James Hawkins Sparks, b-1815 MS-1885 Bosqueville, McLennan Co TX; m,1-Penelope Mann, m,2-Rebecca, m,3-1838 Nacogdoches Co TX to Elizabeth Eleanor McKnight; 1860 McLennan Co TX cen p406; pushing Tonkawas back to Ft Belknap; (Major, CSA Hdqts at Waco TX), 154, 155
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GENERAL: I respectfully call the attention of the major-general commanding to
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Two of three of Randy Gilbert's references are below: O.R.A. 1,XXIV pt.3, 590; and O.R.A. 2, VI, 1079.
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O.R.A. 1,XXIV pt.3, 590
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WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 1863.
Meier-General GRANT, Vicksburg, Miss.:
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GENERAL: I inclose herewith a slip taken from the Missouri Democrat.
The Secretary of War directs that you report any answer you may have received
from General Taylor to your communication to him on the treatment of colored
troops and of white officers of such troops. You will also report any reliable
evidence you may have of the alleged ill-treatment of any of our troops by the
enemy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. HALLECK.
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[Inclosure.]
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[From the Missouri Democrat.]
REBEL BARBARISM--HOW THE OFFICERS OF THE NEGRO REGIMENTS AND
THE NEGROES THEMSELVES WERE TREATED.
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The following is given us upon the authority of Lieutenant Cole, of the
Mississippi Marine Brigade:
The day after the battle of Milliken's Bend, in June last, the Marine Brigade
landed some 10 miles below the Bend, and attacked and routed the guerrillas
which had been repulsed by our troops and the gunboats the day previous. Major
Hubbard's cavalry battalion, of the Marine Brigade, followed the retreating rebels
to Tensas Bayou, and were horrified in the finding of skeletons of white officers
commanding negro regiments, who had been captured by the rebels at Milliken's
Bend. In many cases these officers had been nailed to the trees and crucified; in
this situation a fire was built around the tree, and they suffered a slow death from
broiling. The charred and partially burned limbs were still fastened to the stakes.
Other instances were noticed of charred skeletons of officers, which had been
nailed to slabs, and the slabs
fire by the inhuman demons, the poor sufferers having been roasted alive until
nothing was left but charred bones. Negro prisoners recaptured from the guerrillas
confirmed these facts, which were amply corroborated by the bodies found, as
above described. The negroes taken were to be resold into slavery, while the white
officers were consumed by fire. Lieutenant Cole holds himself responsible for the
truth of the statement.
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O.R.A. 2, VI, 1079
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HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE TENN., Vicksburg, August 29, 1863.
General H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.:
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Your letter of the 12th instant, owing to my absence from headquarters for a few
days, is just received. The letter referred to contains an extract from the Missouri
Democrat (entirely sensational, I think), detailing horrors said to have been
committed upon officers and soldiers said to have been captured at Milliken's
Bend, in July last. Inclosed I send copy of correspondence which ensued.(*)
I have no evidence of ill-treatment to any prisoners captured from us further than
the determination to turn over to Governors of States all colored soldiers captured.
Owing to movements now going on west of the Mississippi, I cannot
communicate well with either General E. K. Smith or General Taylor. As soon as I
can, however, I will do so, and inclose a copy of the President's retaliatory order. I
am also in hopes of having on hand by that time a number of prisoners of war
from Smith's command, which would add great force to anything I might say.
The expedition from Goodrich's Landing is now five days out. Between Steele's
movement and this one, it will confuse the enemy so as to make Banks' entry into
Texas easy.
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U.S. GRANT.
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PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Vicksburg, Miss., September 24, 1863.
Brig. Gen. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Tennessee:
the case of one Maj. M. W. Simms, of General Hebert's staff, C. S. Army, who,
with Lieutenant Sparks, also of General Hebert's staff, is charged with
ordering the murder of two Federal officers, taken prisoners by them near Lake
Providence, La., in the month of June last, from sworn statements made before
Capt. W. H. Welman, Fifty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, by citizens of Monroe and
vicinity. It appears that Major Simms and Lieutenant Sparks did cause two
Federal officers to be taken into the woods at night, and then shot and partially
buried. Statements are also made that it is well known by the citizens of Monroe
and vicinity that Major Simms caused four ministers to be dragged from their beds
and brutally murdered; also that he hung a negro soldier near Delhi, La., in the
month of June. Major Simms is now in confinement at this place.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. KENT,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Provost-Marshal- General.
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Randy Gilbert was addressing the "Major Sparks" is this ca. February, 1865 article.
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From J.B. "Buck" Barry's A TEXAS RANGER AND FRONTIERSMAN, THE DAYS OF BUCK BARRY IN TEXAS, (1845-1906), pp157-165, (1932).
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While I was in South Texas, [Captain Y.H.] Isbell had charge of the Indians. ..I had hardly returned to [Fort] Belknap [Young County] before I learned, through Major Sparks of the Confederate Headquarters at Waco [McLennan County], that they were no longer a unit at Belknap. ..One group of the warriors under their Chief, Castile, was doing most of the scouting, while another chief, Campo, was at Waco with another group of the Tonkawas. ..Sparks wanted me to come or send for them as he was unable to induce them to leave and go back to the [Belknap Tonkawa] agency. ..Evidently, the Indians felt that they had some excuse for getting out of hand; or perhaps they were not handled properly.
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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