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Story Archives: Doc visits Natchez, 1807: Gunboats, socials, too much drink
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Doc visits Natchez, 1807: Gunboats, socials, too much drink
 On Wednesday, March 4, 1807, Dr. John Bedford of Tennessee -- in route down the Mississippi -- stopped at the home of Judge Peter Bryan Bruin at Bayou Pierre in Claiborne County, Miss., across the river from Lake Bruin.
Bedford and his friend, Dr. Thomas Claiborne, also from Tennessee, planned visits in Natchez and in New Orleans. Dr. Claiborne's brothers were important men in Mississippi and Louisiana. One, Col. Ferdinand Claiborne, was a military leader and a Natchez merchant. The other, Gov. William Charles Cole Claiborne, had been the second territorial government of Mississippi and was now the governor of Louisiana, Orleans Territory.
At Bayou Pierre, Bruin updated the two doctors on the biggest news event in the country at the time -- the recent arrest of former Vice-President Aaron Burr near Bruin's home. The judge also told the men about a Grand Jury's decision at the territorial capital of Washington not to indict Burr for treason, of Burr's escape in February from the Mississippi Territory while still under bond, and his subsequent capture on the Tombigbee River in present day Alabama.
The next day, Drs. Bedford and Claiborne arose early and headed south, arriving at Natchez in mid-afternoon. Here, Bedford would indulge for the next five days in food, drink and merriment. And it would all end in a memorable way when his skiff was fired on by one of the gunboats prowling the Mississippi at Natchez as a result of the Burr affair.
Bedford kept a gossipy diary and recalled when entering Natchez a military barge was "stationed about two hundred paces above the upper end of the town and twice that distance above (were) the naval forces stationed there in the river to guard the pass, and prevent the conveyance of arms or ammunition below, for the vile purposes of the Burrites. Immediately after landing throwed off our very dirty clothes, that had not been in contact with water since Nashville, except when we were wet with rain or by an accidental tumble into the river — dressed in the best and cleanest we had, barely then reaching common decency and tripped up into the town."
Bedford went sight-seeing, talked with local residents and educated himself about Natchez and the region. He noticed in town the "houses are of wood and in the French style elevated 7 or 8 feet from the ground above which is one story only, and piazzas or galleries all round. Under the galleries are their storerooms, which have a great resemblance to cellars.
"Natchez contains about 2000 inhabitants. Merchants of considerable wealth. Some retail $70,000 or $80,000 worth of goods per annum. The Mississippi Territory contains a great deal of wealth. Many planters sell annually 100 or 200 bales of cotton, which is their staple article."
SOLDIERS RETREAT: Bedford joined Dr. Claiborne later for a visit at the home of Claiborne's brother, Col. Ferdinand Claiborne, at Soldiers Retreat (located off Palestine Road). In the absence of the colonel, his wife received Bedford and her brother-in-law with "the most ardent cordiality...with all the ease and affability of an accomplished and amiable woman..."
Mrs. Claiborne, well known in Natchez for her legendary hospitality, insisted both men stay the night in her home, where three other doctors came by to visit that evening -- Speed, Lattimore and McCreary -- "all the most pleasant and excellent of men. A particular intimacy soon sprang up between Doctor Speed and myself, both natives of the same county (in Tennessee), students of the same professional man, Doctor Brown, and an early and permanent attachment having subsisted between our fathers. Retired to bed about 12 o'clock and reposed very comfortably in a well-furnished bed room."For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition! |
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