USA > Kentucky > Historical sketches of Kentucky : embracing its history, antiquities, and natural curiosities, geographical, statistical, and geological descriptions with anecdotes of pioneer life, and more than one hundred biographical sketches of distinguished pioneers, soldiers, statesmen, jurists, lawyers, divines, etc. > Part 56
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The right of the American line of battle was composed of the third, fourth and fifth regiments of regular infantry. and Ringgold's artillery, under the com- mand of Colonel Twigg. The two eighteen pounders, under Lieutenant Cher- chill, occupied the centre : while the left of the line was formed by the eighth infantry and Doncan's artilery. under Colonel Belknap.
The action was commenced by the Mexican artillery, which opened its fire while the American army was vet at some distance. The engagement soon be- came general. and was fought almost entirely by the artillery. Ringgold's bat- tery opened with terrible effect on the Mexican left, scattering that brave array of cavalry as if it had been smitten by the thunder of heaven. They soon re- covered. however, and making a detour, attempted to fall on the American rear, but were met by the infantry, in squares, and repelled with immense slaughter. While Ringgold's battery, supported by the infantry, was sweeping every thing before it on the right. Duncan, on the left, was hurling his fierce volleys into the reeling columns of the foe, who melted away at every discharge, as the Alpine
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ZACHARY TAYLOR.
forest is swept before the terrible path of the avalanche; and in the centre, the two eighteen pounders kept up a steady and destructive fire. And now. while the ground quaked and trembled under the incessant roar of the artillery. and the air was all a flame from the nnremitting flashes of the guns, the prairie to. k fire. and the flames, gathering force and fury as they flew, rolled their devouring bil- Jows over the field, and wrapped the two armies in an impervious canopy of smoke. This, for a tine, stayed the contest. But Duncan and his men, dashing through the flames, which curled ten feet high, showed themselves like spirits from the infernal deep, on the Mexican flank, and opening a furious fire, scattered the ter- ror stricken columns in every direction. This terminated the contest. The Mexi- cans retreated to the chapparal, and the Americans encamped on the field of bat- tle. The Mexican loss in this affair was two hundred killed and four hundred wounded : that of the Americans was four killed and thirty-seven wounded. Of the killed, three were officers, among whom were Major Ringgold and Captain Page.
That night the enemy retired four miles, and having received a reinforcement of two thousand men. selected a strong position at Resaca de la Palma, with a ravine in front, guarded by a pond on one flank and a chapparal on the other : and having placed eight pieces of artillery in a situation to command the approaches, determined to await the advance of the Americans. Contrary to the advice of his officers. General Taylor, notwithstanding the immense superiority of the force opposed to him, determined to continue his march to Fort Brown, and early the next morning the army again advanced against the foe.
As soon as the presence of the enemy was ascertained, the artillery of Lieuten- ant Ridgely was moved to the front, and opened its hre upon that of the Mexi- cans. The infantry was pressed forward on the right, and after a desperate struggle, succeeded in penetrating through the chapparal, and gaining the flank ; while on the left, our troops gained a decided advantage. But. in the meantime, the enemy's centre kept up a deadly and destructive fire, which arrested the ad- vance of the Americans, and rendered the fortunes of the day for some time doubtful. Though Ridgely's artillery continued to make terrible havoc in the ranks of the foe. the Mexicans still kept up a well directed tire, which swept cur lines and did fearful execution. At this crisis. General Taylor ordered Captain May to charge the battery with his dragoons. Without a moment's hesitation, the gallant May and his fearless horsemen dashed forward through the tempest of fire and iron which the well worked artillery of the Mexicans hurled in one unbroken torrent over the plain, and though he lost many of his followers by the discharge with which his advance was met. he faltered not, but, with trumpets ringing merrily, and gleaming sabres, swept on like a tornado. before which the firm lines of the enemy wavered and broke, and fled. This advantage was fol- lowed up by a fierce onslaught from the infantry, at the point of the bayonet. The enemy's centre was broken, and the fortune of the day decided. The vic- tory was complete as it was wonderful. General Tavlor brought into action but seventeen hundred wearied men, against a force of at least six thousand. well disciplined, officered and conditioned. "The enemy had every advantage of posi- tion. and maintained it valiantly and well, and nothing but hard fighting wrested the victory from them. Our loss in the battle was one hundred and ten killed and wounded. 'That of the enemy was probably ten fold, though never precisely ascertained. On the 18th of May, General Taylor took possession of Matamo- ras without resistance.
Though his instructions required his advance into the interior of the country. General Taylor was forced to delay his operations for some time, from having to supplies and no adequate means of transportation. At length. these obstacles being removed. the army was set in motion and advanced upon Monterey. This was a place strong by nature, amply fortified. and maintained by an army of 7.000 troops of the line and 3.000 irregulars. To requer this strong-hold. tien- eral Taylor had a force, comprising 425 officers and 6,220 men. Against the forty-two pieces of cannon of the Mexicans. he arrived but one ten inch mortar, two twenty-four pound howitzers, and four light field batteries of four guns each, the mortar being the only piece suitable to the operations of a siege. With these fearful odds against him. he invested the city.
Having established his camp three miles from the defences of the city, recon-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY.
noissances were made, and it was found possible to turn the enemy's position, and gain the heights in his rear. General Worth was detached upon this duty, which, having been performed, he was to carry the enemy's works on that side of the town. The operations soon became two-fold-the assailing party of Worth being independent of the command of Taylor, whose principal efforts were to divert the attention of the enemy, while Worth proceeded to the execution of his orders.
The order was issued on the 19th of September, and the next day, at two o'clock, Worth commenced his advance, and succeeded in reaching a position above the Bishop's palace. The next morning, the battle commenced in earnest. Pressing forward, Worth encountered the enemy in force, and drove them before him with slaughter. Gaining the Saltillo road, he cut off the communications, and carrying two heights west of the Saltillo road, from one of them he was en- abled, with his guns, to command the Bishop's palace. In the meantime, a de- termined assault was made upon the town from below, by the force under Gen- eral Taylor. It would be useless to attempt a description, in the narrow limits of this sketch. of the series of terrific and bloody contests which ensued. Our loss was very heavy, from the character of the enemy's defences, and the daring ardur of our troops. General Taylor's purpose of diverting attention from Worth, was, however, attained ; one of their advanced works was carried at the point of the bayonet, and a strong footing secured in the town. This was on the third day after the commencement of active operations. On the fourth, Worth was victorious at every point. The Bishop's palace was taken, while the troops un- der Taylor pressed upon the city, the lower part of which was evacuated that night. On the fifth day of the siege, the troops under Taylor advanced from square to square, every inch of ground desperately disputed, until they reached within a square of the Plaza; while Worth pressed onward, on the opposite side of the city, carrying all before him. At length, matters being ripe for such a movement, preparations were made for a concerted storm of the enemy's position on the next day. The morning, however, brought an offer of capitulation, which resulted in the surrender of the city. Our loss in the affair was about five hun- dred killed and wounded ; but the victory secured the possession of an immense territory and a vast amount of military spoils.
Making his head quarters at Monterey, General Taylor proceeded to occupy Saltillo and Paras, while the Mexicans fell back upon San Luis Potosi,- Santa Anna was recalled to Mexico, and placed at the head of the government and army. Before December he had 20,000 men under his command, well or- ganized : and with this force, he determined to crush Taylor at a blow, and re- deem the conquered provinces. While these preparations were going on, the government of the United States, for the purpose of an attack on Vera Cruz, withdrew from General Taylor the most effective portion of his forces, leaving him with an extended line of territory to defend, a formidable foe in front, and with only a small force, principally untried volunteers, to encounter the enemy. Rejecting the advice of the department, to retire to Monterey, and there defend himself, General Taylor determined to encounter Santa Anna at an advanced po- sition, and selected Buena Vista for that purpose. This field was admirably cho- sen, and the hero, with his little band, there awaited the shock of his powerful adversary. Santa Anna brought into the field 20.000 men, to encounter which General Taylor had a force of 334 officers. and 4,425 men.
On the Jed of February, the Mexicans arrived in sight of the American posi- tion, and made immediate preparations for the attack. Vaunting his immense superiority, and the impossibility of a successful resistance, Santa Anna sum- moned General Taylor to surrender. This was politely but firmly declined. It was followed by an attack, late in the evening, upon the extreme right of the Americans, and an attempt to gain our flank. The skirmishing was continued until dark. During the night the enemy threw a body of light troops on the mountain side, with the intention of outhanking the American left; and at an early hour the next morning, the engagement commenced at this point. It con- tinued, without intermission, through the day, until night separated the combat- ants. Well and nobly did the little band sustain itselt against the overwhelming numbers opposed to them. Our lints, however, will not permit us to give the details of this battle, the most desperate ever fought on the American continent. On the part of the Mexicans, it was conducted with consummate skill, and main-
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JESSAMINE COUNTY.
tained with courage and obstinacy. Overpowering masses of troops were poured upon our weakest points, and at several periods of the battle, their success seemed almost inevitable. But the American commander was found equal to every crisis. Calm, collected, and resolved, he rose superior to the danger of his sten- tion, and wrested victory from defeat. It is admitted by all who were present, that no man but General Taylor could have won the victory of Buena Vista. The battle raged with variable fortunes for ten hours. At length night put an end to the conflict. The Americans slept upon the field of victory, and the foe, shattered and disheartened, retired, and the next day were in full retreat for San Luis Po- tosi. Our loss was 267 killed, and 456 wounded ; that of the enemy was 2,000. The battle of Buena Vista closed the war in that quarter of Mexico ; and since that period, General Taylor has found no enemy able or willing to encounter him.
The prominent qualities of General Taylor's mind and character may be gath- ered from the preceding narrative of the events of his life. He owes nothing to the patronage of the great. or the partiality of the powerful, but independent and self-reliant, has fought his way up to the lofty eminence which he now occupies in the minds and hearts of his countrymen. Ilis own counseis have directed. his own energies sustained him. His vigor of character, his power of will, and fer- tility of resources. have swept every obstacle from before him, and he will here- after live in the most cherished affections of our people, and on the brightest pa- ges of our country's history.
Jefferson county received its name from THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Virginia, the distinguished author of the Declaration of Independence, and the Virginia Bill of Rights. He entered public life at a very early age; was a distinguished patriot and statesman of the revolution ; and was foremost in the assertion of his country's liberties against the usurpations of Great Britain. He was elected Vice President of the United States under Mr. Adams-was secretary of state under Washington, and twice elected President of the United States. He was for many years abroad as Minister to France, and left a reputation in that country second only to Franklin. For forty years no man filled a larger space in the pub- lic eye, and his memory is still cherished with fond veneration by a large portion of the American people.
JESSAMINE COUNTY.
JESSAMINE county, which was formed in 1798, is situated in the middle section of the State, and lies on the Kentucky river, which borders its territory on the south-east, south, and south-west. Bounded on the north by Fayette; east by Madison ; south by Garrard ; and west by Mercer and Woodford. That portion of Jessamine which is comprised within the boundary appropriately termed the "garden of Kentucky," presents a slightly undulating surface, and a black, friable, and remarkably rich soil-produ- cing luxuriant crops of hemp, corn, and grass. Hemp is the sta- ple, but large numbers of horses, mules, cattle and hogs are an- nually exported. A part of the county is hilly, but is also pro- ductive. The whole is in a high state of cultivation, indicating a rapid advance in agricultural improvement.
Value of taxable property in Jessamine in 1846, $1,275,381; number of acres of land in the county, 102,324 ; average value of lands per acre, $22.52 ; number of white males over twenty- one years of age, 1.353; number of children between five and sixteen years old, 1,515. Population in 1840, 10,015.
vad.
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
NICHOLASVILLE, the county seat, is situated twenty miles south- west of Lexington, thirty seven miles from Frankfort, and five hundred and forty-six miles from Washington city : contains a fine court-house, and clerks' offices and prison ; four churches, (Methodist, Baptist, Reformed and Presbyterian,) one male and one female academy, two schools, four taverns, eight lawyers, six physicians, eight stores and groceries, four bagging factories, twenty mechanics' shops, and about 700 inhabitants. Established in 1812, and named in honor of Colonel GEORGE NICHOLAS. Sit- uated in the heart of a tine country, and surrounded by a rich and intelligent population, Nicholasville is necessarily a place of considerable business. North Liberty is a small village, estab- lished in 1813.
The county of Jessamine derived its name from Jessamine creek, which rises in the northern part of the county, and flows through it southwardly to the Ken- tucky river. The creek has been generally supposed to have obtained its name from the profusion of flowers which grew upon its banks at an early day ; but such is not the fact. It was called in honor of a young lady named Jessamine Douglass, whose father settled at the head of the creek, and entered a quantity of land, including the land of Jessamine creek. In honor of his beautiful but unfor- tunate daughter, he gave the creek the name of Jessamine. This creek is of good size, and as large at its source as at its termination. It rises at two points about ten feet from each other. At one point, it gushes from between two large smooth rocks, and is very deep ; at the other point it boils up from a bed of gravel.
JOHNSON COUNTY.
JOHNSON county was formed in 1842, and named in honor of Colonel RICHARD M. JOHNSON. It is situated in the extreme eas- tern portion of the state, on the waters of Sandy river : Bounded on the north by Lawrence ; east by Pike, and Sandy river; south by Floyd; and west by Morgan county. The surface of the county is hilly, interspersed with fertile vallies-the soil sandy, based upon sand-stone. Exports-horses, cattle, hogs, lumber of various kinds, and coal. Several mineral springs are found in the county. The south fork of Big Sandy is navigable for flat boats and small steam boats several months in the year.
Number of acres of land in Johnson county, 89,669 ; average value per acre, $1.84 ; taxable property in 1846, valued $266.074; white males over twenty-one years of age, 506 ; children between five and seventeen years old, 920. Organized since the census of 1840.
PAINTVILLE, the county seat, is situated on Paint creek, about 140 miles from Frankfort-contains a handsome brick court-house, five stores, two taverns, two lawyers, two doctors, twelve mechan- ies' shops, and manufacturing establishments. Population, 125.
A copper cross, about one inch and a half long, with an image extended on it, and also a crescent about an inch in diameter, made of copper, and having either
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RICHARD M. JOHNSON.
pearl or imitation of pearl on it, was found at the mouth of Paint creek, in this county, about seven years ago, by a gentleman when plowing his corn. On the cross were the letters " Santa Maria."
Colonel RICHARD M. JOHNSON, the third son of Colonel Robert Johnson, of Scott county,* was born in Kentucky in the autumn of 1781. The literary in-ti- tutions of Kentucky were then in their infancy, and the facilities for thon ngh education, exceedingly limited. Richard remained with his father until the ady of fifteen, receiving only such instruction as the nature of circumstances would allow. At this age he left his father's house, intent upon advantages superior to . those afforded in that vicinity, and entered a country school, where he acquired a knowledge of grammar, and the rudiments of the Latin language. Afterwards he entered Transylvania University, where, by unremitted industry, he made rapid progress in the acquisition of classic and scientific knowledge.
Upon quitting the university, he entered upon the study of the law, under the guidance and instruction of that celebrated jurist and statesman, Colonel George Nicholas, On the decease of this gentleman, which took place a few weeks af- ter his young student had entered his office, the subject of this biography placed himself under the instruction of the Hon. James Brown, late a senator in Con- gress from Louisiana, and subsequently a minister from the United States to the court of France, but then a distinguished member of the Kentucky bar. With this eminent citizen he finished his preparatory studies, and at the early age of nineteen entered upon the arduous duties of his profession.
In his vocation as a lawyer, he was eminently successful, and displayed the same active energy of mind and benevolence of heart, which have since so emi- nently distinguished him in higher and more responsible stations. He despised injustice and oppression, and never omitted an occasion to render his services, without prospect of reward, where honest poverty or injured innocence was found struggling against the oppressions of wealth. The inability of a client to pay a fee, never deterred him from attending sedulously to his cause, no matter how intricate and laborious were the services. By these means, even at so early an age, he secured to himself the just reward of his virtues, and the approbation and esteem of the public.
Scarcely had he been fairly installed in the duties of his profession, before an opportunity was afforded for the development of that high and chivalrous patriot- isin which has since identified him with some of the noblest feats of American valor, and given his name to immortality. In 1802, the port of New Orleans, in violation of an existing treaty, was closed against the United States by the Span- ish intendant. The occurrence gave rise to immense excitement throughout America, especially in the valley of the Ohio and Mississippi, and a rupture be- tween Spain and the United States, likely to end in war, was the consequence. Richard M. Johnson. then only in his twentieth year, with many other young men of his neighborhood, promptly volunteered his services to pass down the western waters and make a descent on New Orleans, in the event of war. In a few days, chiefly through his exertions. a large company was enrolled. and he was chosen to the command. The speedy adjustment of the dispute with Spain, deprived him and the brave youths under his command, of the opportunity of signalizing themselves and the State upon the field of battle.
Before he had attained the age of twenty-one, at which period the constitution of Kentucky fixes the eligibility of the citizen to a seat in the legislation, the citizens of Scott county elected him, by acclamation, to a seat in that body. As a member of the legislature, he acquitted himseif with great credit. and to cha entire satisfaction of his constituents. Having served two years in that station, at the age of twenty-four he was elected a representative in the Congress of the United States ; and in October, 1807, being then just twenty-five, took his seat in that body.
He entered upon the theatre of national politics, at a period when party excite- ment ran high, and attached himself to the republican party, more from a umform . and fixed devotion to the principles of democracy, than from any purely & fish policy. He was immediately placed upon some of the most important enunit- Lees, and at the second session of the term for which he was elected, was ap-
* See a sketch of Colonel Robert Johnson, under the head of Scott county.
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JOHNSON COUNTY.
pointed chairman of the committee of claims, at that time among the most impor- tant of the house committees. His zealous and faithful devotion to business, and the distinction which he had acquired in Congress and throughout the Union, as a genuine friend of the liberty and happiness of his country, increased his popularity at home, and insured his re-election by his constituents, who from that period to the present time, have never failed to manifest their devoted attachment to him, whenever he was a candidate for office, either under the State or national government.
In 1811, our relations with Great Britain were such as, in the opinion of many, to render an appeal to arms inevitable. Richard M. Johnson was among those who were convinced that no other alternative remained to the people of the Uni- ted States ; and accordingly, after supporting, with great energy, all the prepara- tory measures which the crisis demanded, in June, 1812, gave his vote for the declaration of war. This important measure was shortly afterwards followed by an adjournment of Congress, when he hastened home, raised the standard of his country. and called around him many of the best citizens of his neighborhood, some of whom, schooled in the stormy period of the early settlement of the State, were veteran warriors, well suited for the service for which they were in- tended. With this battalion, composed of three companies, he hastened to the frontier, and when arrived at St. Mary's on the 13th of September, his force, by general order, was augmented by a battalion of mounted volunteers, and he elec- ted to the command of the regiment thus formed. A portion of the regiment only, during that season, had any opportunity of an engagement ; and this was a party of the mounted battalion, under Major Suggett, which, in communicating with Fort Wayne, besieged by a superior force, encountered an equal number of the enemy, whom it routed, killing an Indian chief of some distinction. After an active campaign of about ten months, Colonel Johnson returned home for the ยท purpose of proceeding to Washington to re-enter Congress, having added to his reputation as a statesman, that of an energetic and patriotic soldier.
In the winter following while in attendance upon Congress, he rendered mate- rial aid to the president, in arranging the plan of campaign for the ensuing sum- mer, and his views being adopted, were subsequently carried out, and contributed essentially to the successes which followed upon the frontier. Colonel Johnson was authorized by the secretary of war to raise, organize and hold in readiness, a regiment of mounted volunteers, to consist of one thousand men. Accordingly upon the adjournment of Congress in March, he hastened home, and in a few werks secured from among the most respectable and patriotic citizens of the state, the full complement of volunteers, to the organization and discipline of whom he grave his most sedulous attention. In this important part of his military duty, he had the valuable aid of his skillful and intrepid brother, Lt. Col. James Johnson, whose military talents, decision and courage in the hour of battle, have entitled him to a full share of the glory acquired by the regiment. Colonel Johnson, with his accustomed energy, lost no time in repairing with his command to the frontier of Ohio, then the theatre of operations. His regiment soon acquired a name that attracted the admiration of the country. Never did soldiers perform their arduons duties with more alacrity and cheerfulness, nor were the services of any more useful and extensive. In making inroads upon the enemy, and in various skir- mishes, their success was always complete.
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