The mysterious artillery piece on the grounds of the Hunt County Court House. Can you help me solve the mystery?
Located on a cement slab on the northeast side of the Hunt County Courthouse is an artillery piece. No one seems to know where it came from or why it is there. It is simply a mystery.
In the July 5, 1898 issue of the Greenville Messenger is an untitled article that promised to solve the mystery. It didn’t, but it proved very interesting. The third of July that year fell on a Monday. That afternoon and evening Greenville was inundated with a large crowd of people from throughout the county. All congregated at the Katy Depot as telegrams began to come in announcing the glorious news from the American fleet victory at Santiago, Cuba. As the newspaper stated, “everyone became particularly anxious to give vent to an over-charged supply of patriotism.”
A group of men ran over to the Sherman, Shreveport & Southern Railway (S. S. & S.) shop to rolled their cannon down Lee Street to the Courthouse Square. A large flag was hoisted on the courthouse dome, and the celebration commenced in earnest.
At night the cannon was fired, supplemented by several anvils, cannon crackers, Roman candles, skyrockets, and all kinds of fireworks. The festivities carried on until the early hours of July 4th. Such a Fourth of July celebration had never been witnessed before in Greenville.
The vast majority of Southern cities, towns, and villages did not celebrate Independence Day after 1863 when Major General U. S. Grant would only receive the surrender of Vicksburg on July 4 from Confederate Lt. General John Pemberton. The shame was more than most Southerners could bear.
But with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, large numbers of Southerners rushed to join in the fight. Even Confederate General Joe Johnston volunteered. Teddy Roosevelt recruited men at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio to become Rough Riders and charge up San Juan Hill. Ironically, the Spanish surrendered after the defeat at Santiago Bay and few Americans set foot on Cuban soil.
Several things about this article intrigued me. For example, why did the S. S. & S. railroad have an artillery piece in one of their shops? Did they arm their trains as they traveled through North Texas? Is this the artillery piece still at the courthouse? Was it too heavy to drag up the slight incline to the Katy Depot?
I completely understand the patriotic zeal on the occasion. There was a National Guard company led by Captain Joseph F. Nichols who served in the war, but they guarded the Mexican border. Three years later that company led a huge parade through the streets of Greenville for the Midsummer Carnival held after July 4th.
This weekend we celebrate our nation’s 240th birthday. While it will be festive, exciting, patriotic, and joyous, I doubt if that artillery piece will be used. Have a happy and safe holiday! And if any of my readers know where the cannon came from, please let me know. Even if you don’t know that, if you know when the cannon might have been used, let me know. Thanks so much.