This information was copied from The Cass County Genealogical
Society, 1975, Vol. II, No. 3, pg. 3-12.
LIFE OF AN EAST TEXAS PIONEER
Owned by J.E. Townley
Hughes Springs, Texas
By H.R. Hughes
Stencil Cut From Copy Owned by Mrs. H.B. Ashley, the former
Miss Mary Belle Hughes, April 25, 1966.
My father, Reece Hughes, came from a line of Hugnenot ancestors,
who to the time (which was the year A.D. 1629) when the famous
city of LaRochelle in Southern France was captured and destroyed
by a Roman Catholic army led in person by the noted Cardinal
Richelieu, were citizens of that doomed city. Some of the members
of the Hughes stock made their escape from the besieged city
and crossed over to England or Wales. From England they afterwards
came to America and three brothers of the Hughes family settled
in Virginia near the Dismal Swamp. From this section the different
members of the group scattered.
My father, Reece Hughes, was born in Bedford County, Tennessee,
on 26 November 1811, A.D. He afterwards moved with his parents
to Franklin County in N.W. Alabama and settled on a stream called
Big Bear Creek. From this section in the year 1829 when he was
only 18 years of age he left this home and joined a small band
of 5 or 6 bold adventurers and headed for Texas on a buffalo
hunt. Texas at that time being only a Province of Mexico was
a wild and unsettled region. This little band of adventurers
was soon driven out of Texas by a much larger force of hostile
Indians.
But Reece Hughes lured by the wonderful attractions of this
new and strange country, after waiting nine years for conditions
to become more favorable in this new region returned to Texas
in the spring of 1838, A.D. This was just 2 years after Texas
became an independent Republic. He was joined in this his second
trip to Texas by his brother, Robert Hughes, who was about 6
years younger than Reece Hughes. They also brought with them
a young negro man, a slave who belonged to their father, Robert
Hughes, Sr. It was now their fixed purpose to establish a home
in Texas.
They first stopped at Blossom Prairie in the county of Red
River. Here they rented a small piece of land and raised a crop.
But Reece Hughes in his first trip to this new country, nine
years before, had heard a strange wild rumor of a great strong-box
of gold coin that was said to have been buried near an Indian
village by an old sea pirate who bore the name of Trammell. This
great treasure of gold was said to have been hidden somewhere
on the Old Trammell Trace or trail which led from Red River to
near the Island of Galveston on the Gulf. It was also said no
doubt, by a desire to find this wonderful hidden treasure, the
Hughes brothers early in the spring of 1839, A.D., just 90 years
ago, left Blossom Prairie, struck the Old Trammell Trace and
followed it south until they reached an old deserted Choctaw
Indian village that stood near the old trail.
This old village was located in the beautiful valley of what
is now known as Hughes Creek, about one mile East of the site
of the present known as Hughes Springs.
Here they stopped and on the 28 day of March 1839 A.D., they
pitched their tent and began at once to build their log cabin
and to clear up a little farm.
If they ever found the golden treasure for which they were
searching, I have no record of it. But they built their log cabin,
cleared their little farm and planted a crop of corn and peas
and some garden truck.
They were so wonderfully satisfied with the results of the
first year of their new venture that in the autumn of the same
year 1939, Reece Hughes, leaving his younger brother, Robert,
and the young negro man in the care of the little farm, set out
alone on horse back on his long journey back to Franklin County,
Alabama to bring out his father, who was now an old man, and
his family to the new Republic of Texas. By this time many of
his relatives and friends in that section were seized with the
Texas fever, and several families of the Hughes, Prewitts, Bennetts
and Skinners who were all kin people.
These families formed the vanguard of the settlers of this
portion of East Texas. It was from these early pioneers that
Hughes Creek, Prewitts Lake and Hughes Lake took their names.
In a short time after this immigration began to come in rapidly
and the new country began to prosper wonderfully.
But the newcomer who was afterwards to become most closely
connected with the life and destinies of Reece Hughes was a man
know far and wide in East Texas as old Capt. William Pinckney
Rose He migrated to Texas in the fall of 1839 and located at
a point 8 miles East of the town of Marshall in Harrison County.
This place is now known as Scottsville. Capt. Rose was a wealthy
planter who came from near Jackson in Washington Parish, Louisiana
where he then lived, and served with great distinction under
the old Gen. Jackson at the celebrated battle of New Orleans
in 1815.
When Capt. Rose moved to Texas, among other members of his
family, he was accompanied by two daughters, one a young widow
of Allen McLean, who was the mother of two young children, one
who was afterwards known all over Texas as Judge W.P. McLean,
and the other as Dr. H. J. McLean, a famous Methodist minister.
Mrs. Allen McLean was at that time about 20 years old. The other
daughter, Elizabeth, was at that time just 14 years of age, soon
attracted the attention of Reece Hughes, who was a frequent visitor
to that community, and so in April 1841 after a brief courtship,
they were married. Besides being young and beautiful and in many
ways attractive, Reece Hughes' young wife brought to him a snug
little fortune in negro slaves, which he, with wonderful judgment,
used to marvelous profit on his farm.
But just as prosperity seemed to beam upon Reece Hughes with
her brightest smiles, and he seemed to be settling down to a
quiet and happy life, suddenly a dark and ominous shadow fell
across his pathway. The country being new and almost without
any settled form of local government, lawlessness and crime were
everywhere rampant. The permanent citizens in Harrison County
feeling the need of protection, met and organized what we would
call a Vigilance Committee. This organization selected old Capt.
Rose as its leader, who acting promptly with the organized body
of citizens, captured several horse thieves and outlaws, and
while they spared their lives, punished them with much vigor
and ordered them to quit the country. This, as usual, soon raised
much opposition, and Col. Bob Potter, a noted Texas politician
and lawyer, headed an opposing party. The struggle between the
two opposing factions grew to be bitter and bloody. But finally
Col. Bob Potter, after making a vain effort with a band of about
20 armed men to surprise Capt. Rose at his own home, was in turn
surprised by Capt. Rose with a band of about 10 men and killed
while attempting to escape while swimming Caddo Lake. Reece Hughes
who was a son-in-law to Rose and a man of tremendous energy and
resolution took a very active part in this struggle and was present
with Rose with Col. Potter was killed. The death of Potter put
an end to this bloody strife, but it was many years before the
effect of it died out. The death of Col. Potter occured in July
1842.
Bob Potter whose portrait, I am told, now hangs on the walls
of the State House at Austin, was a very talented and brilliant
man, but I imagine a good deal after the order of that celebrated
character Aaron Burr. He was, at the time of his death, a Senator
in the Texas Congress and was said to have been chief commander
of the little fleet of the Texas Republic during her fight for
independence from Mexico. But I am forced to say that his record
in the State of North Carolina from whence he came to Texas was
somewhat shady.
But Capt. W.P. Rose also had a brilliant record as one of
the heroic soldiers at the famous battle of New Orleans in 1815,
and Reece Hughes about that time held a commission as Colonel
in the Militia of the Republic of Texas. If any person wishes
to see more extended and detailed account of the taking off of
Col. Bob Potter, they will find it fully described in a book
of reminiscences published by Dr. J.H. McLean, D.D. some years
ago. An account is also found in the book here referred to of
the terrible vengeance visited by Reece Hughes at Port Caddo
upon the man whose name I shall not mention who was the leader
of a band of the Potter Faction, that, in cold blood, burdered
the oldest brother of Reece Hughes, whose name was Isaac Hughes,
and who lived near the town of Marshall and was a very warm friend
of Capt. Rose.
I mention these unpleasant facts just simply because they
actually accured and also for the reason that they indicate more
clearly than anything else the true spirit of those early times.
About this time and especially after 1845, when Texas was admitted
to the Union, the migration to this section increased wonderfully,
new counties were organized, many new towns sprang up and everything
became more settled and prosperous.
By the year 1847, Reece Hughes planned and carred into execution
the founding of a new town at a noted Chalybeate spring situated
about one mile west of his home. He named this new town Hughes
Springs. But there was scarcely anything left of this first town
of Hughes Springs, when the children of Reece Hughes, joined
by Dr. J.H. McLean, under a contract with the East Line and Red
River Railway Company in the month of May 1878, and laid off
and founded the present town of Hughes Springs; yet the first
town of Hughes Springs made very rapid progress for a time when
it was first established and became a place of considerable note.
It became a noted place for camp meetings in those early days
and at one time a well known teacher by the name of Potton conducted
a large and successful boarding school at this place but the
main thing that caused the town to dwindle away was that Reece
Hughes, its founder, and Co. W.B. Akin, another rich cotton planter,
his nearest neighbor, bought up nearly all of the land in that
section and in this way forced the people of more moderate means
to go west.
During these years the success of Reece Hughes in cotton raising
and other farming operations was so amazingly great that in the
year 1853, on the occasion of the death of his young wife, Elizabeth,
in a recorded statement to the courts, he estimated her separate
individual property at One Hundred and Fifty Thousand ($150,000)
Dollars worth of real estate, 100 slaves and $30,000 in gold
coin. You can find this in the Supreme Court of Texas, the title
of the case is W.P. Hughes et al vs Thomas Roper.
After the death of his first wife, Elizabeth, and it is said,
in accordance with her dying request, Reece Hughes and the widow
of John W. Scott, of Harrison County were married. This man John
W. Scott was a brother of Col. W.T. Scott of Scottsville, in
Harrison County. His widow was also a daughter of old Capt. W.P.
Rose and an older sister of my mother Elizabeth.
Thus by this marriage Judge W.P. McLean and Dr. John H. McLean
became the stepsons of Reece Hughes, their mother having been
married three times, first to Allen McLean, second to John W.
Scott and then Reece Hughes in the fall of 1853.
There were five children born to Reece Hughes by his first
wife, all of them boys. Of these five sons I will write more
at length later.
In the year 1856, A.D., my father removed from his old farm
one mile east of Hughes Springs and made his new home about 3
miles southeast of the Springs on the main Highway leading west
toward Dallas and Sherman from Jefferson, which was the greatest
trading center of the Northeast Texas at that time. At this point
the old Brick House was built, one of the largest and finest
provate residences ever built in Texas. It had solid massive
brick walls, both outer and partition walls, and with the basement
was four stories high, with paripet walls and towers standing
above the roof. It had more appearance of some old English castle
than of a modern country residence. About 3 miles East of this
home mansion he built his Iron furance where he was preparing
to manufacture iron on a large scale for those early times. All
this building was done by him with his own large body of negro
slaves, with just one or two white men to direct the operations.
By the outbreak of the war of Secession in 1861, I feel it
would entirely within the bounds of sober truth to say that Reece
Hughes, in his own name and clear of any kind of debt or incumbrance,
was the owner of a magnificent estate of more than twenty-five
thousands acres of land in Cass and adjoining counties. He, on
this landed estate, had a find falley farm of more than 2000
acres of cleared land in a high state of cultivation. He owned
about 200 slaves with which he cultivated this land. And as I
said, above, he had a fine Iron Foundry just ready to be given
the manufacture of iron. I honestly do not believe that any many
in Texas ever prospered like he did who depended solely on farming
to gain wealth. But just at this time the great War came up and
threw its dark shadow over the whole land.
In my last article I traced the fortunes of Reece Hughes up
to the opening of the great War of Secession in the year of 1861.
I will now continue my narrative through the two periods of the
war and the reconstruction of the Southland.
At the beginning of the year 1861, though the war clouds hung
low, and dark over the whole political horizon, times at the
old Brick House were exceedingly gay and lively. Reece Hughes
had just engaged the services of three of the most noted dancing
masters in Texas, at that time, Hun Williams, Sam and Lud Williams,
and having invited in a large number of his kin people and neighbors
was having a great damcing school taught in his own home. The
dance room was one of the main Halls of the building, an apartment
20 feet wide by 40 feet long. The floor was dressed as smooth
as a plane could make it and then waxed, which gave it almost
a glossy smoothness. This made it an ideal place for the performance.
This dancing school occupies, even up to this day, a very
conspicuous place in my memory. I, having been born on the old
Hughes farm on mile east of the town of Hughes Springs on 2 Jan
1851 was only 10 years of age at this time.
But I was considered to be on sufficient age to take an active
part in these lively exercises. I have a very distinct recollection
of everything connected with this school. I remember just how
I was dressed to attend it. I wore a sporty velvet jacket decorated
with many shinny brass buttons. My shoes were of bright patent
leather, and my pants were full length and cut gaiter fashion.
I know some will smile when they read this description of my
dancing costume, but you must remember that I am describing the
customs of 70 years ago. After this dancing school opened up
there was a season of almost continual fun and frolic day and
night at the Hughes home for months. There had been much talk
of war all over the Southland, previous to this time, but the
leading men and especially the politicians said the war would
be a mere breakfast spell, that one Southern man could easily
whip a dozen Yankees, and some went so far as to say they could
and would drink all the blood that was shed in it.
But suddenly in the month of April 1861, in the very height
of all our gayety and fun, like a clap of thunder from the sky,
there came the soul stirring news that the cannons of the Confederates
had opened fire on Fort Sumpter, S.C. Through numbed and dumfounded
by this sudden and dreadful news, there came over us all a vague
realization that a great and wonderful change had come in our
lives. Young as I was at the time, a thrill of horrow passed
through my frame when I saw the look of sorrow and despair that
came over the face of my father when the news of the opening
of the great war first came to him. His heart seemed almost crushed
with grief, for he appeared to realize at once just what all
this meant to him and to all the Southland. It is almost needless
to mention the fact that the dancing school closed at once, and
in less time than the 30 days the young men of the country were
arming, equiping and hurrying to the battlefield.
This sudden and wonderful change has always reminded me strongly
of the scenes I afterwards read about. I refer to the description
given in the Bible of the Feast of King Belshazzer and of Byron's
would-stirring description of the dance at Brussels that was
broken up by the roar of the cannons at the battle of Waterloo.
From this time forward Reece Hughes was out spoken, strong
and uncompromising in his opposition to the policy of secession.
He wished to still hold his slaves but he wanted the South to
remain in the UAnion and to fight for her rights under the old
flag. It will be remembered that this same view of this matter
was held by old Gen. Sam Houston and many other prominent men
of the South. Just one little incident that occurred at this
time will show with wonderful clearness the bold stand he took
on this question.
The first company that was raised in our immediate section
was organized at Avinger by Capt. W.E. Duncan. I believe it went
by the name of "The Black Cypress Rangers." When the
roll of this company was completed and they took up their line
of march for the front, on their first day they halted for dinner
at the old Brick House. Reece Hughes, as his manner was, gave
them a royal welcome, had a fine substantial meal prepared for
the whole company, had all their horses cared for in good style,
and after dinner, according to the custom then in vogue, he set
out a liberal supply of his best peach brandy.
This many of the new soldiers did not fail to imbide very
freely. When the time came for them to depart the whole company
lined up in front of the old Brick House and someone proposed
"Three Cheers for Reece Hughes." This was responded
to at once and three lusty cheers were given by the whole company.
But just at this moment some fellow who had apparently gotten
too much of the old peach, in a swaggering tone called out "We
are going out to fight for Old Reece Hughes and his negroes".
This refrain was caught up and repeated by several along the
line. This sudden outburst was too much for the nerves of the
old gentleman, with his strong anti-session sentiments. He advanced
to the edge of the portice facing the whole line, waved his hand
to get their attention and then said in a loud and distinct voice,
"Gentlemen, if that is what you are going out for let me
beg of you now to go back home and lay down your arms, I do not
need your services, for this war will only result in the freeing
of the negroes and the ruin of the Southland."
This short speech, about the only one I ever heard him attempt
to make in public, did not, of course, meet with a very hearty
reception from his soldier hearers, but it strongly impressed
me as being wonderfully prophetic of what actually occured within
the next four years. As I have stated before there was a great
and sudden change in the spirit of things at the Hughes home.
But though the old Brick House was far more quiet and settled
than heretofore, yet all through the four year period of the
war, it continued to be an old time typical Dixie home. Standing
as it did close by the main Highway, it gave food and shelter
to hundreds and hundreds of weary and hungry Confederate soldiers
who passed that way, and this was always without money and without
price. I will state also that large numbers of war widows, that
is women whose husbands were serving in the army, got great help
in the way of corn and bacon and other supplies from the Hughes
farm.
But I know of no words better suited to describe this typical
old time Dixie home than the following quaint verses which I
herto append:
Mid the bright glow of Dixie's splendor,
In the good old days of yore
Before the war clouds peal of thunder
Sent its crash from shore to shore
In the grand old Eastern Texas
Where the hills are clad in green
Where the valleys gleam with brightness
From King Cotton's snowy sheen
There stood a fair and stately mansion
With its portals open wide
While its towers of strength and beauth
O're looked the hill tops in their pride
Within its walls dwelt peace and plenty
And a quiet homelike air
That sent a thrill of royal welcome
Through each soul that entered there.
It can be siad to the credit of Reece Hughes with perfect
candor that, while he opposed the policy of Secession with all
the energy of his soul, no man ever did his part more nobly and
unselfishly in giving aid to those of the Southland who needed
his help.
When the war opened he at once changed his lifetime plan of
farm operations. He had always had almost miraculous success
in cotton raising. But in 1861 he planted only enough cotton
for home consumption, but hes comprised enough to keep four hand
power looms running all the time winter and summer, making cloth
to keep his big plantation supplied with clothing. These looms
were worked by women slaves, some of whom were expert weavers.
They wove cotton cloth of several kinds, also woolen goods, among
which were blankets of greath warmth and splendid quality. He
had his own tan vats and made leather for shoes with which he
supplied his big body of slaves. But he found it more difficult
to learn to manufacture hats, yet he could make any quality of
straw and palmetto hats of good quality. His main crops were
now of grain, of which he raised great quantities, not only of
corn but of wheat, oats, rye and barley and also of rice. His
crops of ribbon cane and potatoes were abundant, and tobacco
was grown with great success.
His crops of grain and feed stuff were so bountiful that he
was compelled to build large barns and sheds in which to stow
them away. But it was only a short time until there was a place
found for all this surplus.
The Confederate Government began to be in sore need of supplies.
And now his real trials came upon him.
The government sent out its agents, some of whom seemed to
very much feel the importance of their positions, and took all
the surplus grain and feed stuff they could find in the country,
leaving the farmers only a sufficiency to get by on. Then came
the draft on all the work stock, both mules and horses except
just enough with which to run the farms. Then came an impressment
for the use of the Government of a certain per capita of the
able-bodied slaves of the country, and it is needless to say
that the government agents found ample means of enforcing these
requirements.
But of all these stringent exactions the thing that gave Reece
Hughes the severest blow was the impressment of his Iron Plant,
his fine new blast furnace. Sometime in the latter part of the
year 1862, A.D., the legislature of the State of Texas passed
a point resolution recommending that the C.S. Government purchase
the two iron plants in Texas, one situated in Marion County and
owned by Mr. Jefferson Nash and one in Cass (then known as Davis)
County and owned by Mr. Reece Hughes. The C.S. Government was
only too glad to act on this suggestion and at once sent out
its commissioners to effect these purchases. Jefferson Nash sold
to the government and I am told received in payment a large sum
in Confederate money. But when the commissioners approached Reece
Hughes he refused to part with the title of his part on any terms
whatsoever. This temporarily checked the enterprize but the C.S.
Government being in great need of iron plants, felt justified
in resorting to force, and at once seized his property and took
it over. This occured early in the year 1863, A.D. Reece Hughes
entered a strong protest in writing against this method of force
and notified the government that he would claim title to all
the improvements that might place on his land, but along with
the plant itself they impressed several thousand acres of his
richest iron ore, and heaviest timbered lands. They did this
to supply the plant with ore and charcoal. The furnaces all used
charcoal at the time. The C.S. Government detailed a large number
of hands to run this plant and under the management of Capt.
Wm. Robson, an old Scotchman and a practical iron manufacturer,
the work went forward rapidly and in a short time the books of
the plant showed that the government had put out more than a
half million dollars in improvements on it. The Government worked
this property about two years and made great quantities of pig
iron, from which they moulded casting of all kinds in abundance.
They were even preparing to mold cannon and other war implements
when the breakup came. According to an inventory made by the
Government Confederate authorities at the time they abondoned
it, which was about a month after the surrender of General Lee
in Va. This property was well worth a million dollars. But though
Reece Hughes immediately took possession of this property again
as soon as the Confederates left it, he never was permitted to
use this splendid plant any more. In a few days the Federal forces
came on the grounds and took possession of it, claiming it as
captured C.S. property. Just as soon as Reece Hughes could get
to Washington, D.C. which was early in the fall of 1865, A.D.,
he brought suit agaist the Federal Government for its restoration
and claimed several hundred thousand dollars damages against
them for the unlawful seisure of his property. This suit lasted
for years, but the US. Government finally ignored his claim.
This was a terrible blow to the old Gentleman, for his faith
in the U.S. Government was very great. But this terrible war
not only took a fearful toll on his property but it took his
sons. His oldest son William Pickney Hughes volunteered at the
age of 18, and served faithfully for four years in the Confederate
Army. During this term of service in Gen. Sul Ross Brigade, in
the State of Mississippi, he received a wound that made a cripple
of him for life, and was finally the cause of his death. Reece
Hughes second son, who bore the name of Thomas Jefferson Rusk
reached the age of 18 and was barely 19 years of age was killed
in the fighting around Vicksbnurg during the seige of that famous
fortress. This was the favorite son of my father, and he was
said by his soldier pals to be as brave a lad as ever went on
the battlefield.
As a natural sequence the strong and outspoken Union sentiments
of Reece Hughes made him many bitter and uncompromising enemies
among what might be termed the radical secession element and
they were everywhere vastly in the majority. As the war progressed
this sentiment grew stronger and stronger against him, until
at last towards the close of the war, this active enemies sent
in a strong petition to Gen. Kerby Smith, who at that time was
in command of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, to
have him executed as a public enemy. But through the counter
influence of some of his strong friends, who held high positions
under this Confederate commander, this movement against him utterly
failed and came to naught.
But to show the daring spirit which he manifested under the
most adverse circumstances, I will relate the two following incidents
that accured about this time. The first was this: One day during
the winter of 1864 there was a regiment of Southern Soldiers
passing his residence. There was a terrific blizzard raging and
the temperature stood just a little above zero. It so happened
that day that the Major of the regiment was on a dead drunk.
And though he was splendidly dressed in his fine new uniform
and was one of the finest looking specimens of physical manhood
I ever laid eyes on, he was perfectly limp and helpless, having
to be carried about by his men like an infant. While in this
condition of complete intoxication a bunch of eight or ten of
his men brought him up to the front steps of the house and in
a brusk way asked permission of my father to bring him in to
the fire. I was standing where I could see the face of my father
and I saw at a moments glance that trouble was brewing, but he
replied to them in a very quiet, calm tone and said: Gentlemen,
your request places me in a very awkward position, I am supposed
to be the natural guardian of my family and I have always made
it a rule never to allow a drunk man to enter my home. Pointing
to the little one-room office building that stood on the lawn
a short distance from the house, he said you can carry him in
that office, build you a warm fire and take care of him until
he sobers up. But the whole bunch being more or less under the
influence of liquor, everyone of them resented it as a deadly
insult to their favorite officer. It was like throwing a bomb
shell among them and at once with loud oaths they swore that
would rather bring him in, regardless of consequences. But the
Old Gentleman was to quick for them. He seized his old long barreled
shotgun that always stood at a convenient distance and taking
his stand in the front door, he said, men, you can overpower
me and kill me in a few monments, but I warn you that the first
man who puts his foot on that doorstep is a dead man. Seeing
the excitement, the bunch of soldiers in the yard had increased
to somethin like 25 men. They all seem greatly agitated, except
one, he seemed perfectly calm and quiet. Suddenly he stood out
from the crowd and although he said not a word and made no gesture
that was intelliginble to me, he drew the attention of my father,
and then all at once the scene changed, he beckoned to the men
and pointed to the drunken major, several of the seemed to understand
and took him up, carried him into the little office and took
care of him until he sobered up. Then they all went off to the
camp of the regiment which was about a mile away. The next morning
bright and early the Major appeared at our home and apologized
with great politeness and profusion for causing so much trouble.
His apology was duly accepted and the incident thus closed.
The second incident to which I referred occurred about the
time that General Price's troops disbanded at Shreveport, La.
This was a few days after Lee's surrender in Va. It came about
in the following manner: One day a band of men, 5 in number,
mounted on beautiful and spirited charges and each one armed
with a heavy brace of fine silver-mounted six-shooters rode up
to the Hughes home and seeing no grown up men folks about the
big house, dismounted and called for dinner. This was about 11:00
A.M. My stepmother, who had been used to frontier conditions
and without showing any unusual fear or excitement, secretly
sent out some of the negro servants as runners to call in all
the men folks within reach. In the meantime she had her preparations
for dinner to go guietly on. In a short time the men who were
out on different parts of the large farm, being put on their
guard, began leisurely to drop in, one at a time, until finally
when dinner was announced seven men had put in their appearance
at the house. These consisted of Reece Hughes himself, his oldest
son, William P. Hughes who had just gotten home from the army
a day or two before this. Reece Hughes, Jr., his third son who
was at that time nearly 18 years of age, a nephew by the name
of Bennett who had come over from Mississippi with William, also
two Confederate soldiers who where there to guard some corn that
belonged to the government, and the overseer on the plantation,
a man by the name of Everett. All seven of these men were very
cautious in their movements, kept a close watch on the 5 strangers,
did not group together, and did not sit down to the table at
the same time. The 5 bandits or jayhawkers, seeing they were
out generaled, ate their dinner in almost complete silence, then
mounted their fine steeds and suddenly rode away. Yet they were
not really gone, as we afterwards discovered, but this was mearely
a ruse of the bandits to throw the occupants of the house off
of their guard. The would be robbers kept to the public road
for a mile or so, then turned into the woods and finding a deep
ravine that almost sheltered them from sight in this direction,
dismounted, staked out their horses and laid down to rest and
to wait for the approach of darkness, evidently intending to
make a surprise attack on the home that night. But the people
at the Old Home had become so suspicious of the band, that late
in the afternoon they sent out 2 scouts to scour the country
around and find out if a thing was brewing. It so happened that
the scouts found where the band had left the road and in following
their horse tracks, were almost right on them before they discovered
their haiding place. The two scouts turned and made a hasty retreat
but not until they had been sighted by the robbers. Deciding
that their plans were now discovered, the bandits abondoned their
purpose of night assault on the home, and mounting their steeds
left for good. Yet the little group at the Hughes home, not knowing
that the robbers were gone, made every possible preparation,
and stood guard all night, in readiness to give them a hot reception
if they came. We never knew for sure where this band belonged,
but the rumor came to us afterwards that these men told the people
with whom they put up that night, who lived about 12 miles away,
that they were a party of the Quantrells famous band, and that
their object in visiting the Brick House was to make away with
the owner of it and to plunder the building. But, of course,
every men were liable to tell anything, and we had no way of
finding out the truth about them.
The war had now virtually come to an end and at last the great
crash, the break-up came. The slaves were all freed and Reece
Hughes, besides losing in a day's time something like $200,000
worth of slave property, was left with this vast plantation of
2,000 acres of rich valley land virtually without a tennant.
In a financial slump, this was the blow that was staggering to
him, he never could recover from it sufficiently to fit himself
into the new economic order of things.
Written at - Hughes Springs, Texas in 1929.
