent an ox cart regularly with meal and flour. His name will never be green in the memory of the unfortunate people of the Rocky Mount section. The good people of Bascomville, Chester county, also aided them. All aid received was from persons. For two years the rations were mainly cow peas boiled in water and a bit of corn bread. Without money, clothing or credit, there was real danger of starvation. After the army passed, persons in the track of the march came and claimed all unknown stock and broken down and abandoned vehicles of all kinds. A few had some cattle left. They had to keep them under guard or they would have been claimed and driven away. Mr. Steven R. Ferguson of Chester county, an aged man, asked for a detachment of Wheeler’s cavalry, and with them came down and skirmished with the Yankees in the yard of Robert Ford and Dr. I. F. Scott’s, which greatly frightened the ladies. Ferguson rode boldly to the window and told them to stand between the chimneys.
The family of Mr. J. G. Johnson was assigned to one room of their residence and were requested to put everything they needed there and it would not be molested. Very soon after their arrival, Miss Sarah Barkley, Mrs. Johnson’s sister, saw a Yankee thief with all their chickens tied and strung across a mule’s back. She took a pair of scissors and cut two hens and a rooster from the string and put them in their room and saved them. A barrel of molasses was placed there also. A Yankee seeing it, went into the cellar and bored a hole through the floor to hit the barrel, but he missed it about six inches. The hole is still there. While the Yankees were crossing the river, a detachment of Wheeler’s cavalry charged up to the front door of Mr. Johnson’s residence and found one Yankee in the hall. He was called upon to surrender, instead of which he took to his heels and was shot at. The bullet missed him and hit the floor; its mark may be seen yet. The Yankee escaped through a window, calling upon those around the house to get away, and they did in good style. Some soon returned in line of battle and engaged the Confederates, who were protected by the house. Several bullets lodged in the house, but no casualty on either side was reported. (Information courtesy of and from: CDGHS Bulletin)
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