I received a call last Friday from the gg-grandson of Brig. Gen. Mark Perrin Lowrey. He informed me the log home where Rev. Lowrey lived in Old Tishomingo Co., Miss. when the Civil War started is threatened with getting bulldozed down. This is where the Lowrey family resided when Col. Lowrey’s 4th Mississippi Regiment of 60-Day Volunteers (aka 2nd Regiment, Army of Mississippi) was raised that expired by February 1862, and where he resided when he raised the 32nd Miss. in March 1862.

The Lowrey family was forced to feel this home in the middle of the night after Lowrey was wounded at the Battle of Perryville and returned to the area. He couldn't go home because Federal troops were guarding the roads around his home, as they heard he was nearby. Lowrey's brother took a wagon to the home and removed his family by sneaking through the Federal lines, and they re-located to the area of Blue Mountain, Miss. where Lowrey built Blue Mountain College following the war in 1873. The gg-grandson has an original chest of drawers from this cabin that was used to place a set of Lowrey's twins in a drawer the night they left home in the wagon.

I located this log home in Nov. 2006, and have several digital photos. Recently, the tin roof that has helped protect this home was removed in prepartion for demolition. The current owner has no appreciation for the historical value of this log home.

I am trying to determine the best course of action: (1) acquire the site and restore in situ (located in a wooded area with part of it about 3 feet from an asphalt parking lot, and out of sight behind convenience store and 2-story house; (2) relocate to Blue Mountain College that Lowrey founded in 1873; (3) relocate to Corinth area where there is an 800 acre site related to the battle and seige of Corinth that owners want to donate to NPS (would ahve to be moved before NPS accepts property); (4) or any other ideas or suggestions. Also, there is a large trash midden behind the cabin that very likely contains Lowrey's personal trash while the family resided there, and should be excavated before it too gets bulldozed away.

The NPS will not allow this log home to be re-located to Shiloh or the Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth for restoration, because it would no longer be "in situ" - a requirement the NPS now follows regarding restoration. However, Woody Harrell at Shiloh said he might be able to assist with getting some grant money if I have 6 months to a year. I am sure the current owner will not want to wait that long, but if it can be moved to safety or the site purchased, then we could wait for some grant money.

Regards.

Rob Swinson
RESwinson@aol.com