George Wescott Southwick

George Wescott Southwick (October 5, 1816 – March 23, 1870) was the scout for the Texas segment of the Butterfield Overland Mail Trail, the longest stage coach line in the world. He was a physician, founder of several general merchandise stores, a lumber investor, real estate prospector, and founder of the Rapides Gazette newspaper in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

Born in Kentucky, Southwick attended pharmacy school in New York City in 1838, and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. He married Adelphia Converse May 28, 1846. In 1847 he took sole ownership of a dry goods store in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 1852–1854 he and his wife bought and sold one thousand acres in Houston County, Texas. In 1847–1848 during the Mexican–American War and under Secretary of State James Buchanan, he held a mission to Veracruz where he "rendered efficient service to the United States government" and was discharged in 1848.

Scouting the Butterfield-Overland Trail in Texas In 1849, he was hired to lead New York mining executives of the Mackinac Mining Company and the Buffalo Mining Company to California during the California gold rush. In 1857, he was hired to scout the longest section, 1,200-mile, from St. Louis, Missouri to El Paso, Texas of the Butterfield Overland Mail Trail, the first transcontinental mail route in the US. He left St. Louis in January 1858 for four months meeting with various locals, including officials in Sherman, Texas, to discuss the route, completing it in El Paso, Texas where he met the other half of the Butterfield scouting party. It included John Butterfield and his employee, Marquis L. Kenyon, keyman of the trail project. The trail became the longest stagecoach line in the world. It ceased activity after the Civil War started in 1861.

Civil War Southwick moved to Pineville, Louisiana, during the American Civil War though he was a Unionist. During the Red River campaign, US General Nathaniel P. Banks occupied Alexandria, Louisiana (next to Pineville, Louisiana). There were furious actions around Alexandria. As Southwick was from the North and refused to take an oath to the Confederacy, he was arrested and imprisoned for eight weeks in the Market House in 1864 during Banks' occupation. Details of this experience are described in an 1874 lawsuit filed by his widow and son, George Arthur, against the Federal government for reibreimbursement of Southwick's expropriated property. Excerpts: I took sides with the Union and my sympathies were always with the Union and I adhered to the Union during the whole course of the war, I expressed my sentiments in favor of the Union. At the time that the Federal Fleet came to Baton Rouge in the Spring of 1862, I sent to Admiral Farragut a number of delicacies and received a polite note of thanks, which note I destroyed, as my husband and myself were suspected of aiding the Federal cause and had that note been found in my possession, it might have caused the death of my husband and myself after the fleet left. At the time of the Battles of Bull Run and Manassas, I was sick but, on my recovery and after hearing of the circumstance I regretted the defeat of the Union army. I rejoiced at the final surrender of the Conferate forces and Capture of New Orleans and Vicksburg.

Protection papers were granted to my husband and family by General Banks and are on file in this claim. ... My husband was arrested by the Confederate authorities and imprisoned for eight weeks on account of his Union sympathies. The Confederates who arrested my husband were under command of General Walker. He was released by order of Govenor Allen. I know that he did not take any oath to the Confederate authorities to obtain his release. ...

The property taken by the Federal Army ... was taken from a plantation rented by my husband situated near Alexandria known as Leonard plantation. I was actually present and actually saw the property charged in this claim taken. I saw mules, horses, oxen, cattle and lumber taken and other property not included in this claim. This property was taken openly in the day time, some of it might have been taken in the night. My husband showed his protection papers and asked the officers not to take this property. They said they were compelled to have it for the use of the army. (I) don’t recollect the name of the officer. This property was taken partly in 1863 and 1864. My husband asked for receipt for this property, and a receipt was given with a letter attached recommending the payment for the property taken. I destroyed that letter because if found it would endanger our lives. This was just before the arrest of my husband when his life and that of our whole family were threatened. No payment has ever been made for the property so taken, and no other claim has been filed before any court for this property. This property was taken by troops encamped near Alexandria. The lumber charged in this claim was taken at Baton Rouge after the battle and the burning of a portion of that place. This was in the fall of 1862. The lumber was taken to build Winter quarters for the Federal Soldiers. It was taken from my husband’s brick yard he had purchased to build sheds for drying brick. It was good express lumber. There was over 100,000 feet of lumber. I know this from statements made by my husband and from his books. Lumber was worth 35 to 40 per thousand. It was taken by some officers in command of Genl. William’s army. I don’t know if any receipt was given for the lumber. I think my husband asked for one. It might have been given. I never saw it. I saw soldiers taking the lumber and saw the buildings erected with that lumber. It was hauled away in wagons.

The mules were taken by the Federal troops under command of General Banks near Alexandria, part in 1863 and part in 1864. The mules were hitched to wagons and carried off to their camps under orders of an officer whom I knew to be such from his uniform. He was either a colonel or major. They were taken in the daytime. There were about 54 mules taken. They were large size mules in good order and worth not less than $150 to $200 a piece.

The cattle that I saw taken were large size cattle. Some were cows, say about 10 head, the balance, because I do not recollect the number taken, to the best of my knowledge they must have taken at least of five head. The cattle taken were in good order and were worth $25 to $30 a head. The cattle were driven towards Alexandria by the Federal troops. An officer ordered them to do so. I think he was a captain. He told me, my husband being absent, that he was going to take these, that they were compelled to do so. I asked him for a receipt, one was given afterwards as before stated. The oxen were taken hitched to plantation cart, a large cart, and drove them to the camps. Do not know if they used them for beef. They were large for oxen, worth $75 per yoke. There were eight or ten yoke taken. They were taken by the same officers who took the mules.

I saw the horses taken. They were taken part in the day and part at night. They were some ridden and some driven off towards the camp. They were large fine horses. There were about 35 head taken. They were worth about $150 per head. There was an officer present when the horses were taken. I heard him order them to be taken. Don’t recollect his name or rank.Son George Arthur Southwick gave a similar description during the same court proceeding: I was never in the Confederate Service nor did I ever aid in the rebellion. I was 13 years of age at the breaking out of war, I know that my father aided the Union cause. He was a physician, and voluntarily offered his services to the Federal army at Alexandria and attended on the sick wounded soldiers free of charge. He assisted Admiral Farragut in furnishing him with lumber. He gave information to General N. P. Banks about the movement of Confederate troops. ... I often heard him converse with persons and expressed his Union sentiments to Genl. Mason Graham. I was present and actually saw all the property charged in this claim taken. I saw lumber taken. Mules, horses, beef, cattle, and oxen. This property was taken in the daytime. I saw the lumber taken. It was taken from the lumber yard immediately above Baton Rouge. I know there was a large amount taken, I suppose 100 to 150 thousand feet taken. It was mixed cypress and fine lumber and was selling at that time for 140 per thousand. I collected bills at that price. It was used as a portion for the fleet and a portion for the use of the army. I saw the mules taken. There were about 50 head all told taken. They were taken from the Leonard place on Bayou Rapides about 7 miles from Alexandria. They were taken by orders of Col. Lucas, I think, and carried to camps near Alexandria. They were driven there. They were large fine mules and worth 250 a piece. They were in good order.

I saw horses taken, I think about 15 head. They were thoroughbred stock worth about $300 a head. They were taken by the orders of the same officer and some ridden and some driven off to the camp near Alexandria. My father had protection papers from General Banks. He showed them, but they still persisted in taking them and a receipt was given. I saw the receipt and read it. It was destroyed in the fire by the burning of Mr. Sups house where we were then living. I saw the beef cattle taken. They were taken at different times by foraging parties. There were 45 to 50 head taken. They were large fine cattle worth $75 per head. They were fine stock. They were driven to the camps by orders of various officers commanding foraging parties. I saw the oxen taken. They were hitched to wagons and driven off towards the camps. There were eight yoke taken. They were taken by order of the same officer who ordered the taking of the mules and horses, Colonel. Lucas I believe. They were worth $75 per yoke. They were large, fine oxen in good condition.

My father was arrested and imprisoned by the Confederate authorities charged with having given information and assistance to the federal army. He remained in jail at least two months. He refused to take the oath to the Confederate Government and took the oath of Allegiance to the U.S. government when General Banks first arrived here. As the suit was unsuccessful, the Southwicks were never remibursed.

Rapides Gazette Newspaper In early 1869, Southwick founded and published the pro-Union Rapides Gazette newspaper. After his death it was continued by T. G. Compton and was published during Reconstruction. Regarding its contents, Southwick's obituary states, "he conducted it in a fair and impartial manner, and never gave just offence to anyone."

Family George Wescott Southwick, Adelphia Southwick, Sam Southwick. He married Adelphia Florillia Converse from New York County on May 28, 1846. She was a descendant of Deacon Edward Convers, who arrived with Governor John Winthrop on the Arbella in 1630, and daughter of Captain John Mason Converse of St. Louis, Missouri. Southwick and his wife had four children, three of whom lived to adulthood:

George Arthur Southwick (October 1, 1847 – January 5, 1907) Mary Adelphia Southwick (August 10, 1854 – October 28, 1932) Sam Houston Southwick (October 11, 1859 – July 23, 1893) Mason Converse Southwick (September 13, 1863 – July 28, 1864)

Death and burial Southwick died March 23, 1870, at his home in Pineville, Louisiana, of pneumonia and is buried at Mt. Olivet Episcopal Church and Cemetery with his wife and three of their children.