USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 18
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A few weeks subsequent to this time, to-wit : on the twenty-fourth of June, another company of home guards enlisted, and the following were chosen officers : Jas. H. Holloway, Captain; L. W. Dan- forth, First Lieutenant; William R. Lancaster, Second Lieutenant, Andy Rowdin, Third Lieutenant.
Henderson, during the year, was well supplied with military. In addition to the two companies above named, there was the State Guard Company, organized November 7, 1859. This company was organized in the counting office of Kerr, Clark & Co., and had their first drill in the front room. W. P. Fisher, an old Mexican soldier, and then proprietor of the Hord House, was elected Captain ; E. G. Hall, First Lieutenant ; Leonard H. Lyne, Second Lieutenant, and Robert T. Glass, Third Lieutenant.
On the twenty-fourth day of May, Colonel William S. Elam, of the State Militia, mustered the company into the State service. In the fall, Captain Fisher resigned, and the following officers were chosen ; E. G. Hall, Captain ; Robert T. Glass, First Lieutenant ; James H. Holloway, Second Lieutenant, and Samuel W. Rankin, Third Lieutenant.
In the winter and spring of 1860 and 1861, it was evident that war would result upon the inauguration of President Lincoln, and there was a great diversity of opinion among the men of the State Guards as to the right of the General Government, in calling upon the State of Kentucky for troops. This defection grew until most of those who held to the belief that the Government had the right, and that it was the duty of the militia to respond promptly, withdrew from the State Guard, as it was called, and enrolled with the " Home Guards " Captain Starling and Lieutenant Holloway among the num- ber.
The Legislature of 1860 and '61, had prescribed a new oath to be taken by the State Guard troops, and this created another breach, many members refusing to take it on account of its loyal tendency. By this time the State Military Board had been remodeled. Men of
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a more loyal turn of mind, to Kentucky, at least, if not to the Fed- eral Government, had been appointed, and the General Simon Bolivar Buckner State Guard, as they were called, were generally looked upon with some degree of suspicion concerning their loyalty to Kentucky, therefore the organization of the Home Guards. These soldiers were not greatly admired by the Southern sympathizers, and "Home Guard " was an intentional sarcasm when applied by them, to any member of that command.
Early in September an order was received from the Military Board at Frankfort, ordering fifty men of the Henderson Home Guards to Spottsville, for the purpose of guarding the lock and dam at that place. In obedience to that order, Captain Holloway, with a portion of his company and part of Company " A," under command of Lieu- tenant Charles T. Starling, left for the lock, marching overland through the mud and rain, and reaching that place at ten o'clock in the night. A few days afterwards, Captain Holloway was relieved for a short time by Captain Starling, with a reinforcement from Company "A." While the Home Guards were at Spottsville, a party of men seized the State Guard arms from the City Armory, consisting of a full compliment of Mississippi rifles and a six-pound canon, and left in the night for the South. A bond had been taken by the State for the safe keeping of these arms and their return, and this sudden proced- ure caused the securities on that bond, together with others, to pur- sue the fleeing captors. The flight was not so rapid as the chase, and as a consequence, the party were overtaken at Mrs. Ruby's, on the Madisonville Road, and persuaded to release the arms and permit their return to Henderson. They were brought back and returned to the armory in the brick store room now the Shelton Hotel, adjoining the house of A. S. Winstead's, on Second Street. The Military Board at Frankfort, soon heard of this, and in a few days thereafter the following resolution and order were received at Spottsville Head- quarters :
" MILITARY BOARD, FRANKFORT, September 20, 1861.
" Resolved. That Captain W. P. Fisher, of Henderson County, deliver the arms drawn by him for his company, consisting of sixty rifles, sword, bayonets, sixty sets of accoutrements, one six pound brass cannon, equipments complete and seven artillery sabers and belts, to Captain E. L. Starling. Jr., of said county, who is hereby authorized to demand, receive, and receipt for the same, and the Secretary is directed to notify each of said Captains.
" P. SWIGERT, Secy."
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
"FRANKFORT, September 20, 1861.
" Captain E. L. Starling, Jr .:
"You are authorized and directed to demand and receive, from Captain W. P. Fisher, the arms drawn by him for his Company as contained in the foregoing resolutions of the Board.
P. SWIGERT, Secretary."
In obedience to this order, Captain Starling proceeded forthwith to Henderson, and made known his orders to Third Lieutenant Sam- uel W. Rankin, the only commissioned officer in the city at the time. Lieutenant Rankin, unhesitatingly turned over the key to the armory, and in a short time, the guns were being packed ready for shipment. This fact soon became known, and among a few of the old State Guards, there was a disposition to rebel. There were a sufficient number of men of Companies A and B. in the city to meet any trouble that might have been brought on, and they were summoned to the armory, and never did men respond more promptly. A guard was placed in the armory, and also in charge of the six pound brass can- non, then under the shed of the stable near the Hancock House. There was a great commotion upon the streets, and to this day the writer believes that the influence of Governors Powell and Dixon, prevented what otherwise might have been a serious affair in the city. While passing down Main Street from the armory to where the can- non was, Captain Starling was halted by a deputy sheriff, (who prior to that time, had been loud mouthed in his denunciation of the Frank- fort order), and notified that he was a prisoner under a warrant issued by Judge L. W. Trafton. The following is a copy of the war- rant :
" The Commonwealth of Kentucky, to the Sheriff of Henderson County :
You are commanded to arrest Captain E. L. Starling, and bring him before the Judge of the Henderson County Court, on the thirtieth day of September, 1861, at the Court House, in the City of Henderson, to show cause why he shall not give security to the County of Henderson, to indemnify said county from loss on account of the State arms, etc., now in possession of said Starling, and which arms, etc., were formerly in possession of a company of State guards in Henderson County, called the ' Henderson Guards,' and make due return of this writ.
" Witness my hand, as Judge of the Henderson County Court, this twenty - fifth day of September, 1861. L. W. TRAFTON, J. H. C. C "
A graceful surrender was made to the overjoyed Deputy Sheriff, and a quiet walk with him into the august presence of his honor, the
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Judge, who was found in a brick office, located in the Turner block of one-story brick buildings on the east side of Main Street, writing at his table, aided by the flickering light of a tallow candle. "Here's your man," remarked the enraged deputy. . " Well, sir," said he, “It is for you to see that he reports on the thirtieth." "Well, Judge," said the Captain, "What is it you wish me to do ?" " Well, sir," said he, "You must give security to the county for the arms you have seized, or else go to jail." " But, if your honor please, I have not seized the arms ; I have received them by order of the State Military Board." " No matter by whose order you have received or taken them, you understand my ultimatum." " Certainly, I do ; but permit me to make one single remark, Judge, and that is this: The arms are in my possession, as an officer and agent of the State, and by au- thority of the highest military power in the State. I intend to hold them without giving bond or going to jail ; furthermore, a few more capers like this on your part, and that of your henchman, whom you denominate Deputy Sheriff, will insure your arrest, and a free passage up the placid Ohio. A word to the wise, etc. With this the Cap- tain walked out, and has never heard from the Judge or deputy con- cerning the warrant from that night. It seems that the canon and its guards were closely watched, for about midnight, while the two guards had stepped away for a moment only, a lick was heard, and in hastily returning, a man was seen to retreat from the cannon; nothing was thought of it at the time, but upon close examination, it was found that the cannon had been spiked, but, not enough so to damage it, for next morning the piece of file broken off an inch above the touch-hole, was easily pulled out by Mr. V. M. Mayer, soldier and gun-smith. During the night and a part of the next day, the guns and accoutri- ments were all securely boxed up and they, with the cannon, taken to the wharfboat, where they were taken aboard of a steamer and a few hours afterwards safely stored away in Evansville, amidst the wildest excitement and congratulations of the young militia of that place.
In addition to the Home Guard and State Guard companies spoken of, there was also a cavalry company of sixty-five men, organ- ized on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1860. The officers of this com- mand were John S. Norris, Captain ; Samuel W. Elam, First Lieuten- ant ; S. S. Hicks, Second Lieutenant; John R. White, Third Lieuten- ant, and George W. White, Orderly Sergeant.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
This company was completely equipped with cavalry outfit by the State, consisting of pistols, sabers, etc. Four days after the State Board had ordered in the arms of the State Guard company, Captain Starling, yet at Spottsville, received a second order, directing him to take possession of the arms of the State Guard cavalry company. In obedience to this order he came to Henderson and found the arms stored away in the building now owned by John Reichert, and with the assistance of Captain Norris-who readily consented to surrender them up-and several others, soon had the arms boxed up, and en- route to the wharfboat for shipment to Evansville. This, then, was the end of the two State Guard companies as State organizations. In October, the command at Spottsville, then under Captain Holloway, was relieved by federal soldiers, and then returned to Henderson where they were soon after disbanded.
In the sketch of Colonel James H. Holloway's life, will be found a statement showing how companies " A and B," of the Home Guards, received their arms.
The writer regrets that it is not in his power to give a full list of the soldiery at that time, among those remembered as doing faithful service are, Judge P. H. Hillyer, D. N. Walden, W. H. Lewis, W. S. Johnson, Jacob Held, Jr., Charlie Grieks, Harvey. Yeaman, Charles T. Starling, John C. Stapp, Fred. Held, Lou. Zeller, Dr. R. A Armis- tead, David P. Lockett.
On the second day of May of this year, Uncle Johnny Upp, one of the pioneers, and who was taken by the Indians opposite this city, marched to Chillicothe, Ohio, and heroically endured the privations and hardships of Indian captivity, departed this life. In the fall, General N. B. Forrest took possession of Hopkinsville, and such a skeedaddling of Union men had never been known up to that time. One hundred and fifty or two hundred of them gave up their homes, and, on foot, began the journey to Henderson, mostly through the woods and corn-fields of the intervening country. Among that num- ber was general B. H. Bristow, who, in after life, " barely escaped " receiving the Republican nomination for the presidency of this great country. This hungry, hard looking army of Union refugees came into Henderson about five o'clock in the morning, and it has ever been an unsettled question which was the worst frightened-the women
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
and children of Henderson, or the Hopkinsville braves. Captain Holloway ordered his company out for the purpose of giving them a warm reception, but finding they were refugees, fleeing from, and not seeking a scrimmage, extended them a hearty welcome. They were soon safely and comfortably quartered in the Elam & McClain fac- tory, on, Second Street. A story told by one of the party, will suffice to give an idea of the frightful ordeal the refugees underwent in making the trip from their homes to Henderson. It was a rule the Pilgrims adopted, never to camp at night near the road-side, but to find a place a good ways off, for an exposed position they argued would furnish too much fun for General Forrest, whom they believed had forsaken all else, and was directing his whole attention particu- larly to their capture.
Upon a certain night they had selected the center of a large field of corn in Webster County, in which to camp, and about midnight, when all was quiet, the sentinels gave the alarm that Forrest was ap- proaching. In the shortest possible time, the whole camp was up and fleeing in opposite directions, every fellow for himself, leaving their camp equipage, including extra coats and pants, to the mercy of the enemy. In a short time they were humilated to find that they had surrendered their camp to a flock of sheep, which had found a gap in the division fence, and were rushing pell mell through the dry corn. During the night they were gathered together again, but it was never known how many were missing. It is an actual fact, said the narrator, "We believed we heard the bugle call, and the rattle of sabers coming down through the corn, when really, it was nothing more than that flock of sheep." General James M. Shackelford, now a citizen of Evansville, was in Henderson at the time, perfecting his arrangements looking to the organization of a regiment of Union sol- diers. He and General Bristow effected a union of forces, and next day the refugees were removed to the Indiana side of the river for a greater protection, where military headquarters were then and there estab- lished. On the tenth of October, the command having attained a safe strength, and having been furnished with arms, General Shackelford took possession of the fair grounds, near Henderson, at which place he established a recruiting camp. During this month and the month of November, Ashbyburg, in Webster County, on Green River, was strongly fortified by Shackelford's command, and frequent marches were made through the country, extending at times to Madisonville.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
The early part of October, the City of Henderson was occupied by the Thirty-second Indiana Regiment, Federal troops, under command of Colonel Charles Cruft, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and a German battery of six six-pounder brass pieces.
CHAPTER XXI.
NAVIGATION OF THE OHIO PLACED UNDER MILITARY CONTROL- CON- TRABANDING-BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON-JOHN W. FOSTER TAKES POSSESSION OF THE TOWN- GUN BOATS
APPEAR-JIM. POOLE KILLED - MEM- ORIES OF THE WAR, ETC .- 1862.
N the twenty-fourth day of January the river was higher than it had ever been known since 1847-it stood fifty-seven feet four inches at Cincinnati. January 17, gold was commanding 7 to 8 per cent. premium, and forty days afterwards it had risen to 20. The navigation of the Ohio River, by order of General Buell, was placed under the supervision of the Government. Boats were allowed to land only at certain points specified ; all passengers were required -
to hold passes from the Federal authorities, and all freight was al- lowed to go forward only under a permit.
Contrabanding was carried on to a large extent, but mostly by those who professed loyalty to the government. It was no uncom- mon occurrence any day, to see trains of wagons on the road between Henderson and Clarksville, Tennessee, ladened with groceries, drugs and munitions of war for the Confederated South.
Quinine and amunition was smuggled in every way. June 1, General Jerry T Boyle was appointed Military Commandant of Ken- tucky, with headquarters at Louisville, and soon inaugurated a system of military arrests and imprisonment in the military prisons of that city and elsewhere. Many citizens of Henderson and Henderson County were seized for some alleged disloyalty and incarcerated in
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
his dirty prison houses. Fortunately many of the best and leading men of Henderson were ardent supporters of the Union, and enjoyed the confidence of the Government, and, through their influence, military arrests were not so frequent as at other places, nor were the confine- ment days of those arrested prolonged if their union friends could pre- vent it.
" BATTLE YEAR."
This was the great battle year, and many men from Henderson had enlisted in both armies. On the fourteenth and fifteenth days of February the desperate battle of Fort Donelson was fought, and in this battle were many from Henderson. There was a full company of Confederates, and, perhaps, as many Federals, from Henderson en- gaged in that confliet. There were two brothers from Henderson, one serving in the ranks of the Confederacy and one in the ranks of the Union, again there were three brothers in the same battle, one in the Confederate and two in the Union army. There were classmates, and former bosom friends arrayed against each other, and this made those wicked days more sad and terrible to comtemplate. Henderson of course was aroused, and on Thursday afternoon, when the great guns of the Confederate water batteries and the mortars on board of the Federal gunboats were engaging each other in a frightful artillery duel, the thundering roar was distinctly heard in this county, though per- haps an hundred miles away. The intense uneasiness manifested by relatives and friends at home concerning those engaged at Donelson was not relieved until the news of the battle and surrender had been received. Cyrus Steele, of the Twenty-fifth Kentucky Federal, who fought opposite to his brother, Ollie, of the Confederates, was mor- - tally wounded and died a short time afterwards. Lieutenant John G. Holloway, Jr., was badly wounded in the hand.
1863.
At the meeting of the 1862-63 terms of the General Assembly, an act was approved, apportioning the State into nine Congressional Districts. District No. 2 was composed of Christian, Hopkins, Da- viess, Muhlenburg, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Hancock, Breckenridge, Grayson, Butler and Edmondson,
JUDGE MILTON YOUNG,
One of the noblest men of his day, died of heart disease, on the train, between Louisville and Frankfort, while en route to represent Henderson County in the General Assembly of the State. Hender- son was now occupied by Federal troops, under the command of Colo- nel John W. Foster. The Sixty-fifth Indiana Mounted Infantry, un-
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der command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Johnson, was stationed in what was then known as Alves's Grove, now one of the prettiest improved portions of the city. This regiment was engaged scouting and campaigning through this and adjoining counties, and oftentimes came in contact with the regular Confederates and guerrillas. During its term of service, many Confederate soldiers voluntarily surrendered and took the oath of allegiance, while many more were captured and many killed. Hosts of political prisoners were arrested and confined in the Court House-Foster's military prison. Terms of surrender were made easy, and very many soldiers, and others who were suspected of being soldiers, took advantage of the opportunity to make friends with the Government. Horses were captured and stolen in large numbers, and sold on the streets afterwards. Money was required of many men who surrendered, and there are a number of knowing ones who charge, openly, that the Commandant of the Post, Colonel Foster, pocketed the bulk of the proceeds, as perquisites of his office. Colonel Foster was, by no means, popular with those who differed with him politically, yet it was an acknowledged fact, that he was keen-witted in all he un- dertook, and a most excellent executive officer.
On the twenty-sixth day of April, Jeptha M. Dodd, former editor of the Reporter, and Postmaster under Buchanan's administration, with thirty-four others, was sent to Camp Chase, in Ohio, upon the charge of having been Confederate soldiers. During that time, Colo- nel Foster generally had in his prison from twenty-five to forty pris- oners all the while, some of whom he would cause to be released when all doubt in his mind was removed, but most generally sent them on for further examination. The prison would hardly be emptied be- fore there were others brought in to take their places.
FOSTER'S NEGRO ORDER.
May 20, Foster issued his first order concerning the negro race. It was as follows :
" All negroes coming into the district of Western Kentucky from States south of Tennessee, and all negroes who have been employed in the service of rebels in arms, are declared captives of war. It is ordered by the com- manding general that all such negroes in the Counties of Hancock, Daviess, McLean, Henderson, Union, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Caldwell, Webster and Hopkins be collected at Henderson and furnished quarters and subsis- tence. Chaplain James F. St. Clair, Sixty-fifth Regiment, is charged with the execution of this order."
In May, orders were issued from the War Department, authoriz- ing General Boyle and the Governor to recruit men for the Federal service. The terms offered recruits were exceeding liberal, and as a
-
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
consequence, many Kentuckians enlisted. During that month a com- pany of horse thieves passed through the county, claiming to hold au- thority from the Federal Government for pressing horses for service in Gen. Rosencranz' Army. Many horses were taken, and bogus vouchers given. June 18, the following order was issued from Post Headquar. ters : " Merchants and other persons in this city, who shall sell goods 'or commodities of any description whatever, to the amount of ten dol- lars, without obtaining a permit for the same from the Provost Mar- shal, shall forfeit the same and be held under arrest.
This order was rigidly enforced, and those who now read it, may judge of the annoyance and vexations merchants in those days had to undergo. Each county was expected to furnish its quota of men for military service, and if they declined to volunteer, then the required number had to be made up by what was known as the draft. July 14, the enrollment of Henderson County was completed by C. M. Pen- nell, and the county divided into two Militia Districts. The divid- ing line commenced at the intersection of Water and Second Streets, ran out to Canoe Creek, thence with that creek to the Knoblick Road, thence with said road to Webster County. The names of the en- rolled were to be placed in a wheel and tickets drawn therefrom, un- til the quota was made up. Whenever a name was drawn, the per- son answering to that name was drafted, and could furnish a substi- tute, escape to Canada or the South, join the army and serve in the hospital, or fight, just as he should elect-but one or the other had to be done.
Owensboro was the headquarters of the conscript fathers, or draft officers, and during that time the town was literally overrun with men afflicted in more ways than had ever been known to the medical pro- fession before, or has ever been known since.
Many Henderson County men were drafted, but none ever did service. Some furnished substitutes, while others could not be found. To make a long story short, it was perhaps the most exciting and un- easy time ever witnessed in this section of the State.
At the August election this year, Henderson Precinct polled only one hundred and eighty-two votes. The polls were controlled by the soldiery, and most men preferred to relinquish the right of suffrage, rather than submit to the dictates of an insolent, ignorant set of men, who were moved and governed by sharpers of the dominant party.
August 30, the remain's of Captain James A. McClain, one of the most gallant and noble young men of the age, who was drowned near
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Buffington Island, in the Ohio River, while endeavoring to escape with others of Morgan's command, were received in Henderson and buried.
1864.
This eventful year was ushered in with " the cold Friday," which is still remembered by the inhabitants of the Ohio Valley country. It was said that the first day of January, 1864, made its appearance under conditions identical with those of " cold Friday." The mercury on the afternoon of December, 1863, stood 45°. A snow storm fol- lowed during the night, and gradually subsided as the cold wind in- creased, blowing a hurricane from the west, and on the morning of the first of January, the volume of cold had sent the mercury, in the open air, from 45° above zero, to more than 20° below. During this winter, coal sold at twenty-five cents per bushel, and was not abund- ant at that price.
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