News,Grass Roots and Cockle Burrs- Sweetie of jumpin' Gut, LaSalle Parish, La.

By Jack Morgan Willis

Submitted by: Pat Ezell

From the Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal. July 25, 2001

Thank You to Jack Willis and The Times -Signal for allowing the following to
be added to the Archives. 




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Grass Roots and Cockleburs

"Sweetie of Jumpin' Gut"

Having been reared it the LaSalle Parish, the name Jumpin' Gut was synonymous
with an area located west of Summerville and north of Searcy. Topographical
maps indicate that its official name is Jumping Gully. It is a dry branch or
creek, if you will, with occasional springheads that form a meager stream that
finally merges with Funny Louis Bayou. But in flood from a cloudburst or like
natural calamity, it can become a raging torrent.

Early Catahoula Parish, especially that portion which would one day become
LaSalle Parish, is rich in historical tales, myths and events, most which
actually occurred. This is especially true about the rural community known in
order of name changes as Catahoula, Funny Louis, Centerville and eventually
Summervile. One of the most prominent families in the Summerville area was the
Davises. The Reverend John Allen Davis was a Methodist Episcopal circuit
riding minister whose duty it was to call on parishioners in the Summerville
community, among others. Being an enterprising young man Davis noted that
Centerville was at the juncture of a significant crossroads. The highway to
the south had its beginnings on the banks of Catahoula Lake at the mouth of
Gelvins Creek. This thoroughfare proceeded northward towards Natchitoches, La.
The other had its beginning, only God knew where, in Georgia and proceeded
westward to either Natchitoches or San Antonio, TX.

Having heard the rumblings of war, which would soon erupt at Ft. Sumter, Davis
quickly settled in Centerville and built a gristmill and cotton gin on nearby
Mill Creek. His manor house was an imposing structure and had numerous out
buildings, and he also owned slaves. A new circuit rider by the name of Morris
was appointed to take Davis' place and he had a very comely daughter, Martha by
name, who frequently accompanied her father on his circuit. She had been well
educated at a finishing school in Virginia that tradition maintains was operated
by Fitzhugh Lee's daughter. Her brother Robert would soon achieve a certain
measure of fame in the coming Conflict of Brother against Brother. He was
supposed to have ridden his horse Traveler, who would serve him well in the
coming years of conflict, to visit the Davises in Centerville.

When the War of Northern Aggression began, John Allen Davis immediately enlisted
in the Confederate States of America armed forces, was given the rank of
sergeant, and assigned to courier duty in Central and South Louisiana, and later
in Mississippi. He often carried messages to the troops at Fort Beauregard at
Harrisonburg. He made the acquaintance of the commanding officer, Brigadier
General C.J. Polignac (often called polecat by his troops). This encounter
eventually led to a second meeting with a famous General from Louisiana. What
follows is a tale about the first, second and third meetings as rendered by Mr.
L.H. Taylor…

The General needed swift, competent couriers. His messages must reach their
destination with alacrity regardless of the enemy, the weather, or exhaustion.

Summoning a Colonel Cartwright of Brig. General Polignac's cavalry, he asked that
he assign six of his most trusted Sergeants to him for fast courier service. Upon
their arrival the General personally interviewed each of them and found their
backgrounds highly commendable. All were physically fit—the General had only to
inspect their mounts.

Each of the Sergeants stood at rigid attention, beside his horse, as the General
went down the line making his inspections. Reaching Sergeant Davis, the General
was admiring his mount when the mare nickered lowly and gave the General a nudge.
There was a look of recognition that flitted across the General's face, as he
stepped back to esteem the sleek, black satin mare.


"What's her name, Sergeant?"

"Sweetie of Jumpin' Gut, Sir."


"Her age, Sergeant?"


"She was foaled in the spring of '57, Sir."


"Sergeant Davis, could this be the three year old I saw at New Roads in Point
Coupee Parish, during the Spring meet in '60?


"She was there, Sir," replied the Sergeant.

The General exclaimed, "Yes, and By God, she won her race and $500 for me. I gave
her sugar that day at New Roads and I'll give her sugar at Shiloh today."(This
referred to one of the most severe battles of the war. Over 100,000 men took part
in a two-day battle on April 6,7, 1862. Grant's forces lost 13,047 men, and
Johnston's forces lost 10,694, a quarter of his army.)

Disappearing into his tent, he soon re-appeared and straight to Sweetie he went
to deliver the promised confection. After munching the gift, Sweetie gave the
General another nudge to acknowledge her gratitude and friendship.

The events leading up to the General and Sergeant Davis' first meeting had its
beginning when Sweetie was born. A sudden rainstorm precipitated a sharp rise in
Jumpin' Gut Creek and had it not been for the alertness of Ms. Martha Davis,
Sweetie would have drowned shortly after her birth. From the first day of her
existence, she became the pet of the household and within a few weeks, she, along
with her mother, was roaming over the Davis acres.

The grasses of the lush pastures adjoining Mill Creek gave little Sweetie health,
growth and agility. Her Dam, (a former racer purchased after she was injured on
the big track in New Orleans) saw to it that her foal received proper exercise.
Today she trotted briskly, tomorrow she ran speedily, but soon thereafter,
Sweetie was outdistancing her mother. They were soon riding sweetie, always
gentle around the Davis girls. She seemed to relish their presence. She loved to
gallop to the back of the pasture to visit her mother with one of the Davis
daughters astride her. She would challenge her mother (her challenges were always
accepted) to race to the barn. Mama was hard pressed to beat her offspring
knowing that one day she would surge into the lead and travel as the wind. Yes,
she would show her lovely heels not only to her mother, but also to the entire
world. Mothers are like that : all ambitious!

When the promising two-year olds of the area began their meetings at the Parish
Fairs, Sweetie was there. In fact, she met and vanquished them all, carrying the
blue silks home. These racing silks were created by Mrs. Martha Davis' needle and
were gold stars criss-crossed on a field of blue.

Next Week: Meeting the General twice more!

GR&C (7-25-01) Jack Morgan Willis