Preston Brooks

I should have forfeited my own self-respect, and perhaps the good opinion of my countrymen, if I had failed to resent such an injury by calling the offender in question to a personal account.

@CarolinaJournal Our educational system is 100% political. Culture, pride, and actual education don't exist anymore.

A new study reveals statistics that almost half of Americans don’t know that it is a holiday for honoring those who died in service to their country, and 35% confuse it with Veterans Day. #ncga #ncpol carolinajournal.com/survey-almost-…

@ColonialRebel @SeeDaneRun He's a dumbass commie marathoner.

One good rocket would sure get rid of that future proofing.

@SeeDaneRun Sodomite.

Come on, coward. Spell it right!

@SeeDaneRun ...as the Minneapolis moron does the exact thing.

He says from behind a keyboard: "FOr sTartERs no oNE DoWn HerE cARES AbOut SOme MoRon From MInNeAPolis. SO, YOU CAN PisS OFf. i woUlD lOvE To see yOur GOOFy AsS AcTuALLy RUN yOur moutH IN PERSOn, buT yOU’Re PrOBaBLY mORe OF a keyboARd wARriOR."

@OldRebelNMyrtle Well said!

@canedeeman To equate the loss of the war as the "righteousness" of the north, is in effect to legitimize all sorts of criminality. An incalculable number of thieves, rapists, murderers, etc., have never been apprehended. According to the belief that "might makes right" they were righteous

This poor guy, lol, is getting a learnin'.

@Lorelei1861 @ColonialRebel He's a carpetbagger. Even in Metroplex Texas there are plenty of signs of Southern/Confederate pride.

@ColonialRebel @canedeeman He says Texas but is probably not a native Texan.

Yankee’s just waking up. He’s in for a big surprise.

@SolidCopperArtS @chrishume_ 100%

@chrishume_ "Why does the rest of the country hate us"

Is there a weird generational bitterness in the South about losing the war that I don’t know about?

@chrishume_ x.com/i/status/20558…

@chrishume_ @mattn1827 lol, pretty sure you're the bot.

@mattn1827 pretty sure it's just bots here. See the other replies, all ai pfps

@Lorelei1861 @dixie_cavalier No. I hand delivered the larger bound copies to the Washington Co. AR Historical Society and the Prairie Grove archives. I need to send it to the AR History Commission and Ft. Smith NPS.

@canedeeman @dixie_cavalier Have you sent copies to local UDC and SCV?

If you're interested, here's the finished work Grok compiled for me about my gg grandfather. It's thorough. I omitted the surnames. From Clarkson’s Rangers to Rock Island: The Civil War Story of Samuel and Mary Introduction In the hills and valleys of northwest Arkansas, Samuel and his fiancée Mary lived through one of the most difficult periods in American history. Samuel served in the Confederate cavalry and infantry, while Mary endured the harsh realities of the Union invasion and guerrilla warfare on the homefront. Their story is one of endurance, sacrifice, and family resilience — a proud legacy of ordinary Arkansans who faced extraordinary trials. Pre-War Life and a Divided Family Northwest Arkansas in the 1850s was a rugged frontier region of rolling hills, dense oak-hickory forests, clear springs, and small family farms. Families raised corn, wheat, cattle, and hogs, supplemented by hunting and gardening. Life was hard but self-reliant — neighbors helped one another with log-raisings, corn-huskings, and quilting bees. Churches and small schools served as social centers, and most people lived simply, with few luxuries. However, the region sat on the edge of great tension. News of Bleeding Kansas filtered across the border, stirring debates over slavery, states’ rights, and secession. Loyalties were deeply divided even within families and communities. Samuel was born on November 22, 1839, in Madison County, Arkansas, the son of James R. (sometimes listed as James A.) and Sarah Jane “Sally”. By 1860 he was listed in the Arkansas census as living alone in Franklin County, Prairie Township, near Charleston, with a personal estate valued at $380. He worked as a farmer, clearing land and tending crops in the challenging Ozark soil. According to family oral tradition, their father James moved to Coffeyville, Kansas, because he opposed secession. Samuel and his younger brother Tom moved from their family farm in Prairie Township to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to live with an older sister. Samuel was engaged to Mary. They postponed their wedding when he enlisted for the South. Brother Tom enlisted in the Union 2nd Kansas Cavalry. He served in anti-guerrilla operations and was often detached from his regiment for conscription duties. He was killed near Fayetteville on October 28, 1864. Early Service – 1862: Riding with Clarkson’s Battalion of Independent Rangers In the spring of 1862, twenty-two-year-old Samuel enlisted on February 1 in Captain L. H. Stone’s Company (Company A), Clarkson’s Battalion of Independent Rangers. Like most of the men, he furnished his own horse (valued at $140) and equipment. The battalion was still forming and consisted of five companies (A, B, and C clearly identified), drawn largely from Arkansas volunteers.Shortly after March 20, 1862, the battalion was finalized. Colonel J. J. Clarkson received direct orders from Major General Earl Van Dorn at Des Arc, Arkansas: “After organizing and fitting out your command… it is desired that you will make your way as quickly as possible to the route between Leavenworth or Independence and Santa Fe, or other points in New Mexico, and use your utmost efforts to interrupt and capture the supply trains of the enemy… cut off their mails, and annoy them by every other means in your power.” The Rangers were expected to live off captured supplies due to chronic shortages. By early June 1862, Clarkson had established operations in northeast Indian Territory. Their mission was to protect Confederate-allied Indian nations, disrupt Federal communications and supply lines, and harass advancing Union forces. Communication was slow and difficult; Clarkson often operated with considerable independence. Their most dramatic early engagement occurred at Locust Grove in the Cherokee Nation on July 3, 1862. A Union detachment of about 300 men under Colonel William Weer surprised Clarkson’s camp of roughly 300 Rangers at sunrise. The Confederates were caught completely off guard and unable to form a proper battle line. Scattered fighting continued in the woods throughout the day. Colonel Clarkson and many others were captured, along with 60 wagons of ammunition and salt, 64 mule teams, and large quantities of provisions. The Union forces celebrated the Fourth of July by distributing captured clothing to refugees and soldiers. Samuel was among the fortunate ones who escaped the surprise attack. He made his way with other survivors through the woods to Tahlequah. The defeat at Locust Grove was a serious setback, but the men who evaded capture continued the fight under new leadership. Buster’s Indian Battalion – Late Summer and Fall Campaigns Following the Locust Grove disaster, Colonel M. W. Buster took command of the remnants of the battalion (thereafter often referred to as Buster’s Indian Battalion or Buster’s Cavalry Battalion). In August he worked diligently to reassemble and train the scattered companies near Fort Gibson. By mid-September the command had moved to the Tahlequah area. Samuel and his comrades in Captain Stone’s Company conducted active scouting and reconnaissance. On September 19 they occupied the abandoned Moravian Mission, where the men repaired saddles, mended boots and shoes, stocked guns, made mess chests, and shod horses — turning the deserted religious community into a temporary hub of activity while strictly following orders against pillaging. On September 30, 1862, they marched rapidly to the First Battle of Newtonia, Missouri. Samuel’s unit arrived in the afternoon, took position on the extreme left, and helped secure a Confederate victory through steady discipline under artillery fire. Days later, on October 3, Buster led his battalion (along with Major Bryan’s men) to occupy Granby, Missouri. In a chaotic night fight in pouring rain and near-total darkness, they skirmished with Union forces. Captain Stone had his horse killed and a bullet pass through his hat, yet the command conducted an orderly withdrawal while protecting the main army. The campaign ended on October 22, 1862, at Old Fort Wayne (Maysville) in the Cherokee Nation. After a hard night march, Union General James G. Blunt launched a dawn surprise attack. Cooper’s command, including Buster’s battalion, was routed. The Confederates lost their artillery and supply train and retreated south across the Arkansas River under harsh conditions. Transition and the Battle of Prairie Grove (December 7, 1862) The heavy campaigning scattered many men from Buster’s Battalion. By mid-November the unit had largely dissolved. On November 16, 1862, Samuel’s Company A was reorganized and mustered into Company E of John B. Clark’s 9th Missouri Infantry Regiment. Colonel John Bullock Clark Jr. commanded the regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel Michael W. Buster (providing welcome continuity) as second-in-command. The new regiment combined Missouri recruits with battle-tested Arkansas cavalrymen and quickly became a cohesive force of about 594 men. Assigned to Brigadier General John S. Roane’s Brigade in Brigadier General Daniel Frost’s Division, the 9th Missouri marched north with Major General Thomas C. Hindman’s Army of the Trans-Mississippi. On December 7, 1862, they took position on the ridge at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. During the battle, Roane’s Brigade supported Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons’ Brigade on the Confederate left. Later, the 9th Missouri was detached to fight directly with Parsons’ men. Samuel and his comrades in Company E advanced on the left flank of Parsons’ line across open fields and orchards. In the late afternoon, Parsons’ Brigade — with Clark’s 9th Missouri on its left — received the order to charge. Emerging from the woods into the Morton hayfield, these Missouri and Arkansas men faced devastating fire from nearly forty-four Union cannons. Solid shot, grape, and canister tore through their ranks, yet they pressed forward with extraordinary courage. The 9th Missouri struck the right flank of Colonel William A. Weer’s Union brigade. Though the artillery fire eventually forced them back to the tree line, their determined assault helped momentarily turn the Union left flank. A second charge followed. Again, Samuel and the men of the 9th Missouri advanced into the storm on Parsons’ left. Heavy Union artillery blunted the assault once more, but the regiment’s bravery under fire was undeniable. Clark’s 9th Missouri suffered 26 casualties that day — a testament to both the intensity of the fighting and the steadfastness of the men who refused to break. The Battle of Prairie Grove ended in a tactical draw but a strategic Union victory. Short on ammunition and supplies, Hindman’s army withdrew during the night. Clark’s 9th Missouri fell back with the rest of the force to Van Buren, Arkansas. For Samuel, Prairie Grove marked the dramatic close of a year that had taken him from frontier cavalry ranger to hard-fighting infantry soldier. 1863: Cavalry Operations in Northwest Arkansas – The Shift to Irregular Warfare After the heavy fighting of 1862, many Arkansas cavalrymen, including Samuel, returned to mounted service. Following the breakup of Clark’s 9th Missouri Infantry, Samuel joined Company C of Anderson Gordon’s Arkansas Cavalry Regiment (also known variously as Carroll’s or Thomson’s Regiment). He enlisted at Roseville and was present for roll call on March 1, 1863. The regiment changed commanders several times and operated as part of Brigadier General William L. Cabell’s Cavalry Brigade.Samuel’s regiment saw action in the Action at Fayetteville on April 18, 1863, and later at Devil’s Backbone (near Greenwood) on September 1, 1863. He was promoted to 3rd Sergeant on February 28, 1863, but his final record with the regiment shows him “absent, AWOL 1 Oct. ’63.” This gap coincides with a period of mass desertions and unit disintegration in western Arkansas after Devil’s Backbone. The reality of the Trans-Mississippi theater in late 1863 was brutal and chaotic. Formal units often broke down amid supply shortages, Union advances, and relentless guerrilla conflict. Western Arkansas became a hotbed of irregular warfare between Confederate bushwhackers and Union Jayhawkers/Red Legs. Captain L. H. Stone — Samuel’s original commander in Clarkson’s Battalion — resigned his commission in March 1863 and later operated as a guerrilla; he was eventually hanged by Union forces shortly after the war. Given Samuel’s later capture near Waldron in Polk County on February 1, 1864 — the same area where Mary had fled with her father Samuel — family oral tradition and the timing strongly suggest he left regular service to protect his wife and kin amid the escalating violence. Mary’s harrowing experience during a Union raid by Kansas Red Legs (Jayhawkers) in the Mena/Polk County area fits this period: As the enemy approached, the family buried their food and belongings and built a fire over the cache to conceal them. Mary hid her wedding dress in a hollow tree. The soldiers killed her father, Samuel, on the porch and burned the cabin. Suspecting her of being a spy or aiding guerrillas, they held her feet to the fire during interrogation. She steadfastly denied the accusations but suffered permanent crippling injuries that affected her for the rest of her life. Miraculously, the hidden possessions were never discovered. Mary’s 1916 pension application (supported by witnesses Thomas McFerran — her brother — and longtime neighbor J.C. Cotton) strongly maintains that Samuel did not desert and served faithfully until the end of the war, ultimately being paroled. Whether Samuel formally remained with his regiment, operated semi-independently, or joined the shadowy world of guerrilla warfare common in the region, the pension testimony and family accounts emphasize his loyalty to the Southern cause. In the lawless environment of 1863–64 western Arkansas, such fluid service was not uncommon as men moved between regular units and irregular bands to defend their homes and families as conventional lines collapsed. Capture and Imprisonment – 1864–1865: The Ordeal at Rock Island On February 1, 1864, Samuel was captured near Waldron in Polk County, Arkansas. He was first taken to Fort Smith, then to Little Rock. From there, in the summer of 1864, he was transported north by steamboat and rail to Rock Island Prison Barracks in Illinois, arriving on July 6, 1864. Rock Island, located on an island in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, was one of the largest and harshest Union prisoner-of-war camps. From the outset, conditions were intentionally austere. In August 1863, Quartermaster-General M. C. Meigs had ordered that the barracks be built “in the roughest and cheapest manner — mere shanties, with no fine work about them.” By the time Samuel arrived, the camp held thousands of Confederate prisoners. Rations were severely limited: a small loaf of bread (three loaves to the pound) and a piece of meat about two inches square per day. According to a private letter from Chicago dated December 27, 1864, this allowance was later reduced even further: “The allowance to each man has been one small loaf of bread… and a piece of meat, two inches square, per day. This was the ration. Lately it has been reduced! Think of it — reduced! … No man can live on the rations given… Such is the wretched, ravenous condition of these poor starving creatures that several dogs which have come to the barracks with teams have fallen victims to their hunger, and they are trapping rats and mice for food, actually to save life.” Many prisoners were nearly naked, barefoot, and without proper bedding. They faced the “chill and pitiless winds of the Upper Mississippi” in flimsy shanties. Disease — especially scurvy from the lack of vegetables, along with smallpox and pneumonia — spread rapidly. The Rock Island Argus reported on November 21, 1864, that prisoners were “starved down to barely a living point… becoming diseased, and fast filling the hospitals and grave yards.” Despite the suffering, the men found small ways to cope. A prison library provided books donated by sympathetic locals. Church services were held on Sundays. Some prisoners made shell ornaments or buttons to sell, held mock trials for minor offenses, or speculated on war news from smuggled newspapers. Confederate diarist Lafayette Rogan captured the emotional toll. On September 30, 1864, he wrote: “This is the sadest(sic) day of all the days of my prison life. 15 men deserted us & take up arms against our cause. Oh how depraved the men of the present generation are become. Self home parents dear wife & children are abandoned for the sake of a few oz of meat & bread - God forgive”. Samuel was among those who remained loyal. He endured these months of privation through the brutal winter of 1864–1865. Official inspections in January 1865 still noted ongoing problems with food, clothing, and health. Finally, on March 4, 1865, Samuel was exchanged at Red River Landing, Louisiana. Weakened but unbroken after more than seven months in captivity, he was paroled and began the long journey home. For our family, Samuel’s survival through Rock Island stands as a testament to remarkable fortitude in the face of systematic hardship and the brutal realities of prolonged imprisonment far from home. The Homefront: Mary’s Ordeal While Samuel was away, Mary faced severe hardship and danger amid the guerrilla warfare that consumed western Arkansas. The region descended into a brutal cycle of raids and retaliation, forcing many families, including hers, to become refugees. Mary’s experiences reflect the terrible civilian cost of the conflict in the Trans-Mississippi. Post-War Life and Legacy Samuel returned home in the spring of 1865, weakened from his long imprisonment but determined to rebuild. On January 4, 1866, he and Mary were finally married in Franklin County. They settled into the quiet rhythms of farm life in Franklin County. By all family accounts, they lived peaceful lives raising their family despite the lasting physical scars both carried from the war. Samuel continued farming, and the couple built a home together in the Branch area. One curious episode in November 1866 involved Samuel (along with two others) being accused of cattle larceny in the Indian Country. They were initially convicted but won a new trial and were ultimately found not guilty. The family never spoke of it, but it highlights the difficult challenges many returning Confederate veterans faced in the chaotic post-war years. Samuel died on December 4, 1893, in Branch, Franklin County, and is buried in King Cemetery. In 1916, Mary applied for a Confederate widow’s pension. She testified that Samuel had served faithfully from 1862 until the end and was paroled. Witnesses Thomas McFerran and J.C. Cotton confirmed his service. Mary remained his widow for many years. Conclusion Samuel and Mary’s experiences represent the profound hardships faced by Arkansas families during the Civil War. From Samuel’s service in multiple cavalry units and infantry charges at Prairie Grove, through the uncertain and dangerous period of 1863–64, to the long ordeal at Rock Island and Mary’s courageous endurance on the homefront, they showed remarkable strength and loyalty. Their story — marked by family division, battlefield courage, possible guerrilla service in defense of home, imprisonment, survival, and quiet rebuilding — remains a powerful and proud part of our family heritage.

@Lorelei1861 @dixie_cavalier Probably for family members. I have a few already hand bound for archives and libraries that will accept them.

@canedeeman @dixie_cavalier This is so incredibly special. Will you do a print version too?

@Rick_Correa001 I'm just doing it for my grandsons. Catch'em early, rais'em right.

@canedeeman I don't know if it's already been done, but a children's book series written from a Confederate family's point of view during the War is an excellent idea. It would be a niche audience, but true art isn't produced simply for the sake of profits.

A few Grok generated illustrations for my unplanned children's book.

Here's the bibliography. Primary Sources Mary's Pension Application. Arkansas Confederate Pension Records. Arkansas History Commission, Little Rock, AR. United States War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. 128 vols. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1880–1901. Samuel W. Compiled Military Service Records. Confederate Soldiers. Record Group 109. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC. Accessed via Fold3.com. Court Records Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. Criminal Case Files, 1866–1900. Ancestry.com. Jackets 0201–0250, Jacket 0205 (Jason-Winton), and related cases. Diaries and Newspapers Rogan, Lafayette. Diary of a Confederate Prisoner at Rock Island, Illinois, 1864. Edited by John Henry Hauberg. Rock Island, IL, 1940.The Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL), November 21, 1864. Secondary Sources American Battlefield Trust. “Battle of Pea Ridge.” Last modified February 4, 2022. battlefields.org/learn/articles… .Arey, Frank. “Action at Devil’s Backbone.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Last modified July 20, 2023. encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/action… Edwards, Whitt. “Fort Wayne, Battle Of.” Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed August 22, 2023. okhistory.org/publications/e… England, Otis Bryan. A Short History of the Rock Island Prison Barracks. Rock Island, IL: Rock Island Arsenal Museum, 2004. Haimerl, David L. Clarkson’s Battalion C.S.A.: A Brief History and Roster. Independence, MO: Two Trails Publishing, 2005.Hewett, Janet, ed. Supplement to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1994.Montgomery, Don. “Action at Fayetteville (April 18, 1863).” Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Last modified June 16, 2023. encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/action… “Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.” Heritage Trail Partners. Accessed August 23, 2023. heritagetrailpartners.com/2015/04/prairi…. “9th Missouri Infantry Regiment.” Wikipedia. Last modified August 28, 2021. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Misso… Wood, Larry E. “First Battle of Newtonia.” Missouri Encyclopedia. Accessed August 22, 2023. missouriencyclopedia.org/events/newtoni…. Additional Resources All news articles were researched through Newspapers.com. Service records and pension files were researched on Fold3 and at the Arkansas History Commission. Maps were taken from Haimerl’s Clarkson’s Battalion and the American Battlefield Trust.

Ancestry Fold3 Online state archives and libraries American Battlefield Trust Family stories Official Records of the War of the Rebellion Period diaries from Arkansas Wikipedia Newspapers dotcom Numerous other websites and books. Just about any source I could get ahold of. I asked Grok how I should start & it told it to start with the basic info and build from there. I ended up using Notepad and copy/pasted everything into Grok's command line - meaning entire reports, links, etc. If I wasn't happy with it, I had it edit it. The whole process was most of an afternoon, but I was overprepared with my previous work.

@canedeeman What were your sources of this information?

I completed a compilation/narrative of 3 of my Confederate ancestors' service a couple of years ago. Each one is over 200 pages with full citation, reports from the Official Records, newspaper articles, websites, ad nauseum. It was both a joy and nightmare putting them together. I spend a hard 6 months researching and patching them together. The goal was to have something bound I could give to the kids & relatives and well as libraries and archives. What I found out is none of the family wants the cut and dry history with all the maps & citations. They want a family story and a proud family narrative. So, I caved. Instead of rewriting everything, I've incorporated Grok as a writing tool. I'm in the early stages of uploading all the info and letting Grok author the story. So far, there's been many revisions. Is it cheating? Maybe, but if I can get Grok to write it the way I want it written, I'm calling it a win. An excerpt: In the spring of 1862, twenty-two-year-old Samuel enlisted on February 1 in Captain L. H. Stone’s Company (Company A), Clarkson’s Battalion of Independent Rangers (also known as Clarkson’s Battalion of Arkansas Cavalry). Like many of the men, he furnished his own horse — valued at $140 — along with his equipment. The battalion, still forming, consisted of five companies (though only A, B, and C are clearly identified in records), drawn largely from Arkansas men eager to defend their homes and the Southern cause.After final organization in late March, Colonel J. J. Clarkson received orders from Major General Earl Van Dorn to move quickly into Indian Territory. Their mission was bold and dangerous: ride toward the routes between Leavenworth/Independence and Santa Fe, New Mexico, to disrupt Union supply trains, cut communications, capture or destroy enemy property, and harass Federal forces wherever possible. Short on official supplies, the Rangers were expected to live off what they could seize from the enemy. By early June 1862, Clarkson had established operations in northeast Indian Territory. The battalion became a mobile force dedicated to protecting Confederate-allied Indian nations and slowing the Union advance. Communication was poor, supplies scarce, and the men operated with considerable independence. Samuel and his comrades rode hard through the summer, scouting, raiding, and living the rough life of frontier cavalry. Their most dramatic engagement came at Locust Grove in the Cherokee Nation on July 3, 1862. A Union force of about 6,000 under Colonel William Weer sent a detachment of roughly 300 men that completely surprised Clarkson’s camp of about 300 Rangers at sunrise. The Confederates were caught off guard and unable to form a proper battle line. Gunfire echoed through the woods all day as small groups fought or fled. Colonel Clarkson and many others were captured, along with valuable wagons loaded with ammunition, salt, provisions, and other supplies. The loss was a serious blow — the Union forces even celebrated the Fourth of July by dividing captured clothing among their men and refugees. Samuel was among those fortunate enough to escape the surprise attack. He made his way with other survivors to Tahlequah. The defeat at Locust Grove became well-known in the region and even helped spur Union recruiting among some Cherokee factions. Yet for Samuel and the men who evaded capture, it was simply one more hard lesson in the fluid, unpredictable warfare of the http://Trans-Mississippi. In the months that followed, the remnants of Clarkson’s Battalion continued operations in the area, participating in actions at Newtonia and Granby, Missouri (September 1862), and Old Fort Wayne in Indian Territory (October 1862). They lived by their wits, often low on rations and equipment, yet remained active in trying to check the Union http://advance. By late 1862, Samuel’s path with Clarkson’s command overlapped with service in other units, including a brief period with Clark’s 9th Missouri Infantry at the Battle of Prairie Grove in December. This pattern of moving between cavalry and infantry units was common in the hard-pressed Trans-Mississippi theater, where commanders frequently shifted men wherever the need was greatest.

@TN_Partisan @RepBrandonGill @belleofva They're owned by corporations that employ illegals.

@RepBrandonGill @belleofva Why are Republicans pushing for amnesty?

They knew exactly what they were doing.