The North Mountain Historical Society

Meeting: July 2001

July 16, 2001, "The Revival of the Fishing Creek Confederacy."

The History Buffs met at the Brass Pelican on Monday, July 16 with 49 people present.
In the absence of Jim Vance, Ruth Vance chaired the meeting. She asked each one to introduce themselves and tell where they were from. Minutes of the last meeting were read. Zane Hartman offered thanks before breakfast was served.
Following breakfast, Ruth introduced Professor George Turner who spoke to us on the topic "The Revival of the Fishing Creek Confederacy".
The Revival was not a religious revival as we today think of Revival meetings. It was a political camp meeting- a Rally for the Democrat Party in Columbia County. The account in the local Newspaper of the day stated that the meeting would be held in John McGargles Grove at the foot of Knob Mountain near Orangeville. It was to be held for three days, August 29, 30, 31, 1865. Families were urged to attend. While there was a hotel in Orangeville this would not be able to accommodate the large crowd that was expected. People were urged to bring their own tents, covered wagons or some sort of shelter and their own food. There would also be a boarding tent for those who desired that type of accommodations.
There were to be three sessions each day, morning, afternoon and evening with a political speaker at each session. These were interspersed with entertainment, bands, choruses, and poetry reading. The object of the meeting was to strengthen the Democrat Party according to the ideas and ideals of Thomas Jefferson, considered the father of the Democrat Party. One interesting point was made- The "Fishing Creek Confederacy" was a Republican term- the name applied by the Democrats was "The Invasion of Columbia County by the United States Army".
Guests of Honor seated on the platform were the men who were imprisoned as a result of the original "Fishing Creek Confederacy". Some issues brought up during the meetings were - the Blacks and their right to vote and the fate of the Confederate States. Should they be allowed back into the Union or had they ever left the Union? Should Lincoln's idea of a 10% loyalty vote (an idea also accepted by then President Johnson) be accepted. These ideas were discussed by the speakers and then around the campfires
5000 people according to one report attended the Rally. Professor Turner said this may have been an exaggeration but everyone agreed it was a large gathering.
In closing, Professor Turner said a Rally such as this was possible because communication at that time was not readily available. There was no TV, no commentators to discuss issues. People got together to discuss issues between themselves.
Our thanks to Professor Turner for an interesting look at a Political Rally of the past.
Our next meeting will be Monday, August 20 at the Brass Pelican. It will be a slide presentation of the large hotels in Eaglesmere.