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Marks Stories

The Marks family has a rich heritage of family stories. It has been said that there was never a story told that a Marks couldn't improve upon. Many of these stories have been preserved for us in MARKS-BARNETT FAMILIES AND THEIR KIN by Marion Dewoody Pettigrew and Newton Edward Brightwell, Jr., Pub 1981, Gateway Press, inc. Baltimore. The stories are woven into this history of the Marks family along with the hard data which make up a well researched genealogy. Unless otherwise indicated, this book is the source for the information on these pages. Verbal permission has been granted by Mr. Brightwell for use of his copyrighted material in this internet genealogy.

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Reminiscences of the Long Ago¹
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As recalled by by Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett.

I am an old woman now almost sixty-nine years of age. I was the eldest daughter of John Harvie Marks and wife Matilda Jane Thornton, grandaughter of Hastings Marks and Sivility Powell. My mother was the daughter of Col. William Solomon Thornton and Nancy Sweeny.

And I see once more the home of my childhood, and myself once more a little girl, out in the shade of a wide spreading oak, with old black mammy, my father's cook. And while I hold and slowly unwind her thread, I watch her dear old rough clumsy hands, as she knits her stocking. And I listen to the wonderful tales she tells of her young days.

"When Marse Hastuns (my grandfather Hastings Marks) moved to de prarers in do ole Yallerbamma (Alabama). You is heard of fitin cows, but chile you don no nuffin' 'bout it. De wile strawberries growed eberwhere, they did, and on Sunday ebenings me and a hole gang of young niggers would go out to hunt em, for da sho was good. And fust thing we know dem wile Yallerbamma cows would see us, and here day would come des a kickin up day heels, and bellowing, making right fer us. We sho' would have to run fer our lives, fer da wusn't a tree in sight, no whar, fer us to clam up."

And she would tell about the "Injuns, -Marse Hastuns was Captain, or sumpin, of de sojors what fit de Injuns." (Grandfather was Captain of a company of militia.) "And when he go to town to muster de men, he come back home so funny. He would hab a dram, he would, but Marse Hastuns nebber did git drunk, No, no, no, he des take a dram, and git funny. And when he get home he tell mammy Milly, she was the cook, to cook a big pot of mush, an when it git dun, he make her bring it out wid a big pan of sweet milk and a lot of spoons. Den he call all us little giggers fum de quarters, bout 20 or thirty of us, an he tell us we got to dance the Injun dance, or we can't hab no milk and mush. Den he string us all round, an he git in de middle, an he tell us we got to do jus lack him. Den he sing de Injun song, and hop and dance until the supper bell would call him in.

"An den atter a while Marse Hastuns and his brudder Marse Jacky Marks, an Marse Nick Barnett, all come to de Arkansas, en de woods wus so thick, en day wus so full of bars, and panters, and wolves, and deers, tell us niggers wus afeered to git outter de house after night."
Space A NAME=Pet>1 Pettigrew, Marion DeWoody, and Newton Brightwell, MARKS-BARNETT FAMILIES AND THEIR KIN pp. 90-95
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Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

I (Mrs. Pickett) remember hearing my father, John H. Marks, ("Little Jack") tell of an incident that happened when he was a boy, at that time the country was unsettled, and a veritable wilderness in what is now Cleveland County, Arkansas, and each farm had to keep a pack of hounds.

Uncle Jackey had one old favorite bear dog, but the old fellow was too aged and feeble to hunt any more, and had the mange in a marked degree. Hound-like he persiste in coming into the house. No matter what company was present, old Rover would be right in their midst, if he could possibly get there.

Cousin Rebecca Sorrells, Uncle Jackey's oldest daughter, begged her father to have the old dog killed, but he refused, so once more when Cousin Civility Stewart, who afterwards married my father's brother Hastings Marks, was visiting Cousin Rebecca, they planned to get rid of Rover, and securing some strychnine, they gave him a dose.

A few minutes after they started over to grandmother's, going through the field because it was nearer, just as they were passing a cotton house, they heard a noise and looking back saw old Rover coming after them, staggering along with his tongue out, his mouth filled with froth and saliva. They thought the poison had run him mad and they became panic stricken, screaming loudly for help, they ran into a cotton house, and climbed the walls as high as they could go.

In the meantime, my father, who was also on his way to Umcle Jakey's heard their cries, and hurried to them. When he was told by them of the poison, and saw the condition of the dog, he shot him. The girls decided that they would never give a pet strychnine, if it came into the house and occupied the bed.

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

The most of my childhood, from the time I was five years of age until I was thirteen, was spent in school, first in the little village school of Chambersville, Ark, then the Collegiate Institute, of Camden, Ark.

When the Civil War began, that stopped my schooling, but my father taught me, during all the spare moments I had from my spinning and weaving. At that time every one had to spin and weave. The rich as well as the poor had to make everything that was worn on the body, and used in the house. Plough lines, and even woven saddle girths, from the long hair of the tails of horses and cattle. We made our hats of the Southern Palm or Palmetto, that grew in the swamps, and they were as beautiful as the expensive leghorns of today.

Yet during all those troublous times, and with so much work to do, there were times when we were right jolly, and some laughable things would occur, although at the time, it was considered quite serious. Once after the Federals had taken possession of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a bunch of my girl friends were spending the day with me, and my Uncle Evan P. Marks had gone home to see his mother, who was an invalid. That morning a runner came telling him he had better leave, that the Federals were at Mount Elba only six miles away. So he left, fearing that he might be taken a prisoner, and came across the Moro Creek to our house, in Calhoun County.

In the afternoon we were having a fine time, in the parlor, dancing, singing, etc. There being only two of the male sex present, Uncle Evan and Brother Billie, some of the girls tied handkerchiefs to their arms to act as gentlemen. Uncle Evan being a fine violinist played for us, prompted and danced all at the same time. And while the dancing and fun was in full sway, old black Mammy came running into the room. Exclaiming, "Fer de Lord's sake run, Marse Evan, de Yankees is coming right down de road, en ef you don run da git you sho.'"

Looking out of the window there they were, as we thought, a whole regiment of Feds. There was only one way for Uncle Evan to get out of the room, and that was through the hall, in plain view of the soldiers. He had kept his horse tied and saddled in the back yard, for fear that he might have to leave in a hurry. So he mad a dash through the hall to his horse, and out through the plum orchard, that had grown up so thick that one could hardly walk through it, making his horse jump the fences.

He had taken off his cartridge belt and pistols, so that he could dance, and in the excitement he had left the on the table. Missing them, he did not know what to do. He could not go back to certain capture. Just at this time he saw my father in the orchard and called him to get them as quickly as he could, and end them to him.

But by the time Pa got there the soldiers had drawn up in front of the house. When lo and behold! it proved to be our men, led by Colonel McMurtree, who had been on a scout, to find out where the Feds were. We sent for Uncle Evan to come back to the house. Such a laugh a we had, but it broke up the dance.
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Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

But times were growing serious, the colonel said the Feds not only had Pine Bluff, but Little Rock and Camden, also. And that our troops were somewhere in Louisianna, and that they must be off the next morning. Uncle Evan went with them. We heard no more from them for many days. In fact, not until the night before the battle of Mark's Mill, which was fought on April 15, 1864.

General Steele commanding the federal Troops, had decided to evacuate Camden, and sending part of his men up the road, towards Little Rock, he started the rest under General Drake, to Pine Bluff..

Later in the afternoon of the 24th of April, one of our old Negroes who had been to preaching in the little village of Chambersville, came back in a great hurry, and terribly excited, saying, "Marse John, you better git out and hide somewhar, fer de Yankees is coming. And da sho' will take you, fer de whole world is full of dem. Da stopped to camp at Chambersville, but are scattering out all over the country, taking all the cotton they can find baled up."

Of course we were terribly uneasy, and did not sleep any that night, expecting the Federals every minute. Just about midnight someone called at the gate. My father went to the door thinking it was the Feds. He called, "Who are you?"

The reply was "Are there any Yankees here?" Father said he had heard only later that afternoon, that there were plenty of them at Chambersville.

The man then asked, "Are there any here at your house?"

"Not unless you are one," said my father.

The gate being open the man rode up near the door, and speaking very low, in his natural voice said, "How do you do, Jack?"

Father cried out in a surprised voice, and said, "Dick, what are you doing here?". It proved to be one of our neighbors, Mr. Dick Cone, who had been sent as a scout to find right where the Federals were camped; how many, and all about them, but said he was going to see his wife before he went back to camp. For our soldiers were camped down on the Pine Bluff and Moro Landing road. He was sure there would be a battle early next morning, and he did not know but he might be killed, and wanted to see his wife and children. His home was within two miles of where the Feds were camped, and it was really dangerous for him to venture so near.

He told us to listen, and we would hear the guns next morning. For they would be up where the Princeton and Warren road crossed the Pine Bluff and Moro Landing road, in time to cut the Feds off from Pine Bluff.
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Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Next morning Confederate General Cabell formed his men in line of battle up and down the Pine Bluff road. General Fagan's line was from the Pine Bluff road out west, parallel with the Princeton road, up which the Federal Troops would come. Gen. Cabell ordered Gen. Shelby to take his men around through the country, and come into the Pine Bluff road, near the Mount Elba crossing on the Saline River. And to take my Uncle, Lt. Evan P. Marks as a guide. All this was done very early in the morning. And so quietly that the people knew nothing of what was going on, until the battle began.

In the meantime, the Federal pickets that had been stationed at Mount Elba, through the night, had been exchanged and sent on down the road to meet the command, but instead they had stopped at my grandmother's, Mrs. Sivility Marks, and were plundering the house, looking for money and anything of value, which they could carry with them. An old lady, "Aunt Luke Williams," was standing by a table busily cutting garments for the Negroes, when one of the Feds came up to her, took hold of the shears, and told her to turn them loose. She snatched them from him, and said, "Rot your soul, if you do not leave me alone, I'll stab you to the heart."

He drew back and said, "I believe you would."

Just then Cousin George Stewart, who was an invalid, and living with Grandmother, heard a rumbling, and on looking out saw General Shelby's men drawn out in line of battle, advancing rapidly. They wore blue coats like the Feds, and thinking they were our enemies, he cried, "Aunt! we are lost, the whole face of the earth is covered with Yankees."

But when she looked she saw our flag, and began to clap her hands saying. "Why, George! It is our men, don't you see our flag?"

When the Federal pickets heard that they left in a hurry, and made for their horses. All was excitement, and every one ran out. Our men saw the pickets trying to get away, and halted them, but they would not surrender, so they shot one near the house, and the other further down the road. By that time Uncle Evan had reached the gate, but all were so excited, that they did not recognize him until he spoke. He told them to get back into the house, close all of the doors and windows, for there was going to be a battle, and they might be killed. Grandmother hardly thinking what she was saying said, "Evan, don't go, stay with me."

He laughed and said, "Why, Mother, I wouldn't miss it for anything. Do not be uneasy, we will be sure to whip them, for we will have them surrounded before they know it." And saying good-bye, he was gone. Only a few minutes passed until they heard the guns. The cannons began to jar the earth, and fighting was terrible, but only for a short time.
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Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

After the battle was over our soldiers pushed right on to overtake Gen. Steel, and cut him off from Little Rock, leaving only one Texas Regiment to look after the prisoners. There was bitter personal feelings between these Confederate texas troops and Capt. Penwarden's section of the Union forces, for they were from Kansas.

The Texans learned of Capt. Penwarden's being taken to the Marks' house, but as long as they were sure that he would die, they gave the matter little thought. However, when they heard that he was recovering, some of the men stole away from the camp and went to the house, for the purpose of killing him.

When they called at the gate, Grandmother asked me to see what they wanted. They at first pretended to want to purchase a saddle that Grandmother had, and I told them it was only a boy's saddle, and had belonged to my young uncle that was dead, and that money could not buy it.

They then asked about Capt. Penwarden. When I said that he was recovering as fast as possible, one spoke up and said they would soon put a stop to that, for they had come to kill the "damn Jayhawker," and started to go into the house. I told them they would never take him from the house while I lived. That he was a prisoner, and left in our care, and that it would be most cowardly for them to kill a prisoner. They contended that he was nothing but a "damn Jayhawker," and that they would kill him.

I said, "I am ashamed of you. I never would have believed that we had such low down, cowardly men in our Southern Army. You are not worthy of being called soldiers, and if you do not leave these premises I will certainly report you to Col. Ellitson, as we are expecting him over to take dinner today." On hearing that they left, and we were not troubled with them any more.

One day after Capt. Penwarden was able to walk out in the hall, he was passing an open door of the room where I was spinning. The hum of the wheel aroused his curiosity, for he had never seen anyone spinning. He stopped and asked me what I was doing. I thought that he was poking fun at me because I had to spin. My proud Southern blood rose instantly, and I replied, "I am spinning ropes to hang Yankees with." He laughed heartily, and left me, but after that all of them called me the desperate rebel. Dr. Smith, Federal surgeon, was left to attend the wounded Northern soldiers.

After all of them recovered they were paroled and sent home. We never saw them any more. But I still hear from them; they have never forgotten us, and try in every way to show their gratitude for the care and protection that we gave them.

I married William Tennell Pickett, September 28, 1869; son of William John Pickett.
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Addenda by Newton Brightwell

Corrections, comments, and addenda to the battle of Marks Mill as recalled by Molly Marks Pickett and Martha Marks Hudson in their reminisences:²

Private James M. Campbell, Co. A, 43rd Indiana Infantry, was one of the military escort that marched with the wagon train from Camden on April 22, 1864. He had enrolled September 1, 1861 at Bowling Green and was mustered into service the same day at Terre Haute for three years. He was 19 years old at the time. He was discharged at the expiration of service on September 9, 1864.³

"Captain" Thomas Penwarden was actually a private in Co. F, 5th Kansas Cavalry. He enlisted July 21, 1861, and was mustered out of the service on August 11, 1864⁴ His regiment, together with the 1st Indiana Cavalry, 7th Missouri Cavalry, and 18th Illinois Infantry, was sent by Colonel Powell Clayton, by order of General Steele, on the morning of April 24, from the Post of Pine Bluff to reinforce the escort of the wagon train. The cavalry went ahead and reached Marks Mill in time to participate in the battle. Soon after the battle started, the infantry arrived at Mt. Elba to find the crossing of the Saline River held by Lt Col. Benjamin Elliott's 1st Missouri Battalion Cavalry,⁵150 veterans of many battles, some having participated in the Wakarusa War, December 1855, and the sacking of Lawrence on May 21, 1856, both in "Bloody Kansas."⁶

Elliott's battalion (150 men) were reported "absent on scout" on field returns of Shelby's brigade, dated May 3, 1864, and Marmaduke's division, dated May 20. 1864. From the former return we know that the 150 men left as guard with the prisoners at Marks Mill were from Shelby's Misouri brigade, and that they were not Elliottt's battalion, but it is conceivable that Elliott was scouting and picketing in the vicinity of Marks Mills on the day that Molly Marks confronted the would-be assassins.⁷

We can believe that the cowardly murderers of unarmed, wounded prisoners slunk away when threatened with their leader's name. Benjamin Elliott, "that grim Saul who never smiled," was dangerous, the most armipotent of this desperate bane of "border ruffians."⁸

To recapitulate, several errors have been revealed in the story of Marks Mill. Missouri troops (not a Texas regiment) were left to guard the prisoners. Missouri "border ruffians" (not Texans) held a long standing grudge against Kansas "Jayhawks." Ben Elliott (no official named Ellitson has been found inthe Confederate Army) was expected "take dinner."
space 2 Pettigrew, Marion DeWoody, and Newton Brightwell, MARKS-BARNETT FAMILIES AND THEIR KIN, Supplement, pp. 498-500
3 Letter fron Archives Division, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, 15 May 1978, to compiler
4 Letter fron Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, 16 May 1978, to Compiler.
5 Official Records, 1, XXXIV, pp 835-836.
6 Jay Monaghan, Civil War on the Western Border: 1854-1865 pp. 38, 64.
7 Official Records, 1, XXXIV, 3, pp. 803, 832.
8 Daniel O'Flaherty, General Jo Shelby, Undefeated Rebel, pp. 192-193, 254.

Quoted from THE LITTLE RED CHAIR

Naneitta Rhine and Mary Sue Moseley, authors of The Little Red Chair, wrote of the aftermath of the battle as told to them:

Miss Molly Marks, later Mrs. Pickett, became a very efficient nurse. Each day she went with the doctor to the battlefield and, as they found room for a pallet on the floor, or as some lwss wounded men were dismissed, they brought into the house others who at first had seemed hopeless cases.

The Yankee, Penwarden, was one of these. He had lain on the ground three nights, wrapped only in a blanket, when some movement showed life. And he, too, was carried into the long, open hallway and laid on a pallet. Miss Molly gave him her attention and nursed him vadk to life. When he recovered he made his way back to his native state.

Years later, around 1901 or 1902, Mr. Penwarden wrote Jim Nick Marks asking if he might visit him and spend some time in going over the battlefield. Mr. Marks wrote him to come and they spent many hours searching for significant sites on the battleground. Mr Penwarden selected the spot where he had lain for three days and nights before being taken to the Sivility Marks home upon the insistance of Miss Molly. He even dug bullets from a tree at this location, thinking that one of these might have been the one which passed through his head at the base of his brain.

After two weeks spent thus, the two men came to Fordyce and were greeted by Dolly Raines (daughter of Jim Nick Marks) with "Welcome, Mr. Penwarden. Pa tells me that you were in the fighting near our home."

His reply was: "Yes, Mrs. Raines, I fought, bled, and died on the Marks Mill battleground."

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Marks Stories

Reminiscences of the Long Ago1

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Reminiscences of Mrs. Mary "Molly" A. E. Pickett

Addenda by Newton Brightwell

Quoted from THE LITTLE RED CHAIR

Reminiscences of the Long Ago¹