USA > Tennessee > Sullivan County > Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history > Part 16
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in the debate were Dr. A. J. Brown, Lutheran, of Blount- ville, and Dr. W. A. Montgomery, Baptist, of Morristown.
Each debater presented his side ably and to the satis- faction of the side represented, but in other respects there was nothing to make the event remarkable except the length of it. However, the audience, which packed the church to the doors, even crowding the gallery and windows, did not diminish during the three days.
The effect of this discussion was wholesome and far reaching. It silenced, perhaps for all time, the petty church disputes that had become annoying, and brought together in more friendly relation the various church people. And if these worthy men had never done else in their lives worth recording, this event alone deserves to be remembered as having united the people of that town and vicinity in friendlier fellowship than ever before.
THE CAMP-MEETING.
The most popular and therefore the most numerously attended tent meetings in upper East Tennessee were at Bond's camp-ground, four miles southwest of Blountville. It was organized in 1842 by Rev. George Eakin, better known as "Father Eakin." The original tent holders at the time of its organization were John Barnes, John Fleming, John Denny, Benjamin Johnson, Moses Wright, Robert Easley, Noah Hull, Rev. Samuel Stevens, William Cole, William Hilton, Stephen Adams, William Linda- mood, Looney Gammon, Alexander Standfield, William Snodgrass, David Snodgrass, William Barnes, Benjamin Yoakley, Rev. Blake Carlton, Rev. W. K. Cross, Peter Yoakley, John Hull, Rev. J. J. James, Joseph Spurgeon, Henry Yoakley, Jacob Snapp, Jacob Messick, William Deery, Rev. Thomas P. Ford, Frederick Carlton, Rev. Joseph Mccrary and Martin Hawk.
The influence of these meetings went beyond the bounds of the camping places. They usually began on Friday and extended well into the following week-
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sometimes a revival would carry them on for several days.
The camp-meetings were held until the Civil War and were not revived until 1867-70. The tenters who rebuilt then were J. C. Yoakley, Rev. W. K. Cross, Jonathan Morrell, Jonathan Hawk, David Akard, H. D. Hawk, Jessie Adams, James Barnes, Sr., James Barnes, Jr., G. R. Barnes, E. C. Barnes, J. S. Cart- wright, R. S. Cartwright, John Roller, David Roller, Bettie Holt, Dod Cross, James H. Baird, W. F. Yoakley, W. A. Boy, S. S. Hall, "Aunt" Betsy Carlton, Ellen Yoak- ley, Polly Yoakley, Betsy Bond, Polly Hawk, all noted for their religious zeal and power in prayer.
The result of these meetings was felt in commercial as well as in religious life. It is of record, but without explanation, that land in the vicinity of Bond's camp- ground was worth ten dollars on the acre more than land outside of its inflence.
The social life too was strengthening, elevating and spiritual. Those old women, who gathered and tented there year after year had no ambition but to please and entertain and worship. Their tents were open so long as there was any place to stay and their tables gave up in profusion the best of their farm products. Their cooking became as famous as their religion. Young women have gone there to learn the secret of those tempt- ing dishes and today many a table that is spread in Sullivan County offers delicious evidence of an art learned around the kitchens at the old camp-ground.
The lives of those old women, like "Aunt" Betsy Carlton, have been a benediction. Whether in the kitchen pre- paring the food or at the table serving it and begging you to have more or at the altar bending in prayer or in the sick room nursing back to health the ebbing life of a neighbor, they have been missionaries of unpretentious tenderness and care. Too few have been the years allotted to them, for in such hearts rests the real religion of the world. "Aunt" Betsy Carlton, born during the
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warring years of the seventeenth century and reaching far into the eighteenth, represents the type of Tennessee frontier women who played such a noble part in the struggle of our early days.
The ground upon which the tents of the old camp-ground stood still remains the property of the church, but the tents are gone and nothing remains but a memory to remind one of the scenes that transpired there.
The last sermon at Bond's was delivered by Rev. John E. Naff, a grandson of "Father" Eakin, who preached the first sermon there. The meetings were discontinued about 1895.
Ketron's camp-ground was established about the same time as Bond's-a year later perhaps. It was also known as Reedy creek camp-ground. Henry Ketron gave the land for the tents, church and burying-ground. The church was burned down in 1863 and the camp- meetings at that place abandoned. Among the early tenters were John Ketron, Wesley Ketron, Watson Ketron, Joseph Newland, William Newland, Abner Hughes, Lot O. Gott, Rev. S. D. Gaines and Philip Foust.
An exciting incident at this camp-ground was the fight that took place between Rev. W. G. Brownlow and Fayette McMullen. Brownlow had made some sting- ing criticisms of McMullen and the latter went to the camp- ground and proceeded to "cane" Brownlow, who drew his pistol, but was prevented from shooting by the inter- cession of friends.9
Rockhold's camp-ground was organized a few years after Bond's camp-ground. The following is the deed of conveyance:
This Indenture made this Fifteenth day of March 1847 Between Wm. Rockhold of the one part and Andrew Riley, Andrew Boy, Jacob Boy, Royston Boy, James B. Worley, Henry Kesler, Nathl Hix, Joseph
9Price says this fight took place at Brush creek camp-ground. The story was told me by a spectator of the difficulty, but reports varied as to Brownlow's part. One claimed Brownlow snapped his pistol at McMullen, another that he shot him and still another that McMullen was shot three times and was killed.
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Merideth and Wm Rockhold all of the County of Sullivan & State of Tennessee Witnesseth that the said William Rockhold this day in con- sideration of his high regard for the Methodist Episcopal Church and in consideration of his promises heretofore made to said Church hath this &c by these presence do convey in trust as trustees for said Church that tract or parcel of land whereon the Camp & Meeting house is situ ated on the river Holston in Sullivan County commonly called Rockholds Camp ground. Bounded as follows by Morrels line, Shells line & the river containing twelve acres-be the same more or less for them the said trustees to have and to hold in trust for said Church as long as said Church continue the same in the plan of their Circuit & to hold Camp Meeting on the said premises and it is further understood should it so happen at any time that either Andy Riley A. Boy, R. Boy, J. Boy, J. B. Worley, H. Kesler, N. Hix, J. Merideth or W. Rockhold the said trustees or any of them die, resign, leave said church or be expelled it shall be the duty of those in office to fill said veyquancy & when fild thair acts shall be as valid as the acts of those mentioned in this Deed and it is further understood & greed should it so happen hereafter that said church desist-the use of said premises as a place of public worship or drop the same from the plan of same circuit in said Church then the said premises reverts back to said Rockhold his heirs &c.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.
WM. ROCKHOLD
This camp-ground is the only one in the county that has continued its meetings annually.
At Acuff's camp-ground was the earliest camp-meeting held in the county. It was in the vicinity of Acuff's chapel. The tents were built of logs and covered with bark. But little is known of its history.
TEMPERANCE.
The history of temperance in Tennessee is as old as the history of the state. James Robertson, the "Father of Tennessee," declared that "the conversion of crops of grain into spirituous liquors is an unwarranted perversion, unservicable to white men and devilish for Indians," and expressed the hope "that there may never be any waste of grain by distillation, or waste of estates or ruin of soul by drinking liquor."10
10Blackmore's address at Bledsoe's memorial.
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The early advocates of temperance were not practical. They could not realize the difference between ethics and ether. They depended upon prayer rather than upon politics, and in consequence the old Prohibition party was never in itself successful. When St. John was a candidate for president on the Prohibition ticket he re- ceived two11 votes in Bristol and one12 in Blountville. As early as 1785 a part of Tennessee declared for prohibition and later the entire state was in the pro- hibition column.
In the early years of the temperance movement great demonstrations were made and the organization of tem- perance societies was prevalent. The Washingtonian Society was the first introduced, its object being the same as those following, such as Good Templars and Band of Hope.
Doss Leedy, the old stage driver, once drove a temper- ance band wagon from Kingsport to Arcadia and Blount- ville, and along the way testimonials to the cause were prepared.
At Blountville temperance enthusiasts bought out the "groggery," with the bad will of the owner, and as there was only one barrel it was taken with its contents to a grove at the east end of town. Here a great concourse of people had assembled. A keg of powder was placed beneath the barrel and while the crowd stood in suspense a fuse attached to the keg was lighted-in a little while the flying staves and flames gave evidence that the liquor was no more.
The tenseness and religious severity of the scene was appeased by the put in of a local wit, who, surrounded by a company of fellow sympathisers, protested loud enough to be heard, "boys, that's a damned waste."
Temperance became a lively issue in a political cam-
11J. R. Anderson and Robert Watkins.
12Joel Millard. There were not over one dozen votes in the county for the ticket.
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paign of 1853. James Odell and John Spurgeon were candidates for representative. Odell represented the anti-temperance sentiment. The real issue, however, was a row of cherry trees. These trees had been on Spurgeon's farm and grew along a roadside, the public each year helping themselves to the crop. This tres- passing soon became a nuisance and the trees were cut down. This incident Odell used with telling effect, relating how Spurgeon deprived the poor people of his cherries-how he cut the trees down rather than let them have any. Odell was elected, but more on account of the cherry tree story than his anti-temperance platform.
The churches early began to take a hand in the regula- tion of the liquor traffic. At the Cold Spring church it was decided that the distilling and drinking of liquor was a growing evil and that the manufacture of it by the elders should cease. But this restriction was too sudden and absolute and less prohibitive measures were adopted. All members, but one, were to abandon the making of whiskey and he was to do the "stilling" for the congre- gation.13 Drunkenness was a rare thing in those days.
The business men of the nation came to the rescue of the temperance people. The railroads were the first to declare against drinking. Human lives depended upon the sobriety of their employees and abstinence became a quali- fication required by all employers. Other lines of business followed. The old political parties, that had year after year incorporated in their platforms, "we are opposed to sumptuary legislation," had their ears to the ground, and now abandoned "sumptuary," hurriedly espousing
W/IM: 13This church is not given as an exception. The practice was prevalent if not legalized among the members of various churches of that day. The following story furnishes another picture of the times: One of the ministers who preached to the Cold Spring congregation was in the habit of taking a pack of hounds to church and announcing from the pulpit that all those who desired to join in the fox chase could meet him early Monday morning at his stopping place. One Sunday a favorite hound followed the minister into church, crawled up in a window and fell asleep. It was some distance to the ground and a worshipper seeing the dog there pushed him outside. The preacher saw the act and, although in the midst of his sermon, walked down from the pulpit and was about to strike the offender when friends interfered. The minister then went back and resumed his discourse.
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the cause of temperance. This action was a partial solu- tion of the question-there were plenty of men in both parties who were ready to align themselves with the cause, but when it came to a test they could not turn their backs on the party with which they had been so long associated.
The country people, when given an opportunity, have stood for temperance. The brewers and distillers, seeing the wave of public sentiment, tendered their services to help reform the saloon. But the saloon-keepers have never been able to control an opportunity; they have, by their excesses and ridicule and boasting, made once flouted prohibition a refuge and a respected issue, and they come each year within closer view of the saloon's inevitable end.
The temperance question is still an issue and as in all moral questions extremes meet extremes in often bitter antagonism.
EDMUND PENDLETON GAINES
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EDMUND PENDLETON GAINES.
A BIOGRAPHY.
Sullivan County's most noted military man was Gen. Gaines. At one time he was considered for the place of commander-in-chief of the United States army.1
He was a descendant of Edmund Pendleton, who at one time was president of the Virginia Court of Appeals. This Pendleton had purchased a large tract of land in Sullivan County-some five thousand acres-one of the first entries, and thither his nephew James Gaines, the father of Edmund, removed when the latter was in his thirteenth year. Here he was brought into association with influences, like the Indian depredations, that determined him upon a military career.
When eighteen he was chosen a lieutenant in a company of volunteers under command of J. Cloud.
Three years later he began to devote himself to the study of law, but about this time W. C. C. Claiborne, recognizing his work in a military way obtained an appoint- ment for him in the regular army under Col. Butler. In 1801 he was selected to make a topograghical survey from Nashville to Natchez.
In 1804 he was appointed collector of customs at Mobile. In addition he was appointed agent of the Post- master-General, the duties of which office was to inspect the post-offices of his district and find out who were im- plicated in the plot with Aaron Burr. While stationed at Fort Stoddart it was reported to him that a person of distinction was seen traveling in the district and suspect- ing that it was Burr, for whose arrest a proclamation had recently been sent out by the President, he at once determined to intercept him.
1President Adams is credited with having remarked once that he was afraid to appoint either Gaines or Scott commander-in-chief, as the appointment of either might result in a duel-they being irreconcilable enemies.
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Gaines' arrest of Burr was quite dramatic. When the officers approached Burr he assumed a startled pose, demanding upon what authority a citizen was thus stopped upon the highway. The arrest was made with positive- ness, but with a courtesy due the rank of the distinguished citizen. Burr was sent with escort to Richmond.
Although only carrying out orders, Gaines, all through his career, felt the effects of the Burr influence against him, and it invariably asserted itself when he stood for promotion.
Gaines shortly after this event decided to resign from government service and take up the practice of law, but the probability of war with England made it necessary to grant him only temporary leave. He began the practice of law in the counties of Washington and Baldwin, Mississippi. It was not long, however, before a summons came for him to assist his country against the advance of the British.
He was now thirty years of age. It was this war that brought him fame. In his memorable defense of Fort Erie he was made so conspicuous by his bravery that Congress voted him a gold medal, while the states of New York, Tennessee and Virginia presented him costly swords in token of their appreciation.
In this war he arose from rank to rank until he reached that of Major-General, the highest authorized by law. At the close of the war he was assigned to a command in the South, on the borders of Georgia and Florida, where the negroes and Indians were giving trouble and there he was associated with Gen. Andrew Jackson in the Seminole War.
Gen. Jackson appointed Gaines president of a court martial, to try Arbuthnot and Ambrister-the former being hung and the latter shot. These executions were strongly condemned by Jackson's enemies and called for a thorough investigation, in which the officers were exonerated.
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During Gaines' military operations in Florida he had a fierce battle with the Seminoles, led by Chief Osceola, in February, 1836.
Gen. Gaines was relieved of his command in 1846 because, without authority, he was supposed to have summoned volunteers to aid Gen. Taylor in the Mexi- can War, but a court of inquiry, that had been convened at Fortress Monroe, on the 20th of July the same year, acquitted him.
He was then put in command of the Eastern Depart- ment.
He died at New Orleans,2 June 6, 1849, seventy-two years of age. Gen. Gaines was married three times- his last wife being the widow Myra Clark Whitney, daughter of Daniel Clark.3
THE BATTLE OF ERIE.
The battle of Niagara had been fought and, while it was an American victory, the English disputed it, and to
2Jefferson Davis was once on Gen. Gaines' staff. Later when on a wedding journey to New Orleans he called upon the General. Gen. Winfield Scott had just published his book on military tactics and as he had recently returned from a visit to Europe his book was full of foreign phrases. On being asked by Davis what he thought of the book, Gaines replied: "The English language is sufficiently copious to explain any idea Gen. Scott ever had."
3Daniel Clark was a native of Ireland and came to New Orleans as Consul in 1766. Here he became entangled with a beautiful French woman named Zulime Carrier, by whom he had a daughter, born in 1806. Shortly before his death, in 1813, he left this daughter in the care of a Philadelphia family named Davis, who brought her up in ignorance of her parentage. In 1830 Davis, who was then a member of the Pennsylvania legislature sent home for certain papers and Myra, in searching for them, discovered letters that partially revealed the secret of her birth. In 1832 she married W. W. Whitney, of New York, who followed up the clew, discovered an old letter containing an account of a will made by Clark be- fore his death giving all his estate to Myra and acknowledging her as his legitimate child. The will could not be found, but other testimony was found that disclosed the fact of its one time existence and of a secret marriage between Clark and Miss Carrier in Philadelphia in 1803.
Whitney brought suit against the city of New Orleans to recover property that had been willed to his wife. It was hotly contested, but Whitney died before a decision was reached.
In 1839 the widow married Gen. Edmund P. Gaines, of Sullivan County, who entered into the case as enthusiastically as his wife. It was carried through all the courts and dragged its slow tapeful length along, but was lost. Gen. Gaines died in 1852; his widow never gave up the suit. She had secured some new evidence and while losing in the lower court, the United States Supreme Court sustained her claim. The value of the property was $35,000,000. The city appealed the case, and the breaking out of the war delayed judgment until 1867, when once more judgment was rendered in her favor. In her lifetime she secured more than $6,000,- 000 and the suit became the sensation of the country.
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such an extent did they regard it as their victory the soldiers wore the name "Niagara" on their caps.
The English now turned their attention to Fort Erie. Gen. Ripley was in charge of the fort, while Gen. Drum- mond was directing the English forces against it.
Gen. Gaines, in August, 1814, was sent to Fort Erie and at once took command. He began by acquainting him- self with the condition of the defences and his efforts and interest put new life into the garrison.
On the 13th Drummond began a cannonade, which was continued until the next day. When this ceased, on account of the little damage done, it was clear that the British general would make a direct assault. Gaines therefore detailed two sets of men-one to be prepared against a surprise attack at night and the others on duty by day. A shell from the enemy, on the evening of the 14th, exploded in a small magazine and made a deafening noise. The British, thinking that they had destroyed the main magazine of the Americans, prepared to follow this up with another well directed blow.
At two o'clock on the morning of the 15th the Ameri- can pickets announced the coming of the enemy, who expected to find the Americans asleep-but in this they were mistaken. When the advance columns came up a brilliant rocket was fired into their midst, disclosing their whereabouts and enabling the Americans to fire with more accuracy. The English did not lack for bravery and made five attempts to scale the walls, but each time were driven back with great loss-the grape and cannister doing deadly work. In one of these attacks Drummond, who was preparing to deal with the foe "showing no mercy," was himself the sufferer from his own rash order. After having denied Lieut. Macdonough quarter and killing him, the officer executing the order was slain in the same way. Having shown no quarter he received none. The battle raged all along the lines until dawn.
The British were preparing to make another desperate
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attack when an explosion was heard and there was great confusion and retreat. The bastion, which had been filling up with soldiers, was exploded, sending bodies high into the air. At this the British broke ranks and left the field. When the enemy retreated there were found to be two hundred and twenty-one killed; one hundred and seventy- four wounded and one hundred and sixty-six prisoners. The American loss was seventeen killed; fifty-six wounded and eleven missing.
Both sides prepared to renew the struggle, both having received reinforcements. The British daily threw shells into the fort to the annoyance of the garrison and on the 28th a shell fell through Gen. Gaines' office and, exploding, destroyed his writing desk and wounded him so severely that he was forced to give up his command, and was sent to Buffalo. Gen. Jacob Brown, although in broken health, succeeded him. The fighting was desultory after the first victory and camp fever, brought on by heavy rains in the marshy camp of the British, aided the Americans in accomplishing the defeat of the enemy along the Canadian borders.
NATHAN GREGG.
A BIOGRAHHY.
Nathan Gregg was born August 5, 1835, on the Watauga river, two miles below White Store. He spent the routine life of a country boy, working on the farm during the season, which usually extended from January 1st to December 31st. He, however, attended the district school and obtained a fairly good education. He then took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the beginning of the Civil War.
Coming from fighting ancestry-his grandfather being in the Revolution and his father an officer in the War of 1812-he early enlisted in the service of the Confederacy. He joined Capt. Willetts' company, made up mostly of Washington county (Tenn.) men, and was chosen lieutenant.
He was desperately wounded April 6, 1862, in the bat- tle of Shiloh, where so many of the South's brave sons gave up their lives. His captain (Willetts) was killed in the battle.
During the following summer he enlisted again-this time in Col. John Crawford's regiment, and was elected lieutenant-colonel. This regiment was known as the Sixtieth Tennessee.
He was captured in the battle of Big Black River Bridge, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the 17th day of May, 1863, and was taken to Johnson's Island and held as a prisoner until near the close of the war, when he was exchanged, upon which he returned home. Col. Crawford resigned his command in 1864 and Col. Gregg was promoted to a full colonelcy and given charge of the regiment-remaining with it until the close of the war. His regiment was disbanded April 12, 1865, at Christiansburg, Virginia.
NATHAN GREGG
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During his military career he had the reputation of being a humane and courageous officer. He returned to his home at the close of the war and in 1870 was elected sheriff of Sullivan County-was reelected in 1872 and again in 1874. He was elected three times to the legislature from Sullivan County, in 1876-78-82. He was a member of the legislature, which became historic for its settlement of the state debt, when such men as Butler, Gregg and others became famous in their efforts for a just settlement, as did the name "Smith of Fen- tress" become a byword and a reproach.
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