Still Got Cotton in My Blood

Golden age of steamboats on the Coosa

From the arrival of the first Steamboat in 1845 until about 1895, steamboats ruled the Coosa.

They were responsible for the growing economic impact Rome, Georgia and Gadsden, Alabama, were having on their respective regions.

Some 37 different steamboats that navigated the Coosa waterway during those 50 years, many became household names.

We did have a little interruption in the growth of steamboats from 1861 till 1865. The country was at war, and the South invaded. In 1863 Col. Abel Streight let a raid through Gadsden, headed to Rome. His intent was to burn the foundry’s, mills, railroads, and destroy any steamboats he could.

The Cherokee, Alpharetta, and Laura Moore were in Rome when John Wisdom brought word the “Yankee’s were coming.” All three boats made safe their getaway down River.

Streight was captured by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest in Cherokee County, Alabama. Rome was safe, and the three boats resumed hauling supplies for the armies of the Confederacy.

Prior to the Battle of Resaca, Union Gen. William T. Sherman had just about had it with Rome. He sent troops on the west side of the Oostanaula to capture the city and destroy supply lines that was helping Confederate forces. Once again, the Alpharetta and Laura Moore were in port.

Under the command of Capt. Cummins Lay, both ships raised steam just before daylight. They had packed cotton bales around the pilot house, and boiler. An hour before daylight they made their run.

Steamboats aren’t quiet. They make a lot of noise. With sparks flying they headed past the Yankee guns mounted on what is now Shorter Hill. They were struck several times, but the “Cotton Clads” did their job. Several bales caught fire, and were pushed overboard by the crew.

The boats ran to Greensport, Alabama, and tied up. The Alpharetta stayed there, but Cummins Lay, catching a flooded river, took the Laura Moore through the rapids and offered her to Confederate Service in Montgomery.

At the end of hostilities, Captain Lay once again took the Laura Moore back upstream in high water. At Greensport, he was joined by the Alpharetta and they headed to Rome. The owner of the two Steamboats, J.M. Elliott Sr. was elated to see his boats arrive. He was sure they had been destroyed.

The Coosa river Valley, like the rest of the South lay prostrate after the war, but not long. Rome historian and Writer Robin Atkins mentions in her research of the Steamboat “Undine” pulling into Rome (in 1866) with an unfinished Steamboat in tow. With-in six weeks she would be ready to go to work.

By 1873, there were six steamboats working the river. Robin writes they carried 30,000 bales of cotton to Rome for shipment in that one season. An invoice for one trip by the Undine in 1873 listed her cargo as 357 bales of cotton, 40,000 shingles, 625 pelts, 50 cowhides, 50 baskets of poultry, 200 bushels of corn, 250 bags of wheat, and 27 passengers.

Some of the most notable of the Coosa Steamboats were the Dixie, Clifford B. Seay, Joel Marable, Hill City, Etowah Bill, City of Gadsden, Alabama, Sidney P. Smith, John I. Seay, Hercules (a sidewheeler, all the others were sternwheelers), and the mighty Magnolia, which at 333 tons was the largest and finest of the Coosa River steamboats.

Yes, cotton was seasonal, but our steamboats were never in a need for freight. Lumber was as big a business as was cotton. They would load barges with saw logs, or sawed lumber and bring it up the river.

In the summer time renting a boat for a social outing was common. The large churches would rent one for Sunday cruises on the river, then there were the party boats, that would do overnight duty. Dancing and drinking to Gadsden and back, along with moonlight cruises were big hits among the younger generations.

One such outing was advertised in the Atlanta papers. You or your group could catch the cars in Atlanta, ride to Rome, then get on board your steamboat, and party all night to Gadsden. Once there you board a small train for eight miles to Black Creek falls and lodge, (Noccalula) spend the night, and return to Gadsden and your return trip to Rome, and Atlanta. A good time was had by all, after the hang-over wore off. MIKE RAGLAND