Nelson Taylor Denson
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson
Taylor
"Our ole Master stopped at Marshall, Texas first an decided
dat he wants ter cum further south, so he cums ter Marlin or down
near Marlin an lives dar de rest ob his life. De way dey all trabbel
den was by wagon, de stage coach, an de boats on de rivers and
de bayou's. In de northeast part ob Texas dey freighted dey cotton
an grain ter Jefferson an den dey shipped by Cypress Bayou, an
across Lake Caddo ter de Red River an from dar up North or maybe
down ter New Orleans.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"In South Texas de shippin was in an out ob de bayou's an
de rivers ter de coast, an on de Brazos River Richmon' was de
head 'Ceptin' w'en de river was up and den dey ship ter de ole
town ob Washington on de Brazos, dey called hit. De steambots
made regular trips between Galveston an Houston up Buffalo Bayou.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Whar dey was'nt any rivers fer de boats, den dey trabbel
by de stage coach an dey was heavy an drawn by six or eight horses,
dey jes went eight or ten miles an hour an fresh teams was ready
fer dem ter change along de way. Dey had a line down thro Marlin
from North, Texas, an we used ter watch hit cum in jes like de
train or bus.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Texas people was jes begginnin' ter git over de Mexican
war w'en we cum ter de state, dey talk 'bout de Alamo an Gen.
Sam Houston, Travis, who was killed at de Alamo an Bowie, an de
battle ob San-Jacinto, w'en dey celebrated dey freedom from Mexico.
De Mexicans had dey own Catholic schools an churches dat was established
in de days ob de rule by Mexico an de Missions dat de Spaniards
had built W'en dey first discovered Texas.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De Baptist, Methodist an de Presbyrterians all had dey churches
an some had started dey schools, but dey had not started de free
schools until long time after dat. An' dey git ter know folks
from other places at dem fer dey cum an camp two or three weeks.
I has preached at dem an we felt dat de Lord was close ter us,
w'en dey got religion dey git it ter de better an ter live right
in dem days seem like we nearer ter God den we is now.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Well, dis de way dat we livin' in Texas in de year we cum
in 1854. Dey talk 'bout sending General Sam Houston ter Washington
he voted against slavery up dar, so in 1857 he run fer Governor
against Runnels he was beat, dey say, on account ob his vote against
slavery, fer Texas was a slave holding state.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"W'en Runnels was Governor more an more immigrants cum ter
Texas, but he was not popular an w'en he an General Houston run
again in 1859 fer Governor General Houston beat Runnels.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De people of Texas thought dat General Houston would keep
Texas from getting into de war, an dat he could make peace wid
de Indians an' dat was why he was elected. I kin 'member how he
tells dem in his first message dat "if dey dont stan by the
union dat de nation be destroyed by war." An w'en Lincoln
was made de President, Houston stilled tried ter keep Texas from
gittin in de war, an keep hit in de Union, but dey had a Convention
at Austin an voted fer Texas ter secede, dat was de twenty eighth
day of January, 1861.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Den w'en he refused ter take de oath ter de Confederacy
dey removes him from de Governer's cheer an he went back ter his
home at Huntsville, an never does take hit, but his son Sam went
an fought fer de rebels.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"I was fourteen years old w'en Texas seceded, an w'en dey
went ter de war my Master Mr. Felix Grundy went ter fight de Yankees,
He was in General Hardemans Brigade an was in two or three battles
den he cums back ter Texas on a fourlough an w'en dat is out an
he goes back I goes with him as his body guard. De first firing
he was in New Mexico, den he was transferred ter Louisiana an
I was wid him.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"I was sixteen years old by dat time an I kin remember de
way hit all was at de battle ob Mansfield, April 9, 1863. We was
camped on de Sabine rivers, on de Texas side, an de Yankees on
de other side up a little ways, I kin remember de night befo'
how de camp fires looked, hit was a quiet night an de whipperwills
er callin' in de weeds, we was expectin de attack an ter keep
us cheerfull we sing, "Tenting Ter Night on de Old Camp Groun',"
an' den we sing,
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Just befo' de battle, Mother, I am thinking most of you,
While upon de fiel' we're watchin' Wid de enemy in view. Comrades
brave are roun' me lying, Filled wid thoughts of home an' God,
For well dey know dat on de morrow, Some will sleep beneath de
sod.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"We could see across de river de Yankees, an could hear dem,
de night so still. In de hush befo' de battle every man was thinking
of his mother, wife and fambly. W'en de bugle sounded taps, every
head was bowed in prayer, I kin best describe de attack wid de
last verse of song I has jes told yer dey sing.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Hark, I hear de bugles soundin', 'Tis de signal fer de fight,
Now, may God protect you, Mother, As he ever does de right, Hear
de "Battle Cry of Freedom." How hit swells upon de air,
Oh, Yes w'ell rally roun' de standard, Or we'll perish nobly there.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
De Yankees sung de Battle Cry of Freedom, as dey charged on us
an we could hear de band er playin' hit as dey cum, but hit jes
made our boys fight de hardest, den we sing dis song,
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, de boys are marchin'. Cheer up comrades
dey will cum, And beneath de starry flag, We shall breathe de
air again, In de freedom of our own beloved home.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Dey cum on an' on, an dey fights. Lord how dey fight's!
I is a stayin' close ter my Master. I is jes as wild as any fer
our boys ter win, yer can hear de clash of de bayonet w'en dey
git gray uniforms as dey stood dey groun' an dey went down befo'
dey would retreat,
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"In de battle front dey stood, W'en de fiercest charges was
made,
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
An' dey swept us off a hundred men an more, But befo' we reached
dey lines, Dey was beaten back dismayed, An' we heard de cry of
victory o'er an O'er.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De rebels, our boys in de grey, win's an captures 'bout
er thousan' Yankees, after dis de Yankees was mos' of dem taken
ter help General Grand at Richmon' an General Sherman on his march
ter de sea.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De Captain of de company we was in at de battle of Pleasant
Hill (near Mansfield), was John Dick Morris, dis company was organized
near Marlin, Texas, was called Company B. General J. G. Walker
was de District Division Commander, dey was made up in dis company
from de town of Marlin an de country, among dem Captain Carter
of Cameron was wounded in de battle we was in.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"At Yellow Bayou de commanding officer of de brigade we was
in was General Banks. Tom Green was killed at Blairs Landin' on
Red River an General Hardeman took Tom Green's place.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Bout de last of de war de Yankees commenced ter use de nigger's
dat had run away ter dey lines fer soljers. I don't know much
'bout dat, but I does know dat de slaves dat was left at home
ter look after de wimmen an chillun dat mos of dem stayed an'
kept de work on de place in de crops up an helped ter take keer
of de ole men an de wimmen an chillun, dat dey was a whole lot
more dat helped ter dis day dey was dat run away ter de Yankees.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De most of de slaves was happy on de plantations, an dey
looked on de war like dis, dat de white man was er fightin' fer
his principles, at least de ones dat understood did. I has seen
so much in my long life dat I feels dat God is more an more de
Great Ruler, an dat hit all works out fer de best.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"I knows dat de old order has changed. Men now must be rich,
it seems ter be powerful, once hit was not so. Once men held themselves
more dearly dan dey held dey possessions. In de days of Ante-Bellum
de attitude was fine an bright an glorious, folks believed in
de virtues of truth, chastity, an' chivalry. Dey seem new ter
be old fashioned words, whar is de chivalry dat dey lived in de
days which yer is writin' about? Does dey help ter protect de
wimmen like dey did in de days of old? No, dey worl' of finance
will take away er womans home jes de same as er man's. Whar is
de demand fer virtue? In de ole days de ole time southern gentlemen
demands dat his wife be virtues er he would not marry her, does
dey de dis now? No, sad ter say hit looks as if de loose wimmen
are de ones dat is preferred.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Whar would dey grandmothers say ter dem smokin? Yes, de
ole fashion way is out ob date, de curtain of smoke swept away,
hit seems, de beauty of de past, de sound of de spinning wheel
was lost in de machinery of a later day, jes as de stately minuet
was lost in de jass dances of dese day's.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"I hopes dat in de great windup dat in de words of de ole
song hit will be dat "His truth will go Marchin' on."
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Mine eyes have seen de glory of de cumin' of de Lord, He
is tramplin' out de vintage whar de grapes of wrath are stored,
He Hath loosed de fateful lightnin' of His terrible swift sword,
His truth is marchin' on.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
Miss Effie Cowan, P. W. McLennan County, Texas District #8 (12/4/37
(yes))
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
Densen, Nelson Taylor
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
Interviews with Nelson Taylor Densen, Born in Arkansas 1847; brought
to Texas in 1845 as given in previous interview.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Yer wants me ter tell yer some more 'bout de country w'en
hit was in de early days. In dem days de country was so different
in de way hit even looked an' de way we had ter be on de way ter
get here, dat I hardly knows how ter begin.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"In my other interview, I did not tell yer 'bout how we cross
de Red River an' de Red River Raft, w'en we cum's from Arkansas,
hit is a long story, but I will try ter tell yer 'bout hit, fer
in dese days we don' see dem any more, dey keeps de rivers clear
of dis kind of growth.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"W'en we reach de river, we hire a big boat wid de place
on hit fer our stock an' household things, dis was de bigges ferry
boat on de river. We floats down de river in hit, sometime we
had ter tie hit up at night an' wait fer daylight, unless hit
was a moonlight night, we never travel by boat at night time.
We floats down de river until we could git thru de raft. In de
early days de Red River was so closed up by dis timber raft dat
de big ships could not pass thru hit. Dis was called de Big Raft.
De big boats an' ships dat go up de river at all, has ter use
de bayou's an' de creeks ter go aroun' de raft. Our party got
a Caddo Indian ter guide us. Hit took us many days ter make de
crossin' cose we could not trabbel at night; we jes tied de boat
ter a tree an' went ter sleep an' kept a watchman up thro' de
night. If yer can imagine yerself in a big swamp, growed up wid
trees an' filled wid driftwood dat is wedged in close between
de trees an' de water not having any current an' standin still,
yer can have an idea how hit looked.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De soil be accumalated in de raft an' broom straws, willows,
an' udder small brush would be growin out of dis rich dirt dat
cover de legs, an' hit looked like old field dat was let go ter
waste an' not cultivated.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
Den I must not forget ter tell yer 'bout de bee trees we found
on de raft, dey was covered wid bees an' honey, an' de folks had
honey all de time dey was on de raft. Yer ask how did dis raft
git ter be so big?
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Dis Red River Raft dey claim was centuries old an' dat de
waters of de Missiippi backed up w'en de Red River was low, an'
made still water at hits mouth. De driftwood floatin' down de
river, was stopped in de still waters, an' de drift of all kinds
dat cum down de Missiippii in de floods made dis mass of trees
an' dirt, an' formed de raft, an' w'en de Missippi would fall
ter de level of de Red River, den de mass would jamm, an' de banks
of de river havin' heavy timber, de raft grew about a mile a year.
As de years pass, de oldest timber would rot an' break away an'
float down ter de gulf; but dis was not fast enough ter keep de
river clear, so hit jammed de river.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"I will tell yer how de government, in 1873, long time after
we cum ter Texas, opened up de channel of de Red River. But first,
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
let me tell yer whar we found ourselves w'en we git thro dis raft.
We is near Longs' Prairie; an' den we travel three or four days
an' cum's ter Natchitoches. We jes' wanders aroun' an finally,
we makes our way ter Marshall, in East Texas; stays dar awhile
an' den come down between Mart an' Marlin Texas.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Den I kin tell yer why we did not stay at Longs' Prairie,
fer hit was rich land an' jes a few famblies here. Hit was surrounded
by heavy timber but de whole country was full of malaria an' de
Master see de folk wid de ague an' shakin' like dey is goin' ter
die; so de settlers would not stay at dis place or in dis part
of de country. Den w'en dey had de overflow from de river de land
would be flooded an' de settlers would leave.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De story, dat is told us, was dat long time befo' dat time,
de government had been workin' on dis effort ter try ter stop
de overflow's an' open up de river fer de boats ter travel wid
freight an' passenger's. De government had a survey of dis raft
in de year 1833, an' hit was found ter be a hundred an' twenty
eight miles long. Den dey put Captain Shreve in charge of clearin'
de river wid de grapplin' hooks. Dey say dat at first de work
was easy. Dey open up de river ter what was den called Coats'
Bluff, an' is now what dey call de town of Shreveport; an' hit
was named after he did dis work, fer Captain Shreve.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De last thirty miles was almost impossible ter open on account
of de timber not bein' rotten an' hit took long time ter finish
openin' up de river. Hit was not until de year 1873 dat de river
channel was so dey could use hit fer regular steamboats.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"W'en de channel was open, de river fell about fifteen feet,
an' dey has ter keep de snagboats workin' all de time ter keep
hit from formin' nuther raft, an' ter dis day, I suspect dat dey
keeps de work up some. However de land bein' cleared of de timber,
dey may have ter work on de banks ter keep dem from washin' away
like dey does in de Missippi, whar dey had de big government steamboats
all de time a workin' an' dey used ter put some kind of mats ter
keep de banks from givin' away.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Yer wants ter know effn' I can tell yer 'bout de stories
of de first steamboat's down de Missippi? Yes, I has heard de
story of de man dat navigated hit. De first one was a Mr. Nicholas
J. Roosevelt, dey called him "Mr. Roosevalt". Dis happened
in de year 1809 an' 1811. De first trip was made in a flatboat
an' hit was built in Pittsburgh. Dey tell de story dat hit was
made jes' like a box, wid a bed-room an' dinin' room an' kitchen,
an' a room in front fer de crew.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"Dey had on board a pilot, three hands an' a cook, an' Mr.
Roosevelt. Dey stop at night an' tie de boat ter de trees on de
banks of de river. An' Mr. Roosevelt an' some of de crew went
out in de river in a row boat ter take de depth, an' dey do dis
ter see how fast de current is, too. W'en Mr. Roosevelt is satisfied,
he goes back an' goes ter see de ship men in de East, an' gits
dem interested in buildin' a big ship er steamboat dat will navigate
de river. So once more, he was ready ter build another boat ter
use on de rivers an' dey sent men ter de forest ter cut de timber
fer de ribs, de beams or whatever dey needed, an' dis was sent
by boat ter de ship yards. De plank was cut from de logs in de
ole fashion saw-pits, an' a ship builder was sent from New York
wid his mechanics, an' dey goes ter work ter build a real steamboat.
Hit was named de New Orleans, bekase hit was ter make hit's furst
trip ter New Orleans.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"De boat was ready fer hit's first trip, an' Mr. an' Mrs.
Roosevelt was de only passengers. De crew was made up of de Captain,
de engineer, de pilot, six deckhands, an' four servants. De boat
was on hit's way ter New Orleans w'en dey had de earthquake of
1811. Dis changed de river channels an' changed de river's looks
fer miles along de earthquakes path. De story was dat at New Madrid
de people met de boat an' begged ter be taken wid hit ter escape
de earthquake; an' den, at other places, dat dey run from hit
thinkin' hit was de cause of de earthquake; an' de ole slaves
thought dat hit was some kind of monster de devil sent ter git
dem. So dey fell on dey knees an' prayed after dey had run far
as dey could git from hit.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"But w'en de boat was out of de path of de earthquake, an'
dey reached Natches an' New Orleans, den de people all met de
boat at de wharves an' celebrated hit's arrival wid er big parade
an' celebration dat night. I has often thought of dis story of
de Mr. Roosevelt of dat time an' I has wondered if he was some
of ancestors of our President dat we has now. W'en I was a boy
dey talk about dis Mr. Roosevelt w'en he made de trip ter New
Orleans, an' he was tryin' ter help ter make use of de river fer
shippin', an' den w'en I was a young man dey talk about de Mr.
Teddy Roosevelt, of de Rough Rigers, an' now our own Mr. Roosevelt
who is tryin' ter fix de Social Security so dat de folks dat does
not have much chance in dis worl' will be taken care of, an' tryin'
ter see if dey can't work out some way's ter make de country a
better place ter live.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"But de folks of de early days had a whole lot harder life
an' a whole lot harder problems ter face ter live. An' de folks
today owes hit to de pioneers dat dey is livin' as easy as dey
are. W'en I cum ter Texas, dey is talkin' 'bout de war wid Mexico
an' General Sam Houston what he had done ter make Texas free,
as well as de other Texas heroes. But General Houston after bein'
de President of de Republic of Texas twice, an' dey had annexed
hit to de United States, den w'en I first cum ter Texas, General
Houston was one of de governors, Governor Pease de first year
dat we was in Texas, an' de next election was Governor Runnels,
an' den General Sam Houston.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"But as General Sam Houston was de governor w'en de Civil
war broke out an' dey was so much dat happened, I kept up wid
dese things an' have kept dates an' 'members many stories else
dat had been de governor dat we all loved an' admired him de most.
State: Texas Interviewee: Densen, Nelson Taylor
"One of de times dat General Houston was elected de President
of Texas was on de fifth day of September 1836, dat was w'en hit
was er Republic. An' de day dat he was inagurated governor was
on de twenty-first day of December 1859; an' he was de one dat
had to take de folks' criticism fer not takin' de oath fer secession
from de Union. Fer most of de Texas people was fer secession an'
some of dem had de plantations, an' had started ter raisin' cotton
on de river bottom land, an' had brung de slaves from de ole states
wid dem ter Texas, jes as my own master brought my folks wid him.
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