Begun as a small, three-room winter hunting cabin built in 1803 by
Job Routh, Winter Quarters became the stately country home of Dr. Haller Nutt and his wife
Julia. (The Nutts were residents of Natchez, owners of the stately octagonal-shaped home
Longwood). Purchased in 1850 by Dr. Nutt, the plantation came to embrace more than 2,000
acres and was worked by a force of 300 slaves. Winter Quarters also boasted several cotton
gins, a sawmill, milk house, barns, boat docks, smokehouse, machine shops, and hospital.
The Nutts were Union sympathizers and Julia reportedly made her way to Milliken's Bend to
implore General Grant to spare her house in exchange for which she would feed and quarter
troops.
|
