Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/742

Rh elected him governor and he was inaugurated in January, 1864, at the city of Columbus, the temporary seat of government. He was already noted as a model gentleman, lawyer and soldier, and he proved to be all that the people could wish of a governor in such troubled times. He devoted himself assiduously to the improvement of the condition of the Mississippi soldiers in the field and to the bringing out of every man to the defense of the women and children at home. Sherman set out early in 1864 to march across the State, marking his track with desolation. Even private houses were burned, fences destroyed and mules and horses carried off. After the surrender of the armies in 1865, Governor Clark ordered all the State officers to return with the archives to Jackson, the capital, and called upon all the citizens to adhere to the fortunes of the State, maintain law and order, and meet stern facts with fortitude and common sense. About two weeks later Governor Clark was arrested by Federal troops and carried to Fort Pulaski, Ga. He was soon released, however, and returning to his native State spent the remainder of his days in peace.

Brigadier-General Douglas H. Cooper, then a prominent citizen of Mississippi, in 1861 was sent by the Confederate government to secure the alliance of the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole tribes. He was successful in winning over portions of those tribes to the cause of the Confederacy and was commissioned colonel of the First Choctaw and Chickasaw regiment of mounted riflemen. Some of the Indians preferred allegiance to the United States government. Colonel Cooper determined to force these into submission or drive them out of the country; so he collected a body of troops, partly his own regiment and partly white troops. In November and December, 1861, he fought the battles of Chusto-Talasah and Chustenahla, defeating the Federal Indians and driving their armed bands of the Territory