USA > Kentucky > Jessamine County > A history of Jessamine County, Kentucky, from its earliest settlement to 1898 > Part 8
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The perfect knowledge Colonel Nicholas had obtained of the Constitution of the United States and his admiration of its provisions, created by his splendid defense of it in the Virginia Convention, were largely used in the creation of Kentucky's first Constitution. His superb legal attainments, his varied knowl- edge, his judicial mind, his unbounded patriotism, and his thor- ough conception of the true principles of government, made him an unquestioned leader in such a body.
The Constitution was framed and adopted in seventeen days, and in thirty days from the assembling of the convention a Gov- ernor was elected, and in sixty days a Legislature assembled un- der its provisions.
Colonel Nicholas was married to Mary Smith, of Baltimore. One of her brothers, Samuel Smith, was a member of the House of Representatives and United States Senator for twenty-nine years, and another, Robert Smith, was Secretary of the Navy under President Jefferson, and Secretary of State under Presi- dent Madison. One of his sons, S. S. Nicholas, was one of the most distinguished lawyers of the state. He was a Judge of the Court of Appeals, Judge of the Louisville Chancery Court, and one of the Commissioners appointed in 1850 to revise the laws ot Kentucky. His youngest daughter, Hetty Morrison, was the wife of Hon. Richard Hawes, of Paris, Ky., at one time Provis- ional Governor of Kentucky, while under the control of the Con- federate States; and he represented the Ashland District in Con- gress, 1837-1841. He opened a law school at his own house, and taught gratuitously such men as Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, John Rowan, Martin D. Hardin, Robert Wickliffe, William T. Barry, Isham Talbott, and John Green. He moved to Bath county in 1794, to which his interests in the old slate furnace, which was operated from 1790 to 1839, and was for nearly 50 years one of the
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
great industries of the state. Later he came to Lexington to de- vote himself to the practice of law.
In 1799 he was elected Professor of the Law Department then added to Transylvania University, then in the zenith of its glory, but he died shortly afterwards, in July, 1799, in his forty-sixth ycar.
The capital of Jessamine is named, as will be seen, from one of the really great men of his period. It was called for Colonel Nicholas through the partiality of Rev. John Metcalf, who held the highest admiration for Nicholas, and who had known him in Vir- ginia, before his removal to Kentucky.
Militia of Jessamine County.
Even to the soldiers who participated in great battles in Mex- ico or the recent war there was never any military experience which left so charming memories as that of service in the old state mili- tia, commonly known as the "Corn Stalk Militia." It was called the Corn Stalk Militia because there were no arms for the troops and very frequently they used corn stalks in the place of guns. The state militia grew up with the early settlement of Kentucky. In those times every man was a soldier and was ready to respond to such call as might be made in defense of his home or in pun- ishment of the Indians, who had invaded the state.
From 1775 down to 1793, every able-bodied man was of neces- sity connected with some military command. A while after the Indian peace of 1794, the militia organization slackened a little, yet it never died out as a state institution until after the Consti- tution of 1849-50 was enacted.
Up to that time every male citizen from the age of twenty-one to forty-five was to report for duty at all drills, in default of which a fine was adjudged.
Jessamine county had two regiments, formed in different parts of the county, and they were required to assemble in the spring for battalion drill. In September they had what was called a "big muster," which was a brigade drill, called in that day "The Evolution of the Line."
Nicholasville, the county seat, as the central point. was selected for this army movement. The uniform of the officers, from briga-
ATTENTION !! Sth Regiment K. M.
COMPANY ORDERS, 1832.
Mr.
SIR: You are hereby notified to attend the following Musters in the present year, Fiz:
REGIMENTAL MUSTER on the 10th of October, at Nicholasville, 10 o'clock. BATTALLION MUSTER on the 3th of May, at Nicholasville, 10 o'clock.
COMPANY MUSTER on the 2d Satur- day in April, at 2 o'clock, P. M. Parade in the Academy Lot, Nicholasville. Court of Assessment, the last Monday in October at Nicholasville.
No. guns required. By order of W. F. SHELY, CAPTAIN. JAS. SWITEZEN, O. SERGEANT.
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MILITIA NOTICE, 1832.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
dier-general down, consisted of epaulets, sword, red sash, high hats with plumes tipped with white, and a black cockade on one side. The great day in the county was the big muster, and from all parts of the county, not only the soldiers but the citizens came to Nicholasville, and these military officers were as proud and well satisfied with their appearance as any army officer equipped with gold and tinsel, under the forms prescribed by General Miles of the present day.
The drills were great occasions and were especially attractive to the boys, who would post themselves along the roads and watch the incoming of the officers. Standing on the fences and on high steps they would wait with keen zest for the uniformed men, and as they would see an officer coming up in his splendid attire, they would yell out with delight and enthusiasm : "Here comes a muster man." The band was not composed of scientific musi- cians or many pieces ; it included a tenor and bass drum and a fife, all of which were played by the negroes.
The band would begin the march around town playing martial airs, early in the morning, and they would march up and down the streets and thrill the crowds with their soul-stirring strains. First, the musicians, then the companies would fall in.
After marching around the town, the musicians would halt at the court house, the music would cease and the orders would be given :
"Fall in, Captain Crozier's Company ; fall in, Captain Hoo. ver's Company; fall in Captain Rohrer's Company."
And so on, until all the companies of the regiment had been called and had taken their places in the line.
When the line had been formed, the captain would go up and down and dress the men with his sword or cane. After the alignment of the companies, they would form in regiments and move in column to a field or pasture near the town. At the head of this cavalcade would march Brigadier-General Horine. The troops would move along without keeping step, some with um- brellas raised, some with coats, some without coats, and many smoking, and the brigadier-general commanding would have his cob pipe in his mouth-thus unconscious of his military position and unconscious of his military bearing, as he sat on his horse with his back bent and his head inclined forward.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
On reaching the field, the great and striking maneuver would be to form a hollow square. The use of this by the British troops had impressed it upon the soldiers' minds as a most im- portant accomplishment. It took a long time to get the square formed and sometimes took a still longer time to unform. After squaring and unsquaring, the command would come to parade rest and then would be extended an opportunity for notices to be given by the farmers-such as "farms for sale or rent, stock for sale, or lost live stock." After this the square would be formed again and from this a battle line would be stretched; then a counter-march would be ordered.
On one occasion General Horine had his command in line of battle, but not remembering to reverse or about face when they had almost reached a high worm fence which enclosed a thirty-acre field, he called out : "Pull the fence down or climb it." As, under the orders of the commanding general, it had been left discretionary with them what course to pursue, they pulled the fence down.
After two or three hours of drilling they would march back to town and were dismissed.
Small boys and all the idlers about town moved up and down with the line and became as profoundly interested in the evolu- tions as the soldiers themselves.
These occasions were always splendid opportunities for great profit of the vendors of watermelons, ginger cake, and sweet cider. Few Jessamine men of that day will forget Aunt Milly Howard and Aunt Fannie Mason as they sat at their tables and dispensed such ginger cake and fried chicken and fried ham as the world has never surpassed.
Notwithstanding the slackness of the Corn Stalk Militia in Jessamine county, there were organizations of special companies which acquired great proficiency in drilling and were not only efficient but beautifully uniformed.
One of these companies, raised by Capt. George S. Shanklin, attained great skill and was thoroughly drilled, as much so as any modern militia.
Capt. Thompson Worley had a cavalry company which was perfectly trained. The men had good horses, took pride in them, and while they had nothing but sabres and flintlock pistols, they performed cavalry evolutions in a most creditable manner.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Capt. William R. Kean organized an infantry company known as the Jessamine Grays. This command for a long time had great celebrity. The uniform was of gray cloth, with frock coat, the breast of which was ornamented with silver braid, and had silver stripes down the sides of the trousers. The hat was of black leather with a drooping red and white plume.
Capt. J. D. Hill was in command of this company for many years. He was succeeded by Capt. Tucker Olds, of Nicholasville. The company was long the pride of the citizens of the county and it was not disbanded until near the beginning of the late war.
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Patriotic Celebrations.
The early settlers on the Fourth of July were accustomed to have patriotic celebrations. They invited each other to their homes and in sumptuous repasts and neighborly communion cele- brated the important events, not only in their own history, but in the history of their country. In 1794 Col. William Price had such celebrations at his house. As early as 1802 formal meetings were held to glorify the Fourth of July. There are in existence now the minutes of a meeting called on the 12th of June, 1802, to take formal action upon the celebration of the Fourth of July for that year. The following copy of the doings of that meeting will show the character and nature of the ceremony :
At a meeting of the citizens of Nicholasville on the 12th of June, 1802, Maj. Benjamin Netherland in the chair, Col. John Price, secretary, it was resolved, that the 26th anniversary of the Independence of our beloved country be celebrated on the Fourth of July next in Nicholasville. Thereupon, a committee of ar- rangements was appointed, who, in accordance with the resolu- tions of the meeting, present the following as the order of the day :
Procession.
Ist. The Military Jessamine Blues, under Capt. James Price and Lieutenant Caldwell, will be drawn up between the residence of the Rev. John Metcalf and Mrs. Dillard's gate, in double file, with music on their right, will move down Main street, when the
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
procession will be formed by each class, or division, falling in the rear of its preceding class, or division, according to the subse- quent arrangement, the front class falling in the rear of the mili- tary.
2nd. Rev. Mr. Metcalf's school children in the following or- der : No. I, at the Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. John Met- calf, marshal ; No. 2, at the quarter session court house, Col. John Price, marshal ; drawn up in front of the school room of Mrs. Nancy Lafevers, with their right on Main street.
4th. The ladies dressed in white, at Downing & Evans' store, with their right on Main street, Michael Horine, marshal.
5th. Ladies of the town and vicinity, citizens and farmers of the county, in double file, at Mr. Metcalf's corner, with right on Main street, near Mr. Netherland's stable lot, Benjamin Hughes, Stephen Frost, Col. John Mosley, marshals.
The procession will move off at slow time at nine o'clock, a. m., to the woodland east of the town where the ceremonies of the day will proceed in the following order :
First. Prayer by the Rev. John Metcalf.
Second. Music.
Third. An address by the Rev. John P. Campbell.
Fourth. Music.
Fifth. Reading Declaration of Independence by Samuel H. Woodson.
Sixth. An oration by Rev. Robert Stewart.
Seventh. Prayer by Rev. John Shackelford.
The procession will again form in the same order and return to town, dispersing at the points where they joined the proces- sion in the morning and in the same order.
Michael Horine, Col. John Price and William Caldwell are appointed marshals.
The ladies and gentlemen of Jessamine county are most re- spectfully and earnestly invited to celebrate our Independence like patriotic men whose fathers were engaged in a bloody civil war for seven years.
Many of the old soldiers who served their country in the armies of Washington and Greene are among us and will be pres-
EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ON CLEAR CREEK.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
ent and participate in celebrating the 26th anniversary of the free. dom and independence of our country.
John Price, ยท Col. Wm. Price, Hugh Chrisman, Michael Horine, John Metcalf, Joseph Crockett, Robert Crockett, Caleb McDowell,
Committee of Arrangements, June 12, 1802.
The Michael Horine referred to in these proceedings, was an uncle of the late Henry Horine and John Horine. Michael Hor- ine married a sister of General Muhlenberg, a Revolutionary soldier, and for whom Muhlenberg county, in this state, is named. He settled in Jessamine county in 1799 and afterwards moved to Ohio, in 1808, where he became principal of a female school.
The Hugh Chrisman mentioned is the ancestor of the large Chrisman family in Jessamine county. He was born in Rock- ingham county, Va., in 1769, and died in 1849. His son, General Henry Chrisman, long lived in Jessamine as one of its most dis- tinguished citizens and died in 1876. He lived on Hickman creek, a few miles from Nicholasville.
Men in Indian Wars Antedating 1812.
James Hemphill, an uncle of Andrew Hemphill, served under General Wayne in the campaign against the Indians, and was in the battle of the Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794; Terrence Mc- Grath, who was the father of the late horseman, Price McGrath, lived in Jessamine county, and was also in that campaign. In this battle General Wayne relied upon the charge of the Kentucky mounted infantry to draw the fire of the Indians, and then sent in his foot men, with the bayonet, before which the Red Men precip- itately fled. The blow inflicted secured peace and forever stopped Indian incursions into Kentucky.
Price McGrath, the son of Terrence McGrath, was born in Nicholasville, and in his boyhood learned the tailor's trade. He
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
subsequently moved to Louisville, and while there he became in- terested in the horse business, which he so successfully man- aged, and afterward founded his splendid breeding establishment for race horses in Fayette county, near Lexington.
Soldiers in the War of 1812.
Jessamine county sent soldiers to the war of 1812, commanded by the following captains : Capt. Jas. C. Price, Capt. Mason Sin- gleton, Capt. Richard Hightower, Capt. Patrick Gray, Capt. Thos. Lewis, Capt. Robt. Crockett, Capt. Augustine Bower. Quite a large number of Captain Price's company were killed at the bat- tle of the River Raisin, while Capt. Thos. Lewis' company was in Dudley's defeat at Fort Meigs, May 15, 1813, and there lost a large number of its members, who were either killed during the fight or murdered by the Indians after the surrender.
The following letter, written by a member of Captain Bow- ers' company in the battle of the Thames, will be of interest to those whose ancestors were engaged in that fight. It was written by Nathaniel Adams, who died some years since in Pulaski county, and was the maternal uncle of S. M. Duncan. There are parts of it that relate to purely personal matters, which are omitted from the text as published :
MR. ADAMS' LETTER TO MISS NANCY STINSON.
Put-In-Bay, on the Shore of the Great Lake. Oct. 15, 1813.
My Dearest Nancy :
I reached this muddie den of a village on Monday, the 11th. I was in the battle on Tuesday, October 5th, and was not hurt by the bullets of the British and Indians, though I was in very great danger, as the company I was in formed the second line when Colonel Johnson made his men charge the enemy. The Indians raised a loud yell and opened a severe fire on our advance. About seventy or eighty red-coated British soldiers and an equal number of Indians opened a heavy fire on us again, emptying eighteen saddles, killing twelve and wounding more than thirty of our men in the front line. Captain Bowers rushed up in a moment and ordered our company to advance instantly. Our
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
men rushed forward in a rapid gallop over the front line of the British, who stood their ground like men who preferred being shot down rather than surrender. Our company killed several British soldiers who had surrendered, and who attempted to es- cape. When we dispersed their army in the charge, we cap- tured over five hundred prisoners. I saw a large Indian wander- ing along the river with two guns and a bag of fried fish. I called the attention of Captain Bowers to the Indian, who, to all appearances, was going to steal a horse that belonged to one of Colonel Trotter's men. Captain Bower ordered three of the men to catch him. All three of us dashed at him. He raised one of the guns and fired; the ball came very close to my left ear. In- stantly John Doolin shot him dead. He had fried fish in a dirty bag, and six scalps were in the bag, separated from his dinner of fish by a dirty, old towel, which was marked by stains of blood. We scalped him and left him lying on his back. John Doolin wanted to cut a razor strap from his thigh, but I objected to this and as we were picking up our wounded and sending them across the lake, I saw no more of the Indian.
War of 1812-1815.
The War of 1812 was one in which Kentucky figured more prominently than any other state. The warlike spirit had been un- daunted by Indian aggressions on the frontier from 1783 down to 1811, when the men of Kentucky fought at Tippecanoe, and where the brilliant and popular Joseph Hamilton Daveiss and other gallant Kentuckians gave their blood for the defense and preservation of the Northwestern territory. Kentucky, off and on, had in this war over 25,000 soldiers. She gave some of her noblest blood in the battles it produced and manifested a patriot- ism and valor which gave her increased renown .. To this war Jessamine county sent, first and last, 600 soldiers.
England had never accepted gracefully the result of the Revolutionary War. The Northwestern Indians were fed and maintained by the British officials in Canada. They wore British clothes, used British guns and knives and traded with and for British gold. The war was brought about by a series of events, but there were two principal causes :
HEAD OF JESSAMINE CREEK.
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
First. England claimed the right to stop and examine, any- where on the high seas, American vessels engaged in commerce, and to take from such vessels all British subjects.
"Once a subject, always a subject," a favorite maxim of John Bull, was interpreted in the most offensive sense and any man who was supposed to be an Irishman, Scotchman, etc., was taken and forced to serve in the British navy, even though he was an American citizen. Diplomacy, always slow to redress wrongs, was in these cases extremely tardy, and thousands of American citizens were thus relentlessly forced to serve a country whose
allegiance they repudiated. The necessities of the English government were very great. Its navy, greatly increased by the war with the French people led by Napoleon, could only be main- tained by impressment, and these American ships were most at- tractive places for that sort of work. It took the news of these seizures a long time to reach home, and then a long time to get to the State Department, and then there was a long correspond- ence before even a hearing could be obtained. In the mean time, the men were in the navy and driven by the lash. or other more dreadful punishment to this hateful service.
Second: The United States, in the thirty years that had passed since the Revolutionary War, had built up a large ocean carrying trade. England, through the blockade of European ports, claimed the right to seize all American ships and cargoes bound for any blockaded port in Europe (and they were nearly all blockaded) unless these ships, going to or returning from such ports, first entered an English port and registered and obtained license to prosecute their voyage.
With such claims on the part of any government, war could not long be avoided, and so on the 18th of June, 1812, Congress declared war.
As soon as the news of the war reached Kentucky and before the President's requisition came to the Governor, volunteer com- panies all over the state rushed to offer themselves to the Gov- ernor. Kentucky's quota was 5,500 of the 100,000 called for. Weeks before the actual declaration of war had been made, re- cruiting offices had been opened and war meetings throughout the state gave assurance that however lukewarm New England
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
might be, Kentucky would give the government the heartiest support.
By August the 14th, the Kentucky quota was ready. Jes- samine sent two full companies and scattering soldiers into other commands.
One of these companies was commanded by Capt. James C. Price, a son of Col. William Price. The other was commanded by Capt. Patrick Gray. The roster of these two companies was as follows :
Roll of Capt. James C. Price's Company.
Lewis' regiment, Kentucky Volunteers. War of 1812.
Captain-James C. Price. Lieutenant-William Caldwell. Ensign-Daniel Bourne. Sergeants-William E. Price, David Richardson, John Shanklin, John Scott. Corporals-Nathaniel H. Caldwell, John Ficklin, Solomon Smith, Elisha Williams.
Privates-Barkleye, William ; Barr, George ; Bennett, James ; Brice, John T .; Brown, Thomas ; Carlton, Isaac ; Carlton, Noah ; Carlton, George; Callender, Jacob; Conner, Rice; Daugherty, - John ; Dedman, James ; Easley, Pleasant ; Edwards, Thos. ; Elkin, Benj .; East, Elijah; Finney, James ; Forset, James; Forsee, Stephen ; Farrow, John; Goin, John; Haggard, John; Hicks, James ; Hews, Charles, Hushman, Matthew ; Kindred, Edward ; Krickbaum, John ; Lewis, Wm. A .; Moss, Pleasant ; Morgan, W .; McGrath, Terrance; McConnell, M. G .; Neal, George; Nether- land, John; Overstreet, W .; Rice, Joseph; Rice, Geo. W .; Richards, Alexander ; Ramsey, John ; Richardson, Robt .; Scott, Joseph ; Scott, Joseph : Simmons, David ; Skeene, William ; Tay- lor, John; Underwood, Edward; Woodson, Obediah; Wilson, Thos .; Ward, William; Webber, Benj .; Walker, James; Ward, Geo. S .; Young, Joel ; Young, Richard.
Roll of Capt. Patrick Gray's Company.
Lewis' regiment, Kentucky Volunteers. War of 1812. Captain-Patrick Gray. Lieutenant-James Fletcher. Ensign-James Clark. Sergeants-William Sechrest, Thomas
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History of Jessamine County, Kentucky.
Reed, John Batts, Geo. Chrisman. Corporals-Robt. Dun- widdie, Sam'l Huckstep, James Norrel.
Privates-Anderson, Oliver ; Armstrong, Livy ; Arnett, John ; Bagwell, Cary; Bishop, John; Brown, Samuel; Bradshaw, Smith; Burk, Benj .; Campbell, James; Cardwell, Sam'1; Card- well, James; Cary, Melford; Clark, Geo. W .; Croslin, Benj .; Downes, Penore P .; Dickerson, Wm .; Dickerson, David; El- more, Edward ; Howard, Achilles ; Hopkins, Thos .; Hutcherson, Sam'1; Hunter, Chas .; Jeter, Henry ; Jimerson, David ; Jimerson, WVm .; Jimerson, John; Johnson, John; Kennady, Wm .; Lana, Henry ; Leon, Moses ; Lusk, James ; Marshall, James ; Marshall, Wm .; May, Lindsay ; Messick, Nathan ; Morris, Henry ; Myers, John ; Miller, Francis ; McClure, Martin ; Nevens, Henry ; Newal, Armstrong; Patterson, John ; Pilcher, Louis ; Read, Peter ; Rob- inson, Michael; Rusk, Robert ; Sales, Thos. P .; Spencer, Ab- salom ; Spiers, Greenbery; Summers, James; Summers, Thos .; Smith, Peter; Stype, John ; Shelton, Thos .; Thompson, Pitman ; V'enable, Hamden S .; Waters, Lewis; Wallace, James ; Whorton, Joseph; Wallace, Abraham; Welsh, Alexander; Willis, John; Willis, William ; Wager, Absalom.
These companies were part of the 5th Kentucky Regiment, commanded by Lieut .- Col. William Lewis and Majors Joseph Robb and Benjamin Graves. The other companies constituting the regiment were those of Captains Hart, Hamilton and Me- gowan from Fayette, Captain Williams, from Montgomery, and Captains Martin and Brassfield from Clark. They were ordered to assemble in Lexington on the 14th of August. They were en- listed on the 15th at Georgetown.
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