USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 69
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Steele ordering him out, the Lieutenant presented himself with hands uplifted, begging for quarter. Being assured no harm would be done him, he was marched to the front. The crew were next or- dered to form in line across the forecastle, which they did, hats off and trembling with fear, in which position they remained until released. The pilot, engineer and fireman, all remained at their posts until the boat was landed. Owing to the kindness of the boat's Captain, Steele abandoned the idea of burning her, and scuttling her barges which he had at first contemplated. Nor did he confiscate the funds in her safe, but left the good Captain in full posession of his property. Arriving at the landing, all, by invitation of the boat's Captain, took a drink to- gether, and shook hands on parting. The Lieutenant accompanied Captain Steele to the foot of the stairs; assured him he had no com- plaints to make, that the capture of the boat was a brave and daring act, well conceived and brilliantly executed, and the subsequent treat- ment of himself and men had been kind and considerate. As Steele stepped ashore, the Captain of the boat said "Good bye, God bless you, I wish you all success in the world." In a few days the little band
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were all mounted, and Captain Steele began again to collect the re- cruits who had scattered after his capture. On September 25th, he with twenty-five men intercepted a body of sixty colored Federal troops near the Lisle place on the Madisonville Road, six miles out from Henderson, intending to capture them, but the negroes took to the woods and effected their escape. In October, he captured the steam- boat R B. Speed on Green River, and placed a guard on her with the intention of running through the locks at Spottsville, and capturing the small gunboat, which was guarding them, while the rest of the command proceeded by land. This plan he abandoned, because he learned that the Federals had become aware of his presence in the neighborhood. Hearing that in Hardin County there were some one hundred recruits desiring to make their way south, and wishing to join them with his men, for greater safety, Steele, taking two of his com- mand, set out to find them, intending to arrange with them a place of rendezvous and then return for his own men. In passing through Har- densburg with Captain Carroll and twenty men, they were fired upon by Home Guards and Carroll killed, and several men wounded. This determined Captain Steele to return to Green River for safer quarters. A short time after this, Steele, with what men he had with him, joined Colonel Chenoworth with his company enroute South. They arrived ,on the Tennessee River in time to take part with General Forest in his attack on Johnsonville, where four gunboats, ten steamboats and twenty-seven barges were captured and destroyed. Steele retired to Paris, Tenn., and was here given a battery as a reward for gallantry. He was then sent to McLemoresville, and placed in command of the post and department ordinance stores. Early in December, he was placed in charge of surplus stores, cannon, etc., for transportation to Jackson, Tenn. He then joined General H. B. Lyon, and again crossed the Tennessee River. The command then marched to Cum- berland City, where the steamers Thomas Tutt, Echo and Ben South, laden with army supplies for the Federals, were captured. They used these boats in crossing the Cumberland, and then burned them.
December 12th, Hopkinsville was occupied and Steele appointed Provost Marshal. On the sixteenth day of December, Chenoworth's command was engaged near Hopkinsville, by General McCook, of the Federal army, and lost his entire artillery. Steele then rejoined Lyon at Charleston, Kentucky. The disastrous defeat of Hood at Nashville, placed Lyon in a critical shape, compelling him to retreat on Alabama. Passing through Madisonville December 18th, Lyon burned the Court House and passed on to Green River, hotly pursued
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by the Federals. December 10th, 1864, a special order was issued by General Lyon to Captain Steele, directing him to recruit and organize a company for light artillery service, and to this end he was directed to enforce the conscript law, collect all stragglers, and to impress horses for artillery purposes. Steele came into Henderson County, and, when posting orders in the Town of Corydon, was fired upon by a company of colored troops. On the following morning, when the ne- groes were crossing into Union County, Steele, accompanied by three men dashed on their flank, fired into them with pistols, wounding ,sev- eral and then disappeared in the timber before the negroes could recover from their panic. On February 8th, learning that Captain Sam Allen, with a force of Federals, was on the Madisonville Road, he marched hurriedly to meet him, but was disappointed. He then crossed from the Madisonville to the Corydon Road, striking at the Alves ford below the fair grounds. Here they built a fence across the road, in a hollow opposite the ford, making a strong pen, leaving the side towards Henderson open. Dismounting his men, Steele pliced them in fence corners with orders not to fire until the word of com- mand was given, or the Federals had passed into the trap prepared for them. Lieutenant Spalding, with ten mounted men, was posted in ambush some distance to the front and immediately opposite a gap in the fence which had been left down for him to pass through and take the expected enemy in the rear. Two men were then ordered to ride into the city, fire on any Federal who came in sight, and then retreat, with a view of inducing the Federals to pursue them into the trap. In this they were successful, being hotly pursued by Captain Sam. Allen and twelve men, who would all have been captured but for George Gibson, one of the Cenfederates, who, in the excitement of the moment, forgot the order not to fire until the word was given, and blazed away as soon as the Federals came opposite to him. This shot brought Allen to a halt as he had lost sight of the two men he was pursuing, they having passed through the gap and joined Spald- ing. A few more of the company now opened fire contrary to orders, on which Allen wheeled, and, under whip and spur, beat a rapid re- treat, closely pursued by Spalding and his guard. Allen and part of his men passed the gap before Spalding could reach it, but was pur. sued into the precincts of the town. Six prisoners and a lot of arms were the fruit of this little victory. The prisoners were taken to Union County, and released on parole. On February 10th, Captain Wright occupied Morganfield with about one hundred colored Federal troops, and on the following day, leaving Lieutenant Wirt, with forty
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men to hold the town, started with sixty on a raid into the county. Steele, Spalding and about thirty men started in pursuit of Wright, who was followed for several hours. Steele then changed his plan, and taking Spalding and fourteen men marched on Morganfield with the intention of cutting Wright off and capturing the town. The re- mainder were ordered to continue in pursuit. Arriving at the sub- urbs of the town, Steele posted his men so as to watch both roads leading south. In this position he waited until near night, when, hearing nothing of Wright, he determined to try and capture the town, and Wirt's force by a ruse. He ordered his men to march about con- tinually so as to attract the attention of the Federals and lead them to believe they were threatened by a large force Then Spalding was sent under a flag of truce, with a communication from Captain Steele to Wirt, announcing that Wright's detachment had been made prison- ers and demanding his surrender. To this Wirt agreed, and Steele was about to send Spalding back into town, with ten men, to receive his capitulation, when at this moment, a courier rode up and an- nounced that Wright was approaching. Dispatching ten men to hold Wright in check, Steele and Spalding accompanied by two men, rode into town to receive the prisoners who were marched into the street, where they stacked arms. At this juncture the rattle of musketry was heard over behind the hill, and Wirt realizing that he nad been duped, . ordered his men to resume their arms. As they rushed for them, Steele and his companions beat a hurried retreat, followed by a shower of bullets. In five minutes more, Wirt's command would have been prisoners, and on his return, Wright would have found the town in the hands of Steele and his men, waiting to give him a warm recep- tion. .
The following night Wright evaded Spalding, who was watching the road, and retreated to Uniontown. Steele's command wa; en- gaged in several skirmishes after this. At one time he entered Hen- derson at one o'clock at night, intending to assault and capture the colored troops who occupied some breastworks on the river front above the wharf landing. Becoming aware of his movement, they fled aboard a gunboat or to some other point of safety. The Confederates had now evacuated Richmond, and Sherman had cut the Confederacy in two by his march to the sea, while Confederate troops were surren- dering at all points. Nothing, therefore, was left Steele, but to disband his command and seek concealment, or to surrender. He chose the latter course, laying down his arms at his old home, where he had four years before first taken them up, after having passed through many
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dangers and participated in many battles, without having during these years of service received a scratch, except the pounding administered to him by the fist of the Federal soldier, whom he had disarmed in capturing the steamboat Colossus In January, 1866, Captain Steele removed to Morehouse Parish, in the northern part of the State of Louisiana, entering into mercantile life with Major T. R. Hotchkiss. He went, in 1869, to New Orleans, taking a situation in the wholesale dry goods establishment of John Sauche, where he had charge of the office. Returning to North Louisiana in December of the same year, he took up his residence in Ouachita City, Union Parish, his present home. Captain Steele married in May, 1871, Miss Juliet M. Parks, daughter of Mr. William Parks, the fruit of which union has been two sons and two daughters. Since that period he has engaged in exten- sive farming and mercantile enterprise in the parishes of Union, Morehouse and Ouachita, where he at present owns several large and valuable cotton plantations. In 1876, he first entered politics, being chosen as a delegate from Union Parish to the Democratic State nom- inating convention, held at Baton Rouge. Steele took an active part in the memorable election campaign of that year, contributing not a little to the overthrow and destruction of Republican rule in Louis- iana. At this election he was chosen to represent his parish in the. General Assembly of the State, and, subsequently, 1878, was re- elected. The latter, immediately upon assembling, passed an act or. dering an election for delegates to a convention to frame a new State constitution.
In 1879, at an election for the ratification of this constitution, Steele was chosen to represent the Twenty-Second Senatorial District in the State Senate. Governor Wiltz dying in 1881, Lieutenant Governor Mc- Enery succeeded him,leaving the president pro tem. of the Senate to pre- side over that body, and placing him next in succession to the Governor- ship. The party now divided into two wings, one faction under the lead- ership of Senator Walton made war on Senator Robertson, the then Pres- ident pro fem., and ousted him from the place. Walton was chosen by his friends to succeed Robertson, when a bitter fight ensued, which came near disrupting the party. At this juncture moderate men of both wings seeing the danger, proposed to avert it by requesting both Robertson and Walton to withdraw their claims, and unite in electing a President pro tem. acceptable to all. Had this arrangement been consummated, the choice would have fallen on Senator Steele, but, through some hitch, the plan was abandoned. From his first entry into political life Captain Steele has ranked among the ablest members of the General
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Assembly. Quite courteous and unobtrusive in manner, he posesses a clear intellect, and his opinions are listened to by his colleagues with marked attention and respect. A consistent Democrat, his views on public affairs are broad and liberal. Already thoughtful conser- vative men through the State are beginning to turn their eyes upon him as a suitable man to place at the head of Louisiana affairs. Young, vigorous, a thorough man of business, he is fully acquainted with the people's need, and it is highly probable he may soon be elevated to the highest place in their gift.
NOTE .- Since the foregoing was written, Captain Steele has been elected Auditor of Louisiana, and yet holds that most important and responsible office .- Ed.
GENERAL ADAM RANKIN JOHNSON .- The distinguished man whose name heads this article was born in the Town of Hender- son, on February 8th, 1834. He is the son of Dr. Thomas Jefferson Johnson and Juliet Spencer Rankın, daughter of Dr. Adam Rankin, who settled in Henderson County during the early part of the year 1800. Dr. Johnson came from Frankfort, and settled in Henderson in 1823, and four years thereafter, to-wit : on the fifteenth day of February, 1827, was married to Miss Rankin, Rev. Thomas Evans officiating. Dr. Johnson was a man of strong mind and positive char- acter, and, during his early life, enjoyed a prominence few young physicians of his day ever attained. Mrs. Johnson was one of the noblest women, and was universally beloved by every one who knew her. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson lived to a ripe old age, and raised a large and prosperous family. While the schools of the town at that time were not the best the country afforded, they were yet sufficient to im- part a good education in the primary and intermediate branches. General Johnson was kept at one of these schools until he arrived at the age of twelve years, when he was placed with Ira Delano, an exper- ienced druggist, to learn the art of compounding and otherwise to qual- ify himself for a life of usefulness. There he remained until sixteen years of age, at which time he entered the tobacco stemmery of Bur- bank & Barret. In this business he remained until he was twenty years of age, when he bade adieu to Kentucky, and went to the Lone Star State, settling in Burnett County, known at that time as Hamilton Valley. This at that time was an extreme frontier settlement. Very soon after his arrival he associated himself with a surveying party, and was so well pleased he then and there adopted surveying as a pro- fession peculiar to himself. In those days and in that country, In- dians were to be found in large numbers, and in numerous rencoun-
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ters with them in the years 1855 to 1861, he was compelled to exer- cise unceasing care, precaution and strategy to preserve not only the safety of his companions, but his own life. The keenest vigilance, which he found absolutely necessary, soon became a second nature with him, and it was in this school that he learned the lesson which in the days of the great war between the States, proved so valuable to him while acting in the capacity of a scout or partisan. His entire frontier life up to and including a part of the war, was filled with wild adventure that no one but a man of unquestioned nerve and intelli- gence could have so successfully contended with. The war coming on, General Johnson was not long in deciding with whom he should fight. He visited Kentucky, and, for a time, his old home in Hen- derson, where he was gladly welcomed, although the entire family were strong for the Union of the States. During his brief stay in Henderson, the town was occupied by Federal soldiers, and yet it was not known that he was a Confederate scout. Becoming a little uneasy of his position, Johnson determined to return South, and, to this end, started on foot, hoping to cross Canoe Creek below the fair grounds and make his way to Mrs. Jordan's, on the Madisonville road, where he had a horse. Reaching the creek, it was found to be at flood height from back water from the Ohio River and impassible. Thinking he had passed the Federal pickets, he pushed on down the stream in search of a drift pile or fallen tree, and, as he reached the summit of a hill, to his amazement, only a few yards away from him, there stood the advanced outposts, who saw him about as soon as he saw them. He was heavily armed, and this was evidence against him. He determined, as quick as thought, to retrace his steps, and did so, but was pursued by one of the soldiers on foot. He hurried on to the roots of a great tree that had fallen down, thinking there he could secrete himself, or perhaps the pursuit would be given up. Hardly had he gotten behind this ambush, when he observed the soldier, with has- tened tread, following on. There was but one question then, life or death, and, as the soldier approached the tree, Johnson fired, and the soldier fell dead in his tracks and rolled over the bank into the creek. Johnson then returned to the town and remained but a day or two, when he made another and successful effort to reach the Confederate lines. Two days afterwards he reached Hopkinsville.
Subsequent to the battles of Fort Donelson and Corinth, Johnson returned to Kentucky, and his first military venture in Henderson Coun- ty was the capture of U. S. Surgeon Kimbly, of Owensboro, near Heb. ardsville, His next adventure was in company with Colonel Robert
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A. Martin and Amphius Owen in an attack at night upon a company of Federal provost guards stationed in the two-story brick opposite John H. Barret & Co.'s tobacco stemmery, on Main Street, then known as the National Hotel. The" attack was made about ten o'clock on Sunday night in the latter part of June, 1862. Johnson, Martin and Owen went, unnoticed, to the lot adjoining Barret's factory and se- creted themselves among the stave piles. They were also protected by a high plank fence between them and the street.
Captain Daly and a number of his soldiers were sitting on the pavement in front of headquarters, laughing and talking, when, at a signal, Johnson, Martin and Owen fired the first volley from their shot guns, and then, in quick succession, the second. The scene quickly changed from one of laughing to one of groans of dying and wounded men, and the flight of those who had escaped unhurt. The doors of the house were immediately barred, and, as soon as could be, the three Confederates appeared in the cemetery, immediately in the rear of headquarters, and fired another volley. This done, they retreated to their horses and departed from the town. Lieutenant Taylor was killed, and ten or more men, including Captain Daley, were more or less seriously wounded.
Excitement in the town became intense. A citizens' meeting was held in Barret's factory, at which resolutions, strongly condemn tory of the course of Johnson, &c., were passed. A short time after this, and when Colonel Johnson had formed a nucleus of a regiment, he took · possession of Henderson, and, by his words and orders, very greatly relieved the anxiety of the people, especially those politically opposed to him. It was at this time he planned his Newburg campaign
Colonel Johnson and Martin, with perhaps twenty-three men, left Henderson late in the evening and camped for the night upon the farm of Wm. Soaper, near the city. Early next morning they were en route for Newburg and were not long in arriving in front of that loyal town. The Evansville Journal having declared that the people of Indiana would not allow that territory to be invaded for a moment, Johnson and Martin determined to test their courage. To this end, therefore, they set about disposing of their horses and an old wagon, that was near by, in such a way as to represent a large cavalry and artillery force. All ready, Martin, with some twenty men, crossed over about a half mile above the town. Johnson, with two men in a skiff, crossed immediately opposite the town. At this place Johnson performed perhaps the most reckless, and yet the most successful, military master stroke achieved by any commander of high or low authority, in either army during the war.
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Johnson's information was that in Union Bethell's storehouse, on the river front, was stored all of the arms and ammunition supplied by the State and Government ; therefore, he landed his skiff as near as possible to that building and made directly for it, unnoticed, as the crossing of Martin and his men had attracted general attention. John- son found the arsenal unguarded, open, and a large number of guns stacked in it. He ordered the two men with him to barricade the doors and windows, and hold the building until Martin's arrival. In the meantime, Johnson walked up to the hotel, where he saw a num- ber of Federals retreating into the hotel. Believing they were unarmed, he entered the door alone and stood, electrified, in the presence of eighty men with cocked guns presented. As quick as thought, he knew that retreat was certain death ; that the least hesitation would prove fatal ; that immediate daring was absolutely necessary ; then, without the quiver of a lip, or nervous twitch of a muscle, or change of facial features. he boldly advanced to the front line, demanding an immediate surrender, at the same time throwing up the muzzles of several guns with the one he held in his hands. He announced, in unmistakable and most positive language, that if a single cap was fired, the last man to whom he was addressing himself, would be mas sacred, and that on short notice, and, as unpalatable as the sequel may be, it is yet true that the whole command obeyed his order, stacked their guns and retired to a large dining room in the building.
At this juncture a great burley Orderly Sergeant dashed in and called out, " What are you doing ; where in the hell are your guns ?" To this Johnson replied, by leveling his double-barreled gun upon the Sergeant, and telling him, “ Move another step, and I will riddle you with bullets." The Sergeant surrendered with the others. Soon after Martin came up with a portion of his men, the others having been de- tailed to guard the streets. Johnson, fearing an attack, set imme- diately to work paroling his prisoners, and securing wagons and teams to remove the captured property, guns, ammunition, etc. When the last ferry load had been safely crossed to the Kentucky side, Johnson leisurely walked to his skiff, seated himself and directed his two oars. men to pull for life. He had gotten not more than half way across when the yells of the Home Guard Company were heard entering the town. They failed to fire at him however, from the fact leading citizens had been notified by Johnson, that if a gun was fired, he would shell the town. Johnson's battery consisted of an old two-horse wagon, with a black log extending from the end of it, and it was this that terrified the Newburghers. General Johnson, subsequent to this time, was in
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many severe contests and close places, notably at Green River bridge, on that ever memorable fourth day of July, where he was repulsed by Colonel Moore, and then with Morgan on his Ohio raid. He was one among the few who escaped capture. Upon his return to his Ken- tucky department, he heard for the first time of the killing of his uncle, James E. Rankin, and immediately set to work to effect the arrest of his murderers. A few days afterward two men were brought to him charged with the crime, and were immediately sent to Hender- son and turned over to the civil authorities. General Johnson was rapidly organizing four regiments, and it was found necessary to drive him out of the State before he had succeeded in doing so. Therefore, General Burbridge sent General Hobson with a large detachment of cavalry in pursuit of him. General Johnson determined to cross the Cumberland River, and, if possible, draw Hobson in pursuit. Before, or just about the time he reached Cumberland River, he engaged a force of Federals at what was called Grubb's Cross-roads. He sur- rounded the camp and had captured twenty-five or more Federals. White flags were seen flying, and upon this General Johnson rode back and ordered the firing ceased. Another part of the Confederate command came up about this time, and without knowing the situation, or their own friends, commenced firing indiscriminately, and, during the shooting, General Johnson, their commander, was shot, instantly destroying both of his eyes. He was thereupon taken to the home of Mr. Garland Simms, where every attention was given him by Mr. and Mrs. Simms, and their son, Richard. Wm. S. Johnson, his brother, hearing of his sad condition, went to his bedside and remained with him until he was able to be removed to Henderson, his native home. He remained here at his father's house but a short time, when he was sent a prisoner to Fort Warren. He remained in prison sev- eral months, and was then sent on for exchange and arrived in Rich- mond on the twenty-sixth day of May, 1865. After the surrender, he was very active in having his men, who were under indictment, and other prosecutions against them in the Courts of Kentucky, released from custody. His entire willingness to assume all responsibility for the impressment of horses and such like caused the dismissal of all re- maining prosecutions. General Johnson returned to his home in Texas, to find his personal property wasted, and himself terribly in debt. Though sightless, he embarked in the real estate business, and his success remains to this time unparalleled. He is at this time the father of a large family, and the possessor of a handsome competency. Although deprived of his sight, he is justly regarded one of the leading business men of his country and his success in life has proven it.
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