I have attached a partial text of a letter that describes a visit by Federal troops to the Stacey home days after the skirmish at Mt. Pleasant (actually 4 known events (1) Little River crossing (Stockton to Claiborne road) near present day Ala. 59 highway bridge (2) Shomo Creek at the site of Mt. Pleasant (the main fight) (3) Fletcher's branch (where a stirrup, part of a saddle, and minie balls have been found in recent times) and (4) an entrenchment near the English plantation on the old Suggsville road. The English plantation cemetery is the resting place of Mrs. Thomas C. English, sister of Federal General George McClellan). It has puzzled us to know whether the troops belonged to Lucas or Chrysler. Lucas went to Claiborne then to Monroeville and Chrysler was at Perdue Hill (where he captured the flag of the Claiborne Guards) then arrived at Monroeville before Lucas. The Stacey home was located near Amber Post Office just a mile off the Claiborne/Stockton road and within a mile of the Monroeville/Mt. Pleasant road in the other direction. (Today, it is called Grimes Settlement or Manistee)

I have followed the Lt. Holt entries and question whether any of the Federal troops went directly to Camden. There are several stories similiar to the one below. Federal troops raided homes all through the county. In the NE corner of Monroe, the raiders hung a man named Booker who was cut down by former slaves. He lived but never recovered. The Stuckey family, all women and young children, were burned out and left without any food or animals. The John Middleton family suffered the same fate as the Stuckey family. There are stories that the raiders passed through Nadawah and Indian Springs. This road is a route to Camden. You commen t that Lucas travelled up the east side of the Alabama prompted this response. I wish I knew more.

Steve Stacey
Monroeville

April 1865. Letter from Elizabeth Stacey, sister of Thomas S. Stacey, to illegible Grimes. (partial text)
........ regret to report that our settlement was invaded by Yankee horsemen. They swept the farms of Elustee Dunn and Murdock McLeod leaving not a living animal or a grain of corn. Being forewarned, Tom sent MaMa Stacey and the girls away to Bozemans but MaMa Stacey would not go. Tom had sent Andy with the oxen to Adville's and Mr. Massingil tried to keep Andy from returning but he got to the settlement as the Yankees were scattering the hens and hogs. It was more than Jane could bear and this excited Andy who caused a great commotion and Tom pleaded for Andy to quiet down. Andy was grabbed and Tom rose up with great difficulty and pleaded with the officer to spare him and telling him that Andy had lost 2 brothers*. Jane was intolerable to the commotion and MaMa Stacey gave the soldiers her mind for it. The officer forbid the soldiers from taking the house belongings and Andy calmed down**. Tom lost his mule and swayback horse. The chickens and hogs that eluded them are scattered near to Uncle George's old place. Andy hid the cow and calf near the Hayles place and Mrs. Hayles returned them Sunday morning last. Most in the settlement escaped the plunder except those mentioned. The Yankee soldiers left in a rush as they came and took the Lambert's farm and Mr. Moore's place by the rush.

Note: Andy lost 2 brothers. This statement is a mystery. Andy Stacey did lose one brother, John Adville Stacey, mortally wounded at Chickamauga. The second brother reference may be to James Farrish Hale, husband of Mary Jane Stacey, who was also killed at Chickamauga. It may also refer to Harrison Stacey who was captured during the Battle of Atlanta and imprisoned at Camp Chase, OH. At the time of the raid, the family may not have known the status of Harrison Stacey.

**Compiler's Note: The officer forbid the soldiers...several sources (James L. Stacey and descendants of James Marion Stacey) have heard bits and pieces of the story of the raid on Tom Stacey's place.