USA > Tennessee > Hickman County > A history of Hickman County, Tennessee > Part 26
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1808: Lieutenant colonel-John Holland. Ma- jors-Joseph Wilson and Joseph Inman.
1809 : Captains-James Alston, Jones (or Jonas) Messer, William Carrethiers (Carothers), William Phillips, William Haley, Jr., Samuel Snoddy, Charles B. Harvey, Ephraim McCaleb. Lieutenants-John Mitchell, William Mynett, John Owens, John Cope- land, Aaron Parker, Frederick Mayberry, John Pecry, Samuel Faught. Ensigns-Jacob Humble, Silver- ney (probably Sylvanus) Hassell, Benjamin Haw- kins, John Harris, John Walker, Joab Haile.
1810: Captain-Pleasant Easley. Lieutenant-
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
George Read. Ensigns-Jolın Lomaks, John Hart. In a cavalry regiment : Captain-Millington Easley. Lieutenant-Tristram Thomas. Cornet-William Stewart.
1811: Lieutenant colonel-William Phillips. Ma- jor-William Carrethers. Captains-George Reid, Peter Searcy, Daniel Obar (or Daniel O. Barr), Sam- uel M. Carrethers, Pleasant Easley. Lieutenants- Henry M. Truett, James Clark, William Briggs, Aaron Raynor, Josiah Hanna, Jacob IIumble. En- signs-Silvanus Hassell, William Holland, William Muirhead, Obadiah Lewis, Henry Mayberry, Chas. Spencer, Jr.
1812: Captains-Nathaniel Simpson, Ephraim McCaleb, James Alston, Harvey Jones. Lieutenants -Thomas Gatlin, Edmond Gee, Jolın Scott, Eliot Hornback (Hornbeak), Tristram B. Thomas. En- signs-William Rice, John Gregory, Edmund Gee, Elisha Walker, Warham Easley, Drury Easley, John Flinn.
1813: Captains-Alexander W. Swinney, Alexan- der Higginbotham. Lieutenants-Richard Walker, Robert G. Bowen, Bernard Totty. Ensigns-Ste- phen Easley, Ripley Copeland.
1814: Captain-Thomas Gatlin. Lieutenants- Henry Lieuten (Luten), Jonathan Shelton, William Reeves, James Bailey, Elisha Walker. Ensigns- Isaialı Cates, George Goodwin, Warren Mason, James Wilkins.
1815: Major-John Nunnelly. Captains-Jona-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
than Shelton, Barney A. Flinn, Andrew Jones. Lieu- tenant-Jacob Deen (or Dun). Ensigns-William Wright, James Mullen, William Fisher.
1816 : Lieutenant colonel-B. G. Stewart. Major -Joseph Lynn. Captains-John B. Willey, Samuel Harrison, Real Williams. Lieutenants-Jordan An- derson, Willis Davis, William Thompson, Joshua Lewis, Abraham Land, Real Williams. Ensigns- Miles Goodwin, William Tubbs, William Gordon. Cornet in cavalry-Joseph Hanna.
1817: Captains-Hardy Sparks, George Grant (or Gannt), Alexander Anguish ( ? ), Younger McCaslin, William L. Carter, Thomas Dean, Elias R. Walker, Kinchen Pace. Lieutenants-Elijah Dansby, Charles Muirhead, Jesse Hanna, James McClanahan, Archi- bald Ponder. Ensigns-Labomen Kelly, Andrew Elliott. In cavalry : Captain-Josiah Hanna. Lieu- tenant-William Bird.
1818: Captains-John P. Rushing, Thomas Jones, Andrew Moody, Thomas J. Martin, William Reeves. Lieutenants-Conrad Shaw, Hugh McCrory, John McCaslin, Alexander Peery, Noel Tony, John Lewis. Ensigns-John Yarbrough, William Hornberger, Aaron B. Edwards, Jonathan Toland, Jesse Laxton, . Barnet Donalson.
1819: Major-Josiah Hannah.
1820: Surgeon-Joel Walker. Adjutant-Will- iam L. Carter. Judge advocate-Garrett Lane. Quartermaster-Stephen Lacy, Jr. Captains-John Lewis, John G. Anderson, Jesse Laxton. Lieutenants
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
--- David Warren, David Meredith, Robert Hughes, James Andrews. Ensigns-William Bates, Samuel Griffin, James Pigg.
1821: Major-Robert Totty.
1822: Captains-Thomas Warren, James Few, Elijah Walker. Lieutenants-Charles Warren, Eli- jah Cantrell, Thomas Roberts, John Balton. Ensign --- Joseph Baird.
1823 : Captain-Edwin M. Baird. Lieutenant- John Murray. Ensigns-John Mitchell, Solomon Tucker.
1824: Captains-John Davis, Levi McCollum, George Gannt. Lieutenants-John Neighbors, Jo- seph Webb, Jonathan Jones, Alfred McCaslin, Pat- rick D. Lafferty. Ensigns-Jonathan Reeves, John Christian, Isha C. Kelly, Edmond Jones.
1825: Captain-David B. Warren.
1826: Lieutenant colonel-Samuel D. McLaugh- lin. Major-Basil B. Satterfield. Captains-John H. Gatlin, John T. Primm, John L. Anderson, James Capoor (or James K. Poor), Henry Ammons, John Campbell, Jacob Riley, Charles Warren. Lieuten- ants-James McCaleb, Alfred Sanders, John Dun- can, Ambrose Blackburn, Thomas Grantham, Daniel Shouse, Martin Seawell, David Lancaster, Dennis Jones. Ensigns-Andy Fergusson, Willis Lowe.
1827 : Captain-Millington Easley. Lieutenants -- Henry R. Fowlkes, John McGill, Cornelius Mat- thews. Ensign-Thomas Cannon. Officers of the " Houston Guards " commissioned were: David B.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Warren, first lieutenant; Davis H. Morgan, second lieutenant ; Jacob Shouse, ensign. At another time during this year the following were commissioned in this company : Pleasant M. Hornbeak, captain ; Jas. D. Easley, lieutenant.
1828: (36th Regiment) Colonel-B. B. Satter- field. Captain-John McCaleb. Lieutenants-Rob- ert Harrington, Henry Golden. Ensign-Dempsey Harrington. (106th Regiment) Colonel-James Bai- ley. Lieutenant colonel-Jacob Riley. Majors- Jesse Lowe, Lewis Denning. Captains-William Sutton, Elias Rogers. Lieutenants-Lewis Rogers, William Burchard, Richard Brown, William Phil- lips, Samuel Scott, Abner Coleman, Andrew Walker. Ensigns-William B. Murphree, Jesse Lowe.
1829: (36th) Major-Alfred Darden. Captains -Robert Charter (Houston Guards), Lewis P. Totty, John Harrison, Newton Forrester, Benjamin B. Wil- son. Lieutenants-James Prewett (or Trewitt), William F. Twilla, Owen Edwards, Joseph Patterson, James M. Ponder. Ensigns-James Baird, John M. Fielder, Abraham Stillts, Mitchell Anderson.
(106th) Major-William Sutton. Captains-James McCollum, John Smith, William Whitwell. Lieu -. tenants-Drury Brock, Terrell Goodman, Jackson Patton, Paschal Lancaster, William Tatum, James Laxson. Ensigns-Simpson Depriest, Patton Mc- Collum, William Murray, James Jones.
1830: (36th) Captain -- John McGill. Lieuten- ants-Newell K. Poore (Houston Guards), William
445
MILITIA OFFICERS.
Lewis, James Spraddlin, Sterling Carroll, Benjamin Adair, William Poore, Abel Overton, Allen D. Mont- gomery, Jacob Jenkins. Ensigns-Josiah Reed, William Dickey, Joseph Willey, Levi G. Murphree. (106th) Captain-Samuel Scott. Lieutenant-Rob- ert Haile. Ensigns-Thomas Price, John Scott.
1831: (36th) Colonel-Robert Charter. Captains -- Edward Carnes, John Burcham, Richard H. Alli- son. Lieutenants-Benjamin Adair, Asa Pipkin, James M. Baird, John Gray, William Smith. En- signs-Harbert Totty, Wiliam H. Willey.
1832: (36th) Major-Pleasant M. Hornbeak. Captains-Solomon Tucker, Reuben F. White, Thos. Dotson. (106tlı) Majors-James E. Sheegog, Will- iam Whitwell. Captain-Joel C. Hobbs. Lieuten- ants-Thomas P. Kimbro, Nudam Briant, Benjamin Wells, Jefferson Daniel. Ensigns-John W. Petty, Lawson Smitlı.
1833: (36th) Captain-Reuben I. White. Lieu- tenant-James H. Giles. (106th) Major-Dennis G. Jones. Captains-William Wilson, James Moore, Terence Bates, Robert Easley, James Jones, Isham West. Lieutenants-Jackson Deaton, Viach Light, J. Reeves. Ensigns-Henry Milam, Isaac Sparks.
1834: (36tl) Colonel-Alfred Darden. Lieuten- ant colonel-Lewis P. Totty. Majors-James D. Easley, Newton M. Nicks. Captains-Robert E. Griner, Wiliam Wheat, Benjamin Adair, James M. Ponder, Bailey G. Wilson, Henry G. Nichols. Lieu- tenants-Neverson Perritt, Jesse Temple, John Grif-
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
fin, Christopher Nichols, Green Regions, Alfred A. Lanly. Ensigns-Silas Wheat, John Griffin, Ed- ward O. Totty, Asa Savage. (106th) Captains-An- derson Tate, D. A. Walker. Lieutenants-A. Bruce, W. Grant, A. Barr, E. Anderson. Ensigns-Will- iam Harmon, William Milam.
1835: (106th) Colonel-Dennis G. Jones. [The Legislature of 1835, following the constitutional con- vention of 1834, reorganized the militia of the State, the two Hickman County regiments being numbered Ninety-seven and Ninety-eight. ]
1836 : (97th) Colonel-Lewis P. Totty. Lieuten- ant colonel-Neverson Perritt. Majors-Thomas Dodson, Edward Cavenor. Captains-Benjamin Grimmitt, Jacob Jenkins, William Hicks, Lemuel P. Kelley, William Adair, George McCrary, John Parker, Jeremiah Harder. (98th) Colonel-Den- nis G. Jones. Lieutenant colonel-William Wilson. Majors-Joel C. Hobbs, David A. Walker. Cap- tains-Patrick Coleman, Lewis D. Lowe, Jacob By- lor, Nicholas Davis, Thornton Scott, Reuben Thorn- ton.
1837: (97th) Captains-John Oliver, Albert S. Griner. (98th) Major-Samuel Scott.
1838: (97th) Major-John Whitfield. Captains -- Charles Dougherty, Minor B. Hanes, Miles Har- rington. Lieutenants-Andrew Morgan, John Lit- ton, William Thornton, Joseph Alexander, Thomas Rogers. Ensigns-John L. Tarkington, George Ad- cock, Calvin Harrington.
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
1839 : (97th) Lieutenant colonel-Albert S. Gri- ner, John A. Oliver. (98th) Lieutenant colonel- Thornton Scott.
1840: (97th) Colonel-Albert S. Griner. (98th) Lieutenant colonel-Thornton Scott.
1841: (97th) Major-William Neal. (98th) Cap- tains-S. Lewis, I. Lancaster. Lieutenants-W. Quillen, Jno. McNeilly, B. Brown (or Breece), M. Reeves, Wm. Brown (or Breece). Ensigns-Daniel Brown (or Breece), Daniel Winters.
1842: (98th) Colonel-W. A. Calvert. Captain -- B. F. Brown. Lieutenant-W. Brown. Ensign -- J. Petty.
1843 : (97th) Major - Nathaniel Le Duff ( ? ). (98th) Colonel -- David Walker.
1844: (97th) Captains-M. G. Peery, Jno. Baker, W. C. Barnes, W. L. Bateman, J. C. Bradley. Lieu- tenants-Hiram Baird, G. W. Fowlkes, E. C. Willey, M. W. Davidson, Alpheus Truett. Ensigns-Calvin Shouse, David Darden, James W. McMinn. Benj. Hassell. (98th) Colonel-D. A. Walker. Captains -W. Gravett, G. W. Car ( ? ). Lieutenants-J. Par- ham, W. Breece (or Brown), J. - ( ? ), W. Quil- len, J. C. Cavendor, T. W. Easley. Ensigns-W. Holt, J. H. - ( ? ), J. Barber, Lewis Bates.
1845 : Brigadier general (Seventeenth Brigade)- Thos. J. Whitfield. (97th) Colonel-J. A. Oliver. Major-A. A. Alexander. Captains-Jesse Briggs, Noah K. Randall, Wm. H. Miller, Jno. Young, Jno. P. Beasley, Henry C. Campbell. Lieutenants-B.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Liggins, Francis M. Totty (or Tolly), James H. De- vore, Henry R. Raymond, H. Church, John Worley, James Gwin, Josiah Jones, Pinkney Prince, P. Sav- age, Iloratio Clagett. Ensigns-Nathan Hickman, Andrew Clymer, Rufus Coleman. (98th) Lieuten- ant Colonel-T. Thompson. Major-Jno. Shepard.
1848: (97th) Colonel-Andrew M. Adair. Ma- jors-Thomas Brooks, Jas. Devore. Captains- Thos. O. Smith, Wm. II. Bratton, Jno. C. Anderson, Robt. Newsom, A. W. Weatherly, Stephen Reeves, Ira H. Barnhill, Wm. P. Kelly. Lieutenants- Thomas Massey, Jesse C. Hicks, J. W. McMinn, Jno. G. Turman, Henry Lyle, Jesse P. Bates, Jno. W. Jones, Stephen S. Rogers, Jno. Worley, Jno. Nicks, Wm. Cockrum. Ensigns-Jno. A. Randall, Chas. A. Nash, Sir Winfred Cotton, Henry Darden, Jno. L. Clymer, Jonathan Hardwick.
1849: (97th) Captains-Jno. Haile, Turner Ty- ler, Whitman W. W. Fowlkes. Lieutenants-Clias. W. Gracey, M. L. Giles, Jno. Williams, Wm. T. Hagins, Wilson Overbey. Ensign-Abram Groves.
1850: (98th) Captains-E. W. Christian, B. M. Harris, Wm. Collier. Lieutenants-James Black- burn, Z. M. Garner, Wm. Phillips, J. G. Anderson, · WVm. Foster, James B. Wright. Ensigns-A. J. Bates, Wm. Leathers.
1851: (97th) Lieutenant colonel - Edward A. Fowlkes. (98th) Colonel-Aden Lowe. Majors- Alfred Forrester, James M. Davidson.
1853: (97th) Colonel-Jno. A. R. Fogge. Lieu-
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
tenant colonel-Patrick Smith. Major-James Mil- ler.
1861: On May 1, under the Act reestablishing the State militia, the following were commissioned : (97th) Colonel-Edward A. Fowlkes. Lieutenant colonel-E. W. Nunnellee. Majors-Howell A. Shouse, Jesse K. McMinn. Captains-James D. Easley, H. C. Campbell, William Anderson, Wilson Overbey, A. J. Lovell, G. H. Andrews, J. A. Nunnel- lee, Wm. H. Brown, Jno. A. Jones, Marshall Twomey. (98th) Colonel-John Morris ( ? ). Lieutenant colo- nel-S. J. Easley. Majors-D. J. Easley, D. L. Bastian. A few weeks later the enlistment of men for the Confederate Army commenced in Hickman County. !
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
CHAPTER XXII.
COUNTY AND COURT OFFICIALS.
T HE destruction of records by the fire which de- stroved the Hickman County courthouse during the latter days of the Civil War caused the task of compiling lists of county and court officials to be a difficult one. Some of the following lists are com- plete and accurate; while others are only partially so, despite strenuous efforts to make them both com- plete and accurate :
Judges of Circuit Court .- Parry W. Humphreys (1809-13), Bennet Searcy (1813-18), Parry W. Hum- phreys (1818-36) [Judge Joshua Haskell presided at Centerville by interchange with him in 1828], Mortimer A. Martin (1836-38), Edmond Dillahunty (1838-49), Elijah Walker (1849-61), Fielding Hurst (1865), Hilary Ward (1865-67), A. M. Hughes (1867-70), Elijah Walker (1870-73), Thomas P. Bateman (1873-86), E. D. Patterson (1886-91), W. L. Grigsby (1891-99), John W. Childress (1899-).
Solicitors-general .- G. W. L. Marr (1809-13), . Bennet Searcy (1813-in June of which year he be- came judge), E. T. Paine (1813-June to Novem- ber), Henry Minor (1813-14), James L. Brown (1814-15), Samuel Chapman (1815-17), Robert L. Cobb (1817-19), James R. McMeans (1819-21), James Scott (1821-26), Henry Nixon (1826-31),
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COUNTY AND COURT OFFICIALS.
Alex. M. Hardin (1831-36). Attorneys-general .- William K. Turner (1836-39), Willie B. Johnson (1839-41), Nathaniel Baxter (1841-47), John M. Taylor (1870-78), M. H. Meeks (1878-86), John L. Jones (1886-94), W. Blake Leech (1894-99), H. Clay Carter (1899-).
Circuit Court Clerks .- Robert Estes (1809 -? ), Millington Easley (made bond on March 14, 1820), David B. Warren (1836-48), Samuel Whitson (1848- 50), A. Z. Deshazo (1850-54), Robt. C. Huddleston (1854-59), E. W. Easley (1859-60), John L. Grif- fin (1860-63), Frank Puckett (1865-appointed by Brownlow), Wm. G. Clagett (1865-74), E. G. Thomp- son (1874-82), J. D. Flowers (1882-86), J. W. Atkin- son (1886-94), William A. Adair (1894-).
Sheriffs .- William Phillips (1808-24), Gabriel Fowlkes (1824-32), Pleasant Walker (1832-36), William H. Carothers (1836-42), Reeves A. Huddle- ston (1842-43-died), William Phillips (1843-48), John W. Huddleston (1848-54), Solomon J. George (1854-60), Levi McCollum (1860-62), Daniel D. Smith (1862-65), Joseph Beasley (1865-67), John Baker (1867-72), E. A. Dean (1872-78), Horatio C. Hunter (1878-80), J. A. Harvill (1880-84), W. H. Phillips (1884-90), J. A. Harvill (1890-92), W. J. McEwen (1892-96), John V. Stephenson (1896-98), J. C. Yates (1898-).
Chancellors .- Stephen C. Pavatt (1854-61), . J. C. Walker (1868-70), George H. Nixon (1870-86), A. J. Abernathy (1886-). Prior to 1854 Chancery
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Courts for Hickman County were held at Charlotte. Some of the Chancellors who presided there were: William E. Anderson, Nathan Green, Wm. A. Cork, Lunsford M. Bramlett, Andrew McCampbell, Terre H. Cahal, A. O. P. Nicholson, John S. Brien, and Samuel D. Frierson.
Clerks and Masters (at Centerville) .- S. H. Will- iams (1954-56), Orville A. Nixon (1856-61), Pleas- ant M. Hornbeak (1865-67-died and was succeeded for a short time by his son, F. B. Hornbeak), W. M. Johnson (1867-83), O. A. Nixon (1883-90- died), E. G. Thompson (1890-93), Samuel T. Broome (1893-).
County Court Clerks .- William Stone (1808-18), Samuel Sebastian (1818-1835), James D. Easley (1835-58), J. W. Hornbeak (1858-61), M. H. Puck- ett (1865-70-appointed by Brownlow), J. D. Mur- phree (1870-73), J. D. Easley (1873-74), A. M. Reaves (1874-82), W. P. Coleman (1882-90), A. J. McClaren (1890-97-died), Robert Brown (1897- 98), J. W. Russell (1898-).
Tax Collectors .- James H. Fowlkes (1847-48), Green Pickard (1849-50), D. McCord (1851), J. A. Bizwell (1852), Isaac Lancaster (1853), R. Coleman (1854), Geo. W. Martin (1855), Cyrus W. Russell (1856), A. J. Nixon (1857), Wm. F. Shipp (1858), J. K. McMinn (1859), Z. F. Beasley (1860), J. N. Puckett, Jr. (1865-70-appointed by Brownlow), Robt. F. Green (1870-72), H. C. Campbell (1872- 74), J. C. Frazier (1874-76).
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COUNTY AND COURT OFFICIALS.
Trustees .- S. McE. Wilson (1876-82), A. W. War- ren (1882-88), J. N. Pace (1888-92), J. H. Brown (1892-96), W. M. Baxter (1896-).
County Surveyors .- James Weatherspoon (1824- 25), George Peery (1825-51), Samuel C. Aydelott (1851-65). Since the Civil War the following have held this office : Andrew J. Stanfield, W. H. Burchard, W. P. Coleman, John M. Anderson, and Isaac A. Hunter.
Registers .- Bartholomew Grayson Stewart (1808 to as late as 1817, and probably later), Eli B. Horn- beak (1822-terminal dates not known), Samuel B. Moore (filled out Hornbeak's unexpired term), Pleas- ant Hornbeak, N. T. Fowlkes (1851-terminal dates not known), John C. Gracey (1854-terminal dates not known), --- Grimes, of Beaverdam Creek (1854- 58), E. W. Lawson (1858 to Civil War), J. H. Hines (appointed by Governor Brownlow), E. W. Law- son (1870-74), Thos. J. Walker (1874-82), W. D. Thompson (1882-90), J. D. Flowers (1890-98), W. D. Warren (1898-).
County Superintendents of Public Instruction .- A. J. Stanfield (1867-69-office abolished), Orville A. Nixon (1872 to September 4, 1874-resigned), J. A. Cunningham (September 4, 1874, to January 1, 1876), S. H. Holmes (January 1 to October 1, 1876 -- resigned), W. P. Clarke (October 1, 1876 to 1886), I. A. Hunter (1886-90), R. E. Arnall (1890-rc- signed), W. V. Jarrett (1890-91), I. A. Hunter (1891-96), R. S. Ballow (1896-).
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
CHAPTER XXIII. HICKMAN COUNTY SOLDIERS.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
A LL of that portion of Hickman County north of the Continental Line of 1784 (known locally as the " Military Line ") was embraced in the terri- tory given to her soldiers in the Revolutionary War by North Carolina; therefore, the larger portion of this territory was granted to holders of North Caro- lina military warrants. Many of these warrants were bought from the soldiers by land speculators; some became the property of soldiers' heirs. Several old soldiers came here in person, laid their land warrants here, and spent their last days in Hickman County. Some of these were: Josiah Davidson, - Hardin, Abner Ponder, and James Peery. On June 1, 1840, there were living within the limits of Hickman County the following old Revolutionary soldiers : Elijah May- field, Josiah Grimmitt, Jordan Milam, John Tucker, Richard Campbell, and Richard Nolls.
WAR OF 1812.
In the War of 1812 Hickman County furnished a number of soldiers. Some of them were: Capt. Porter, Capt. John Gordon, William Shipp, John Gainer, Matthew Totty, William Totty, Drury Har- rington, Dempsey Harrington, Robert. Harrington,
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HICKMAN COUNTY SOLDIERS.
William Harrington, Epps Bishop, James Birden, Jared Curl, Thomas Uslam, John Richardson, Dr. Schmittou, William Bird, William Carter (or- derly sergeant in 1814), Allan P. Kelley, Robert Peery (wounded at New Orleans on January 8, 1815), Alexander Peery, William Peery, and George Peery.
FIRST SEMINOLE WAR.
Of the Hickman County participants in the First Seminole War, only the names of William Bird and William Carter have been preserved. With a well- organized militia in the county and with the military spirit of the people alive, Hickman County doubtless furnished more soldiers in the War of 1812 and in the two Seminole Wars than are here named, and it is to be regretted that the absence of records prevents the naming of all those who participated in these wars.
SECOND SEMINOLE WAR.
The following names of Hickman Countians who participated in the Second Seminole War have been preserved : Maj. Powhattan Gordon, William Mc- Cutcheon, Zach. Totty (wounded ), and Barnett Totty. Felix K. Zollicoffer, son-in-law of Capt. John Gordon and brother-in-law of Maj. Powhattan Gordon, was in this war.
MEXICAN WAR.
When Gov. Aaron V. Brown made the call for volunteers in 1846, John W. Whitfield's company, " Hickory Guards," was one of the first to respond.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
It became Company A of the First Tennessee Regi- ment, commanded by Col. William Bowen Camp- bell, who afterwards became Governor of Tennessee. Colonel Campbell was a relative of Dr. Samuel Bowen Moore, Dr. J. C. Ward, and other citizens of Hick- man County. This regiment, after its baptism of blood at Monterey, was known as "The Bloody First." The deeds of this regiment have gone into the bright- est pages of Tennessee history; but the tattered and faded diary of Dr. William D. Dorris, who succeeded Dr. McPhail as surgeon of the regiment, tells of the hardships encountered by this regiment-the stern realities which were associated with the glamour of glory. The regiment was organized at the race course below Nashville on June 3, 1846, and spent this and the succeeding day in drilling. On June 5 it started on its long journey by water to New Orleans. One of the steamboats was the Tallerand, on board of which a Bible class was organized on June 7. This class had about 150 members, but the list of their names was lost before Mexico was reached. Dr. Dor- ris, in his diary, says: "June 13 and 15, inclusive, we landed at New Orleans and encamped in the lower part of the city, at Williams' Mills, a most filthy place." On the night of June 17 the regiment em- barked on three sailing vessels for Brazos Santiago, an island about nine miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande. Two companies were placed on the schooner Orleans, and five companies on the ship Charleston, of Boston. Five companies were placed on the third
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HICKMAN COUNTY SOLDIERS.
vessel, although the captain had contracted for but four. Dr. Dorris says: " We suffered like African slaves from the jam being so great as to cause difficult breathing, sickness, etc. We anchored off the island on the fifth morning, and some five companies were taken off five or six days after, and the balance, with our poor bruised horses, were taken off after weather- ing out a storm of forty hours at anchor. We were miserably neglected by Major Thomas at Point Isa- bel." They were " then placed in a miserable flat, where we had to sink barrels to get the natural red soda water, which, with the malaria, has given the surgeons more than they were able to do." Captains Whitfield and Walton (the latter of whom is still living) erected the first two hospital tents. Dr. Dor- ris says : " The first report I made of bowel complaints was 230 cases. One case died, belonging to Captain Whitfield's company, since we landed here." This was Nimrod Hartzogg. Dr. Dorris expresses sur- prise that there were no more deaths. From the sick roll of Whitfield's company, kept by Dr. Dorris, it seems that nearly every man in the company was seri- ously ill before they reached Monterey. Two entries on the sick roll are as follows: " George W. Banks, mosquito bite; Owen Edwards, homesick." In this season of distress the Bible class was reorganized on July 4, 1846. The following names are signed on the roll of this class : Joseph Weems, R. H. Smith, James E. Burchard, William E. Whitson, William Walker, Henry G. Darden, Robert Harrington, Lewis
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
P. Totty, Joseph S. Anderson, Owen Edwards, John C. Lewis, John Duncan, George W. Banks, Ira H. Barnhill, R. J. Newsom, Samuel Weatherly, James B. Harder, Edmond Harder, Abner Weatherly; "J. W. Whitfield, Capt. H. Guards." This memoran- dum was made on this roll: " Our Bible class has generally been neglected more on account of sickness than anything else, and dividing our regiment into detachments in transporting us from place to place on steamboats. This the 13th Sept., 1846. (Signed) Joseph Weems, Sec." Under date of "July 5 & 6, 1846," is this entry in Dr. Dorris' diary: " Camp Brazos Santiago-a flat, low, nasty place." Con- cerning the illness of Dr. McPhail, the surgeon of the regiment, Dr. Dorris says: "Dr. Starnes went with him, the doctor's boy, and Joseph Weems to nurse him. George Martin nursed him on the beach at Brazos Santiago. Both good nurses." Dr. McPhail died on July 12, 1846, and was buried on the follow- ing day with military honors. He was a brother-in- law of Captain Whitfield, and was a physician in the Third District before the breaking out of the Mexican War. On July 8 the regiment marched from the island of Brazos Santiago to the mouth of the Rio Grande. This march of nine miles consumed three hours. For one-fourth of a mile they marched across a har which was covered by water from the gulf. The average depth of the water was two feet. They were transported by steamboats fifteen miles up the Rio Grande. " The water of the Rio Grande, the only
459
HICKMAN COUNTY SOLDIERS.
kind we now use, is rather muddier than the Missis- sippi, but easily settles and has a good taste ; and is far better than any which we have had since we left New Orleans," says Dr. Dorris. Dr. Dorris, Lieutenant Lewis P. Totty, and eighteen others were sent to Gen- eral Taylor to warn him of a contemplated attack on his wagon train, which had with it $200,000. By July 23 the regiment had reached Camargo, farther up the Rio Grande, at the mouth of one of its tribu- tries. Here a number of Whitfield's company were discharged on account of sickness and sent home. When a call came, on August 29, for men to move up this tributary of the Rio Grande to attack Monterey, less than half the regiment responded. The march to Monterey commenced on September 7, and they came in sight of the city on September 19. Under date of September 13, 1846, is this entry in the diary of Dr. Dorris: " The sickness that has prevailed in this regiment has never been excelled by any I ever heard of or read of in my campaigns. (Signed) William D. Dorris, M.D., Surgeon First Tennessee. By Joseph Weems, secretary." Dr. Dorris had gone through the Second Seminole War as a surgeon. Company A was, on account of orders, not under di- rect fire during the attack on Monterey on September 21. Dr. Dorris says: " Tennesseans made the best charge ever made by Americans against fortress and batteries. The flag that was presented by the ladies of the Nashville Academy was the first placed on the walls of Monterey." Along with the Tennesseans in
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