Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/325

 CHAPTER XIX NEW MADRID AND MADISON COUNTIES Blows to New Madrid- -Incorporated as a City — Long the County Seat — Point Pleasant — Portageville — Predericktown. We have set out that New ]Iadrid was in- corporated in 1808. It grew slowly, however, and in 1811 contained only two stores and a few houses. Many of the inhabitants of the town moved away after the earthquake, and for several years affairs were at a standstill. The town was greatly benefited, however, by being selected as the seat of justice for the county. This was in 1822. In 1834 the town was reincorporated by the county court, and again in 1868. The trustees in 1834 were : William Pierrepont, Geo. G. Alford, Dr. Rob- ert D. Dawson, Ashael Smith and Alphonse Delaroderie. The early merchants were : Robert G. Watson, Robert McCoy, Matteo Bogliolo and Geo. G. Alford. In the decade from 1840 to 1850 business was transacted by H. T. ard J. Waters, Samuel Allen, W. B. Harper and Thomas Dowd. In 1856 the merchants were: Allen, Waters, R. A. Hatcher & Co., Hunter & Watson, F. V. LeSieur, T. J. 0. Morrison, and Warrington & Pennell. Blows to New Madrid The town suffered greatly during the war, as did most southeast towns. It was the scene of several skirmishes and battles. During 1862 General Pope laid regular siege to it. The Confederate forces defending the town were numerous and well-armed and several Confederate gunboats were in the river. Pope landed near the town with a large force, but doubted his ability to carry it by assault o? to hold it in face of the fire from the gun- boats. He accordingly contented himself at first with surrounding it as far as possible and ordered heavy guns from Cairo for a siege. The attack on New ]Iadrid was a part of the movement for opening the river, and had for its immediate object the capture of the strong- ly fortified post of Island Ten. Finally, not being able to dislodge the Confederates from New Madrid, he took possession of Point Pleasant and New Madrid was evacuated. It had been repeatedly fired upon and suffered from this and other attacks. Many houses were burned and much property destroyed. One thing which dealt a blow to the pros- perity of New Madrid during and after the war was the destruction of the Blanton plank road. This road led across the Little River swamp to West Prairie, near Clarkton. It offered the people of Dunklin and Stoddard counties access to river transportation at New Madrid and drew a considerable trade to that town. Its destruction cut off this trade and caused it to seek other oiitlets. In spite of these various misfortunes, the 265
 * Iaulsby, Napoleon LeSieur, B. Powell, Rich-