Col. (CSA) Charles Jones

Shiloh Veteran Murders former Confederate General in 1870

Lt. Col. Charles Jones would command the 17th Louisiana Infantry in the Battle of Shiloh. The 17th Louisiana was organized at Camp Moore Louisiana in September 1861 with S.S. Heard as colonel and Charles Jones as lt. col. Charles Jones was born in Ireland and had a tendency to get into trouble wherever he went. He had trouble in Kentucky, Monroe, Louisiana, and finally where he settled near St. John Richardson Liddell on the Black River, near Trinity, Louisiana.

Liddell, who was also of Irish ancestry, and Jones, would clash in a feud, starting in 1847, which would last 23 years and cost 14 lives including their own. According to legend the feud started at a social gathering where Jones proposed a toast to female virtue and Liddell threw his wine out the window. The feud also involved real estate owned by friends of Liddell’s, Phillip and Eliza Nichols which was desired by Jones. When Jones spread rumors about the moral character of Eliza and showed up on their property, Eliza shot him in the face. He fled and told people Liddell had done the shooting, apparently embarrassed at being shot by a woman. The threats and attempted ambushes of each other continued including Liddell shooting two friends of Jones, who had made threats against him.

When the Civil War started both Jones and Liddell joined the Confederacy. St. John Richardson Liddell was born to a wealthy plantation family in Woodville, Mississippi and went to school there with Jefferson Davis. He attended the University of Virginia but became dissatisfied and gained an appointment to the West Point class of 1837. He was discharged in 1835 for lack of discipline and gross violation of regulations. There were rumors that he had wounded another cadet, James H. Perry from New York, in a duel. When Liddell returned, his father urged him to find some good land for a plantation in Louisiana or Arkansas. After running up bills and getting in several quarrels, he finally settled on a cotton plantation on the Black River which he named Llanada. He married Mary Roper in 1841 and they would have ten children. Liddell’s plantation prospered and by 1855 he had over 1500 acres and 150 slaves. Jones also prospered with two plantations in the area. Just before the war Liddell would clash with Maj. William T. Sherman superintendent of the military school, Louisiana State University, when his oldest son Moses was expelled.

When the war started Liddell would become an aide to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and would be taking messages from him to Richmond when the battle of Shiloh occurred. Lt. Col. Jones would take command of his regiment when Col. S.S. Heard, who had been arrested for not controlling the men, attached himself to the staff of Gen. Daniel Ruggles. On the morning of April 6, 1862, Gen Patton Anderson’s Brigade came in behind Gen. Cleburne’s Brigade with the 17th Louisiana on the right. As they approached the Union position they became disordered when the 22nd Tennessee withdrew through their ranks. The regiment became broken into two segments and Lt. Col. Jones stayed with the left, which caught heavy fire as they crested the hill near Sherman’s camps. A shell scared Jones’ Horse and he was thrown off and bruised, Later he was wounded by a minie ball in the left arm and lost track of his regiment. Some of his men were less than impressed with his performance. In a letter to his wife Roland A. Oliver stated: “Our Company fought as well as could be expected considering the Regiment was so badly commanded and separated. Col. Jones was in command but did not seem disposed to expose his precious life any more than he could help. He received two slight wounds.”

Jones was not re-elected to his position and was dropped from the rolls in May. He served some time with the staff of Gen. Ruggles before returning to Louisiana. St. John Liddell on his return to Corinth would take command of an Arkansas Brigade which he led at Perryville, and Murfreesboro. Later in the war he was assigned to Louisiana during the Red River Campaign where he would have problems getting along with Gen. Richard Taylor.

After the war the Liddell-Jones Feud continued. Col. Jones would join the Republican Party to save his property and when Gen. Liddell went bankrupt he tried to buy his land. On February 10, 1870 Liddell was on a boat having dinner with two friends when Charles Jones and his two sons boarded. Although several men attempted to intervene, Jones and one of his sons opened fire striking Liddell in the chest three times. As Liddell lay on the cabin floor, Jones and his sons stood over him and continued to shot him until he was dead. The Jones then raced from the boat and escaped. They went to the home of a close friend Sheriff Oliver Ballard and surrendered. On February 27, 1870 the house where Jones and his sons were staying was surrounded by thirty friends and relatives of Liddell and the family was ordered to withdraw. When they finally came out Col. Charles Jones attempted to escape with the ladies under a quilt but was recognized and shot and killed. His son William was also killed while another son ran to the river where he was believed to have drowned but actually escaped to New Orleans. The feud between the two Confederate Veterans had finally ended with both sides losing.

The town of Jonesville, Louisiana, however would be named for Charles Jones' Family.

Source: Shiloh National Military Park Facebook Page, 6/2/2016

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The Jones–Liddell feud (1847-1870) also known as the Liddell–Jones feud or the Black River War was an ongoing warring dispute between two prominent families from Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. It resulted in the death of at least six people, with other estimates suggesting as many as fourteen.

Background

Personal allegiances to one faction or another, as well as sensationalized press accounts during and after the series of events provide for a variance of details concerning the Jones-Liddell feud. It was born however from disagreements between two individuals; Gen. St. John Richardson Liddell and Lt. Col. Charles Jones. Each of these men were members of the Whig Party in the 1850s, and held significant wealth leading up to the Civil War.[1] Liddell was the second largest slave owner in Catahoula parish, with 115 slaves, while Jones owned 101 slaves. Each served as the patriarch of his respective family, with children who also would become participants in the feud. Both of these rivaling plantation owners arrived in Catahoula Parish at approximately the same time (1837-1840), and each would later serve in the Confederate Army. Following the war however, Liddell remained a loyal Democrat and defender of the southern cause. Jones however, became a Republican convert, at a time when the federal government installed Republican loyalists in government across the state.[2]

Origin

According to Liddell, the origin of the feud involved a neighboring family to both Liddell and Jones. Phillip and Eliza Nichols, who were personal friends of the Liddell family, owned a prominent piece of land that Jones greatly coveted. Liddell's accounts suggest that Jones had publicly maligned the character and virtue of Mrs. Nichols. Mrs. Eliza Nichols made a personal request for Liddell to accompany her in confronting Jones about his efforts to disparage her character. Liddell agreed and together they confronted Jones at his home. As Mrs. Nichols approached Jones however, she pulled out a pistol and shot him in the face; an action that Liddell claimed he did not expect from her, nor have prior knowledge of.[4]

Jones was injured, but the gunshot did not kill him. According to Liddell, Jones solely placed the blame on Liddell rather than hold Mrs. Nichols as the responsible party for his injury. As Jones rested at home in recovery, rumors began to escalate that Jones was plotting a revenge attack on Liddell and his family. The tensions would continue to escalate, and each family found themselves consumed with fortifying their respective plantations, and stocking up on guns and ammunition. Residents in the community feverishly fueled these tensions, and unofficial factions began to form throughout the area.[5]

Tensions between the two feuding families found a temporary reprieve, when Jones and his wife left for Ohio for a period of four years. Liddell suggested that Jones continued to send threats to Liddell during this time, stating his intention to return and kill him. In 1852, Jones made his return to his plantation on the Black River, accompanied by hired assassins, including one notoriously known as such by the name of Richard Pryor according to Liddell.[5] Sam Smith, a nephew of Jones, added his name to the list of those publicly professing he would kill Liddell.[5]

Murders of Wiggins and Glenn

Another Jones sympathizer by the name of Samuel Glenn made public threats against Liddell and his family. Liddell was tipped off that Glenn and Pryor were in town and had plans for another attempt on his life. On June 26, 1852, Samuel Glenn and a neighbor of Liddell's by the name of Moses Wiggins were ambushed by the road near "Trinity." Liddell admitted to having killed them both, but claimed that he mistook Moses Wiggins for Pryor. Liddell was arrested for murder.[6] Liddell's friends and allies defended his actions due to the public threats that had been levied toward his life. Liddell hired well-established attorneys from Natchez, Louisiana. Despite two grand juries, Liddell was acquitted in 1854.[6]

Reconstruction-era

Following the defeat of the Confederate States, both Liddell and Jones each returned home to try and salvage the once prosperous plantations. The economic fate of each man would be determined over the next five years largely by the political choices each made.[2] According to Liddell:

During these early years of reconstruction, a political divide was created that ultimately resulted in terror and lawlessness throughout the south. With post-war government being installed by federal forces, southern sympathizers and loyal Democrats found themselves on the outside looking in. Only days before President Lincoln's assassination, he installed William Pitt Kellogg as the federal collector of customs in New Orleans. This began a twenty-year reign by the northerner in what became known as the Kellogg Government. Natives of the state resisted violently and violence occurred throughout the state.[7]

Economic status

When Liddell returned to "Llanada" after the war, it was on the verge of financial ruins. No longer able to utilize slave labor, and with banks setup by northerners lending money at high interest rates, Liddell faced complete ruin, and would ultimately see his beloved Llanada forced into a sale at public auction, in order to cover Liddell's debts.

Jones on the other hand did not face the same economic fate. When Liddell's Llanada was placed up for auction, Jones began to negotiate with a third party to purchase the place. Upon discovering Jones' interest in acquiring his property, Liddell sent a warning to Jones, intimating bluntly that he could not stand for Jones to seize the property which held the graves of his dead family. Once again, tensions became heated between the two factions.

Assassination of Liddell

Both Liddell and Jones were frequent visitors to New Orleans, which could be reached by riverboat with moderate ease. In 1870, Liddell had boarded the steamer on the Black River heading to New Orleans. The captain knew that Jones had coincidentally also planned a trip to New Orleans and would be boarding the steamer. Sensing potential trouble ahead, he alerted Liddell of this news. Liddell had him send word to Jones that he should not board the steamer. Upon receiving this news, Jones gathered his sons and took off by horseback to a loading dock south of his own landing.[8]

When the steamer pulled in at that place, Liddell was seated having lunch. Jones and his sons boarded the steamer and drew their weapons on Liddell. Upon seeing their entry, the captain alerted Liddell that the men were coming to murder him. Liddell rose to draw his weapon in defense, but Jones and his sons fired, killing Liddell instantly.[8][9]

Jones' arrest and revenge

Upon hearing the news of Liddell's death, shock and horror enveloped the entire region. Jones and his sons were placed under arrest, but Sheriff Oliver Ballard, a Republican ally of Jones, allowed them to remain in custody at his personal home.[10]

Days after the murder of Liddell, his son Moses "Judge" Liddell was traveling on a steamer near the Sheriff's home where Jones and his sons had been placed under house arrest. While passing this place, Moses Liddell saw Jones walking down near the river, and raised his gun and took aim. He fired upon Jones, making no excuse for himself other than retribution for the murder of his father. Moses Liddell's shot however did not kill Jones.[10]

The local residents, who were largely Democrat-aligned and against the northern Reconstruction efforts, demanded retribution against Jones but suspected that none would come due to Jones' Republican political ties. A mob formed and stormed the place where Jones and his sons were being held. The mob ultimately killed Jones, as well as his son William. Others found at the place were spared. One son of Jones, Cuthbert Bullitt, slipped out of a second story window, and held on to the ledge, so as not to be found. His life was spared as a result.[10]

The deaths from the mob were the last in the feud. Liddell was buried at Llanada plantation. Jones and his son were both interred on the family cemetery at his Everly Plantation.[11]

Aftermath

The community of Jonesville, Louisiana was established near Everly plantation, after Jones' widow helped establish it. The area had been known as Trinity, but Jonesville became her name of choice for the new town.[12]

Moses "Judge" Liddell moved his family from the area, taking residence in Richland Parish on the banks of Boeuf River. There he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He later moved to Monroe, and was appointed by Democratic President Grover Cleveland as a justice on the Supreme Court of territorial Montana.[13]

Cuthburt Jones, having narrowly survived the lynch mob, made a trip to Washington, where he met with President Grant and relayed the tragic events of the feud. Being loyal and sympathetic to Jones, Grant appointed him as a consul to Tripoli in 1876. Louisiana Democrats later called upon President Cleveland to rescind Cuthbert's consul appointment in 1885, alleging he was a "known murderer."[14] He would go on however to have a distinguished career as a foreign diplomat, including time as the consul to Peru. Cuthbert Bullit Jones died in South America in 1905.[15][16]

Francois Jones, the youngest son of Jones, also left Louisiana as a result of the feud. He became a prominent citizen in Washington, D.C, but drowned while attempting to cross a turbulent river near there in 1900.[17]

In 2008, descendants of the family and residents of the surrounding areas gathered for a re-enactment of the events that took place in the Jones-Liddell feud.[18]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jones%E2%80%93Liddell_feud