Mitcham Beat and the Mitcham War

Mitcham Beat and the Mitcham War. . In erecting this marker the Clarke County Historical Society's sole purpose is to mark events and areas affecting the county's history., Beat 15 of Clarke County, since the mid 19th century, came to be known as Mitcham Beat, named for an early pioneer family. The area encompassed geographically was from Satilpa Creek at Chilton Baptist Church on the east to Harris Creek, east and north of Center Point on the west, and from Prospect on the south to Forestdale on the north., The beat's approximate center is on Alabama Highway #154 where a side road leads to the forestry fire tower., The early 1890's was a time of turbulence throughout Alabama. Men were often at cross purposes. The regrettable series of events labeled “The Mitcham War” culminated in August of 1893., While reliable documentation is scant, if available at all, a small group of men in or near Beat 15 (Mitcham Beat), reportedly organized themselves into a band known as “Hell at the Breech.” This group was charged with the responsibility for a number of unlawful acts including murder., A much larger group from across the county known afterward as the posse or mob, organized themselves, took the law in their hands and executed several members of the smaller group., An appraisal of the forces contributing to this regrettable chapter in Clarke County's history would include: , (1) The Reconstruction period after the Civil War. , (2) The advancing or crop lien system with sometimes extortionate mortgages on land, crops and stock, obligating farmers to grow cotton, which was king. , (3) Politics – both county and state. , (4) Carpet-bagger land speculators. , (5) A few hot-heads, who disregarded or lost respect for law enforcement, or who took the law in their hands, assuming its prerogatives.