USA > Tennessee > Sullivan County > Historic Sullivan; a history of Sullivan County, Tennessee, with brief biographies of the makers of history > Part 17
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In the legislature Gregg became a leader, and in his political life, while a man of forceful nature-com- manding in stature and style, he was more shrewd than statesmanlike.
Once, when anxious to get a bill passed, which he knew the speaker of the house did not favor, he had a dainty letter, written in a feminine hand, sent in to the pre- siding officer, requesting his presence in the lobby at once. The speaker, not divining any trick, excused himself, and his successor, being in sympathy with Col. Gregg, had the bill passed during the absence of the regular officer.
During the first administration of Grover Cleveland Col. Gregg was appointed Pension Agent, with offices at Knoxville, Tennessee. This was the last political office he held.
At one time he was urged to become a candidate for governor, but he rather discouraged the suggestion, modestly admitting his lack of educational qualifica- tions-he having had only limited opportunities during his youth. He was gubernatorial timber nevertheless- his splendid moral character and honesty in handling public trusts making him valuable.
He had peculiar ideas about charity and would not subscribe even small amounts, always excusing himself by saying that one could never tell when it was deserving.
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
His motives were not understood until after his death, when it was found that he had willed all his fortune to the church.
Col. Gregg never fully recovered from the wound he received in battle and this no doubt hastened his death, which occurred at his country home July 15, 1894, in the sixtieth year of his age.
CHAPTER XXIII.
WAR TIMES-TENNESSEE VALOR.
Tennessee rarely boasts about her battle men. The world's war language has linked the name of "volunteer" with the valor of all times. The part she has played in the military achievements of this nation has not been given due credit because not generally understood. But from the outset of our national existence her frontier- men protected from invasion by the Indians those settle- ments that dared to spring up on her borders. She hurried her pickets far out beyond the firing line. Her Shelbys and her Seviers went at the first call when, at Point Pleasant, the outcome depended so much upon their skill and courage.
When the cause of American independence looked gloomiest; when the well disciplined troops of regulars were losing heart and faith and forsaking the cause; when Washington wrote "I have almost ceased to hope," these same sturdy pioneers formed a plan on Tennessee soil, left their homes almost unprotected and marched across the mountains to check the advance of the victor- ious British. The memorable and decisive battle of King's Mountain was the result.
When that same foe sought to invade our shores a second time Tennessee sent her Jackson to New Orleans, where he plowed through the red-gold ranks of the gallant Packenham, leaving seven hundred, with their leader, dead on the field.
At the same time she sent her Gaines to protect the northern boundary and his courageous defense heralded him the hero of Fort Erie.
When the independence of Texas was sought her Samuel Houston, badly wounded was born from the battlefield of San Jacinto, while the mangled remains of Davy Crockett
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lay heaped in the Alamo. Her James Bowie, already dying of a fever from wounds unhealed, hearing the cry "no quarter", arose in his couch and with the knife that still bears his name dug his way to a welcome death.
When conflict with Mexico seemed inevitable, Tennessee was called upon to furnish two thousand, eight hundred men and, remembering the Alamo, thirty thousand responded to that call.
Her Maury mapped the ocean ways.
When the war of secession was declared and the martial spirit of the South was stirred as never before, the manhood, yes, and the boyhood of middle and west Tennessee followed in the tread of her intrepid Forrest. The greater portion of East Tennessee, still a part of that South, but thinking best to preserve the Union, stubbornly buried herself like a wedge in the heart of her own country while her Farragut swept the seas.
She gave Sam Davis as a sacrifice for her soldiers' honor.
In the still more recent Spanish-American War it seemed like a recognition of her victorious past that Tennessee's gunboat "Nashville" should fire the first gun that echoed the most destructive and triumphant naval conflict of modern times.
Missionaries were sent here-sent to the mountain homes to tame the sons of the men who tamed the wilds and made it possible for them to come. These mountain men, though rough of speech and always ready with rude song, have no ambition save to be hospitable and to fight when fought; these men will give their lives for any cause that disturbs the peace of our people, for in their veins still flows the blood that made the valor of our volunteers immortal.
Congress has voted thanks or a medal or sword to twenty-nine military men since the organization of the
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army in 1789. Of this number two are Sullivan County men-no other county in the Union has received as many. One medal was presented to Maj .- Gen. Gaines in 1814, and one to Isaac Shelby in 1818.
That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General Gaines, and, through him, to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the enemy at Erie on the fifteenth of August, repelling with great slaughter the attack of a British veteran army, superior in number; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major-General Gaines.
Approved November 3, 1814.
That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General William Henry Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late governor of Kentucky, and, through them, to the officers and men under their command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the combined British and Indian forces under Major-General Proctor, on the Thames, in Upper Canada, on the 5th day of October, 1813, capturing the British army, with their baggage, camp equipage, and artillery; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause two gold medals to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to General Harrison, and Isaac Shelby, late governor of Kentucky.
Approved, April 4, 1814.1
In 1812 England again tried to conquer this nation, employing methods similar to those adopted before- inciting Indian allies. This brought on the Creek War, and the battle of Horseshoe, March 24, 1814.
Tennesseans under Jackson practically waged this war, the East Tennessee troops being under the command of Gen. John Cooke. Transportation was by boat and, in addition to the soldiers, this section was expected to furnish the supplies.2 The rivers were low and not boatable, and in consequence of the delay this caused, Jackson became very irritable-placed the blame first on
1Historical Register of U. S. Army, Vol. I, page 47. 2Lossing's Field Book of the War of 1812.
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
Cooke, then the weather, the water and all mankind in general.3
Among the officers who accompanied Cooke from Sulli- van County were William Snodgrass, - Cloud, William King, Jacob Snapp and Benjamin Beeler. Cloud was the first man to attempt to scale the breastworks at the Horseshoe, and was killed. He was closely followed by King who succeeded.4
Sam Houston, a young ensign, was also among the first to go over the breastworks-he was shot with a barbed arrow.
The Thirty-ninth United States infantry was strongly supported by Gen. James Doherty's East Tennessee brigade, making the van of a storming party, the forces behaving most gallantly as they pressed on in the face of a deadly fusilade of bullets and arrows. Soldiers and Indians fought hand to hand at the port-holes. The bayonet, dextrously used, at last broke the line of the Indians' defense and they fled in wild confusion to the woods and waters. The Creeks asked no quarter nor gave any; it was a fight to death. The defeated Indians refused to surrender, expecting no mercy.
When the battle was over, five hundred and fifty-seven Indian warriors lay dead in the bend of the river alone, and of the one thousand who went into the fight but two hundred survived. Jackson's loss was thirty-two killed and ninety-nine wounded, while his Cherokee allies lost eighteen killed and thirty-six wounded.
The Seminole War of 1817-18 followed and again Tennessee troops went to the front as if it was their fight also-Sullivan's leading representative being Gen. Gaines.
The Cherokee removal took place in 1838, and is fully described in Chapter XXX. Maj. John R. Delaney organized a company for that campaign as follows:
Muster Roll of Captain Abraham Mcclellan's Company of the 2nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade of Mounted Volunteer Militia, Commanded
3On account of this delay and the unfortunate massacre of the friendly Hillabee people, Jackson accused Cooke of rivalry, but was later convinced of his error. 4Lossing/says L. P. Montgomery.
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by Major John R. Delaney, ordered into service of the United States by the Requisition of the Secretary of War of 25th of May 1836. from the 1st day of March - to the 30th day of April, 1837.
Abraham McClellan, Captain Abraham Gregg, First Lieutenant
Elihu Messick, Private James Morton, Private
James B. Riley, Second Lieutenant Joseph McPhatridge, Private
Henry Bullock, Ensign
Andrew J. Millhorn, Private Thomas J. Newton, Private
Saml. Evans, First Sergeant Saml. E. Edwards, Second Sergeant Timothy Nickols, Private David Pile, Private
Maxwell Smith, Third Sergeant Christian C. Elkins, First Corporal James J. Angell, Second Corporal William P. Lacy, Third Corporal William H. Snodgrass, Bugler Uriah Acre, Private
Henry H. Pemberton, Private
John Page, Private
John Peters, Private
Edward C. Rutledge, Private
Royston Boy, Private
Thomas T. Rockhold, Private John Sanders, Private John C. Sawyers, Private
Jno. G. Burnett, Private
Walter J. Snodgrass, Private
John L. Burkhard, Private Jacob Bushong, Private Eli Cain, Private
Geo. L. Smith, Private
Benjamin Smith, Private
Thomas Cawood, Private Jesse Craft, Private
John G. Scott, Private John I. Smith
Jonathan J. Dryden, Private
Nathaniel N. Smith, Private
Alexander H. Smith, Private
David Steel, {Private
David A. Dryden, Private Hazel B. Davis, Private Larkin Elkins, Private Danl. Elkins, Private Abel Edwards, Private
John Steel, Private Isaac Stoffle, Private
Henry Smith, Private
John Flemming, Private
Clifford Tyler, Private
Allen Farmer, Private
William R. Tipton, Private
John M. Gifford, Private
John Torbitt, Private
George W. Goodman, Private John Godsey, Private
Jonathan E. Vance, Private John Webb, Private Uriah Woods, Private
Abraham J. Hicks, Private
Hiram B. Hughes, Private
Owen M. White, Private
William Hobbs, Private
Jesse B. White, Private
Obed Hull, Private
James Hancher, Private
Henry Kingery, Private
William O. King, Private
Thomas McLane, Private
Elcanah Millard, Private
Timothy Millard, Private
(Copied from original muster-roll)
David D. Spivy, Private
Saml. L. Cross, Private
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
The next call for troops was for the Mexican War. George R. McClellan was in command of a company from Sullivan County, which was taken in flat-boats to Memphis, whence they were transported to New Orleans and across the gulf of Mexico. The eagerness of Tennesseans to enlist for this war was so notable that the Secretary of War sent the following message to Gov. Brown: "We do not intend that Tennessee shall fight this war."
5 Reg. Tenn Vol-G. R. Mcclellan Col Comdg-John Shaver Capt-Wm. King 1st Lieut-Saml. R. Anderson 2 and J. J. Odell 2-2 Lieut.
Sullivan County Volunteers mustered into service 10th day of Nov. 1847. Dischd. 20th July, 1848 at Memphis.
G. R. McClellan, Capt.
Endiman Hall
John S. Shaver, 1st Lieut.
Hensley
Saml. R. Anderson, 2 Lieut.
Wm. H. Harkleroad
James Patton, O. S.
Elisha Harbor
Wm. King, 2d Lieut.
David S. Hilton
Jno. T. Snapp, S.
David Ingle
John Braden, S.
Joel Johnson
James Barnes, S.
James G. King
David Almaroad, C.
G. S. Love
David P. OBrian, C.
James Milhorn
Joel D. Millard, O.
John McCrary
Thos. Rodgers, O.
Walker Mccrary
James Good, Mu.
William McKamy
Wm. H. Almaroad
Stephen H. Miller
Audley Anderson
John W. Malone
L. O. Byers
Saml. G. McClellan
Tho. L. Berry
James Minnick
David B. Bragg
Wm. H. Moore
Dillion D. Blevins
John Moore
Andrew Blevins
John McMinn
James Blevins John Bowling
James J. Odell
Geo. W. Bookhamer
Benjm. Phillips
Johathan Bachman
job Powell
Geo. L. Carlton
Calvin M. Prince
Thos. Carroll
Wm. O. B. Pile
Isaac Pearce
Geo. Crudgington
Wm. D. Offield
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WAR TIMES-TENNESSEE VALOR.
Jury Cathiman
Elkana Cross James Carden Thos. D. Carter C. C. Cargale Allen Dyer James Dinsmore
Jesse Pullum Jacob Rodgers William Rimmer Josiah Smith
Saml. W. Scott
Hugh R. Smith
Richard Shipley
Elkana D. Droke
Nathan H. Shipley
Enos Dinsmore John W. Emmert
John M. Smithson
Thos. O. Elkins
James K. Shaver
Nelson Elsey Wm. D. Fulkner
Wm. Smith
Wm. L. Smithson
Gabriel Frye
A. W. M. Willoughby
Endemon Foster
Sol. H. Whitaker
John G. Gale
G. H. Whitaker
Wm. Gertman
Joseph P. Wilson
Wm. J. Gale Wm. Graham W. W. Good
James H. Wilson
Joseph S. Pitman
Jacob H. Latture
(Copied from original muster-roll)
The Civil War came on. The scenes that led up to the struggle were here more antagonistic than in most Southern localities, where the sentiment was not divided. In East Tennessee the supporters of the Confederate and Union sides waged a war of oratory before the battle of smoke and shell began. When the excitement was at its highest and companies were forming to join the Con- federate forces, Andrew Johnson and Thomas A. R. Nelson, who were the champions of the Union cause, made an appointment to speak in Blountville.
Some of the leading citizens, fearful of the possible results of such a speaking, owing to the feverish state of the people, sent a delegation, headed by David Sullins- then a young minister in charge of the Blountville circuit- to meet the speakers on the approach to town and acquaint them with the feeling in the communtiy. They were met at "Medical Grove" on the Jonesboro road, and the speak- ers agreed to be governed by the vote of the citizens, taken in open meeting.
-
Elkana D. Shipley
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
Sullins returned, called the throng together in front of the court-house and explained the situation, asking those who desired the speakers to come to town to remain standing, while those who did not desire them were to "squat down."5 The majority was overwhelming in opposition to the speakers. Sullins went back, told Johnson and Nelson the result, then escorted them to town, as far as Sturm's hotel, where they had dinner. During this time a guard of soldiers was placed on the bridge to prevent any assembling of the people or undue excitement on account of the presence of the men. After dinner the speakers left town.
For this kindly act of precaution Sullins was compelled to leave Tennessee after the war and refugee in Virginia for two years.
The first company organized in Sullivan selected James P. Snapp, captain, and the young ladies of the town presented a flag. The occasion of the presentation was made thrilling by patriotic songs and the speech of acceptance delivered by C. J. St. John, Sr., first lieu- tenant of the company.
East Tennessee early became a battle-ground for the Northern and Southern forces. The railroad running through this section was the chief means of communica- tion, travel and supply for the South. For this reason the bridges, telegraph lines and tracks had to be protected. They were practically in the possession of the Confederate forces for nearly three years of the war, but when Burn- side6 was assigned to the command in East Tennessee, reaching Knoxville, September 3, 1863, he mapped out an agressive campaign to be prosecuted all along the line
5David Sullins had early in his career established a reputation as a revivalist. The crowd at the court-house was so large, an old woman who was some distance away from the speaker could not hear what was going on, but seeing most of the people assuming the negative posture, said, "It's all right now, Davy's got 'em on their knees.".
6Ambrose E. Burnside was born in Indiana. He was a West Point "cadet, graduating, number twenty-eight, in the class of 1847. He became major-general March, 1862. Died September, 1881.
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of railroad. He detached Gen. James Shackleford7 for service in upper East Tennessee.
On the Confederate side was Gen. Sam Jones,8 whose headquarters at the time were at Zollicoffer. Burnside had twenty thousand men, while Jones had between five and six thousand. These men were distributed up and down the railroad.
At Morristown Shackleford sent Col. John W. Foster on a flanking move. Gen. Jones sent out Col. James Carter, who met Foster and engaged him in desultory fighting, driving him back as far as the river at Shipley's ferry. This was on Sunday. Foster was reinforced at the river, returned and, on the morning of the 22nd of September, 1863, drove the Confederates back to Blount- ville.
On their return the Federals bombarded the Dulaney home, suspecting it harbored Confederate sharpshooters. No one was there but the women of the family, who managed to throw out a white cloth, which prevented a complete annihilation of the home and death of the occupants.
BATTLE OF BLOUNTVILLE.
Arriving at Blountville Col. Carter decided to engage the enemy and stationed his battery on the plateau east of town. Foster took a stand on the opposite side, near the graveyard-some of the remaining grave stones show the effects of the fight.
The non-combatants, women and children, accustomed to seeing uniformed men, were not aware that a battle was impending and were at dinner when the firing began. These retired with the sick and aged to the best protected
7James M. Shackleford was born in Kentucky. He enlisted in the Union army as colonel of the Eighteenth Kentucky Cavalry, September 13, 1861. He became brigadier-general March 2, 1863, resigned January 18, 1864.
8Sam Jones was by birth a Virginian. Cadet at West Point in 1837, graduating, number nineteen, in July, 1841. He reached the rank of captain in 1853. Resigned April 27, 1861, to enter the Confederate service. He became major-general and remained in the war from 1861 to 1865.1& He died July 31, 1887
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
cellars-those of the Cate House and the St. John residence. The battle began at noon and lasted until four o'clock in the afternoon.9
The Confederate forces numbered twelve hundred and fifty-seven, while there were double that number on the Federal side.
Capt. Davidson's battery, that participated in this fight, had distinguished itself in the battle of Manassas. As an example of marksmanship for which the American soldier is renowned-Capt. Davidson was told that Federal sharpshooters were in the belfry of the Metho- dist church and he decided to fire upon it. He was asked not to hit the bell and its location was pointed out to him; he then sent one ball just above and one just below the bell although the church was a quarter of a mile away.
After the battle had been in progress some time the Federals decided upon a flank movement and made a charge toward the center of the opposing forces to divert their attention
In the meantime the besieged women and children and the helpless were notified that the town was burning and they must flee for their lives. A shell from the Federal guns had entered the court-house, setting it on fire, and as there was no means of relief the flames spread rapidly, destroying the best part of the town.10
In the thick of the fight and more dangerously exposed than the soldiers of either side were the fleeing women. In the confusion of such a hasty departure distracted mothers became separated from their children; cavalry- men dashed across their path, while bullets and bombs whistled above them. They went through Brown's
9Dr. J. J. Ensor, who acted as surgeon, timed the battle from the firing of the first gun and so reported it to me.
10Besides the court-house and jail many other houses were burned-the residence and store of Samuel Rhea; hotel and store of Rev. N. C. Baldwin; Lawrence Snapp's hotel; residence and shop of F. L. Baumgardner; residence and store of W. W. James; residence and store of Jack Powell; residence and store of Hugh and John Fain; residence and store of Dr. Wm. R. Dulaney.
R
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meadow and finally found a safe retreat beyond the hills.11
The Confederates, learning of the flank movement, began to retire in the direction of Zollicoffer; a few, how- ever, went toward Bristol and were captured.
At Hamilton's hill Jones reinforced Carter and another stand was made. The Federals were driven back, retiring to Blountville, but later retreated further. The returning citizens of the town found that what homes were left had been looted and what was not taken had been destroy- ed. There was nothing to eat and the women were com- pelled to beg meal from the soldiers.
The casualties were not great on either side-the Con- federates losing only three dead and eight or ten wounded, while the Federals had twelve killed and as many more wounded. The Institute and Methodist church were used as temporary hospitals and Dr. J. J. Ensor and Dr. Nat Dulaney, Sr., aided the Federal surgeons with the wounded.12
In October Burnside's forces again sought to secure control of the railroad, which resulted in a running fight through the county. A skirmish took place at Blountville on October 14th. There was also a fight at Bachman's ford. Gen. Jones drove the enemy as far as Big creek, in Hawkins county, where he surrounded and captured six hundred-among them two spies, who were court-mar- tialed and shot, near David Wolford's.
11Some of the escapes of women, during the war, were miraculous. Dr. M. M. Butler, who was surgeon of the Thirty-seventh Virginia regiment, tells of a woman whose residence was directly in the line of fire at the battle of Chancel- lorsville. She escaped unhurt with seventeen bullet holes in her dress.
12Dr. Ensor related the following: Among the wounded on the Federal side was an Irishman, who wanted to be relieved from service. Receiving a flesh wound on the head he feigned unconsciousness and was placed in the temporary hospital. When the surgeon went to examine him he was moaning in an delirious manner, "send for a praste, bring me a cand'l; send for a praste, bring me a cand'l." The surgeon, not wishing to operate on him in that condition, passed him by for the time, remarking, "the poor fellow is in a bad way." The wounded soldier confided to Dr. Ensor his desire to quit the army and the doctor told him he would not interfere with his plans.
The next day the patient was at breakfast with the Ensor family when a servant entered and said the Federal surgeon was coming. The Irishman on learning this jumped up from the table and broke through a window to get back in the hospital. When the surgeon made his rounds he found his patient stretched out, apparently weaker than the day before and still faintly and incoherently calling, "send for a praste, bring me a cand'l." The surgeon passed him by. The man, sure of being put on the dead-list, left for parts unknown.
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HISTORIC SULLIVAN.
The next military exploit of eventful outcome was Stoneman's13 raid in December, 1864. He left Knoxville December 10th with four thousand cavalry and was re- inforced by Gillem with nearly two thousand more; also Gen. Burbridge's Kentucky troops. They overtook Duke's men, then under command of Col. R. C. Morgan14-Duke being on leave of absence-and drove them across the river at Rotherwood. Morgan had three hundred and fifty men, thirty-nine of which garrisoned themselves on a rocky and thicketed eminence on the banks of the river, to prevent the enemy from crossing. These men kept Stoneman back for several hours. During the afternoon of the 13th Gillem sent Col. S. K. N. Patton up the river-he crossed and, coming down, surrounded the men. When this was done the rout was complete. Several were killed and wounded and many others captured. Among the prisoners taken was Morgan; he had been drinking heavily during the day and danced with indif- ference when captured. His wagon train was also taken.
This work completed, Gen. Burbridge,15 the same afternoon, pushed on to Bristol. Passing through Blountville during the night his soldiers did a good deal of plundering. He reached Bristol on the morning of the 14th, in time to intercept Gen. Vaughn, who was trying to join Breckenridge at Saltville. At Bristol he destroyed the depots, all the rolling stock of the railroad and a great quantity of stores and ammunition. In the skirmish two hundred prisoners, which included non- combatants, were captured. This raid was for the pur- pose of destruction. A raiding party is not a pleasure
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