Slavery did not exist to any. extent in Scott Coun-
ty, and for this reason the national agitation of this
question, which had been rocking the country for
over a quarter of a century and threatening to dis-
rupt the Union, was not of a personal character
with the people of the county. They did not begin
to think strongly on the subject until confronted
with the reality of disunion and war. Their sym-
pathies were for the union of the states, and when
it came to electing delegates to the state convention
to determine the attitude and policy of Arkansas in
the matter, they elected a Union man, E. T. Walker,
as the delegate from Scott County. This was early
in 1861. The delegates from all the counties of the
State met at Little Rock and, after deliberating for
a short while, adjourned without action other than
to authorize the president thereof to call the con-
vention together again if conditions warranted.
This was done and the convention met in second
session about the first of May, 1861. The question
of union or disunion was paramount. On May 6, an
ordinance of secession was adopted. The county's
delegate voted for secession, and his action in doing
so under the circumstances met with the approval

37

of the people. They naturally sympathized with
the South, when the issue became sharply drawn.

2. Military Events

As soon as the call for volunteers had been issued,
the people of the county turned to the grim duties
of war. A company of seventy-five men was organ-
ized in early summer. Its ott'icers were G. W.
Featherston, Captain; J. C. Gibson, First Lieutenant;
W. F. Patterson, Second Lieutenant, and John Raw-
lings, Third Lieutenant. This company took part
in the battle of Oak Hill, after which it was dis-
banded and its members united with other units.
It was known as Company D, First Regiment, of
Arkansas Volunteers.

Another company under Captain William Patter-
son was organized in December, 1861, and a third
under Captain G. W. Featherston in February, 1862.
This latter was merged with the 19th Arkansas
under Col. Dawson, and saw extensive service east
of the Mississippi River.

Gangs of bushwhackers and marauding bands
early began terrorizing the county. In September,
1863, the Federal forces, consisting of the 14th Kan-
sas cavalry, arrived in the county and marched on
Waldron. Major Featherston and Captain Isaac Bag-
well were in command at that place with a small
guard. In a surprise attack on September 11, the
Federals captured the Confederate forces and held
the town. The losses on the Union side were one
killed and two wounded. The Confederate losses
are not known, although Major Featherston was
seriously wounded. Scouting parties were then
sent out by the Federals. The first of these went
down Dutch Creek on December 9, and another
went from Waldron to Dallas in Polk County on
Dec. 11, 1863. Still another proceeded from Wal-
dron to Baker Springs in Howard County through
the celebrated Forem Gap in January, 1864. This
last party lost one man killed and one man wounded
on its journey. Another skirmish occurred at Wal-
dron on February 1, in which one man was wound-
ed. After this battle the Federals evacuated Wal-
dron on Feb, 4, 1864. The Federal forces were com-
manded by Lieut. Col. Ov^^en A. Bassett, and later
by Lieut. Col. Searl of Col. James Johnson's Regi-
ment of First Arkansas Infantry, organized at Fay-
etteville in March, 1863. Man3'^ citizens of the county
enlisted with the Union forces after the Federals had
taken possession of the country. Another battle
took place at Waldron on Dec. 29, 1864, in which
two men were killed and six wounded.

When the Union forces evacuated Waldron, they
set fire to every house in town except those of Wil-
liam G. Featherston and Elijah Leming. Feather-
ston's residence had been the Union headquarters,
and Leming was thought to be a Federal sympa-
thizer. His residence was burned after the troops
had departed, supposedly by Confederate agents.