USA > Kentucky > The story of Kentucky > Part 16
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1857. Edward Everett delivered his oration on Washington at Lou .. ville - May 12. A mob took from jail at Louisville and hung three negror . who had been legally acquitted of murder - May 14. Laying of the ca ner-stone of Clay's monument at Lexington with Masonic ceremonies - Ju 4. The Kentucky banks weathered the financial panic. They refused 1 suspend specie payments - October.
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ERA OF STRIFE.
1858. Gov. Morehead issued a call for volunteers to Utah - March 6. Remarkable revivals all over Kentucky - April. Barker hung by a mob at Lexington for stabbing the city marshal - July 10. Terrible epidemic among the hogs - September 5. Wm. C. Prentice explored the " Bot- tomless Pit," Mammoth Cave -September 11. "Methodist Episcopal Church South " voted to expunge the rule of the church forbidding "the buying and selling of men, women and children with an intention to enslave them " - October IS.
1859. Maysville and Lexington Railroad opened - February 10. Long- est iron bridge in U. S. (up to that time) built across the Green River. - March 16. Destruction at Newport of the True South, an abolition newspaper - October 28-29. Louisville and Nashville Railroad opened - November 5. Legislature instructed their national senators and represen- tatives to take some measure for the extradition of slaves from Canada - December 16.
THE ERA OF STRIFE.
1860. Great " Union " meeting at Maysville. Rev. J. G. Fee and others forced to leave Madison County for their anti-slavery teachings. Hog cholera prevailed - January 2. Rev. J. S. Davis, another abolitionist, required to leave - January 21. Institution for idiots founded - February 11. All laws prohibiting the importation of slaves into the State repealed -- March 2. Law enacted that non-resident free negroes must not enter the State - March 3. Several wounded in Madison County because of the refusal of Hanson, an abolitionist, to leave the State - March 26-27. Most severe tornado ever known in the Ohio Valley - May 21.
1861. Commissioners sent to the Peace Conference at Washington - January 29. John J. Crittenden addressed the Legislature by special invi- tation - March 20. John C. Breckenridge addressed the Legislature - April 2. Governor of Kentucky refused to furnish troops at the call of Lincoln - April 15. Crittenden in a speech at Lexington recommended neutrality - April 17. Union State Central Committee in an address to the people recommended neutrality - April 18. Capt. Joe Desha and over one hundred men left for the Confederacy. Other companies followed. Gov. Magoffin refused to furnish troops to the Confederacy - April 22. Louis- ville raised two hundred thousand dollars for defense - April 25. Railroad trains crowded with people going North - May r. "Mothers, wives, sisters, daughters of Kentucky" Hooded the Legislature with petitions to " main- tain inviolate her armed neutrality "- May 8-18. An attempt at an agree- ment as to policy between the two parties in the State unsuccessful - May 10. A regiment of Kentucky troops entered the Confederate Army - May 15. Resolutions of neutrality passed in the House - May 16. Neutrality proclamation of Governor Magoffin warning both United States and Con- federacy to keep off Kentucky soll - May 20. The Senate passed neutral- ity resolutions - May 24. Border Slave State Convention in session at
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ERA OF STRIFE.
Frankfort - May 27-June 3. Election of members to Congress. Union candidates elected except in first district - June 20. At Camp Boone, eight miles from Clarksville, Tenn., Kentucky regiments assembled for the Confederacy. At Camp Clay, opposite Newport, and at Camp Joe Holt. opposite Louisville, regiments assembled for the Union Army - July 15. Elections to the Legislature resulted in Union majorities. Brig-Gen. Nel son established Camp Dick Robinson (Federal) in violation of the neu- trality of the State - August 5. Legislature passed its time making reso- lutions of every variety. Has been called the " Resolution Legislature " - September. Confederate troops fortified positions in Kentucky - Sep- teniber 3. Federal troops occupied a number of positions - September 5. U. S. flag hoisted on the Capitol - September 7. Peace Convention at Frankfort - September 9. States Rights Convention at Frankfort - Sep- tember 10. Both Houses demanded the withdrawal of Confederate troops over the governor's veto. They said nothing of the Federal troops - Sep- tember 11. The Legislature demanded over the governor's veto that the Confederate troops be expelled. The governor issued a proclamation to that effect. The publication of the Louisville Courier forbidden by the U. S. Government. Gen. Buckner occupied Bowling Green with Confeder- ate troops and issued a proclamation to the people - September IS. Skir. mish between Home Guards and Confederate troops - September 19. Gen. Thomas assumed command at Camp Dick Robinson. Gen. Buckner blew up the locks on Green River - September 21. Three members of the Legislature arrested by Home Guards - September 22. Gen. Anderson reassured the citizens by proclamation - September 24. The Legislature called for forty thousand Kentuckians for a long term to repel Confederate invasion - September 25. A supplemental act directed the State force to be mustered into U. S. service. Various Confederate sympathizers ar- rested - September 26. Various newspapers suspended - September 2 ;. Skirmishes. The Legislature thanked Ohio, Indiana and Illinois for their assistance against the Confederacy - October 1. The Legislature instructed their U. S. senators to resign - October 2. A small body of Federal troops ambushed near Glasgow and routed - October 10. Gen. Sherman assumed command of the Kentucky troops - October 14. Fully forty regiments from other States in Kentucky. Fifteen thousand Kentuckiaas enlisted - October 20. Seven thousand Confederates repulsed at Camp Wildcat -- October 21. Confederates routed at West Liberty and Hazle Green - October 23. A large number of prominent men indicted for treason - November 6. Confederates defeated in the battle of Ivy Mount ain- November 8. Gen. Buell succeeded Gen. Sherman in command - November 13. A sovereignty convention at Russellville adopted an ord: nance of secession and arranged for a provisional government - November 13-21. Eleven Kentuckians released from Fort Warren, Boston - Novem ber 28. Confederate Congress admitted Kentucky as one of the seceding States - December 9. Confederates defeated at the battle of Munfordville - December 17. Federals defeated at Sacramento - December 27.
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ERA OF STRIFE.
1862. Battle of Mill Spring, Gen. Thomas defeated Gen. Crittenden. It was a heavy blow to the Confederates. Numerous skirmishes during the month - January 19. Memorable remark of Rev. Mr. Conway in Boston. " President Lincoln would like to have God on his side, but he must have Kentucky. " - February r. Bowling Green evacuated by the Confederates under Buckner - February 14. The Confederates abandoned Columbus - February 27. Legislature expatriated all who aided the Confederacy - March 11. Confederates successfully surprised by Gen. Garfield at Pound Gap - March 14. Col. Morgan's (Confederate) Cavalry made a very suc- cessful raid - May 11. Gen. Boyle inaugurated a general system of arrest of Confederate sympathizers - June. Gen. Boyle began the arrest of dis- loyal women - July. Gen. Morgan with his rangers made his first extended Kentucky raid, destroying telegraphs, railways, bridges, government ware- houses. Very successful - July 8. Louisville very much in terror of Mor- gan - July 12-13. Morgan gained a victory at Cynthiana - July 17. Two religious papers at Louisville suppressed by military order - July 22. Min- isters arrested all over the State - July 26. A prison prepared at Newport for rebel females. Required to sew for Union soldiers - July 28. Gov. Magoffin resigned - August 16. Negro slaves impressed as laborers into the service of the government - August 24. Gen. Nelson defeated near Richmond by a superior force of Confederates - August 30. During the month very stringent laws passed against sympathizers with the rebels - August. Paris and Lexington evacuated by the Federals - September I. Versailles occupied by Confederates - September 2. Union men drove the abolitionist Rev. J. G. Fee out of the State - September 12. Mun- fordville surrendered to Bragg- September 16. Beginning of a wonderful and successful retreat from Cumberland Gap by General George Morgan (Federal) - September 18. Federals reoccupied Munfordville - Septem- ber 21. Inaugural ceremonies of the Provisional Government at Frankfort. Four hours later fled from the city - October 4. Greatest battle ever fought in Kentucky at Chaplin Hills near Perryville between Gens. Bragg and McCook. At the close of the day the result was in doubt. Bragg withdrew the next morning. - October 8. Morgan made another raid into Lexington - October 18. Gen. Bragg's inglorious retreat much impeded by snow - October 25. J. Wilkes Booth played a very successful engage- ment at Louisville - November 8. A remarkable all-night march of Mor- gan's cavalry to escape two detachments of Federals. Numerous skirmishes and engagements all through the year in which Morgan's raiders played a prominent part.
1863. The Confederate Congress formally thanked Morgan for his services - January 2. Two companies of Morgan's raiders broke up "in tremendous disorder " a public meeting at Burksville -- February 12. Col. Cluke's division of Morgan's raiders began another raid into Kentucky - February 18. Battle flags presented to the State by Gov. Robinson - March 2. Union Democratic Convention at Louisville. Some stormy scenes - March IS-19. A vigorous code promulgated by Gen. Burnside
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then in command - April 13. Twenty thousand Kentuckians called for for the defense of the State - May 10. Gen. Burnside ordered wives and families of persons absent with the Confederates to be sent South - May 13. New York World and Chicago Times prohibited by Burnside. Lin- coln revoked the order. - June 2. Morgan's wonderful raid of over one thousand one hundred miles through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio - July Morgan surrendered near Salineville, Ohio. Numerous small engagements during the month - July 26. Two thousand Confederates surrendered at Cumberland Gap - September 9. Gen. Morgan and six of his captain- escaped from the Columbus Penitentiary. Morgan and Hines traveled b; railroad to Cincinnati, crossed the river in a skiff and succeeded in reaching Tennessee. Kentucky harassed by guerrillas all through the year.
1864. Gov. Bramlette ordered five rebel sympathizers to be arrested as hostages for every Union man taken by guerrillas - January 4. The Legis- lature protested against enlisting Kentucky negroes and asked that all negro camps be removed from the State - February 20. Meeting at Louis- ville of a Border State Freedom Convention. Kentucky University de- stroyed by fire - February 22-23. Maj. Hamilton and one hundred and four other officers returned home after escape from Libby Prison by a tunnel - March 3. Gov. Bramlette called for ten thousand troops at once -- May 13. Morgan's cavalry began their last raid - June 2. Great fire in Louisville - July 1. President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus and proclaimed military law in Kentucky on account of the guerrilla raids - July 5. Twenty-four women and children arrested and sent out of the country - July 18. Gen. Morgan surprised and killed in Tennessee - September 4. Gen. Burbridge crossed over from Kentucky to Virginia. Fought a close battle at Saltville, Va., and then withdrew - October 2. Guerrillas whipped the county judge of Bath County with a strap - October 12. The U. S. draft drove many into the Confederate army - October 27. Great indignation among the farmers at what appeared to be an attempt on the part of the military to force the selling of hogs at reduced rates - Octo- ber. All military orders on the hog question were revoked - November. Controversy by letter between Gov. Bramlette and Gen. Burbridge. Nu- merous arrests and executions during the month - November 9-IS. Gos. Bramlette called upon Kentuckians whose slaves had been taken for tin army to devote the money received for them to relieving the soldier. families - November 23. Gen. Burbridge with four thousand men made a second expedition to Saltville, Va. He destroyed the salt works, then returned to Kentucky. During the year few engagements except with guerrillas - December 9.
1865. The Legislature discussed the Thirteenth Amendment proposed to the U. S. Constitution - February. Gen. Palmer succeeded Gen. Bur. bridge in Kentucky - February 10. Agricultural College established - February 22. Guerrilla warfare continued - March. Gen. Johnston sur. rendered to Sherman. Most of the Kentucky Confederates were with Johnston's army - April 26. Gen. Palmer announced the terms of sur-
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ERA OF PROGRESS.
render in Kentucky - April 14. Large public meeting in Louisville at which the governor presided adopted resolutions in memory of President Lincoln - April IS. A funeral procession three miles long - April 19. Gen. Burbridge presented with a one thousand dollar sword, belt and spurs by the colored cavalry of Brigades Fifth and Sixth - April 24. Negro en- listments in Kentucky stopped by the War Department -May S. Gen. Palmer ordered the arrest of all faro bank keepers -- July 8. Southerners claimed unwarrantable military interference at the polls - August 7. Gens. Palmer and Brisbin indicted for abducting slaves- September 25. Lead ore discovered in several counties. Several oil wells bored - December 1. Gen. Palmer acquitted of abducting a slave - December S. Secretary Seward declared the Thirteenth Amendment adopted - December IS.
1866. Cholera prevalent among the hogs ; small pox among the negroes - January. The seats of numerous members of the Legislature declared va- cant and new elections ordered. "Short Line " begun from Lagrange to Covington - February. The Legislature demanded the instant removal of Wm. Goodloe and Clinton B. Fisk of the Freedmen's Bureau. The guerrilla. "One Arm Berry," tried by a military commission and found guilty of eleven separate murders. Sentenced to be hung, but commuted to ten years' impris- onment - February 10. Legislature passed several acts defining and ex- tending negro rights- February 14. Legislature demanded the revoca- tion of suspension of habeas corpus and the removal of the " Freedmen's Bureau " - February 17. Large and enthusiastic meeting at Louisville in- dorsing President Johnson - February 22. Negro hung by a mob at Paris for rape. Gen. Davis of Indiana succeeded Gen. Palmer - March 27. Lynching at Paris of another negro - March 28. More lead discovered - April I. Numerous lynchings in Boyle and Woodford Counties - April. T'en distilleries closed for violation of internal revenue laws - April 26. A number of negroes lynched for atrocious crimes - May. National tobacco fair at Louisville - May 31. Hog cholera very prevalent - July. Guer- rillas plundered a train on the Louisville and Nashville road - November 8. Opening of the iron suspension bridge between Cincinnati and Coving- ton. Numerous lynchings all through the year - December I.
THE ERA OF PROGRESS.
1867. The Legislature rejected the Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution - January 10. Various lines consolidated and incorporated as the Louisville, Cincinnati and Lexington Railroad - January 19. Louis- ville subscribed one million dollars to complete the Lebanon Extension rail- road to Knoxville - January 26. The Legislature protested against negro suffrage in every form - February 14. The " Regulators " hung Thos. Carrier - February 17. A general amnesty law passed for acts done dur- ing the Rebellion - February 28. Decision in favor of the plaintiffs of the great suit of Breckenbridge vs. Lee, pending for sixty-four years, on which three generations of Kentucky's ablest lawyers were engaged - March IS.
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ERA OF PROGRESS:
Subscriptions all over the State for the relief of Southern destitution - Mas 15. Another outrage by "regulators " - June 3. Laying of the corner stone of an immense bridge over the Ohio at the falls at Louisville - Au- gust 1. A grand tournament with nine tilts at Paris - August 2. Hang ing by " regulators " - August 3. " Regulators " hung two negroes - August to. " Regulators " hung two white men - August 25-26. Gov. Steven- son authorized the raising of three companies for protection against the "regulators"- October 11. Legislature rebuked the Freedmen's Bureau for exceeding their powers - November 5. A Christmas dinner given at Harrodsburg to Admiral Semmes of the Alabama. Ex-Federals and Con- federates attended. Gov. Magoffin's toast : "The fame of American sol- diers and sailors whether rebel or Federal is the common heritage of the people " - December 25.
1868. The Irish citizens of Frankfort lynched a negro for a brutal crime - January 29. The Kentucky delegation voted unanimously against the impeachment. of Andrew Johnson - February 22. Legislature pro- tested against the wrong done Kentucky by Congress in refusing to allow her representatives to take their seats - March 9. A large crowd witnessed the reinterment at Lexington of Gen. Morgan the cavalry raider - April 17. Louisville subscribed one million dollars for the Elizabethtown and Paducah Railroad - May 9. Fenians in session at Louisville - May IS. U. S. House admitted McKee to the seat to which Young was elected by a majority of 1479 votes - June 22. Negroes mobbed a negro preacher whom they accused of rebel sympathies - August 3. The Democrat, Jour- nal and Courier were fused into the Courier Journal. Henry Watterson succeeded Geo. D. Prentice as editor - November 8. Four girls (three aged thirteen and one sixteen) recited at Crittenden the whole Bible which they had memorized during the year.
1869. Legislature made punishable by fine prize-fighting and training ; also seconds and spectators of a fight - February 12. Two murderers escaped from jail pursued by seventy-five men, captured and shot - Febru- ary 8. Great temperance reform in Covington. One thousand signed the pledge in less than two months - February 27. Gen. Breckenridge re- turned home after a banishment of eight years. His reception an ovation - March 9. The Legislature rejected the Fifteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution - March 13. " Ku Klux" so-called, attacked Frank Bowen at Clover Bottom - March 16. The Legislature accused the U. S. officials of having treated Judge Bullitt unjustly in forcing him to leave the State, and of having " insulted the honor and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky " - March 16. Remarkable revival among the Danville ne. groes - March 21. Decoration of Confederate soldiers' graves - May 20. Dedication of the Confederate monument at Cynthiana - May 26. Seven hundred colored delegates held a State Educational Convention near Louis- ville - July 14. Total eclipse of the sun - August 7. Louisville city authorities gave twenty thousand bushels of coal to the poor - November 16. At Somerset three men were killed and one badly wounded in a fray
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ERA OF PROGRESS.
caused by the whipping of a man by " regulators " - November 20. Legis- lature exempted from taxation all college and seminary property, real estate of lodges of I. O. O. F and Masons, hospitals, infirmaries, widows and orphan asylums and foundling asylums - December 7.
1870. Henry Watterson delivered before the House of Representatives an eulogy of Geo. D. Prentice, the veteran editor of the Louisville Journal who died January 21 - February I. Celebration of the completion of the Cincinnati Bridge. The Legislature attended in a body - February 18. Nine days debate at Mount Sterling on the subject of baptism - March I-10. Legislature exempted from tolls persons on their way to and from church on Sunday, or attending funerals - March 19. The Fifteenth Amendment declared carried - March 30. Seventy masked men lynched four mur- derers. Several other lynchings during the year - May 13. Six thousand negroes celebrated at Paris the adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment - June 10. A couple married in Mammoth Cave - July 27.
1871. "Regulators " continued their outrages. A public citizens' meet- ing called for the interference of the State. The press also condemned them. Public meetings denouncing the refusal of the Legislature to char- ter the Cincinnati Southern railway -- February 12-15. A negro guilty of stealing sentenced to receive fifteen lashes - February 16. Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee of Lexington, Ky., killed in an engagement with the Coreans. He was the first man to enter their fortress - May II. Military called upon to quell an election riot at Frankfort, also at Paris and Lex- ington - August 7. Death of Robert Anderson, the defender of Fort Sumter - October 26. Kentucky contributed liberally to the sufferers by the Chicago fire - October. Opening of the enlarged Louisville and Portland Canal - November 20. Two negroes admitted to practice law in the Louisville courts - November 23.
1872. Citizens of Franklin County petitioned the Legislature for pro- tection against desperadoes - January 12. Grand Duke Alexis of Russia visited Louisville and Mammoth Cave - January 30-February t. The Cincinnati Southern Railway bill became a law - February 13. The Cen- tral Kentucky Inebriate Asylum incorporated - March I. Severe legisla- tion against lotteries - March 25. Robt. Bonne:'s Kentucky colt Startle made a fine record in New York - April 24. Formal opening of the Louis- ville Public Library - April 27. Daring robbery in broad daylight of the National Bank of Columbia - April 29. Meeting at Lexington to inaugu- rate a great university in Kentucky - May S. Congress appropriated one million dollars to adjust Kentucky war claims. Robert Bonner's "Joe Elliott " made a mile in 2.15- June IS. National Industrial Exposition opened at Louisville -- September 3-October 12 Peace Reunion at Louis- ville - September 11-12. Mob Law in Washington County because of the county taxation for the Cumberland and Ohio Railroad - September 15. A new denomination, the " Soul Sleepers," built a church - September 20. Horace Greeley, candidate for president, welcomed in Kentucky - September 21. Discoveries of rich lead and iron ore - October 1. Negro
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ERA OF PROGRESS.
riot in Covington - October 12. The epizootic prostrated Kentucky horses - November 8. Three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars distributed in gifts at the drawing for the Kentucky Public Library. Small-pox preva. lent during the year. Lynchings continued. Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad opened from Lexington to Mount Sterling.
1873. Death of General John Morgan's famous stallion " Skedaddle " - January 11. State Educational Convention of colored men demanded for their children equal educational advantages with the whites. Bee cholera proved very fatal - February 18-19. Trial at Georgetown of the famous Harper slander suit resulting in a verdict for the defendant -- March 8-14. Robbery of the Falls City Tobacco Bank in Louisville - March to. Com- promise of the famous "diamond " suit - March 16. Kentucky Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals incorporated - March 22. Con- tral University incorporated - March 23. Most severe legislation against "regulators" - April It. First Grangers organized -April 20. Frederick Douglass addressed the people of Louisville, white and black, at the anni- versary celebration of the Fifteenth Amendment - April 21. Graves of the Federal dead decorated. Appointed by Congress as a National Me- morial Day - May 30. Grand gift concert for the benefit of the Kentucky Public Library - July 8. Negro riot at the polls - August 4. Second Louisville Industrial Exposition - Sept 2-October 11. Mass meeting of Owen County condemned the Ku Klux- September 15. The first colored high school in Kentucky dedicated at Louisville - October 7. Kentucky raised large sums for the yellow fever sufferers at Memphis - October 25. Excitement against Spain so great that a regiment and several companies offered their services in case of war - November 17. A convention of colored men demanded their share of the Republican spoils. Cholera in some sections. Ku Klux outrages continued - November 25.
1874. One hundred thousand dollars appropriated to extend and im- prove the Central Kentucky Lunatic Asylum, one third of the amount for colored inmates " separate and apart " from the white inmates. The Insti- tution for Feeble Minded Children re-established. A general law passed regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors partaking largely of the features of a "local option " law. State Board of Pharmacy established and the practice of physicians regulated. A uniform system of common school- provided for the colored children, but colored children were forbidden t .. attend white schools and vice versa.
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