The Bridge Troubles---Military-Organization of Regiment for Mexican War
"The Great Fire."

The dispute between the city authorities and the people of Russell County about the crossing of the bridge was renewed this year. Some citizens of Alabama erected a toll gate and demanded toll at the western abutment of the bridge. The City Council, on the 18th of March, passed an ordinance requiring of every foot passenger in Russell county 6 1/4 cents for passing over the city bridge; also, to charge citizens of said county for wood, lumber, or anything previously passed free; also requiring the said ordinance to remain in effect so long as tolls are demanded at the toll-gate erected at the abutment of the bridge in the town of Girard, and that proper counsel be employed to use legal measures to have such toll-gate removed.

On the 10th of July Council appointed a committee, composed of John Banks, John R. Dawson and Kenneth McKenzie, to confer with a committee appointed by the Court of Roads and Revenue of Russell County, Alabama, in relation to the adjustment of the existing difficulties in regard to the bridge.

In September the Commissioners' Court of Russell County rescinded the order for establishing a toll-gate near the western end of the bridge, in Girard. Whereupon the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the crossing of agricultural produce, wood, &c., free of toll.

The Orphan Asylum (an institution undertaken by some of the ladies in 1844) was this year open for the reception of the orphan poor.

The City Light Guards were organized June 28th. The officers were:
A. H. Cooper, Captain;
D. P. Ellis, First Lieut.;
A. G. Redd, Second;
S. K. Hodges, Third;
Wm. H. Pruden, First Sergeant;
F. C. Johnson, Second;
J. M. Hughes, Third;
R. B. Kyle, Fourth;
A. C. Brown, First Corporal;
R. R. Hudgins, Second;
John Wilmer, Third;
J. A. L. Lee, Fourth.

This was the first year of the war with Mexico, and Columbus shared largely in the excitement which it occasioned. The Governor of Georgia in response to a call by the President of the United States, invited the enrollment of volunteers, and Columbus was selected as the place of rendezvous of a regiment of infantry. The volunteers arrived about the middle of June, and were reviewed by Gov. Crawford. The officers of the regiment were
H. R. Jackson, of Savannah, Colonel
Thos. Y. Redd, of Columbus, Lieut. Colonel
Chas. J. Williams, of Columbus, Major
John Forsyth, of Columbus, Adjutant
Jas. Kellogg, Colonel's Private Secretary
S. M. McConnel, of Cherokee, Sergeant Major
B. F. McDonald, of Marietta, Q. M. Sergeant
Drs. J. J. B. Hoxey and W. E. Beall, of Columbus, Surgeon and Assistant
Rev. Mr. Cairnes, Chaplain
Principal Musicians, Geo. Gatehouse and Dennis Holland, of Savannah.

The following ten companies composed the regiment: We give the Captain of each and the officers in full of the three Columbus companies:

Columbus Guards, Columbus
John E. Davis, Captain
John Forsyth, First Lieutenant
C. P. Hervey, Second
Roswell Ellis, First Sergeant
Jos. King, Second
W, C. Holt, Third
W. C. Hodges, Fourth
W. G. Andrews, First Corporal
V. D. Tharpe, Second
Jas. Hamilton, Third
R. A. McGibony, Fourth

Crawford Guards, Columbus
John Jones, Captain
R. G. Mitchell, First Lieutenant
J. S. Dismukes, Second
T. Shoemaker, First Sergeant
H. S. Teasdale, Second
A. M. Sauls, Third
D. A. Winn, Fourth
John May, First Corporal
John Lochaby, Second
James B. Wells, Third
N. J. Peabody, Fourth

Georgia Light Infantry, Columbus
J. S. Calhoun, Captain
E. R. Goulding, First Lieutenant
H. C. Anderson, Second
W. B. Philips, First Sergeant
A. B. Hoxey, Second
W. T. Smith, Third
M. H. Blandford, Fourth
R. H. Howard, First Corporal
A. Scott, Second
Thos. Reynolds, Third
Geo. Lindsay, Fourth

The other companies were:
Canton Volunteers, Cherokee County
Richmond Blues, Augusta
Macon Guards, Macon
Fannin Avengers, Pike County
Kennesaw Rangers, Cobb County
Sumter County Volunteers;
Jasper Greens, Savannah
Regiment numbered 893 men.

The regiment was presented with a United States Flag by Miss Mary Ann Howard (the late Mrs. Chas. J. Williams) which was received by Col. Jackson. The regiment left on Sunday, June 28th, crossed on the lower bridge, crowds of people looking on and marched to Chehaw, and railroaded to Montgomery and were carried thence to Mexico, where they remained twelve months, but had no part in the many battles, but were engaged in several skirmishes. City Council gave $300 to Columbus Guards.

The city election, on the first Saturday in January, resulted in the choice of John G. Winter as Mayor, without opposition, and the following gentlemen as
Aldermen:
1st Ward, W. S. Holstead, J. C. Ruse
2d Ward, Dr. M. Woodruff, Dr. S. A. Billing
3rd Ward, R. N. R Bardwell
4th Ward, John Quin
5th Ward, N. M. C. Robinson, J. L. Morton
6th Ward, B. F. Coleman, Jos. Wiggins. Dr. Stewart in the 3rd and J. H. Shorter in the 4th, were the next highest candidates in their respective Wards, but as the law required a clear majority to elect, and the votes were divided among several candidates in each of these Wards, only one was chosen in each. Col. Winter received 498 votes, and no candidate receiving less than 400 was elected an Alderman. We compute the whole number of votes cast at about 620.

At a subsequent special election for Aldermen of the 3rd and 4th Wards, Dr. Stewart was elected for the 3rd, and J. H. Shorter for the 4th.

The following officers were elected by the City Council:
Wm. Brooks, Marshal
J. M. Hughes, Deputy Marshal
C. Stratton, Clerk
G. W. Turrentine, Treasurer
Richard Burt, Bridge Keeper
W. Tilly, Clerk of the Market
Mrs. McGehee, Hospital Keeper

From the Treasurer's report we learn that the receipts of the city for the year 1845 were $24,696, including cash on hand at the beginning of the year $1,956. The expenditures were $24,696, including $24 cash on hand. The revenue from the bridge was $9,717. The city debt at that time was $56,655, of which $30,000 was due to John G. Winter on account of a loan.

The Enquirer of the 24th of January congratulated the city on the prospect of the construction of the Southwestern Railroad at an early day. It announced the opening of books of subscription at Macon, Columbus, and intermediate places.

Messrs. B. Beasly, F. Toby and M. N. Clark, who had been appointed to assess the cash valuation of the real estate in the city, reported in March that they made the total valuation $1,233,245, being $40,950 more than that of the previous year.

The city authorities this year manifested much concern for the proper care of the poor within its limits. Alderman Woodruff was active and zealous in this behalf. Council requested the Superior Court of Muscogee County to levy 10 per cent, upon the State tax upon persons and property in the city for the support of the poor. In April an ordinance was adopted providing for the election annually of a Board of Commissioners of the Poor, whose duty it should be to ascertain the necessities of the poor and distribute the fund raised for their relief. Asa Pond, Wm. Amos, Lewis C. Allen, Theobold Howard and M. Woodruff were elected Commissioners.

The first Mayor's Court of the city was organized this year, under authority of an act of the Legislature, and a code of ordinances defining the offences coming within the jurisdiction of the Court was adopted.

The bridge tolls this year were appropriated exclusively to the payment of the debt due to the State of Georgia.

The most disastrous fire the city ever sustained occurred on the morning of October 9th, this year. The fire originated in the wood and blacksmith shops of Marcus D. Jones, on Oglethorpe street, northwest of the courthouse, and burnt the two blocks between St. Clair and Crawford and Oglethorpe and Front streets except the Fontaine House, most of the two blocks south of these, and the flames thence went westward to the river. The fire was arrested one-half square below the bridge, and one square above the boat landing. The loss in houses, goods, furniture, &c., was estimated at $250,000. The number of sufferers about 700--400 of whom were greatly injured. No loss of life. Mr. Mariner received a lick and fell from the second story of the City Hotel. The fire swept down the most of five squares, and a few houses of the sixth square. It consumed the livery stable of James Bradford & Co., and all the houses between that and Janny's foundry (the latter was saved). The shop on the corner north (where Muscogee Home now is) occupied by T. and E. Reid, gin makers, was consumed, also the large wooden building known as City Hotel, owned by D. McDougald (Georgia Home Bank building is now on the site). The wind blew briskly southwest. The market-house, then at the intersection of Broad and St. Clair streets, caught and was consumed, and then the flames took down southward on both sides of Broad street. On the east side were consumed the goods of Reuben Shorter; James Ligon, groceries and provisions; Lesterget's do.; Charles Kendall's do.; T. Sanders' cabinet shop; Dr. Thos. Hoxey's shop and medicines; I. B. Hoxey's grocery; I. G. & J. B. Strupper's goods and residence; Hamilton & Co's clothing and $300 in cash; J. Kivlin's Sans Souci and residence, worth $15,000, insurance $5,000; John Ligon & Tilley's grocery; Shaeffer's gun shop; Thomas Treadwell's residence; Turean's grocery; J. S. Norman's saddle shop and one story house; Dr. Young's office; Chas. Fuch's bakery; Phil. Reynolds and J. Rowe's bar-room; McIntosh Row, occupied by Theobold Howard and others, as residences; Dillingham's corner, owned by Wells & Toby; Henry Matthew's residence; Rev. W. D. Cairnes' building; W. P. Baker's and Mrs. Tichnor's residences and Miss Edmundson's school room. Here the fire on the east side of Broad was stopped. It had swept two squares south, consuming every house on the first from St. Clair Street, except Janny's foundry, the old theatre, a small grocery, and on the square south of Crawford everything except a few houses on the side west of the court-house.

At the same time, the west side of Broad, south of St. Clair, was fired, and every house was consumed save the Fontaine residence. Wm. P. Yonge's residence, west of this, was saved, owing to the direction of the wind. The fire passed Rankin's corner, (Broad and Crawford streets,) burnt the Democratic Liberty-Pole, consumed all of Battle Row, crossed over to the west side of Front street, and destroyed the residence of Mr. Rankin; Yonge, Garrard & Hooper's warehouse being saved after a hard fight; burned John Whitesides' stables near the river, but his tavern was saved. All that part of the square from Broad and Crawford, south to the bridge, was consumed, including several houses blown up. The fire was arrested just one-half square below the bridge, and one square from the steamboat landing.

The principal sufferers on the west side of Broad street were: Hill, Dawson & Co. (saved goods,) building $5,000; D. W. Orr & Co., clothing; Mrs. A. B. Davis, store-house, bank building and residence; J. S. Smith & Co., clothing; A. M. Cox, grocer; George Hargraves, building, $3,000; Luke Reid, shoe and saddle store; Messrs. Peabody; A. Calhoun, grocer; S. & F. W. Sartwell, dry goods and groceries $10,000; J. N. Harris & Co., $5,000; E. Wells & Co., shoe store; John Code, tailor, $800; James Sullivan, grocer, $11,000; L. J. Davies, dry goods; Patillo's boarding house; Mrs. Davies, milliner, heavy loss; William Rankin, store and goods, and residence on Broad street, $15,000; B. Wells, several stores; William Tarbutton, owner of old Columbus Hotel, (Jake Burrus' old corner;) William Tarbutton, $1,000; Wiley Adams; Dr. Thornton, two tenements; Gunn, provisions; Mrs. E. Webster, two stores, $800; J. W. Campbell, workshop; S. Hoffman, grocery and residence blown up, $800. On Bridge street--J. Code, residence; Dr. Rogan's house; N. L. Howard, two houses; John Quin and Joseph Walton, stores.

On Front--Residences of Mrs. L. J. Davies, Mrs. James A. Shorter; William Owens, Colonel Jones' building, and all others down to a half square below the bridge on the west side of Front street. On Battle Row, or Crawford street--J. Boulter, Thomas McCarty, B. Weeks, P. Sullivan.

The heat was so intense on Broad Street, that goods took fire after being removed from the stores. Fabulous sums were offered for drays to haul off goods. The only fire engine (No. 1) came near being burned.

Girard narrowly escaped from cinders.

Council appealed to the public for aid in behalf of the sufferers, and John Quin, acting Mayor, issued a proclamation in accordance. A committee was appointed to solicit aid.

Committee, on October 12th, reported 80 persons had been supplied with food.

Savannah contributed $1,400; Macon, $505; Montgomery, $493.40; Columbus, in money and goods, $1,603.75. The Governor gave delay in the collection of taxes; Astor House, New York, $50.

Relief was offered on this plan--entire losses not exceeding $100--75 cents on the dollar; not exceeding $200--50 per cent., and the balance of the fund equally divided among sufferers.

To replace the burned apparatus of Fire Company No. 1, $135 were appropriated.

Incidents

The initiatory steps towards the building of the Mobile and Girard Railroad were taken this year. The Alabama Legislature chartered a company styled "the Girard Railroad Company," with James and Anderson Abercombie, Wm. Davis, S. M. Ingersoll, J. Godwin, W. B. Harris, J. Drummond, W. Burnett, R. S. Hardaway, B. Baker, E. Morfell, J. Allen, W. Luther, T. Kemp, B. S. Mangham, _____ Floyd and N. W. Long, as Commissioners. Capital not to exceed $5,000,000, in shares of $100 each. The road to extend from Girard to intersect or connect with the navigable waters of Mobile Bay, or with the railroad leading from Montgomery to West Point, at the nearest and most suitable point of said road.

Other railroad enterprises in which Columbus was then concerned, were the building of a projected road to Macon or Barnesville, to intersect the Central or Macon and Western, and the construction of a road to Atlanta. John G. Winter was President of the company having the last named project in charge.

On the 4th of April F. S. Wingate shot and killed John Conley with a pistol. Wingate crossed the river and made his escape.

The Muscogee Riflemen were organized on the 4th of July, with:
M. N. Clarke, Captain
Wm. R. Jones 1st Lieutenant
M. Reid, 2d; John B. Wells
Ensign; N. P. Foster, 1st Sergeant
Chas. Torrean, 2d
J. W. Frost, 3rd
J. B. Hicks, 4th
Levi Duck, 1st Corporal
I. Trawick, 2d
E. L. Hall, 3rd
Peter McGar, 4th

The first new bale of cotton of the season was brought in from the plantation of James Chapman, in Russell County, Alabama, and brought 10c., A. G. Lawrence being the purchaser.

On October 14th cotton was quoted at 7 to 8½c.; on the 21st, 8½ to 8⅜c., from wagons; on November 3rd, 8 to 8⅝c.

Personal

The following were the county officers of Muscogee, elected in January:
Sheriff--John M. Bethune over J. A. L. Lee
Clerk Superior Court--Thad S. Sturgis over B. Beasley
Clerk Inferior Court--R. G. Mitchell over John Johnson
Tax Collector--F. A. Jepson over T. H. Kendall
Tax Receiver--A. Stephens over D. Parkman
County Surveyor--P. Lamar over T. J. Hand
Coroner--T. O'Brien over G. B. Terry

The Grand Jury for the January term consisted of J. S. Calhoun, foreman; A. Levison, M. N. Clarke, K. McKenzie, S. G. Wells, James Shaw, L. Cherry, B. F. Malone, H. Livingstone, H. C. Dawson, O. P. Tillinghast, W. L. Wynn, Thos. J. Shivers, E. S. Greenwood, J. C. Cook, Davis Mulford, S. C. Lindsay, E. Dudley, P. McLaren, M. Woodruff, D. Adams. They presented as a nuisance so many change bills; also the trading and trafficking with Negroes, and allowing Negroes to keep bar-rooms. Judge Sturgis presided over the Court. Hon. R. B. Alexander was appointed Judge of the Circuit soon afterwards.

Rev. James A. Wiggins was presiding Elder of the Columbus M. E. District, and Rev. J. E. Evans stationed at Columbus.

R. Burt resigned the position of bridge-keeper in June, on account of the difficulty of enforcing the regulations, and Wm. W. Martin was elected in his stead.

The Grand Jury for the April term consisted of S. W. Flournoy, foreman; E. C. Bandy, Wm. Amos, L. C. Allen, G. B. Terry, Jas. Sullivan, Calvin Stratton, S. Weems, M. Chisholm, R. W. Fox, A. Peabody, T. Howard, Wm. Rankin, James Kivlin, Van Leonard, G. S. McGehee, T. A. Brannon, T. J. Terry, and Leroy Holt.

James Kivlin was elected, in July, an Alderman of the 4th Ward, in the place of James H. Shorter, deceased.

Alderman Robinson having removed from the 5th Ward, S. R. Andrews was in September elected an Alderman for said Ward.

Council, in December, adopted a resolution that Messrs. Echols & Howard had faithfully performed their contract for the improvement of the water lots.

The following boats arrived and departed during the winter of this year: Lotus, Allen master; Champion, Cadwallader master; Peytona, Greer master; Viola, Van Vechten master; Mary Ann Moore, Moore master; Nation, McAlister master; Boston, Morton master; Emily, Hall master; Columbus, Stapler master; Eufaula, Thompson master; Albany, ___ master.

The following list includes the names of all the business and professional men advertising in the Enquirer this year: