USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, V.3 > Part 11
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Marshals: Thomas McMinn. 1852-54; N. P. Nail, 1855; Philip Simmerman, 1856-57: John J. Lowry, 1858-59; Jesse B. Allison, 1860-63; R. H. Croft, 1869; Jesse B. Allison, 1870: Charles Howell. 1871; N. W. Wilbur, 1872; J. J. Lowry, 1874; D. M. Doty, 1876: J. J. Lowry, 1877; E. Balch, 1878; J. J. Lowry, 1879-80; N. W. Wilbur, 1881-82; - Schwartz, 1885.
Recorders; Richard Henderson, 1852; John W. Ford, 1853; Daniel R. Rawlings, 1854: D. C. McMillin, 1855; Daniel R. Rawlings, 1856; William L. Rogers, 1857-59; John P. Long, 1860-63.
Mayors: 1868, A. J. Sharpe. 1869, W. P. Rathburn. 925; all others, 12. 1870, W. P. Rathburn, 963: B. S. Nicklin, 152: J. J. MeGlohon, 408. 1871, John T. Wilder. 1.002; Thomas Webster, 812. 1822, E. M. Wight, 662: P. Foster. 568; R. Henderson. 179. 1873. P. D. Sims. 18;4. John W. James, 1,025; S. A. Key, 808. 1875, Tomlinson Fort. 1876, E. M. Wight, 951; J. H. Ragsdale, 847. 1877, T. J. Carlile, 1,121; W. J. Colburn, 1,002. 1818, J. T. Hill. 1,134; John A. Hart, 994. 1ST9, H. F. Temple, 1,113: J. C. Stanton, 952.
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HAMILTON COUNTY.
1880, John A. Hart, 1,249; M. J. O'Brien, 1,127. 1881, H. C. Evans. 1,523; M. J. O'Brien. 1,003. 1882, IL C. Evans, 1,809; J. T. Shipp, 1,188. 1883. Hugh Whiteside, elected for two years. 1885. A. G. Sharp, 1,808; Clift, 1,696; Dean, 100.
Marshals: 1869, R. II. Kroft, 189; A. G. Mclemore, 442. 18:0, Jesse B. Allison, 474; J. R. Slayton, 216; R. H. Kroft, 272. 1871, Charles Howell, 920; B. B. Bell, 437; J. O. Farmer, 323. 1822, N. W. Wilbur, 968; J. J. Lowry, 680. 1814, J. J. Lowry, 1,018; D. C. IJowell, 806. 1876, D. M. Doty, 926; J. J. Lowry, 890. 1817, J. J. Lowry, 1,000; W. Fried man, 1,033. 1878, E. Balch, 1,093; J. J. Conway, 1,005. 1870, J. J. Lowry, 76; J. A. Allen. 744; C. G. Davis, 507. 1880, J. J. Lowry, 1,251; W. P. Dale, 1,107. 1881, N. W. Wilbur. 1,292. 1882, N. W. Wilbur, 1,775; J. J. Lowry, 1,215. 1885, Schwartz, 1,835; Key, 1.65 :: Woodworth, 103.
The secret organizations in Chattanooga are so numerous that a history of each one can not well be given in accordance with the plan of this work. A list of them, however, is here introduced. Of the A. I. of H., there is the Chickamauga Council. Of the A. O. U. W., Benefit Lodge, No. 6; of F. L. Lookout Camp, No. 33; of the G. A. R. Lookout Post, No. 2; Mission Ridge Post, No. 45, and Chickamauga Post, No. 22 (colored): I. O. O. F., Chattanooga Lodge, No. 45, and Guttenberg Lodge, No. 158; K. of H., Schiller Lodge, No. 158; K. of L., Lookout Assembly, No. 2270, Eureka Assembly, No. 4375 (colored), Con- tral Assembly, No. 5589, Phoenix Assembly, No. 5726, and McDevitt Assembly, No. 6893: K. of P., Damon Lodge, No. 2, Keystone Lodge, No. 35, Endowment Rank Section. No. 337, and Uniform Rank, Anchor Division, No. 3. Masous-Lookout Commandery, No. 14. K. T .; Hamilton Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M .; Chattanooga Lodge, No. 199, F. & A. M .; Temple Lodge, No. 430, F. &A. M .; Royal Arcanum, Chattanooga Conneil, No. 137. The S. of T. are represented by the Chattanooga Division, No. 111; U. O. G. C., Chattanooga Commandery, No. 77. Colored organizations: P. G. M. Council, G. U. O. F .; Eagle Star Lodge, No. 1777, G. U. O. F .; Xenophon Lodge, No. 1995, G. U. O. F .; Household of Ruth, No. 121; Lookout Lodge, No. 10; Phoenix Lodge. No. 14. F. & A. M .; Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M. The Confederate Veterans have N. B. Forest Camp. C. V. No. 3, organized September 1, 1885.
There are in Chattanooga the City Cemetery, Forest Hills Cemetery, the Hebrew Cemetery and the Catholic Cemetery.
The postoffice at Chattanooga was established at Ross' Landing, with John P. Long as postmaster, March 22, 1837. The name was changed to Chattanooga November 14, 1838. John P. Long remained postmaster until October 4, 1845, on which day David J. Carr was appointed. Since Mr. Carr's term the following have been postmasters: William F. Ragsdale, appointed April 9, 1852; Henry T. Phillips, July 15, 1853; James R. Hood. March 27, 1861; E. A. James, July 18, 1865; Robert S. Kendrick, April 5, 1860: Samuel Bard, December 12, 1872; Robert S. Kendrick, March 20. 1873; William T. Cate. March 2 1875; Thomas Taylor, July 3, 1876; John T. Wilder, July 17, 1877; Harry F. Griscom. March 99. 1882, and George W. Martin, July 15, 1885. The postoffice became presidential February 21, 1856, and the letter-carrier service was established September 1. 1883.
The Federal Cemetery contains seventy five and one-half acres. On the cannon near the entrance is the following inscription: "United States National Military Ceme- tery, Chattanooga, established 1863; interments, 12,876; known, 7,947; unknown. 4.923." Since this inscription was made additional interments have been made to the number of about 100, so that the entire number is now 12,983; the known being 8,020. divided among the States as follows: Alabama, 38; Connecticut, 20; Georgia. 11; Illinois. 1,088: Indiana. 1,317; Iowa, 185; Kansas. 53; Kentucky, 368; Maryland, 2; Maine. 1; Massachusetts. 73: Michigan. 488; Minnesota. 105; Missouri, 159: New York, 343; New Jersey. 32: Ohio. 1,708; Pennsylvania, 197; Rhode Island. 2: Tennessee, 137; Wisconsin. 237; West Virginia, 3; United States Regulars, 203; colored soldiers, 866; employes, 14; pioneers, 5; signal corps, 3; miscellaneous, 212. The total number of unknown is 4,963, the largest number being the "miscellaneous " class, 4,830. .
The grand gateway over the road leading from Montgomery Avenne into this ceme- tery was completed about February 1, 1830. The archway from the base to the top of
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
the blocking is about 32 feet, the arch, itself. being 19} feet high and the opening 10} feet wide. Above the keystone of the arch, on the outside, is the inscription: "National Military Cemetery, Chattanooga, 1863." On the inside in a similar position is the follow - ing: "Here rest in peace 12,955 citizens, who died for their country from 1861 to 1865."
Since the war the members of the Legislature from Hamilton County have been as follows:
Senators-A. M. Cate, 1865 and 1867; A. A. Pearson, 1869; E. A. James, 1873; L. S. Marye, 1875; R. P. Lloyd, 1877; John R. Neal, 1829; J. L. Gaston, 1881; H. L. W. Raulston, 1883; H. B. Case, 1885.
Representatives-James R. Hood, 1865: John Anderson, 1866 and 1867; E. A. James, 1869; C. C. Patton, 1873: George R. James, 1875; S. A. Key, 1877; H. M. Wiltse, 1879 and 1881; H. B. Case and Peter Bolton, 1883; W. C. Hodge and T. H. Davis, 1885.
Following is the presidential vote in Hamilton County from 1868 to 1884 inclusive: 1868 -- Ulysses S. Grant. 1,273; Horatio Seymour, 393. 1872 -- Grant, 1630; Horace Greeley, 1.098. 1876 -- Rutherford B. Hayes, 1, 888; Samuel J. Tilden, 1,613. 1880 -- James A. Garfield, 2.480; W. S. Hancock, 1,595; J. B. Weaver, 117. 1884-James G. Blaine, 3,829; Grover Cleveland, 2,439.
Gubernatorial vote: March 4. 1865, W. G. Brownlow, 705, no opposition. 1867-W. G. Brownlow, 1,480; Emerson Etheridge, 302. 1869-D. W. C. Senter, --; -- Stokes, ---. ISTO-W. H. Wisener. 1,361: J. C. Brown, 1,171. 1872 -- A. A. Freeman, 1,602; J. C. Brown, 1,161. 1874 -- Horace Maynard. 1.155; James D. Porter, 1,145. 1876-George Maney. ---; James D. Porter, 1,627; Dorsey B. Thomas, 1,086; W. F. Yardley. --. 1878-E. M. Wight, 1,103; A. S. Marks, 711; R. M. Edwards, 43. 1880-Alvin Hawkins, 2, 440; John V. Wright, 1,428; S. F. Wilson, 346; R. M. Edwards, 114. 1882-Alvin Hawkins, 2.885; William B. Bate, 1,633; Joseph H. Fussell. 39; John R. Beasley, 22. 1884-Frank T. Reid, 4,263; Will- iam B. Bate, 2.366; W. J. Buchanan. -. 1886-Robert L. Taylor, 2,381; Alfred A. Taylor, 3,581.
Following is a list of the principal county officers from 1820 to 1876, since which time the election returns are obtainable and are introduced in connection with most officers' names:
Asahel Roger's name is signed as county court clerk to the first deed registered after the county was organized, to which he also affixed his "Privet seal," not having an official seal at the office that day, March 1, 1821. Asahel Rogers remained in this office until 1844, when he was succeeded by William T. Rogers. Subsequent clerks have been R. Henderson, 1847: James Clift, 1848; John H. Robertson, November, 1849-56; George W. Arnett, 1856-60; Charles W. Vinson, 1860-64; R. H. Guthrie, 1864-70; J. H. Hardie, 1870-74; L. M. Clark, from 1874 to present time (1886).
Sheriffs-Charles Gamble, Terrill Riddle, A. M. Rogers, Matthew Anderson, John Johnson, J. C. Francis, James Roddy, James C. Connor, William Snow, Milo Coulter, G. W. Rider, A. B. Connor, William H. Bean, J. C. Connor, Charles B. Champion. The sheriffs collected the taxes up to 1840. From that time to 1876 there served the following as-
Tax collectors-James Rogers, Newton McGill, A. Selcer, Joseph Yarnell, W. H. Bean, M. Adams and D. B. Ragsdale.
Trustees-Thomas Stiff. William Rogers, Alfred King, A. P. Hunter, George W. Julian, Jesse Locke, W. H. Crowder, George Curry, F. Vaughn.
Registers-J. H. Jones, 1819; James S. Yarnell, 1836; A. G. W. Puckett, 1840; Resin M. Rawlings, 1842; John HI. Torbett. 1843; A. A. Vinson, 1844; J. B. Peters, 1853; A. W. Moore, 1860: John F. Hamill, 1868; H. C. Beck, from 1974 to the present time.
Circuit court clerks-Daniel Henderson. Dr. P. H. Butler, B. C. Conner, B. B. Cau- non, A. G. W. Puckett, E. A. Glass. William Rogers. C. W. Vinson.
The first surveyor of Hamilton County was Samuel R. Russell, who served from 1824 to 1828. He was followed by John Cummings from 1828 to 1830; B. B. Cannon. 1830-37: Noble J. Tounnel. a short time in 1837; Robert Tumall, 1837-47; Alexander T. Prowell. 1847-48: Presley R. Lomenick, 1818-54; B. F. Clark. 1854-61; Presley R. Lomenick, 1861. killed during the war; - Lowe, first after the war, Robert L. McNabb, Alfred Conner,
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HAMILTON COUNTY.
James W. Clift, R. C. McRee, Jr .; James Layman served five or six years; M. E. Dickens, six months in 1881; L. B. Headrick, from October, 1881, to January, 1882; A. H. Rogers from 1882 to the present time.
The year 1870 is the first for which it is practicable to give tolerably accurate election returns for this county. In August an election was held at which the following votes were cast: Chancellor-D. M. Key, 1,082; D. C. Trewhitt, 806; John C. Gaut. 128. Circuit court judge-John B. Hoyl, 979; W. L. Adams, 939. Circuit court clerk-C. W. Vinson, 1,131; Stults, 831. County judge-A. G. W. Puckett, 1,056; Blackford, 670; Rogers, 136. County clerk-Hardie, 1,113; Guthrie, 928; HIcaton, 72. Register-Long, 911; Hamill, 894; Moore, 77.
In 1872 the vote was as follows: Sheriff-Bean, Republican, 1,591: Brown, Democrat, 953. Tax collector-Adams, Democrat, 1,353; Carlile, Republican, 1,277. Trustee- Crowder, Republican, 1,477; Selcer, Democrat, 1,114.
Hamilton County has been represented in the United States Senate by one of her cit- izens, David M. Key, who was appointed to the seat made vacant by the death of Andrew Johnson, which occurred July 31, 1875, and in the Lower House of Congress by two of her sons-Reese B. Brabson 1859-61, and William Crutchfield 18:3-45. Mr. Crutchfield was elected by a majority of 1,029 in a district which had usually been Democratic by about 5,000 majority, the vote of his opponent, D. M. Key, being 8,921. With reference to this election it was said that in 1871 the voting population of the district was 28,476, while in 1872 when Mr. Crutchfield was elected, only 19,068 votes were cast, of which Mr. Crutch- field received 9,950, Mr. Key 8,921. There were therefore 9,048 voters who did not vote, most of whom were whites. Mr. Crutchfield's success, therefore, was largely due to the colored men. His majority in Hamilton County was 301.
In 1876 the following votes were polled: For member of Congress-Dibrell, 1.615; Drake, 1,857. State senator-Lloyd, 1,624; Padgett, 1,853. Floater --- Shepherd, 1,693; Pryor, 1,780. Representative-1,744; Munger, 1,735.
In 1878 the following was the vote: Chancellor-Bradford, 1,835; Mayfield, 1,543. Circuit court judge-Trewhitt, 2,502; Hoyl, 1,084; Northrup, 43. Attorney-general-Mil- burn, 1,957; Spears, 1,661. County judge-McRee, Democrat, 1,509; Headrick, Greenback, 680; Gowin, Republican, 1,431. Sheriff-Rogers, Democrat, 1,601; Springfield, Republican, 1,859; Conner, 233. Circuit court clerk-R. M. Tankesley. Democrat, 2,076; C. W. Vinson, Republican, 1,587. County court clerk-Jones, Democrat, 1,380; L. M. Clark, Republican. 2,326. Trustee -- Ragsdale, Democrat, 1,662; Gahagan, Republican, 1,910. Register- Coulter, Democrat, 1,547; Beck, Republican. 1,827; Catron, 222.
The Republican Congressional Convention for the Third District met August 17, 1990. Col. H. B. Case and G. A. Gowin were put in nomination, Col. Case receiving sixty- seven votes on the first ballot, thus becoming the nominee. The Democrats nominated G. G. Dibrell, and the Greenbackers John W. James. In the election Dibrell received in Hamilton County 1,509 votes, Case 2,368 and James 250. In the entire district Dibrell received 12,806 votes, and Case 9,918. For the rest of the officers, Hamilton County polled the following votes: Sheriff-Springfield, Republican. 2.262; Champion. Democrat, 1,647. Trustee -- Gahagan, Republican, 2,651; Rogers, Democrat, 1,249. Floater -- Moon, 1,636; Kennedy, 2,412; Welch, 114. Representative-Cowart, Democrat, 1,478; Wilise, Republican, 2.354; Mannell, 311.
The voting population of Hamilton County in 1880 was 4,172. In 1881. according to a careful census, it was as follows: In the First, Second, Third, Eighth and Sixteenth Districts, 987; in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, 1.479: in the Eleventh, 391; in the Twelfth, 447-total outside of Chattanooga, 3,304. In that. tanooga it was: Whites, 2,843; blacks, 1,387 -- total, 4,230; and in the entire county. 1,534. an increase in one year of 3,362.
In 1882 the vote of the county was as follows: Sheriff-J. E. Conner, 1,929; W. T. Cate, 2,393. Circuit court clerk-R. M. Tankesley, 1,901; A. R. Jones, 2,319. County court clerk-W. J. Sawyer, 1,213; L. M. Clark. 2,991. Trustee-J. H. Por, 1.560; A. Shel- ton, 2,624. Register-W. J. Ingle, 1,438; HI. C. Beck, 2,817. Member of Congress-Dibrell,
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1,521; Trewhitt, 2,531: Parker, 7. State senator-Rankin, 1,654; Roulston, 2,353: Coppin- ger, 7. Representative -Woodard, 1,658; Patterson, 1,669; Case, 2,984; Bolton, 2,34 ;; Gil- lespie, 6; Stokes, 9. In the Third Congressional District Dibrell's vote was 11.403; Trewhitt's, 9,698. In 1884 the congressional vote in Hamilton County was for Neal, Democrat, 2,249; H. C. Evans, Republican, 4,392, while in the entire district Evans' vote was 14,221, and Neal's 14.289. In 1856 the congressional vote was for Neal, 2,300: John T. Wilder, Republican, 3,655. Senator -- Kennedy, Republican, 3,332; Whitice, Democrat, 2,632. Representative --- Stone, Republican, 3,485; Hutchins, Republican (colored), 2,742; Drumbar, Democrat, 2,734; Lloyd, Democrat, 2,525. In the entire dis- triet Wilder's vote was 13.818; Neal's 14, 115.
The first judges of the circuit court were Thomas Keith. George W. Rowles and John C. Gaut, the latter being the first to preside in this court since the war. The first records of this court are dated October 3, 1864. all previous to that time having been destroyed, the session being held at Harrison, with John C. Gaut presiding.
The political complexion of the people of Hamilton County from 1832 to the break- ing out of the civil war is shown by the following figures: Presidential vote, 1832. Andrew Jackson, 100. 1836, Martin Van Buren, 158; Hugh L. White, 215. 1840, Martin Van Buren, 473: William Henry Harrison, 606. 1844, James K. Polk, 624; Henry Clay, 614. 1848, Lewis Cass, 634; Zachary Taylor, 685. 1852. Franklin Pierce, 648; Winfield Scott, 774. 1856, James Buchanan, 1,031; Millard Fillmore, 1,064. 1860, John C. Breckin- ridge, 820; John Bell, 1,074: Stephen A. Douglas, 16). An examination of the above vote shows that while the two parties, Democratic and Whig, were sometimes very nearly equal in strength, yet the Whigs were uniformly in the majority. Following is the guber. natorial vote previous to the war: 1839, James K. Polk, 436; Newton Cannon, 622. 1841, James K. Polk, 560; James C. Jones, 628. 1843, James K. Polk, 621: James C. Jones, 628. 1845, Aaron V. Brown, 548; Ephraim II. Foster. 613. 1847, Aaron V. Brown. 221: Neill S. Brown, 628. 1849. William Trousdale, 601; Neill S. Brown, 750. 1851, William Trousdale, CO1: William B. Campbell, 885. 1853. Andrew Johnson, 972; Gustave A. Henry, 786. 1855, Andrew Johnson. 1.044; Meredith P. Gentry, 966. 1857, Isham G. Harris, 890; Robert Hatton, 959. 1859, Isham G. Harris, 1,056; John Netherland, 1,121.
Following is a list of the members of the Legislature from Hamilton County previous to the war: Senators-James Standifer, 1821: John Billingsly, 1823; James Preston. 1825; James I. Greene, 1829-31: Mills Vernon, 1933-35; Richard Waterhouse, 1841; J. M. An- derson, 1843; Isaac Robertson, 1845: J. M. Anderson, 1841; James W. Gillespie, 1851; John M. Havron, 1833; J. C. Burch, 1857; J. A. Minnis, 1859-61. Representatives-James C. Mitchell, 1821: Thomas Kelly, 1823-25; Thomas J. Campbell, 1831-33; Joseph M. Ander- son, 1837; William J. Standifer. 1839; Daniel R. Rawlings. 1841; James A. Whiteside, 1845-47; John M. Havron, 1849-51; John C. Burch, 1855; J. W. White, 1857; Daniel C. Trewhitt, 1859.
SYNODICAL CHANGES .*
In 1837 the Presbyterian General Assembly passed the famous "Excision Act" sev- ering all ecclesiastical relation with the following synods: Western Reserve, Utica. Geneva and Genesee, including 500 ministers and 60.000 communicants. This action, to state it briefly, was taken on account of those synods sanctioning the adherence to the plan of union adopted in 1801, permitting the calling of a Congregational minister by a Presbyterian congregation, and giving a minister thus called a vote in the general assembly. This arbitrary action of the general assembly aroused a bitter storm of opposi- tion among the more radical or new school element, resulting in the organization in Phila-
*The matter in this chapter could not be written by counties.
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SYNODICAL CHANGES.
delphia of a new general assembly. On October 10, 1838, the synod of Tennessee inet at Rogersville, and during the session by a vote of thirty-two to eight passed the following resolution :
" Resolved, That this synod recognize the body organized in the Seventh Presbyte- rian Church in the city of Philadelphia, with Dr. Foster as moderator, to be the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and will render all obedience to its constitutional acts." (The most of the members opposing this resolution withdrew from the synod of Tennessee, and formed the presbytery of Knoxville, which was attached to the synod of Nashville.) Thus the separation between the Old and New School Presbyterians in the territory covered by the synod of Tennessee was complete. That body then embraced four presbyteries-three in East Tennessee, and one in south- western Virginia. They were as follows: Holston Presbytery with twelve churches. Union Presbytery with twenty churches, and Kingston Presbytery with twelve churches in Tennessee: and New River Presbytery with eight churches in Virginia. In 1950 the number of churches in this synod had increased to seventy-four, and the number of min- isters to forty-seven.
In May. 1857, the delegates from the Southern States to the New School General Assembly which met in Cleveland, Ohio, taking umbrage at the action of that body in regard to the question of slavery, withdrew, and a call was issued for a meeting of dele- gates to be held at Knoxville, Tenn .. on April 1, 1858. At its meeting in September. 1857, the synod of Tennessee passed the following resolution:
" Resolved, That this synod do hereby withdraw from all ecclesiastical relations and associations with the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church which assembled at Cleveland, Ohio, in May last, and do declare the synod of Tennessee, for the time being independent." At the same time all churches were advised to send delegates to the con- vention to be held at Knoxville. That body met at the appointed time, and organized what was known as the "United Synod of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America." At its next meeting in September, 1858, the synod of Tennessee, which had before declared its independence. joined itself to the United Synod. This remained the status of the New School Presbyterian Church until after the withdrawal of the southern members of the Old School General Assembly in 1861. The body known as the General Assembly of the Confederate States of America was then formed, and into it was emerged the United Synod, and as a part of that body the synod of Tennessee. No meeting of this synod could be held in either 1868 or 1864, and on October 12, 1865, twelve members- five from the presbytery of Union, four from Kingston, and three from Holston-met at New Market and resolved to unite once more with the general assembly from which the synod withdrew in 1857. The work of reviving churches and establishing order was at once begun, and in 1866 the synod of Tennessee contained sixteen ministers, forty-six churches and 2, 772 communicants. In 1870 a readjustment of the synods and presby- teries became necessary owing to the union of the Old and New School General Assem- blies. The synod of Tennessee was made to include the following presbyteries: Holston. Union, Kingston, Nashville, which embraced Middle and West Tennessee. Arkansas, and the part of Alabama and Mississippi north of the thirty-third parallell: New Orleans. which embraced Louisiana and the part of Mississippi and Alabama south of the thirty- third parallel; and Austin, which embraced the whole of Texas. Since that time, how- ever, the territory covered by the synod has been reduced until it now embraces only the three presbyteries of Union, Kingston and Holston. In 1886 the presbytery of Union con- sisted of twenty-five ministers and twenty seven churches: the presbytery of Holston. twelve ministers and twenty-four churches; and the presbytery of Kingston, sixteen min. isters and twenty-one churches, making a total of fifty-three ministers and seventy-two churches. The total number of communicants was 3,889.
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HISTORY OF TENNESSEE
MILITARY HISTORY .*
F ROM the time the pioneers began to plant their settlements along the Watauga and Holston to the present the men of East Tennessee have ever been ready to defend their rights, their home and their country, and to their intrepidity and gallantry is due much of the honor and renown to which the " Volunteer State " is so justly entitled. Perhaps the most brilliant victory of the entire Revolutionary war was that won on the battlefield of King's Mountain by Sevier and Shelby and their com- patriots, and the sons and grandsons of these heroes have proven themselves worthy of their illustrious sires.
As the various wars and campaigns in which men from East Tennessee have partici- pated have been duly mentioned in other portions of this work only a more detailed account of some of the troops engaged is here given. During the Creek war of 1813-14 the East Tennessee militia, led by Gens. John Cocke and James White, took an active part and did good service. Every county which had then been formed furnished its full quota of men. The first regiment organized consisted of three months' mounted vol- unteers, commanded by Col. John Williams, of Knoxville. It was mustered into service on December 1, 1812, and served until the following March. At the expiration of this service Col. Williams received a commission from the President to raise the Thirty- ninth Regiment of United States Infantry, for service against the British. He accordingly began the work of recruiting. and on July 29, 1813, a regiment of 600 inen was organized at Knoxville. The officers, as taken from the army registers were as follows: Colonel, John Williams; lieutenant colonel, Thomas H. Benton: majors, William Peacock and Lemuel P. Montgomery; captains, John Phagan, William Walker. Ben- jamin Reynolds, John R. Long, A. H. Douglass. Henry Henniger, John Jones, James Davis, Thomas Stuart and James Gray; first lieutenants, Robert M. Somerville. Benja- min Wright, Samuel Wilson, James McDonald. Nathaniel Smith, Joel Denton, R. M. Patterson. M. C. Molton and James Leith; second lieutenants, Ashley Stanfield, Jesse C. Tate, Joseph R. Henderson, Guy Smith, David McMillen. Benjamin Duncan, M. W. McClellan, Isaac Pangle, Simpson Payne and R. Quarles; third lieutenants, Samuel Houston, T. C. Hindman, I. Parrish. A. Greer, J. K. Suapp, N. Dortch, J. Corn and M. F. De Graffenreidt.
While Col. Williams was waiting orders to march to the field, his brother-in-law. Judge Hugh L. White, returned from a visit to Gen. Jackson's headquarters in the Creek Nation. Hle had found the General in great need of re-enforcement, and he appealed to Col. Williams to go to his relief. The Colonel was at last persuaded, and, waiting only long enough to communicate his intentions to the war department, started at once for the Indian Nation, where he arrived in time to participate in the battle of the horseshoe. In that engagement Maj. Montgomery, the son of one of the first settlers in Campbell County, was the first man to leap upon the works of the enemy. and was immediately killed. The regiment continued in the service until June 15, 1815, when it was disbanded at Knoxville. A remarkable fact connected with this command, is that it contained three men, who were afterward to become United States senators: John Williams, Thomas H. Benton and Samuel Houston: the last two for many years were among the most conspicuous figures in American politics.
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