Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II, Part 74

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1654


USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. II > Part 74


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General HENRY KNox, in honor of whom this county received its name, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born at Boston, on the 25th July, 1750. He received a good education, and at an early period of his life was a booksel- ler. At the age of eighteen, he was chosen one of the officers of a company of grenadiers, and evinced a fondness and ability for the military profession. At - the battle of Bunker Hill he served as a volunteer ; and soon after undertook the perilous task of procuring from the Canada frontier some pieces of ordnance, greatly needed by the American army, which he successfully accomplished. For this daring feat, he received the most flattering testimonials from the commander- in-chief and congress, and was soon after entrusted with the command of the artillery department, with the rank of a brigadier general. In the battles of Trenton and Princeton, Germantown and Monmouth, he displayed peculiar skill and bravery ; and subsequently contributed greatly to the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Immediately after this event, he was created a major-general. He was subsequently one of the commissioners to adjust the terms of peace-was deputed to receive the surrender of New York from the English forces-and af- terwards appointed commander at West Point, where he executed the delicate and difficult task of disbanding the army, which he executed with extraordinary address. In 1785, he was appointed secretary at war, the duties of which office he discharged with general approbation until the year 1794, when he retired to his estate, in the then district. but now State of Maine. In 1798, when the state of our affairs with France indicated a rupture, he was again appointed to a com- mand in the army ; but the re-establishment of amicable relations with that power, enabled him soon to return to his retirement. He died October 25, 1806, at his seat in Thomaston, Maine, at the age of 56. General Knox was as amiable in private, as he was eminent in public life. But few men in the stirring times in which he lived, possessed in a higher degree those traits of character which dig- nify and ennoble human nature.


LARUE COUNTY.


LARUE county, the 98th in order of formation, was formed in 1843, out of the southeastern part of Hardin county, and named in honor of John Larue. It is bounded N. by Hardin and Nelson counties, the Rolling fork of Salt river being the dividing line, E. by Marion and Taylor, s. by Hart and Green, and w. by Har- din county, Middle creek forming the dividing line on the N. W. Along the Rolling fork the surface is hilly, being the celebrated Muldrow's Hill ; the eastern portion of the county is undulating, and the western is more level ; the soil of the latter is red clay, with limestone beneath, while the rolling land is a mulatto clay. The principal products are corn, tobacco, and hogs. Besides the Rolling fork, Nolin (which empties into Green river), its North and South forks, and Otter creek, are the principal streams.


Towns .- Hodgenville, the county seat, is on Nolin creek, 90 miles s. w. of Frankfort, 50 miles s. of Louisville, 9 miles from Sonora on the L. & N. railroad, and 9 miles from New Haven on the Lebanon branch railroad ; has 4 churches (Methodist,


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LARUE COUNTY.


Baptist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic), 8 stores, 2 hotels, 4 doctors, 7 lawyers, 3 blacksmith shops, mill, wagon and carriage shop, and tanyard ; population in 1870, 404; named after Robert Hodgen, whose house is still standing. Buffalo, on a branch of Nolin, 6 miles from Hodgenville and 13 from Sonora ; population 50. Magnolia, 10 miles from Hodgenville; population 30.


STATISTICS OF LARUE COUNTY.


When formed. See page 26


Population, from 1850 to 1870 .p. 258


Tobacco, corn, wheat, hay ... pages 266, 268


Horses, mules, cattle, hogs ... ... p. 268


whites and colored. .p .. 260 Taxable property, 1846 and 1870 ... p. 270


towns. p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value ...... p. 270 Latitude and longitude. .p. 257


white males over 21 .. .. p. 266


children bet. 6 and 20. .p. 266


Distinguished citizens ... .see Index.


MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM LARUE COUNTY.


Senate .- Wm. Howell, 1853-57 ; Win. B. Read, 1857-65.


House of Representatives .- Wm. Cessna, 1844, '45 ; Wm. Beeler, 1846, '47, '50 ; Jesse H. Rodman, 1848, '65-67 ; Wm. Howell, 1849 ; Jos. A. Nevitt, 1851-53 ; Henry E. Read, 1853-55 ; David L. Thurman, 1855-57 ; Wm. H. Hamilton, 1857-59 ; Nicholas A. Rapier, 1859-65 ; Wm. B. Read, 1867-69 ; John M. Atherton, 1869-71; Samuel W. Sanders, 1871-75.


On the farm of Mr. John Duncan, about five miles from Hodgenville, on the Big South fork of Nolin, there are several mounds. Two of these have been opened, and found to contain human bones, beads of ivory or bone, and a quantity of sea shells. Near the mounds, there appear to be the remains of a town or fortification, and within the area covered by this relic of antiquity, several curi- ous articles have been found, among them the image of a bird, cut out of a rock, with several holes drilled through it. WALL On one of the bluffs of the Rolling Fork, where the creek makes a short elbow, is to be seen a stone wall, now three or four feet high. The wall at the elbow extends across the level land, from cliff to cliff, somewhat in the shape of the annexed drawing, and must have constituted, at the time of its construction, an impregnable fortress. The cliff is about two hundred feet high, and so precipitous that an invading CLIFF army could not possibly scale it,-where there was any show of resistance.


About one mile above Hodgenville on the south side of Nolin creek, there is a knoll which may be appropriately termed a natural curiosity. It is about thirty feet above the level of the creek, and contains about two acres of ground. the top of which is level, and a comfortable house has been erected upon it. Benjamin Lynn and others, early pioneers of the county, encamped on this knoll. In a hunting excursion, shortly after they made their encampment, Lynn got lost. The remainder of the company returned to camp, and not finding their companion, some one remarked, " Here is the Vole (knoll) but No Lynn, from which circum- stance the creek which runs near the knoll took its name-Nolin. They imme- diately started in search of Lynn, and traveled a south course about fifteen miles, and found where he had encamped on a creek, from which circumstance they called the creek Lynn-camp creek. [The creek lies within the present county of Hart. ] Philip Phillips erected a fort about one fourth of a mile from the knoll, on the north side of Nolin, about the year 1780 or '81, where the first settlement of the county was made. Phillips was from Pennsylvania, and a surveyor.


JOHN LARUE, for whom the county was named, emigrated with a considerable company, from Virginia, and settled in Phillips' fort. When they left the fort, Larue bought and settled the land which includes the knoll. Robert Hodgen, his brother-in-law, bought and settled the land on which-Hodgenville has been erected. They were both noted for their uprightness and sterling moral worth- both of them members of the Baptist church, and beloved for their unobtrusive and devoted piety. Benjamin Lynn was a minister of the same church.


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LAUREL COUNTY.


The late president Abraham Lincoln was born in what is now Larue county, two miles s. of Hodgenville, when Larue was a part of Hardin. The late governor John L. Helm was also born in this part of Hardin county. (For biographical sketches of both, see under Hardin county ; and for sketch of Gen. Henry E. Read, see Vol. I.


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LAUREL COUNTY.


LAUREL county, established in 1825 out of parts of Rockcastle, Clay, Knox, and Whitley counties, was the 80th formed in the state. It derived its name from the river Laurel, which runs partly through the county, and is supposed to have been so named from the quantity of laurel growing upon its banks. It is bounded N. by Rockcastle and Jackson counties, E. by Clay and Knox, s. by Whitley, and w. by Pulaski and Rockcastle counties. The face of the country is elevated, and generally rolling ; the staple products are corn and oats ; cattle and hogs are extensively raised.


Towns .- London, the county seat, is on the line of the Knox- ville branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, 148 miles from Louisville [the road (March, 1873) is only finished to Liv- ingston, 19 miles N. w.], 102 miles from Frankfort, 24 miles w. of Manchester, and 30 miles N. of Williamsburg or Whitley C. H. ; population in 1870, 165-a falling off since 1860, according to the U. S. census, of 70. Hazelpatch is a small village, 8 miles N. of London. Besides these, there are 7 post-offices in the county, some of which have a few houses around.


STATISTICS OF LAUREL COUNTY.


When formed. See page 26 | Hay, corn, wheat. .pages 266, 268 Population, from 1830 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, and hogs ...... p. 268


whites and colored .. p. 260 Taxable property, 1870 .p. 270


towns .... .p. 262 Land-No. of aeres, and value. .p. 270


white males over 21. .p. 266 Latitude and longitude. p. 257


children bet. 6 and 20 .. .. p. 266 Distinguished citizens. .see Index.


MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM LAUREL COUNTY.


Senate .- Jarvis Jackson, 1849; Robert Boyd, 1867-75. From Laurel, Lincoln, and Rockcastle counties-Henry Owsley, 1829-34. [See Knox and Harlan counties.]


House of Representatives .- Jarvis Jackson, 1830, '31, '35 ; Thos. J. Buford, 1838, '41, '42, '43 ; Mark A. Watkins, 1840 ; Evan Chestnut, 1844 ; Granville Pearl, 1846 ; Wm. Jackson, 1848; George P. Brown, 1850 ; George W. Miller, 1853-55 ; E. B. Bacheller, 1861-63 ; Chas. B. Faris, 1865-67 ; J. Francis Baugh, 1869-71. From Laurel and Whitley counties-John S. Laughlin, 1829. From Laurel and Rockcastle counties- John J. Haley, 1851-53.


Minerals .- Coal is found in great abundance, iron ore has been discovered, and some appearances of lead.


Swift's Silver Mine was supposed, in 1846, to be in Laurel county. (See full description under Josh Bell county.)


Several Chalybeate Springs are in this county. The water power on the streams is unsurpassed.


The Remains of Old Indian Towns or towns inhabited by some ante-Indian race, were found-among them vessels apparently used for cooking, and other implements.


Boone's Old Trace ran through this county, immediately over the spot where the court house is built; it was still perceivable a few years ago.


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LAWRENCE COUNTY.


LAWRENCE COUNTY.


LAWRENCE county, established in 1821 out of parts of Greenup and Floyd counties, and named after Capt. James Lawrence of the U. S. navy, was the 69th established in the state. It is situ- ated in the extreme eastern part of the state, on the waters of the Big Sandy river ; and is bounded N. by Carter and Boyd counties, E. by the state of Virginia (from which it is separated by the . Big Sandy and its east or Tug fork), s. by Martin and Johnson, and w. by Morgan, Elliott, and Carter counties. The surface is hilly and broken, and the soil fertile ; corn, hogs, and cattle are extensively raised. The county is well watered, and the timber fine-such as beech, poplar, oaks, chestnut, black and white wal- nut; thousands of saw logs are annually sent to market. Coal of the finest quality abounds, and iron ore. Steamboats have ascended the Big Sandy as far as Pikeville, in Pike county.


Louisa, the county seat, is located between the Tug fork and the main river, or as it is oftenest called, the West or Levisa fork of the Big Sandy, 100 miles E. of Frankfort, and 25 miles s. of and up the river from Catlettsburg ; it was established in 1822; population in 1870, 425, nearly double what it was in 1860. There are 13 other post-offices or small villages in the county, including 2 iron furnaces ; but we have not succeeded in procuring particulars.


STATISTICS OF LAWRENCE COUNTY.


When formed See page 26 | Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat ... .pp. 266, 268 Population, from 1830 to 1870 .p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .. p. 268


whites.and colored. .p. 260 Taxable property in 1846 and 1870 .... p. 270


towns. .P. 252 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270


white males over 21. .p. 266 Latitude and longitude. .p. 257


-


children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266


Distinguished citizens see Index.


MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM LAWRENCE COUNTY.


Senate .- Jas. M. Rice, 1838-42, '46-50 ; John L. Elliott, 1851-53 ; Kenos F. Prich- ard, 1869-73.


House of Representatives .- John L. Elliott, 1836, '37 ; Green V. Goble, 1838, '40, '43 : Walter Osburn, 1844: Win. F. Moore, 1851-53 : John J. Jordan, 1853-55 : Andrew J. Prichard, 1855-57; Sinclair Roberts, 1857-61; Daniel W. Johns, 1861-65, resigned 1864; D. J. Burchett, 1865-67 ; John. M Rice, 1867-69 ; George R. Diamond, 1869-71; George Carter, 1871-73. From Lawrence and Carter counties-Jas. Rouse, 1841; Samuel Short, 1845 ; Ulysses Garred, 1848 ; George R. Burgess, 1850. From Lawrence and Morgan counties-Wiley C. Williams, 1824; Elisha McCormas, 1825 ; Edward Wells, 1826 ; Rowland T. Burns, 1828, '29, '30; Jos. R. Ward, 1832, '33, '35. From Lawrence-Ulysses Garred, 1873-75.


Bears .- In 1805-6-7, over 8,000 bear-skins were collected by hunters in the region of the Big Sandy and Kanawha rivers, and forwarded to Europe to make grenadiers' hats and otherwise decorate the soldiers of the hostile armies-good skins realizing to the hunters $4 to $5 each. This region was the paradise of bears, which fattened upon the chestnuts and acorns, that grew in far greater abundance than now because the original forests were untouched.


Origin of the Name of the Tug Fork .- " The destruction of the Roanoke set- tlement in the spring of 1757, by a party of Shawnee Indians, gave rise to a campaign into the region of country just east of the Big Sandy river called by the old settlers ' the Sandy Creek voyage.' This expedition was for the pur- pose of punishing the Indians, and to establish a military post at the mouth of the Big Sandy, to counteract the influence of the French at Gallipolis with


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LAWRENCE COUNTY.


the Indians. It was composed of four companies, under the command of Col. Andrew Lewis. The captains were Audley Paul, Wm. Preston (ancestor of the late Gov. Preston), Wm. Hogg, and John Alexander, father of Archibald Alexander, D.D., first president of Princeton Theological Seminary. The party were ordered, by a messenger from Gov. Fauquier, to return. They had then penetrated nearly to the Ohio river, without accomplishing any of the objects of their expedition. When the army on their return arrived at the Burning spring, in the present limits of Logan county, Virginia, they had suffered much from extreme cold as well as hunger; their fear of alarming the Indians having prevented them from either hunting or kindling fires. Some buffalo hides which they had left at the spring on their way down, were cut into tugs or long thongs, and eaten by the troops, after having been ex- posed to the heat from the flame of the spring. Hence they called the stream near by, now dividing Kentucky from Virginia, Tug river, which name it yet bears. Several who detached themselves from the main body, to hunt their way home, perished. The main body, under Col. Lewis, reached home after much suffering ; the strings of their moccasins, the belts of their hunting-shirts, and the flaps of their slot-pouches, having been all the food they had eaten for several days."


RICHARD APPERSON, Esq. of Mount Sterling, had in his possession one of the oldest patents probably now in Kentucky. It was issued by the crown of Great Britain in 1772, to John Fry, for 2084 acres of land, embracing the town of Louisa, in this county. Nearly one-third of the land lies on the Virginia side of Big Sandy river. The survey upon which the patent issued was made by General Washington between 1767 and 1770, inclusive, and upon the beginning corner he cut the initials of his name. Nearly every corner was found well marked. It has not heretofore heen generally known that George Washington was ever in Kentucky. Another survey was made by him for John Fry, on Little Sandy river, eleven miles from its mouth, and in the present county of Greenup. The town of Louisa, and the whole of the lands included in the patent, are held under the title of Fry.


In the year 1789, Charles Vancouver settled in the forks of Big Sandy, and employed ten men to build a fort and cultivate some corn. This settlement lasted but a year, as the Indians in a few weeks after Vancouver took possession, stole all the horses, and continued to be troublesome.


JAMES LAWRENCE, (in honor of whom this county received its name,) a distin- guished American naval commander, was born in New Jersey in 1781. In 1798, he entered the navy as a midshipman. In 1801 he was promoted, and in 1803, during the Tripoli war, was sent out to the Mediterranean as first lieutenant of the schooner Enterprise. While there, he performed a conspicuous part in the destruction of the Philadelphia frigate, which had been captured by the Tripoli- tans-and took an active part in the subsequent bombardment of the city of Tri- poli. In 1806, he returned to the United States as first lieutenant of the John Adams. In 1812, after war was declared between Great Britain and the United States, Lawrence was appointed to the command of the sloop of war, Hornet. In February 1813, off the Brazil coast, the Hornet fell in with the fine British sloop Peacock, which she captured after a furious action of fifteen minutes. The Pea- cock was so much cut up in the short action, that she sunk before all the pris- oners could be removed. For this gallant action, Lawrence received the thanks of Congress, with the present of a sword ; and his return to the United States was welcomed with the applause due to his conduct. Shortly after his return, he was ordered to Boston, to take command of the frigate Chesapeake, confess- edly one of the worst ships in the navy. He had been but a short tirne there, when the British frigate Shannon, Captain Brooke, appeared before the harbor and challenged the Chesapeake to combat. Lawrence did not refuse the chal- lenge, although his ship was not in condition for action. On the Ist of June, 1813, he sailed out of the harbor and engaged his opponent. After the ships had exchanged several broadsides, and Lawrence had been wounded in the leg, he


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LEE COUNTY.


called his boarders, when he received a musket ball in his body. At the same time the enemy boarded, and after a desperate resistance, succeeded in taking possession of the ship. Almost all the officers of the Chesapeake were either killed or wounded. The last exclamation of Lawrence, as they were carrying him below, after the fatal wound, was, "Don't give up the ship." He died on the fourth day after the action, and was buried with naval honors at Halifax.


Phenomenon .- On Big Blain creek, in Lawrence county, on the night of Feb. 13, 1873, a strange rumbling sound, resembling distant thunder, was found to have originated from an opening in the earth, of a dark color or smoky appearance, and about two feet in diameter, near a ledge of sandstone. Pieces of this stone weighing about 10 pounds were broken off and thrown a consider- able distance. The earth around this opening, for several feet, was thoroughly cleared, as if swept with a broom, from all accumulations of loose dirt, leaves, and small stone. Three other explosions near the same spot were heard, within three days before .*


LEE COUNTY.


LEE county, the 115th in order of formation, was established in 1870, out of parts of Breathitt, Estill, Owsley, and Wolfe, and named in honor of the Virginia patriot, Gen. Robert E. Lee. Its territory is among the smallest, and its population, with two exceptions, the smallest of the counties of the state-reaching only 2,924 by the census of 1870. It is bounded N. by Powell and Wolfe counties, E. by Breathitt and Owsley, s. by Owsley, and w. by Estill. It is located on both sides of the main Kentucky river, and includes a large part of the valleys of its South and Middle forks, and their tributaries. The face of the country is hilly and mountainous, while the valleys are rich and in a high state of cultivation. Corn, wheat, oats, cattle, and hogs are largely produced, and find a market at home among those engaged in the coal and lumber business.


Towns .- Beattyville, the county seat, is located on the N. side of the Kentucky river, at the junction of the Three forks, about 100 miles from Frankfort, and 25 miles from Irvine. It contains a new brick court house, 3 churches (Methodist, Baptist, and Reformed or Christian), 2 doctors, 4 lawyers, 1 school, 4 taverns, 12 dry goods and other stores, 3 mechanic shops, and 20 mining companies ; population in 1870, 123; named in honor of Samuel Beatty, one of the first settlers of the county, who is still living (1872). Proctor is situated on the s. side of Kentucky river, op- posite Beattyville, and contains 1 church, 1 lawyer, 3 taverns, 2 dry goods and 3 grocery stores, 1 school, 3 mechanic shops, 1 steam saw mill, and, by the census of 1870, 100 inhabitants ; named after Rev. Joseph Proctor (a sketch of whose life will be found under Estill county). Canaan contains 2 churches, a school, blacksmith shop, and 40 inhabitants.


MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE FROM LER COUNTY.


Lee county has ( March, 1873) had no resident members of the Legislature.


# Letter of Daniel Casey, Feb. 22, 1873.


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462


LEE COUNTY.


STATISTICS OF LEE COUNTY.


When formed See page 26 Tobacco, hay, corn, wheat .pp. 266, 263


Population, in 1870. .. p. 258 Horses, mules, cattle, hogs .p. 263


whites and colored. .p. 260 Taxable property in 1870 .p. 270


towns .. .p. 262 Land-No. of acres, and value of .... p. 270 Latitude and longitude. ... p. 257


white males over 21. .. p. 266


children bet. 6 and 20 yrs. p. 266


Distinguished citizens see Index.


Steamboats reach Beattyville. which is the head of navigation, with some regularity during several months of the year.


Coal, of the finest quality, is mined and shipped down the Kentucky river, in considerable quantities-limited only by the stages of water. Whenever navigation shall be made permanent, by completing the locks and dams to the Three forks, an immense business will be done in coal, iron, and lumber.


Iron Ore abounds, but no furnaces have been erected.


Lumber, in logs, and a portion sawed, is shipped in quantities.


The Earliest Visitor to any part of what is now Lee county was Dr. Thos. Walker, with his company, in 1750. (See an account of his visit, under Josh Bell county.) The next visitors were the McAfee company, on their return homeward in 1773. (See a brief allusion thereto, under the head of Mercer county.)


Gen. ROBERT E. LEE, in honor of whom Lee county was named, was born in Westmoreland co, Va., Jan. 19, 1807, and died in Lexington, Va., Oct. 12, 1870-aged nearly 64. He was the son of Gen. Henry Lee, better known as " Light Horse Harry Lee," of Revolutionary fame; at 11 years of age he was fatherless ; at 18, entered West Point as a cadet, and graduated in 1829, without a demerit, second in rank in a class of 46; was commissioned lieu- tenant of engineers, 1829; during the Mexican war, was a captain in the topographical corps, and to his sagacity, skill, and courage, Gen. Scott honestly and honorably gave great credit for his own triumphant march from Vera Cruz to the capital-while he was three times brevetted, major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel ; superintendent of West Point military academy, 1852-55; on the western plains, as lieutenant colonel of cavalry, in the regiment com- manded by Col. Albert Sidney Johnston, 1855-59; was ordered to Virginia, and suppressed the "John Brown rebellion," at Harper's Ferry, Oct., 1859; was with his regiment in Texas until Dec., 1860; March 20, 1861, commis- sioned colonel of Ist cavalry.


April 17, 1861, Virginia rejected the summons of President Lincoln to the strife against her sister states of the South, and cast in her lot with them- and on the 20th of April, 1861, after a service of 25 years, Robert E. Lee resigned his position in the U. S. army, and, as a son of Virginia, acknowledged the call of duty to fight for and not against his native commonwealth. April 23d, he was appointed by Gov. Letcher, and confirmed by the Convention, major general and commander-in-chief of all the military forces in Virginia. He was engaged in organizing and preparing for service the new armies, until Aug., 1861; in the command of northwest Virginia, until Dec. ; in charge of the coast defences of South Carolina and Georgia, until March, 1862; then President Davis summoned him to Richmond, but not to the command-in- chief of the army until June 3, 1862-after the battle of the Seven Pines, when Gen. Jos. E. Johnston was severely wounded and Longstreet failed to prove himself the " coming man.'


We have not space to follow him, in detail, through the terrible battles around Richmond-Gaines' Mills, the Chickahominy, White Oak Swamps, Malvern Hill-in July, 1862; Cedar Mountain and 2d Bull Run, in August; South Mountain and Antietam, in September; Fredericksburg, in December, 1862; Chancellorsville, in May, 1863; Gettysburg, in July; the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, in May, 1864; Cold Harbor and Petersburg, in June; the almost continuous and exhausting operations around Petersburg, culminating in the surrender of Lee and his army at Appomattox court house, April 9, 1865. He was great in them all, and usually victorious ; but no human skill could replace or withstand the extraordinary losses of such a campaign, when




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