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١١١٢٠ Teny: 13th
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
COL. JOHN K. MILLER. (See page 263.)
HISTORY OF THE
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY - U. S. A.
Including a Narrative of the Bridge Burning; the Carter County Rebellion, and the Loyalty, Hero- ism and Suffering of the Union Men and Women of Carter and Johnson Counties, Tennessee, during the Civil War
Y
.
.Also'a Sketch of the Adventures of Captain Daniel Ellis, the Union Pilot, and the Names of Hundreds of Prave ; Men and Women of These Counties Who Performed Brave Deeds and Noble Acts of Heroism for Country and Humanity
WRITTEN BY
SAMUEL W. SCOTT CAPTAIN Co. G, 13th iT. V. C., AND
SAMUEL P. ANGEL ADJUTANT 13th, T. V. C., KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
P. W. ZIEGLER & CO.,
Checked May MOHLI
PHILADELPHIA.
. p. 190s
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 007219
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILO N FOUNDATIONS. R 1913 1
COPYRIGHT, 1903,
SCOTT AND ANGEL
Dedication.
W JE dedicate this volume, first, to the Memory of o it. Dead Comrades of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and the :"Gallant Third Brigade," U. S. A .; secondly, to the Heroes' atid, Heroines, living and dead, Soldiers and Citizesis, of East Tennessee, and especially of Johnson and Carter Counties (where the strife raged the fiercest), who were true to their Flag, their Country, and their Homes-" the temples of their gods."
THE AUTHORS.
ERRATA
Page 91, line 3, should have a"comma after "Benjamin." Page 101, line 13, the word "county^ should be" "country." Page 170, lines 5-14 inclusive, should Be omitted." Page 288, line 22, the word "Elizabeth""" "should "be "Elizabethton." Page 297, line 23, the word "Tent." should be?Ky?' Page 357, line 29, the word "Rugger" should be "Dugger."
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
The purpose of this History .- To rescue from oblivion the names of the Heroes and Heroines of Johnson and Carter Counties during the Civil War, and perpetuate the memory of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and the gallant Third Brigade 19
CHAPTER II.
East Tennessee .- Scenery, Soil and Climate .- Heroism of Her Sons in Former Wars .- Their Prowess on Every Battlefield. There Happy Homes and Contented Lives. 23
CHAPTER III.
The Civil War, Its Causes, briefly Told .- Slavery and State- Rights .- Election of 1860 .- Mr. Lincoln .- The "Star of the West."-Preparations for War .- Fort Sumter Fired On .- States Secede. 28
CHAPTER IV.
Excitement over Fall of Fort Sumter .- How the News was Received .- Military League Formed .- Proceedings of Knoxville and Greeneville Conventions .- Names of Delegates .- Johnson and Nelson .- The State Secedes .- Vote in Carter and Johnson Counties .- Intimidation and Persecution. 34
CHAPTER V.
Reasons for Loyalty of East Tennessee .- Number of Troops in Federal Army .- How It May Have Affected Final Results of the War. .47
CHAPTER VI.
Bitter Feelings Aroused Between Unionists and Secessionists. Union Men Defiant .- Leaders Threatened .- They go North. Names of Local Leaders .- Rebel Troons Brought In .- Names of Union Men Reported to Confederate Authorities .- Bitterness More Intense .- Militia Called Out .- Proclamation Ignored by Union Men .- They Organize for Self-Protection and to Aid the Government. .53
5
CHAPTER VII.
PAGE
Bridge Burning .- Official Correspondence in Regard to It. The Plans, How Carried Out .- W. B. Carter, Gen. S. P. Carter and Gen. Thomas .- Col. Dan. Stover .- Names of Men Who Burned the Bridge at Zollicoffer and Particulars of the Brave Deed. .59
CHAPTER VIII.
Carter County Rebellion .- Organized to Protect Bridge Burners and Union Leaders .- Organized at Col. N. G. Tay- lor's Residence .- Names of Officers .- Fight at Taylor's Ford .- The Unionists Victorious .- Amusing Incidents .- "Army" Falls Back to Clark's Springs, Where Col. John Sevier's Men Took Their "Mid-day Lunch" on Their Way to King's Mountain, September 26, 1780 .- Army at Elizabeth- ton .- At Doe River Cove .- How it Was Fed .- Dispersed by Leadbetter. .80
CHAPTER IX.
Situation After the Bridge-Burning and Rebellion .- Union Men Arrested and Imprisoned .- Hatred of Southern Press and People Toward Them .- They Flee to the Mountains and to Kentucky .- Their Suffering and Persecution .- Martial Law Declared .- Provost Marshals Appointed .- How Union Men Concealed Themselves. 90
CHAPTER X.
Sentiments of Affection and Brotherhood Among Loyal People .- Expectations of Federal Aid .- Their Disappoint- ments .- Gen. G. W. Morgan at Cumberland Gap .- East Ten- nessee Regiments in His Command .- Col. Hayne's Eulogy on East Tennessee .- East Tennessee the Scene of Many
.100 Tragedies.
CHAPTER XI.
Carter's Raid Into East Tennessee .- Burning the Bridge at Zollicoffer .- Fight at Carter's Depot and Burning of the Bridge at That Place .- Personal Mention of Gen. S. P. Carter, Col. J. P. T. Carter and Capt. G. O. Collins .- Changed Con- ditions Since the War Began .- Rye and Spice Wood Used for Coffee and Tea. 104
6
CHAPTER XII.
PAGE
Gen. Burnside in East Tennessee .- Rejoicing of the Union People .- Advance to Bristol .- Col. John K. Miller and Col. R. R. Butler Authorized to Raise Federal Regiments .- Long- street's Advance Upon Knoxville .- Federal Troops Fall Back .- Recruits Fall Back With the Army .- Strawberry Plains .- Organization of the Regiment .- Field and Staff .- Death of Lieut-Col. A. D. Smith .- R. R. Butler Becomes Lieut .- Col .- Siege of Knoxville. 110
CHAPTER XIII.
March to Camp Nelson .- Without Shelter or Rations .- Much Suffering and Hardships on the Way .- Mid-Winter .- Cold and Rain and Snow .- Towns Passed Through .- Incidents on the Way .- Our Appearance. 120
CHAPTER XIV. -
At Camp Nelson .- Major Doughty's Detachment Joins the Regiment .- Cold New Year's Day .- Oliver Mcclellan and Others Frozen to Death .- Rigiment Clothed .- Mounted, Fully Equipped and Paid Off .- Improved Appearance of Offi- cers and Men .- Death of Capt. Luttrell .- Ordered to Nash- ville .- Fight Guerrillas Through Kentucky .- Arrival at Nash- 124 ville.
CHAPTER XV.
At Camp Gillem-Camp and Guard Duty .- Religious Ser- vice .- Drill and Discipline .- East Tennessee Refugees .- Dan Ellis in Camp .- Gov. Brownlow and Gen. S. P. Carter Visit the Regiment .- Small-pox and Measles .- Many Deaths in the Regiment .- Move to Camp Catlett .- Brigade Organized. . . . . . . 133
CHAPTER XVI.
At Gallatin .- Lieut .- Col. Butler Resigns .- W. H. Ingerton Appointed Lieut .- Col .- Proves to be a Most Efficient Officer. Drill and Discipline .- Dan Ellis Again Visits the Regiment. Brings Recruits and Letters From Home .- Accounts of Dis- tress in East Tennessee .- 4th of July at Gallatin .- Gov. John- son in Camp .- Regiment Again Paid Off .- Life in Camp. Brigade Detached for Special Service in East Tennessee .- Designated "Third Brigade, Governor's Guard."-Gen. Gil- lem .- He is Assigned to Command of the Forces in E. Tenn. Gov. Johnson's Orders .- Brigade Ordered to E. Tenn. .. . . .. 139
7
CHAPTER XVII.
PAGE
March Across the Mountains .- On Towards Home .- First Skirmish With the Enemy at Rogersville .- Sharp Fighting at Blue Springs and Greeneville .- Wheeler's Cavalry .- Fight at Rice's Gap .- Enemy Defeated .- Col. Miller, Lt .- Col. Inger- ton, Lt .- Col. Brownlow, Major Newell and Lt. Patterson Com- plimented for Gallantry by Gen. Gillem. 155
CHAPTER XVIII.
Fight at Greeneville, Tenn .- Death of the Famous Raider, Gen. John H. Morgan .- The Facts Told by Eye-Witnesses and Participants in the Affair .- Proof That Gen. Morgan Was Killed While Attempting to Make His Escape and While Fir- ing on His Pursuers .- The Fabulous Stories That He Was Betrayed by a Woman and Murdered After He Had Sur- rendered Disproved .- Andrew Campbell His Slayer .- The History of the Affair Corrected in Many Particulars. . . . . ... 162
CHAPTER XIX.
Further Comments on the Death of Gen. Morgan .- Extract From Lee's History .- The Statement Untrue .- Hon. A. B. Wilson's History of the Affair. 180
CHAPTER XX.
Fight at Lick Creek .- Results in Defeat of a Detachment of the Thirteenth Under Col. Ingerton .- Our Officers and Men Display the Greatest Gallantry in This Engagement .- Retreat After Severe Loss .- Brigade Advances .- Robert Pride Killed At Jonesboro .- W. B. C. Smith Captured at Johnson City. Fighting Between Johnson City and Carter's Depot .- Charge at the Latter Place .- Col. Miller's and Lt. Angel's Horses Shot .- Enemy Defeated .- The 9th Tenn. Cavalry .- Col. S. K. N. Patton Joins the Brigade at Leadvale .- Another Re- trogade .- Our Rear Threatened .- Brigade Advances .- Fight at Panther Springs .- Gallant Charge at Morristown .- Enemy Routed. 190
CHAPTER XXI.
Bull's Gap Stampede .- Full Particulars .- Result of Jealousy Between Commanding Officers .- Gen. Ammen Censured .- Heavy Loss of the 3rd Brigade .- Brave Defense of the Gap Before the Stampede. .. 204
CHAPTER XXII.
After the Stampede .- Brigade Shows no Demoralization .- Death of Col. Ingerton .- B. P. Stacy Appointed Lt .- Col. and Assumes Command of Regiment .- Many Changes in Offi- cers .- Camp-Life at Cantonment Springs .- Preparing for a Winter Campaign. 213
8
CHAPTER XXIII.
PAGE
First Stoneman Raid Into Southwest Virginia .- Cold Weather and Hard Marching .- Fights at Rogersville and Kingsport .- Death of Capt. Jas. B. Wyatt at Abingdon .- Pursuit of Gen. Vaughn .- Fight in Marion Before Day-Light. Death of Capt. Wm. M. Gourley .- Fight at Mt. Arie .- At Saltville .- Gallant Charge and Capture of Fort Brecken- ridge .- Regiment Complimented by Gen. Stoneman .- Suffer- ing From Cold and Hard Marching .- Return to Knoxville .- In Winter Quarters .- Social Life at Knoxville. 219
CHAPTER XXIV.
Stoneman's Second Raid Into Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia -- Fight at Wytheville, Va., and Salisbury, N. C .- Pursuit of President Davis .- Destruction of Confederate Stores .- The Armistice .- Return to Tennessee .- At Lenoirs Station. 231
CHAPTER XXV.
At Lenoirs and Sweetwater .- Last Move to Knoxville .- Closing Scenes .- Muster-Out .- Goodby's .- Observation on Army Life .- Summary of Service. .252
CHAPTER XXVI.
Personal Sketch of Each Officer of the Regiment, Giving the Part He Took in the Bridge-Burning, the Carter County Rebellion or Other Service, Together With the Pictures of as Many Officers as We Are Able to Get, With the Military His- tory of Each One. 263
CHAPTER XXVII.
A Brief Outline of the Numerous Tragedies That Occurred in Carter and Johnson Counties During the Civil War, Giving Date and Circumstances Attending Them as Far as Possible. . 317
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Heroes and Heroines of Carter and Johnson Counties in the Civil War. .363
CHAPTER XXIX.
A Sketch of Daniel Ellis' Adventures as Union Pilot, With Many Thrilling Adventures and Hair-Breadth Escapes of This Brave and Daring Scout and Pilot Who Took More Than 4000 Men Into the Federal Army From East Tennessee, South- west Virginia and Western North Carolina, and Whose Name is Familiar to Thousands of Unior Veterans All Over the United States. .423
9
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Col. John K. Miller. Frontispiece
The Three Adjutants. Page 15
Lieut. Col. R. R. Butler 32 6.
Lieut. Col. W. H. Ingerton
33
Adj't S. P. Angel. 48
Lieut. Col. B. P. Stacy
48
Major C. C. Wilcox.
49
Lieut. John M. Wilcox
49
Major G. W. Doughty
64
Major Eli N. Underwood.
.6
80
Major Robert H. M. Donnelly
81
Major James W. M. Grayson.
95
Major Patrick F. Dyer. 96
97
Lieut. Richard L. Wilson
II2
Gen. Alvin C. Gillem.
II3
Captain W. M. Gourley.
..
128
Captain L. W. Fletcher
I28
Captain Daniel Ellis.
129
Daniel Ellis.
!144
Captain Isaac A. Taylor
145
Lieut. Alex. D. Frasier.
160
Captain David B. Jenkins
16ï
Lieut. Geo. W. Emmert. 175
Corp. Henry Lineback. 177
..
192
Captain Alfred T. Donnelly
193
Lieut. Calvin M. Arnold.
193
Lieut. Chas. Lefler ..
208
Elisha A. Shoun.
200
..
209
Captain J. H. Norris.
224
Captain Thomas J. Barry 225
240
Captain Frederick Siimp
240
Lieut. Thomas C. White
241
Captain S. W. Scott.
24I
Serg't G. D. Roberts.
272
Serg't R. B. Wilcox
272
11
Corp. Isaac A. Shoun
66
Lieut. B. B. Ferguson . 66
.6
65
Major Joseph H. Wagner.
Captain Jas. M. Cameron
..
Captain Richard H. Luttrell.
66
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Serg't James W. Pearce
Page 273
Corp. J. G. Burchfield
273
Hon. J. G. Burchfield 288
Capt. Landon Carter 66
289
Lieut. C. M. Emmert.
..
304
Lieut. Jeremiah B. Miller
..
305
Lieut. James N. Freels
320
Serg't J. J. McCorcle.
321
Hon. J. J. McCorcle.
336
Captain S. E. Northington
.6
337
Lieut. H. C. Northington
66
337
Serg't E. W. Mulican.
352
Serg't Jesse W. Gambil.
352
Lieut. Henry M. Walker
66
353
Lieut. W. F. M. Hyder and son
368
Captain J. B. Wvatt
369
Captain J. W. Ellis.
66
369
Captain G. O. Collins
66
384
Lieut. Andrew Campbell
38.4
Lieut. A. C. Fondren
385
12
66
66
THE THREE ADJUTANTS OF THE 13TH CAV. B. P. STACY, S. W. SCOTT, S. P. ANGEL.
PREFACE
We are pleased to note that a number of books have been written since the Civil War dealing with the loyalty, heroism, and suffering of the Union people of East Ten- nessee during that period. Notable among these are : "The Loyal Mountaineers of East Tennessee," by Thomas William Humes, S. T. D., and "East Tennessee and the Civil War," by Hon. Oliver P. Temple. These are most able and valuable contributions to the literature of this period, and contain a reliable and graphic account of many of the leading events and the prominent actors in them, from the date of the "Settlement on the Wa- tauga" to the close of the Civil War.
Had these authors entered into the details of the many incidents and adventures that transpired in the thirty- one counties that were then embraced in the Eastern Division of Tennessee, and the organization of the various regiments of Federal troops that joined the army and rendered such signal service in the preservation of the Union, their books would have necessarily grown too voluminous to be satisfactory to the general reader. Hence it is our purpose to confine our history largely to the occurrences in the two counties of Carter and John- son with which we are most familiar, and to the organi- zation of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A., many of whom were leaders in the bridge burning and the Carter county rebellion and afterwards did good service as soldiers in the field.
We hope others will write the histories of other locali- ties and other regiments, so that in the end a full and ac- curate history of every important event that transpired within the boundaries of our loved East Tennessee will be placed on record. These events, when fully written, will form an interesting chapter in the history of the Civil War, and will grow in interest as the years pass by.
Though the counties of Johnson and Carter were far removed from the actual theatre of war where the great battles were fought, yet they were the scene of many tragedies and conflicts that had an important bearing upon its final results. In narrating them we have no de-
13
PREFACE.
sire to awaken any of the animosities that were engen . dered by the war, which we trust are long since dead and buried, but we make no apologies for writing them from the stand-point of Union soldiers, believing now, as ive did then, that the loyal men of East Tennessee were in the right.
We lay no claims to literary attainments, but under- take to tell, in simple words, the story of the struggles and hardships, sufferings and patient endurance, of loyal men and women who loved their flag next to their God, and were willing "to dare all things and endure all things" for the love they bore their country.
It has been our aim to attain the highest degree of ac- curacy in relating the incidents contained in this work, and to this end we have consulted the most authentic his- tories of the period accessible to us. We are indebted also to Dr. Abram Jobe, Capt. Daniel Ellis, Capt. S. H. Hendrix, Hon. A. B. Wilson, of Greeneville, Tenn., Dr. N. E. Hyder, of Elizabethton, Tenn., Capt. Fred- erick Slimp, of Butler, Tenn., Lieut. A. D. Frasier, of Watauga Valley, Tenn., and many other comrades and friends for interesting data in regard to the bridge burn- ing, the Carter county rebellion, the death of Gen. Mor- gan, and other incidents.
But our readers will perceive how difficult the task is of obtaining absolutely reliable information after the lapse of so many years. They will also remember that different persons, viewing a battle or other event from different stand-points, will receive very different impres- sions of it.
We place the work in your hands believing your criti- cisms will be generous, and feeling our labor amply re- paid if we have afforded our readers a few hours respite from the cares and duties of life in perusing a history of a time that not only "tried men's souls" but tried to the uttermost the patient, brave, and noble women of Carter and Johnson counties.
THE AUTHORS.
Knoxville, Tenn.,
December Ist, 1902.
14
INTRODUCTION
By Hon. John P. Smith (Lieut. 4th Tenn. Vol. In- fantry) late Chancellor First Chancery Division of Ten- nessee.
Governor Mountain Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, located at Johnson City, Tenn.
By request, I submit a brief Introduction to a history written by Captain S. W. Scott and Adjutant S. P. Angel, entitled : "History of the Thirteenth Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry, U. S. A., including a nar- rative of the Bridge Burning. the Carter County Rebel- lion, and the Loyalty, Heroism and Suffering of the Un- ion Men and Women of Carter and Johnson Counties, Tennessee, during the Civil War."
The scene where this history is laid includes my native county. Many of the loyal men and women whose names appear in its pages are my friends, playmates, and kindred, hence I can but feel a deep interest in its con- tents.
The peculiar situation of East Tennessee in the Civil War made the struggle there far more intense and bitter, and the suffering of the people far greater than where the people were more united in sentiment.
The bold stand taken by the Union leaders in East Tennessee, and the heroic devotion with which the men and women clung to their principles unawed by threats or imprisonment, undismayed by the deadly musket or the hangman's rope, unconquered and unconquerable through four long years of hardships and persecution, deserve a place in history. An examination of the head- lines of the chapters of this work leads me to believe it will be read with much interest.
There is a deep-seated love of the heroic implanted in the human mind, and as long as admiration for brave deeds, and sympathy for suffering humanity, has a place ir the human heart, the story of the steadfast loyalty, and the unfaltering devotion to the Union, of the people of
INTRODUCTION.
Carter and Johnson counties, through a long period of unparalleled suffering and privation will be read with. unabated interest.
East Tennessee, according to the Bureau of Statistics of the U. S. Government, furnished 31,092 volunteers in the Federal army. These figures are probably below the actual number as many of them served in regiments of other States, and were not counted in this estimate. These soldiers maintained the proud record for courage and chivalry that has distinguished the volunteer soldiers of Tennessee since the beginning of our country's history.
There were 28 military organizations, made up almost exclusively of East Tennesseeans. These troops per- formed splendid service on many battle fields. Some were with Sherman in his "March to the Sea;" some were in the long chase after Gen. John H. Morgan through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio: others were bat- tling to redeem their homes in East Tennessee, and firing the last shots at the tottering Confederacy in South Caro- lina and Georgia. There is no record of their service, ex- cept a few mutilated copies of the report made by the Adjutant-General of the State, published in 1867, which gives a very inadequate idea of the services rendered by these organizations.
I commend the energy and zeal of the authors of this history, as well as the pride they have taken in the work of perpetuating the name and services of the gallant Regi- ment of which they were members, and the heroic deeds of the brave men and women of the two counties from which the Regiment was largely made up.
This work will be of great value in the future as a book of reference, and its refutation of the imputation that Gen. John H. Morgan was murdered by the Tennes- see troops after he had surrendered will be, in itself, of inestimable value in exonerating them from a charge, which if it had been true, would have brought upon them the just reproach of every brave soldier.
A history of this kind, embracing the services of all the East Tennessee regiments of Federal troops, and all
16
INTRODUCTION.
the important events that transpired in every county in East Tennessee, would involve too much time and labor for a single historian and would not possess the local in- terest that a number of separate volumes, containing the services of each organization, and the history of events in the county or counties from which each regiment was organized, would possess. For this reason I trust this work will awaken an interest, and arouse a spirit of emulation among the surviving comrades, that will result in giving to the public a history of every East Tennessee regiment, and the interesting events that occurred in each county during the Civil War.
It is a matter of congratulation to those who lived dur- ing the dark days of the Civil War, and to those who have grown up since that time, that the survivors of that period who were arrayed in deadly hostility to each other then are now friends and brothers, mingling in friendly broth- erhood in church, fraternal, social, and business relations, with all the animosities of that dreadful period effaced ; that Federal and Confederate veterans affiliate together in their reunions, and that they, and their sons, fought side by side under the old flag for human liberty, and in behalf of an oppressed people; and that, with its heritage of great achievements and glorious deeds, performed under the stars and stripes, and under the stars and bars our united country is marching forward in the front rank of the nations of the world.
JNO. P. SMITH.
CHAPTER I.
The purpose of this History .- To rescue from oblivion the names of the Heroes and Heroines of Johnson and Carter Counties during the Civil War, and perpetuate the memory of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and the gallant Third Brigade
A general history containing a detailed account of the , services rendered by each individual regiment engaged in the Civil War would be impracticable if not impossible. Regiments are merged into larger organizations, and in a war of such magnitude as our Civil War, the historian must, as a rule, confine himself to the important move- ments in which the army in its larger subdivision was engaged. Thus it will be seen that in the general history of any great war regimental organizations must lose their identity, and after a few years, except those who perform- ed some very notable deeds of valor, even the names of regiments and the officers and men who composed them will have passed into oblivion.
History tells us of the heroism of our ancestors in sub- duing the savages, opening up the New World to civi- lization and the introduction of civil and religious liberty. We read of the heroes of the American Revolution and their long struggle for independence. How they suffered at Valley Forge; how their unexampled courage and fortitude, through seven long years of war, under the guidance of Divine Providence, finally led to the winning of their liberty, and the building up of a great Republic in the Western World.
We read of the second war with Great Britain in
19
20
HISTORY OF THE 13TH REGIMENT
which the young Republic again measured arms with the mother country, then a's now, the leading nation of the world. How our gallant soldiers and sailors were again victorious, achieving what was termed "our second independence."
Again we read of our war with Mexico in which our gallant army under Gen. Winfield Scott, and Gen. Zach- ery Taylor, after a series of unbroken victories, dictated terms of peace in the ancient capitol of the Aztecs and acquired a vast extent of territory now formed into great and prosperous States of the Union.
Of the many thousands of heroic officers and men who achieved these victories and placed our country in the front rank of the nations of the world, but few of their names could be found now outside the musty records of the War Department.
It would be interesting reading to the descendants of these heroes if they could turn to some ancient regimental history and read the names of their progenitors ; the com- pany to which they belonged, the marches they made, the battles they fought, in short, the honorable part they took in the great dramas that have been enacted upon this Continent since the beginning of our history.
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